August 22 2024
2+ Months before Judgement Day
"You bring shame upon our Brotherhood with your senseless violence!"
"They attacked us first, it was self defense!"
"And how do you intend to convince the Knights of Blood Oath that you slaughtered nearly a dozen of their soldiers, all of them high-leveled players, just because they would not show you the respect you
think you deserve?"
"If they could not take on a lone Breaker, they don't deserve the glory at the front lines."
"Show some humility, boy. You are testifying before your brothers and sisters."
@Ezmeralda @Rekaigan @Shadow Daedalus @Celaira @yoshua171 @Grey @iHxzardx @OneWayOut @akirashadow @ClocktowerEchos @Lunaeria @Jinxlynx@RyoRyoRyoken @ColorMeEvil Mt. Meggido Grand Hall served as a special meeting place for the inhabitants of Remnant. Every member of the Brotherhood convened at this location for only the most dire of situations. With its interior matching that of a gothic cathedral's, complete with stained glass windows and a throne where the altar would be placed, the Grand Hall was treated as sacred ground. As such, under the Grand Master's decree, all attending were to equip item <<Regent of the Masquerade>>, a dark crimson hooded cloak that concealed the wearer's face under impenetrable shadow.
"Don't you feel any remorse for what you have done?"
"That's enough, Fenixrite." The Grand Master raised a gloved hand, palm up towards the prosecutor. The simple gesture was also a non-verbal command for everyone else to maintain their silence. Like everyone else, The Grand Master's appearance was concealed under a red hood. She remained seated in her throne, keeping her voice tame but stern with authority.
"It's quite clear that he has no regrets. Does the defendant have anything else to say?" She turned her attention towards the youthful avatar.
The defendant examined his surroundings before a contemptuous smirk formed on his lips.
"This whole 'valuing life and loyalty' is some sad hypocritical joke. You can't tell me that any of you are truly innocent of player-killing. We all are guilty. It's why you, my own brothers and sisters, hide your faces as the accusers. At least I can admit what I am. A killer!"
His admission was met only with silence. He could only imagine the looks on their faces, something that would greatly satisfy him.
"I always knew from Day One that glitching was not some shitty bad luck or coincidence. This is no curse, it's a fucking gift. Divine providence at best! We have such an advantage over normal players, and you don't want to exploit that? Why do we hide from the rest of the community? So what if they hate us? So what if they want us dead? If you haven't figured it out yet, they think we're mostly extinct! Why not take the opportunity to do what we were destined to do? RULE THEM!"
He let that last part sink in, knowing it was sentiment that some shared within the Brotherhood. He chuckled with disdain as he turned to face the Grand Master.
"But I get it. See, it's not your guilt that you fear. It's the uncertainty. Surely, I cannot be the only one here wondering how we glitch like this? How we can break the game and reap the benefits...without the Cardinal System doing anything about it? Once that happens, there's no telling what will become of us. Do our glitches get fixed and we become like the rest? Will the System kill us? I don't really want to find out. As long as our future remains uncertain, I can't just pretend to be civil and compassionate anymore. We're all going to die some day. I'd just rather do it on my own terms."
He smiled one last time before drawing his sword. Fenixrite was the first to react as he raised a hand in protest. He shouted at the young one, ordering him to stand down and to stop wasting everyone else's time. This was Guild grounds, and it wasn't the time and place to challenge anyone to a duel. Within arms reach now, Fenixrite blinked as the blade came for his head. To everyone's horror, the familiar red gash glowed around his throat like a fiery necklace. Fenixrite held a trembling hand to his damaged neck, eyes wide with disbelief. His knees buckled beneath him before his body went rigid with fear. It only took seconds for the system to register a depleted HP and shatter him into fragments.
DEAD
"Look what I can do."
The Grand Master rose in a panic.
"Everyone, close your eyes!"It was as if the Heavens shined its holy brilliance over the Grand Hall. The origin of the light was impossible to determine, but it shined with so much power as if it had weight to it. Even with eyes closed, the light threatened to blind everyone within the Grand Hall. The illumination only lasted seconds, just long enough to doom everyone present. Blurred vision and a ringing in the ears was a common side effect of <<Spiritual Light>>.
"Behold the woman that deceived you! Beware of her faithful followers that dwell among you. They are your true enemies. They are the oppressors. They only hold you in the highest contempt. If you truly value your lives, then you do not owe her you allegiance! You are your own grand master! But freedom is not won with submission. Oppression does not stop with apathy. Our liberation begins with the death of the one who claims to be the Grand Master. Kill anyone else that gets in your way!"
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
How is this possible?Vegnya watched helplessly as the massacre began to unfold. One by one her children turned against each other, drawing their weapons and cutting at the first person they laid eyes on. It was a sea of rage, panic, and sorrow. Glowing crimson gashes appeared among them like aimless fireflies in the dark. There was no blood in Sword Art Online, but the red <<Regent of the Masquerade>> cloaks made the throng look like a violent current of that familiar scarlet liquid.
The Grand Hall was ground zero for Armageddon.
"How fitting that you named this hall Mt. Meggido. Perhaps I'm the only one who caught on to the fact that its Greek name is 'Armageddon.' The prophesied location for the final battle between God and the Devil. I was a history major in the real world, ya know. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were planning this all along. Look at me when I talk to you. You miserable wench."
"Hikaru." A slight illumination appeared around Vegnya as she removed her <<Regent of the Masquerade cloak>>. She stood only a short distance from the person responsible for the brawl. She desired nothing more than to end his existence, but heartbreak weakened her to an apathetic numbness. Still, she fought for answers.
"You have more than one Breaker, don't you?""And how long did it take you to figure that out? As you can see, I am able to inflict <<Hate>> on human players, causing everyone here to go mad. But what I am really proud of is this ability to remove the <<Immortal>> status of everyone in a <<Safe Zone>> by corrupting the Dueling system. No one here has to consent to a fight. Just pick up your sword and start swinging. It's one hell of a way to farm points, don't you think? Personally, I would love to thrust my sword into that lovely bosom of yours. In more ways than one. Instead I'll save you for later. There are other waifus and baes here that I've been wanting to VIOLATE before I snuff the light out of their pretty little eyes.. Be a good girl and stay alive long to watch me do it."
"Come back here, coward!" Vegnya charged after him as <<The Cresent>> materialized into her hands. Hikaru was a slippery one, unfortunately. In just a blink he disappeared into a sea of blade-clashing frenzy. Instead of encountering the head of the snake, two lesser serpents she once called her children, prepared to devour their oppressor. Their forms were hidden in their red cloaks, but Vegnya could see the battle axe and broadsword. With a heavy heart she marched forward to end their misery.
Now was the time for survival.
-+++++++-+++++++-
Brotherhood members in attendance: 40
Those affected by status effect <<Hate>>: Unknown
Boss: Hikaru <<The Enlightened>> (Currently Engaging: No one)
Directions: Fight for your lives. Clearly state the number of enemies you have dispatched and use @Mentions as necessary.
Example:
Vegnya || Dispatched: 2 || Players Directly Involved: None
ClocktowerEchos
Festive
Foster
Mixtape Ghost N
MurderVictim
Midnight Player
Ersa93
Noctis
ButtsnBalls