December 24, 2022
Hello, you're listening to version… 6, I think, of my last will and testament. Or just last wishes, since I guess I don't exactly have an estate to hand down. Ever since I got this crystal I've been making a new version each time we go somewhere we know is dangerous and I keep re-recording on the same crystal because these things are really expensive, but whatever. This time it's addressed specifically to my good friend Enrique, and if anyone else finds this, I guess by looting my corpse after killing me because if monsters kill me all my stuff just shardifies, please deliver it to him. He's got brown hair and sorta tanned skin, wears this blue and white jacket, and has a ton of jewelry on him so he's kinda hard to miss. If it did get to you, Enrique, and you're already listening to this then you don't exactly need to be reminded how you look. What you do need to know is that yes, I really am dead. Merry Christmas, huh...
I know we haven't really known each other that long, but I feel like I can trust you with this. You're really loyal and honest and you act like you've got everything under control. God knows I don't or else I wouldn't feel like I have to make one of these every time I go in the dungeon or something. But anyway, there's something I want you to do for me. You said you lived in Virginia, right? Well, when we get out of this, I want you to go to New York, where I live. It's a bright yellow house in Buffalo on Adams street, harder to miss than even you. There I want you to tell my family that I love them. Tell my mom that wherever I've gone, that I'll be fine, and tell my little sis that she needs to take care of mom. Be the man of the house, I guess, haha. She needs to start taking responsibility now. Then tell her that if she doesn't then I'll haunt her or something.
… It's funny. I've said pretty much the exact same stuff about… was it 6? ...Yeah, like 6 times already, and I'm still tearing up. Better shut this thing off before I start embarrassing myself, haha. So I hope I can say all that stuff to them myself when it's all over, but if I can't, well, that's the whole point of this thing. Well, I guess this is goodbye. Take care of this, or else I'll haunt you too!
…
...
Enrique listened to the recording that had been delivered to him late that evening by one of the members of his best friend's guild. Well, former best friend now, it seemed. He'd been sitting there in the darkness, alone in his room at the inn as he listened to it and let out an incredible sigh as it finished.
Again, huh? He gritted his teeth and returned the crystal to his inventory. He could feel a lump in his throat. Then he just lied back down on his bed and closed his eyes. Maybe the bliss of unconsciousness would help get his mind off what he had just heard. Yeah, that was a good idea.
People die. Happens all the time, and there's nothing I can do about it. No use making a big deal out of it, right?
December 25, 2022
The next day arrived and Enrique found himself wandering towards the Lone Tree. After responding to messages he'd received since falling asleep he planned to make his way to the boss room, but for some reason he just felt like seeing what was up at the tree. Thus, with his trademarked grin and his dagger in hand, Enrique began walking across Urbus. He held his dagger not because he wanted to fight or anything, but because he had a habit of flipping the small knife in the air when he wasn't doing anything. It went up, spun a couple of times, then came back into his hand over and over as he walked.
The day was snowy, just like yesterday, and he liked it. Yesterday he had fun joining a snowball fight with some others he'd met that day. It was stunning how real the snow felt. Well, it didn't matter whether it was fake or not, it was still pretty and still fun. He walked on, and began to ponder what sorts of things he could make with the presents he'd gotten yesterday. Most of it was crafting materials, and some of it was clothes or food. In fact, today he was wearing a new grey shirt underneath the jacket he always wore. Anyway, he would probably make a new bracelet, ideally another one with a cool effect. He could probably pull it off considering how he'd recently blown all his money on rare crafting gems. Another lower cooldown time effect would be so cool considering the already puny amount his Sting art required along with his right ring's effect.
More idle thoughts passed through his mind before he finally made it to the tree. As usual, there were a lot of people there, even in the morning. What was unusual though was what they were doing. Enrique was ready to greet everyone when he came upon-
"WHO GAVE YOU THE DAMN RIGHT TO DECIDE IF SOMEONE SHOULD LIVE OR DIE!?" His own cheerful grin now made him feel really awkward in the midst of what was clearly intense drama, so, with what had now become a nervous smile, he tried to shuffle around the scene. It looked like coming to the Lone Tree wasn't the best idea, so he decided to head directly to the boss room instead.
Fortunately for him, the boss room wasn't very far from the Lone Tree and he made it there pretty quickly. He hoped he could meet those people from the tree another time when they were calmer. There were already a lot of other players entering the dungeon in preparation to fight the boss, but it wasn't like last time when they were all in one big group coming in. He entered the dungeon and stopped tossing his dagger. Now he would actually need to use it. He opened his menu to equip his leather armor and buckler and proceeded deeper into the dungeon.
He'd never been here before, having only visited the floor's Marome dungeon during his one day on this floor. It was surprising how quickly the boss room was found this time actually. Maybe it was exactly where it had been on the beta this time. He walked alongside others and he stirred up a conversation with the two next to him. It was pointless chatter over play-styles and interests, but it was better then walking along in boring silence. In their conversation, Enrique and his two new companions had fallen a little behind the others. Of course, as it would be written in the predator's handbook, the stragglers were the ones who were targeted.
The boy named Flamio was knocked down before the trio even realized there were enemies around. Enrique quickly identified the enemy as a four-eyed frog before it was knocked off of Flamio by the girl named Mjoll's battleaxe. It didn't seem to help much, though, because four more of the creatures came to overwhelm the small group. "All right guys, time to prove what you told me," said Enrique with that grin ever present. Enrique seemed built more for fighting people than monsters, but he felt confident that the three of them could win despite the fact that they'd only just met.
The ensuing fight was a short one, with Mjoll dealing most of the damage. Enrique used his Shuffle art and natural agility to defend from multiple directions more easily and dodge, keeping enemies busy while dealing bits of damage every once in a while with Sting, whereas Flamio used his longsword to watch Mjoll's back as she tore through the frogs. Fighting together is a good way to bond, so the three added each other to their friends list on the way to the boss room.
Once they arrived, Mjoll and Flamio separated from Enrique temporarily to prepare for the battle, either by trading for items, making their own plans, talking to beaters, or simply mentally preparing. Enrique didn't bother with that, though, and instead looked around at the others present. There were all sorts of people there, even one with a huge orange afro. It made Enrique wonder whether or not he should alter his own hairstyle. Electric blue, maybe?
Enrique was bored, having gone back to tossing his dagger in the air. All the people he usually messaged were busy or dead, and he couldn't go train on his own. He decided to chat with the nearest person, who happened to be a dark-skinned girl who was scantily clad in red armor. "Hey, how much longer do you think this'll take," he started, turning to her while still flipping his knife. "Oh, I'm Enrique, by the way. Well, you could probably tell that from my username but it's my real name too." He grinned and stopped messing with his weapon, extending the other hand for a handshake.