Online In Another World

“Ah…what the hell did I get myself into this time?”

Scratching his head as he muttered to himself, Roan looked around, standing in the foggy depths of Larundog, surrounded by malignant entities.

The red-haired man slid his hands out of his pockets as strands of crimson lightning coiled around his gloves; glancing around, he watched as the giant, lanky humanoids approached with their spider-like limbs carrying them forward.

I’m not sure where the kid ended up, but I’m sure he can handle himself, Roan thought, at least…I hope so.

As one of the gray-skinned, humanoid arachnids approached him, lifting one of its spiky legs to thrust towards the man, he responded with a swift flick of his fingers.

FWOOM.

The air cracked as electricity crackled, manifesting a quick, condensed fulmination that extended and turned the grotesque entity into cinder upon impact.

“Ah–” Roan let out, noticing something.

Just then, a small, doll-like creature with creaking joints leapt towards him from behind, wielding a butcher knife aimed at the back of the red-haired man’s head.

Before the crude blade could reach Roan, a sharp projectile landed straight through the plastic cranium of the accursed doll, causing it to be flung away.

“–I was wondering where you were, Vandread,” Roan finished his thought, glancing to the side with a small smile._.

Arriving from the shadows, the dark-skinned man, dressed in all-black came out, flinging another pair of knives that went straight in Roan’s direction. Though the red-haired adventurer didn’t flinch or move a muscle as the throwing knives went straight past him, sinking into the doll that attempted to get up.

“From the way you’re talking, it sounds like you knew I was in Larundog,” Vandread said, wiping his own blood from his cheek, “…Which leads me to believe you’ve run into the kid.”

Roan squinted at him, noticing the worn-and-torn state of Vandread’s clothes, though he’d already healed, “As sharp as ever. That’s what I respect about you, Vandread–a ‘man on a mission.\'”

“And that’s what I hate about you, Roan. You’re always half-assed, even if you act like you’re trying,” Vandread responded.

“I see that sour attitude of yours hasn’t changed,” Roan laughed.

For a moment, the two seasoned adventurers stared off before they both suddenly moved; Vandread threw a pair of knives to the left while Roan flicked a bolt of crimson lightning to the right. Each of their quick reflexes led to a swift execution of the lurking, knife-wielding dolls.

“Enough chit-chat. Even you understand the severity of the situation, don’t you?” Vandread asked.

The playful attitude of Roan’s adjusted as he held a serious expression, “Yeah, I do. The ‘Unending Nightmare’ has grown–speaking of which, have you encountered it yet?”

“Not yet,” Vandread replied, “I doubt I’d be able to handle it myself, though.”

Roan playfully slapped the man on the back with a smile, “Count yourself lucky I’m here then, buddy ol’ pal!”

“–” Vandread squinted at him with a look of displeasure, “…I need to know something.”

“Yeah?”

“You met Emilio, right?…Before entering the city, right?” Vandread asked.

Roan raised an eyebrow, “Ah? Ah…I think I get it now. So, that’s the problem. I found that brat in the city–and well, before you give me that dirty look, the fog wall back there separated us. I was searching for him until you showed up.”

A heavy sigh left Vandread’s lips as he shook his head, muttering to himself, “Dammit, Emilio…I have you one job.”

After a few minutes of Vandread displaying his primary emotion of ‘annoyance’ through grunting and mumbling to himself, the two seasoned adventurers discussed their next course of action.

“…As much as I hate to say it, it’s best we stick together,” Vandread said, “…I need to find the kid.”

“I never took you for a babysitter,” Roan teased.

“It’s a favor for a friend,” Vandread gave him an annoyed look, “–Anyway, you know more about the Unending Nightmare than I, don’t you? What’s your take on this?”

Roan glanced around, “–Ah, well, if I had to guess, the brat probably stepped into one of the incomplete worlds–he’s likely stuck between worlds right now. And, luckily for us, we can kill two birds with one stone.”

“How do you figure?”

“It’s weird that the Unending Nightmare itself hasn’t shown itself yet, right? Think about it–where’s the best place to tuck away?” Roan asked.

It only took a moment for Vandread to reach the same conclusion as he held his chin, “…In the incomplete worlds? Shit.”

“Bingo,” Roan pointed at him, “That’s where we’re headed.”

“Only a fool would willingly enter that mess. Still…I think you’re right. It’s likely our best bet,” Vandread said.

“I don’t like it anymore than you do, trust me. We have a job to do, though,” Roan said.

“Ain’t that the truth.”

Arriving in front of a simple, wooden door amidst the hellish city, the red-haired adventurer and the platinum-eyed man readied themselves to delve into the bowels of the nightmare.

“Match my step,” Vandread said, moving in front of him, closer to the opened door.

“No, you match MY step,” Roan insisted, pushing in front of him.

Vandread sighed, “Don’t be difficult–it doesn’t matter who leads the way, we just need to make sure we’re in sync or we’ll end up displaced.”

“If it doesn’t matter, then what’s the problem with letting me lead?” Roan asked with a faux smile, “Ya know, I have experience with leading. Unlike a certain, lonesome somebody–”

“Grrr–fine, suit yourself,” Vandread gave in, having to stop himself from bursting a blood vessel.

Stepping through the door with each of their boots crossing the threshold in unison, both of the men were transported as blackness faded in around them before shifting away to reveal the new reality around them.

It was a vast domain with upside-down staircases and bookshelves suspended on all axises; steps led to sideways walls and the roof itself, which seemed to behave just like the floor. It was a mystical library of sorts that didn’t follow the natural laws of Arcadius.

“…Just the type of place I hate,” Vandread mumbled.

“On that, we agree,” Roan replied,

Appearing from around corners, standing upside down above them and sideways on somber, gray walls were hooded entities, dressed in black-and-silver cloaks.

“Let’s do it like old times,” Roan said, “Whoever kills more wins.”

Vandread withdrew an arsenal of throwing knives, holding them between his fingers, “This isn’t a game,” he remained stoic, “…besides, you’d lose.”

“Is that right? If I recall, I won our last contest,” Roan told him with a confident smile as lightning coiled around him.

“That was years ago,” Vandread replied.

“You’re making me feel old,” Roan laughed.

“We are,” Vandread said.

In unison, they both countered the incoming attacks from the robed figures, who tossed dark spheres in their direction.

Not adhering to the laws of the abnormal, twisted library, Roan shifted into crimson lightning, bolting over before summoning a flame-born claymore into his grip to cleave through the mysterious attackers with.

There wasn’t any chance for the faceless, dark mages to counter as the middle-aged, red-haired adventurer swept through with electric agility.

With pinpoint precision and flawless execution, Vandread threw his knives, hitting each target between the eyes as the robed figures dropped dead.

Roan was standing upside down on the ceiling, though for him it made it seem as though Vandread was standing upside down.

“That’s five for me,” Roan said, spinning his flaming weapon.

Before replying, Vandread drew a long knife, turning around as he gutted a robbed assailant that tried sneaking up on him, “–Six.”

Though even after thinning through the numbers of the contorted, physics-defying library of the robed scholars, it didn’t seem to nearly be enough as dozens, if not hundreds more revealed themselves, appearing from the shadows.

“This is going to take awhile,” Roan huffed.

“Less talking, more fighting,” Vandread replied.