RAIDS ONLINE: RAGNAROK BEAST

It started as a curiosity, about a world within a certain VRMMORPG.

About a lifeless world almost similar to the world she admired.

A Dark Gray World, robbed of everything that she wanted to protect and save.

What she saw as she stood on the edge of the Moon was a world without her dreams.

What she feels as she stands to her side is the overwhelming desire to bring back life to that world.

To make life bloom in that world again, back to its evergreen blue colors.

To show her how beautiful that world is.

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"I didn't quit because I saw the Player's Nightmare. I quit because I didn't see anything."

Kaida or, rather, Horizon started playing RAIDS ONLINE more than two years ago, at the time when BlueHeroine lay low after her last defeat against the Rank B Ragnarok Beast Icarus, where she caused collateral damage and wiped out SilverPup's entire raid.

Just like BlueHeroine who started with a high-starting Link Force of 35 percent, Horizon started with the same amount of Link Force and was hunted by the Rank B Ragnarok Beast Hydra.

And just like Luel, who was fed by SilverPup to the Rank A Ragnarok Beast Cerberus multiple times, Horizon experienced getting killed by Hydra repeatedly until the Rank B Ragnarok Beast absorbed her Link Force down to 10 percent and stopped hunting her.

SilverPup helped Horizon raise her Link Force back to 35 percent and worked on her nasty plan of continuously using Horizon as bait for other high-ranking Ragnarok Beasts to gather more information about them.

Horizon later learned SilverPup's nasty plan, but as she wanted to do everything to see her dream of bringing back life to the Dark Gray World of RAIDS ONLINE, she continued working with SilverPup for more than half a year.

Until everything changed, after Horizon read a certain blog on the RAIDS ONLINE channel of an anonymous player investigating a conspiracy in RAIDS ONLINE.

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"That blog... Can you tell me what it is about, Kaida?"

Hearing the last part of Kaida's story, Luel has a sudden premonition of the identity of the said anonymous RAIDS ONLINE player.

"That the world within the RAIDS ONLINE is the foretold prophecy of our future."

...So it was Amy after all...

Amy didn't mention anything to Luel about writing a blog on the RAIDS ONLINE channel, but Luel is definitely sure that it was Amy who wrote it since it was the same words that Amy spoke when she told him about her reason for quitting as an Idol to become a professional RAIDS ONLINE player.

"And do you believe that conspiracy?"

"It might sound crazy, but yes, to a certain degree. But what caught most of my attention is about another thing that was written in that blog."

"Which is?..."

"That what you will see in the Player's Nightmare after breaking through the 50 percent Link Force boundary is something or someone important to you in the future."

...It's definitely Amy who wrote that blog!...

Putting aside his sidetracked thoughts, Luel once again asks for Kaida's reason as to why she quit playing RAIDS ONLINE.

"I told you, Luel. I quit because I didn't see anything."

After reading the blog written by Amy or, rather, BlueHeroine, about the Player's Nightmare, Horizon eagerly continues her raids to defeat and devour more Ragnarok Beasts just to break through the 50 percent Link Force boundary and experience the Player's Nightmare.

She even works with SilverPup and other RAIDS ONLINE players in defeating and devouring the Unique Rank C Ragnarok Beast Gorgon.

In just an expanse of a month of continuous raiding, Horizon finally managed to break through the 50 percent Link Force boundary.

She wanted to see what would be the most important to her in the future where everything she dream about the world she admires is lost.

Is it the environment of the world that she wanted to protect and save?

Her family, friends, and loved ones?

Or is it just herself?

But at the moment when she encounters Selene's Unique Dialogue Scene, where Selene covers her eyes to allow her to see and experience the Player's Nightmare before she logs out of RAIDS ONLINE and wakes up in real life, Kaida sees nothing.

"Tell me, Luel. In a future where there's nothing important to me exists, why would I continue to fight for it?"

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"So, how did the talk with Kaida go?"

At the end of the day, back to their hotel room where Ram and Mie are sleeping soundly after getting tired of playing the whole day at the beach, Luel and Amy are at their usual spot on the couch, talking about Kaida's response to their invitation for her to join the Guardian Beast team.

"Well, she didn't exactly give an answer yet. But she at least told me that she would think about it."

The discussion between Luel and Kaida ended with Luel giving his answer to Kaida's question. Then Kaida and her friends take their leave which puts Luel back to his task of warding off the guys who were trying to hit on Amy.

To take his mind off the tiring day when he had to constantly run back and forth in the beach, Luel decided to change the topic of their conversation.

"By the way, why didn't you mention about the blog you're writing on the RAIDS ONLINE channel?"

"Ehh?... How did you learn about that?"

Amy looked at Luel in surprise, then her face started to blush as if she was embarrassed about something she didn't want Luel to find out.

"Have you already looked at it, Luel?"

"I still haven't, Amy. But if it's alright with you, can I read..."

"No!..."

Amy jumps on Luel, who's about to take out his smartphone while trying to ask for Amy's consent to read her blog.

"You already told me everything about your investigation, right? So why can't I read your blog?"

"Because everything I wrote in there is so cringe that it will be embarrassing if you read it!"

While Amy is sitting on top of Luel trying to take away his smartphone...

"What are they doing?"

"Hugs! No kiss."

"Go back to sleep already, Ram, Mei."

...Wahhhh! Big Sister is mad again!...

After Amy puts Ram and Mie back in their room, she looks back to Luel and asks about the last part of his conversation with Kaida.

"How did you answer Kaida's question, Luel?"

...Tell me, Luel. In a future where there's nothing important to me exists, why would I continue to fight for it?...

...Because you probably made the same promise to her...

...One day, I promise that one day, I will show you how beautiful this world is, Selene...

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On the last day of their family trip, Luel and Amy, together with Ram and Mie, spend the early morning shopping for souvenirs before their trip back home.

However, unknown to them, a group of five guys who were trying to hit on Amy yesterday are following their group, hiding in an alley, with unpleasant intentions.

...If we took those children hostage, then we could beat up the husband and mess up the wife all we want...

Or so the group of scumbags thought, until...

"Hey there, trashes! You're planning to mess up that beautiful goddess, right?"

...What?...

...How did you know?...

...Wait, aren't you?...

"Since you at least admit your sin and crime, I promise to dispose all of you to the dumpster where all of you should thrown!"