Chapter 3: The lesson

Aeron turned to the group and said his speech. "My friends, it is time to clear this floor, we will beat this boss, but we have to work as a team, groups A too D attack the Boss head on. Group E and F you two handle the minions it spawns." He said getting everyone in their place. Phoenix and Takara were group E. "Now let's kill this monster." Aeron roared kicking in the boss room doors. Phoenix had to admit, this kid was a pretty-boy, but he sure had charisma.

The boss was in the middle of the room, he was massive. Thirteen feet tall, covered in bandages, wore an Egyptian crown, and stereotypical kingly clothes. By its side were two smaller minions. The main group charged Unrah, while Phoenix and Takara went for the first minion. "How do you want to do this?" Phoenix asked as they rushed towards the minion. "You strike and take it off balance, and when you say switch I go in for the kill." "Ok let's do this, treasure." He smiled running forward.

Phoenix charged forward and drew his sword, Takara alongside him. The first minion. It looked like a mummified soldier with a giant mace. Phoenix followed Takara's plan. He blocked the first swing, straining to keep his balance from the sheer force of the blow, and slashed the minions' chest, causing it to fall off balance. Phoenix grinned with smug satisfaction as the health bar above its head went down half way and turned orange. "Switch." He yelled. Phoenix rolled out of the way as Takara sprinted past him kicking up a dust storm as she ran by, and stabbed her sword through the minion's chest. Its health bar completely depleted, the minion fell to its knees and disintegrated into experience orbs which separated between Phoenix and Takara. All that was left was the mace.

Phoenix was impressed, seriously Takara was fast. She still had the same massive Celtic sword but she was so fast he couldn't actually see the tip of the sword as she attacked. They were about to join the main battle, when they heard a horrified scream from across the arena. Phoenix saw the other minion towering over two players their health red. "Quick step." He yelled, taking off at almost one hundred miles an hour.

This one was going to hurt. His magic just wore of as he intercepted the blow with his body. Phoenix was sent crashing into the nearby wall. He swore he heard someone call his name but he must have imagined it. Painfully getting up he saw the two players get up and run for the door. But then he saw Takara, fighting the minion alone. Sheathing his sword he took out his staff, and aimed it right at the minion's chest. "Switch." He yelled again. Takara ducked out of the way just as a single lightning bolt shot from his staff and hit the minion square in the chest. It was just gone. It didn't fall, or stumble, it just exploded into Experience orbs. Phoenix felt quite pleased with himself. That was until he realised he no longer had the energy to stand, and his health was red.

Collapsing he staring at the ceiling. Everything around him was buzzing and grey. He closed his eyes and waited to get his health back. But He felt someone lift him up and place a flask to his lips. He tasted a sweet syrupy substance, the pain subsided, and his strength returned with a rush. He slowly opened his eyes, and saw Takara kneeling over him, a concerned look on her face. "Phoenix, come on get up." She said hauling him to his feet. Slowly regaining his bearings he turned his attention to Unrah. His second bar in the red zone. They had him. "I've got it." Aeron yelled charging in, head on. Phoenix Knew what was going to happen, before it even happened. "Aeron don't." He screamed form across the arena. But He paid him no attention and swung.

Unrah caught the sword in it hand and kicked Aeron right into a wall, ten metres from where he was originally standing. Tatami let out a horrified scream as he slumped to the floor. Phoenix ran over to him annoyed he hadn't listened. "Dude, what you were thinking." Phoenix said. Annoyed that Aeron fallen for it so easily. "Heal touch." He said under his breath and his hand glowed green with healing energy. "I tried to get the last item." He murmured pushing Phoenixes glowing hand away. "You did that just for a stupid item, Jesus kid, and will you take the damn health." Phoenix snapped. "No, I don't deserve it, I'm just a dirty Demo player and a greedy one at that, not like you." He sighed as his health bar completely depleted.

"What are you doing Aeron, take the fucking health." Phoenix screamed, as Aeron's body started glowing. "I remember you from the Demo, Phoenix, kill this thing, not for me, not for you, but for everyone else." He whispered and his body exploded into a shower of pure white pixels.

Phoenix just kneeled there in shock. Aeron had just died, right in front of him. He could have just accepted the magic, why did he have to let himself die? Phoenix didn't understand. He had led this group into battle, led them flawlessly, and yet he felt unworthy to fight and live among them. But there was one thing Phoenix understood. He cared more for everyone else than he did himself. He brought everyone together, got them to fight, and nearly defeat this boss. And yet he let himself pass, simply because he felt unworthy to fight among them.

Phoenix began to tremble, he hated this game, this world, it rules and tricks, what it had made these players become. Opening his inventory he grabbed two items. The ghost sword and his power amour. Everyone in the room gasped and stared at him. Phoenix now wore a black jacket with diamond armour inserts, covered in white tribal markings, a white shirt with black tribal makings, both gave him strength, speed and agility boosts, black jeans with more diamond inserts and the Ghost sword slung over his back. Slowly he drew it, the sleek white blade seeming to brighten up the arena. Tatamis face dropped, and then was replaced by a look of rage, that told Phoenix he wouldn't get of lightly after this.

Phoenix charged sword by his side. As he came closer it glowed with power. "Takara on me." He yelled. "You go it," She said shaking off her surprise. Phoenix let her overtake him and make the first move. Unrah made an odd wreathing sound, Phoenix knew that was laughter. It drew from behind its back an ancient looking Egyptian sword. As it swung Takara blocked it perfectly and just like he'd done with the minion, slashed it across the chest. "Switch." She yelled. Phoenix charged forward, the sword shaking in his hands, shining so bright it was hard to look at, and Jumping up, swinging the sword high over his head. Sliced Unrah right down the centre. The boss fell to the Ground in two pieces. It crumpled into thousands of orbs and as always was distributed between every player.

Phoenix sheathed his sword and fell to his knees. Then he saw an option on his screen. It was the bonus item. It was an experience orb. It would boost your current level by twenty one. That was Aeron's level, He realised bitterly. He slid the orb into his inventory and just sat there. Thinking about what he'd done.

Phoenix was then rewarded with cheers and a giant group hug from some of the players. People were actually happy for him, they didn't hate him, and they looked like they admired him. Hell Takara even gave him a hug. One played came up to him and shook his hand and Phoenix gasped. The players name was Harry2You. Phoenix had idolised him ever since he had been introduced to online gaming. "Phoenix, I'm Harry2You, and I'm going to be honest, that was fucking awesome." He sad slapping him on the back and grinning.

But everything was cut off by a furious scream. "Demo, fucking, players, you little shit Phoenix." Tatami screeched. Sighing Phoenix turned to her, this was unavoidable. The crowd parted as Phoenix went to face her. Takara tried to grab his wrist but he still walked forward. "Aeron is dead because of you, if you had warned him, then he would be alive." She yelled. "No, I tried to save him, he didn't want me to heal him, and he chose to die." Phoenix said loudly enough for everyone hear. He knew he shouldn't do this, but they needed to know, she needed to know.

"He felt that he didn't deserve to fight with us, he called himself a dirty, thieving, Demo player, he knew you could get a random powerful item, from smiting the first boss, and I tried to warn him, yes I know it's my fault, I was too late, and I'm sorry." Phoenix said, now only a few feet away from Tatami. The other players looked like they were accepting the truth. But Tatami just kneeled down and cry. "No, it-t-t's not fucking true, it can't, be fucking true, please, I-I-I loved him, he couldn't, have let himself die, he couldn't have." She sobbed falling to the floor and buried her face in her arms.

Phoenix picked her up in his arms and let her sob into his shoulder. He held her until she could stand again. Ushering over some people from her party and went to the spot Aeron had died. Taking out his old sword, and screaming he drove it into the solid stone ground. Then pulling out a memorial marker from his inventory and went to work. It read.

Here lies Aeron

A Hero, lover, fighter, Demo player

He will be missed, he fought not for himself

But for others, our beloved leader,

We will never forget him.

Phoenix left the marker for all to see and when he turned around he saw Tatami run towards him, a small knife in hand. Takara and Harry yelled for him to look out. But he didn't move. He let Tatami stab him in the stomach, and then in the chest, over and, over again. All the while crying her eyes out screaming. And all he could think was. 'It's all my fault.'

He grabbed her wrist when his health turned red. And when she calmed down enough, he scooped up Tatami in his arms, she had fallen asleep, exhausted, physically and emotionally. He headed upstairs to the next level. And just kept on repeating that he was sorry. Phoenix and the group went up into floor two, he found an inn, rented a room for Tatami and left in search for some monsters. But before that he went into his party settings and dissolved his partnership with Takara. But kept her in his friends list, he did then added Tatami and a few other players. He needed time alone and he needed to fight this solo, like he'd always done. He couldn't handle being responsible for another death.