It’s been 38 days since we first arrived to this part of the simulation, which was another icy area. This time, it wasn’t just ogres or any other strange creature. The creator of this simulation sure didn’t have any creativity. They just ripped off the frost giants from the norse mythology, and it was pretty disappointing. Then again, this was just a simulation made for us to die in. Not much sense on making enjoyable, however it did include some, if not all of the joys of life. I personally enjoyed not sweating, had a pain absorption device to limit the pain we received and not being able to get diseases. It’s ironic that we came here to be technically tortured, however instead we’re in a way getting a more luxurious life. Sometimes I even thought that, maybe this was heaven and we were already dead already. This floor was a massive maze of it’s own, it took us 13 days alone just to find the dungeon, and 25 more days to reach the place we are now. The remaining player count is hovering at around 7,200, with only 36% of the original players left. Morale was at a all time low at this point, because no one could find the boss room. On the top floor, was only lord class frost giants on there.

As we went towards the closest town from the dungeon, Leo carefully traced the map to ensure we were walking in the right direction. I was next to Hailey as usual, and I thought about our promise that night under the stars. A promise, I’ll never forget. However, whether I forget, or fulfil it is two different cases. Both me or Hailey could die today, tomorrow, or any other day in this death game. The promise, was one I wished to fulfil and one I had a duty to fulfil. Even if it meant getting married in a virtual world, I wished to marry her. Ever since the night when we slept together under the stars, had I thought of this. However, I kept thinking to myself when should I propose to her. Now, or outside?

I said to Hailey who was on my left to me, and holding my left hand: “I need to talk to Terry for a bit about helping me make and upgrade some of my items, I’ll be right back alright?” She nodded, as I released my hand and went to the back of the group to find Terry. I went to Terry and said: “I need to have a talk with you.” He nervously replied: “About… What…?” I said: “Calm down, it’s not about you, it’s about me. So promise you won’t scream, shout or spread this please…” He replied to me: “I promise.” I then went on and asked him: “So uh, can you make rings?” He quickly went next to me and whispered in my ears: “You’re… Proposing to her in here?” I nodded, as I said to him silently: “I’ve got some refined blue diamonds I managed to buy from those people who spend their days mining in the 3rd part of the simulation. Believe me it wasn’t cheap, can you make two with these? Summon item, blue diamond!” I showed him the blue diamonds and he nodded and asked me silently: “Do you want them to be made entirely of blue diamond?” I nodded as I handed him the blue diamonds. He whispered to me: “Good luck…” I nodded as I went back to walk next to Hailey. She asked me: “What were you boys talking about?” I lied to her: “Well… We were talking about upgrading weapons.” She replied: “Oh come on, spill it what’re you talking about, I know that’s not what’re your talking about.” I continued lying on: “Okay, okay… We were talking about setting up shop in the night to sell weapons to the lower kids down there to make money.” She replied: “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

We returned to our inn, and ate dinner. During dinner Jingxi bought up the subject: “What kind boss do you think it’ll be this time?” I replied to him while sighing: “Did you even listen in history class? It’s definitely going to be Ymir, seeing that these seem to be frost giants. Ymir’s their fucking king.” Jingxi replied: “Wow wow, dude you and I both know I don’t pay attention in history.” I said: “Fair point, you don’t even pay attention in any class at all.” We all laughed. We finished dinner relatively quickly tonight, and after everyone left both me and Hailey changed to our sleeping clothing. While we were changing I said: “It’s been 38 days… And still no one has found the boss room…” The maze in this floor was hard as hell, and it was definitely much larger than the other mazes we’ve been in. There was literally no checkpoints, so we had to guess where we were going. Even I had no idea if we were heading the right way. When we both got on the bed, I looked at Hailey and asked her: “Do you think we’ll ever get out of here?” She stared at me surprised at what I asked and replied: “Why’re you asking that, we both know there’s only 3 more bosses to clear until we’re out. We will live, and when we go back out… I want us both, to be together.” I replied: “That’s my wish too… But this boss, I’ve just got a bad gut feeling about him.” She said: “As long as we’re together, there’s nothing we can’t overcome Jason, even if this is a game governed by stats. We’ll just have to surpass the system itself.” I nodded and said: “Yeah, I agree. We’ll definitely make it out.” I stared at her for a moment, and wanted to tell her about the ring. I asked: “Hailey?” She looked at me and said: “Yes?” In the end, I couldn’t tell her about the ring. It just didn’t feel like the right time for me.

It was the next morning, and I woke up early in order to collect the ring from Terry. I quickly got dressed and went over to his room. I knocked on the door, I heard a faint shout: “I’m coming, please wait a second.” I waited for a few seconds, as the door opened. On Terry’s hand there was a ring case, with a ring inside it. I opened it and saw it was a blue ring, made out of pure diamond. Beautiful, and perfect for Hailey. Terry placed the box into my hands and he said: “Hope you have good luck proposing to her, when are you planning to do it?” I looked at him and said: “I don’t actually know, ever since I asked you to make a ring… I’ve been hesitant to even bring up the topic of our future life together. I feel like I’m rushing her.” Terry said: “I personally think that… Uh… If you, you know… If you both have spent this much time together I think you’re ready. That just saying, you’re much closer together than probably even my parents.” Terry stuttered and moment and said: “Anyway… That’s just what I think… Maybe you have your own… Reasons…” After a moment of silence I said: “Yeah! That’s it, that’s the answer to the question I’ve been worrying about so long. So I didn’t even have to worry about it at all. All this time, I was worried for nothing. Thanks Terry.” Terry replied: “No problem? Anyway good luck!” He handed me the box as we both headed towards my room for breakfast. When we arrived, Hailey asked me: “Why’d you get up so early? That’s… Very unlike you.” I replied to her: “Here’s a tip, it had something to do with yesterday’s conversation with Terry.” She said: “Well, when are you setting up shop?” I didn’t speak, as my face signalled that I needed help and Terry came into my rescue and said: “Probably after we clear this boss. Weapon sales have been low recently, since you know… The lack of trust of us being even able to clear this?” Hailey replied: “So huh… People are starting to lose hope…” I looked at Hailey and said: “As long as I’m alive, I will be your hope. And as long as you’re alive, your my hope.” Hailey nodded, as the rest of the Crimson Vigilantes came into the room.

After an nice simple breakfast, we prepared ourselves to head out to the dungeon to hunt. We all walked out of the inn and went to the teleporter. However… Once we were there I saw someone shouting: “The White Wolves, have found the bossroom! All clearers please head to clearer square.” We all teleported to Shinpong, and we saw people who were part of the White Wolves on the stage. I made eyecontact with their leader, a red haired person like me, only slightly taller. He started his speech: “I myself have always been fond with the Vigilantes, not only me but the White Wolves as well. But I believe it’s time they step down as the leading guild, we’ve found the boss room so it’s our turn to lead this fight. All the Vigilantes do is fight fight fight, no strategy at all. They aren’t even fucking organised, in fact for some reason they even have god damn romantic relationships in that guild, but look at us! We’re an organised army of wolves, we’re like a pack of wolves who hunt together. We hunt for the exit together, and today I ask everyone to follow me, Henry Tang. And not, this man.” He points at me as we both make eye contact. “I ask you not to follow, Jason. It’s time for you to retire, and the true heroes to take the stage my friend.” I replied to him in a loud, yet calm voice: “Do what you want, me and my guild’ll be waiting outside the boss door and see how you guys clear this. I have no faith in you, if you want to prove that you can lead everyone out, be my guest. But I’m not risking my life, and my comrade’s lives for your stupid game.” He shouted at me: “Doesn’t that mean your scared? Huh? The great dual flame Samurai scared? Ha! What a joke.” I said once again in a calm voice: “If you think we’re that then go right ahead. I have no qualms to argue with you, nor will I try to.” He shouted towards everyone else: “LET US DESTROY THIS BOSS AND SHOW THIS MOTHERFUCKER WHO’S TOPSHIT!” Cheers were heard all over the town as Hailey asked me: “Are you sure you’ll be fine with this?” I replied to her as I held her hand: “If they can defeat the boss without our help, that’s fine… But what I’m worried of is that they can’t.” She nodded, as we followed the White Wolves and the other clearers to the boss room. A large door, was built. It wasn’t made of ice though… Strange I thought. The door was made out of wood, and there was green and golden engravings on it. It was like those elven doors… Strange, I don’t recall Ymir being in this kind of environment… In fact he hated this kind of environment… Ymir only liked cold environments, thus the reason why his land was a land of frost. Henry shouted: “Today! We clear this boss and we show the world, who’s TOP SHIT! TO VICTORY!” I heard cheers all over as the door opened and they all charged in, while me and the Vigilante’s remained outside.