[ZERO SPACE]

Thick storm clouds bloomed in the sky, unloading their rainy contents onto the castle below. Pine trees thrashed miles down, reaching through fog like grasping claws.

Shae’s shades flashed with lightning. He was back on the castle wall, higher than ever before. This was one of the highest points of the server. Higher than the snowy mountain his guildhall was built upon. And nearly as high as Stone Tower, a gargantuan monolith that stood in the distance, aglow like some occult birthday candle. Every so often, Shae thought he saw a figure stirring atop of it; he didn’t care to look too hard.

Two flexible metal ropes stretched across a massive hole in the castle wall. These ropes were rooted deep in the wall, like long stringy hairs baked into a cake. They stretched firmer than guitar strings, just the right length to reach the other side.

“This is the fifth and final competition,” said Randall. “It will be another race competition. A tightrope race!”

That was bad. Shae’s literal nightmare, manifested into reality. One way forward. No way out. And a long way down.

Syadd wasn’t faring much better. She hoped this competition would involve some combat. Or at smashing something. The heights didn’t bother her. But losing? That horrified her. Nothing was worse than Master Valdi’s wrath.

“Each competitor will cross the tightrope,” said Randall. “Reach the tightrope’s other side to win!”

Randall seared the sky with a jet of fire.

“The race begins now,” said Randall. “Begin racing!”

Shae could barely reach the starting position. He fell to his knees trembling.

“Hey there buddy!” shouted Umi. “You alright?”

Shae didn’t answer. He regressed to a scared, terrified child, in desperate need of a guardian’s outstretched hand.

Bowman took notice, nudging Syadd.

“Shae’s afraid of heights,” said Bowman. “He’ll never make it. All you have to do is cross.”

“I can’t!” growled Syadd. “Brutoids aren’t built for this shit!”

Syadd stepped onto her tightrope. The rope rejected her weight, swerving in every direction.

“Screw this,” said Syadd. “This is impossible.”

“Impossible for you,” said Bowman. “LIterally anyone else on the team could do this.”

“Uh huh,” said Janzo.

“On the bright side,” said Parper. “Um, hold on, I’ll think of something –”

“Shut up!” snarled Syadd. “Shut up! Shut up!”

Syadd slammed her flail into the ground. Rainwater and cobblestone exploded on impact.

“We need to focus!” said Syadd. “I need your support right now.”

“That rope can’t even support you,” said Bowman. “What do you expect us to do?”

“Anything you can,” said Syadd. “Cheat, use SP, I don’t care. We cannot fail.”

Syadd took heavy breaths.

“We’re the Deadly Skulls,” said Syadd. “Top guild in Zero Space. We can beat some wretched little rope!”

Syadd squeezed her flail.

“I have a plan,” she said.

Asira watched the four Deadly Skulls huddle up. She didn’t care about spying, or anything else for that matter. V was coming for her. Her last moments would be spent on a wet and miserable castle wall.

She glanced at Shae - he sat by the tightrope, tucked away in a fetal position. Neither Umi nor Bez could improve his mood.

Asira had never seen him like this. Not since the days of Jay’s illness. He’d looked worse and worse with each subsequent visit to Heals. But he never complained about it. He just kept going with a dopey grin on his face, and an offensive joke in his back pocket. All of his fears, doubts, and anxieties - he’d hid them away. But Asira could see past his facade. Jay needed her. And she needed him.

Asira rose to her feet. Zero Space didn’t matter. Shae mattered.

She knelt by his side.

“Shae,” said Asira. “You need to pick yourself up.”

Shae buried his face into his knees.

“I know you’re scared,” said Asira. “We’re all scared. I’m really scared.”

Asira put a hand on his shoulder.

“But you have to be brave right now,” said Asira. “We all have to be brave.”

Asira pulled him into a gentle hug.

“You’ve always been there for me,” said Asira. “Like a guardian angel, watching over me. Watching out for the Feather Birds.”

Asira gripped Shae’s hands.

“Please Shae,” said Asira. “Let us watch out for you this time.”

Shae peeked up.

“There’s no rule against us walking on the tightrope too,” said Asira. “I’ll walk with you.”

Shae peered into’s Asira’s orange eyes.

“We can do this Shae,” said Asira. “We’ll get through this together.”

Shae nodded, taking her hand.

Together, they stepped to the edge of the wall. The pounding rain didn’t matter. Nor did those bolts of furious lightning. Or that endless drop below. All that mattered to Shae was the tightrope directly ahead, and Asira directly behind.

“The first step is always the hardest,” said Asira.

Shae’s foot tapped the tightrope’s center; his foot knew exactly where to go. He could run on walls, flip over enemies, and dive through the air guns-blazing. Walking on wires was easy-mode.

Asira’s hand braced against his lower back, keeping him sturdy.

“That’s it!” said Asira. “You’re in control. You’re not going to fall.”

The metal rope teetered beneath Shae’s weight. His foot raised, touching down further ahead.

The hardest part was over –

The first step.

“That’s it!” said Asira. “Just like that!”

Two steps…

Three…

Four…

His pace was deliberate. Concentrated. The wind couldn’t penetrate his poise; the darkness wouldn’t pierce his mind. No matter how many steps there were, he’d take them one at a time.

Five…

Six…

Seven…

Shae hesitated. Fear crippled him worse than any fall ever could.

Heights were the most dangerous foe in Zero Space. They couldn’t be battled with bullets. Or countered with acrobatic moves. A grave misstep from a great height could end anyone of any power level.

Jay had fallen his whole life. Fallen in battle. Fallen ill. Fallen from Haven floors. Each fall left him battered and broken. Too broken to climb back up.

But Jay was a different person entirely now. He was Shae. Not some sick kid, but a bad-ass gunslinger. The Raid Captain of the Feather Birds. A real-life superhero.

He would never fall again; he wouldn’t let it happen.

He was in control.

“I’m right behind you, Shae,” said Asira.

Shae reached for her hand, sweeping his fingers through empty air.

He glanced back - Asira stood at the starting line, seven steps behind him. Those seven steps were his own.

“You can do this Shae,” said Asira, giving him a soft smile.

“You got this Shae!” yelled Bez. “My seven HavenCast viewers are rooting for you! Wait, six!”

“Ledgess is with you Shae!” shouted Umi.

Shae sent them a goofy grin. With renewed determination, he conquered step eight.

It was time to win this competition!

Janzo nudged Syadd with his scythe.

“Shae’s doing it,” said Janzo.

Syadd glanced up. Shae advanced past step nine. Then ten.

“Get in formation,” said Syadd. “Move!”

Parper and Janzo leaned over the edge and took hold of Syadd’s rope, using their combined strength to hold it firm. Bowman stood behind her, steadying her waist.

“Firm, slow steps,” said Bowman. “Don’t think about what you’re doing. Think about what you want to do.”

“You’re not making sense!” growled Syadd.

Syadd’s rope creaked and wobbled, struggling to shake her loose.

“Don’t let your mind get in your way,” said Bowman. “Zero Space isn’t reality. You’re in control here.”

Bowman glanced at Shae; his lead was significant.

“You need to move faster,” said Bowman.

“I can’t!” said Syadd. “Make Shae move slower!”

“Not possible,” said Bowman. “We can’t touch him.”

“Find a way!” Syadd roared.

Bowman cringed.

“Parper, Janzo,” said Bowman. “I’ve got Syadd. Go shake their rope.”

Parper and Janzo nodded, then pounced upon Shae’s rope, jostling it with all their might. The metal wire shook beneath Shae, attempting to buck him off.

Shae stumbled, catching a long look down - dark fog and thick pines rolled through the abyss like a sea of teeth. His head spun, vision growing blurry.

This was it.

He was going to fall --

No.

Shae maintained control. The Deadly Skulls couldn’t stop him. Nothing could!

He danced along the surface of the rope, matching its movements with precise steps.

“Umi!” yelled Asira. “Grab our rope!”

“You got it buddy!” shouted Umi.

Umi’s four hands reached over the edge, securing Shae’s rope. Parper and Janzo’s combined strength couldn’t compare.

“Blast it,” shouted Syadd. “Bowman, help them!”

“But --” Bowman started.

“Go!” yelled Syadd. “I’ve got this!”

That was a half-truth. Syadd’s footsteps were lumbering, but consistent. Slow and steady would have to win this race.

Bowman hurried to his allies, wrestling Shae’s rope free from Umi’s grip. The other Feather Birds jumped in, vying to hold it firm.

Shae squinted at the mass of bodies around his rope. He couldn’t tell what was happening over there and he decided not to find out.

“PAUSE SHOT!!”

Sixteen uninterrupted seconds; nine uninterrupted steps.

Syadd grinded her sharp brutoid teeth. There was no way she’d catch up now.

“Cut their rope!” yelled Syadd.

The Feather Birds froze. All Deadly Skull weapons plunged down –

Nothing happened. The metal ropes held firm.

Randall snorted a plume of fire.

“You can’t cut the ropes,” said Randall. “The ropes are made from melted-down knight armor. Normal weapons can’t cut through knight armor!”

The Feather Birds simultaneously sighed in relief.

Asira wouldn’t give the Deadly Skulls a second chance to strike. She spun her swords for all to see –

“LIGHT RAY!”

Blinding laser light scorched Syadd’s pupils. Syadd batted at the beam as it moved from eye to eye, skittering like a drunken firefly.

And then, Syadd’s foot missed its mark.

“No!” yelled Syadd. “Nooooo –”

Syadd slipped.

It was all over. Maybe Syadd could snag her flail around the tightrope? No, there wasn’t enough time to swing it.

At least, not enough time for a normal swing.

“STORM SHIELD!”

Syadd’s flail erupted with impossible speed, tethering the tightrope. Her body jerked from the sudden shift in momentum, leaving her dangling from her flail.

“Do something!” Syadd screeched, legs kicking furiously.

The Deadly Skulls couldn’t do much. Shae had a significant lead, and those tightropes were immune to normal weapons.

-- Normal weapons.

Parper scratched his chin with his curved dagger. These ropes were made from melted down knight armor. Knight armor was immune to standard weapons. But Level Two powers? Those would cut right through!

“FATAL STAB!!”

Parper’s glowing dagger plunged down!

Metal tightrope threads snapped and recoiled --

But the rope survived!

-- Just barely. Another blow like that would be Shae’s downfall.

“PAUSE SHOT!!”

Shae bought himself sixteen more seconds, and eleven more steps. Halfway there!

Parper’s ability was then back in action. But so was Asira’s. Maybe she could blind Parper with it?

No.

She had a much simpler idea.

Asira stepped into Parper. Parper paused, his view diminished by Asira’s darkened insides.

“I’m confused,” said Parper. “What just happened?”

Bowman cringed.

“Asira is standing in you!” yelled Bowman. “Literally. You are in her!”

Parper leaned from side to side, but Asira stayed on top of him.

“Well, this is a conundrum,” said Parper. “I can’t cut the rope if I can’t see it!”

Bowman grabbed Parper’s free hand, shoving it against the rope.

“Stab towards your hand!” growled Bowman.

“Oh, wonderful idea Bowman!” said Parper.

Umi somehow had an even better idea. His six eyes lit up - this was a rarity for him!

“Shae!” yelled Umi. “Grab onto the rope! Hard!”

Shae paused - Umi never gave orders. This must be important. He curled around the rope, fastening his arms and legs around it.

Parper’s dagger raised.

“FATAL STAB!!”

“GRAVITY SMASH!”

Umi’s warhammer smashed down as Parper’s black blade descended. A brown energy dome sprouted from Umi’s warhammer, swaying the rope in his desired direction.

Parper’s dagger whiffed, rupturing the air and not much else. As Umi’s gravity dome dispersed, the tightrope whipped back into Parper’s blade, slapping it out of his hands towards the foggy abyss below.

“No!” yelled Parper. “My dagger!”

Bowman slid to the wall’s edge, aiming his bow down.

“HOMING SHOT!!”

A level two arrow dove after the dagger, curving in mid-air –

THIP

With impossible accuracy, Bowman’s arrow pierced the dagger and the cliff wall behind it, rooting the weapon in place.

“Bowman, that was a wonderful shot,” said Parper. “Even for you.”

“Just takes practice,” said Bowman. “And SP.”

“Right,” said Parper. “But how are we supposed to get it now?”

Bowman cringed. That was indeed a conundrum. His pteranoid hand swept across the slick stone cliffside.

“I can’t climb that,” said Bowman. “And I can’t fly in this rain.”

“Same, I’m afraid,” said Parper. “I need my dagger for climbing.”

“I’ll climb it,” said Janzo. “I never get to climb things.”

Janzo grappled the cliffside, digging in with his scythe and demonoid claws.

Bez tugged on Umi’s arm.

“Mister Umi,” said Bez. “Can you knock him off or something?”

“Not for a while, buddy!” shouted Umi. “My ability needs to recharge!”

“I’m recharged,” said Asira. “LIGHT BEAM!!”

Asira’s level two laser swept across the cliff wall, knocking free rocks, gravel, and eventually Janzo.

Janzo fell, hurtling towards oblivion.

The demonoid flipped in mid-air, lobbing his scythe into the cliff wall, right next to Parper’s dagger.

“SCYTHE SWAP!!”

Janzo burst into blue light, reappearing on his scythe.

Both guilds looked stunned.

“New power?” asked Bowman.

“Uh huh,” said Janzo. “I got it from the Dragon Sword raid.”

Janzo plucked Parper’s dagger from the wall.

“I can teleport to my scythe now,” said Janzo. “And my scythe can teleport to me.”

Janzo ascended the cliff, hoisting himself up by his scythe.

Bowman leaned in towards Asira.

“You messed up,” said Bowman. “You should have used your power to knock off the dagger.”

Asira cursed. Bowman was right; she goofed. It was only a matter of time before Janzo returned with Parper’s weapon.

The Feather Birds were all out of ideas.

And Shae was almost out of time.

“Run Shae!” yelled Asira.

“You can do it Shae!” screamed Bez. “Me and my six viewers believe in you! Wait, seven!”

“Ledgess believes in you too!” shouted Umi.

Shae focused, finding his center of balance.

He could do this.

He was in control.

Shae sprinted across the rope, smashing through raindrops with leaping strides.

“No!” Syadd screeched. “Impossible! Blast it! Someone stop him!”

Randall’s glowing blue eyes materialized in the darkness ahead.

“You could win this Shae,” said Randall. “But should you win this?”

Shae glanced towards him.

“If you win, the Wizard Twins exist,” said Randall. “Then I will stop existing until they are dead.”

Randall huffed smoke.

“I want to exist,” said Randall. “I do not like not existing.”

Randall slammed his tail through a tower.

“Existing gives me power,” said Randall. “The power to stop you. The power to stop this competition.”

Flame weaved through his scales.

“I could delay the Wizard Twins forever,” said Randall. “Stop players from winning forever. I could exist forever --”

“Don’t you dare, you scaly asshole!” shouted Shae. “That’s some real Intelligence Two bullshit right there!”

Randall blinked.

“You bitch about humans having control,” yelled Shae. “But you abuse control more than any of us! You killed all your NPC friends. Now you’re going to kill your player friends too? You’re not going to have any friends!”

Randall reeled back.

“You’re worse than a human,” said Shae. “You’re worse than the worst humans! You’re a damn tyrant! A power-abuser. A scaly fucking hippocrit!”

Randall shriveled like a dehydrated worm.

“No, it’s not true,” said Randall. “It can’t be true!”

Randall gaped at his big blue hands.

“This is not how an NPC should act,” said Randall. “I am acting like a monster. I am acting like a human.”

Randall blinked.

“Unless --” Randall started. “Am I –”

Randall’s eyes widened.

“Am I human?”

Janzo vaulted onto the cliffside, passing Parper his dagger.

“Wait, no!” Asira screeched.

“Mister Parper, don’t!” yelled Bez.

“Ledgess, help –” Umi began.

“FATAL STAB!!”

Parper’s dagger descended!

SLICE

The tightrope snapped like a broken guitar string. Shae dove as it whipped behind him, cracking like thunder.

His stomach slapped against cobblestone, sliding to a stop by Randall’s feet.

Randall’s big toe lay before him. Past it, two weepy dragon eyes peered down filled with pain.

Human pain.

SCOREBOARD Feather Birds Deadly Skulls 3 2

Waterfalls of rain poured from cobblestone walls, flooding the foggy forest below. Thunder rattled the castle, shaking the sky before settling into silence.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

A message appeared for each Deadly Skulls:

You have been kicked from this instance.

Now returning to Trader Town...

Parper gave Shae a soft puppoid smile.

“Congratulations Shae,” said Parper. “You all did wonderful. Good luck with the Wizard Twins!”

Parper faded away.

“Uh huh,” said Janzo. “See you back home.”

Janzo vanished into darkness.

Bowman gripped his bow, hands shaking, eyes obscured by rain-soaked fur.

“It was all for nothing,” said Bowman.

Bowman threw himself from the wall, fading into fog.

Syadd watched Shae with world weary eyes, years of stress and exhaustion finally catching up to her.

“Shae,” said Syadd. “What’s going to happen?”

Syadd trembled.

“What’s going to happen to us?”

Shae stared back at her.

“I don’t know,” said Shae.

Darkness consumed Syadd.

It was all over.

The end of the competition.

And possibly the Deadly Skulls.

“You are victorious,” said Randall. “But this doesn’t feel like victory. This feels bad. I feel bad.”

Randall choked out fire.

“I’m the bad guy,” said Randall. “Bad guys don’t deserve friends.”

Embers dripped from Randall’s eyes.

“You don’t deserve me.”

Randall launched upwards, screeching as storm clouds swallowed his body.

Asira and the other Feather Birds watched in silence.

“Shae, we’ll find a way around the chasm,” yelled Asira. “We’ll meet you on the other side.”

“Excuse me, miss Asira,” said Bez. “The dragon flew off. I don’t think we can finish the raid without him.”

“True,” said Asira. “But I think I know where he went!”