Shattered Boundaries - Arc 1

Arc 1 of End War Online: Shattered Boundaries.

Prologue
Unknown Date 

I stand on the ridge, overlooking the chaos unfold in front of me.

It was a beautiful sight in its own way… a veil of pure black consuming the landscape… the Void ending everything there ever was and ever could be. The Angels, Demons, and Humans stood unable to counter the darkness covering the worlds, and could only run whenever it came for them. Soon, everything and everyone would be gone… lost to the nothingness.

And then there was me… a lone figure in the center of total chaos, and the one person left with the ability to truly decide the fate of this world.

My two remaining allies step up to my side to join me.

“You’re up against some serious odds, here.” The first says to my left. “You know what’ll happen when you do this, right?”

“I know.” I say.

I knew all too well. I had already come to terms with what the consequences of my actions here today will be.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Your odds here are pretty slim.” The one to my right says. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I look back to them.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I was meant for this.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">End War Online 

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Shattered Boundaries 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">

<h2 class="MsoNormal">Chapter 1

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">November 15th, 2045 

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I push open the doors to the tavern, and immediately all eyes fall on me. I pay them no mind as I make my way to the bar. I wasn’t a regular around here. I was out of place among these types… I was sharper, younger, and lean while a lot of the patrons of the bar were big, burly, and mean. I knew I aroused suspicion just by my presence alone. Still, I had a job to do. I take a stool at the bar and nod for the bartender. He was expecting me. I tap on the table in a secret signal, and he knows. He pours a drink for me and hands the cup to me, carefully slipping a card into my hand along with the cup. I take a sip of the drink and take a peek at the card.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman","serif"">Violet Blitz <span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I finish it up and pay for my drink before carefully slipping into the back of the bar, making sure nobody noticed. There was a door, there. Taps on the door in the secret signal resulted in a shutter on the door being opened.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Violet Blitz.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">The man behind the door doesn’t say a thing as the shutter closes and the door slides open. I step inside silently as the door is shut behind me.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Glad you could make it.” My contractor said from a seat across the room, seated in between his two personal bodyguards. “I trust you didn’t run into too much trouble?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Had a few close calls with the guy who’s after you.” I say. “But I slipped by. They have no idea where I am now.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Very good.” The man says. “I trust you have what I’m looking for?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I take a small case out of my jacket pocket and open it up. Inside was a shining golden ring, inscribed with many strange markings.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Ahah…” My contractor said, reaching his hand out to take it.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I abruptly shut the case, almost crushing his fingers.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“First thing’s first.” I say, holding out my own hand.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Hm… of course.” The man said. “Your payment.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">He hands me a very generous sum of money in return for my services, and I place the cash in my pouch. Before I give him the ring, however…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Out of nowhere, the entire wall exploded and was blown through. I was the only one in the room to stay calm as everyone else ducked to cover.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">My other contractor had arrived, just in time, joined by a few other mercenaries as backup.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Hah…” The man said. “Nice work, Haseo. Now we can take care of this bastard once and for all.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Ngh! Yamato!” My first contractor shouted. “You led him right to us! I thought you said you weren’t followed!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“You did a good job, Yamato.” The second man said. “You held up your end of the bargain, and for that…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">He tosses me a large money pouch and I stash it with the first.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What the hell are you talking about, you filth?!” The first man said. “Yamato’s working for me!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“That was just a trick, you fool.” He said. “And he’ll prove it. Yamato, kill him and I’ll give you double what you just got!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“No! Kill him, Yamato!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Shoot him!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Shoot him!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I wear a malicious smile as I draw my handguns. Freedom and Justice, twin M1911 customs. I target the first contractor’s two bodyguards and gun them down, before aiming at the other contractor’s own group and firing, taking out his guards as well.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What?!” Both men say in unison.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I fire a bullet into both their knees at once, grounding them both, before I nonchalantly walk over and drag the second contractor into the building and throwing him towards the first. I point both my guns at them.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yamato!” The first contractor snarled. “What is the meaning of this?!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Vincent and Braun…” I say “You two have some pretty high bounties on your heads, you know that? The Rangers are gonna love having you two as company.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“What?!” The second contractor, Braun, said. “You were with the Rangers?!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">And sure enough, the leader of the Gale Rangers herself stepped into the building, with a strike team following to surround the two men, rifles drawn and sights lined.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“You two were tough to find.” Sarah Graham said, tossing me the biggest sum of cash for the bounty on both their heads. “Good work, Haseo.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“You… you set us up!” Vincent shouted. “You bastard!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Nothing personal, fellas!” I say, waving them off as they’re carried into an APC. “Just business.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Well, I must say, I didn’t think you could pull something like this off.” Sarah told me. “You definitely live up to Maverick’s reputation.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Well, money’s the best kind of motivator.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I’d say. Got a cash reward from both then got the bounties.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“And let’s not forget this.” I hold up the little box containing the ring. “This ring unlocks the armory in Fort Maria down in Brisdon.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“You mean that bunker that people have been trying to get into for months?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“That’s the one.” I smile.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Well, then, look at you.” Sarah says. “Well, we got what we needed here. Vincent and Braun are gonna pay big time for the crimes they’ve committed. Have fun with your little gun raid, Haseo.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">And with that, she walked back to the APC she rode in on and hopped in, as they drove off with their bounty.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Of course I took off before the bar owner could yell at me.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">My mission was complete, and it was time for me to head back to Maverick HQ to report back to The Boss.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">---

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Nice work, Yamato!” Dimitri Jager said, laughing in between a sip of his drink. “Chert, I do not even know what we’re going to do with all these weapons!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I gotta admit, Yamato, you’ve definitely outdone yourself this time.” Lucy Kaldwin commented.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I’ll say.” Octavia Victoria chimed in. “Taking down two of the biggest crime lords this side of the continent, conning cash off both, taking the bounty for them, AND raiding the Fort Maria bunker! That’s a productive day, I think.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Attention!” The leader of our group shouted when he entered the room.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">That’s exactly what we did. We stood up single file shoulder to shoulder in accordance with our rank. This is something we did because Chris Walker was a US Marine Captain. He was on temporary leave from an injury he got in battle.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">He made roll call, down the list.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Vixen Cunningham!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Vixen Cunningham was second in command of Maverick. She was a fiercely loyal to Walker and is assigned as his partner for a lot of missions. Of course, she was loyal to everyone on the team but him especially. She was an expert when it came to technology, and her gear was centered around high-tech equipment, like laser weaponry. Most of the gear she used she designed and built herself.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Dimitri Jager!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Dimitri Jager was the stereotypical Russian of our group and ranked third on the team. He was the sniper, able to hit a target dead between the eyes from more than a few miles away… without a scope. His eyes were sharper than all of ours combined, even when he was drunk on his favorite vodka. Some would argue he’s an even better shot when he’s drunk…

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Octavia Victoria!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Octavia Victoria, an all around well balanced operative. She’s trained extensively with multiple weapons and specialized with everything from submachine guns to sniper rifles. She’s actually a childhood friend of mine, the daughter of one of my father’s best friends. No idea how they met, but we met when my father visited France to see her mother. I was… I think 3 at the time.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yamato Haseo!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Yamato Haseo. That’s me. I was a sort of odd one out of the group, in the fact that a lot of the time I blatantly undermine orders and go off to do things my own way, which led to me never being assigned with a team and taking on missions on my own. And wouldn’t you know it actually works way better that way. Just look at what I accomplished today.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Lucy Kaldwin!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Lucy Kaldwin, trained extensively in all forms of combat by her father, who was a member of the British SAS. She had the instincts of a natural born killer, but her mostly gentle personality was on the contrary.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Dwight Duncan!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Dwight Duncan was an all around jack-of-all-trades type. He has an ability to do well in every area, and can adapt to nearly any situation, giving him a huge mission capability. He was just behind me in the rebellious side.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Abigail Loveturn!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Abigail Loveturn was the field medic. She specialized in medical practices and was damn good at it, too, though she could be just as quickly put a bullet through your skull as she would save your life depending on which side of her you were on. Don’t piss her off, is what I’m saying.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I have some good news!” Walker said once roll call was finished. “Due to recent successful contracts for the Rangers, we’ve been able to secure a new base of operations.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“A new base?” Duncan asks. “What’s wrong with this one?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Oh, fine, stay here, then.” Walker says. “I just thought new tech, increased defenses, more operating capability… a lounge couch… thought you’d like all of that.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“We have a new base now?” Lucy asked.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“That’s right.” Walker confirmed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“How much did it cost us?” I ask, only focused on the money, as usual, being the greedy bastard I am.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Not a single coin.” Walker smiled. “The Rangers gave it to us, no charge. It’s one of their unused bases in Halfen, seeing as they don’t use it much they decided to give it over to us as a reward for the contracts we’ve completed for them.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Hah!” Jager laughed. “I would’ve settled for their best vodka, personally!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“We’re packing up and moving all our assets to Halfen.” Walker said. “We’re gonna have a lot more toys to play with once we get there.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">---

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“WOAH!” Abigail shouted upon stepping through the door into the main room of our new HQ from the main lobby.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I let out a low whistle, looking around.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Damn…” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Damn indeed. This place was huge compared to our old place. In the center of the main room was a briefing table, a circular holographic display and a wall mounted projection screen that could lay out missions in much more detail than we could before. I walk up to the holographic display, which showed a 3d model of our entire world, certain locations highlighted. We’d have to reprogram the place to suit our needs from the Rangers, of course, but with Vixen it would take about a day to get the entire place up and running to our standards, maybe less.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Oh, my God!” Dimitri said, running over to a large machine on the other side of the room. “IT’S A DISTILLERY! Oh, wait, it’s just a teleporter…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“We got a teleporter here?!” Vixen squealed, immediately rushing over to it, inspecting it top to bottom. “AH! This place has the highest tech available! It’s so amazing!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Her eyes were practically sparkling as she quickly covered the entire room, identifying every tiny piece of technology there. This was just the ground floor, too. There were a few stories to this place as well as an underground armory we could stash all our guns and gear. The top floors had enough rooms for all of us, instead of having to share a few rooms in our last place.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“This place is pretty cool.” Duncan commented, sitting down on the circular couch that lined the holographic display.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“I’m gonna go up and check the rooms.” I say, heading over to the stairs, climbing up a few flights to the top floor, which had the common rooms. Eight of them, perfect for the eight of us. I go to a random room that I claim as mine with me having entered it first, and look around. It was a pretty spacious room with a nice skyline view out the window.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Neat.” I say. I’d have to redecorate a bit, of course, but I can just go out and buy whatever I needed with the money I got from that job, which I think is slightly more money than there is in the world.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I head back downstairs to where everyone else was.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“First door to the right upstairs is mine.” I state, to nobody’s objection. “Gotta log out, too.” I add. “It’s about dinner time and mom doesn’t want me to miss it again…”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yeah, alright.” Walker said. “We’ll get the place set up in the meantime. See you tomorrow.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I open up the menus and hit logout, and my consciousness is brought back to reality.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">---

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I open my eyes to find myself staring up at the ceiling. I sigh and turn off the RiftGear headset on my head and take it off, setting it on my nightstand as I hop out of bed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Oh, good timing.” I hear my older sister Claire say as she stepped into the room. She was 14 years senior to me as well as being adopted by my parents a long time ago, before I was born. “Dinner’s just about ready.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yeah, alright.” I say, sitting up in my bed.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">Although Claire lived on her own, she often came here for dinner, just to be with the family, even though she had her own. She’s been with me for all my life, so I really didn’t mind. Mom and dad liked having her over too.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">I hop out of bed and head down the hall and into the kitchen, where mom was cooking, while dad was probably in the dojo training by himself as he always was.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yamato?” Mom said. “Can you go fetch your father? Dinner’s almost done.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yeah, sure.” I say, jogging down the halls and into the dojo where I find my father training as usual with his trademark katana. “Oi, dad.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Hm?” He looks over, sheathing the katana. “Dinner’s almost done?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yeah, mom wants you to come in.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Alright, then.” Dad goes over and places the katana on its normal stand on one side of the room as I walk out and back into the kitchen, where mom was setting bowls of ramen on the table. I don’t know how she did it but she always cooked the best ramen. Made me wonder where she got it from.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif""> I sat down at the table while Claire did the same. Soon after dad joined us, leaning back in his chair and kicking his feet up onto the table casually. Mom came in and tapped at his knee with a spoon, causing his leg to jerk upwards and send him falling backwards right onto the floor.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Feet off the table.” Mom says.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yeah, yeah…” Dad groans as he rolls back onto his feet, setting the chair back up and sitting down properly this time.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">As dinner was served, dad quickly got to digging in before the rest of us while mom giggled lightly at his voraciousness.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Geez, dad, you can breathe, you know.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Huh?” He says, slurping up the ramen.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Nevermind…” I say, taking my first bite.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“So, Yamato.” Mom said, sitting down with us. “How’s that new game of yours going?”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Yeah.” Claire added. “Ever since you got it you’ve barely ever left your room.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Oh, it’s awesome!” I say. “The world in it is incredible!”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Aren’t you part of some mercenary group or something?” Dad asks.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Maverick, yeah.” I respond. “There’s eight of us.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“You just go around doing mercenary work, then?” Clair asks.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Pretty much.” I say. “Pays well.”

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">“Sounds fun.” Dad says, already finishing up his first bowl of ramen.

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "TimesNewRoman","serif"">It was fun. In fact, the world of End War Online was unlike anything before it. It surpassed its predecessors in every way, and I knew it would only get better and better.

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