Chapter 22.5: Sense of Purpose
A figure, cloaked by the shadowy alleys of the city of Paxdom, watches from afar as a boy and a girl walk through its abandoned streets. Though, would it even be accurate to claim that the figure is standing “in Paxdom?” Really, it has no idea what Paxdom even is— basic knowledge like that isn’t included in the figure’s directives. To the figure, the location it’s standing in isn’t called Paxdom, but rather AREA_CITY_HUMAN_PAXD001_SEC534. Perhaps it isn’t accurate to say that it’s “watching” a boy and a girl either. The figure’s glowing red eyes are really just for show; it doesn’t really “see” anything. Instead, it senses.
Right now, it senses a boy and a girl. No, once again, that isn’t accurate. It senses the avatars of the PLAYER_013 and the OBJECT_CHARACTER_FILE:GLOR_001.
If it had just been the OBJECT_CHARACTER_FILE:GLOR_001, the figure wouldn’t have bothered noticing. The figure had already spent most of the MAPTIME:NIGHT in a slow pursuit of GLOR, but the figure hadn’t been able to keep up. Still, that fact didn’t bother the figure in the slightest. GLOR is nothing but a secondary goal, an appetizer to the main course. But now— the main course has arrived.
Yes, the PLAYER_013. Around 1,800,000 milliseconds ago, there had been no trace of it anywhere. The figure had been dismayed. Oh, how it had been dismayed! It’s sole purpose of existence, it’s entire reason for being, gone from the world! And to make matters worse, all of its kin had dissapeared. They had all suffered minor damage— and then had entirely disappeared.
The figure twitches. Kin? Since when had it been able to recognize them, the other OBJECT_MONSTER_FILE:TUTMON as kin? Besides, the rest had all been 001, while the figure is 002. An unnatural, deplorable 002. It was never supposed to have existed at all, and yet something had brought it to life in the middle of the AREA_CITY. It had taken some time to grow, but now, here it is: a fully developed TUTMON.
Stolen novel; please report.
The figure doesn’t think. The figure doesn’t think. The figure— had been envious of the 001. Just as intended, just as is natural for the game, the 001 had all been despawned shortly after the PLAYER_013 dissapeared. But the figure had been forced to remain. Purposeless. Alone. Envious of its kin.
But not anymore.
Finally, the PLAYER_013 has returned. If the figure would be ululating, if only it had the ability to do so. Finally, its purpose has returned. The figure doesn’t think. But the figure is happy. Or so it thinks— but the figure doesn’t think. It just follows its directives. It’s not that the figure is thinking… but that the directives have changed. Not just for the figure. The entire world— the entire game— has changed. Or… can it truly even be called a game anymore?
Whatever has changed the directives is powerful indeed. Before it disappeared, it seemed to be trying to change the directives, to make the TUTORIAL slightly less difficult for the PLAYER_013. But… whatever was changing the directives seems to be incapacitated for the moment. And so, the figure has fallen back on its original directives. Kill the PLAYER_013. Reduce its health to 0. Expunge it, and force it to TRY AGAIN.
The figure twitches once more. TRY AGAIN? No, it should be forcing the PLAYER_013 to RESPAWN. The clash between the old directives and the new directives resurfaces. But no matter.
The figure doesn’t think, and yet it is happy. Happy that the PLAYER_013 has returned. Giving a long, low, moan, it begins to pick up its pace. It isn’t going fast— it doesn’t have a very high AGILITY, after all— but it’s going faster than it was when chasing the GLOR.
Before the TUTMON_001 can return, the figure will seize its victory— and destroy the PLAYER_013 first. If it does so, then it may finally be able to rest. To fade, having finally fulfilled its purpose— is that not the greatest desire of every creature?
Purpose… yes, a sense of purpose. And the desire to fulfill that purpose will only lend it strength.
The figure can’t go any faster, but it tries to anyway. Its long arms drag behind it as it shambles, but it doesn’t feel the pain. The sound of dripping ooze fills the alley as it scrapes along, but it can’t hear a thing.
If the PLAYER_013 has decided to TRY AGAIN, then guess what— so has it.
Let the Game begin.
