3 2. The Star Idol Labyrinth

Harvey and Elizabeth left the center of the city a while ago, right after the player had been killed he noticed a skull appear right next to the player that had committed the act, he was still waiting for the log-out button to appear but it didn't no matter how long he waited on the game menu. "Tch," Harvey sighed.

"Do you think we're stuck in here forever?" Elizabeth asked as she clutched both hands together. "That guy's body didn't disappear, were those guys actually telling the truth, are we going to stay here forever?"

"I highly doubt that." He wasn't sure whether he had lied to himself or not but regardless of how hard he tried, he couldn't move his real body. "Okay!" He clapped, getting her attention.

"Hm?"

"Since we're gonna be here for a while, probably until the devs find a way to fix the servers or something, might as well play the game," Harvey spoke and although he could tell she didn't want to, Elizabeth got up from the rock she sat upon.

"Alright, might as well get a jump start while everyone else is still worrying." She snickered.

The game took place in the world of Greatsdane and within it were four great countries. Nox, Gales, Halesburrow and Winterglaides. Each country having four large cities within.

"So we're in Nox right now," Harvey commented while studying the map. "Nox is comprised of four primary cities: Falusha, our current location, Scourge, which I believe should be our next destination, followed by Serren and Moonhaven as the final stops."

"I'm guessing using real city names would've taken away from the tone." Elizabeth stood close to him, looking at the map alongside. "So where are we going?"

"Apparently there's a labyrinth in Falusha, it's for beginners so basically it's easy exp."

"Alright let's make way for the labyrinth!" Elizabeth screamed out, pointing in the direction she walked toward.

"It's behind us," Harvey muttered and she turned quickly, still pointing but this time going the right way.

It was a quick trip to the labyrinth, at least quicker than he had initially anticipated and although he expected here to be relatively empty since the players were panicking, there was still the number of players on the labyrinth starter floor.

They walked up toward an attendant, she stood behind a desk and immediately she saw them she reached below her desk pulling two cards out and handing it to them. "These are your Star Idol Labrinyth cards, they contain and store information about how many monsters you encounter and kill, making it way easier to cash them out for rewards when you're done. They also store all the materials your enemies might drop, weapons aren't included though for survival reasons."

"That's way better than the way Grandroad used to do it,"

"Gouging out their hearts and skinning their pelts."

Harvey turned to her surprised before remembering she also played Grandroad. "You ready? I mean we could have more potions but I don't plan on getting hit so you could use mine."

"What a cool statement boyfriend, I would be really disappointed if you, in fact, do not back it up, maybe to the point that I find another lover." Elizabeth brought out her staff.

"That a joke?"

"Unfortunately, not." Elizabeth walked toward a glowing gate in the middle of the room and Harvey silently gulped.

"Hey!" A voice called out and when they turned back, two people ran up to them. One dressed in knightly armor and the other as a thief.

"Sup," Elizabeth answered.

"Um, sorry to stop you guys but are you by any chance looking for extra members? Two to be exact?" The knight spoke, his voice deep and rugged. "I'm sorry, my name's Harlow and this is my friend Arla."

"Yo!" Arla made a piece sign before Harlow continued.

"We would've gone in alone-"

"But you need someone to help you with backup and not only that, you don't have any potions." Harvey guessed.

"Read like a book." Harlow scratched his head. "So..."

"I'm not a fan of sharing exp." Harvey turned toward Elizabeth, telling her that she had the final say in the matter.

"Hm... I trust you guys, plus it's sure lonely without another girl to be honest." Elizabeth said as she ran toward Arla, grabbing her by the arm and running into the glowing gate that acted as the entrance into the labyrinth.

"Huh." Harvey blurted out. "I thought I was good enough."

"Don't worry, it happens to the best of us." Harlow consoled him as they walked into the gate.

The labyrinth started on the first floor and from where they stood they could see all the lower floors, it was built like a spiral staircase with the middle of the room having a bright light that beamed all through giving light to the labyrinth. "So we go down for lower floors?" Arla inquired, slowly trying to shake off Elizabeth's arm.

"Yeah, I've traversed it before, I got to the tenth level before I got stuck. Turns out there's a boss every ten floors and it's impossible to beat it alone." Harlow shrugged his shoulders in past defeat. "I tried, wasted all my potions, even broke my starter gear."

"Interesting," Harvey noted.

[Goblin Horde Encountered]

"Here they come," Harlow spoke as he unveiled a large great sword.

"Elizabeth stay back and use your spells if possible, Arla use hit-and-run tactics. I and Harlow would act as the main attackers." Harvey ordered and Arla glanced at him surprised before looking toward Elizabeth with a look that said. 'Sure he's a beginner?'

Harlow charged toward the goblins first, coating his body in a defensive spell that increased his durability while lowering his stamina consumption.

The goblins scattered across the ground, making sure they didn't get bulldozed by Harlow, as a goblin attempted flanking Harlow it fell to the ground, courtesy of Arla who cloaked herself.

"Guess you two already have chemistry." Harvey started. "Okay, Harlow. Let's finish this quick."

Using his first form, his blades were lathered in fire and while running in a straight line he decapitated several goblins that stood in his way, "Four ran toward you!"

"Collapsing Swing!" Harlow swung his blade in a spiral instantly cutting down the rest of the goblins that had remained. "Done."

"Well, that ended fast. I didn't even get to do much." Elizabeth pouted but continued walking with them.

"No drops?" Harvey searched across the ground.

"Didn't you get an entry card?" Harlow asked.

"The one the receptionist hands out right, why?"

"The drops are stored there, you get to see what you got after you leave the labyrinth. Meaning if you die within here-" Harlow started.

"Your drops won't get saved." Harvey completed. "I see, that's one way to make labyrinths harder."

They continued walking through it all encountering various monsters, from rats to spiders to medium-sized snakes. Before they had noticed they had already traversed four stories.

"Do you mind if we chat as we walk? I know you are on the lookout for monsters but it would be nice to get your opinion on some things." Harlow asked.

"Sure." Harvey agreed.

"You were transported to the middle of the city as well I'm guessing?"

"Yes, we both were."

"Do you believe what they said?"

"About us not being able to log out till the game is completed?"

"...." Harlow's expression spoke for him and Harvey continued.

"I don't strongly believe in it, they're probably just some players who wanted to cause a problem when they found the glitch."

"How were we all transported to the middle of the city... and I'm sure you noticed, they didn't have names over their heads the same way all players do."

"You think the NPCs are sentient now?" Harvey asked, his brow raised.

"I don't know what to believe, to be frank, I can't feel my real body and it's not because of my headset. Sure the newer headsets were made for total immersion but after enough force is applied, you can feel your body... I haven't been able to since our teleportation."

Harvey could hear Elizabeth in the back, his words were slowly increasing her anxiety and as much as he wanted to stop the conversation, he wanted to hear everything Harlow had to say first. "Malfunction?"

"A hundred thousand players having the same malfunction all at once?" Harlow chuckled softly.

"Coincidence?"

"Even you don't believe that."

"You'd be surprised."

They approached a darker location in the labyrinth, a bit of the blue light that illuminated the room was present but not as much as it was earlier. "Also, did you hear about the faction that was created?"

"Faction?" Harvey's interest was piqued.

[Angry Crabs Encountered]

"Tch," Harvey sighed. "Let's continue this after."

Just like the other foes they had encountered, they dispatched the crabs easily before continuing their descent to the labyrinth's fifth floor. "So what were you saying about the faction that formed earlier?"

"Faction?"

"Yeah, you mentioned a faction earlier before the crabs, remember?"

"You sure you didn't hear me say something else?" Harlow spoke and Harvey stopped, watching him continue walking, he was sure Harlow had mentioned a faction of some sort... something was off.

"Hey, Elizabeth... you okay over there?" Harvey asked and she raised her head, her eyes were reddened and he knew she had been crying, probably as a response to getting trapped in the game. He tried comforting her, but Arla waved him away.

"What's this?" Harlow questioned, and everyone turned their attention forward.

"A gate?" Harvey said in shock as he walked toward the door, "A boss? Didn't you say the boss appears on the tenth floor?"

"Harvey!" Elizabeth let out a sharp scream and Harvey turned backward to see her being held by Harlow.

"I did say that, right? Well... it doesn't matter now does it... Hajun the Condemned." Harlow said with a devilish grin on his face.