Sticker Speaking Stranger

Dead Silent was a Phaseblade. Nimin was able to tell that much by the photon katana they held. The Phaseblade class was designed around a cyberpunk samurai. However ever since a certain update, outfits were more broadly available. Thus you could never tell class by its outfit, just the weapons.

The Phaseblade class held a special katana made of light. Additionally they wielding a sub weapon, a high frequency vibrating wazikashi, designed to cut through practically anything. Right now Dead Silent held both of these weapons, one in each hand. Nimin's first thought was that he was looking at a Hybrid build. However he quickly discarded that idea since it wasn't a good choice for Phaseblades to wield both weapons. He of all people knew this the best.

Dead Silent reacted faster than Nimin anticipated. They swung forward, the neon green photon katana arcing through the air. Performing a Snap Dodge, Critical Shot stepped half a step backwards and barely dodged the swing. Almost immediately a sticker appeared above Dead Silent. A chibi character who had its head tilted in confusion.

Stickers! Fractured World's version of emoticons. These stickers could be selected from a menu in chat, and there was a large variety of them. Every season new stickers would be added, usually based around popular Pro players. This was one of the reasons why having a set personality was important to a Pro. If the personality was popular enough you could get free advertising through a custom Sticker.

Regardless being able to select a Sticker this quickly was very impressive. The speed they needed to move their mouse at, and the accuracy they needed to click with, all of it wasn't simple! Taking into consideration their high level, this was an expert!

"Which is so troublesome!!", Nimin bit his lip in frustration.

Who expected some rascals had such an expert with them? Facing them all without one-sidedly dying was possible until Dead Silent made their presence known! Dead Silent took a step forward and swung the Photon Katana, green neon lighting flowed freely from the light blade and began to take shape. Whirling leaves spun around Dead Silent as they dashed forward. A horizontal slash was performed and the leaves merged together to make a fully circular slash. This slash made a circle around the user and extended outwards a bit before vanishing. A mid-level Skill for the Phaseblade class {Whirling Leaves}!

Nimin rolled through the leaves and managed to roll underneath the damaging area. Dead Silent spun around and made an advancing slash. With another Snap Dodge Nimin managed to graze past.

Another Sticker appeared above their head. A praising Chibi character performing a thumbs up. The words "you're quite good!" boldly above their head. Nimin saw this Sticker and felt his eyebrow twitch. That was his Sticker!! It was the first one ever made for his character!

Despite the arrogant personality he designed for Critical Shot, Second Shot had more of a good sport attitude. He always praised good performance, and comforted poor performance. This was originally him just being a naturally good sport as he first made his debut, but upon realizing what a personality was supposed to mean in the Pro scene he was forced to keep it that way.

At this moment the chasing players poured into the alleyway, "Wait a second, who are you?!", one shouted.

Critical Shot and Dead Silent stared at the group of players. Nimin felt his hands hesitate over the keyboard before typing.

Critical Shot: You're not with them?

Dead Silent responded with a shrugging Sticker. Suddenly feeling significantly better Nimin sent another message.

Critical Shot: Wanna team up temporarily?

Responding with a nodding Sticker Nimin suddenly found himself chuckling, "Now that's more like it!"

Breaking the awkward silence Critical Shot charged forward while letting loose a flurry of bullets. His handgun never ceasing to fire unless needing to reload. The tight alleyway only allowed two to three players to move forward at once. Thus it made the fight significantly easier for the two. Dead Silent charged forth with their Photon Katana, cutting through the instigators. Nimin watched how Dead Silent moved, and was quite impressed. The movements weren't quite Pro level, but they certainly were far above average.

Thus he wanted to synchronize a bit more. Typing out a command he watched their movements.

Critical Shot: I'll knock them down, follow up with Waterfall.

Nimin threw a grenade upwards and over the group of enemy players. Shooting it at the right moment caused the explosion to knocked them onto the ground. Dead Silent didn't hesitate, leaping off of Critical Shot's shoulders they held the Photon Katana with both hands over their head. Neon lighting moved like water and gathered above their head. Descending rapidly Dead Silent swung downwards, a wave of neon green light splashed down like a waterfall.

"Not bad at all!", Nimin praised.

This was a Skill called {Waterfall Descent}, an AOE move that did repeated sets of damage to those who remained in its area. It was a perfect follow up to Nimin's grenade. {Waterfall Descent} did more damage the higher you fell from, thus gaining some extra height by jumping off a teammate was a good choice. Despite having little experience working together, Dead Silent was able to perform this well!

Nimin tossed another grenade. Just as the players were returning to their feet he fired at the grenade causing it to explode. The explosion knocked the players back to the ground, some slamming into the alleyway walls. Nimin sighed as he threw the final third grenade, truly these were so limiting this early into the game!

Boom-!

The visual glitch appeared as Critical Shot swapped to his assault rifle. Unloading a barrage of bullets into what seemed like a Medic, Nimin began to retreat back. The damage they had done in a short time was phenomenal, but wasn't enough to kill the players. If all it took was a few moves, the Professional league wouldn't have been as popular!

Currently the selection of Skills was too little to repeat this process. Cooldowns were still a massive issue. Even if they weren't, eventually they would run out of SP. Standing for Special Points, it was a limited resource to prevent users from spamming any Skill they can. SP can regenerate, but it was slow in combat. You'd first have to escape combat before being able to regenerate SP faster.

Nimin was pleased with their current damage and wanted to retreat to create more distance. However to his displeasure another Sticker appeared above Dead Silent. A Manifest character charged forth with a punch, the words "Never back down!" displayed above it.

"Fine then! Let's die in a grand way!", Nimin responded.

Swapping to a handgun he rapidly reloaded it before swapping to another. By the time the players returned to their feet he had fully loaded weapons. Pointing the weapons he canceled the more dangerous Skills he could without worrying about priority. Skills that couldn't be cancelled easily came later in the levels, early level battles were often a competition of normal attacks.

"It's just two people! Why are we struggling?!", one of the players shouted in fury.

Critical Shot: You only amount to this much.

Dead Silent responded just as quickly with a Sticker. The words "Practice more" were above a Delusionist facing away. Nimin felt flabbergasted, this person had quite the practice using Stickers!

Sending a message towards Dead Silent he spoke his true thoughts.

Critical Shot: We really can't hold out like this. I don't have the Skills.

Dead Silent sent the "Never back down!" Sticker again in response.

Nimin wanted to cry! If he had known he was about to face a small army of players he would have brought more guns! He was under the impression that he was just going to perform some simple dungeon farming!

Despite their advantage in skill, the two could not remain untouched. As they fought they received a few attacks. Slowly their HP whittled down, but they took a few players down as well. After a few more minutes of high intensity battle, the two's HP reached an average of 20%.

Critical Shot: It was an honor.

Dead Silent responded with another Sticker. Nimin didn't get to see this one however, for a Manifest had punched him with giant flaming orange arms. His character fell to the ground. Before returning to his feet Nimin pointed the handgun and unloaded the rest of the bullets into the Manifest.

"Shot! You're still alive?!"

Critical Shot: Of course I am!

Nimin's heart soared, "My heroes!"

It was Strange Smile and his group! Nimin had given them updated coordinates around the time he partied up with Dead Silent. He held out little hope that they would be able to reach him. This was because he was unclear on their mounts. Although no matter their mount choice it would be than his bike when he was in combat.

Simon charged through the remaining players. Nimin rapidly sent each of them a party invite, which they accepted swiftly. Not bothering to hold back Nimin released a flurry of commands.

Critical Shot: Lemon I need all your vials on the Medic that has persisted! Critical Shot: Simon pester the Techmancers

Critical Shot: Smile assist Lemon

Critical Shot: Rue we need a bandage or two!

Rue Fool: You need more than two

Critical Shot: Please!!

The turning point had arrived! Light shined brilliantly at the end of this tunnel!