Fantasy realms online. The new VR MMO RPG where you truly feel like you are in your favourite fantasy world. With realistic graphics and responsive feedback. You and a group of your friends can fight epic demons and build sprawling kingdoms together.

MAY CAUSE AN INCREASE IN SEIZURE VULNERABILITY.

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I freezed, as I pump my body full of jet stream, to assess the situation. One enemy in front, about ten meters away. Three enemies behind us, one is five meters away; the others are twenty and twenty-three meters away. Alia is stuck on the side of the enemy at the front, and it will only be a moment for that to become a problem. So I guess it is time to do what I always do when things turn out mouldy.

“Sister, start the prayer.” Evelin confirms in my mind.

Evelin quickly takes control of the mask Alia is still wearing and traps all the air inside, then I summon my fire sword and turn up the heat to max and chuck it into the bubbly mess. I quickly turn around, using my body to shield Bubbles from the oncoming firestorm.

I suddenly feel myself being pushed as the fireball blows past me and further into the tunnel, heating basically everything. Bubbles wasn't kidding about the power! The flames jump past us and reach the front runner of the three bushes coming up behind us.

As soon as the fire subsides, I let go of my girlfriend and run at the three bonsai brutes, hoping that Alia can handle her enemy by herself.

Taking out the halberd, I swing it around, making the axe come down on the fruit's burnt head. There is a meaty slap as my weapon basically just bounces off the fruit snack's boney skull. Luckily for me, I only need a small cut for the real damage to set in, as all the necrotic nanites start eating away at the inside of its skull.

Sadly, that doesn't mean the hedge maze is out of the fight, as the overgrown bush starts to frantically swing its front limbs around. I dodge the first two strikes but am forced to block the third one since Bubbles is still standing behind me.

I am sent flying and bounce off the cave wall. I try to get up as quickly as I can, but I am not as fast as the monster. The creature, green ichor pouring out of its face, pounces forward straight at Bubbles. Bubbles just turns some valves as a rush of gas escapes from the machine, obscuring the alien.

When the gas clears, I can see that the creature is now frozen in place with ice covering all of its body. Bubbles nods to herself and takes out my massive paddle sword. I guess that is the reason why I hadn't been able to find it. She attaches a canister to the bottom and cuts the creature in half, as white foam comes from the edge of the blade.

Right, Bubbles is a Samurai too, and one that isn't weak either. I somehow completely forgot about that. Well, since she got that handled, it's time to take care of the other two. I put away the halberd and take out the hammer instead. If I can’t kill them properly, I just have to keep them busy.

I swing the hammer. The two Antithesis in the back however, are way less injured by the fireball. Sadly, they are also aware of their status, and my first swing misses, hitting the floor with a loud crunch, as it discharges its energy into the floor.

I dodge the follow-up strike of the creature and am forced to back away even further from these botanic disasters. I contemplate switching to a faster weapon, but those don’t really have the power to push through the aliens' hard shells.

Luckily, I am not alone, and my girlfriend has a plan. She sprays the area with a fine mist of liquid, like one of those fancy garden hoses. The effect is not immediately noticeable; the liquid rolls off their skins without causing much harm. Then I spot it; their eyes start to sizzle, as whatever chemical goes to work in there.

This little distraction, so to call it, gives me the opportunity to finally land a solid hit on one of the two plant monsters. It goes flying, hitting the cave wall hard. I noticed that Bubbles has pointed the nozzle of her super soaker at the fallen foe, so I refocus on the one still standing.

I jump at it, becoming close and personal as I swing my hammer around with abandon. As soon as I hit the creature, sending it flying too, I switch to holding my hammer only with my left hand, as I summon a javelin in my right.

I throw, hitting the creature in its hindquarters, and punching a decent-sized hole in it. I decide that isn't enough ,and throw the hammer at it as well, making the creature stumble even further. Then I close in using my hacking blade to cut at anything I can reach, until the creature has been turned into a bloody mess.

I turn back to the group, spotting both Bubbles and Alia completely healthy if a bit charred. “Everything clear?” I ask.

“You set me on fire!” Alia accuses, pointing my own sword at me.

“You literally just told me that you’re fireproof.” I point out.

“That doesn't mean you should just test it out!” She says, her tone going higher.

I take back my sword. “In the limited time I had available, I thought it was the best way to keep you alive. How did those three manage to sneak up on you, anyway?”

“They were fast, and they struck just as I got distracted by the noise of the one coming at you.”

I nod. "What kind is this anyway?”

It’s a mutated model 33. They are a faster and stronger version of a model 3. Their intelligence is considered above average.

“Okay, so they're strong and smart; that totally does not suck or anything.” I say. “So what do we do next? Do we continue, or do we go back?”

“I don’t like leaving alone a hive that has already grown this far.” Bubbles says. “Can you let Crow scout? I want to set something up.”

I nod and Crow lets more of the swords fly out into the cave. While Bubbles seems to order canisters full of stuff, I guess, I am not sure what. I am not a chemist, and the less I know about the chemicals she plays with, the better I sleep at night.

Alia, unaware of my inner thoughts, however, has other ideas. “What are you doing?”

“I'm making an exothermic expanding foam with a low pH,” Bubbles answers.

“And what is that supposed to do?” Alia continues.

“Hopefully, they'll fill up these tunnels with a foam that slowly melts the antithesis.” Bubbles explains.

“What if that doesn't work?”

“Don’t worry; that's why I made the foam explosive.”

I do my best not to burst out laughing. “Love, are you planning to create an earthquake?”

“No one lives around here, so that shouldn't matter.” she points out.

“Well, you better be quick. I think I found the hive, and they are rapidly creating more of those 33s.” I say, showing Crow's footage to the other two.

Bubbles curses as she speeds up. Leaving me and Alia there, to just awkwardly look at each other.

Bubbles finishes up her setup quickly, and I recall all the flying swords as we start running as fast as we can out of the tunnels. We make it out without any interruptions, to a surprised Tina.

“Is something wrong?” Tina asks. But before I can answer, there is a loud pop of air as an acrid-looking blue foam starts to pour out of every opening in the floor and wall.

I look at Bubbles. “Could you not wait just a bit longer?”

“I got excited.” she says, with a sheepish grin.

“Right, well.” I turn to Tina. “We should go and, like, fast. This entire place is about to turn into one of Germany’s new lakes.”

Tina scoops us all up, and we blast off into a tunnel heading straight for the surface. Once we are topside, she keeps going for a while, but eventually stops.

“Nothing is happening.” Tina points out, sounding confused.

Then, a massive white light blots out the sky as the ground starts to shake. A moment later we are hit by a shock wave, and the only reason why we don’t go flying ,is because Tina keeps us in place with her massive bulk.

Once the chaos is over, and we are released, I look around at the destruction.

“Were you trying to split a fucking atom or something? What was that?” I say, looking at Bubbles.

“So the explosion might have been a bit bigger, since I thought setting it off underground would reduce its effect.” Bubbles explains.

“My mom might want to lecture you on physics.” I point out.

Bubbles shrugs. "The plants are all dead, right?”

“I would assume so.” I say, looking back at the devastation.

“And do you have enough points now?” Bubbles continues.

“Uhh, Lyssa?”

You have enough for all the replacement parts and would still have 1536 points left.

“So, there is no problem and we can go home,” Bubbles says with a happy smile, as she walks away.

I turn to Alia. "Is this what talking to me feels like?”

Alia looks between the two of us then nods. “Basically. Add a bunch more crazy laughter, and it is basically the same.”

“Right, well I guess we can go home then.” I say, as I turn to Tina. “Also, Tina, our house has this physical light projector setup, so I can give you a device system so you can swing by whenever you want.”

“I’m allowed to come by?” Tina ask,s in a voice that seems to be on the verge of tears.

“Yes, digitally. Our house isn't big enough for your physical form.” I explain.

“But I can come?” she asks again.

I nod. “Yeah, I mean, I don’t see any reason why not, right?”

“Thank you.” She says now, truly sounding like she is crying.

“Yeah, so can I install an uplink?” I ask, not sure how to comfort her.

Her entire body shakes. “No need, I have access to the mesh already. I just need a Nodedigital IP.”

I blink, shrug, then send her the details. “Call me if you have any trouble, okay.”

“I will,” she says, as she picks me up again and hugs me tight.

I try to hug her back, but she is truly massive, so it is a bit awkward. After a while, Bubbles' fire truck appears, and we all get in and head back home.

As we are driving back, Alia turns to me. "Thank you for that; it means a lot to my sister.”

I nod. "No problem. I felt like Evelin needed some more friends, and having good people like you and your sister to hang out with will be good.”

Alia blushes and turns away. “Like me?”

I hold in my giggle. “Yeah, you are what, sixteen? We are close in age, so I thought we could be friends.”

“I'm seventeen.” Alia grumbles.

“Even better.” I say with a smile, “By the way, want to stay over for dinner? Cierra is making pizza.”

“Is she okay with that?” Alia asks, sounding a bit unsure.

“Yeah, she just sent me a message 'Is the cute red kid eating with us?'” I point out.

“I am not a kid.” Alia grumbles.

“That's not a no.” I point out.