The World

Noct doesn't blame her and just follows along.

--

"Wait, I think I've heard that name before," Mortal said.

"That is the creator of the game..." Sab said, starting to get a bit spooked out. It was one thing for the 'ghost' to be part of some event or something, but breaking the 4th wall was creepy.

*The golem, of course, moves to get between him & the spear.*
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Euryale: It doesn't seem like she's an NPC. But it doesn't seem like she's a player.

Zalera: Something that is part of the game, but beyond its capabilities.

*Monudon attempts to dive around the golem and grab his spear*

As Noct was walking she scrolled over Luna, and saw her name pop up. She instantly face palmed. She didn't play with others, so she forgot it worked like that. Noct felt foolish, and tried not to make an idiot of herself again.

"That seems like a condition you've heard of before," Mortal said. "Has something like this come up in the past?"

Luna: It is a beautiful song.
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Zalera: The monster ordered around by the Wavemaster, Tsukasa. If you can have a monster that isn't part of the game...then what about an NPC?

Euryale: And you think the monster isn't a hack, because CC Corp hasn't deleted it.

Zalera: But it can't be legitimate, or they would have told the Crimson Knights to back off.
======================================
*Of course, the golem turns around, swinging one of its "feet" towards him.*

*Monuudon tries to dodge and again grabs for his spear*

"Would they have?" Sab asked, "They're fine with PKers. Maybe they don't care what players do, so long as it isn't game breaking."

--

Noct nodded her head, "I agree."

*Monudon is hit & sent sprawling, but he successfully grabs the spear. The golem resumes marching towards him.*
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Zalera: The difference is that they aren't cheating. CC Corp doesn't like it when you modify their stuff. It's against the license agreement.

*Luna & Noctis appear. Aroma turns back & waves at them.*

Thiera: So...you're saying she's some kind of...vagrant AI?

"Oh, I guess that makes sense..." Sab said.

"So," Noct asked, "What exactly is it that you wanted to show me here?"

Hector had probably left the keyboard for a few minutes and only just returned to find himself alone again. He went to the Chaos Gate and entered the key words "Closed Geothermal Hypha".

Thiera: This!

*She gestures at Aroma, who frowns.*

Thiera: This is incredible! If he's right, it's actually a program that can think & act for itself.

Luna: That isn't possible.

Zalera: It wasn't during The World's beta test. Harald was researching the possibility. However, he abandoned the project when Emma died, & he became obsessed with creating a game world based off of her poem.
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*Hector emerges in a prairie area. He is in an open space surrounded by a loose ring of large, mushroom-shaped boulders.*

Noct frowned when Aroma frowned, "I don't think she likes being called 'this' or 'it'."

"Are you a program?" Sab asked.

Hector approached one of the boulders, slowly drawing upon his cutlass.

*It doesn't move. Because it is a rock. A mushroom at the base turns, smiling at him like a retard.*

<Mushroom!>
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*Aroma walks over to Noctis & wraps her arms around her torso, smiling & nodding her head. She then glances at Sab.*

Aroma: I don't know.

Thiera: Do you...do you think we should feet it--her Grunty Food?

Zalera: How the bloody Hell should I know?

Euryale: Hey, take it easy on her. I expect everyone in this room to be on friendly terms, is that clear?

Zalera: Yes, alright, mother.

*Euryale has one hand on her hip, with the other, she wags a finger at Zalera. Aroma looks nervous. Luna sits in a pew & observes quietly.*

Noct, having had her day made, actually smiled, "So, we've found something incredibly unique. What do we do now?" Noct asked.

*Monudon runs around the golem then starts stabbing at the central orb*

*The golem's "arms" detach, floating perpendicular to Monudon, as the a glyph appears above the head of the golem itself.*
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*The air above the pedestal blurs, marking the appearance of a blue-green, barbell-shaped monster with a golden bracelet suspended in the center. The monster makes a sound like a whale call.*

Zalera: Run.

Noct backed up, "But what about Aroma?"

Sab, sufficiently freaked out, had already turned tail and ran. Mortal quickly after her.

*Monudon continues attacking the central orb*

Monudon:[I gotta take this chance.]

Zalera: Do I have to explain everything to you?! Take her with yAAARGH!

*A blue tendril shot out of the monster, striking Zalera in the chest. Binary poured out from around the wound before he turned gray & slumped over, fading away. Euryale did not need another warning, grabbed Thiera by the arm, & ran out of the church.*

Euryale: If we get far enough, the Battle Mode will end, & we'll have a chance to Gate Out. Just keep running until you get to the end of the bridge!
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*The pillars slam together behind Monudon once. Then they slam together over his character twice, dealing heavy damage that reduces Monudon to 60% health. For the golem's part, it is almost out of HP.*

*Monudon drinks a health potion then resumes attacking the orb*

Noctis grabbed Aroma's arm, "Come on!" She ran a few steps before checking to make sure that they weren't forgetting anyone. If there isn't she continues on out the door, if there is she grabs them too and continues running.

*Fortunately, the monster only lazily floated after them. By the time they were at the end of the bridge, the frantic music stops. It pushed past the doors, smacking them aside. Euryale & Thiera are the first to go, vanishing as golden rings sweep down their heads over their bodies. Luna stares at Noctis's hand on her wrist for a moment before Gating Out as well. The barbell shaped monster begins advancing across the bridge.*
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*The guardian finally collapses, reverting to grayscale before disappearing. It leaves behind a Risky Treasure.*

Mortab gates out as well.

Noctis was about to, but looked at Aroma, "Can you gate out? Can you come with me?"

Momudon:<Oh come on!>

*Monudon goes over to the treasure chest*

Monudon:<Hm.>

*Monudon decides to open the treasure chest*