Seraphim Online: Afterlife

Bzzz… bzzz… bzzz!

‘Urggg… crikey. Even my thoughts are filtered now.’

My heart skips a beat and my stomach drops when the same sound of that blasted pager beeps again. The second I open my eyes… it will all but confirm my fear.

Instead of waking up on a warm and comfy bed, the both of us sit with grass poking against our ankles, back in the front garden we spawned in at. This has to mean one thing…

“Fudging hell, Sena! What kind of excrement is this place!? Why are we back outside?”

“Our own version of Groundhog-, ignore that, Lena. At least we know the theme of this place, live out the same day. It might be impossible to progress to the next day.”

“This world needs to burn, Sera.”

Of course, I am jumping the gun so to speak. For all we know, the people around us may also be in the same situation, remembering what happened but hopefully not in a loop.

Right on cue, just as we wipe the dirt off our fancy clothing, our stoic neighbour comes along with the exact same deadpan expression as yesterday. She’s going to repeat the exact same thing she said yesterday, isn’t she?

“Oh my, morning neighbours. Apologies for the inconvenience, but it happened-”

“Yeah yeah, we’ll get a new bed soon. We know our late-night exploits keep you up.”

Taking the words right out her mouth, the lifeless woman actually shows a frown all for a split second. Then, decides to just go back into her home without following things up. Out of sight and out of mind.

“You have any idea what we should do today, Lena? If some progression can be saved, this is a perfect opportunity to better ourselves, no?”

Despite the complicated problem we find ourselves into, isn’t living out the same day over and over the perfect chance for a training montage? To spend thousands of years getting overpowered, then returning to a world that hasn’t aged a day? It’s a risk that could turn this adventure on its head.

“And have you getting muscles from fighting as well as square eyes from reading too much!? Erm… probably isn’t the time for jokes. This place really makes me feel icky, Sera.”

Putting Lena’s brief playfulness aside, that feeling of peace and harmony has been weighing us down ever since we entered. Today, it feels slightly stronger. It’s reassuring, like everything will be okay the longer we spend here. Dungeons are known to lack survivors; this feeling has to be ignored at all costs.

“Heh, I feel it as well. The question is, how do we get out?”

The fact the day repeats means we must find some way of breaking it, right? If my limited knowledge on games, manga and movies is anything to go off, there has to be some development or hurdle to accomplish that will break this time loop.

While I’m pondering on this, Lena places both hands on my shoulders and looks into my eyes with a smile.

“Sera… you’re thinking too heavily on this. Sometimes, the old ways work best.”

A cloud of smokes consumes her, then something happens I do not expect. Her form change goes through with no problems at all, no restrictions or restraints. Not sure why I was thinking that, the only thing I can’t access is my inventory.

“Huh, now I remember what that book said. Throw caution to the wind if all looks bleak.”

With a spring in my step, I climb aboard my grinning partner, both of us know what’s going to happen next. It’s time for some entertainment, feels a bit premature but we’re getting the evil ending now.

But wait, hold that thought. Something else must be discussed beforehand.

[This guide has just noticed a memory has appeared, potentially down to a keyword being repeated. Would Sera like to view it?]

“Let’s hold the Armageddon for a moment, Lena. There’s a memory nearby so cover me if you could…”

__________

“Twas such a peaceful day… the dungeon giveth and taketh.”

“Bite me, Morlok! Shove it where the sun doesn’t shine!”

“Up yours, Ignoramus! We aren’t staying here and you can’t make us!”

“Oh, we darn well can! Strength and conformity in numbers, Boss came up with that motto ages ago.”

‘Tweedle dee, tweedle doo. Fill a dungeon with mages, and you’ll get a zoo.’

Within seconds of the group reuniting and the leaders showing up, things have already heated up. Some fight while others cower, this level of internal conflict was never seen in our group. This dungeon changed everything.

“I-If everyone w-would just calm d-down a second, we’re s-stronger as-”

“Shut it, pipsqueak! It’s your nativity that forced us here in the first place! Now, it’s your responsibility to sort it out!”

“How dare you talk to her like that! She’s the only reason us mages even have a home in the first place!”

“Erk, home my backside! Get us out now, Boss, or you will regret it!”

Sides were formed long ago with half wanting to leave and the other half wanting to stay, most days end with arguments like this. Hopefully that’s as far as it goes today.

Two weeks already inside this odd yet fulfilling world, not all have taken to the peaceful calmness. The ungrateful few always try and ruin it for all of us. Boss shaped this place with their own two hands, at least try to show some consideration!

Regardless of the fight that may break out, I must step up and show my fellow mages just how mature and capable I really am if I’m ever to be seen as anything less than a doormat.

Taking a deep breath, gulping, then stepping out from behind the tree, I’m going to lead our group forward!

“Everyone, calm down and let’s talk this out like reasonable adults! There has to be a way everyone is happy, right?”

“Please, as if any of us are going to listen to you, pervert! You only want to stay because the bathhouse is mixed!”

‘These allegations are so unfair! My reputation is in tatters because of her!’

Sure, you try to help out by cleaning everyone’s clothes, then you’re listed as a pervert forever. I keep telling them, a strong gust of wind blew that brazier and panties right onto my face! It can happen a dozen more times and still be an accident!

Irrelevant of this, Ignoramus put attention to it so I’m going back behind the tree. A couple of the newer recruits are really beautiful, so I’d rather admire their beauty then deal with all this infighting.

‘Nice.’

“Look, the least you can do is stop complaining and try to adapt for now. We have everything we can ever need. No more running from humans, no more scrounging… no more empire. We’re safe.”

Surprisingly, it’s Ezzy, the most composed and dead looking of us who is able to break through to the violent idiots.

“You can keep denying it… there is something amiss. It feels icky, like the power inside here isn’t pure. You can keep looking at me like that, I’m not crazy.”

True, all of us have experienced some kind of this euphoric feeling inside this place. Boss just said it’s a side effect of the intense magicka being converted into energy, we may be experienced but none of us share that intellect for magic theory.

“Tomorrow… we’ll be back again tomorrow. This feeling isn’t natural and the sooner you realize it, the better…”

__________

“All done now, Sera?”

“I… have no words.”

“Hehe, I’ll take that as a compliment!”

In Lena’s haste to get started, I’ve woken up upon her back to a higher world of pure devastation and destruction. One by one, she’s been destroying every house on the street, only avoiding our place and the neighbour’s. It’s honestly spectacular.

Crash! With no warning, Lena crashes into another building, rubble flies all around as I’m struggling to get comfortable and hold onto her scaly back. I may have a perfect view, less than perfect when debris is falling everywhere.

Fires burn all around, presumably from the fireplaces still lit inside the empty houses. Every further crash, we leave a path of ruin for every house. I only say we because I want to feel included.

“Does this not hurt your head, Lena? Forget that… we need to hurry up. Only a few hours left until-”

Whoosh! Coming from the smoke, a colourless ball of fire flies right past the both of us, narrowly missing Lena’s head by an inch.

“What the fudge!? A fireball? *Sniff sniff*… no freaking way!”

Lena’s heart fills with joy as she rapidly manoeuvres down, my eyesight disappearing for a brief moment as the G-Forces become too much to handle.

When the rush of adrenaline and blood become easier to bear, the both of us are nearly in freefall, aiming for the park where one figure stands alone.

With a walking stick in one hand and a growing ball of flame in the other, we dive directly towards the shooting mage.

“Gotcha, cursed beast!”

Just as Lena is in touching distance to the target, the next fireball smacks her right in the face, causing us to retreat and abandon that attack. If I had my bow… maybe I could act as a tail gunner here.

“Mhm… mhm… *achoo*! Blasted fool, that won’t happen again!”

‘Heh, must’ve caught her nose.’

Having to fly back around, circling our target like vulture, we quickly return into a dive and get ready to strike.

‘Come on Lena! Do this before my stomach betrays me.’

Hastily descending with the mage locked in our sights, he looks to fire another ball… but poof! The fire in his hand disintegrates, a miscast at the worst time.

“Fiddlesticks… knew my reliance on a single spell would-, argh!”

With one swift swipe, her teeth sink’s in and clenches onto the mage, Lena bringing the boss up to our level. Then, she does something spectacular.

With an almighty throw, he’s flung into the invisible barrier that entraps this place with an ungodly speed. A second later… all that remains of the mage is a splat and a stain, dripping down the wall.

“Erm… Lena? We may have messed things up here.”

In the heat of battle, there was something I neglected to remind Lena on. Maybe she shouldn’t have splattered that guy.

“Why do you say that, Sera?”

“He may be the only person that can let us out… and now he’s strawberry jam. Hadn’t told you about my vision yet, but by the sounds of it, that boss person was our ticket out of here.”

I’m filled with a mixture of enjoyment and distress, watching that battle unfold was amazing and even put me off my distaste of flying. The distress comes from the fact we’re still inside this place.

“Hehe, you worry too much, Sera. Maybe it will let us out later on tonight… or we just need to destroy everything. I can do it in one single day!”

“Heh, appreciate your confidence… have we the time to land? Feel like death is caressing my stomach…”

__________

“Urgh… should be the last of it. Lena? My perception may be lacking, but that’s definitely new, right?”

“Huh, guess it is, Sera. My reign of terror must’ve woken the place up.”

“Heh… no need to rub it in.”

Before we get back to our speedrun of dungeon destruction, an oddity lies in wait just as I’ve finished bringing up pixels from my stomach. I’m not kidding, even puke appears to be filtered in this dungeon.

Next to the smug dragon, a gigantic crystal stands alone, presumably having risen from the fountain itself. That was definitely not here yesterday.

“Woah… I know what this is, it’s a real dungeon core! Look Sera, this is a one in a lifetime sort of thing!”

Lena’s smugness turns to curiosity as she runs over to the big and imposing crystal, even climbing into the fountain and putting her head against it.

“Heh, guess I’ve got to compete with a crystal. This elven exterior not good enough for you?”

“Hehe, silly Sera. As if anyone else could take my heart… e-erm…”

Putting that failed attempt at teasing aside, mainly because the both of us are now blushing, now is not the time for anything romantic or cutesy. The power this thing let’s out is sickening enough.

“So… you know anything about that crystal?”

“N-Not that much, Sera, only that they contain power even dragons can’t comprehend. Come here, you can feel it’s energy and its pulse. It sounds like your heart a little.”

“Eh… think I’m good.”

From where I’m standing, close enough but not in the water, the intense heat and aura that thing lets off is making my stomach churn again. That blissful feeling of peace and harmony is non-existent when looking at this monstrosity in the face.

“What next? How do we destroy it?”

“Hehe, by smashing it of course! My parents found one inside a dungeon years ago, apparently these shells are as brittle as glass.”

Forming a fist the best she can with a paw, Lena gets ready to strike the crystal, only to stop and look my way for confirmation beforehand. Sometimes I forgot about the cute yet animalistic things this lizard can do, this looking like a pup tilting his head. I’d rather her be part puppy rather than have a tendency for eating bugs or insects… although we did eat that mantis together.

Before I can nod, a scream shatters my eardrums…

“W-WAIT!!! Whatever you two are p-planning, d-don’t do it!”

‘Huh, it’s that childish mage… and the remaining two left.’

Backed up by the two other women in this world, our stoic neighbour and the alcoholic, the pipsqueak mage stands ahead of the both of them with a face full of sadness and fear. Am I right to hesitate for a moment?

“Yeah, listen to Boss! We won’t let you destroy our reality! It means too much to her!”

“She’s your boss? That kid? You for real?”

Lena’s question isn’t answered as a spike of ice fires from the raging alcoholic mage, forcing my partner to stick out her wing and take the impact. Looks like we’re fighting then.

However, Lena can only protect me from one side.

“Our existence on the earth is akin to a rasp, you shall not escape from my grasp.”

With a flick of the stoic mage’s wrist and a point of her finger, an invisible force wraps around my waist. Suddenly, I’m grappled towards her at what feels like the speed of light.

What awaits me is her other hand, a swiping dagger.

“Sera!”

‘Dang it! This beech needs her limbs torn off...’

To be continued...