Side Story: Another Perspective Part 3

The two of them finished sorting through the loot, so we started backtracking through the temple in order to get to the room where we needed to place the slab. While we were walking back, we started talking and having a conversation.

"We need to be fully ready for the boss."

"Yeah, agreed. If there weren't three of us, we might not have beaten that miniboss."

While the tall guy and I were discussing what preparations we should make for the final boss, the short guy interrupted with a question out of left field.

"So, like, Olivia…"

"hmm…"

I turned and looked toward him.

"Are you actually a girl?"

"Why are you asking?"

"So you're not!"

"Does it really matter?"

"I knew it. I knew you were leading me on. I can't believe I fell for it."

"…"

What in the world is this guy going on about?

The tall guy spoke up.

"Dude, what's your problem?"

"I hate it when people lie, and I refuse to carry a liar through the main boss like I did in the last fight."

I'm sorry, but who's carrying who again?

"Listen, I am a girl, so drop it with the weird questions and stuff."

"pr- prove it."

"…"

"What do you mean prove it?"

"You heard me, prove it."

"How do you possibly expect me to do that?"

"I don't know, that's for you to figure out."

"ha… hahaha. Wow, you're so stupid it's kinda funny."

"I- I'm not joking."

I finished laughing at him.

"Listen, we're about to fight the boss, so how about you just don't talk to me again, help us beat the boss, then take some loot so we never have to talk to each other again."

"I- I- I'll leave!"

The tall guy joined in again.

"Dude, stop getting all mad, just help us fight the boss. We're almost done with the quest, it'd be a waste to leave now."

"I don't care about the loot or quest, it's about the principle."

There's no way this guy would leave just like that.

"Stop complaining. There's too much on the line for you; you won't leave. Now shut up and hel-"

[LaserSword4306 – Has Logged Off]

"…"

"…"

"You have to be kidding me."

I tried to call his bluff, but I think I just ended up gaslighting him. What a pain; like, where did that subject even come from? We beat the miniboss, we were walking back to fight the main boss, then he accused me of not being a woman and left. I have just as much of a right to play this game as anyone else, you jerk.

"I'm sorry he did that."

The aggravated expression on my face vanished as I turned to look at the tall guy.

"It's not the first time he's done that. Sorry, he just made this quest a lot more difficult."

Why is he apologizing? He did nothing wrong.

"It's fine."

We continued backtracking and soon reached the pedestal where the slab was supposed to go. We placed it, and the locked gate opened, leading us to a large room. Before we entered, I made sure I was fully healed and ready, I then looked at the tall guy, and he nodded. We both walked into the room cautiously.

*Step*

*Step*

*Step*

*CLANG*

A noise came from behind; we turned around and noticed the gate that let us in had shut. Whatever happens in this room, there's no way to escape. The area looked like a big fighting arena inside of a cave. The walls were all stone coated in moss, and the only light in the room came from holes in the ceiling that showered us in natural light. There were no decorations in the room, besides partial skeletons and destroyed weapons and armor.

Just who is the boss of this place?

"wh- w- why are you in m- my home"

As if to answer my question, the monster showed itself. A giant spider nearly twice my size crawled down from a dark spot on the ceiling. It had the upper half of a human woman, and the lower half of a spider. Her human half looked pale with long white hair, while her spider half was black and had some markings on the abdomen. Once it reached the floor, it just looked at us without taking a fighting stance.

"We've come to retrieve a gem."

"What ki- kind o- of gem."

"I think it's made of mithril and used to be part of a ring."

"Yo- you th- think? Since you don't seem po- positive, maybe you sh- should leave and co- come back later."

"The door closed, we can't leave."

"I- is that s- so… what a stra-"

"FIREBALL"

I sent a ball of fire at the monster before me. Surely it's just trying to mess with me. The fire exploded once it made contact, and all I could see what a thick layer of smoke. Darn, I can't see; is she going to take this opportunity to attack?

The smoke soon faded, and the monster was still standing where it was before. It looked unfazed even though my attack definitely hit. I know insect monsters are especially weak to fire, so surely it did some damage, right?

"A- are we f- fighting?"

We were both surprised the boss seemed unfazed. I equipped my sword and imbued it with fire while the tall guy put on his gauntlets.

"I- I see."

We began rushing at the spider. I was a little farther ahead than the other guy, and when I got close enough I started to swing my sword. While I wasn't in range for the sword to connect, I plan to use a slash and hit it with fire from a bit of a distance.

"SLA- UMPH"

The spider rushed at me and knocked me a good distance away onto the floor. I can't believe I left myself open like that. I thought it would try to either dodge or defend, then that would buy enough time for both of us to fight it at once. I got up and started running back to battle.

The guy started throwing his fists at the boss; most of the attacks were missing, and the ones that connected didn't do much damage. This boss has incredible speed; I'm not sure how we can counter it. I got close enough to attack again and swung my sword of fire at the boss. It swiftly moved out of the way which caused the fire to hit my teammate. Whoops. I need to distract her for long enough so he can heal up.

I turned to the spider and rushed at it again. I let out a barrage of attacks of which only three hit.

"Come at me you monster!"

"Yo- your words hu- hurt more than your we- weapons."

The boss jumped back, gaining some distance. I looked over and saw my teammate had fully healed up; he then headed over and we both tried rushing in at the same time again. As long as I'm careful everything should be fine this time. Once I got close, something shot out at me from the boss and I was pinned to the floor.

Is this webbing?

I tried struggling free, but the webbing wouldn't budge. I determined myself to get out and used my fire magic. It hurt a decent amount, but it was better than the alternative. I stood up and looked around till I saw the guy fighting the spider on his own.

The boss grabbed him with its two front legs and held him still before biting its fangs into him. It then let him go and he ran back to me. The boss didn't attack, but rather just sat back waiting.

"It's poisonous. Really poisonous. This is bad, it's dealing too much damage."

He drank a healing potion, then another, and another.

"I- I can't out heal it. Oh no, oh no. Sorry, but you're on your ow-"

He vanished into particles.

*clap clap clap clap*

"So s- sad. Almost br- brings a t- tear to my e- eyes."

I clenched my sword and ran at the boss. I swung my weapon, but the boss blocked it. I swung again, and the same thing happened. I swung again, and again, and again, but each attack was blocked. The boss raised her human hand to her mouth and gave an exaggerated yawn.

"D- do you h- have any other attacks?"

I paused for a second before using even more magic on my sword. The fire on my sword became even larger and hotter. I swung it with all my might. Even if I can't kill it, that'll do some damage and buy me enough time to think of a plan. The boss seemed surprised. The sword came closer to hitting, but before I knew it, it had been launched out of my hands. It flew into the distance and embedded itself in the ground. The boss had hit it with one of her legs.

I can't believe it. Even my best attacks are nothing to her.

She walked closer and moved her human half up to my ear before saying "N- Nice Try." She then grabbed me, and bit into me with her spider half before letting me go. The poison was doing so much damage. I watched as my health drained. The bar got smaller and smaller until there was nothing left. The screen went black, and text appeared in front of me saying…

[YOU DIED]

The next thing I knew I was back in the capital of Enjuhar at the respawn point in the church. The tall and short guy were both there too. The short guy stepped forward and said…

"Hey, I'm sorry for before."

*sigh* "It's fine. I have things to do, so bye."

"WAIT!"

He stepped in front of me, blocking my way out. I tried stepping around him, but he just kept getting in the way.

"What do you want?"

"Do you think you can add me to your friends list?"

A malicious smile spread across my face as I responded with…

"Sure thing."

I then opened my menu, clicked on his profile, and clicked the report button. I then selected harassment and clicked submit. I then clicked on his profile again and clicked the report button another time. Then again, and again, and again.

"Did you add me? I don't see the request?"

"Oh, it'll be there."

Report, report, report, report.

"Are you s-"

He vanished. It looks like my plan worked. Sure abusing the report system to get someone kicked out of the game is mean, but I think it's justified here. I didn't even mind that I failed the quest, getting that guy kicked was enough for me.

I looked in my inventory, and the sword that was launched away was in it; thank goodness. I then thanked and said goodbye to the tall guy, walked out of the church, and set off for my next adventure.