Zyphen's golden rings disappeared as he entered Mac Anu, taking a deep sigh of relief to know that this place was safe. He looked around, there seemed to be a buzz around the back of town. Zyphen headed over to see what was going on.

"...Seriously! At least 10 feet tall! Killed my entire party!" Said a lean Heavy Blader.

"No way, there is nothing like that in the monster data! Your a phony!" Replied a strong looking Long Arm.

"It's true! I was in his party! That Iyeasu character changed the Goblin into that thing!" Shouted a small Wavemaster.

"What's going on?" Zyphen asked an on-looker.

"That guy is saying a ten foot tall Goblin killed his party. Said a character changed the monster's data too." replied the fellow Blade Master, "I don't believe him personally."

Zyphen stepped into the heated debate. "It's true, that Goblin thing exists, or at least it did." Zyphen said to the Long Arm.

"And how would you know?" replied the player, "You look like a newbie to me!" The crowd on his side responed with approval of his assumption. While, the Heavy Blader and his friends supported Zyphen. The argument continued for a while until, Zyphen talked again.

"I know, because I beat it." Zyphen said, to the now astonished crowds.

"Pshhhh, thinking a newbie like you could beat a thing like that, even if it exists, let's go, they're wasting our time." The Long Arm said as he and his party started toward the rest of town.

"You....really beat that thing?" The Heavy Blader asked Zyphen.

"Yes, I have a story behind it, but you probably won't believe me." Zyphen replied.

"With these talks of players getting into comas from playing "The World" I'll hear anything out. Remember that I fought that thing too. By the way, my names Toku" The Heavy Blader said, introducing himself.

Zyphen explained his story of the Lone Warrior.

"Wow, you weren't kidding when you said it was hard to believe. I'll think about it and get back to weither I believe you or not." Toku said.

"It doesn't matter if you believe me or not. I have to go find Iyeasu before he hurts anyone else." Zyphen said.

Toku logged out and Zyphen headed to the shops to gather supplies. As he was finishing his shopping, Zyphen got an e-mail.

Zyphen-

I know about your experience with the Changer, Iyeasu. Meet me in BURSTING OBLIVIOUS FAR THUNDER to learn all that I have to tell you. These e-mails aren't safe. Hope you come.......Lone Warrior.

-Nemesis

Zyphen decided it was his best lead, and headed to the Chaos Gate, ready to know more....

First, BURSTING
Then, OBLVIOUS
Finally, FAR THUNDER

The Chaos Gate chimed its approval of the selected stage. Zyphen closed his eyes as he was enveloped in three golden rings. When he opened his eyes he saw another Wood stage. "Is this the only place I go?" Zyphen asked himself. He looked around for any Magical Portals he could find, he needed more experience. He found one just off to his right. He opened the Portal, which held two Magical Goblins. First, Zyphen was afraid that Iyeasu had done this, but he remembered that they usually appear on this level of stage. He quickly casted, "JUK ROM!" on one, downing it once the leaves did their damage. The other Goblin countered with a Gan Don! It hit Zyphen hard sending him to the ground. Zyphen got up and rushed the Goblin. The Goblin really didn't want to be impaled, so it casted a Juk Rom on Zyphen stalling him for a moment as the Magical Goblin ran away. Once released from the leaf tornado. Zyphen casted "GAN ZOT!" on the Goblin, but the monster was out of range. Zyphen ran after it, not knowing the trap that was waiting for him. Out of his left ear he heard the sound of a portal opening. He sighed in thought, knowing his mistake. He decided to still chase after the Goblin. It was finally in range, and received a "JUK ROM!" for its earlier magical blasts against Zyphen. He turned to see his new foe. Two swarms of bees were the chasers. The game identified them as Bee Army. Not knowing what to do against a foe like this, Zyphen simply charged. When he arrived at the targets, he hacked and slashed, getting stung countless times. He hit a couple individual bees, but nothing to slow the entire swarm. He had a plan now. He got in the center of the two swarms and yelled, “REVOLVER!” He spun around, slicing bees in two, taking out both of the swarms entirely. He quickly casted “Repth” on himself, to get back his health points.

“Nice shot” Zyphen heard from behind him. He turned to see Toku the Heavy Axmen from Mac Anu, and his party of a WaveMistress and a Blade Master.

“What are you doing here?” Zyphen asked.

“Got an E-mail about Iyeasu. Told us to come here.” Toku replied.

“Really? I got the same E-mail” Zyphen said.

“Well, why don’t you join us? It’s always easier with more party members. Oh, where are my manners, I forgot to introduce you to my party. The Mage is Miasan, and the Blade Master is Shudo.” Toku said.

“I’d be glad to join you” Zyphen replied.

The party walked off to the dungeon entrance, but on the way, they heard the familiar sound of a portal opening. Zyphen went to the front, used it fighting alone, Shudo and Toku joined him while Miasan waited with a spell ready. The portal expelled a Cadet Valkyrie and two Goblins, an unusual combination. The three melee fighters charged the Cadet Valkyrie, who couldn’t defend against them all, and fell to the ground soon after the assault. Miasan fight one of the Goblins with a “Gan Don!” felling it. Then Zyphen made a running horizontal cut to the other Goblin’s belly, ending the battle rather quickly.

“Amazing who fast that went.” Shudo said.

“Teamwork” Toku replied.

“Yes, with us together we should reach the bottom of this dungeon fairly easily.” Zyphen said.

With that, the party headed down the stairs to the familiar darkness of a dungeon….

The echoing steps of the party was the only noise as they made their way down into the dungeon. The made their way easily through the first level of the dungeon, almost too easily. Then, wihtout warning of a portal, a HobGoblin followed by two Goblins and a Magical Goblin ran through the doorway. The HobGoblin stopped, the others forming a diamond formation behind him.

"We are the greeters for you!" The HobGoblin said, the party was amazed with the speaking skills of the monster. "We serve your host, Nemesis!"

"Where is your master?" Toku asked, stepping in front of the other party members.

"Oh, you will know soon enough! Follow us!" The HobGoblin responded.

The monsters sped off into the next hallway. The group followed swiftly. The could only catch the last sight of the monsters before they headed into another room. Finally they came to a glow of a magical portal. The sight soon turned to confusion, as nothing came out at first. Then, all Zyphen saw was a light blue ring burst out of the portal, blinding him and everybody else. The sonic wave sending all of the party to their feet. Then only darkness.

Zyphen opened his eyes. He was sitting against a cold stone wall, both his arms chained to the wall behind him. He was stripped of his equipment, save his clothing. But, he could see his sword wrapped in his gear a few yards away from him. He then focused to the end of the room. Shudo, Toku, and Miasan were all hanging completely from wood poles on the other side of the thirty foot room. They too had been striped of their gear and hanged helpless, the signs of abuse, or mabye even tortured were clearly visiable on their bodies. The door to the room was slammed open as the Goblin troop came into the prisoner's room. A figure hidden underneath a great flowing black cloak followed the monsters. He turned to Zyphen saying.

"Welcome, Lone Warrior. I am Furshudo, or Nemesis as you would know. I thank you for coming to visit me." Furshudo said. "You must have a lot of questions, concerning where you are. They will be answered in time."

"Why?" This was all Zyphen could muster from his lack of strength.

"Hahaha! You don't know do you? Of course, if you would have known, you probably wouldn't have been so fast in answering my E-mail request. Master Iyeasu will be pleased by my quickness." Furshudo responded. "I have brought you here to deliver you to Iyeasu! He must remain in power, to assure the Purification continues. You understand don't you?"

"What about them, why them?" Zyphen said pointing to his party members.

"They will be Iyeasu demonstration. Of his power, and your destiny." Furshudo responded. With that said, he snapped his fingers and the monsters took the prisoners down from their poles and took them away, out of the room.

"But, with you here, I myself wish to end your exsistence. I must, I MUST! I am sorry master, but I cannot resist." Furshudo said, drawing two short, wicked looking daggers from his belt. "I SHALL KILL YOU NOW LONE WARRIOR!"

Furshudo approached, his blades extended, preparing to strike at Zyphen. Furshudo snapped his fingers again, and Zyphen was released from his chains, his equipment back on him, his sword resting in it's sheath. Zyphen quickly drew his blade and readied it in combat stance. The two warriors meet each other with twin charges. The quickness of Furshudo had Zyphen on the defensive almost immediatley. The clang of steel on steel rang a song of death in the room. Knicks came across Zyphen's entire body, the showing of Furshudo prowess. Zyphen had enough trouble just keeping his ground, let alone a counter offensive manuever. The Twin Blades swung almost wildly at Zyphen, while The BladeMaster kept his cool in combat. Furshudo was tiring himself out, and Zyphen tried to ensure that he did so soon, Zyphen couldn't dodge forever. Then, Zyphen saw an opening in the tempest of blades, Furshudo had tried a double overhead chop at Zyphen, leaving his midsection completely exposed. Zyphen made a quick slash as he jumped out of the way of the oncoming daggers. The slice went true, finding the belly of Furshudo. The player staggering back, Zyphen quickly shouted "JUK ROM!" Furshudo shouted out in agony as the hundreds of leaves made sharp slices into his flesh. The Twin Blade fell to the ground after the tempest was over. The body slowly dissolving into meaningless data. Zyphen heard one last thing before the cloud of data faded away,

"Iyeasu......was.......right about you.......Lone...Warrior..."

Zyphen quickly collecting himself, knowing that he had to save his party members. He left the room without a look back, turning his back on the fallen servent of the Changer.....

Zyphen rushed out of the room into a long hallway. he saw the Goblin's draging his party members into the door at the end of the hallway. He followed and found a room that was blank expect for a a portal in the middle. It seemed to be a rip in the main program of the game. Having no other option, Zyphen dived in. He arrived in a large throne room. He saw Iyeasu, the Changer sitting on the throne.

"Welcome." Iyeasu said simply.

"Your lacky is dead Iyeasu." Zyphen replied.

"I know, but he did his job well, you are here, delivered to me." Iyeasu said in return.

"You'll be next Changer." Zyphen said.

"I know you wish to fight, and we will." Iyeasu replied, "But first, a test, it should be simple for you, the Lone Warrior."

"What test?" Zyphen asked.

"A series of battles to prove your worth. It shall begin now!" Iyeasu replied.

With that, a door to Zyphen's right opened, releasing a Swordmanoid. The monster approached Zyphen, slow, almost redundantly. Zyphen drew his sword and prepared for the creature's usual selfless charge. This one didn't though. The two combatants meet with little force. The battle continued, half-heartedly. The monster made foolish mistakes, giving Zyphen easy targets. Zyphen made a great diagnol cross cut, sending the Swordmanoid to the floor. The monster mysteriously didn't vanish into nothing, but stayed there, face down on the floor.

"Well done, now for the second battle!" Iyeasu said.

Without a chance for Zyphen to respond, the door across from Zyphen opened and revealed a Cadet Valkyrie. Again, this creature didn't even lift it's sword at Zyphen. Without a thought, Zyphen sent the monster to the ground with a devastating kick followed by a horizontal slash.

"Impressive, the last battle begins!" Iyeasu said.

The door to Zyphen's left opened revealing a Magical Goblin. This monster didn't cast a single spell, it just yelled at Zyphen in a grunt and snarl type language. Then it just ran around, away from the approach of Zyphen. To finish the battle quickly and save his breath, Zyphen pointed his hand at the monster and yelled, "JUK ROM!". The frail creature couldn't withstand the onslaught of nature. It fell to the ground, remaining in the room with the Swordmanoid and Cadet Valkyrie.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Iyeasu laughed histarically, "You have proven my assumptions of you. Look at what you have done Lone Warrior."

The monsters on the ground faded into the forms of Toku, Miasan, and Shudo. Zyphen reeled back looking at his handiwork. The bodies of party members faded away into nothingness, but the vision of them still remained clear in Zyphen's mind.

"You see! You were never meant for a group of friends and partners, you killed them yourself!" Iyeasu said.

"You tricked me Changer!" Zyphen replied.

"Yes, it was simple really. You are so gullable and ready to fight anything in front of you, not taking in the obvious flaws in my plan." Iyeasu said. "They even called out your name, begging for you to stop your blood-thirsty apporach. But,...you just walked on!"

"You will die for this trick, Iyeasu!" Zyphen said.

"Come then!" Iyeasu said, raising from his throne, pulling out his wand.

Zyphen rushed hard at Iyeasu. "JUK ROM!" Iyeasu yelled, catching Zyphen in a fury of nature. Zyphen continued his charge after the tornado was done with him. "GAN ZOT!" Zyphen yelled, sending a boulder at the Changer. The rock clipped Iyeasu, sending him spiraling back onto the floor. He arose quickly and dropped his wand, pulling out a giant axe from his cloak. Zyphen's charge was meet by the hard defense of Iyeasu. The Lone Warrior struck hard and fast, making several small cuts in Iyeasu bicep and shoulder. The Changer countered the quick moving of Zyphen with the unstoppable swings of his great axe. Iyeasu got a solid hit on Zyphen's exposed chest, sending the Lone Warrior flying back, hitting the ground hard. Iyeasu took his chance and jumped after Zyphen. Zyphen rolled out of the way at the last second, rescuing himself from the powerful overhead chop of Iyeasu's axe, which split the stone floor. Unfortunatly for the Changer, his axe was stuck. Trying hard to retrieve it, he lost sight of Zyphen, who was now behind him, preparing a a stab into Iyeasu's back. The sharp touch of cold steel entered Iyeasu's back. He shot up, shouting in agony. The foolish move set Zyphen up for a diagnol cross cut against the side of Iyeasu. The Changer flew to the wall, crushing against it and crumpling to the ground. He rose slowly, holding his left arm, and limping.

"Yes, it is for certain." Iyeasu said, "I have lost, finish me Lone Warrior."

Not taking time to consider, Zyphen launched his sword into Iyeasu's chest. The Changer gasped, and fell to the ground. He was dissappearing as he hit the stone, he was gone in a few seconds. Zyphen retrieved his blade, and caught a glance into the next room. The Gott Statue shined brightly. Zyphen took the treasure, glad that he was finally done with Iyeasu.

THE END

Zyphen + 1 Lvl. + Used Greaves