Claudette Shiromei (Stella)'s Story

Claudette was in the middle of crafting the next powerful Katana she could use with the posibilities of lucky upgrades when the reset happend. Right before her eyes - its like she blinked if not blacked out for a minute to see she was no longer crafting or even had the recipe for it. Not only that but she could see her gear changing and oddly enough feel the fabric of the new gear set for level 1's. Immediately after noticing even her katana changed, Stella pulled up her UI infront her scrolling through to the statistics. "Level 1 Samurai" it said even all the stats were equivalent to such a rank. She exited the section moving onward to her gear and indeed it was definately the beginning gear. She was silent but obviously looking concerned. As she swore under her breath she exited the section turning to her crafting statistics until suddenly hearing yell in panic a little ways away. "What the fuck?!" the unknown voice said. Just then, the Samurai made her way towards it.

"I can't log out!" a person said and just as Claudette herself began to check it, suddenly a message came in. Interesting - rarely if not ever, no one has messaged her because she didn't know any players... Who could it had been from - a server message came in not too long ago. She immediately checked it.


"From: Unknown.
Subject: Welcome to the Real Game
Message: Hello boys and girls, this is Day 1 of the real Star Ocean Online. First I'll tell you that yes, I am the one who disabled your log off feature. But I did much more than that...your souls are trapped within your characters. So don't try taking off your helmets, as your souls are not even within your own bodies! However, it's also in your best interests not to do so as well..as you can't return to a body someday that isn't there! Now we get to the fun part: yes, you feel pain now. Furthermore, if your HP reaches zero...you can die. I've decided to be generous. Revives still work..but only for a short time. If you do not revive in time..the death becomes permanent for your character..and you will die for real. The goal? Oh its simple really. The Beta Testers have reached Diablo before..just barely, but they did. I want you to do more than that..I want you to become strong enough not only to go to Diablo, but to defeat the Daemon leader. That is the goal I give you, if you want to ever leave this game. Also, I reserve the right to change the goals at any time I want for fun! Ciao!"

While skimming through it, her eyes looked quite shocked, her arms fell to her side in awe. To her, there was just no way the developer would get away with this. Claudette's eyes wandered seeing and hearing many people freak out during this moment. Especially after reading such a twisted message. Immediately the woman closed her interface already accepting the fact she was closed. She figured it wouldn't help talking to people in their current state - not thinking of those who actually may follow her but alas what do you think of someone who solos. Finally as she felt a breeze go by her she spoke gently even to her suprise hearing her mature voice.

"So be it.. I will find my way out ..." She said with confidence.

Just as she made her way out of the safezone she received another message and glared a little annoyed as she looked through her interface towards it.

From: Unknown.
Subject:Lady of Mercy or Death
Message: Well well well - As much as I'd love to give you "mercy" from being trapped - I just can't do that. You're to powerful to let go - getting that high alone was nearly amazing but most of all was your brutal preformance when it came to pvp and best of all you gave them mercy and revived them. See someone with your reputation of being a skilled murderer yet showing those mercy can't be ignored... Now... how would it be if I were to give you the chance to save someone and kill without showing any mercy...?

"What the hell...?" She thought to herself. She didn't even know she was called a lady of mercy but possibly through that message she could've been called a lady of death if she were to actually cruely kill other players which she did only if those had the intentions of killing. None the less she closed her interface making her way from the safezone until she noticed the boy nearly surrounded by thugs. All from the same guild most likely.

"A player killer guild...?" Claudette thought but none the less began to walk closer drawing her blade slowly. She still had two good skills that could take some of them but still chances were slim if not none at all once engaged. Yet to her, she only figured it could've meant what the message said, yet she could be terribly wrong. The boy was in danger and Stella didn't want to sit idly by as someone got murdered. Especially when the developer of this game gives such a sick function.

With Claudette's blade completely draw and over her shoulder, she stood ready to "Dash Strike" since it may be the quickest way to engage before they kill the unknown boy.

"AUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Ark's heart ripping screams tore through the air as he was hit by a barrage of assaults. He dropped to his knees, clenching the earth beneath his fingers. he glared up with wild eyes. His vision was blurring, struggling from fading to darkness. This pain...it's real....this...it's all real?! I-I'm going to die! He looked up into the gleeful eyes of his assaulters as they were preparing for another round of attacks. Somewhere inside of him his fear turned into rage. He wouldn't die like this. No, he refused to die like this. Not at their mercy. He struggled to his feet. Forcing himself to stand on weak legs. "Do your worst you pitiful bastards! I'm not afraid of you! You think I fear death?! I piss on it!"

A silence fell over the group as if they were stunned by his words. They stared at him confused then again burst into laughter entertained by his final stand. He was the pitiful bastard barely able to stand let alone fight back. He felt like a fool. There was no way out. he was finished. Just as they were about to finish him off something binged loudly in his ears. A flat white screen appeared before him.



"What the?" A ray of hope being sent to him from the gods? Ark slammed his finger into accept and suddenly the world exploded. Several attacks hit the group from all sides. The guild members were being thrown to the ground and flung through the air in every which direction. Ark's eyes couldn't follow. Then a dark cloud shrouded them in darkness and lightening illuminated the field.

"Ark fell back and watched from the center in total awe. "The cavalry...have...arrived."

"Call me what you will but for the start of this version - I choose the title of death"
Claudette didn't expect the spell to come down but none the less found it to be lucky and undeniably a good timing. All of the members were in range and in a line of sight for her strike. Her eyes were slightly glowing due to the spell casted, her hand gripped the hilt of her katana as it was perched over her shoulder. Immediately wind seemed to conjure under her feet as she suddenly seemed to have began running only to nearly seem as if she disappeared.

Upon reappearing Claudette stopped and her blade was already nearly sheathed, yet once again, she positioned herself - Her ability was on cooldown and her SP was regenerating but she knew could naturally attack the other members easily. After finishing another couple with normal attacks, she once again dash striked barely gazing the guild leader leaving him alive and appearing a little ways away where her ability ended. It wasn't until now that Claudette herself very suprised not only by her speed but her reflexes to know when to pull her katana out. She looked back at the dead gang members who seemed to have died through the attacks yet only one remained. The lucky guild leader in which was only a hit a way from death. Her eyes scanned him before turning to the three players.

"They all have 10 minutes... It's not my call whether they live... but I'll leave them up to you."
Claudette said walking away towards the open field. She began to think of how lucky it was that the wizard was there other wise it may have taken a little bit of a beating if not death through waiting for the cooldown to end for her ability... and after using Dash Strike... at this level she doesn't have the SP to use Blink strike right after. Suddenly the thought came to her as she began slaying monsters. "Why were they after him in the first place...?". Only but a minute did that thought carry through her mind before claiming it was none of her business and she had to continue going back to what she lost.

As Claudette slain monsters she constantly collected drops and synthesised them increasing that as well. She knew she would have to level nearly everything at once to stay on her ground and like the beta crafting was one was way to rule the economy especially when you're a powerful character. There were many time's through this when Claudette began to think of how dangerous this game really was and in some battles actually came close to death. Yet none of that stopped her because at this point - Claudette knew she wanted out and would do anything to make that happen.

Something came to mind for Claudette while she was resting.

"What are some the player's doing about this?"

"Although I'm perfectly sane yet slightly scared, there are those who may and will die... Especially newbies... I'm also afraid for those younger then 15 playing this game, if they die..." Claudette said lightly in a worry. She had also thought of those who suicide or would try to see if this was a joke. Her thoughts twirled in her head until finally the guild and party ideas popped into her mind. She herself didn't care too much for them but in her own way she found it may be a good idea to go through this with someone if your new but some murderous guilds may be out there too..."

Claudette just finished a battle against 3 mobs by finishing with a dash strike. It was so interesting to feel herself becoming fatigued as she fought. Her stamina drained further as she used her abilities as well as losing health from some hits. Immediately she used a potion she conjured not too long ago to restore her health after sheathing her katana. She gave a sigh in exhaustion and to catch her breath for a second. This was far different then the beta she played in. Of course, she had to stop to restore her health but to feel herself getting hit and rest actually feeling exhausted was crazy. Not only that but when she crafted, Claudette could feel her hands actually holding the project and working on it. Sweating with heavy actions, running, abilities was all new to her.

When Claudette knelt down to craft she forged herself the next Katana, Immediately she looked at her hands even though it wasn't long for the craft to complete her hands felt exhausted as if she did the real thing. She noticed her skill leveled up seeing that the craft was the highest level she could do. She wiped the sweat from her forehead once done then equipped her new blade then stood up. Once more she looked at her hands and spoke softly to herself.

"I might have to buy some actual gear focused on crafting while I was in town - had i known it'd do this to my hands..."

Claudette shook her head and continued through the Traum Mountains to Kirlsa. She only saw a few people as she walked through town but of course, she guessed people were still in the first town or actually establishing guilds and such for survival. The samurai stopped and placed her hand on the rail once stopped on a bridge. She could feel the breeze of the wind, hear the water of the stream below. She nearly felt at peace for a while - especially seeing that the town wasn't packed... yet. While standing to take a breather she remembered that this was a mining town which could mean she could buy materials. Also being in town she could empty out her inventory to get space and gold. Claudette walked to a shop immediately talked to one of the stands to sell her gear. Her hands sat on her hips as she looked around to see the items in the stalls mainly materials. She looked behind her wondering when people might make it here before moving on after selling her spare items.