Debt

Alexander found me earlier. He landed on my shoulder, made some "cawcaw" noises, and then flew off.

I don't speak bird, but I think I get the message.

Crow saved me. He brought me through the Bleak Shore and returned me to the human world.

I owe him for that.

And I owe the Convocation.

Sidetracked

Just when I was about to go find Daniel, I get distracted by another vision.

It was that weird guy from one of my earlier visions. The one who carved the symbol into the wall. He was standing beneath a billboard, gazing into the distance.

That's pretty much the extent of my vision.

I have to find this guy. He knows something. At least, I think he does. I know his not an ordinary person.

According to the billboard, his in Vancouver, Canada. I get's that's my destination.

But first, the internet says that "Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World" comes out soon, so I'm gonna go see it.

So watch movie, find weird guy, assist Daniel. Yep, my priorities are in order.

War

We attacked the Game Master's castle. I got separated from the others pretty quickly. He had giant living statues in his castle. They were stupid and slow, but still proved formidable. I decided to test out the magic cards on them. "The Stone Hands" instantly equipped the statues with huge stone gauntlets. They would've weighed down a normal person, but it just made these things even deadlier. Had to disenchant that one. I'm not sure what "The Dark Dream" does, but I assume it's some kind of illusion because the statues started freaking out. "The Giant" made me grow really big. It was fun at first, but I soon realized that I could fit through ant doorway, so I had to disenchant again. "The Sword Of Damnation" is exactly what it sounds like; a really big sword. I wielded it for a little while, but I'm not too fond of two handed swords so I disenchanted that one too. I'd rather not tell  you what "The Iguana" does, and I ran out of statues before I could use "The Opossum".

I eventually found the big man's thrown room. The Jokers were waiting there for me. They allowed me inside in exchange for the cards. They told me all my questions would be answered if I did. I agreed. They took back the cards and vanished. I entered to confront the Game Master once and for all.

"It's nice that the two of us can finally talk," He said.
"You know why I'm here," I said. "I'm going to kill you. But first, I want you to answer my questions."
"Ask away," He said.
"Why have you been trying to kill me?" I asked. "Why do the other Fears want me alive? What is The Vision?"
He chuckled behind his mask. "You truly don't understand what you are, do you?" He asked. "Very well, I'll tell you. I'm sure you're aware that there were once more Fear, some of whom no longer exist. The Vision was one of them. She was the Fear of Destiny. She was one of the greatest Fears of all, until her betrayal."
"Her betrayal?" I asked.
"She committed an unforgivable act," He explained. "Something I could not overlook. So I eliminated her."
"What did she do that was so horrible?" I demanded.
"She bred with a mortal," He said.
"What?" I gasped.
"I spent centuries having my emissaries in the human world hunting down and killing her kin," he continued. "In the end, there was one member of her family who eluded me."
"It can't be," I said, taking a step back. This was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much to take in all at once.
"It is the truth, Benjamin Malkator," He said. "You are more of a Demi-God than you truly realize. You are the last living descended of the vision, and only by killing you can I erase her from existence!"

And then there was fighting. I was on the losing side. Fortunately, a giant wooden hand pulled me out of the fire. Ren, O'Zalia and Hiroshi jumped in just in time to save my ass.

"Hahaha!" He cackled. "The Samurai, the Illusionist, the Thorned Prince, and the Vision, together again. It's just like the battle of the Demi-Gods, is it not?"
"I guess you could say that," Said another voice. A wall across from us collapsed as Quan burst into the room. "Except this time, there's a couple more Demi-Gods entering the fray." As he said that, a swarm of crows flew through the hole he had made, and then they merged together and became Crow.
"Wait, you can shape shift into a flock of birds?" I asked.
"First off, not birds," He said. "They're the Convocation. "Secondly, when it comes to weird things the Convocation does to my body, I generally don't ask because I know the answer will make no sense."
"Well, it's good to know that we have such a large party," The Game Master chuckled. "All the more fun for me."
"You're forgetting someone," said a new voice.

Estren was sitting up on a chandelier looking down on us all.

"Eight of Clubs?" The Game Master asked. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I've come to turn in my resignation," Estren said. "You see, I hate you. I hate you so much, that I would willingly burn my soul in the fires of hell for a chance to murder you."
"You'll pay for this insolence, you bastard," The Game Master Hissed.
"The eldritch abomination inhabiting my body disapproves of you language," Estren said. "How would you like to meet him?"
"Estren, no!" I shouted.
HELLFIRE then took over. "Estren has made his choice, Vision," It said. "He's given me control of his body in order to eliminate this foolish slaver."


And then the fighting continued. In the end, even the seven of us were no match for him. We managed to deal him some damage, but he retaliated strongly. I took a blow to the head and passed out for a few minutes. When I came to, I was outside and several stories above the ground. Crow had me by the arm with one hand, and was holding his whip with the other. Alexander had hold of the other other end of the whip and was carrying us through the sky. Strong crow. I looked behind us and immediately wished I hadn't. A giant white dragon with black and red markings was chasing us through the sky.

"What the fuck is that?" I said, astonished.
"Apparently he can transform his mask into a dragon," Crow said. "I know you kind of wanted to end this all here and now, but the Convocation says they can access the Shore again and I they say we should retreat."

I didn't want to. I wanted to turn back and give that bloody wanker a piece of my mind. But Crow was right. We didn't stand a chance against him. We needed to get the hell out of there. I nodded up at Crow, and next thing I know we were flying over a massive beach that stretched as far as I could see. The air was filled with birds. So many birds that I couldn't see a speck of the sky beyond them. I saw every bird in existence, and birds I thought could only exist in fairy tales. There were birds as large as buildings and smaller than gnats. The sight of all those birds filled me with fear.

"Don't worry," Crow called down to me. "They won't attack you. Not while I'm here."
"The last time I heard those words, I was kicked through a portal," I informed him.
"Don't worry, I won't do any kicking," He reassured me. "This time, you'll be dropped through a portal."

Before I had time to inform him that that didn't make me feel any better, I had been dropped through said portal. I found myself lying on my back in afield somewhere. I fell asleep shortly after that.

I woke up to see Estren staring down at me.

"Hello, my friend," He said.
"You made it out?" I asked.
"I escaped with Ren through the Crumbling Castle," He informed me. "I tracked you down shortly after.
"How are the others?" I asked.
"There were some casualties," He informed me. "All the Demi-Gods and a few others made it out."
"Myrir?"
"She's fine," He assured me.
"What about HELLFIRE?" I asked.
"He's still inside me," He said. "I can keep him suppressed for now, but I can't keep it up forever. I'm afraid I must go. But before I do, I should inform of something your new mask can do."
I don't know how I keep forgetting that I have a mask now. "What can it do?" I asked.
"It can connect to internet from thousands of miles away, and can share that connection with any nearby computer," He said. "As long as you have it, you'll always have internet access."

And then he left. I'm gonna try and get my bearings, then I'll go find Daniel. I read his blog, and I'm glad to know he somehow survived his fight with the Archangel.

Anyway, I'm out. Bye for now.

Soon

We're getting ready for the final battle. I looked through all my weapons earlier. I've got the knife, the gun with five shots left, the syringes which the doctor confirmed to contain a unique form of the flu virus, and my mask. I don't know know to turn into a shield.

Daniel's fight with the Archangel is tomorrow. I guess I won't be able to make it there in time. I hopw he doesn't get himself killed. Or worse.

I spoke to Crow a while ago. He says he still doesn't know exactly what the Convocation is hiding, but the visions I've been having might have something to do with it.

We move tonight. I hope this all goes well.

Every one else decided to make me leader while I was out dealing with Estren. I don't know about this, but it's too late to turn back now.

Into The Fires Of Hell

I had another vision earlier. It was of Eight. I knew where to find him. I informed the others that I was going to scout ahead. I didn't tell them where I was really going.

I found him waiting for me. I kept my distance and began speaking.

"Which one are you?" I asked.
"At the moment, I am the Eight of Clubs," He said.
"I'm sure you already know what I'm up to," I said.
"You intend to murder my former Master, correct?" He asked.
"Former?"
"HELLFIRE has given me a glimpse of the outside world," He said. "A world I haven't seen in centuries. A world that I will never be able to return to if I remain in his service."
"You can't trust that thing!" I shouted. "HELLFIRE is a monster as much as the Game Master is!"
"It is a monster who offers me freedom," He said. "I don't trust HELLFIRE at all, but he and I share a common goal. For that purpose, I chose to let it in. I need its power. At least for the time being."
"You can't control it's power, Estren," I said.

He seemed shocked to hear his real name. It's hard to read his emotions with his mask on.

"You came here seeking answers, did you not?" He asked.
"Yes," I confirmed. "Who exactly is the Game Master?"
"It's hard to tell when exactly he was first known of," He said. "His presence has been apparent all the way back in Ancient Egypt. I don't know how old he truely is, but I do know what he used to be."
"What?" I asked.
"A Doll," He said.
"He was a servant to the Wooden Girl?" I asked.
"Yes," He confirmed. "He was one of her greatest minions. Perhaps too great. After some time, he developed a lust for power. He began seeking strength and knowledge, eventually becoming a being whose powers rival the Fears themselves. He soon chose to betray his Mistress and become his own Master. The two have since been at war with each other."
"That explains why Hiroshi's here," I said. "And what can you tell me about the Vision?"
"I know much about her, but I'm afraid you must find those answers on your own," He said. "It is not my place to tell you."
"I need to know!" I demanded. "She's the reason the Game Master wants me dead!"
"I'm sorry," He said.

Then he vanished. I got some answers, but I still have questions.

Oh well. If no one else will tell me about the Vision, I'll make the Game Master tell me.

Army

Damn, Quan, I wasn't expecting this many people. I mean, I guess nine people isn't much, but it's more than I was expecting.

So, anyway, we met Quan at the rendezvous point. He was accompanied by 3 Timberwolves, 2 Slender Proxies, 2 Willing Dolls, a SMSC agent called Moss Garden, and one other guy I definitely didn't expect to see. The reason I wasn't expecting to see him was because I sort of ate him a few weeks ago.

It was Dr. Helthead, the same Mad Doctor who operated on Hiroshi's arm. He explained to me that through some bizarre experimentation, he had removed his consciousness from the body I ate and transplanted it into a homunculus made by the Doctor himself.

Apparently, the troops Quan had gathered were the losers from the tournament who weren't actually killed. Some of them were a little mad at Crow when they saw him, but I managed to convince them that we'd need to work together here. They were being tortured in a part of the Board, and Quan rescued them.

Also, we have a new Nest on out side. She calls herself the Red Robin, and it seems that Crow got a word out to her and convinced her to join us.

Also, Quan found a bonus item too. He's got his own mask. The symbol on it looks like an operator symbol, but with four lines drawn through the circle instead of two, with a four pointed star at the center.

This is the best I could do with MS paint

Now we have a small legion of people who want the Game Master dead.

Ready yourself, Game Master. I doubt even you can handle all of us.

Saw Something Strange

Had another vision earlier. I saw into the human world again. There was some guy carving a symbol into a wall. I was just like the one on my mask. Then I got a look at his eyes. They were just like mine except the pupil's were the same size. Then they became normal eyes, and he started mumbling to himself. I didn't here much of it, but I caught the words "Vision" and "Demi-God". Who was that guy? Does he know something about me? And what the bloody hell is this "Vision" that I keep hearing about?