Kunoichi Online- Blade Wars Read online

  Clouds of vapor swirled around her while she peeked her eyes to discover where she was. Weird. Nothing looked familiar. The fog clouds that enveloped her reminded her of the dances she used to attend in middle school when the DJ would play an R&B hit and start the fog machine. It was novel then, as an adult those things were smelly and annoying.

  Her eyes finally adjusted to the profoundly penetrating white light. “Who are you?” she said, making out an image who stood over her.

  The figure did not acknowledge but held out his palm with pale white lizard scales that felt like cool reptilian leather as she clasped it, capable now to move her one hand.

  Rising to her feet, she stared directly into the dismal void beneath the black-cloaked figure, trying to make out its face, but nevertheless incapable to see anything but a shadow that obscured the identity of a substantial-stature resemblance of a man who stood before her.

  “Where am I?” Ayuka asked, expecting an answer because this all just seemed to be strange. She racked her brain for the last thing she could remember. Right, she was playing Kunoichi Online when she floated off to sleep. She rarely fell asleep while playing her favorite game, however, that day had been particularly stressful.

  She momentarily took her eyes off of the dark and mysterious figure and looked around. Clouds of mist swirled around on the floor, now appearing to behave like the sublimation of dry ice. The cold carbon dioxide gas denser that the atmosphere, sinking down to the floor like something she would see at a Halloween party. Other than the fog, nothing but whiteness filled her vision.

  She shifted her attention back to the figure. “What do you want?” Ayuka asked.

  “What do you want?” asked the figure, finally speaking in a strong, male voice. The shadow cast from the figure’s hood did not allow Ayuka to make out if it, in fact, had a mouth and jaws that it moved or did his voice just emirate from his being?

  “What do you mean, what do I want?” Ayuka asked. She hesitated, pondering how none of this made any sense. “Wait!” she interjected. “Is this some sort of alien abduction? Are you going to run experiments on me and then return me to my bed?”

  Laughter came from the figure. “You do have a sense of humor. I like that,” the figure said, still chuckling. “Aliens! Good one!”

  “Then what do you want? I’m hoping I’m going to survive this?” Ayuka pleaded, thinking back to all she still wanted to do with her life. How she wanted to get a job, design games, help take care of her parents, eventually, get married and have a family. This was putting her mild setback of failing calculus in perspective. That was no longer even a concern of hers at the moment.

  “Well, that depends,” responded the figure. Both of them stood facing each other, Ayuka still trying to make out what was under the hood of this mysterious man.

  “On?”

  “Let’s take a step back here. I noticed that you play a lot of this one game, what was it again,” the figure started.

  “Kunoichi Online?” Ayuka asked.

  “Yes, yes, that’s right. That one.”

  “Right. And?”

  “Well, it turns out I am the maker of that game.”

  “You own Stellar Arts?” Ayuka asked, hoping that he would offer her a job. Not sure how she fathomed a kidnapping would turn in a job offer, but she hoped that maybe this was her big break.

  “Well, yes, in away. I created Stellar Arts as a training bed for the most accomplished gamers. Those who mastered the skills and gameplay and stand out from the rest, well I recruit them.”

  “Recruit them? Like for a beta tester?”

  “Beta tester? Not familiar.”

  “You own a video game company and you don’t know what a beta tester is?” Ayuka asked, confused. “Then recruitment for what?”

  “That’s beside the point. I use the games designed from Stellar Arts to recruit the players to take part in a different type of game.”

  “Uh?” confused even further, Ayuka continued, “what type of game?”

  “It’s more realistic.”

  “Like real life?”

  “Right, like real life.”

  “Then how is it a game?”

  “Well, that’s just semantics. I suppose it’s really not a game then.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “Um, well. It’s real life, but not a game. It’s just I base the world on one of the games you’ve played from Stellar Arts.”

  “So Ukiyo Komorebi really exists?” Ayuka asked excitement in her voice was palpable.

  “It does. Actually, it is one of my favorite worlds that I have created.”

  “You created Ukiyo Komorebi?”

  “I did. But there’s a problem.”

  “Oh?”

  “At the rate, it’s going, the world will no longer exist.”

  “Who’s that?”

  “It is being overrun by an enenra. You know what that is, right?”

  “Enenras are smoke, darkness, and pure evil and deception.”

  “Right. Well, this enenra used to be a human at some point, I won’t get into that, but he transformed into an enenra named Amun-Ra. Amun-Ra was a deranged demonic maniac who held a lot of power at one time in Ukiyo Komorebi. He transformed into an enenra who will take over Ukiyo Komorebi if they do not stop him.”

  “I don’t remember this part in Kunoichi Online,” replied Ayuka.

  “It’s coming in the next update,” replied the figure. The figure continued, “Now, Amun-Ra can take human shape and can only be seen by a pure heart. I believe that you have the right heart and skillset to defeat Amun-Ra.”

  “I do?”

  “If you’re not, then you are definitely my best shot.”

  “I’ll take that,” said Ayuka.

  “So now, I have a proposition.”

  “Okay?”

  “Will you enter the world of Ukiyo Komorebi and take on Amun-Ra and save the world from the deadly enenra?”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  “Let me put it another way. Would you enter the world and game that you love as a kunoichi, defeat Amun-Ra and restore the world back to balance? Or would you rather return to your lame life in San Francisco where you are between a rock and a hard place as you try to get your footing in Silicon Valley?”

  “How do you know all of this?”

  “I’ve done my homework. Ayuka, you are one of the best gamers I have encountered in Kunoichi Online. I can tell that you are passionate about this world and love the concept. I’m asking you to live in the game you love in real life.”

  “And what if I don’t succeed?”

  “Let’s not think like that,” replied the figure.

  “No, I need to know if I don’t succeed.”

  “Well, then you die along with everyone else in that world because Amun-Ra has become so powerful that I cannot even control him anymore.”

  “But you created Ukiyo Komorebi. How is that possible that you cannot even control your own creation? Let alone think I can?”

  “I could destroy the entire world and destroy him at the same time, that I am perfectly capable of doing. However, there would be thousands of innocent souls lost. That would not be fair to them. Instead, I created Stellar Arts and to solve the issue with recruiting those who I deem worthy of saving an entire world from the depths of evil and destruction.”

  “And you chose me?”

  “Yes, Ayuka. I chose you.” The figure paused for a moment before asking, “Will you help me?”

  “On one condition.”

  “Name it.”

  “That I transform into Hikari, my avatar in the game.”

  “I don’t have an issue with that. You already put in the work to gain those skills, Consider it done.”

  “All right. You have a deal.” Ayuka stuck out her hand and the pale white lizard skin met it as they clasped and shook.

  “One other thing. Hikari is not a member of the Kanga clan yet. You must earn a place in their clan first,” explained
the figure as his cold lizard skin pressed against Ayuka’s. “The Kanga’s are a tough bunch. They would never allow me to just place you in there without earning a place. They have standards.”

  Ayuka heard what the figure said as her vision became blurry, She felt like she was drifting off once again, the whiteness fading to black as she saw nothing in front of her.

  3 Chapter Three

  “Goodness, my head is pounding,” she muttered to herself, lifting her head and shoulders off of the ground. Leaning to the side, she glimpsed her legs. They were thin and muscular, a sharp contrast to her pudgy ankles she had grown to love over the years. Her thin muscular ankles shown beneath her wide-legged blue pants. Taking in her full uniform, she realized that they dressed her in civilian clothes, wearing a vertical striped poncho. While she raised her head, she felt the chest plate underneath cut into her torso.

  She moved her feet by rotating her ankle and instantly felt the muscular power she held within her thin and compact structure.

  The air smelled of salt as a cool breeze brushed across her cheeks. There, she saw the most picturesque site she had ever seen. The purple and crimson fog rolled from the mountain tops and descended on the main castle tower. “Wow!” she muttered in amazement. She took a moment to gather where she was. It seemed the figured dropped her amid grassy knolls that were located outside the gates of Nara.

  The faint smell of sea salt and ocean spray filled her nostrils as she climbed to her feet. Standing lower than she was used to when she was Ayuka, she realized that she was no longer her. Ayuka had a large stature, standing around a five-foot, eight inches. No, she gathered she was only around a five-foot, maybe two inches.

  While she examined her hands, noticing the thin and muscular build that they had, encased in black gloves, she realized that she was no longer Ayuka, but now she was Hikari, the character she developed in Kunoichi Online: Blade Wars.

  For a moment, Ayuka missed her large physique, realizing that being taller than most females had its advantages. Her view from her smaller frame did not allow her to see as far over the horizon than she was normally used to.

  She found that if she looked to the far right of her vision, she could see her player character’s character sheet. Then she realized that this was not her player character, but instead, it was her. It read:

  Character Stats: Hikari Himukai

  Age: 19

  Sex: Female

  Faction: Erīto Preparatory Academy

  Cover: College Student

  Conviction: Loyalty

  Rank: Chunin - Level 4

  Skills: Analysis, Tactics, Encryption, Poison, Blade, Multiplicity, Rumor Mongering, Interrogation Diversion, Hypnosis, Shaming, Slight of Hand, Contortionist, Speed, Aerial Arts, Acrobatics , Hand to Hand, Blade

  Ninpo: Assassin (Blade), Shadow Clone (Multiplicity), Cross Cut (Blade)

  Interesting. Hikari was a member of the Erīto Preparatory Academy. The notion that she would head there for her training was enough to make her gag. Nearly vomiting in her mouth, she curled the urge, and snapped back at the task at hand, joining the Kanga Clan. Looking over the character sheet further, Hikari assessed that this was close to the skills that she had earned in the game. Hikari was an expert at using a blade, mixing and concealing poisons, and the use of pyromancy. Hikari was reluctant to begin again in the Erīto Preparatory Academy, when she had earned herself a spot in the Kanga Clan, in Kunoichi Online, but that was the deal she made, and she would adjust accordingly.

  Hikari remembered the six attributes and the eleven skills under each attribute. She could view them on a separate screen in her vision if she looked further to the right, past her character sheet.

  Kunoichi Online Attribute and Skills

  Advancements

  -Acupuncture

  -Pyromancy

  -Torture

  -Advanced Armor

  -Rope Work

  -Hydromancy

  -Hidden Weapons

  -Medicine

  -Demolition

  -Farming

  -Engineering

  Manipulation

  -Poison

  -Seduction

  -Trapping

  -Intimidation

  -Deception

  -Performance

  -Rumor Mongering

  -Interrogation

  -Diversion

  -Hypnosis

  -Shaming

  Tactical Combat

  -Slight of Hand

  -Footwork

  -Contortionist

  -Speed

  -Endurance

  -Aerial Arts

  -Acrobatics

  -Hand to Hand

  -Blade

  -Strength

  -Athleticism

  Covertness

  -Escape

  -Evasion

  -Interception

  -Ventriloquism

  -Invisibility

  -Disguise

  -Multiplicity

  -Concealment

  -Craftiness

  -Fraudulence

  -Burglary

  Methodology

  -Husbandry

  -Analysis

  -Memory

  -Contacts

  -Encryption

  -Signal

  -Insight

  -Tactics

  -Perception

  -Nature

  -History

  Dark Arts

  -Necromancy

  -Illusion

  -Domination

  -Summoning

  -Conjuring

  -Transmutation

  -Transformation

  -Clairvoyance

  -Curse

  -Channeling

  -Possession

  The skills she had in the Methodology attribute seemed like what she remembered. Obviously with Hikari being downgraded to a different clan than the Kanga Clan she lost some advancements she had made in Kunoichi Online.

  Since Erīto Preparatory Academy specialized in Methodology, three of her skills came from that attribute. They were Analysis, Tactics, and Encryption. Hikari thought back to when she was Ayuka, choosing the skills. In Kunoichi Online, a player character chooses three skills from their clan attribute and three skills of their choosing. Since Ayuka’s goal was to become a member of the Kanga Clan, she planned her skills to align with that clan’s focus. Ayuka had chosen Multiplicity, Poison, and Blade for her additional skills. The Kanga Clan specializes in the Manipulation attribute. When Hikari would be recruited to the Kanga Clan, she would then exchange her Methodology skills for Manipulation skills.

  The six skills, three from the clan’s focused attribute and three of the player’s choosing were known as the Assigned Skills in Kunoichi Online. These skills activated the Ninpo with a successful skill check. Hikari remembered that she was limited her to one Ninpo action per round when engaged in combat. As Hikari would advance and level up, there were Advanced Ninpo that she could gain. It disheartened Hikari that she had lost several of the Advanced Ninpo that she had earned when Ayuka was playing her. However, she resolved to gain those skills back and become a member of the Kanga Clan.

  Then Hikari looked to the far left of her vision. That is where she found her Stats.

  Abilities

  Hikari Himukai

  Strength: 12 (+1)

  Agility: 12 (+1)

  Intelligence: 0 (-5)

  Stamina: 24 (+7)

  Luck: 12 (+1)

  Attack: 24 (+7)

  Accuracy: 0 (-5)

  Defense: 9 (-1)

  Evasion: 18 (+4)

  Then Hikari remembered how these mechanics, abilities, fed into the Attributes and ultimately the Skills followed by the Ninpo. It comprises each of the Attributes of two Stats.

  Looking at her abilities, she grew concerned over her Accuracy Ability. Judging by that low score, it worried her that she could not hit the broad side of a barn. However, the remaining stats appeared to be solid. She well knew that she could get around that Intelligence Ability scor
e and the Defense Ability could be managed. This revelation was not an entire let down. To get into the Kanga Clan, she knew that she would need to increase all the scores. That would come naturally as she leveled up.

  The modifiers looked good to her, except the accuracy, which still worried her. Hikari knew that they calculated the modifiers from the total score possible, which was 30. Each score increase would increase the modifier. Essentially, the rule of thumb for calculating a modifier was to divide the Attribute Score by 2, subtract 10 and then round to the nearest integer.

  Hikari looked forward to joining the Kanga Clan because they excelled in just about every Attribute and Ability. Remembering from her gameplay, the Kangas had members who specialized in potions, poisons, technological advancements, martial arts, strategy, and of course the art of persuasion. Some were even sorceresses, who practiced some Dark Arts. They taught each other what they knew since they abandoned their initial clan.

  The Kangas specialized in all the Attributes, unlike the other clans. Therefore, once Hikari would be initiated into the clan, the Advancement Attribute would naturally increase as she would be granted access to the advancements of the clan.

  Attributes Based on the Ability Score Average

  Attributes are determined by the average of the ability scores.

  Advancements: Accuracy + Intelligence

  Manipulation: Luck + Evasion

  Tactical Combat: Strength + Agility

  Covertness: Evasion + Defense

  Methodology: Stamina + Attack

  Dark Arts: Intelligence + Evasion

  Attribute Score

  Advancements: 0 (-5)

  Manipulation: 15 (+2)

  Tactical Combat: 12 (+1)

  Covertness: 13 (+1)

  Methodology: 24 (+7)

  Dark Arts: 9 (-1)

  *Scores are rounded down to the nearest integer.

  It was apparent that since her Attributes and Abilities were skewed toward Methodology (Attack and Stamina) that was also the specialty of the clan she was begrudgingly a member of, the Erīto Preparatory Academy. The World of Shadows knew them for their abilities to win missions and battles based on their ingenuity. They possessed strong analytical minds and demonstrated excellence in command on the battlefield. Too bad her Intelligence Ability did not follow this. Perhaps she would gain experience in that Ability by learning from others.