Leave The Monster Alone

"You did manage to make it this far. Are you tired? Want to rest?  The shapeless form of the AI asked and Mark wasted no time in charging. The other dodges out of the way, an offended air around him but he was not yet angry. Mark had to make the other side angry enough to become careless.

"You are the root of all the problems we are facing. You are not needed" Mark hissed as he forced the sword to attack the formless being. There was a chuckle of amusement before the form twisted around his weapon and familiar eyes stared back at him.

"Are you sure I am the problem? Or are you trying to make yourself feel better?" the AI wore his face as it faced him. The expression facing him was his own but Mark was well aware that it was not him. The AI was playing tricks to throw him off and he could not allow it to happen.

Mark carefully charged at the other but his road to the end was obstructed by many obstacles. The main ones were the monsters who decided he made a delicious snack and attacked him head-on. Their sharp claws needed to be carefully maneuvered through to not get caught.

The toughest thing about this fight was going to be the never ending supply of monsters the other side had. Since there seemed to be no source for these monsters except the AI itself, it was safe to say that they would be there throughout the fight.

Mark had to find a way through them if he ever had a chance to make it to the root of all their problems. The other side had a huge advantage which was difficult to overcome but Mark had to be the one to do this. If he failed then no one would ever know the truth behind this world.

Yes, Yun and Alex and even Luna knew to some extent but they had always been a part of the system. They would never be able to overcome the limitations it presented them with while Mark might get a chance sometimes soon. Only because he was no longer a part of this system and code or he would be able to press it to his advantage even further beyond.

"Are you not talking too much? And allowing your minions to deal with me? What underhand tactics you decided to deploy" Mark taunted, trying to gouge out the other side's reaction. Did the AI have emotional capacity? Or was it completely computer generated? This was something yet to be determined and Mark was curious about the outcome. When there was no change in the pattern of attack, Mark got his answer.

Since the other had not responded to his taunts, it was safe to say that he had no awareness or was smart enough to not fall for them. There had been no change in the atmosphere as well which made it seem like it was a program rather than a personal preference.

"Your words hold no account. The winner is the stronger side rather than the stronger person and we are clearly superior here" the AI was not wrong and that was what mattered. The monsters were increasing their attack speed and even their moments were getting more fluid.

They were getting overwhelmingly strong and Mark tried his best to push them back.. He would have even succeeded if not for the fact that his core refused to cooperate. The more he fought, the more it pushed back against his body and there was a slightest hint of pain there as well.

"It hurts, doesn't it? For some reason I seem to not be able to control your body but the core you hold is a different case altogether. Why don't you submit to me now and we can put it all behind us" the AI made a motion with his hand and Mark felt his center of gravity shift anew.

Mark was flying through the air, getting down and his face came in direct contact with the ground. It hurt but the pain of being stabbed was much more prominent in his mind. His body flinched badly as he felt the claw go through his shoulder.

Mark was officially down for the count but he was not out yet. There had to be something he had to do before he truly ended up dead and he had to know if Alan was alright as well. There was so much he needed to know but his time had ended.

"Any last words before you die? I will be sure to convey them to your friends" Mark had a thousand and one things he wanted to say to the others. There were so many regrets in his mind, so many words yet to be said, so many apologies yet to be given.

He had words for people who had died and for those who had not yet. There were poems he had woven for those he had loved and graves he had decided to visit. They would never be looked at again. This world, he had loved it and he did not think he would ever be back here.

All this and more was for his people, his world and his loved ones. It was not for this emotionless machine who looked after nothing but himself. So whatever Mark would say, he would do so in some other life.

If he was granted another life.

"Suit yourself then. I did give you a chance" the claw came down and Mark heard a static noise in his head. Was this what death was supposed to be like? If so, then Mark had no regrets giving up his life for a noble cause. This sweet emptiness was the epitome of calmness and clarity. He could hear the bells chime softly and the clock tick in his ear. It was all new but so nostalgic as well.

The voices and the sounds, they all faded away as someone called his name. Mark wanted to crawl out of his sleep to meet the other but he seemed unable to wake up. He tried to move his limb next but even that proved to be too much for his tired body.

Mark tried to pick his arm up but it refused to move. No, not refusing to move. Something was stopping it from moving any further than it already had. There was a strap on his arm which he could feel now. Sensations were returning in his arms now and Mark started to remember bits and pieces of that last battle. 

And his death. The last claw had served his head off of his body, Mark was sure about that fact. Then how was he alive and strapped down? Had he truly not died? Or was this another reset of the file?

"I see you are finally awake. I apologies for what my kid did to you inside there. He is truly a stubborn one, refusing to even listen to me, its creator" the voice caused goosebumps to arise on Mark's body. Where did that voice come from? Behind him?

"Don't look that frightened. I'm a friend you would like to have on your side. Why don't I help you get free now. Don't pull at the tubes or you will start bleeding again" Mark froze, finally looking at his arms and at the tube inside them. Since when had they been there and he had not realized?

"I'm sorry. Your arm might be numb due to the drugs we gave your body to sustain it for this long. I hope you do not mind a little soreness" the tubes were pulled out of his arms before the holdings were unfastened off of him. Mark moved his arms around to facilitate the blood flow through then again.

He looked directly at a face he did not recognize but the other seemed to know him pretty well. Had it not been for that voice, Mark would swear that he had never seen the other before in his life either. 

He tried to force his body onto his feet but they refused to take his weight. He went down faster than he had tried to get up which was a shame but he could not give up now. Not when he had so much more to do in such a short time as well.

"Don't try to force yourself up or you will get into trouble with your legs. They do not have enough energy to hold you up after all"  Mark considered those words and he knew they were right. But he could still not help but find his situation frustrating.

He watched as the other took a seat and opened a familiar scene on his laptop monitor. Mark felt his breath get caught in his throat as Yun was forced back and Luna was defeated. Their side was losing badly and Mark was not there to help them.. He had never felt this helpless before today.