Author's Note

Release dates of the third chapter's segments:

Part 2 will be released on 04/09/2021
Part 3 will be released on 07/09/2021
The Last chapter of the arc will be released on 10/09/2021

Chapter three: Crumbling part 1 [E]

My eyes burned deep into the glassy surface. These violet irises. Blazing, acidic, sickening, caustic, corrosive, corrupting, forsaken eyes gleamed in the dark light of the moon, gazing across my mirrored image, taking in each hair, covering my scowling visage. I blinked with fatigue, dimming the inner burning fire momentarily, before opening them once more, seeing the game's appearance in my vision.

It seems as if most recent events have allowed you to gain two skills classified as "secret." Would you like to see them? The Game asked, his form pulsating, the hues changing to a deeper shade.

I chewed on my cheek flesh, the meat regenerating rapidly upon the slightest touch. I breathed slowly through my nose as the temptation to shout 'fuck off' became ever more sublime.

"Show them to me." I glowered, my vision stuck on my eyes still.

You have met the requirements for the two secret skills of the eyes. [Eye of Fear] and [Eye of Change] have been awarded. Do you wish to accept them? (Y/N)

My breath and posture remained unchanged; this very question seemed natural, like I was born for it to be heard by my mortal ears, common and used to, that it wasn't a surprise to me even. "Show them to me." I repeated with a cold, low tone. The vision I saw in the mirror changed, replaced by a miasma of colors and shapes; two eyes stared back, their appearance made it known to me that they weren't twins.

The skill [Eye of Fear] induces horror into the target, ranging from horrific vision, scary illusions, and short-term imprisonment in their worst nightmare. This skill does not possess stats, nor does it scale with any attributes; it’s only limiting factors are that the opponent must be able to feel fear, and you can survive the self-applied debuff "Corruption."

[Eye of Fear] - Induces fear into your opponents. Applies one stack of the debuff "Corruption" onto the user.

The skill [Eye of Change] causes rapid mutation, transmutations, and destabilization of the target, resulting in the complete reduction of an opponent into dust after a short period of time. This skill does not possess stats, nor does it scale with any attributes; its only limiting factors are that the opponent must possess a physical form, and you can survive the self-applied debuff "Corruption."

[Eye of Change] - Turns an opponent into dust. Applies one or more stacks of the debuff "Corruption" onto the user depending on the target's mass and/or density.

I gazed at the small textbox; the style and the delivery seemed so very outdated, the very construction of these skills appeared like they weren't meant for me in the first place. While my skills were presented in clean, blue boxes, this one appeared ancient with both font and background.

"Are you sure this thing is a reward?" I asked cautiously as the sphere of light buzzed.

It isn't as much of a gift as you believe. It is merely that your most recent activities have reawakened some assets of my being. It is not surprising that I am imperfect; my technology was very young, the process rushed, and only a few previous tests have been made. The Game mussed with almost a nostalgic tone.

"Tests?" I asked hastily.

Of course, does the first acronymic of my name not imply that there were lesser Grand Aether Manipulators and Extractors before me? The Game replied.

"No, I haven't thought about that possibility at all if I am being honest." I drew a hasty breath and forced my eyes away from the mirror; the very vision was sickening me, almost like my hate was twisted into some form of sweet sadism, mayhaps even masochism. "And, what happened to their hosts?" My tone waned with uncertainty as my eyes were drawn to the old night sky. My anger was dimming but less so than a freezing cup of tea and more akin to coals still smoldering.

As previously stated, my development was rushed, and my time in "Sleep mode" began early, but I can assure you that all subjects were aware of every detail of the proposal. I can say that some did die, however not due to the failure of the lesser symbiote, and most did get what they wanted in the end. Those goals ranged from world peace, revenge, and down to indulging in every possible lust. The Game stated with a very enthusiastic tone, even tipping at the end of his speech. While I cannot judge morality, I am sure that they all experienced the highest offerings of life.

The whole occupation of "the gamer" was still very much a mystery to me; from the first line down to the dot, this sentence made not a glimpse of sense. Of course, the job description was very blunt at first sight, but there was a lot more to the story; that much I knew. The question is if I truly wanted to know what happened. After all, corpses in an ancient temple, fighters and nightmarish knights did not lull me into a false sense of security.

"Sounds nice, though I am not going to open some club in my little adventure." I replied half-heartedly with a weak chuckle before sitting down on my flank once more, biting my lips and drawing little of the rusty liquid. The anger didn't let me go, and its presence was like an itching bump, begging for scratching but agonizing to the touch. It was irritating and only fueling my hate; I couldn't swallow this one, something needed to be done.

I have hated before, I have burned out often as the work became unbearable, sucking the joy out of my life, but this was like an infection, a coating of lemon juice after a bath in glass shards. It singed like a burn would; it itched, scratched, and bit without pause or break.

I sighed in defeat, even if this word did not accurately describe my state, more like I was bloating with these emotions. Closing my eyes, I tried to find a moment of peace, a way to gain a moment of freedom. However, when I looked closer, there came things into my sight that I couldn't quite understand. What first seemed like only dots and lines upon the darkness behind my eyelids evolved into something more systematic, something with a sense, and the moment a distorted sound came, it was already broken again by-.

Would you like to let off some steam? The Game asked with an un-formal speech.

I grunted before rolling my eyes. "That sure has worked last time, has it not?" I asked, my speech mirroring the one I used when speaking to the damn horse Porcelain Vase.

This method does not involve interaction with any living creature. I can use a moment without restraint to prematurely unlock permanent access to the mirror world in some capacity.

"But you said-"

Access to this skill can be achieved after besting the second dungeon. This statement was made before our discovery. The skill can be unlocked by creating a demo version using several factors, such as the presence of the "Nightmare Slayer 1" title, which you weren't supposed to obtain until we set hoof in the nightmare realm. Do you accept? Y/N?

My head snapped back as my eyes met with the orb of the game appearing in the mirror, its appearance so perfectly set in place, it was almost like it was actually floating next to me. I held my mouth open for a moment; no words left my lips until finally, I clamped my mouth shut. He was waiting for an answer, but I couldn't distinguish whether he was patient or just very insistent.

"...Sure..." I said with a weak but cautious tone.

Excellent, now please lay onto your bed before I put you into a lucid state of dreaming and let you enter a place to let your anger out. His voice spoke soothingly into my ears, even if it did confuse me, almost as much the realization that I was subconsciously walking towards my bed.

"Sheesh, no need to be so pushy." I muttered with a newfound wave of energy, still watching my hooves move, before laying down on my bed and covering myself with my blanket. "Why are you so insistent-."

"-by the way." My sentence was not interrupted, but the surroundings were for a moment like a ripple in a pond; now, I stood in the middle of a street. The castle stood far on the horizon, towering over the city menacingly, but it, just like everything else, was left in a dark, empty shine. I raised an eyebrow and turned my head towards the moon, but instead, I found something entirely else. A six-edged triangle hung on the sky among an ocean of black, the red, purple, and grey maelstrom sucking away all light.

My lip quivered as I took a step back as my legs buckled from the reminder of the abyss behind which laid below the veil of worlds. "What is-who is there?!" My question turned into a demand when I heard hard clicking from one of the alleys. A silhouette stumbled towards me, out of the bleak, shady darkness and onto the dimly lit streets. "Hello? I'm talking to you!" I reiterated.

The outline of the stranger was that of a pony, but at the same time, the movement seemed wrong, with slow jerky movements. Finally, I could see who came to me, but it was not a 'who' but rather an 'it.' A decaying corpse of a pony, bearing a brown coat, and where there was no fur, green skin could be seen. There was no mane; however, a bucket graced the head.

"What the fuck?!" I exclaimed with horror as the sight dawned upon me in its entirety.

Zombie - Brain Eater
Level - 20
Class - Undead Scavenger- level 18
Race - Earth Pony (Undead)
HP (Health Points) - 1000 [--- per minute]
MP (Mana Points) - 150 [--- per minute]
SP (Stamina Points) - unlimited [--- per minute]
STR (Strength) - 200
END (Endurance) - 50
DEX (Dexterity) - 25
INT (Intelligence) - 0
WIS (Wisdom) - 0
CHA (Charisma) -0
LCK (Luck) - 0

Bad Dream
This is the product of a sentient creature dreaming about negative aspects, which have been formed into an unstable conclusion of energy. With time it will dissipate and reduce itself into negative energy, which will reach the nightmare realm.

What are you waiting for? You have an opportunity to show your powers and not bother anypony; in fact, you'll help all creatures by destroying these before they become a threat.

I grit my teeth, but the groaning from the dawning beast which threatened me broke my concentration for a moment. Much to my annoyance, I knew that I could not just walk away from the thing, well, the option was present even without the nagging of my partner, but the thing would be a problem later on, Even if I wanted nothing more than just find an empty dumpster and just hide instead of fighting.

I pulled out my halberd and hopped onto my hind legs. The “zombie-company?” The undead creature reared its head back before biting the air in front of it; as I evaded the attack, I smacked my weapon across the monster's skull, sending it into a tumble. The beast most likely did not expect for a single attack to steal away two-fifths of its health, or to be exact, 416 health points with the help of [Power Strike].

416

148

I didn’t give the zombie a chance to take another swipe at me and swung the blade of my polearm upwards, forcing my opponent on its hind legs; before I released a third [Power Strike] fuelled attack this time, with my hoof which connected with it. Teeth flew from its rotten gums before the undead fell onto its back, and a torrent-full wave of moaning escaped its bleeding lips, unable to control its body anymore.

I narrowed my eyes at the thing before using levitation to press my weapon against its neck, restraining its ability to bite. With one final look at the pitiful twenty health points which remained, I stretched out my hoof, now empowered by the skill [Gentle Touch]. The sound the creature made when its flesh started to sizzle, and the crack spread across the dead body, it haunted me for those few seconds. These abhorrent, pained howls of agony, which became ever more akin to a weak whispering in the wind as its form became more translucent, finally ceased their existence, leaving me with a shard.

Greater Strength shard
Level 30 item
uncommon
A shard containing part of a creature's power.
Gain one permanent Strength point.
You cannot gain more points using this item once the two-hundred-and-fifty point level has been reached.
Harvested from: Bad Dream

A sly smirk spread across my face just the second the remains of my opponent left my mind. With a hefty bite, I absorbed the item, and thus finally, I reached seventy-five points of strength after my flaws and class have been put into consideration. Now, I could finally wield the ultimate blunt force trauma dispenser. With a single motion, the hobgoblin club fell out of my inventory with a heavy thud and rested there with elegance as I admired its destructive capabilities.

Goblin Club
Level 30 item
epic
A greatclub of a high-ranking member of a Goblin Hideout.
*+ 100 blunt Damage
* Heavy stamina consumption
* [Hobgoblin Smash]

Deal 300 points of damage and apply one stack of broken armor to an opponent for the cost of 200 stamina points.

*Goblin wrath

When broken, the spell goblin wrath will be cast onto the destroyer.

I salivated slightly at the sight and shuddered when my hoof's tip touched the wood before lifting the body-crusher with surprising ease, yet I knew that swinging it would sap my stamina like crazy. A shiver ran across my back as the Aether from my fallen victim was absorbed into my being. It did nothing to further my strength or advance my journey, but the sensation was intoxication while leaving my mind dominant.

I believe you will amuse yourself deliciously. The game commented.

I twirled my tongue around in my mouth while staring at the spot where the undead creature had been incinerated, a sense of dread plagued me of how casually I exterminated it, but every second I thought about the execution, my heart pounded with exhilaration, ecstasy and adrenaline fuelled my blood. My shame was washed away, but my caution still decided last. 'A bit of hunting sure couldn't hurt. After all, a hunter must hunt.'

Time passes differently here; you have only twenty-five minutes remaining.

I paid him little mind as I began to trot down the street. There was a sensation of freedom in me. Adrenalin pushed my crusade forward like the wind did so with a balloon through the clouds. My skull remained empty, my mind even clearer as an alien sensation of gratification made me whole in ways I couldn't dream of. This, mayhaps this was the height of life.

I halted for only a second, eyeing the timer in the top right corner just above my minimap. With a jump, I started to gallop through the streets and into the vision of a trio of zombies. Zombie #1 had only a glance on me before I raised the club above my head and swung it down on its head with [Power Strike].

Critical Hit: 1500!

My attack hit the undead with such force that its head was crushed between my weapon and the pavement, but this also gained the attention of Zombies #2 and 3. I stared at them, grinning cheekily, before ramming the tip of the club forward and knocking Zombie #3 away and onto the ground. I twirled around to evade a slap from zombie #2 and shattered its spine under the force of the club.

Hit: 950!

I was about to raise my weapon once more but was stopped when I eyed my stamina; despite only little use, I had burned nearly 450 points of Stamina, more than half of my reservoir. I pursed my lips before crouching down and staring at the pinned-down zombie, trying to reach me. I tilted my head as I observed my reflection in its milky, white, almost glass-like eyes before it dawned upon me that in my rush, I didn't even bother to put on my armor.

I reached my hooves forward, clamping its head tightly between my muscular limbs, before pressing against the fragile head. Zombie #2 groaned unpleasantly as the skull cracked, and one of his eyes was slowly being pushed out of the socket. I suddenly twisted his head with such speeds that it was severed from its neck. I threw the trophy away; it wasn't even worth my armor, so why my attention.

The last opponent slowly crawled back to me with one broken, and one mangled hoof. I made a pop sound with my lips before my face was suddenly illuminated by the light of a fireball which floated above my horn and sent the little sun on its merry journey.

Elemental Weakness: 990!

"Who knew that corpses burned so well?" I muttered with a surprised face, as the enemies quite literally turned to smog, and so did those untouched by fire. "Well, they sure are unstable." I mumbled as I saw the smoke dissipate and the few remaining whisps being absorbed by me passively. Sadly, nothing was gained other than fun. Fun, it really did seem quite weird how delightfully enjoyable this night was so far; it was so addicting, it was almost habit-forming.

"Hmm, why so silent suddenly?" I asked directly this time, but there still came no answer. Well, at least I wasn’t a defenseless fetus this time, so I guess I won’t be as salty as last time he abandoned me. "Well, the night is still young, and there sure is no hurt with smoking out the rats. Maybe I find something other than Zombies, or gain something shiny. Who knows."

As I took a single step towards the lower level of the city, a gruesome, spine-chilling howl shook through the empty city, echoing in every street and alley, house and mansion; the sound reached every nook and cranny, be it stone or gold. I hummed at the sound, neither sure nor unsure whether it was smart to pursue, but in the end, I decided to give it a try. I lowered my head and raised my flank, preparing to gallop, and shot forward.

"Your highness?"

My vision blurred suddenly; the streets morphed into an all-familiar bedroom, with my body suspended in the air in my moment of confusion, before crashing down upon my little reading corner filled with cushions. "Frea-." I halted my cursing before stuffing my face with a hoof.

"Your highness, it’s me, Raven Quill. I was asked to escort you to the dining hall for breakfast." The secretary spoke once more like a machine, going over the lines like a stencil, every sentence a copy of the words on her beloved clipboard.

"I am not hungry, miss Quill." I hastily replied after spitting my dirty hooves out. I stood up and walked towards the door, halting just before it, and looked through the keyhole from which a stream of light protruded. I could see the mare perfectly.

Raven Quill looked at her papers for a moment before pushing the notes away. "I was made aware that there was some disagreement between royalty most recently. However a hunger strike will not change anyone’s opinion, and at your age it is least healthy to abstain from eating." While stating facts was the mature thing to do, it was not fitting the situation. "Please open the door."

I scrunched up my face with a bitter scowl, glaring at the pony behind the door. "I'm not hungry, Mrs Quill." I repeated with a strained tone.

"Your highness, I am going to open the door now." Raven Quil announced and enveloped the door grip with her magic.

A ping of anxiety coursed through my body as my eyes met with the plushies in my hot bar. All those years wasted as this infant were reawoken for some ungodly reason, and I just could no longer take this stupid, dumb game. 'Fuck no, no, I'm not ready for this shit again. I'm not doing it any longer. I'm done with it, to hell with it all.' I thought with panic while furiously looking through my skills. My eyes fell onto the newly acquired skill [Eye of Fear]. I stared at it momentarily while time seemed to slow down for a moment. I debated for one second whether or not I should use it but ultimately put my own comfort before her timetable.

"[Eye of Fear]." I whispered ghostily, and the sensation that haunted me could only be described, like a bad omen, as if for just a second, my mind and body desynchronized. My vision split in two; for one, I could view the normal corridor, but on the other, I saw a world of darkness from whose depth countless, giant, bloodshot eyes emerged. Raven Quill let out an ear-piercing shriek, her tone wavering like the ocean, before abandoning the door and running away in a random direction, just away from the horror.

I breathed heavily, even moments after while staring at the corridor which the mare took to flee. I turned around and let my back slide down the wood, a sickeningly exhilarating experience engulfed my senses in a tainting way. The beating of my heart filled me with unmeasurable life, and yet I couldn't overlook something odd when staring at my hooves. A few thin lines of purple, dull color painted my limbs, and the sensation was wrong, uncomfortable at least.

Star Touch - Nightmare Slayer 1 (John Weaver)
Level - 23
Class - Warrior - level 16 (The Gamer)
Race - Unicorn
HP (Health Points) - 743 [74 per minute]
MP (Mana Points) - 990 [166 per minute]
SP (Stamina Points) - 743 [74 per minute]
STR (Strength) - 75 (75) [100]
END (Endurance) - 74,25= 74 (74,25) [99]
DEX (Dexterity) - 61
INT (Intelligence) - 99 (99) [44]
WIS (Wisdom) - 88
CHA (Charisma) -93,6= 94 (94) [104]
LCK (Luck) - 32

Corruption (1)
Corruption causes mutations and applies temporary debuff. Every ten stacks of Corruption, a debuff is applied. Debuffs become more severe the higher the stack count grows. The amount of stacks determines the chance of mutation.

I gave out a few pathetic laughs before covering my eyes with my hooves, breathing slowly while bathing in the blindness and darkness of the room.

Eight damn years I have resided as this horse, nearly a decade, I'm nearly forty-three, and I am jumping between murder and nonsense. Lines and webbing make up my house, and the mirror tells me those threads are boards. The good and bad melt into one as I suffer from this dumbness. It wouldn't even be so bad if I could just enjoy myself in both, but I know so dangly that if I were to indulge in either, let go of the human pride, I could just have some joy, were it not for the fact that every damn rat wants a piece of me.

I huffed, angry, jumping off from my spot, glaring once more through the crack in my door before my face softened, and I lowered my head before walking towards the curtains. I pried them apart, and my room was drowned in light from the smallest ray. I blinked strongly before looking down. The usually busy, bustling streets of this city greeted me with all their noise and colors and smells, and yet all they did was infuriate me. Why did those few rotten seeds have to taint the whole grain silo of life, denying me my moment of peace?

"I really should stop with the poetry and edginess." I thought to myself before laying down and resting my head upon my hoof. "For the first time in quite a while I've got no idea how this will go. No plans to follow, no timetable or order, what comes next?" I talked out loud before sighing and turning to my books.

I've read them all, every single one of them, every line, every plot, and characters' favorite color was memorized, and when it came to facts and guides, I probably knew them better than the backside of my hoof. With a sigh and a moment of carelessness, I waved my hoof in front of the shelf and stole them all away into my inventory. It was getting a bit heavy in there, although the weight of books was incomparable to that of monster corpses and magic items.

Leaving already? The spooky, jump-scaring Disco ball suddenly appeared once more, and out of reflex, I stared at the mirror, seeing the game in person once more.

'I'm not jumping off the balcony just yet.' I thought to myself, standing so close I would not risk being heard by the guards, and I was not in the mood to explain why I supposedly planned to paint the cobblestone below. 'I also don't plan to leave the castle yet.'

Then why are you packing your book collection? You can only earn skills in a certain period of time, which is not now. The game asked, buzzing around the room like an obnoxious fly. Do you wish me to inform you once you are indeed able to gain skills?

'I need to get this crap off my mind, like, all of it for a second.' I thought before stumbling back to my bed and laying down. With a twirl of my hoof, the phoenix was in my hooves once more, even if this one was made out of cotton. The smell of Sunset's perfume had imprinted itself firmly, so much that it would coat the very air in my room were I to just let it lie around.

I sighed, and put the toy next to me, and closed the curtains with my magic before closing my eyes. "Please inform me when it's time for some progress. Now..." I whispered before my lips halted, and I looked through the cracks of my eyelids to stare at the ceiling. "It's time to kill more." These words, it was almost like someone next to me said them; that was how surprised I was to hear it, but not untrue. Maybe it could clear my mind.