NPC Code: Red Riding Hood

Clement had the ability to mimic the spells of his enemies. He told me that earlier when we first faced off against each other. And that detail came biting back over me. And since my spells had just unlocked on their own, it was safe to assume that Clement didn't know it.

If I did not know how to use my spells, Clement would wonder, too. But that was not the case.

Clement already had a gist of my spell and studied while that happened. He didn't copy my [Phoenix Sphere] but a different ability I used when I escaped from the base. That man didn't just steal my lightning spell but also my [shadow walk], which helped me throughout my journey.

Clement continued strangling me by my collar, refusing to let go of my body. Despite squirming with all my might, Clement's hand fell superior. He made my body immobile for the time being and won the battle.

"A-Air….. Gaghh... B. -Breath…... Can't….. B-Breath…."

I kept fighting against Clement's hands, but it was no use. He was more powerful than me, as he had claimed earlier. Even before the fight could have started, Clement had the upper hand. And if Clement would lose this fight, he was always ready to fire those guns behind his back.

Clement was a careful boy who refused to lose and fight fair and square. But we were in a war against players and NPCs….. We were in a war against the two of us fighting for our freedom.

"No matter what you do, Red, you will always lose. Do you know why? Because I always win…. my father will not let me lose. He created this game for me! FOR ME TO PLAY IT! NOT FOR YOU, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR SISTERS, OR OTHER NPCS!"

Clement let go of his hand and allowed me to crash against the ground. My burning cape did the best it could to lessen the impact that my body would feel upon crash-landing. As soon as I hit the ground, all my bones inside my bony blared a crack.

Despite these damages I received, I still had the energy to pick myself from the ground. Clement descended towards me and glared into my eyes.

He crossed both of his shoulders and carved a grin on his face upon gazing at my figure. "Even at the brink of death, you still refuse to die. What a sad NPC you are."

Since Clement finally freed my body from his latch, I could finally speak my fill. And that was the only thing that I could do, for now, considering that I would see my fate soon.

"You're an NPC too, Clement. Your father made you in this world, just like me. I know that there's another world besides Code. But from what I remembered, we could still change for the better!"

"Shut up…. I don't want to hear anything from you!"

I was a complete hypocrite when I said those lines. Even I couldn't fully embrace the change I told Clement a while ago. But despite these differences we had, the two of us knew we held the same judgement. Clement was just like Alice that wanted some freedom for himself.

Clement wanted to keep this game for himself, and continued growing for the betterment of his surroundings. It was a world created for his enjoyment since his father was the mastermind of this all.

"You don't understand, Clement! The NPC also wants to be free…. just like you. We're trapped inside this game and can never have the freedom we wanted!"

"Shut up! You're just trying to fool me! You're getting into my head and nerves!"

Everything our eyes caught was just a product of the game developer's imagination. According to Okami, those people on the surface were the ones who generated these things. Okami also stated that the game developers can't erase anything but adding more things in this world. Since those bastards bound themselves with these rules, the game developers can't erase us.

"Those people could delete you whenever they want to. They think like gods, since they created you… They created us for their entertainment! And you're nothing but a pawn that they could use to save themselves and the players! You're a script that the game developers made! You and I are not real in their eyes! Wake up, Clement!"

"SHUT UP!" Clement had enough of my speech, and dashed straight towards me. "I don't care if that's what you think about them. You're talking about my father, who gave me back my life! You know nothing about me, and I don't care about you! You're the pawn, Red! I am the hero of this world!"

After saying those words, Clement activated a spell at point-blank range. His eyes turned bluish white, paired with his veins turning light azure. Clement also breathed a thick smoke that had snowflakes escaping from his mouth. That chilling wave made my body jerk backwards. But thanks to Clement's gripping arm, I couldn't move an inch from the ground.

"And when I kill you, nobody will remember who you are! And if these people…. NPCs remembered your name, you will become the villain that everyone would despise! I will destroy this death game and free the players! They will preach my name and call me Hiro of this world! With these obelisks you've stolen from us, I will become the greatest character in this world!" Clement added, while waving the four obelisks in his hands.

When we fought against each other, Clement must have snatched it away from my hands. Even though those stones were inside my inventory, Clement still seized them from me. We would use those obelisks for our selfish desires.

I would utilize it for my vengeance, while Clement would do it for his father. It was an ironic fate, but there was nothing that could stop that mad boy.

"Goodbye, Red. See you like never again!"

After Clement bid me farewell, he blew all those icy winds towards my face. I kept struggling to break myself free, but Clement's hands remained steady. He refused to release me as if I was his most treasurable prize.

When the whirling wind finally hit my skin, I closed my eyes and accepted my fate. That chilling touch froze my arm and travelled towards my face. The ice glued onto me and turned me into a light blue statue, despite my crimson cape. My flames from my hood kindled their last, with my heart ceasing to exist.

The memories of my past flooded my brain as they emerged at my fore. All the things that Clementine and I did flash before my eyes. And continued playing like a musical piece... Her laughs and smiles were the last things I remembered before the players took him away. It was because of her I continued my journey.

But Clement finally ended my story...

"Match…."

Match was the one who gave me the light and showed me the way. When my heavy heart pressed against me, she held my hand and wished me alright. The little girl spewed flames from her staff as she helped me throughout our journey.

Match can never replace Clementine, but she still acted like a sister. And in my dying moments, my eyes can never witness Match...

'Well, at least she's not dying because of me…. Match will continue to live in this world, fighting for the right thing…. Or living her last life in Code,' I pondered to myself.

I prolonged Match's life in exchange for mine. Despite this trade, I still found optimistic reasons for me to accept it. Instead of gritting my teeth, I carved my face with a faint smile and thought about her.

Clementine and Match shaped me into who I was for today. Okami paved that road and helped me with this goal. I didn't mean to hurt them when we faced Alice. Everything might have panned out differently if I told them that offer.

But it was too late…. Everything was too late. I couldn't do anything to fix my problems with Match. There was no chance for me to apologise to Okami. And I couldn't get my revenge against Ryoshi, the one who killed Clementine.

[Game Over, Red Rose. You have died….. Wait until your next respawn time.] A window appeared in front of me before I could finally close my eyes. I didn't know if I was truly dead or could still be revived. Until then, I would wait…. I would wait and keep waiting….

I breathed my last breath and accepted my grim fate. I did all the things that I could but still failed to do it. There was nothing I could do but resign myself from Clement. He had the higher ground, while I struggled to find my path.

The last thing I recalled before clouding myself into nothingness was the voice of Clement. He talked to someone that I didn't know and carried my frozen body around his arms. He ordered his men to follow his side as we went inside the base. …...

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