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Valentine stepped through the waygate with his brother, they had arrived at the Big Apple! Though they had lived in the US years ago with his family Valentine could scarcely ever remember coming to New York except for when they had to go past it to get to Maine. He didn't really know much about the area just that its population was dense, its subways vast, and its streets dirty. Oh, and the tall buildings. [break][break]

Even so, he figured this would be on a bucket list for his sister, if she thought the world was perhaps ending then maybe, just maybe she would be somewhere here, especially considering he had yet to find any serious leads in Korea. Valentine looked around the outskirts of the waygate, he didn't see anyone so the first thing to do was to move for cover. The streets around the waygate were littered with cars so it was easy to duck down behind one, "Wait here, protect my body and stay down, these cars make good cover," he said as he closed his eyes and let his astral body ascend from his physical body. [break][break]

Searching around via astral projection was his bread and butter for his class skills that he had, and as such he made sure to use it as much as possible, and with every use, he found that his control over the skill continued to increase, whereas before he could barely go more than 10 miles from his body, he was now able to go 20 miles from his body before feeling like his connection to his physical body was starting to get lost. It was trying but he was getting there, it was like working a muscle. The more he used it the more proficient he got. [break][break]

Keeping their bodies near the waygate was the best possible option, as far as Valentine knew most people waited for those near the waygate in buildings to ambush them, and monsters were often in bigger droves the more one moved from the waygate. Knowing this Valentine could scout easier knowing that the least likely place to get attacked would be here. Though what he loved about his astral projection was that it was unhindered by his human speed, nor could walls, obstacles, or anything of the sort stop him, at least so far from what he knew of, besides those damn barriers around the cities. [break][break]

Thus, moving upward, Valentine used his bird's eye view to scout around them, going in a circular pattern, moving further out, and then downward, before gradually moving in. The whole ordeal took about an hour, of which he knew poor St. Claire was probably bored out of his mind, but after he was done he had successfully scoped out the next 5 blocks in all directions. Not to mention from her own because he could choose a direction scouting would be much easier and shorter. He willed his astral back into his physical, and after it dove back in, his eyes fluttered open. [break][break]

He stretched as he sat upward grasping his knee slightly. "Ouch, I was in that position for way too long," he said, moving his neck around to crack it as it had simply been hanging down the entire time. Damn was he sore, but it was worth it. As he stated "we're going to move west from her, into the old Macy's building on the right. There's no one in there, but thankfully most of the clothes and such have been left, I'm also pretty sure I saw a normal-looking undead in the middle of the women's section on the second floor." He said to his brother as he ducked down, grasping his cramped neck, keeping out of view using the cars as cover as he made his way over toward the Macy's entrance. [break][break]

[attr="class","landtag2"]St. Claire [TAGGED]

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Valentine listened to Sami's words, they were right. If anything all Sami's words did was reconfirm the fact that he'd be a good fit for one to guild leaders. Though quite frankly he did think that Sami would be better served as the leader, as Pori made a great defense for her powers, her childish nature could very well make or break the guild in the public eye. Valentine wasn't sure how he felt about it, but he was sure time would tell as it went on. For now, he would just go with the flow, besides if things ever went wrong he and St. Claire could always just bail and find a new one. Granted he liked to think that the two of them were much more loyal than that. [break][break]

"Thanks, Sami. That means a lot. As to your question, well..." Valentine thought about it, trying to put all his jumbled mess of searching into one cohesive plan had been a mess, making this starting point had taken a lot of happenstance, and quite frankly he still wasn't sure about it, but now wasn't the time for doubt. "She always liked Seoul, talked about it all time, wanting to go there to live and study, had a bunch of friends over the internet and stuff from here. Which I thought was funny, I told her she'd receive a lot of prejudice here," Valentine said, not only was she a different skin complexion than everyone but she was a Japanese foreigner, the prejudice that she'd receive would be immense. [break][break]

"She was stubborn though, she insisted that one day she'd come here and live out her dream of dating a K-Pop star," Valentine said chuckling a bit as he did. His sister had always had such outlandish dreams but out of the three siblings she was the most determined and stubborn, if she said she was going to do something there was no stopping her until it was done. [break][break]

"As for the hub, I feel that's what happened. I heard some clues that someone had seen someone with their description in their tutorial and I had found such a person in the hub. They said they didn't know what happened to her as toward the end they were knocked out but managed to make it past the finish line somehow. I figured if he was transported to the hub after his tutorial then so was she. So I searched for a while, even managed to find some help from a nice girl... But that's where the lead ends." Valentine said with a heavy sigh.[break][break]

"As to the global chat, I think I saw something about that not too long ago, maybe I should give it a try," He said opening his menu. Typing something into the global chat hoping that he'd get a response. When nothing immediately came, he focused on Sami's words saying they should look in the southern direction where more monsters were populated. "I thought about it, it's just hard considering my abilities don't lead themselves too much offense."[break][break]

[attr="class","landtag2"]Sami [TAGGED]

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Valentine noticed Sami's squinting at his words, leading him to chuckle slightly before they went on their tangent about the slime girl. Valentine couldn't help but think he was right, but he did want to give her the benefit of the doubt. Thankfully, Sami's reaction to her personality told him all that he needed to know in terms of whether or not the guild would be in good hands, and it was simply because Sami seemed to have a more grounded level of sense from what he could tell. [break][break]

He let Sami finish speaking before he decided to speak up himself, "Well, wouldn't you be like co-leader or something? Besides from my understanding guilds are collective of people. I'm sure with time she should mature, especially with guiding hands around to help her. After all, it's not like people have to do what she says." Valentine stated, with a smile. [break][break]

He meant his words, if he didn't like an order or suggestion he simply wasn't going to follow it. He had dealt with incompetent and overworking bosses before all this shit happened and he wasn't going to regress back to dealing with another. Never again, he was going to live his own life freely how he wanted to live it and that was that. [break][break]

"Yeah, I feel that I don't have the time nor patience to argue with others anymore either. The worlds far beyond such petty squabbles." He said, glancing over the map once more. Though at Sami's mention, Valentine smiled, he was happy to hear that Clairey could join, and the next time he met his brother he was going to have to let to tell him about it, to invite him to join. "Works for me, then you can count me in," Valentine said, as he turned to Sami. Though, Valentine was sure he could find his sister a place to live in the Hub as opposed to the guild. For the most part, he wouldn't want his sister staying with him, to begin with, he had no idea what being in a guild would subject them to, or if it would be the danger that would come from it. Until he could get a better handle on the guild situation, he would prefer to keep her out of it. Though he'd state his next train of thought out loud. "Understood, though I'd have to find her first." He said turning his attention back to the map, pointing toward the building in the middle.[break][break]

"I used this building as my starting point so from this point outward everything around is our surroundings," Valentine stated gesturing to the map as a whole. Around the building, it seemed to be rather devoid of life, but the further one got to the buildings to the south the more monsters seemed to increase, while over toward the north is where the waygate was, the less. Looking at the map one would be able to tell that the waygate had a bit of proximity around it in which monsters were scarce.
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[attr="class","landtag2"]Sami[TAGGED]

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Valentine noticed theatrics of Sami, but he said nothing, clearly, Sami wasn't comfortable displaying the full display of his emotions with him, and that was okay. He didn't need to know what was on Sami's mind or what emotional turmoil was going on to befriend and use their help. The fact of the matter was that this person had done no harm to him and was willing to help him find someone he cared about and for that reason, Valentine was willing to respect them for who they are and accept them as such. As long as they weren't someone that was actively trying to hurt him or people he cared about he didn't mind odd moments.[break][break]

"Yes, the one and the same!" He said, his eyes sparkling with delight. Though judging from his response he had far more interaction with her than had himself. Valentine chuckled slightly knowing that the girl could be rather quirky. Though as he mentioned the guild Valentine's smile widened. He spoke once more, "ah so you're the person she was supposed to be making that guild with. She invited me to join, but I had to have a conversation with my brother about it first." Valentine said, a small laugh falling from his lips as he thought about his interactions with Pori.[break][break]

"Yeah, she's very... Childish at times, though perhaps her way of coping with the way has changed. Most people tend to steep into their quirks and delusions in times of great stress in order to cope, after all." Valentine mused, and that's when he listened to Sami's words once more, he figured that being in a guild would be the best bet to finding his sister indeed. He'd have to let St. Claire know later but he figured this was the best way to go about it. Though he'd mentioned his brother, "I'd love to join, but only if my brother is allowed to join as well."[break][break]

[attr="class","landtag2"]Sami[TAGGED]

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Valentine's eyes would widen in surprise as a friend request was sent over from Sami, he smiled and accepted the friend request in earnest. He was happy to have come across a few people thus far that were willing to work together for survival's sake. Too many people had been self-centered, too many people had greed in their hearts, and that wasn't the way to do things, not like this, not as the way the world currently was. Perhaps maybe once some bit of normalcy had passed but this was still the initial break as things changed and Valentine wasn't sure how many years it would take for things to get better.[break][break]


"I have a sister and a brother, my brother for sure I know is okay, thankfully," Valentine said forcing a warm smile on his face. Though it was a sour thought, if everyone else in his life was gone at least he still had Saint Claire. However, he like Saint Claire was still looking for his sister, and doing so by splitting up helped them cover more ground. Though they both had made a promise to meet up on a consistent basis and compare notes and leads. Though he noticed that Sami seemed to have a bit of vulnerability, he pretended not to notice, and simply stated, "I do hope you can come across your siblings at some point." Valentine said, turning toward the window as he continued his conversation with Sami, glancing toward them as they spoke. "My class allows me to be a pretty good scout, not to mention from up here I can map out all of the buildings," Valentine said.[break][break]


He smiled at Sami's words, he was always willing to have more help looking for his sister, having more eyes on the ground or sky could make all the difference especially if someone could come across her. Having enough connections looking for her meant that he could cover more ground. Besides making connections now was great as it meant that if anything happened in the future he could have possible allies to call upon. He responded in earnest, "Thank you, Sami! I'll gladly accept your help!" He said with glee, then he noticed a tear coming from Sami's eye. Were they alright? Again, he decided not to pry, simply digging in his pocket taking out a small cloth, and handed it to Sami. He gave another warm smile. [break][break]


Then as he stated the word "inventory," he pressed the blue holographic screen that had appeared. The screen rippled and from it, a large piece of construction paper came from it. The same kind of paper one could often be seen used for architecture. He laid it out flat along a table. On it was squared, landmark names, shapes of buildings, and clusters of crudely drawn monsters like slimes, goblins, and dire wolves. "I took the inspiration of mapping things out on paper, from a friend I met. Her name is Pori, but she was mapping out Seoul, I decided to make a detailed map of my own." He said with a smile as he turned toward, Sami. Observing the person, he didn't want to pry but his mind kept wondering what was going on with them. Everyone had their quirks, perhaps the tear was simply because of the thought about their siblings...[break][break]

[attr="class","landtag2"]Sami [TAGGED]

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Valentine nodded to his brother as he continued to stuff all the drinks and food he could into his inventory. If the inventory had a limit he had yet to reach it, though what he found himself noticing and thinking was rather interesting was the fact, that any items he added into his inventory that were the same type were added within the same slot, and gained a numerical attached to it. This helped with organization and kept things from getting messy and cluttered. Valentine was rather fond of this, especially as going forward he knew that supplies would probably be scarce. After finishing emptying the vending machines till there was nothing left but dust and shattered glass, they continued onward with their tutorial. [break][break]

As they talked Valentine listened intently to St. Claire's input, though Valentine thought of himself as strategic, he wasn't the only person whose life was at risk. Thus he felt everyone should have a say in whatever went on. Though he also knew that he could trust St. Claire enough to lead them in the right direction. After all, if he couldn't trust family who could he trust? As far as he knew family was all he truly had left now. Valentine nodded to the idea, "I'm sure you'll be able to do it, Mio, and don't worry we'll all be here to support you." Valentine said with a smile.[break][break]

Mio shied away, but she accepted the IV as Valentine had taken it out of his inventory and handed it to She placed it in her own inventory, and then he sent Botan an invite to the party after the large man had spoken about himself. Botan accepted and that was now four in their party. [break][break]

Next Valentine went ahead with his astral projection. As he searched around he could hear St. Claire's voice in his ears, Mio's and Botan's too as they were telling him it was time to come back, warning him of something. He ow what it could possibly be besides zombies, but he was sure it wasn't anything good if St. Claire was calling him, especially with the impression St. Claire had on him earlier when he easily dispatched the zombie that came at them earlier.[break][break]

Valentine willed himself back to his body and the next thing he knew he was pulled back into it, awakening with a start. He warned them, and St. Claire responded as he looked around he couldn't knock his brother for grasping the situation as what was happening was the worst possible scenario beneath them literally breaks in some places, zombies coming at them. Thankfully they were easily able to dispatch the six zombies that made it through. Though another meat-cleaving zombie would soon make its dramatic appearance.[break][break]

"I don't... I have no clue, some type of mini-boss maybe?" Valentine thought, perhaps there were some along the floors. He wasn't sure but he was damn sure he was done with this damn floor. Thankfully St. Claire was able to defeat the large chubby zombie. Though the entire time St. Claire was fighting Valentine found himself holding his breath, as the zombie was kicked away. He was surprised at the projectile blast that came from St. Claire's attack. The ability of which allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief as St. Claire finished off the large zombie, crushing its brain into mush after splitting its skull. He felt the need to hurl but suppressed it and saw Botan and Mio visibly trying to hold their lunch in as well.[break][break]

After St. Claire caught his breath and spoke, Valentine nodded to him, they had to leave but where? Time was running out, after all, the flooring was continuing to crumble away becoming more and more unstable as they stood on it. Valentine searched around for an exit, seeing a glimmer of light coming from the meat locker. He ran over simply guided by hope and instinct alone. Hoping that the room the mini-boss had come from would provide some clues. [break][break]

Instead what he got was something better, smack dab in the middle of the room filled with rotting meat hung from chains on the ceiling. Was a ladder, pristine, silver, and gleaming in the dim lighting of the room. When he looked up the ladder there was a small closed wooden door above it. Valentine placed his axe on the ground, took a knee, relaxed, and closed his eyes as he willed his ability to activate. The next thing he knew his astral body was leaving its corporeal shell. Floating upward in his astral body as his physical body's head hung down, Valentine peered his ethereal head through the wooden flooring, moving und circling around glancing to see if there was any immediate danger above the staircase. He didn't see any immediate threats so he quickly dropped his astral body back down into his physical husk. [break][break]

He opened his eyes, "I don't see any danger above, Let's go." He said as the floor beneath them started to crack, it was clear that this was the chutes aspect of the game chutes and ladders. Though he didn't think actual ladders would be within the building. Perhaps... This was something that one could get to if they finished off a mini-boss. A ladder and easier way up, and possibly momentarily safer way up was the way to go. As a way to get to the top, Valentine climbed up the ladder opening the door slowly as he did, then presumably St. Claire followed next, then Mio, then Botan.[break][break]

They were in a large empty room that seemed to be devoid of any life, just a pure spec of dust. Perhaps this was a resting area, though considering most people had already made it to the fourth floor he was in no desire to stay on the third. Luckily as he turned around, right behind where the wooden door had fallen there was another ladder. "Keep an eye out, this is probably a prize for beating a mini-boss, a resting area of sorts." Much like before a floor below, Valentine took a knee, prepared himself, and astral projected. Flinging his astral body upward, he went through the floor, and scoped out the area only seeing another room, though this time it wasn't empty.[break][break]

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This time it was a living area, an area filled with old beds, and furniture. Perhaps where some of the more mild-mannered patients were kept. He wasn't sure, just that a bit of light could be seen beaming through the windows. Though the beds were dirty, disgusting and the shade made it impossible to see in the darkness beneath the beds. He dropped back down into his physical body again, this time immediately getting on the ladder after jarring awake. He was getting a bit more used to using his abilities more proficiently. Thankfully his scouting abilities seemed suited to tasks like this tutorial, his and St. Claire's alike. He liked to think that it was the world was giving them a bit of mercy. He didn't speak as he went up the ladder, thinking everyone would just follow his lead.[break][break]

After they all made it to the fourth floor, Valentine spoke, "I didn't see anything but be on your guard," he said as he started forward, just as hands started reaching out from the inky darkness beneath the beds. No, not hands, claws. Matted and molted flirt could be seen. They smelled of rot and death, beady eyes glinted in the light of the window as they continued to come from the beds. There were 5 of the vile creatures, large undead rats the size of a full-grown Shiba Inu. He quickly found himself regretting his earlier words, he was for all intents and purposes absolutely done with all this shit. He hated rodents, and now he had to deal with mutated giant zombie rats? "Fuck this shit," Valentine said as the zombie rats began to charge forward. Two leaped into the air, and one of them onto the wall where it scurried along until it got to the left of Valentine before pouncing off to try and attack him.[break][break]

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It was quickly struck down, green blood oozing out of it as Valentine's axe landed square within its skull, knocking it out of orbit and causing it to thump to the ground. They were fast as a normal human but thankfully his speed was just a bit faster. He moved over to grab his axe, as that was his only weapon. Without he had no real way of damaging these creatures. From behind he could hear, St. Claire and Botan fighting, and Mio dodging the rats as they tried to attack her.[break][break]

Valentine reached for his axe, placing a foot on the rat corpse and pulling the axe out with a grunt. Though it was wedged too deep, as he lifted it another rat came from underneath the inky darkness beneath the beds and attempted to pounce on him. "Oh, fuuuuuuck!" He yelled, his eyes going wide, he needed to move. He had to move or he was going to be eaten, he was going to die. He had to move out of the way he had to attack it to keep it from harming the others, from harming Clairey. [break][break]

He desperately wanted to survive and move, then his mind flashed to his skill, he heard a sound in his ears, "Ability Activating... Cross Over..." The world went wide, then compressed as if it was expanding and imploding somehow at the same time. One's and zeroes fluttered out, all around him, coating his sight and then spreading the room around him. These same 1's and 0's unbeknownst to him his body had rippled as an aurora of multi-colored light spreads across his body before fading away from the material world. He tumbled to the ground, glancing around he saw nothing but the same room he was in, but this time coated over in multicolored 1s and 0's looking like some type of digital world. Then the knowledge of the ability popped into his mind he had read it earlier. He was in... Another plane, another realm this one filled with codes and pixels. It was strange, this digital-looking space. This digital world. Though he didn't let this opportunity pass him by. Thankfully his axe had come with him, so he quickly retraced his mental steps. [break][break]

Placing himself near the backline of the group where he raised his axe high, he made sure to angle himself in position so that if he appeared near a friendly he wouldn't hit them or at least have enough time to adjust himself. Moving over to the wall where Mio was. Though he was unaware as to what was going on, just that when he came back out of the six rats, 5 had been killed, safe for the one that was jumping toward Mio who faded into the shadows to obscure her visage and dodge. Valentine rippled back into the material realm. His body looked as if it had stepped out of an aurora borealis. All he saw were beady eyes coming toward him as he swung down on instinct. Crashing into the rat, it squealed as fell to the ground with a wet thump. He pulled the axe out, smashing it into the rat over and over, "fucking rodent, die! Die! Die!" After he was done he took heavy breaths glancing around frantically.[break][break]

"Is everyone okay?" He questioned in between heavy breaths, his body still physically on edge. Mio faded from out of the shadows, a sigh of relief on her face, hugging him from behind momentarily. He was shocked at first, but as she pulled away his smile softened.[break][break]

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Information Guide:

[attr="class","landtag2"]St. Claire[TAGGED]