I pass 14 levels. In 7 hours. The legend was born today.
Corpses and ruins were left behind my back. Only on the 6th level I was delayed for a while: it's very-very new and unwonted. Then I was stuck on the 12th, I've encountered similar levels before but the arena is always the arena and crushing a hundred plus monsters is not like pushing three buttons.
Fortunately other players almost never interfere anymore. The rumors are creeping across "Labyrinth" crossing levels with the ease impossible even for divers. The deep is not an obstacle for rumors, nothing could ever stop them.
Rumors are diver's enemy but now they spread fear across and this works to my advantage.
By the end of the 14th level I realize that I can't stand it anymore, I get out of the deep for a moment and see that it's almost 7 am. It's only bad for computers to be shut down, the opposite is true for humans.
The 14th level is the city's sport center. The computer with the game menu was standing on the judges' table by the huge swimming pool where corpses of crocodile-like amphibious monsters were lazily swaying in clear water. It's quite difficult to kill those so I had to use the plasma gun to boil up the water in the pool. When the water cooled down, I dived in the stinky broth and waited for the pursuers for about 10 minutes: two hysterical players, the guy and the gal that followed me for three levels already. They were in hurry being sure that I'll leave the sport center immediately and stormed into the hall recklessly yet beautifully: the guy with the plasma gun by his belt and the gal with the carbine atilt. I launched a rocket at them, right from underwater and they both vanished in the fiery swirl.
I crawled out of the pool leaning upon the boiled monster's body and looked into the crater. Nothing was left there, the guy's plasma gun's energy cells had detonated.
– I'm the Gunslinger, – I say anyway. It had become a ritual already and I like good traditions.
I save my result: "Gunslinger, 14" and click the exit button: we'll do everything right and honestly, I'll have a rest and return, return for sure.
The hatch opens in the floor by the judges' table and after jumping into it I find myself in the changing room.
The exit from "Labyrinth" is as solemn and magnificent as the entrance, though it's a different solemnity, a cheerful one. The room with pink marble walls, bright sunlight in the ceiling window, soft armchair, the table with fruits and food, the huge carved redwood closet. I take off my armor, helmet, masking overalls and stuff it into my 'individual closet' together with the pile of weapons. Only I will be able to use the goodies I've earned when reentering "Labyrinth". I take the shower and change. That's it, time to go. I don't want to break the program, enough headaches for me, after all it takes just 5 minutes to get to the hotel and exit in a regular fashion.
The changing rooms' doors lead to the spacious hall with columns from where Deeptown's streets can be seen. This is the border between the Twilight City and the rest of virtuality, as vague as a sound barrier in the ocean.
The hall is usually empty: players leave their changing rooms without hurry and then, in groups or alone they go to nearby restaurant "BFG-9000" or to "Kakodemon" bar to drink for their victory or defeat…
Today almost 100 people have gathered here and it was my merit. It seemed that everybody killed by me were present. Everyone leaving changing rooms is being closely examined as if they could see and remember my face under the mask-helmet. I'm being examined too but probably I don't fit into the image of merciless Gunslinger which they remembered during last moments of the game.
I approach the nearest group, the talk dies there and the muscular man with a square chin asks sharply:– Gunslinger?
Luckily, I get what he means and nod…
– Yeah… – resentment and rage are on my face, – With a rocket launcher, ass hole… and then says: "I'm the Gunslinger!"
Hm, it's a bit overdone possibly… it's pretty hard to hear just anything after being hit by the rocket, but Gunslinger's figure is already surrounded by mystical aura and my words about the rocket launcher are accounted as usual looser's excuses.
– You're the hundredth, – says the squared-chin guy, – I'm Tolik { Anatoly }
– I'm Lenia.
– Gee, he killed a hundred people on the spot, sucker! – informs Tolik with admiration and hate, – Just where did he come from, I wonder… Meet my friends: Jean, Damir, Katya… He made us all in the 9th level.
To be honest I don't remember, it was too noisy there: the one before the last attempt of the players to get together and crush the impudent Gunslinger in a body.
– And me – on 15th! – I say, – I was moving so well, but he…
– Have you heard this? – shouts Tolik, – The Gunslinger had moved on to the 15th!
The crowd answers with excited buzz.
I wave my hand hopelessly and head for the exit.
– Hey! – shouts Tolik, – Won't you wait for him?
– I don't have a rubber pocket! – I reply, – You'll soap up his mug by yourselves…
– This is true, – nods Tolik, – If we manage to recognize him.
He suspects me anyway but just can't confirm his suspicions.. I nod, make the next step and see Alex.
My first victim stands a little aside, silently listening to the dialogue with interest, it looks like he ain't gonna interfere. It's vendetta, one on one.
Works fine for me. I pass by him… a couple of seconds more and I'll enter Deeptown's street…
– Gunslinger! – I'm called from behind and a hundred of people exhales together.
I turn around, the voice was too insistent, it's no use to play the fool anymore.
It's not Alex, it's Guillermo.
– Gunslinger, – he comes closer, – I'm sorry to take your time… You have beaten 8 level records, yes?
Maybe. I look not at Guillermo but at the hundred of my recent victims. Their looks don't promise me any good.
– The management have decided to inform you that you can't pretend for the declared prizes… yes? Because you work on contract with us.
Thanks God, he talks quietly at least now and we can't be heard.
– I wasn't going to, – I inform him feeling dizzy of rage.
Looks like Guillermo understands that he began this talk at the bad moment, but he was ordered to.
– Nevertheless, we want to pay you a little bonus… 200 dollars… in appreciation of your intensive work. You've made a very good publicity for "Labyrinth"… we can barely handle the flow of new players.
He pauses, looks around the hall and says in apologizing tone:
– You can drop by to get the money right now, with me. There are many exits from our office.
Thanks a lot. What I don't like is to be pushed into the swamp to be cordially offered a helping hand afterwards.
– I'll come when I have the chance.
Guillermo sighs and pulls his hands aside as if to say, "I'm the dependent guy, was ordered to tell you that…" He leaves somewhere into the depths of the hall, into some service corridors.
99 pairs of eyes look at me.
– I'm the Gunslinger, – I say.
99 pairs of feet get off the floor. No, 98.
Alex stands where he was, just pulls the long sparkling gun from his bosom and shouts:
– Run you sucker!
I don't like the name but the advice is good. All insulted ones, except maybe Alex understand in the back of their minds that they were killed absolutely fairly but right opposite is being shouted out and that's why everyone is ready to avenge those friends of theirs who were hurt for nothing, forgetting that they also were competitors very recently.
I run like crazy.
Several shots can be heard from behind – Alex desperately tries to stop the pursuers, then shouts behind me:
– I'll make you by my own…….
The shout cuts out: he's not the one with the virus weapons usable in Deeptown streets or maybe "Labyrinth"'s security came into action.
I run like crazy.
The last thing I need at this point is to dissolve in the air. If insulted players understand that I'm also a diver, the hunt will turn into badgering.
But man, if somebody knew HOW I want to sleep…
The side street, another, and another one. I lower level of detail to increase the speed and almost pass the building with the sign "Any Amusements" in four main languages of Deeptown.
To my luck the sign is big enough and I understand its meaning in time as well as recollect Maniac telling me about virtual brothels' security systems.
The choice is simple and I storm into rotating glass doors.