Chapter 11: Home
Fluffles pinned the red monster down but couldn't keep it down as it overpowered her. Once the creature got up onto its feet, it roared viciously at her. Fluffles prepared for the attack, but the monster jumped over her, rushing towards Ashfire.
Detrix intercepted, lightning covering her body as her blade struck against the creature's claws. "Sorry, but I don't feel like redoing this mission again. So how about you cooperate and die." Fluffles managed to strike the monster from behind, paralyzing it as Detrix forced the creature back and slashed at it.
Seeing the two of them protect Ashfire, its eyes shifted to the unprotected Cynthes. However, Detrix noticed its shift in attention and fired a shot from her pistol to get the creature's attention. The monster let out a low growl towards Detrix but charged toward the mage.
"It's coming, and if I stop to intercept it, the other creatures could climb up," Cynthes stated.
"Ashfire, repulse grenade! " Fluffles shouted, hoping to use the blast to intercept the monster.
"I'm a bit distracted, so don't blame me if this doesn't work!" Ashfire threw a repulse grenade behind her as Fluffles positioned herself.
"Don't worry, Cynthes. You keep focused on the enemies below!" Fluffles called out before being blasted by the grenade. She flew towards the creature, her claws ready to rip the monster apart.
The monster looked in Fluffles' direction because of the blast and noticed the cat flying towards her. The creature jumped back to avoid Fluffles as she flew by. With nothing in its way, it proceeded towards Cynthes.
Since Fluffles missed her target, she activated the Orb of Flames. Since it was an item that levelled up with its user, there was a new skill she hadn't used yet. Fluffles pushed her hands forward, her claws glowing red, and when they made contact with the ground, a small wave of fire spread out from her hands, knocking her back towards the creature.
The skill Fluffles used was called Flare Pulse. It didn't have any value in mob fights as it was a knockback skill. Thrusting her claws into a target, the user shot a small burst of flames into the target, knocking them back. It had a long cooldown to avoid its abuse. However, since the floor wasn't a valid knockback target, Fluffles was the one who got knocked back.
The creature didn't expect Fluffles to be back as she twisted her body around and slashed the monster's eyes, causing a blind effect. Detrix charged in now that the creature was blind, but it could still hear and avoided Detrix's attack.
Detrix and Fluffles were on the offensive, striking and slashing at the creature, but it avoided most attacks. "Why is this mission so stupid?" Detrix shouted, starting to lose her cool.
The blind effect wore off as the creature ducked Detrix's swing and grabbed her, receiving some electrical damage from Detrix's orb. The creature lifted her above its head and threw her aside.
"Is this thing immortal?" Fluffles wondered as nothing they did could kill it. Luckily it seemed they wouldn't have to fight the creature much longer. Fluffles could hear the helicopter and the extraction point appeared at the edge of the building. With no lag or glitches this time, Fluffles reaches the extraction point.
The helicopter came into view as the doors opened, and two soldiers holding machine guns were inside. They unleashed a barrage of bullets upon the monsters. The red creature stood there, riddled with bullets as it showed an ugly toothy grin "we'll...meet...again," it stated as its red skin faded to green before it collapsed onto the ground.
The rest of the monsters scattered, leaving the group alone on the rood, "we actually did it," Detrix exclaimed, feeling exhausted from the fight.
"Just in time, I have to log off soon, school and whatnot," Ashfire stated as everyone reached the helicopter and fast travelled back to the safe area.
Everyone stepped out of the helicopter, with the quest giver only a few steps away. "At least if the game glitches, we won't have to redo the mission again," Doctor0 sighed with relief.
"Once we submit the mission, how many of you are leaving?" Cynthes asked.
"I'll have to leave at the same time as Ashfire. Since she stupidly announced we're students, I usually pick her up on the way to school," Detrix stated.
I'll have to get off in a few hours and get ready for my job," Doctor0 announced, receiving a few glances.
"You're not a vet or anything, right?" Fluffles asked fearfully.
"No, my job doesn't involve needles," Doctor0 replied, feeling disappointed. I didn't have the money to finish college.
"Wait, how does Fluffles log out?" Detrix asked.
"I don't know if I want to log out," Fluffles stated, looking down at her legs. "Here I am, understanding you and learning so many things. I'm walking on two legs and using my hands to grab stuff. I dunno how I'll feel going back-" she stated before everything went black.
Fluffles awoke, startled and confused, as she swiped at the hands that held her. "Hisss!"
"Oh, you were still sleeping, sorry," Fluffles' owner spoke and smiled as she put her cat on the bed. "You were in my spare headset all night. I accidentally left it plugged in. Oh well." She said out loud. Two VR headsets were attached to the computer as the owner played the game all night, not realizing Fluffles also played. She picked up Fluffles and sat on the bed, petting her cat.
Fluffles dug her nails into the bed, her eyes wide, trying to understand what was happening. Without the system to help, her thoughts were becoming hazy. She started to lick her paw to clean her face before walking to the edge of the bed.
The immediate thing Fluffles wanted was food, as everything else could wait. She jumped down from the bed and looked up at her food giver, "Meow," she cried.
"You already want breakfast, alright." The owner smiled and pet Fluffles before walking past her.
Fluffles eagerly followed and waited near the corner where she always got her food. She looked up to her owner and started meowing again.
"Yes, yes. Here you are," the owner put a plate in front of Fluffles that had a brown, wet lump.
Fluffles pawed at the food, looking at the stuff stuck on her paw before licking it off. Her owner looked at the strange behaviour as Fluffles didn't eat the food like she usually did. She seemed content to scoop it up on her paw and then lick it off.
Once Fluffles was finished with her food, the owner petted Fluffles as they picked up the plate. Fluffles looked at the bedroom and start heading back.
"Oh, don't you want to play a bit?" The owner threw a little mouse toy in front of Fluffles, who swatted it away. Next, the owner put a little feather tied to a string, hoping that would be entertaining for the cat. Fluffles smacked away the feather every time her owner pushed it into her face.
Fluffles made it back to her room and noticed the headset she fell asleep in was on the dresser, beside the one her owner used. Fluffles sniffed at the two headsets, knocking the one she used onto the ground.
"Oh, watch what you're doing," The owner rushed forward, catching the helmet before it fell. Fluffles meowed disapprovingly, wanting it on the ground.
"You wanted to lay in it again? It's not a bed you can't lay in it. My friends put their heads in it, so I can't have it covered in hair," The owner exclaims.
Fluffles couldn't understand what the person was saying, so she meowed again. The only thing she understood was the owner had the helmet, and Fluffles wanted it, so Fluffles kept meowing. She knew if she kept meowing, she would eventually get the helmet.
"Fine, but don't be mad when I take it away to clean it when I have company," the owner warned and set it down. "I have to go to work, be good alright."
Fluffles' owner headed into the bathroom as Fluffles laid back into the helmet, but nothing happened. Climbing out and swatting it, she climbed back in and still, nothing happened. "Meow!"
"Sorry, I'm in the shower. Be done soon," The owner called out as Fluffles started to scratch at the door, meowing louder. She didn't understand that the computer was off, so the helmet was useless.
Feeling ignored, Fluffles went back to the helmet, laying in different positions, trying to get it to work. Her owner walked in after her shower to change as Fluffles immediately meowed at her, but to no avail.
"Sorry, I have to go. I'll see you when I'm back home like usual," The owner stated and pet Fluffles again before exiting the house, leaving Fluffles alone with the helmet pawing at it.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone