.Hack//New Testament Chapter 11

The next day, I received an email.

It was from a PC I had never met before.

Subject: Data Drain

From: Helba

Message:
I've seen your powers.

When you used Data Drain, the bracelet

on your right hand appears.

You can rewrite a monster's data with

this power. If you use it wisely, it will be very

valuable in the future.

Let's just say that it is a necessary power.

And another warning.

You are always being watched.

Though you may not wish it, you
will be the eye of the storm in
The World.

That is the fate of the one who bears the bracelet.

Please take care.

Okay?

How is this Helba person?

They seem to know about the bracelet on my right hand.

Isn't an e-mail normally not received from a PC whose member address has not been exchanged according to the game's specifications? This email was corrupted, strange things are happening in quick succession and I get a weird feeling about it.

For the time being, in response to the email, I reply with the questions, 'Who are you? What do you know?' I don't know if a reply will come.

Then I checked the BBS.

I was surprised.

My post was gone.

In the place where my question had been was just the short text 'Message Deleted.'

It seems that it had been deleted by management.

I was a little worried, but I decided to call up BlackRose to help me increase my level.

It is doubtful that the strength attribute at my level, according to the rules of The World, would be effective against the thing that attacked Yasuhiko.

I doubt it, but a level being too high isn't really the problem.

If I stay at level 1, just walking on to the field will make me "dead". It interferes with activities.

BlackRose is probably just a beginner like me, so it'll be easy to keep in step with each other.

Another thing I wanted to check out was Data Drain, the skill explained to me by the mysterious Helba.

In that sense, it was easy to ask to accompany someone who shares the same experience.

Nevertheless, it could be a dangerous adventure. I thought I would be refused, but BlackRose accepted.

"Yeah, okay. It's essential to raise our levels."

She spoke so casually, I thought that maybe she hadn't fully grasped the situation, so I explained it to her before going to the area.

My friend Orca is comatose.

The book that a mysterious girl handed to Orca for some reason appeared in my hand.

Thanks to that, I can use a mysterious skill.

I can defeat bizarre virus bugs with that skill.

And finally, we may be attacked by a virus bug again.

These are the thing I explained to her.

"So insistent. I get it!"

It seems that my way of speaking had gotten on her nerves. BlackRose groaned.

"So, in a nutsh.e.l.l, you want to help your friend, right? Please leave it to me. It is the duty of a senior player to guide beginners," she continued.

"Thank you. You're a life-saver. It's a pleasure to meet you."

As we set off, we talked some more.

We carefully examined the word input at the Chaos Gate.

Since we are both beginners, most areas were forbidden.

We ran around a level 1 or 2 field, dove into a dungeon, found an enemy monster, and tried a Data Drain test shot.

"It's called Data Drain."

Black Rose suddenly said when I hit the first goblin we encountered with a Data Drain.

"Hmm, you've already named it."

"No, I haven't named it anything. That name was written in the mail," I said abruptly. I was more blunt than I needed to be.

With repeated use of the Data Drain, the ability slowly became second nature to me.

To use this skill, you first need to weaken your opponent. You have to enter a battle that hijacks The World's specs and cut the monster's HP accordingly.

Once activated, Data Drain will always. .h.i.t the target and the targeted monster will be weakened without exception. You could say that the monster is completely powerless.

However, we realized that even if we killed a monster that had been Data Drained, we would hardly get any experience points. This was unexpected.

This meant that Data Drain was a powerful skill, but we couldn't rely on it.

After wandering around the area for about two hours and trying everything we wanted to do, we returned to the original Root Town.

BlackRose began to do things differently from the instructions ("Wonder or Union, I don't know which is which!") and although there was a moment during which our remaining HP was in danger when opening a treasure chest containing a spear, the two of us were able to return safely without dying.

At the Chaos Gate, BlackRose was unwell for some reason.

"Hey…" she said.

"I told you that I'm a beginner."

What was this? I was surprised, but answered weakly.

"Uh, yeah."

"You've kept me company without saying anything."

"Well, it was me who invited you."

I intended to convey the sense that there was no need to worry about it, but she frowned.

"Right, but you don't have anything snide to say?

She looked back at me and spoke.

"Like… 'what an unpleasant person!'"

"What's this all of a sudden?!"

Later I received an email from Black Rose.
These are the contents.

Subject: I believe you

From: BlackRose

Message:
I don't really understand it,

but I believe you.

I'm actually really busy, but I'll

help you when I have time,

so call me up.

P.S. Did you change color?
You're red like a lobster now.

There was more I wanted to say, but for the time being I just replied with 'Thank you.'