Chapter Text
During the first year of State Civilization Online (SCiv), the guild wars was the tournament that brought a lot of new players into the game. The first top guild was permanently etched into the history of the game, rewarded with special status, loot bonuses, and most of all, one of a kind equipment.
But this year was different.
Saparata watches in the humble office, situated in an out-of-bounds area, far away from any players. He is dressed in an old-style professor costume, an outfit that is familiar as it is old. He taps his foot impatiently while he glares holes into the myriad of screens streaming the current match.
“Huh? I thought everyone’s out.”
One of the managers, LegacyAn, strolls into the empty room.
Saparata breaks away, looking at the character model of Legacy, who waves with a file, “Oh, Legacy. Is everything good on your side?”
“Yes, Solev’s really interested in the current battle, so he’s going down himself to catch any misses.” Legacy smiles. “Do you know anything about that, Saparata?”
“...None that I should know about.”
“Alright Saps, keep your secrets.” Legacy chuckles, before taking a seat at his own cubicle. “The others are in the [Westhelm] guild’s colosseum, Jophiel’s been calling for you to come down and stop being shy. Isn’t it bad that the second oldest needs to be dragged out by the youngest?”
“I’m not shy.” Saparata grumbles, but he loses his train of thought as a clashing sound draws his attention back.
Reflected on the screen was the semi-final match between [Tricolour]’s top team and [Conspiracy], two of the seeded guild. [Tricolour] had a formidable lineup, with a balanced composition of DPS, sub-DPS, and supports with skills selected to support one another. Its guild is known for having all-rounders. If you throw their top group to a random match, there is a high likelihood that they will conquer their opponents. To put it simply, [Tricolour] is one of the rare guilds that had consistency. They even had a mandatory training regiment for newbies, so all their players had all the necessary skills to play their role.
But the [Conspiracy] is different.
If [Tricolour] is a multifunctional pocket knife, then the [Conspiracy] is a gun. It’s loud, it's highly offensive, and would kill you if it hits. [Tricolour]’s consistent gameplay cannot stand against the 6 highly specialized individuals that have Fluixon’s backseating on their side.
On the screen, the [Tricolour] tank is quickly shot down by Thomas5200’s only offensive skill, who has already moved to shield their supporting cast members. And by shield, it is just trading offense with offense.
The screen is a flurry of effects, clashes, and a million micro-inputs that make or break the game.
The match ends as [Tricolour]’s defense crumbles under the [Conspiracy]’s unrelenting offense. Their remaining team members are wiped out simultaneously by an area of effect skill, the screen notification announcing the win to [Conspiracy]. The camera pans to standing participants, with a notable lingering shot to Fluixon avatar’s cheering emote.
“Is that…”
“Shut up.”
“I didn’t even say anything. How the hell did he even equip that artifact like that anyway?”
Legacy refers to how Fluixon’s pony tail is neatly tied with a white bow, or more specifically, a white handkerchief that has special embroidery on its edges. Saparata’s face would have been flaming if it wasn't for the suppression of excessive emotion notification.
“Snowbird or Micro must have whispered it to Solev, he added the setting for all of our special equipment after that.”
The devil works hard, but his team works harder to embarrass Saparata.
“So you do know something about Solev’s recent updates.”
“He’s too invested in Flux, alright? I keep begging him to stop adding unnecessary things like special status rewards but that man needs a pet project every month!”
“That’s manager Solev for you.”
The Conspiracy’s private discord is ablaze with chatter, especially from Hyvrotation and Gotoga’s own cheering. This marks their 8th match and pushing them towards the finals. The fight after this is the most important one.
Fluixon moves his tabs to look at their final opponent, the guild from Yggdrasil that’s as mysterious as it is infamous.
“It’s [The Covenant].”
The winner of the previous guild wars of the Yggdrasil server.
If the [Conspiracy] is a gun, then [The Covenant] is a military tank. They’re ruthless and unpredictable, the only leeway or weakness they can exploit is the fact that they’re too good. Each member hits like a truck, but guild wars are also won through team builds.
Mistaking the grave tone of Fluixon’s words, Thomas chatters away.
“Don’t worry about it, Flux. We’ve been preparing for this.”
Hyvrotation chimes in. “What a shame, if only that promising rookie of ours could join, then bossman wouldn’t even have to worry.”
Seraphim scoffs, “Worried? Who’s worried?”
Before their DPS egos are bruised, Fluixon replies. “We don’t need worry when we have Seraphim and NewKids on our side.”
“[The Covenant] has the top 10 PVP players outside of our kids though.” NewKids says, just to be a contrarian.
Seraphim responds to their youngest, “That’s why we have Thomas and Gotoga, someone has to be the brains to our brainful brawn.”
“Hey! What about me?!”
“We also need Hyvrotation crashing out over our gear for a whole week or Fluixon’s nagging to watch all matches of our opponents.”
Fluixon clicks his tongue, suppressing the urge to scream outrage. “It wasn’t nagging. I won’t allow our loss to hinge on a single mistake.”
Thomas giggles in response, much to Fluixon’s own reddening face.
“Sheesh, desperate for that special status that much, Flux?”
Hearing Thomas’ jaunty jab, Fluixon pauses in contemplation.
“No… I’ve got a score to settle.”
During the early days of the game, Saparata is nothing but an urban legend. If Fluixon hadn’t noticed the reused models of some dungeon bosses and that one specific bread seller in spawn, he would’ve missed Saps in his entirety. The thing that finally cemented Saparata into a reality was a post…
A forum post by none other than the President of the Saps-spotter discord. The same man that Fluixon had contacted in his excitement to share Saps.
They got along like a house on fire. Although the discord was more like a collective delusional episode both the President and Flux—who had became the vice president—was sincere in documenting and sharing information about Saps.
Their friendship had always been easygoing, that was until…
Fluixon’s discord comes alight with a direct message notification. An icon he hasn’t seen in three years sent him a message, asking for a call. Against his better judgement, or perhaps a lingering sentiment, Fluixon starts a call.
“…Long time no see, Turntapp.”
Turntapp’s icon lights up as his voice fills his ears.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the Architect himself. Excited for tomorrow?”
“Can’t wait to beat the shit out of [The Covenant].”
“Like hell you will.” Turntapp laughs, like they were still old friends. But his voice then turns into something more biting, “Still up watching [Covenant]’s previous matches? It’s nice to know that you never changed.”
“And you’re still as condescending as ever. How’s the Saps-spotter discord after I left?”
“You… Ha… You really know to attack where it hurts.”
Fluixon’s love of Saps is an after-effect for his love of the game, especially as one of the active glitch hunters in the community. Unbeknownst to him, Turntapp was only into Saps as an urban legend. The leader of [The Covenant] published a video, exposing Saps and the special NPCs to the majority of the player base. A video that contained both Flux’s and Thomas’ documentation and theories without their consent.
The resulting wave of ‘Saps-spotter’s caused Saps sighting to disappear completely, with Flux and Thomas eventually leaving when Turntapp refuses to acknowledge how he stole information from them. He banned any mention of Flux and Thomas, dooming the discord to its death once Saps began appearing solely to Flux two years ago.
“Has your ego been completely inflated by Saps?”
“It’s not ego when I own an equipment from him.”
“That doesn’t mean shit—"
“—And I can’t believe you’re still clinging onto Saps. Your career would’ve soared if you’ve moved onto other games.”
Turntapp is silent, and Fluixon can imagine him fuming behind his screen. But surprisingly he responds in a placating manner.
“Fine, fine. Let’s stop it here. I’m not here to provoke you.”
“Then, what…”
“I’m just wishing you luck for tomorrow. We’ve had our ups and downs, but I truly hold nothing against you.”
“That’s rich for someone who’s unwilling to apologize.” Fluixon bites back. Who does this man think he is? He is a perpetrator that had ruined his and Thomas’ trust and still believe himself to be innocent. Does this man have no shame? Finding an opportunity, Fluixon responds. “Let’s make a deal, Turntapp. If I win, I want you to come clean to everyone in the Saps-spotter.”
“Hah! Well this is certainly a first! The Architect of the [Conspiracy], known for being a paranoid little shit, asking me to admit our little misunderstanding and tarnish my name? Are you trying to secure your loss?”
“If you’re so sure that you’ll win, then you wouldn’t refuse this deal, would you, Leader of [The Covenant]?”
“Then if I win, you’ll give me [Saparata’s Favour].”
…What? That’s it?
“I’d expect you to say I should grovel and disappear from SCiv.”
“You’re not the only one interested in Saps, Mister Architect.”
That is just a bunch of bullshit. Turntapp used Saps to get your youtube carreer off the ground, he has never been interested in him at all. Knowing the personality of his former friend, he would’ve milked any narrative of any other games in the same manner. Without passion, care, or effort put into any of it. Fluixon clenches his fist, the nerve of this man…
As if Turntapp can guess his rage, he adds the nail to the coffin.
“What can I say? Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Besides, isn’t the status and item suited for the President of the Saps-spotters?”
“…You truly disgust me.”
“I’d say the same thing about you any day of the week. Now, do we have a deal?”
The morning of the tournament, the four coworkers is sitting at the common or plebian seats of the [Westhelm] colosseum. For the sake of anonymity, they used low ranking gear while changing their appearances. All except for Snowbird, who has finally sat down after wandering around.
“Where did you go, Snowbird? The match is about to start!” Jophiel asks.
Saparata’s been sandwiched between Jophiel, who spends the last 20 minutes watching the global chat and the others. While on his left is Microspr, who’s been dozing off and staying silent, only responding when Saparata or Jophiel make some small-talk. Snowbird joins them to Microspr’s side, flashing a wide toothy grin.
“Just went to wish some people luck! This match is going to be interesting, I can tell! Look, even Saps hadn’t taken his eyes off the arena.”
“…Shut up.”
Is his coworkers buffing themselves from Saparata’s embarrassment? He really should file an HR complaint…
For the twentieth time, Saparata opens the system screen for the matchup. Due to his status as a [Special Worker], he’s able to see the character sheet for all the guild members involved in the final match. Looking at the [Conspiracy]’s skill list is enough to keep him guessing. Especially its leader… who the hell even keeps skills like this? And the bugged skill from a year ago? At least [The Covenant] had more predictable strategy from their skill lists.
Micro bumps his shoulder to Saps, speaking in a low calming tone.
“Saps, you’re worrying too much. Whatever happens, happens.”
“I know Micro, I just want it to be…”
Saparata’s not brave enough to say it.
“A-anyway. We’ve been practicing in that dungeon just because Solev wants to soft-launch us. It’ll be bad if all our efforts are in vain.”
Jophiel, smelling blood in the water, covers her mouth as she smiles at Saparata.
“What are you talking about? Giving up on Flux already?”
“[The Covenant]’s different. They’re vicious. I just have a bad feeling about them.”
“Huh? That player…”
Snowbird leans forward to look at Saps’ system window, his expression complex. His easy going attitude vanished the moment his eyes dart across the matchup, reading the opponents list.
“Don’t you recognize him, Saps?”
“No? Should I be?”
Snowbird hums, cryptic as always, before going back to his own seat, much to Microspr’s side-eye. “It’s good that you don’t. Anywho, who do you think is going to win? [Conspiracy] or [Covenant]?”
“I support Saparata, so [Conspiracy] has my vote.” Jophiel smiles.
Microspr responds, “Looking at past match ups, I think The Covenant slightly edges them out. Unless Conspiracy played the best match of their lives, I can’t imagine them winning.”
“And… Well, I don’t have to ask Saps—”
“Hey!”
“—I think the Conspiracy’s taking the win!”
The three of them looks towards their gleaming coworker. That look. All of them are familiar with that smug self-satisfied grin of his.
“…Snowbird.”
“Yes, Jophiel?”
“Pray tell, you haven’t been taking bets lately, have you?”
“That’s between me and the system, Sis.” Snowbird winks.
“Snowbird—is that why you’re gone? Gathering intel and placing bets?”
“Oh my sweet summer Saparata, I don’t dabble in market speculation.”
“It’s market manipulation if we’re talking about Snowbird. Legacy and Magmar is still holding a grudge over the great market crash—”
Jophiel and Snowbird continue to bicker, but Saparata noticed the silence from Micro.
“Micro? What’s wrong?”
“I’m just…” Micro starts, his voice barely a whisper to not alert their coworkers. He looks down at his hands, like he has been stewing inside of his thoughts for too long. “…I’m just confused. We’ve been hiding for so long… so why now?”
The match is brutal.
The [Conspiracy] has always been a special darling in the community. Instead of the conventional 10member guild, they chose to only have 6 members, each highly ranked in their own specialized department. But their niche builds are now stress-tested against the overwhelming offense of [The Covenant].
Within the first 20 minutes, both were locked in a stalemate, trading blow for blow, trying to find a weakness. Each of the player’s skill is never not on cooldown, especially that of the supports. On the [Conspiracy]’s private discord, Fluixon is barking orders like his life depends on it. While in [The Covenant]’s private discord, Turntapp’s team is silent in concentration. If both can just hold out a little longer, they can punish even the slightest mistake from their opponent’s weakest link.
An opportunity presents itself as the [Conspiracy]’s tank, Hyvrotation, moves slightly out of range into Thomas’ heal range.
“Now!”
Turntapp’s damage over time fire skill activates as a straight line of fire goes through Hyvrotation’s hitbox and straight into Fluixon, who’s on 50% of his health. Flux, whose skills has been going off to debuff the movement speed of [The Covenant]’s DPS, had no time to dodge, taking the hit head on. The skill’s initial hit should deplete 40% of Fluixon’s Max HP, not to mention the damage over time would kill him in a few seconds since he’s out of Thomas’ heal range.
Turntapp smiles to himself. Flux’s build is a niche cursed wizard build with a focus on exploiting elemental application and the spaghetti code of the game’s damage calculation. That’s why the man uses short-range skills and nonsensical gears, ones that undoubtedly don’t have a fire resistance. Additional fire resistance from buffs and potions would reduce his damage, but it would still cripple and corner the [Conspiracy]’s Sub-DPS, enough to take the man out of the equation.
But instead of the notification of his death, Fluixon’s avatar zooms into the battlefield.
“What?!”
“How is he still alive?!”
“That healer’s skill should be on cooldown so how—”
How is Fluixon’s health bar nearly full?
The split-second surprise is enough for the Conspiracy’s DPS-duo to cut down the Covenant’s tanks. Combined with Gotoga’s long-term trap placement, Fluixon’s debuffs, and Hyvrotation’s build soaking up millions of damage, [The Covenant] quickly destabilizes. In an effort to get back on track, 4 of its members had been killed.
The team enters midgame at minute 45, much to the excitement of everyone else.
“Turntapp’s a pure fire DPS. If there’s a contest on the highest fire damage dealt in the server, he’d win by a landslide.” Saparata narrates, his eyes following the blur of white on Fluixon’s character. “He’s the only player to have gained the highest buff skill for a fire mage.”
“One with your keyword? You’d have to do a sub-5 minute run of the highest level dungeon!”
Saparata smiles wryly at Snowbird’s comment, “That’s expected of the head of [The Covenant].”
“If he has the buff skill… I’m pretty sure he can oneshot anyone in the [Conspiracy].”
“But they’ve come prepared. Look, all of them have fire-resistance active.”
Jophiel looks at her screen, where all of the statuses, passives, skills, and equipment is shown.
“It’s not just the [Conspiracy], [The Covenant] also had poison cleanse for Flux, buff dispellers, and even trap clearers. Both of them came prepared.”
On the arena, another blood is drawn as Seraphim traded lives with a [The Covenant] support, crippling the back row of [The Covenant] at the cost of the [Conspiracy]’s frontline.
Jophiel sighs in defeat before leaning onto Saparata, hiding her gaze from the arena. “…I can’t bear to watch.”
“Don’t worry, if Flux goes one on one with Turntapp…” Saparata grins. “…He’ll win.”
One hour. Thomas’ avatar disappears when Turntapp unleashes his skill. Now only two people remain, Fluixon at half of his health bar while Turntapp is on full health.
Both their avatars circle each other, regaining stamina while activating their buffs. To all but four, nobody knew what is going to happen. To Fluixon, if he played his cards right, this will be a guaranteed win.
Turntapp closes the distance, his passive skill randomly locking the highest cooldown skill of Fluixon’s as Fluixon dodges his combo. But instead of the heavy attack at the end of his combo, Turntapp dash cancels and activates a striking skill. A skill that uses physical attack that lowers Fluixon’s defense as well, knocking the avatar back.
Whatever it is Fluixon has, it allows him to heal based off fire damage.
That just means that Turntapp needs to kill him with anything other than his signature skills.
Fluixon hits back, a cursed poison skill that Turntapp takes to get another string of light attack combos on Fluixon.
Although it turned out to be a mistake, as Fluixon returns a combo using [Dripping Moonlight], a combo Turntapp could’ve dodged if it isn’t for the movement reduction of Fluixon’s poison. He used a poison cleanser, but Fluixon applied it again using an AOE skill the second his cleanser finishes, and then dashes again to dodge Turntapp’s skill.
This guy…
Fluixon has been a thorn on Turntapp’s side for as long as he can remember. He was annoying and arrogant. His only redeeming quality was his naïve, almost child-like passion for Saparata. Not only that, he’s popular, famous, and dearly beloved in the community. All Turntapp had ever wanted, Flux already had in spades.
But Saparata was his!
The one who discovered that AI was him. The one who nurtured the rumour was him! The one who had gathered this mystery was him! Saps was Turntapp’s ghost as much as Turntapp is to Saps.
So why is Flux the one Saparata favours?!
Turntapp can imagine Flux grinning all the way across the world. Seven years of pursuit, and then two years later Saps decides to show up solely to Flux. Turntapp can count the number of times he met Saps personally, but Flux had hours upon hours with the biggest mystery on SCiv. It wasn’t fair, the honor should’ve been given to him.
Turntapp’s going to regain what he deserved, no matter the cost.
The moment his HP drops to 50%, Turntapp blinks back, activating a skill he had been saving just for this moment.
[Prometheus]
In an instant, his whole character is engulfed in flames, increasing his movement speed, STR, and doubling his crit chance and reducing his HP little by little, while also gaining an almost unbreakable barrier while the buff animation is on.
The audience chat roars in recognition. [Prometheus] is a buff skill only unlocked through heavily investing in the fire mage class and clearing the requisite dungeon, a skill that can only be used once a day. The only recorded player in SCiv to have the skill was Turntapp, who pivoted to a battle mage class once he obtained [Prometheus], further enhancing his damage build.
Everyone knows that the moment [Prometheus] was activated that [The Covenant] would win.
But in that roaring hysteria, Fluixon’s character jumps into the flames.
What people don’t know is that Prometheus wasn’t just a buffing skill with flashy animations. The barrier was an area of effect skill that applies fire damage when a player bumps into the barrier, and the barrier itself is a bind-box that is reused from other bind skills, protecting the character from external attacks while confining the character as the animation finishes.
It meant two things.
The fire effects wasn’t just an animation.
It’s flame damage. The same flame damage that’s now healing Fluixon.
Second, Fluixon knows how to bypass that bind-box.
Turntapp’s character couldn’t dash out as Fluixon’s avatar phases in, unleashing the combo of [Dripping Moonlight]. Fluixon’s passive skill activates as [Prometheus]’s self-inflicted damage over time doubled. Turntapp scrambled to return the fire, but the damage has been done.
With a strike, Fluixon’s weapon deals a killing blow the moment the bind-box disappears—
Except!
[Prometheus]
When hit with a killing blow, player will instantly revive with 1 HP remaining
Turntapp’s character pulses in and out of the revive i-frame as he dashes away. He still has a chance as long as Fluixon doesn’t close the gap. He knows his former friend’s bad habits like the back of his hand, that arrogant prick would never use a long distance skill.
But before he can decide on his next move—
Pop!
A familiar sound.
Far away from him, Fluixon’s avatar is surrounded by party poppers.
Turntapp looks up just in time as a dripstone smashes into his character in the milisecond his i-frame disappears.
[Turntapp was skewered by a falling stalactite]
[Happy April Fools!]
Conspiracy has won.
On the bleachers, a pandemonium erupts.
“Did you see that?!”
“Isn’t that [Dripstone Execution]?! That’s a crazy strategy!”
“That’s absolutely humiliating to die to.”
Besides Saparata, his colleagues are laughing their asses off.
“To think that a top player like Flux would keep a skill from the first April Fools event…”
[Dripstone Execution]
It was a skill that deals precisely 1 true damage.
During the one-day period, the event reduced all player’s Max HP to 1. All skills were locked when entering a PvP arena, allowing for a dripstone bloodbath for the whole day. Due to its gag nature, players eventually got rid of it to use their skill slots for other more useful skills. The skill itself became extinct, only belonging to abandoned accounts that logged in during the first April Fools.
Snowbird can’t stop laughing, leaning onto Micro for support as he continues to shake. “I knew believing in the [Conspiracy] was right! Oh man, how did you even find a guy like this, Saps?”
“He’s the one who found me, Snowbird.”
“I’m thanking Solev! I just scored a shit ton of stuff!”
Jophiel and Microspr shares an exasperated look, “…Should we report this guy to Legacy?”
“Pretty sure Snowbird can bribe Legacy with his winnings, Jophiel. We’ll get him next time.”
Saparata can’t hear the people around him, not when his gaze is still rooted at Fluixon. The glitch hunter is silent, wearing Saparata’s handkerchief as a hair tie. They’ve been orbiting each other like the sun and the moon, only now that Saparata felt close enough to touch Fluixon. The barrier between him and Fluixon, one that stems from their statuses as NPC and player respectively, had never been thinner.
[Emergency Notice]
[Excessive emotions are now suppressed!]
If Saparata had a beating heart, he surely would’ve clutched his chest.
Oh Flux… What have you done to me…
“Well, now that’s settled, you don’t have to be so worried anymore.” Jophiel nudges Saparata out of his thoughts. “You don’t have to practice in that dungeon day in and day out anymore, isn’t that great?”
Snowbird glances at her, “Oh? Is Jophiel not worried to what will come after this?”
“Why should I? We’ve been practicing since Solev decided to make this his pet project. Besides, even without any practice…”
Jophiel’s gaze glints with arrogance, the same hidden arrogance underneath Microspr and Snowbird’s own eyes.
“…Mere players can’t even dream to beat us.”
[Guild Wars Announcement]
The State Civilization Online Development Team from State Games Inc. congratulates the 1st place winner [Conspiracy], 2nd place winner [The Covenant], and 3rd place winner [Infernus] on their win. The 10th Anniversary Guild Wars is a special celebration for all players. The team would like to thank all players that has poured their time, energy, and skills to make State Civilization Online a fun experience for everyone.
Rewards have been sent to all members of the winning guild, and specialized rewards are currently in active discussion. Additionally, to celebrate the first guild wars between two servers, the team has prepared a special surprise for veteran players and fans of the State Games Inc.
We would like to thank you for the continuous support of State Civilization Online.
—State Civilization Online Development Team
[New Dungeon Unlocked!]
[Echoes of Nostalgia: Special Raid Dungeon]
[Entry Criteria: Level 100, a party member must have [Saparata’s Favourite Player] status or [Saparata’s Favour] equipped]