'NDV-I"!!
fanlaSv/Sci-H U S $ 1 ..99 f
C A N S I O. O. 9 9
AI buste buster; r;
Th Year Year's 's Mo
Exci Exciti ting ng Nove Novel! l! .hack,
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Th unto untold ld orig origin in of th begi begins ns right here here
supe supe popu popula la anime and manga manga fram: fram:his his
"AI bust buster er capt capt re th wond wond an th shee shee thri thrill ll of ga ing_ ing_ -Mel -Melis issa sa alker alker ELLEgirl
of anime anime th
A"fas A"fast-p t-pace aced, d, easy easy read read."."-We Wesle
arti artist stry ry of
anga anga
Schn Schneid eider er Dragon Magazine
"A adve advent nt re that that flow flow from from ag to -Kris -Kristin tin Fletcher tcher-S -Spe pear ar VOYA
ag
in antl antl isce isce le nd or in acce access ssib ible le to anyo anyone ne with with ense ense of wond wond r" -Dav -Dav alver alverso son, n, Play Magazine
alit alit
'IYW\N.TOKYOPOP_r.DftI
ISBN '595328.6 '595328.696 96
"The "The adve advent nt re an
AI bu te
intr intrig ig
-Eva erie erie on th PS2_ PS2_ -Eva
in th
in
ag
arci arciss sse, e, Tee People People
ak
nec«
Tats Tatsuy uy Tats Tats
amaz amazak ak is th
Hama Hamaza zaki ki rit. rit.
of
ve al Gundam
novelizations.
ts ya
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Illustrated ei Izu
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HAMBUiRG!
II LONDON
il LOS ANGELES
1/ TOKYO
h a ck ! A I b u s e r
S to to r
by Ta suy
Ulustrated
Hamazaki Rei zumi
E n g lili s A d a p a titi o Copy Edi or P ro ro o r ea ea d e esgn an La ou C o ve ve r D es es ig ig n
S to to rm rm c ro ro w H a y e A b ig ig a i P hi hi llll ip ip s W en en d y H u n te te r J am am e s L e C h riri s i a L o w nd nd s
Edi or M a na na ge ge r
N ic ic ol ol e M o n as as titi rs rs k C h riri s B u fo fo r
D ig ig i a l m a gi gi n
P ro ro du du c i o M a na na ge ge r A r D i e c to to r M a na na g n g E d i o r V P o f P ro ro du du c i o P ub ub lili sh sh e r a n d E . C . P re re s id id e n t a n d C .O . O .O .O . C .E . E .O .O .
J en e n ni ni fe fe r M ili l le r a n M u ts ts um um i M i ya ya za za k M a t A l fo fo r J ilil l F re re sh sh ne ne y R o n K la la m e M i k K ilil e J o h n P a rk rk e r S t ua ua r L e v y
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T O K Y O PO PO P n c .
5900 Wilshire B l v d , Suite 2000 L o A n ge ge le le s C A 9 00 00 3 E-mail: i n f o @ T O K Y O P O P . c o m C o m e v isis i u s o n l n e a t w w w . T O K Y O P O P . c o m h ac a c k A I b us u s tete r@ r @ T a 1 su su y H a m az az ak a k i 2 0 02 02 , F iri r s p u bl b l is h e d J a pa pa n 2002 b y IN G C O " L TD K A D O K A W A S H O T E N P U B L I S H IN TD . T o k y o . E n g l isis h t ra ra n s lala t io n r igig h t a r ra ra n g e d with IS H IN IN G C O . , L T D . T o K y o K A O O K A W A S H O T E N P U B L IS t h roro u g h T U T I L E - M O R I A G E N C Y , I N C T o K y O . English text copyright
A l g h r es e s e rvrv e d N o p o r o n o f ! h i b o o m a y b e r ep e p ro ro d uc uc e d o r r an an sm sm i e d a n y f o r o r b y an m e a n s w l 1 h o u w r itit tete n p e r m i s s i o n f ro gh t h o l d e rsrs . ro m 1 h e c o p y riri gh T o l n o ve ve l w o r o f c t o n . A n y r es e s em e m b lala n c locales p e rs rs o n s l iv inin g o r d e ad aciuat events ad . i s e n t ir e l c o i n cici de de n t a l
2 00 0 0 5 T O K Y OP OP O P n c ,
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in.
plugge plugge
felt
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tly
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I l l y into
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1II111g
xcit xcit ment ment bris bristl tl
mill millis isec econ on
as
cons consci ciou ousn snes es
avatar avatar.J .J scanne scanne
l. do when whenev ever er
spine. It lasted
ow
leap leap from from
surr surrou ound ndin ings gs
into into Th
l1ilJ
real
It's It's th firs firs
rl
(Del (Delta ta Serv Server er Zone Zone Hidd Hidden en Forb Forbid idde derr, rr, Sacred o ok ok e Ii Illg service h a l l stre stretc tche he
IH
rble rble fl or
patter ern, n, I I . l j 1 e d patt
ad
i k an ol
goth gothic ic ston ston chur church ch
hefo hefore re me its ceilin ceilin cross cross vaulted, diamortd-
pend pendul ulum um sWun sWun back back an fort forthm hmar arki king ng
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ooki ooking ng
bt in
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te
pe fe
roun round! d!
noti notice ce
th ee th
t.ake
pend pendul ul ms
squa squa e,
st
'0
Tick-t Tick-toc ock, k, tick-t tick-tack ack ti
propro-
II
sold soldie ie s,
le st
wh were were real real were.gro were.growi wing ng impa impati tien ent. t.
1St
.I
Ths
in
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we
la s, ow ve
ligh ligh sour source ce bu th
aS
he
as no obvi obvi us
th
aili aili
efor efor wa th
to limb limb ve th
aili aili
~ ! w l ' ( i1i1 J g you Captai Captain." n."
NPO"
th
hurc hurc 's alta alta
ilin iling, g,
111I'MIRo 111I'MIRole-P le-Playin layingGa gGarnes rnes or RPGs
th adva advant ntag ag of cybe cybers rspa pace ce Th
advan advantag tag or disadv disadvan antag tage. e. stoo stoo
at
1l1111I'I'i.al,
desi desi ning ning this this le el of et il he
_:rtme _:rtme wit
ut th
only only wa te
ai hi h. Be on to stud stud th
lt 's
sn't sn't allo allo ed he -.-ju -.-just st
On of th .mah .mah cybe cybe "rul "rules es dict dictat atii iilg lg that that th prog progra ramm mmer er
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te su
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ompu ompute te II
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to
me hant hants, s, innk innk pe s, barm barm ids, ids, ontr ontrol olle le
av ta
tc
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seem r e a l . Occa Occasi sion onal ally ly on fann fanned ed
litt little le to much much
it
'111'. '111'. 1I'III11C 1I'III11C (:I::1'5.
IS
III, ·Il'np She's trapped!' trapped!' ·Il'npc. c. She's
ack lai_ uster usterllare llare
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buster\,--\~======~ mission. Ii 10
arrived,
"I
aw
stoo stoo
gnor gnored ed her. her.
UIIILl
I:lV
yo shie shield lded ed th area area?" ?"
disa led; led; re orte orte ',Il'~( ;at'c ar disa
alit alitde de was'
abou regu regula la play playet ets? s? "WilO.lt abou
th knight. asked, checking
read th area area pecs pecs !I 1\'1' h e ' d read
We've conf confir irme me
it
transl sluc ucen ent' t' almost tran
an
"( iuod iuod You' You'
that that." ."
done done your your jo well well:' :' eate d.
shoes. er
I) ,lIld
I' I"
ed
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e.
es
I" ,II 1.11~~lln
111, '.
At
fo "pre "prepa pare re to atta attack ck," ,"
es wa caug caught ht in
we
ra
he co ldn' ldn' esca esca e,
.hackl/aLbusterllarea.0_naveLof_lakeI11011
re
re
pc forw forwar ar
,I,li ,I,lini nini nist stra rato tors rs
I.
It was
Th
Wldl c ta ta t
turned
They They
oved oved in erfe erfect ct
an urge urge
ni on
knight knight forward forward
"Arc
lll,.
.hackllal_busterllarea,O_navel_of.)akel/11
II
·hack
te
\_'\,======== "You "You di
"Dori'r
your your girl girlis is
char charm. m. You' You're re
Vagr Vagran an
you deser deserve ve." ."
"You "You'r 'r in th
"I'm what?"
"You "You'r 'r ga ba Knig Knight ht
well well recr recrui uit. t.
ne Hi de
"How come th Ba
ode. ode.
ag
ta
Coba Cobalt lt
n'
rbid rbid en an
m on on s e r
re ." treasure?
,rhere ,rhere's 's hard hardly ly anyt anythi hing ng!" !"
corr correc ec mist mistak akes es like like you. you. Th Worl World. d.
ould ould only only ha pe ''I' ''I'
in movi movi
"Yeah?"
be sp
fail failur ure, e, sh whis whispe pere red. d.
Epitaph
t h T W i lili gh gh t ?
recruit, an laun launch ched ed an atta attack ck
lind lindin in
fl sh
hite hite ligh ligh
ho
"U
ye h,
it "Yes, It used
impaled. Tick-t Tick-tac ack, k, tick-r tick-rec eck. k.
seve seve al ye
to
agoago-be be or
s: ' th P l u t K i s s:
in the backgr backgroun ound. d.
ne
th knig knight ht
re orte orted: d: "S bj
'd lete lete
1o
ompl ompl te ." two knights
"N ve
ke
homework?" assignment.
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·hack
/1 AI
buster\~\======
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of Lak.e
done done to save save time..I time..Ins nste tead ad ever ever deta detail il wa cane canefu full ll chos chosen en logg logged ed in.You in.You were were supp suppos osed ed to have have ever everyt ythi hing ng memo memori rize zed. d.
ea
th
"A
..
t"
wasn't three three it wasn't th
done done in th
lett lett s, tigh tight? t?
"Wit "Wit
soft soft
this this
so much much comp comple lexi xity ty this this plac plac must must be impo import rtan an
10
at
time, try
I'll iv yo
omme omme ia ga
extravagant.
wa
ords ords bu then then:u :u
ompl ompl ted. ted.
ar ully ully
ha
ve
ta
pl
here?"
"Nothing." shor shor hist hist ry less less n.
"N·otmng. 'i!! t.
si hed. hed. Re ults ults
"Nothing. enter
an area area IT,)PS
th beta beta ve sion sion
1l
gmen gment, t,
ithe ithe
hi
re
ve
to disa disa
no tr sure sure to disc disc ve
othi othing ng ha pens pens
here,"
released'," recrui ui nodd nodded ed The recr
"App "Appar aren entl tly, y, ther ther used used to be even events ts here here!' !' "I whic whic
ed Zone Zone Bu it used
vers versio ion? n?
"B ta Bu it wasn wasn't 't anyt anyt in
to
im orta ortant nt
ad ot in
10
ac grou ground nd
bj ts
ycle ycle
re at
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buster\.____'\~=====
rea. rea. "You mean mean
real really ly that that old? old?
"T t' announced,
avel avel .of lake
rumo rumor. r. at
said said
ft
th beta beta test test
ompl ompl te
fil1al
"Huh?" "Whe "Whe th pl
ra ment ment wa onli onli
test test rs th ou
th
wa
rumor among
"W
ghos ghos appe appear ared ed insi inside de th chur church ch," ,"
it
glitch?"
re th
de ply. ply.
id 't they they te
lost cnaracter/
th se ec uits uits
ny
more in
hi
thir thirti ties es
code.
bout bout to onti ontinu nu
he
aw some someth thin in
th lowe lowe corn corner er of my pers perspe pect ctiv ive. e. Inst Instin inct ctiv ivel ely, y, the moveme movement. nt.
ould ouldn' n' beli believ ev what what
move move in foll follow owed ed
aw
It wa th girl.
us "Sa what? what?
-eil -eilin ing. g. Some Someho how, w, she' she' esca escape pe bein bein
hrugged.
He just just appe appear ared ed
Th he
atta atta ks se me to
wa
tha possib possible? le? "She "She's 's abov abov us!' us!'
sp ll
dele delete ted. d. Bu ho
fe
im
"Huh?"
sn't sn't
nigh nights ts no he he de
"Cov "Cover er th door door," ,"
ow coul coul
sh
shouted. pe ting ting dang danger er
re slow slow to
fo th do r. orde ordere red, d, "Cov "Cover er ly
nl
th re
ll the exits!" er st ir as
III"'
.heckllEii_busterlla .heckllEii_busterlla rea.O_nava.l_of_lak rea.O_nava.l_of_lakeI/16/1 eI/16/1
.hackllai_bustarllatea,O_navel_oUakeI/1711
ct
bust~\
·hack 1/
~=============== to
defying the game game
fast,
tab
far away.
ea
grav gravit ity. y. Th
ni ht
were were reac reacti ti
to
slowly.
sky,
light
rs ra ge
sw ng my spea spear. r.
re
rk
mutt mutter ered ed in disb disbel elie ief, f, "She "She's 's gone gone." ." ea Tick Tick-r -r ck
Stat Static ic pill pilled ed into into
di inte inte rate rate
into into th
at
whit whit
ea
flas flash, h, inst instea ea
of
tick tick-t -tac ac
..
Th
isap isap eari eari g,
It
wasn't wasn't delete deleted. d.
"s
I'd
rc r,
co
ed
-f
speed, it
811 .hack:lla .hack:llat.bu t.buster sterllar llarea. ea. O_nav O_naveL eLof_l of_lake akeI11 I11811
.hackllaLbusterllarea.O_navel_of_lakeIl1911
re .1
it
in
th with wither ered ed wast wastel elan and. d. im is demo demo
it over oversi si
an nose nose popp popped ed ou
water
te drop drop fo it eyes jac;k-ifl"':th,e-;boi{.
soun soundi ding ng bore bore .. "O thi silve silvel:axe l:axe?" ?" yste yste
wi do
the three
op
coul coul
up
my sc ee
sele select ct Gold
ANJ~.,
Neither.
hi Neither. "Whaaat?
soun sounde de
trou troubl bled ed
H 1l 1l ll ll 1 l )
this this answ answer er then then take take thid"
disp displa layi ying ng
Silv Silver er Axe, Axe, or
·hack
1/ AI
ou
buster\~\======
fe
h i g h into th
hime hime
nd th sp in
ai an then then disa disapp ppea eare re
em
oo he
b a c k into into th sp in
great great splas splash. h.
with
te r t h e moment a te
appe appear ared ed in thor thorou ough gh detail.
w ea e a po po ns ns ,
prin prin demo demo
perf perfor or
ou
e ve v e l below ground. Special m a r k . e r s indicated
trea treasu sure re an hidd hidden en mons monste ters rs
Even Even thou though gh hi
still enjoyed
agic agic s h o w . No matt matter er
the
some someth thin in
as investigating.
dung dungeo eon' n' hidd hidden en floo floorr-ma ma
e x e nd n d in in g
toss tossed ed in
what
fair fair
passages
as more powerful
eein eein th
up sayi saying ng that that
"It 100b pretty large:'
mutt muttere ere
Fortunately,
c h ea e a ts ts ' on
fe
entered th
to mys-d£ side. In h i
c as as e
slipped straight
field way,
more more powe powerf rful ul
fighting e v e r
c re r e a tu tu r
on levels on thro throug ug
thre three. e.
moved forwa forward. rd. an moved
was.
pl ay ay e d 'A m a p d iiss pl pers perspe pect ctiv ive. e. An arro arro
Spooky Spooky bad(gr bad(groun oun
ig h t c or or ne ne r of upper r ig
mark marked ed my dire direct ctio ion. n.
th
dungeo dungeon's n's entran entrance ce and ran acro across ss th
as
could.
turn turned ed toward, wast wastel elan an
fast
(Lam (Lambd bda) a) Serv Server er Zone Zone Dark Dark Inac Inacce cess ssib ible le Ruin Ruin acti activa vate te
m u si s i c f ilil le le d 11
demo demons ns
as
ent~red.
unde underg rgro roun un
palace
complete with stone walls that that glow glowed ed red. red. Suspended
abov abov th pass passag agew eway ay wa th
d e a d p r is is o n e r lyin lyin in w h a t looked like like
gian gian birdcage. His
lung to is bo s. dried fl sh lung
informati ation, on, it for inform
targ targ te
it was ou of rang range. e.
m y F q_ q_ i
disp displa lays ys area area that that havenev havenever er been been sear search ched ed
.hacki/aL .hacki/aL uster usterllar llarae ae
m e s s a g e popped
targ target eted ed (lik (lik
an-o an-obj bjec ec
01
crea creatu ture re that that yo
ca
inte intera ract ct
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.hack
uste uste
\L\~======
ea.j ea.j Ta it Ruins ec
ro
Th
rr
re way,n way,n matt matter er ho much much ouhack ouhack at It So etim etimes es door door ar ju
deco decora rati ti ns that that lead lead nowh nowher er and.ha and.ha
them them Wind Window ow
migh migh give give
noth nothin in
it
behi behi
view view bu yo can' can' brea brea th
he item item comm comman and, d,
as ra
Us
e le le c
L1 can't
targ target eted ed is mean meanin ingl gles es ey cand candy. y. ar That's i t ? !
open opened ed it iu
th inte intern rnal al
icro icro hone hone
Face Face Moun Moun Disp Displa la (FMD (FMD), ), to'
spea spea
ad
wa stil stil disa disapp ppoi oint ntin ing. g.
Ilily n i
ne
an H o p e fu fu llll y
t he he y' y' l c o rr rr ec ec t t hi hi s
upgrade,
ec
th
d:es d:este te with with mons monste ters rs
command. Upon Upon ente enteri ring ng
e,
;I
enco enco nter ntered ed my B,rs B,rs crea creatu ture re at ac
Hm
thre thre
Wh
ou
ne
rd
hand hand thei thei skul skulls ls in th othe other. r. Pret Pretty ty stan standa dard rd dW1g dW1geo eonfate nfate
otsteps. ro
rd
clean clean slic slic sent sent th crea creatu ture re's 's stam stamin in gaug gaug from,gre from,green en as arra arrage ge of ar or an
ones ones clan clangi gi
W:l.S
agai agains ns th wall walls. s.
.hackl/aI_busterllarea .1_tacit_rulnsI126/1
ompletelv
.hackllai_busterllarea.,_tacit_ruinsI127/1
WhCl1
.hack /I we
\\_\:=======.
uste uste
is in this this nest nest
im ge coul coul
devi devils ls
demo demons ns
.1 )ecember 24 2005 2005
hq head head down down
Ever Ever huma huma bein bein who' who' eversa eversa in fron fron of
comp comput uter er
Ill'
P l ut ut o K i s
character.
se
P l ut ut o K i s 'OLl
ha
find. Of cour course se mill millio ions ns of othe othe peop people le ar prob probab ably ly sear search chin in
time.
chest.
lor
'IIHne 'IIHnediffic difficult ulties ies I'l giveyou giveyou anot anothe he play player er Wa sh
ai
The P lu lu t
even characte character? r?
lowe lowere re my pers perspe pect ctiv iv
an zoom zoomed ed in
luternet.
summar summary: y:
Ki
Powe Powerf rful ul stuf stuff, f, eh
In resp respon onse se to th astr astron onom omic ical al dama damage ge th viru viru caus caused ed Unit Ille Unit
clea clearl rl make make ou each each eyel eyelas ash. h. ey lids lids wh
he
er
dn't dn't se indo indo
an th foll follow owin in
lo ed
he blin blind? d?
l'ha l'ha
th t:
it th
orld orld Netw Netw rk Coun Coun il
lWNC lWNC), ), ord. ord.er ereda/ eda/li limi mita tati tion on on Inte Intern rnet et us unti unti
th
otto otto
my
rs
tive tive
ill
th
solu soluti tion on
th tw tiet tiet
nt
udde uddenl nl gr un to course of course
"1'11=.
io
th
orsh orship ippe pe
ompl ompl tely tely resi resi ta
.hackl/al_busterllarea.'_tacit_ruinsIl2811
al
Stri Stripp pped ed of th Inte Intern rnet et duri during ng this this cris crisis is peop people le refe referr rred ed
text text appe appear ared ed
L'::I L'::Icm-i: cm-i:=.: =.: Help
long long
ould ould be Ioun Iound, d, Th emer emergi ging ng ne cult cultur ur that that ha blos blosso some me
me
op ne
tion tions, s,
th
ai st th
the
od of te hnol hnol gy
ir
.hackl/ .hackl/ai_ ai_ uster usterllar llarea.1 ea.1
li bl se vi e.
_taci _tacit_ t_ru ruins insIl2 Il291 91
AI b u s t e r \ _ _ _ _ , \ ~ , ========
·hack
I, C I r - 1 : . s . : H
e F'
NP
determined.
givi giving ng ou he scri script pted ed mess messag age. e.
L':::IcJxi:.s.:
2007,
flie.
k~orit ' : : : I 0 1 . < l
me.
IF
enab enable le
It
the WNC anno announ unce ce that that ende ende Inte Intern rnet et
thei thei Netw Netw rk Secu Securi rity ty Decl Declar arat atio io
he Twil Twilig ight ht Limi Limita tati ti ns were were remo remove ve ecam ecam avai availa la le to ever ever ne once once
an
chat. "Wha "What' t'
the
wr g? Ar
,F er wa
re
That That same same day, day, Cybe CyberC rCon onne nect ct Corporation (C
\1'"'('
Corp.)
ou ka ?"
sh rt ti
lag, lag,
I"
ay
the o we we r e dg dg e
am allo allowi wi
larg larg numb number er
si ulta ulta eo
been downloaded 4,576,623 times. By
Are
'::IOIJ
d:)l':::I'?
II (ypmg.
l _ ' : : : I c o t " i : . = . : H e l p file.
ay
seco second nd befo before re
my perspect.i.ve:
~'Jh(l.t : .s.s . ~ ' llrr c n : r
role role-p -pla layi ying ng
al
rt
'1'pl'iJred
rele releas ased ed Th WQrl WQrld. d.
Albireo:
~IJt'iiJ.
L'::Icor1s.: P l e o s e
'::lOU
t"1I'?E,d
f,.t:1
help
hQ.F'FE'ned?
t.oke,
f.. ;=
to t.he Di'...'ine
week week late later) r) that figu figure re ha neat neatly ly doub double led. d. It
nfQlded. Albireo:
.hackHal_busterllarea.1_tacit_ruinsI13011
th
Hh'....
.hackl/ai_bustar/laraa.1_tacit_ruinsI/31/1
fCle.
.hack /1 AI
.1
buste~\~\,",======= pre-programine&
resp respon onse se to pl er
ueri ueri s. Bu th t'
ow ve
ionse.
II
in
I!
nc
ut mati mati ally ally
acce accept pted ed Lyco Lycori ris' s' qu(t qu(tst st,h ,her er
hang hanged ed
sh
ec me
tt ch
1'0
III,' characte character. r. Literally. Literally.
ha role role layi laying ng i 1 i l
all beli believ ev worl world. d. Voic Voic that that is simp simply ly anot anothe he func functi tion on to crea create te tr ng
I'!II
ions ions in he
it, all, all, skin skin
.u mo
said said into into my micr microp opho hone ne "All "All have to
or ssis ssista tanc nc in
qu st is
mili mili
gami gami
yo
lWC;l11segi lWC;l11se give ve uinkes th
as my pref prefer erre re
th
1I'I'Son sets sets th
taye taye in th conv conver ersa sati tion on
"Okay, L y c o riri s ,
ft
ir t- rs
sets sets th gatn gatn
am ra's ra's
poin pointt-of of-v -vie iew) w)
Thir Thirdd-
illu illu ion. ion. Bu h . i r ac ac t e r se
th Same Same
orld orld
me
wa
ro
th pl ye 's
ar te
In
se your your vata vatar. r.
larg larger er field. of visi vision on Howe Howeve ver, r, firs first~pe t~pets tson on
expe experi rien ence ce more more real real Lycoris was
adventure. ,I i l
,1):1: ,1):1:nlc nlcter terholdin h oldin
-"""".
L.
Usua Usuall lly, y, if yo ru into into
rcat rcatur ures es .arr .arrac acke ked. d. Lyco Lycori ri
PC (ano (anoth ther er pers person on ruru ruru1~ 1~ng ngan an
avat avatar ar), ), yo ca make make verb verbal al cont contac ac by usin usin
i
ut he
ithe ithe
ould ouldn' n' be kill killed ed
.hacki/aLbusterllarea.1 .hacki/aLbusterllarea.1_tacit_ruinsI/32 _tacit_ruinsI/3211 11
lTII lTII)V )Ved edbehi behind nd me Sh
wasn wasn't 't
t,
micr microp opho hone ne
ES
my han
he di n' have have ul
av
lt ee
ltge ltge or worr worrie ie
ea in if
he were
or
.hackl/ai_busterl/ares.1_taCit_rujnsI/331l
.hack
AI buster
\L\~=====:::::±::
rea. rea. .oul .oul it av be 1IIIIIIg
room room contai containin nin stra strang ngee-lo look okin in
an altar. altar. Floating Floating above
stat statue ue It
th
illlllk
ivin ivint: t:
ng nlrnlr-pl play ayin ing. g. Then Then my chat chat wind window ow open opened ed L ' = , c o r i :::: :
T ha h a t w a e as as y
most
Co sequ sequen entl tly, y, th tr sure sure foun foun lu bl th
ny th
licilJ~ licilJ~ , , . I e
f(te
th
eciov,
c.':;lI.
This This
is
diff diffic icul ul plac plac i;~
th
sual sually ly fa
t.h~ Dil}in~
S + " o . h ~ ~F.:C~Jffl. t.t-E~J.:=.I.-It-e
th trea trea ur
C b t .... rlrl in in e d
it th ev nt is to foll follow ow th ir inst inst ucti uction ons. s.
nu
.iycd
in th du ge n.
L'=,o:It"i:::.:
gete gete
F'le(l,se ·!:Iil..
NPCs' '1111
Albi Albire re
miss missed ed
U1
We ente entere re
or
mi take take An rror rror th
Ru ns
las upgra upgrade? de?
th dung dungeo eon. n.
in
Ta
hest hest nd op ne
'"11 '"11 leti leting ng th
che-;s+...
xp ri
poin points ts
if
II Ii
it
my
e c i J .:.: :::: rlrl .,., .~ ..':ll! ~. bug? bug?
uest uest It ould ould be gold gold
wondered if
1IIII"<1cter
wond wonder ered ed alou aloud. d.
,llouJd've ,llouJd've traded. traded.
an
"Thank y o u , " sh said said Only Only it wasn wasn't 't as scro scroll llin in
text text
II!, spoke! "Huh?" "iexe" Bu ". yl
'd
"Tha "Thank nk you, you, Albi Albire reo. o. as ho
.hackl/ai_busterllarea.1_tacit_ruinsIl3411
.hackl .hackl/aL /aL uster usterllar llarea.1 ea.1
_taci _tacit_ t_ru ruins insIl3 Il361 61
.hack /I
\c___'\,-======
st
Silence. Th ",.IS
ff
gone.
re am
virus? fi
moved.
"Albireo," Sh call called ed
am agai again. n.
"Lycoris?"
What What wa happ happen enin ing? g?
lu·i lu·i htli ht form formed ed rm
et
ring ring ar un
my avat avatar ar
My whic whic
.use .use
\\',1,';
lift lifted ed upwa upward rd When When th li ht diss dissip ipat ated ed
foun foun
myse myself lf
rt
sudd sudden en chan change ge If Lyco Lycori ri done all
vo ce ha
ee prer prerec ec rded rded
they they woul woul ha
sth
open openin ing. g. Actu Actual ally ly that that
ad some some se se.
.hack! lai_busterllar lai_busterllarea.1_ta ea.1_tacit_ruinsI cit_ruinsI13611 13611
.hackl/aLbusterllarea.1_tacit_ruinsI13711
Tovvn
Anue
.: OIl?" Iny
utte uttere re
breath.
111f'
I.
Iiurment.
music •
Illtmd III)II)C. III}'
characte character, r, Albireo, Albireo,
it
bene bene th
·hack II Server er Zone Zone (Del (Delta ta Serv Th
Ililtil li
It was
as
ca have have in Th
repr repres esen ente te
across th
Ma
elem elemen ents ts wi
the
rl
lorf lorf
flag flag fl tter ttered ed rnaj stically
An
which
Each
an wate water. r.
(owns and are protected
sp
to keep monsters at bay.
.icr as coordinate coordinates. s. In dark dark inac inacce cess ssib ible le ruin ruins. s.
ro Ther There, e,
will
IICV
la er ca
what whatev ever er equi equi
en
they they
ig
need need
fo re
in the yt
they clemons.
11
mo ster ster
roam roam he land land ro
ou to ispl isplay ay ou tr hies hies
.heckl/e I_buster I_busterlltow lltown_mac_. n_mac_. _snu1l4 _snu1l421 21
0111
.hackl/al_busterlltown_mac_·_snuJ/4311
.hack
II AI
buster\~\====== wa eq ip ed with with leev leevel eles es scal scal mail mail leat leat er ga ntle ntlets ts
gate gate at also also heav heavil il guar guarde ded. d.
rd
and
ri
at
Of the six rofe rofess ssio io al cate cate orie orie from, :m
play player er ca ch os
peci pecial aliz iz in Pole Pole Arms Arms whic whic incl includ udes es spea spears rs pike pikes, s, albe alberd rds. s. Th
ot er fi
incl includ ude: e:
Blad Blad User User eyes eyes re aine aine
cl se
he face face an enig enig .a Heav Heav
Blad Blad (Two (Two-h -han ande de
weap weapon ons) s)
Heav Heav Ax that
conver ersa sati tion on ll conv
ca be revi review ewed ed Even Even th spok spoken en ones ones
ar reco record rded ed as text text scro scroll lled ed thro throug ug L':lCCf":i.:s:.:
lled lled
ou earl earlie ie conv conver ersa sati ti
Wave Wave Maste Maste
(Spe (Spell ll-u -use ser) r)
an
th dial dialog ogue ue
ThlJrk
':lOlA'
All::cireo. ad
Albh·eo.
fo
"pea "pears rs an pole pole wo ld reta retain in
ighe ighe atta attack ckin in
ower ower
In
really really liked. liked. at ad anta anta face, face, sinewy sinewy body, body, about about twenty twenty-ye -years ars-ol -old. d.
hose hose brow brow skin skin
even to Th Worl World. d. unique even
.hackl/ai_busterlltown_mac_._anuI14411
wa
li itat itatio io
01
armo armor. r. What What
gained
in atta attack ck Ill'I'sonalWave. Ill'I'sonalWave.
.hackl/ai_busterlltown_mac_._anuI14611
.hack
\,--\~==;==-=====
st
hexa hexago gons ns repr repres esen enti ting ng hi Wave Wave eart earth. h. re from from eart eart
()
re
wate water, r, fire fire wood wood th der, der, an
realrn
ro
la nc
diff differ eren ent. t. nd
ar ess. ess. Ea
her, to
at acks acks
gi
extr extr defe defe se
my horn horne. e.
fa
with with Lyco Lycori ris. s. Albi Albire re ," Sh said said it so fl entl ently. y. wa th trou troubl blin in
it
he
i.ce i.ce That That
l'oU
part part It coul couldn dn't 't have have been been prep prepro rogr grar arnr nrne ned. d.
protocol.
No tw I?am I?amesc escan an be alik alik inTh Worl World. d. That That wayeac wayeac play player er unique
ame. ame. It woul woul
-p
im ossi ossi le to pr gram gram ever every, y,
char charac acte ter' r' name name just just fo this this even event.Th t.Ther er
were were to many many .\
lis
(or
rs "Who "Who's 's ther there? e?
rs awkw awkwar ar an inar inarti ticu cula late te
Sh spok spok my name name perf perfec ectl tly. y.
Ho
In
invite
to
mside lorced
him everyw everywher here. e.
.hackllai_busterlltown_mac_·_anuI14611
"Hel "Hel l" call called ed
voic voice. e.
,hackl/ai_busterlltown_mac_
._anuI ._anuI14 14 71
·hack
te
\,-\-========~
wonder wondered. ed. "I'm being being attack attacked ed
creature!"
(lCSO
it
ings ings nd la s. ot
ords ords
mons monste te
."j
mother mother's 's basem basement ent "It's abou abou to il
lcms lcms lves lves gain gain EL !!
live live it
W;lS
Then
teal!
th su pris pris
nsla nsla ght. ght. Th
emon emons; s; th st eets eets lood lood
it
emem emembe bere red. d. At leas leas once once ever ever fe
·a tg datta datta
gain gainst st
root root to
ul
veni veni
sk
tu s. mont months hs
oc ur
n.. These were saf havens havens
amed,
"The "There re ar no mons monste ters rs It's It's impo imposs ssib ible le:' :'
aid.
Annoyed, mace.
W,lS
"It' "It' just just
scar scaryy-lo look okin in
char charac acte ter, r, Mayb Mayb
Killer?"
Player
I,ll I,ll'g 'get et wa
he gobl goblin in's 's
cute
waist,
That's it
\\'It
,s ,'pr ,'pres esen enti ting ng he thun thunde de Wave Wave He only only weap weapon on wa along to th
indo indo
.hackl/aLbusterlltown_msc_._snuI14811
,l
ineffe fect ctiv iv fo hand hand-t -too-ha hand nd d, inef
comb combat at
.hsckl/aLbustar/ltown_msc_· _snu1l4911
-haek
1/ AI bust bust;; ;;:= :=,\ ,\ ~ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ~
Hokuto, "Goo "Goo
even evenin ing, g, Hoku Hokuto to," ,"
"Sav "Sav th pleasantries an kill kill this thing!"
sell sellin in al at th inn: inn:
an
anic anicky ky
foun foun
it amus amusin ing. g.
h'
"'7
Assuming 5 b e ~ even even
6he.
dams damsel el in dist distre ress ss," ," sh teas teased ed ," at is this this supp suppos osed ed
is to
ed
What's it
an even event? t? re
in ad ever ever so ofte ofte
Th
anno announ unce ce ent' ent'
offi offici cial al webs websit it page page." ."
.hackllai_bustarlltown_mac_._anuIl5011
is laye laye
th
buster\~\===-======
.hack
SH mVlst've 'bun neW i'Wh0
h e gq gq m
wastes time read readin in
ot
no
hi
though thought, t,
that that crap crap?" ?"
Nothing ta
· I guess,
characters
gOing to stand.
"Are "Are yo
te
bo
help?"
may only enter if they're invited.
to in it
ithe ithe
"Why "Whyca cau' u'
wouldn't
''I'm thinking situation
if
"Fin "Fin
thiil
"You n e e d
the boards."
'l
th bo ds religiously
Th
from
'H
goblin.
eall eall didn't know th rule rules. s.
invi invitc tc'S 'She he
jllin parties. I'm
gobl goblin in hit
don't
loner."
I'll die!'
in or
The goblin continued hitting her rnercilessly.Whack,
memorized ku 's
wasn't
geti getins nsid id:e :e?" ?"
chance.
painful.
TheWorld
And
Then Then do it!"
memo memori rize ze them them Just Just ki.ll it!" Whack!
play player er insi inside de their home home Othe Othe
happen to
the types
so
whack, whack! oppo oppone nent nt
nd wa v e r y l o ww- le le v e l ,
Anyone playing
were were
begin beginne ne model, in fact fact
fot even
hour hour
shou should ld'v 'v.e .e
anythi hing ng He heal health th gaug gaug shou should ld ,Iidn't notice her casting anyt have been critically
been been able able to upgrade,
"There's an ol
"Ate you a. newbie]"
'O
lous lous
goblin! What do yoa.
think?" aughed.
wisdom om h e wisd
jack jackas ass. s.
She finally managed
blows. s. "You "You bett better er hope d o g e o n of the goblins blow
if
tl.ierei
hacl<1/ai_ usterlltown_m
gaming a d a g e : That which does doesn' n' kill kill
rn ak es you stronger.
"Thanks 1(1
SIt·
now;
laug laughe hed. d. As if
c_
_8
u/15 u/15 211
first-l first-level evel character could challenge me.
.hack .hack lai_bu lai_bustGr stGrllto lltown wn_m _mao_· ao_·
_a ul1631l
·hack 1/ AI
buster\~\_\-::======~
"Jerk!"
"Fin "Fin
th ir boss boss Albrreo,"
gain gain sh us appeared
in
if
111.e,
that would
an
a t h e left
t ha ha t m ea ea n
I,,,
sh
as
me invasion
r on on t
my home. nd if we were still holding hands
or
comm comman ande der, r, usua usuall ll le ds th
10
ttac ttac
high high-l -lev evel el crea creatu ture re or evil evil warr warrio ior) r) he
re lw ys th toug toug st
at es
fight. Appa Appare rent ntly ly th inva invasi sion on even even wa some someho ho
111.erorn
home.
conn connec ecte te
Lycoris
W'lS
it
pe ed from from
roun roun
"D mn it
th
said said loud loud tt
orne orne in attack: attack: mode swit swit hi
ba
skil skilll- oubl oubl
learn
"All "All rigb rigbt, t, Lyco Lycori ris. s. I'll sear search ch fo him. him.
to fi st pe so sw p!
"Tha "Thank nk you, you, Albi Albire reo. o.
.-,
bi sw p. "It' "It'
bo
ti
ou id some someth thin in ," said said th
it
kl 1s
10
abso absolu lute te
chao chaos. s.
s. "Lycoris?" I.
givi giving ng me orde orders rs
.hsckl/ai_busterlltown_mac_·_snuIl6411
fren frenzi zied ed symp sympho honi ni
" ve v e ry r y on on e
score
a ce ce d
.hacki/aLbusterlltown_mac_·_anuIl6611
.hack
AI
buster\~\~======:, quickly
illi illing ng
it
host hosts, s,
Tovvn
laye laye
ar ea
th r, nd
yohe yohe ls is €xdu €xdude de
Whis Whispe pe Mode Mode allo allows ws y01.1 body body slow slowly ly vani vanish shes es from from th
sc ee
he
pl er di
heard
perm perman anen en
someone's
shad shadow ow
modes,
voic voic ne rby. rby. 'Jud 'Judgi gi SOme
th
eUis eUis
kind kind of-" of-"
dire direct ctly ly talk talk to anot anothe he pers person on
with withou ou anyo anyone ne else overhearing. Expe Experi rien ence ce
the: the:it it demi demise se like like
to
from from list listen enin ing. g.
han
11
play player er ca quic quickl kl alte altern rnat at
llow llowin in
or so hist histic ic te
realit reality. y. For exampl example, e,
thes thes
leve leve of conversation
char charac acte te coul coul sa some someth thin in t h e n quic quickl kl
in
thro throug ug
swit switch ch to Whis Whispe pe
fE Tb! pl ye 's av ta inst inst tl Some Someon on
turn turned ed to sh do
ea
else else fini finish shed ed th dead dead play player er's 's th
l1
~ny
chat chat wmdo wmdow: w:
Th
tOES-
rrt.t:t rrt.t:t bs·
d;=.r,:n!
SC(fP-
voic voic chat chat syst system em inst instan antl tl
ul le
to trouble,
Even
fu resurrections.
tran transl slat ated ed th spea speake ker' r'
ords ords into into text text "P ob bl
rude rude thin thing, g, or it
ghos ghosts ts ca still chat with
te
Ct-OJ.:
en yo sa
Beca Becaus us of thes thes diff differ eren en mode modes, s,
wasn't wasn't bombar bombarded ded
I! re te de on;' on;'
othe othe voic voices es no on coul coul
prop prople le were were in Part Part Mode Mode so they they woul woul only only comm commun unic icat at
ea mi
\Ivieb their their frien friends. ds.
Talk, Party, an
Whisper, Talk
od
llow llow
eryo eryone ne withina
Il'j Il'j ds list list d,
anin anin
meon meon inTalk inTalk limits your conv conver ersa sati tion ons. s. to thos thos in your your imme immedi diat at
grOl grOltp tp CQulrd
.hsckl/si_busterlltown_msc_·_snuI/6611
III.d
on coul coul he od said said "W
kill Ore.l) Ore.l)
me av to fi
th boss boss
to this this inva invasi sion on:' :' O:3rl~E'.
LE't,'::;.
'3(1,
.hackl/si_busterlltown_mac_·_snuIl6711
AI bus,ter\L\~======
.hack br
hr
the. vani vaniou ou Types of c.reatui@g h the.
against so
c : G l . i ltlt i
bGSS
th
m ig ig h b e
creatures
weile
goblins, ogr~s,
,m
WOtlt~.
requ requir ire: e:
demo demo
of great p G W e r .
Running e v er er y c re re at a t ur ur e crea creatu ture re befo before re
main enco encoun unte tere red, d,
deal deal with withea eaoh oh
could pass' wa beco becomi mi
tedi tedi us
giant ogres
like brea breath thin in
thro throug ug
speakers.
air.
toppled
OITto
eael]
mist. "Awesome "Awesome!" !" someone someone shouted. "He's powerfull" erfull" someone
s ud ud de de n
e ls l s e y e llll ed e d . Cheers leapt).1¥
o un un d e ve ve r
p la la ye ye r
c la la pp pp in in g
.hackl/ai_busterlltown_mac_e_anuI16811
e ye ye s
tUr11Rd
.hack /1 AI
bust~,r\~\~=======;:,::: a s c la la p n g Ca
.Tow .Tow
sily sily b e
in rh:e'
avatar ar to eXF: eXF:r: r:~3 ~3 comm comman ands ds allo allows ws avat
ac
Anu
th
thei fall fallen en comrades w iitt h s pe pe llll s ::jl1d trie to resu resurr rrec ec thei 'Jlliddy trie vivm vivm poti poti ns
ut nyon nyon
econ econst stit it te
wa
et rned rned to death
ts
III
ta
time to
weaker players felt
(111£0.ir.
event. push pushed ed
th
everyone left on
aJ):~
tnat
111('
bridge. bridge. Ther
broke loos.e.
eeri eeri
th n, with
air
mi h~
roar; burst
li
sile silenc nc
fell. Ther Ther
we
more more
surr surrec ecti ti ns
the demon's
Ihe annihilat lated. ed. I . m g e was annihi
bridge into ghosts. ." nnbstruc nnbstruck. k. ogre large,ls th ogre
to
bat-like win~ that that spre spread ad wick wicked edly ly from
smiled,
fork forked ed
o ng ng u
ts
w ag ag ge ge d
tail tail wa ed triumphantly.
urni urni g,
le
noti noti ed mo
L1\ring
town, to
"llllpse of ('['pil1g thei thei
dist distan ance ce so they they woul wouldn dn't 't
lose their characters'
JIVl'S.
This crea creatu ture re wa powe powerf rful ul
.hack! ai_hustEirl/town_mac_. _anu1/601l
1IIIIch
less less take take it
with an
.hackl/ai_busterlltown_i'nsc_ ·_snuI161II
.hack
te
\\._\======== It wing wing flap flap ed crea creati ti
with with ut
lo in
wn Th
orld orld's 's serv server er
ilcashed th sa
voic voic br gh
, I I I
an ex lo iv wi d, befo before re it
spel spel ha ha just just an ih late late
ever ever ne
the bridge bridge
"Def "Defea ea th demo demon. n. It wa Lyco Lycori ri
peak peakin ing. g. Thro Throug ug ou
he
ay em sh
Il rl in into into
flas flas of fire fire
as expe expect ctin in th wors worst, t, rs glor glory. y.
spok spok
i1
Illy
ealt ealt ga
flas flas ed re
if
this this
ee this this badly injured
adn' adn'
earlie iest st days days of gami gaming ng As -ruce my earl
character.
"Def "Defea ea it Albi Albire reo, o,
solo solo play player er ther ther woul woul
ied. ied.
ould ould lose lose
lbir lbireo eo
fi
"A yo wish wish." ." to
MVP.
as 't ex ecti ecti
wm
1 1 1 . 1 toug toug enin enin
defe defe se wh le down downin in
ul Reco Reco er
ha to atta attack ck befo before re an othe othe high high~l ~lev evel el char charac acte ters rs Fo
show showed ed up PO
la nche nche
in .fir .first st-p -pers erson on Seei Seeing ng Lyco Lycori ri runn runnin in
alon alon besi beside de me woul woul havebee havebee to
dist distra ract ctin in duri during ng batt battl@ l@
ow dead deadly ly atta attack ck
pe in
as
an
Ikil l
rcat rcater er endu endura ranc nc
char charge ged. d.
seri series es
than than an crea creatu ture re
ha ever ever fotl fotlgh gh befo before re
ra "Pri "Prima mary ry atta attack ck,' ,'
comm comman ande ded, d,
111\'
~ti
wick wicked ed evil evil grin grin
.hackllaLbusterlltown_msc_·_snuJI6211
to cons consta ta tl
drin drin
eali eali
This This figh figh wa gett gettin in
'lld 'lldde denl nly, y, hear hear
tion tion
to stay-alive.
expe expens nsiv ive. e.
ne soun soundd-so some mebo body dy
ha join joined ed th fray fray
.hackl/si_busterlltown_mac_·_snul/63/1
·hack To an
utsi utsi er it mi ht
ee
en rdus rdus that that someone t!b
strike th
de thbl thbl
befo befo
Whoever killed th cr tu
did. It wa ould ould gain gain
comp compet etit itio ion. n.
.D vi tory tory less less
.uiother
larg larg nu be
·,.ll'isfying.
experien experience ce points. points. itho ithout ut
urses
tnin tnin
ot rs j. in
th
cas. cas. ik
pa~ VP
atta attack cked ed On al sides,
mage mage
most
calculates
the
hile hile th pl ye
ho
nkes
off th:e
my glory.
Illout
knew
woul woul win. win. ould ould he
onti ontinu nued ed to atta attack ck bu in th mele melee;it e;it wa to ·difficult
ot er
hatt hattin in
inTalk inTalk Mode Mode arou around nd me,
MVP?"
person personall all wa i r r i l i c t i t - i g ,
"Who doyou think?" "Tripl "Tripl
.H
attac attack!" k!" th
puni punish shin ing, g, came came from from my weap weapon on he
onst onst
most
first:'
"Y ah bu
ot th
eath eathbl blow ow
"Who "Who know knows, s, to many many peop people le wereatt wereattac acki king ng Coul Could' d've ve
ll
1('enanyone 1('enanyone .:
JI
ly
.hac .hackl klla lal_ l_bu bust ster erll llto town wn_m _mac
...;anu116411
.hacklfai_busterlltown_mac_·_anuIl6611
.hack /1
bust bust
\L\I:;::=========~:::±:
Town
It
em
'::Icor:i::=.
wa declar declared ed M V p . When When they they~q ~q
th ir scre scre ns to se
r o . € ' • 0::11"
Desp Despit it my a'tt a'tte1 e14p 4ptsto tsto igno ignore re her, her, sh woul wouldn dn't 't shut shut up "Ple "Pleas as
mgratu mgratu1ations ati.ons wa Orca Orca
An
give give me th rae. rae.cy cyl, l, w.ould ldn' n' quit quit unle unless ss loop. Sh w.ou
looked up
im
fil;S
J'l·qnest. It
proceed to the
to
next
phase
,d th even event, t, swit switch ched ed to Talk Talk "T nks, nks,
ease ease give asn' asn'
ally ally inte inte este este
in
onve onvers rsat atiO iO i;
toggled
So
gave it
Th filena filename me wa di er nt
op ne
it
'~
"t nsio nsion, n, "cyl "cyl Coul Coul
it
ut it ad th sa neunus neunus al
sp ific ific to he
di yo get? get?
kind of enco encode de
rx "Was "Was it
orth orth it?" he aske asked. d.
Ilk?
myself,
lookin in wasn't look
fo comp compan an
ente entere re fl
or d?
ow th stre stre
to
on myad myadve vent ntur ures es
buil buildi ding ng an he de
ac
psta pstair irs. s.
rd myhome,
•• I b k l,l , rt rt .o .o : T h et et "
':101:,.1(I.re-!
wasn'tm
/ai_busterfltQ n_mac_ _anuI/66/1 _anuI/66/1 .hack//ai_busterfltQ
.hack//ai_buster//town_mac_·_smJ//67/1
.hack
ster ster
Hokuto
ti
\~\~====;::=~== of
in
tatgeted
oor, oor,
Anu
er
avatar switched f ro ro m f ur ur io io u
so w e C O ' u .spe .speak ak to each each other.
"I see yousur yousurV1V V1Ve. e.
"N th
(8
..!! 'ie mvasr mvasron. on.
"Insulting?
me
"You were goin goin
did k i
ig thanks:
t h gobHm.:'
to leave
to die. It was an accid accident ent
YGur
home. You w e re r e n ' g o in in g tp
popped
help me
knew it woul wouldn dn't 't ge an
to you.
"I
yo
mp
welcome."
avatar's. a c
s w c he he d
to
insulting?"
instead
"You "You woul wouldn dn't 't
ould ould
folded in indignati.cm. of those people
"Ar.e you on
work work ou your your real real worl worl
who go online
rrus rrustr trat atio ions ns?" ?"
" W h a t ? 1 Listen, A I
as
woul ow woul
just t@
sked.
A lb l b iioo n
s w n g if
rime."
name.
days all t h a t name?"
I ik ik e m o s t of th "It's
doorway]!
~p cial cially ly
yo shou shouti ti g.
.hackl/ai_bus.lerlltown_mac:_._an .hackl/ai_bus.lerlltown _mac:_._anuI16811 uI16811
to.
"Three days!"
g he he d S h
as well, well,
wanted
"Yeah."
was she sa
itho itho
£irst~lev £irst~level el characte character? r?
ont appteG appteGate ate---
S h e s no n o rtrt ed ed .
hear yo
was courteous. B e s i d e s ,
nt thre thre days days C O I n in in g u p with
"Three
shou all th ';You don't have to shou
feel?
darer"
with o n
il
Ho ut
that that
intimidated
be
"Look,
"It's Al-beerAl-beer-ee-o ee-oh!" h!"
insulting
be
am
"alled you I-Ioochie?
wh
type type in.. At leas leas
worse.
wouldn't, but onty because
"Yeah, w e
"I ca
he coul coul
ng
"B 'mocking
L"
" W h a te te v er er .
degr degree ee of
was the high highes es
ange ange to extr extrem em rage rage
ou don't havft
wasn't into Th players
common in
ha
courtesy
o . . ; h e was
enco encoun unte tere red. d. to
we don't have a n
I'l:allife, or a l y o k no no w in ol nt sh had
World
could
be
polite
to
trin trin er
de y ou o u r s ch ch o o principal." teenager.
.hackllai_busterlltown_mac_·",anuI16911
.hack
/I
At buster
\~\~=======
~A
yo Th
"I still save save you, you, didn didn't 't I?
Worl World. d.
,'WI"
It rl
e.
it. "The
),st ),stem em admi admini nist stra rato tors rs
ever everyt ythi hing ng.! .!
inoxious,'
sh shou shoute ted. d.
ey ac
co ldn' ldn'
They They moni monito to
enou enough gh Good Goodby bye. e. ro
"Wai "Wait! t!
"Who?!!
re
ab ut this this when when-" -"
"I'v "I'v ha
GM:i
it If yo keep keep comp compla lain inin ing, g, I'll
th
It
upset? t? Ge so upse
ea
e.
Th
?"
lo ."
ar eted eted he agai agai
"Stop shouting."
in
"You "You'r 'r insa insane nely ly high high-l -lev evel el aren aren't 't you? you? Yo blew blew away th gobl goblin in in on shot shot But when when yo co ld'v ld'v
Ihm
easi easily ly sa ed
me yo didn didn't 't." ."
wbie wbie
"It's
reco record rd of ou conv conver er atio atio
common
I',
World, d, yo would be co side sidere re I'he Worl ." at
Yo 'r re pons ponsib ible le fo yo
Ever Everyt yt in
we say
sens sens of
at faul fault: t:
ea
'>
"Yeah."
wn de tiny tiny in this this worl worl risk."
. ia ia t s
.hBck//ai_busterlltown_mac_·_snuI17011
keep every everyth thin in yo say? say? "It keep
This wa exas exas erat eratin ing. g. "Yes "Yes Ever Ever shou shout, t, ever ever rude rude word, word, every every
nOXIOUSomment.
.hack! .hack! /aLbus /aLbuster/ ter/
Itown_mac_· _anu/ 171/1
.hack 1/
Anu
~============== ,~ et
harassmen
t:;
r.
it,
l ow ow e v e r
"W at?! at?!
ha
ar yo talk talk ng ab t?
~)II
my file,
fa
"Now "Now who' who' shou shouti ting ngr" r"
if
f. Th to much much
,ould ,ould hear hear it in er oice oice He avat avatar ar's 's ex ress ressio io
"Tha "That' t'
it I'
repo report rtin in
u. me, which is more
is
sexu sexual ally ly hara harass ssin ing? g? Yo said said I' be flag flagge ge
ssed arms cr ssed
well.
is
fo my comm commen ent, t,
,ICI'OSS
th
expression
witc witch' h'
lips
ut
sh chos chos wa "tri "trium umph phan antl tl
ldn' sh Why wo ldn'
chan change ge as
wick wicked ed smil smil pl ye
smug smug." ."
away away sked.
I'd .b bloc blocke ke
from from Th Worl World. d.
"Your "Your addres address." s."
"Yea "Yeah, h, bu you' you're re lyin lying. g. re Yo
aw ed at
a.t')l1
cute.
Gi
ur me
er ad ress ress
wa
to
frie frie s!
e, to ."
you charac character ter." ." udrninistrators?"
co ld
my hi
sc ol ri cipa cipal. l.
.: .hack! al_bustElrlltCiw al_bustElrlltCiwn_mac n_mac_. _. _an ul172/1
.hackl/ai_bul;lterlltow'n_mac;_·_snu/17311
.hack 1/ AI bust~r\,---,\,="
===='=~
Ac;t Ac;tot otcl clin in to lege legend nd if yo invi invite te home home
ou tend tender er
ou self self
vamp vampir ir into into)( )(o, o,~t ~t
ow le
gain gainst st th
"Fat'
who?"
re 't'1 't'1i1 i1'~ '~!l !l
t'
an eyesore}'
"And "And it's it's mine. So leave it alone:' dump!"
dOll't
'-my
ente entere red. d.
lea,
don' don' insu insult lt---
"Please,
"Why
sh
yo
nome.
lt
ours ours now. now.
just sa that.. Ours? She didn't just
have have an furn furnit itur ure? e?
Ar
"We'll place
youp youpoo oor? r?~j ~j
here, get
we can pu
JJ.
Appa Appare rent ntly ly!s !sh~ h~ osts osts us
does doesn' n'
real realiz ize. e. ho
much
money;
statue.'1
fountain,
place.
"Abs "Absol olut utel el
"I pretera mini minima mali list st look look." ."
not. not.
table."
"We'll
"Yea "Yeah, h, butI butI read read some some gami gaming ng maga magazi zine ne that that d e s c r i b " ' 4 H how peop people le comp comple lete tely ly deck decked ed ou thei thei home home an
yo
.nea .nea me
they
wanted,"
"Uh-huh:' you, toug
street
"Gue "Guess ss not. not.
I · h e town. It's
of
the
the game world, around the pl
nfor nfortu tu at ly
it di n' last last
"Let's decorate."
nc to
vent vent is over, it's over over Ever Everyt ythi hing ng quic quickl kl
normal,
'(What?" "C'rnon,
retu return rn
wares
it'l it'l
fun. fun.
.hackl/E!i_busteriltown_mac_·_anuIl7411
best best deal deals. s.
.hackl/aLbusterlltown_mac_. ~anul!7 5/1
.hack
~========;= rm
"G to th Gree Gree
Fi ter. ter.
wner wner
"Whe "Where re's 's that that?" ?"
st
fath father erly ly merc merc an
"Wel "Welco come me," ," he said said f er er e
(Sigma):'
av
an ware ware
ehin ehin
frie frie ly
th coun counte ter. r. nt sias siasti ti
ell.Wh ell.What at ar yo inte intere rest st
ice. ice. "I n?
little
cheering my
available.
reme rememb mber er me
"N
exac exactl tl li
oa
er th sile sile
Do 't scre scream amin in
at some someon one. e.
"Y
sh ppin ppin
at ak ," ai Ho to
trea treatm tmen en
that that it's it's an ying ying:' :' id it arli arlier er." ."
No
idn' idn't: t: rr
gold gold piec piece! e! Hoku Hokuto to laug laughe hed. d. "You "You thin thin
it's it's ft.m ft.mny ny?" ?"
wasn wasn't 't he mone mone
sh wa spen spendi ding ng
is "Hm?" nex fiv minute minutes." s."
iddl iddl
"It's like
coup couple le choo choosi sing ng thei thei furn furnit itur ur
when when they they'r 'r
of town town." ."
.hack//ai_busterlltown_m8c~._anuIl7611
.hackl/aLbustflr/ltown_maC_·_8nuI17711
·hack
uste uste
\~\======= di
le myse myse
et ro ed into into this this ridi ridicu culo lo
it atio ation? n?
rt -h
."
twice,
high highli ligh ghte te
couc couch, h,
de ided ided
right, t, th t' th "All righ "What? "Y
en th
sptt sptt;e ;e
wann wann buy. buy.
priv privat at hide hideaw away ay Th
oo much much alre alread ad ."
Usin Usin
le her. her.
ri
l'~es l'~es
to th merc merc an
'lIS
furn furnit it re On of th adva adva ta es
in cybe cybers rspa pace ce yo
arra arrang ngin in
ever ever ee
mo in
ever everyt ythi hing ng we'd we'd purc purcha hase sed. d.
.hackl/ai_b\.lsterlltowri_mac_O_snuI/7BII _snuI/7BII
hook
head.
ound
va
no
(nod) (sha (shake ke head head
'.~/dw:.k"
ot buy, buy, th pric prices es ar alwa always ys he sa e.
with with he ne
om an
"/look" (stare)
from you. you. purchased from
PC I t uc
shor shortc tc
hortcuts:
.sam .samur urai ai argu arguin in with with th merc mercha hant nt
ew ie He's He's talk talkin in
wors wors wa th pink pink curt curtai ains ns
"Are "Are yo sati satisf sfie ied, d, prin prince cess ss?" ?"
if
ali,
In
as item item." ."
there' e' more more stuf stuf ut ther
bo gh
ho pi
"lb'~e" rc as 'r.l 'r.l
From
(shrug) (wave goodbye) goodbye)
past past expe experi rien ence ce thes thes acti action on usua usuall ll cove covere re
em tion tional al rang range, e, thou thou
er fa orit orites es seem seemed ed to e:
.hackl/al_busterlltown_mac_·_anuI179/F
·hack
1/
buster\~\=====
AI
"llo "llook ok_h _hiJ iJ., .,..-
(sta (stare re hard hard
'~lE'nth '~lE'nth_':; _':;IE's IE's
H/vi'=,_no" "linf "linff. f... ..1r 1r
(no
asked.
(vigorously shake head head no
"A week:'
(look (look infuri infuriate ated) d)
I f ,t,t · iJ iJ . . .l.l f . I_::: I. _:::....U·;J,, ....U·;J,,
(thr (throw ow head head back back arro arroga gant ntly ly [t
Shou Should ldn' n' yo lo
en in
sell sell al
t?
"Wha "What? t? It's It's nl
rl
it
enthu enthusia siasti stical cally) ly)
es ages ages in th futu future re Once Once she' she'
one, one,
an
this this girl girl sh furn furnit itur ure, e, even
Th in
om elem elemen enta tary ry scho school ol ra
ho slee slee
with with
ab
la ke place," 01
ig scho school ol age, age,
defi defi itel itel
nc yo exch exchan ange ge right?"
ol er
em er ad re se
ou ca form form
arty arty
It it
r"
Please Please Please Please Please Please!" !" Hoku Hokuto to's 's avat avatar ar smil smiled ed brig bright htly ly
sofa 198,000 GP sofa
haun haunte te
tl
"What?"
hund hundred red time times? s?
"Yeah."
ne na
"L
ther therwi wise se empt empt
.hac .hackJ kJ/a /ai_ i_bu bust ster erll llto town wn_m _mac ac
Now
sp~c sp~ce: e: Ho ut
anuI anuI18 1801 01
.hack .hack lal_ lal_bu bust ster erll llto town wn_m _mac
-_an -_anuI uIIB IB
111
·hack
buster\~\:::::=:=====
AI
"Wel "Wel
Anu
hat' hat' what what
world This
Selfish!"
wors wors .day inside th
coul couldn dn't 't l'e~ l'e~al al1e 1eve ve havi having ng
'lie,
"Acting li.k:e what?"
till felt
as r o
ad ab ut
game akin akin
lin' cry.
Silence.
wa
an acti action on comm comman an woul .watar woul
headphones,
It
Wi,lS
ap eal' eal' orry orry as
so my
ell. ell.
y.
fi
"Yes.
mean. mean. it.
shouldn't h a v e said said that that to you:' fa
Sh wa cryi crying ng
,it I.ILLIt.
woul wouldn dn't 't cr at all. all.'''' Sh wa
efin efinit itel el
in unio unio
ig
couldn couldn't 't possib possibly ly
)ie any older, older,
up to se
so neut neutra ra while hear hearin in some somewh wher er
th chok choked ed-b -bac ac
sobs sobs comi coming ng.f .ft: t:Gl GlJ) J)"I "I
"I
ou'r ou'r sorr sorr
then then
ou'l ou'l form form
.Iidn't want
to tart tart cr in
" A l l right! right! Weill, Weill, in
.hack//ai_busterlltown_maC_·_8nuI/821J
ut id
to cr ?"
rt
of Curses Curses lef ilence ce idn' idn' My ilen
al sh said said
Wher Where? e? Are.y Are.y
w::U w::UKe Ke
he avat avatar ar's 's face face look lookin in
ta away away
"I'm going,"
Goin Goin
an
,.form
," lips.
ag:: ag::ti ti
er well. Sh bega bega to whimper. coul couldn dn't 't beli believ ev
saying ng this this was sayi
party:'
.hack//aj_bustel'lltown_ .hack//aj_bustel'lltown_mElc_·_ElnuI/83// mElc_·_ElnuI/83//
.hack
II
AI ardly
it lise,
fo
II)
to for!')) part party. y.
01
invi invite te you. you. Sele Select ct 'OK' an yo 'l be-" be-"
'There. "Inv "Invit itat atio io
Acce Accept pted ed
flas flashe he
But if sh wa invi invisi sibl bl to anyo anyone ne outs outsid id
ealt ealt
an
,Ila ,Ilara ract ctet et floa floati ting ng arou around nd with with othe othe adve advent ntur urer ers. s.
poin gaug gauges es skill poin
terestmg.
"Yaaay!"
What What's 's 'int 'inter eres esti ting ng'? '? Wh
rs gone.
lil:6w
as sh faki faking ng it
10
is she? she?
houg houg
am is Lyco Lycori ris. s. he's he's an even even char charac acte ter. r.
"Wha "What' t'
an even even char charac acte ter? r?') ')
ro g,~J" .i ve ture ture Li
ki
wh se ds
ad en urer urer to resc resc re
"A spirit?" spirit?"
i'
ar d'
I"
he in
Hoku Hokuto to's 's eyesmo eyesmove ve away away an targ target eted ed some someth thin in th room room Then Then "Did "Didn' n'
li ed
work work alon alone? e? He
"Oh, no." wnat wnat
of th part party, y,
acro across ss my scre screen en bef0 bef0Jl Jlie ie my screen were
Ho to's to's
an ne in my arty arty
else else
re em ered ered Lyco Lycori ri ee he
.hackllai_busterlltown_mac_o_anuI18411
No, it fe
efor efore? e?
"No. "No. Sh just just ap eare eare th mo en
om kind kind of even even :'
ecam ecam
ro
arty arty." ."
.hackl/aLbusterlltown_mac_·_anuI18611
.hack 1/ rogr rogres esse se
st
furt furt er than than th
\~\=======: \~\=======::±::: :±::::::l~'~ :::l~'~ ther ther an
ha wo ld crew crew li
"You "You foll follow owed ed me home home?" ?"
p(,1
server. t)
talk to
u.
idn' idn'
ea to up et
:'
Hekur« yelled.
th
door.
"Oh,no." ,I
ri ,\drin ,\drin
at is it?"
fo
uc
alia alia
It
an as ours ours lf?' lf?'
wa role role-p -p ayin ayin
omet ometim imes es
eo le scof scof at th se
In all ,IS
, 1 1 1 , role role-p -pla la in
clas class.Th s.Ther er
es 't en
ar seco seco ar
he
ch se
care care rs such such
ur warr warrio io
Info Inform rman ants ts wh
s,JI ra
rs fo
is
evenco evenco side side th
ba
Knig Knig ts to
warr warrio io subs subset et fi
amed if he amed killer killer whale. whale.
imse imself lf afte afte t h o ' harn harnes esss-be belt lt an
piec piec of heav heav shou should lder er armo armor. r. He carr carrie ie
hi swor swor shea sheath thed ed on hi back back Hi Wave Wave symb symbol ol waspa waspain inte te inwhit inwhit li
.hackl/ai_busterlltown_mac_. _snu1l8611
an
riss risscr cr si
hi face face an ches chest,Th t,Th
whit whit
.hackllai_busterlltown_mac_._anuI/S711
AI buster\L\'=======
·hack
dark gr copp copp r- ol re ow
hair hair
ms
norm norm
some some lesh lesh to
so
skin skin
No ag in
hi mi se tion tion
bu ev ry he
else else wa
clear cleared ed my throat throat "I don't don't excha exchange nge membe membe addres addresses ses
bu yo shou should ld look look else elsewh wher ere: e: converse converse alone. alone. iWha iWha
yo
t?
r? Coul Coul
impressed sed "I wa impres
he se
us
in to tt
ned. ned.
kuto kuto st pe
forward. "Hel "Hello lo ther there! e! What What'r 'r
stil stil
cori coris? s?
th foul foul re ture ture
ho orru orrupt pt
this this
yo talk talkin in
i'xd i'xd1a 1ang nged ed memb member er addr addres esse ses. s. only only
ce tion tion I'
abou about? t?
ui dy
er ma e.
onti ontinu nu d. "S 's
yw y,
I~)rmparties:' le se ge to th have "I have
in
"But you've formed
prop propos osit itio ion, n, demo demonn-sl slay ayer er." ."
"Go on?"
part part
As if on ue Hokuto butt butt )lOll
talk talkin in
it
r:
in "W at is it? What're What're
abou about? t?
"I
we exch exchan ange ge memb member er addr addres esse ses? s? "Membe "Membe
fini finish sh:' :' Then Then
addres addresses ses?" ?" ~I·t
ou part party. y.
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beckoned beckoned someone someone Iorward, Anot Anothe he Blad Blad User User appe appear ared ed &o arou around nd th on
orne orne of th hall hall
th pl ye
ho jump jump
y;I re gniz gniz
hi
noth noth
into into th batt battle le w itit h h e demon,
gaming gaming partne partner:' r:' solo player,
join
us." Balmung soundedannoyed,
more players ofanother patty. Of conv conver ersa sati tion on with with tw or more cour course se yo ca neve neve tell tell w h a t secr secret et conv conver ersa sati tion on on behm behm
ar goin goin
th scenes. B a m un un g? g? "
"How
Ba Bahtlllng ht lllng refers
in Germ German an myth mythol olog ogy. y.
comm common on name name
ftCiln
th
MOSI
quickly
h :1: 1 < long long time time al un
semb semble le
vali vali nt knig knig t. Be eath eath
is s h o c k
Ieatc Ieatcres res
highly rank ranked ed weap weapon on
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lmve
wondered
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me;' " O h , 1 1 ~o ~ o ke ke d at BalrnLmg with rene renewe we
mOil! ti
}'DU
reach
il
>'Dic!
solo solo player?"
belo belonged nged to
"POl' the most pa
'ChataJIOt<'f
much
leve ou current current leve
inte intere rest st
patty
last lo g. 'v
,1
w h e n rfirst ee
5.010
the'
teen hi:sp('r hi:sp('r
pretty amazing,"
"That's
YOll
to fill
'~So
q?
lon't te
t'
ig
It's
someone
it
t.
W h :@ :@ l
even
thilt
he apprav.es of." O r c a
IIHIst h a v
c h ar ar m e
Balmung into joining
Balmung.
him. your
f'Ies
B a l m 1 . . m g stared
urvi urvi e. Yo
here's hardly II lOP
ensu ensure re grea greate te
surv surviv ivab abil ilit it
an
h e nc nc e g r e a t e r enjo enjoyt ytne nen' n'
the g a m e . very veryth thin in
ol
I,i;lyers. Orca Orca resp respon onde ded, d,
yo
ind. ind.
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"Rea "Reall lly?Wh y?What at's 's it call called ed?" ?" "The "The On
not.
aske asked. d.
Hokuto had re-
Sin, Sin, Ba1n Ba1n1u 1ung ngmu mutt tter ered ed
Hi word word brou brough gh
mome mome
Mo
ilen ilence ce 1111 1111ee ee
layi layi
coul coul 011('
whis whispe pere re
week week an woul woul n'
conv conver er atio atio
subtleties
orgo orgo she' she'
ee
be rofi rofici cien en
that that exis existe te
almu almung ng lo ki
some someth thin in
in th
had
to er
In Hokuto.
th
need
re
I'm
heat
decora rate te "I deco
th
"Yeah,
noth nothin in
ha
ro m,
proudl dl Hokuto prou
with withou ou lett lettin in
emphasized,
to
woul woul When
lo ke
at them them
real realiz ized ed they they hurt
someth thin in it's some
l.ycoris
stat stated ed
the
ot er
we shou should ld clea clea toge togeth ther er
know know abou abou it,"
have have pref prefer erre re
own.
to
like
Well.
hinking? with
"Don "Don't 't tell tell them them an thin thin
abou abou Lyco Lycori ris, s,
whis whispe pere re we141d by
id 't want want
!!'I
hat. Th
ne adva adva tage tage of
newbie
I\'.IS
now.
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Tovvn Tovvn thin thin
th boar boards ds
II icre before.
apti aptive ve trie trie
ll
nd
ng l. I'
be
conq conque ueri ring ng th area area." ."
;Iyer.
YOll
talkin talkin
th 'r
ac =Anu
about? about?
ca se ou ca
ul n' sh list list
de id
to ui kl
ngl' ngl'
Ti ltth
it
nnot nnot be le ed th t'
bu in th syst syst m.
Tint Worl World, d,
cont contin inue ued. d. it's
beco become me infa infamo mo
levels. Even Even midmid-le leve ve
kill kill
itho ithout ut so
uc
sl yi
char charac acte te
si gl guar guar ia
oi
lance."
t' @11('
ouldn't?" "But "But th t' just just
rumo rumor. r.
"Abs "Abs lute lutely ly
li ve in this this
rl
rc nodd nodd
is
"Yes:' et
there?"
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Orca Orca wa surp surpri rise se
\LJ\!:=:=======~ ques questi ti n. "Of course! S0) .o
by
rewa reward rd
you, you, Albi Albire reo, o, or yo woul wouldn dn't 't have have deve develo lope pe your your char charac acte te
"le.' "le.''I 'I'm 'm sorr sorry, y, Al ireo ireo he idn' idn'tt-
It's "No. It's
legi legiti tima mate te conc concer er
rs
attached to hi ."
"You "You'r 'r righ righ abou abou that that." ." Balm Balmun un
star stared ed in
lt's
dire direct ctio ion. n. "Alb "Albir ireo eo
"Yes?"
wo ld unde unders rsta ta jt.lst
ts orig orig n.
"The "The le en ar
pear pear fr
th 'Rin 'Rin
th Ni elun elung/ g/
Ib [mung [mung responded. rdin rdinar ar
halb halber erd, d, an it beau beauti tifu fu
deco decora ra iv
esig esigIo Io se
Balm BalmL1 L1ngn ngnod odde de "O
whis whis erin erin
bu Orca Orca stil stil look looked ed
inte interp rpre reta tati ti
Wa ner' ner'
pera pera
uzzl uzzled ed that that Wo an's an's
ab ut it 111c
"O era? era? I'
as ed Orca Orca
fr
y. '1ts '1ts
secr secret et." ."
"Sec "Secre ret? t?
Balm Balmun un
,d'
soun sounde de
skep skepti tica cal. l. a t.t. "
gold item,"
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bust buster er \,--\ \,--\ = = = = = = = " 'fall of That's 's tota totall ll "Awesome! That
ti'J(·
epic is Sieg Siegfr frie ie
an
name name
ys lf
t~ th sw r;
awes awesom ome, e, isn' isn' it Balm Balmun ung? g?!! !!
h~'
of them them too! too!)! )!
carr carrie ied, d, Balm Balmun ung: g:
"You },01,1
"'
Were so knowledgeable Balu}tll'lg:'
name
meant he'd he'd
en
ound ound lo ge th
obtain
t1'111}'
arn
hought. No Wonder
from from myth myth
sometime,'
Orca Orca shru shrugg gged ed "Yea "Yeah, h, mayb maybe. e. Orca Orca clea clearl rl pref pref@t @t:l :l1e 1e ha k- nd sl sh
vent vent re ov
th su tl ties ties of myth myth an
Balm Balmun un
story.
cannot
ge it?" it?"
in
World. That's wh
di YOll
rema remain ined ed sile silent nt the
current
di n'
abou abou it." it."
doesn' n' have have to tell us "H does al right. understandings
ot
nt there
betw betw en us I'll
have have your your onfi onfi nc Th
do 't
in this this
any n;Iis tt :1st :1st
nrti nrtifa fact ct I'
sure sure ther there' e'
want it. Pret Pretty ty badl badly, y,
tt
i10
ho tage tage of la rs
ho woul woul
magine."
"I
;;tg ;;tgre re d. 10
try
lor players?"
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= = = = =
te
Sinc Sinc
reassurance.
An
I,w, I,w,al al
"Thanksl"
sb;a sb;aig ight htfG fGrw rwar ar with with you, you, hold hold my conf confid iden ence ce dear dear an d @ n ' rd bout bout this this sp
I'
to anyone else,"
l'
"Me tool Exce Except pt when when
"I'l "I'l forg forget et we evertal evertalke ke abou abou it." it." Orca Orca smil smiled ed type type in an retu return rned ed th gest gestur ure. e. ha ge tone tones. s. "S
lbir lbir o, let' let'
ba
matt matter er at hand hand:' :' ''I' ''I'
sorr sorry, y,
parents," can' can' join join your your part party. y. nt
didn didn't 't mean mean to
to make make it as dear dear as poss possib ible le
"Doe "Doesn sn't 't matt matter er ho l-oss that's impossible
"I
high high-l -lev evel el yo are, are, they they'r 'r th on
to defe defeat at ." He laug laughe hed. d.
Ball Balll1 l1'l 'lll lllgg lggot ot up "Let "Let's 's go Orca Orca We'r We'r done done here here." ."
in event. 1 ' l . 1 1 Sorr Sorr
thou though ght. t. He's He's prob probab ably ly still in high high scho school ol
han
raid raid
must must onti onti ue
an
ntil ntil it's it's ve
't le ve
Orca Orca stoo stood, d, stil stil laug laughi hing ng "All righ right. t. Balm Balmun un
hate hate to
hear
abou abou that that." ."
" W e l l it's it's disa disapp ppoi oint ntin ing. g.
Orca Orca sigh sighed ed "But "But it can' can'
Ihlm Ihlm ng sh
ou
itte itterl rl
helped:' "I just just want want yo both both to know know yo guys guys ar th very veryfi firs rs laye laye
felt felt like like or in
arty arty
Orca Orca smil smiled ed brig bright htly ly "Tha "That' t'
send send me bl to
essa essage ge
ltho lthoug ug
it in id Th
rl !'
grea grea to hear hear!" !"
an't an't te
lp ou in an me genc genc :'
.hackl/ai_busterlltown_mac .hackl/ai_busterlltown_mac_._enuI1102 _._enuI1102/1 /1
up
stil stil
ie
game. "Orc "Orca! a!
Balm Balmun un
yell yelled ed
"I unde unders rsta tand nd ho ig
m,
or hi
yo feel feel Balm Balmun ung. g.
rmth rmth
nd di
tn ss Balm Balmun un
or is
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uc k. k. " at nine nine a.m, Wish u s l uc "Good
ck
rop out.
mean it."
"Wart. art. rour rour
Nil"
houl houldn dn't 't retu return rn to my om
if aybe aybe shou should ld s'itnce('
since
Il kuto kuto so
ould ouldn' n'
y,1'd y,1'd be done done Hokuto
excmng.
ando ando
or
hile hile In
it ltog ltog th iv
t,
he
onde onde ul
ss ge fr
it th
aris aris me
looked at me "Wha "What' t'
lo ymor ymor
icke icke
it
wron wrong? g?
Sever Several al second second passed passed "Why "Why aren aren't 't yo leav leavin ing? g? Sa some someth thi. i.ng ng." ."
©~tt
Hokuto
dr mati mati ll
to ho
ow
st in
sh
s.
"Can "Can't 't do what what?" ?" can' can' lo aut. aut.
"I'm "I'm impr impres esse sed. d. Yo were were surp surpri risi sing ngly ly quie quiet. t. "B
us
id 't
nd rsta rsta
or yo said said
ch ra te s, Al ir
Hoku Hokuto to
midd middle le of my audi audily ly de rate rate fot,
ryon ryon to
jo
nd Ly oris oris
tand tandin in
in th
ome. ome.
he th se on it
ny leve leve
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Cora Cora trou troubl bles esho hoot otin in
prob proble lem: m: support
pf
they'r 'r "Yes, Bu they
wasn' w0tki w0tking, ng, .i wasn'
ALTIMIT
scme scmeth thin in
like this
moment,"
era, neve neve happ happen en anym anymor ore. e. ld era,
al th time Never!
a. ig deal.
here here wasn wasn't 't
w f r y ij
even
"Who "Who
ca
"I
h ha ha l
their eyll.S on
"You "You.m .mea ea
1..1 1..1
i~
infallible. Problema such as disconne disconnectlQi ctlQiJ.s, J.s,.whi .which ch happerre happerre
everything.
only to
ar this this isn' isn' one. one.
knew it
th tise tisers rs?" ?"
Lyco Lycori ris? s?'i 'i
"Yeah. M a y b e she doesn't want "Al? "Al?
o'
l?
BM th GM?" GM?"
I'm going to
soun soundi ding ng
system em guys guys 1" "Yeah, th syst
call h e r L yc yc o
t' bett bett r,
ll yo on't on't
think I'll
ou thin think? k?
.opem,C®ts
read read to help on tw ntynty- ou ho
glitch
ta db
shou should ld occu occur. r. The%dll!."
in as
prob proble le
Btit Btit th problems
silence,
h a G ! no opinion
dev; dev; l®pl l®pli. i. Esel'
than than argu arguin ing, g, y,
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okut okut
clos closel el that that he face covered
nd approachedmtno
entire entire scree screen. n. dl'l'cl
th othe othe is yellow." know. That's That's what "I know. what
III
wanted."
"Why? HAPK,"
"AFK?"
' A w a y From From Keyb Keyboa oard rd.' .' I'
"I mean mean
with-o with-out ut discon disconne necti cting. ng.
character
leav leavin in
will remain
!PC wm(we
he is.' is.'
"W ait
ha
ou m e ? "
"Go play outside. I'll disb disban an selected
disband," Hokuto's
th part party. y. disappeared froBil,
On
haMe
disa disapp ppea eare red, d, too. too. t.
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Some Someon on
wa knoc knocki king ng When When
resh resh·f ·f
id st ding ding on th
th
si
of
coul coul neve neve reme remern rnbe berh rhis is name name "The papers Yl?ureq Yl?ureque uest sted ed Wata Watal: l:ai ai." ." He laid them lawn on m y
es
lort lorthe he inst instru ruct ctio ions ns Then Then gr nt
asked, "Any "Any ew re orts orts
isse isse th ot er
"Nothing yet. Bu we'v we'v incr increa ease se
my thro throug ug
th
ir
ou patr patrol ols, s,
looked past
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"Sou "Sound nd that that
ther there' e' no ew info inform rmat atio io
He shoo shoo
home home earl early: y:
good good Than Thanks ks." ." rt
Yo know know impr impres es th boss boss." ."
or witn witnes esse se ?"
is head head "But "But th re or
ca
me
th ki said said ervo ervous usly ly to fill fill th sile sile ce "A
Ikig Ikigad ad patr patrol ols, s,
"Uh, I'
ha py to .oh
e.
erec erecei ei ed the:
b.ef b.efor or yest yester erda da wa dead dead on We miss missed ed ou shot shot." ." "The
gettin in Is ar gett
shif shifti tier er Thei Thei
func functi tion onal alit it
re
never stay il
th sa
plac plac fo long long," ,"
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en
it
the game developmentsection,
di Vclg Vclgra ra Al firs firs ap ear? ear? th
id as ed
re
rp ra ex
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nl that that
re
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they they were were st ck in
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inst instea ea of wast wastin in al your your time time onli online ne you' you' be work workin in
He laug laughe hed. d. sh
it to
Ltd.
Curr Curren entl tly, y, that that's 's th only only meri meri you' you've ve got. Otherw Otherwise ise yo.u' yo.u'll ll
"You "You lost lost inte interes rest, t, righ right? t?
bett better er company;"
berc berconne onnect ct Japan Japan Co"
slee slee to
give
lay, lay,
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oked.
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mean mean wa
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om se iori iori y:
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Th
part partic icip ipat ated ed
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Ye
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th proj projec ec
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ou an
hort hortly ly afte afte it star starte te ."
wa th team team lead leader er?" ?"
become me less less info inform rmed ed abou abou th game game than than the players. game beco It' common common," ,"
In
ha
eard eard
im." im."
"Yea "Yeah,I h,I gues gues that that's 's it Anyt Anythi hing ng beyo beyond nd th area area of my resp respon onsi si ilit ilit
is rath rather er
ar to keep keep
with with." ."
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this this busi busine ness ss?" ?"
now,
this Toku Tokuok ok
wa Toku Tokuok ok Time Time:' :'
guy? guy?
de
fo
like like it too. too. "H ow
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ours ours It no
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wa pret pretty ty inte intere rest stin ing. g. Ecce Eccent ntri ric. c. yo mean mean
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even evenin in wa actu actual ally ly dawn dawn-t -tha ha
th ng fo dinn dinner er
th
of flip flip in
burg burger er
very very ig t.
he alwa alwa
atethe
lain lainha hamb mb rger rger
wi
wa just just tart tartin in
coff coffee ee an
onde ondere re
wh
:lki :lking ng days days of were hospital.
€ltLt
111, McDo McDona nald ld's 's
Ever Ever ni t,
at th
am
am thin thin :'
10
work:' ad Does Does 't so nd like
"H
"Tha "Tha is stra strang nge: e:
fu
"He
card card li
ow In tead tead we were were on Toku Toku ka Ti e,
"Huh.?" "T ku ka used used
.illowed himself
"Wit "Witho hout ut leav leavin in th buil buildi ding ng." ." il
blan blan et an
COUd1
cushions re gt
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.. _ltd.l111611
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.•_l .•_ltd td.1 .1I11 I1171
.hack
\~\=====:;==~
te
premium in
bat1~
chair as
reflec reflected ted
"in th
into m yb yb r 1 1
H e used to smoke this swee swee Indo Indone nesi si,n ,n
call called ed Gara Garam, m,
ta
t' through
ac
is
It
really t h a t loca locali lize ze
tlwy
sinc sinc
'stem
olds olds thir thirty ty''-~i ~i
igar igar tt s. Heil He il g~
day. His office reeked
tb
his aJilclhis
these
keep replacing them."
scream
if
if ic
link them
te
t h e y don't
cartt t e
up
They
to
J'Dal111t'"
it
" Ye Y e ah a h , h e was pretty pretty unique. Definitely not your J r y r p i , e a l empl employ oyee ee
In
ld
if er nt languages
syst system em in te
up
Corp CC Corp
th
,stil remember remember t < : n E '
past past
burnod
cigatette
Lt~.
The
t'
did:'
exactly
fact,
to
ki
think he w anted
sit
through headphones.
till a tete r h a
ro rock ck bands like
D e e p P ur ur pl pl e
he 10vedl1al'd
i nt nt e
it
hard w ork, It wa hard
"Really?,"
ut it to remember
"Of
that
tt
wtpJt:c.-
fun. Eventually, it paid ofE '
ha
s om om e on on e like Toku(5}b
[cav [cav th
P lu lu t
Ki s)
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m.any
~'811
did Tokuoka
comp compan any? y?
"How th te
arms
indicating m y o ff ff ic ic e , ut the kid d i d n ' t eve notice notice guy?
company
spread
Probably beca becaus us
hell do th.e th.e c om o m pa pa n
b e ca ca m e
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AI
buster\,--\~======;::= lp it it
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it
ts th
am :'
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ic ti it le
ll is
te
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ll he ants ants
That
full
it
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experi experienc ence. e.
li
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it
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ai
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smoo smooth thly ly:' :'
,_lt ,_lt .! /121 /121//
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bust buster er
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\,--\~=====......:....,:::':::;:':r:
Real Cyberconn~ct
wh th Coba Cobalt lt Knig Knight ht were were crea create ted, d, righ rightr tr hulletin' boards. It soun sounde de
inte intere rest stin in
so
copied
hnve
.Iocuments,"
th ghos ghosts ts in th
ac in
oper oper te be in
ap r.
th sc nes, nes,", ", ubje ubje t: RE
"We' "We're re kind kind of like like .a elit elit mili milita tary ry unit unit?" ?" "Y
sure sure
st te
fl ppin ppin
le se tell tell me bo Ep ap
th ough ough th pa rs
TWilight! o f the TWilight!
Message
g av av e m e .
"W move move in th dark darkne ness ss:' :'
Epitaph
.Y
if th
to return) th s h ad ad o w wee d o n e
01
q ue ue st st s jo jo r t h T w wii lili gh gh t D r ag ag o n
time.
Ru
"S
ttin ttin
in to
it pl ye
forbidden den beca/) beca/)uS uSl' l' is forbid
wemight wemight reve reveal al ou hidd hidden en miss missio ion, n,
H e l b a , Queen
H ea ea r h , theD ar k) army.
raised
"As usua usual, l, you' you've ve miss missed ed th poin poin comp comple lete tely ly I'
you'll
An
heDar
sun' sun'
Apeiron, King
t h e b as as e
remain
"Huh?"
if tbe
if L i g h t ,
beckons,
rainbow t h e y meet.
Against th a.bominable W a v e ,
,'t
together t h e y f i g h t . A lb lb a' a' s l ak ak e b o i l s .
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Twilight
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uste uste L i gh gh t
\~\====~=-
g re re n t
ow
pretty
d r o p l e t s turned
~il1ce th
o. Lt
famous' player.
beta beta vers versio io ."
"Must
reme rememb mber er seei seeing ng
I'('g,ltding
s ha ha do do w l es es s o ne ne s
ha do do wl wl es es s N e v e r to r e t u r n , t h s ha
W h o q u e s ja
Ja an
A r .c.c h e K o e /1/1 1 .
R e tu tu rn r n s t o n o th th in in g , this w o r l d
bero beroon onne ne
ee dot
ow temple
Re
based,
o ne ne ,
Y a t e s bed:: then
posting
as
w h c h F ra r a gm gm e n memb member er
e t poet,"
called .himself
t h e T w i lil i g h t D r a g o r l .
He t1lf
te
W.
e-
in
minstrel
w a n d e r into an even event, t, sing sing an impr improv ovis ised ed the
t@WII,
()11
)[~ltl'S
n ov ov e
He's
poem poem
an
R e g a rd rd llee s s . •this
talented
pret pretty ty well well know known. n.'; '; i"
hand e~p0 e~p0~t ~tin in is hand yOll
"I
th
don' don'
ou thin think? k?
EpitClpJ)
t h e T w i lil i g h t Sounds
p re re t t
creac creace.W e.War arsra sra
think
wa
.hack//aLb .hack//aLb
sear sear h: t:
"Go home:'
i nt nt e re re s t iiii lg lg .
Y a t e s , huh?" recogriize
l at at e
coffee
No
d at a t e d y e st st e rd rd ay ay .
you do
in
1'11100k
finished
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asil asil
"Maybe
find find this thisj" j"
guestiQIl
as post post
about
You' You'll ll
r oo oo m
staYIng Time?" Time?"
lQ
the Ilap
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the n a
pretty comf comfor orta tabl bl
an
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.hack 1/
bust buster er
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on
=~==~ Haral Haral
rs '1
o. Lt
Hoer Hoerwi wick ck
th
11rtg.'
Ja
orig origih ihCi Ci prog progra rartu rtul1 l1er er of th beta beta vers versio io
'heWo 'heWorl rld, d, th auth author orit it
of
anAl anAl rese resear arch ch an an allall-ar ar un
f,mius.
till' ai
had b e e n
States,
nd
Orig Origin inal ally ly th ga
work workin in hard hard Bu that that wa part part of th job, job, alwa alwaysha ysha been been walked th
corr corrid idor or
se
elect electri rici city ty Part Part 'ofg 'ofgto towi wing ng eali ealize ze ho ildi ildi
wast wast up
dO~1I
f' an ki d, espe especi cial alLy Ly
cons conser erva vati tion onis ist, t, 19u~ss.
loud loudly ly my foot footst step ep
echo echoed ed in th ea:: ea::o: o:rt rt
l-lackbox f o
Th Worl Worl
wa stor stored ed in
ra
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nl th se wh were were eepl eepl
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as
data data
conf confid iden enti tial alit it
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ad
earn earned ed ab ut th fold folder er agre agreem emen ent. t.
.ibout it.
ambi ambien en nois noise, e, it soun sounde de
like thunder. .urtornatically Wa
urne urne
in
that that fire fire all. all.
wo dere dered, d, ho
di sh .c meinto meinto
ro
r?
hems hemsel elve vess- -o
huma humans ns if that that's 's even even poss possib ible le That That woul woul
ruly
head.
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st
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nd ut ntic ntic so ndin ndin
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rea. rea.
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ng
could
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night
screen display. Lycoris
inced
still
Albireo's
h a n d . Because s 1 1 e LO
N P C , it meant
hi
he
wait through
with her. Fort Fortun unat atel ely, y,
Hoku Hokuto to
g o e . She probably
left
shortly after tried
again
hadn't been fixe fixed. d. Th w on on de de re re d h o other
Th
srtuation
b ~ r g , whatever it was remain remained. ed. b ee e e n g o n g on. W e r e Or did this have
·hack
bust buster er
\.__'\=========
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ngel ng el
all,
li,d 11I1.t? aLlY
in hadn hadn't 't logg logged ed out, out, th prev previo ious us nigh night' t'
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l · J h , J , t.
lo
rvcnt,
conv conver ersa sati tion on rema remain ined ed
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PIJ.ti.'::I.
extension ions? s? o.ld fil extens
Goo
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n i· i· :: :: !h !h t
ante ante 'I'~
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to go wa n' anyw anyw re
'd be
efor efor
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where
It tt
to
is
,intI} ?"
le lo in
to norm normal al
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te
/I
Thou Though gh
\~\======~..
er eyes eyes rema rema ne
cl se
he face face
Ar~a.2
as ttmwd
ad Angel Angel
(Ome (Ome a) Serv Server er Zone Zone Ca ti e, Fall Fallen en Ange Ange
NPC hlld
toward toward.mi .mine. ne. found found my han,d, han,d,moi moist st wit sweat. sweat.
ever b e e n able able to c h a t like like this this befo before.Thi re.Thi wa to respq respqfi fi si Hesitantly,
answ answer ered ed ,iWe ,iWe'r 'r goin goin to th aiea'Rhowll
sTh
,\I'r:1
is
also
'Capti tive ve Fall Fallen en Ange Angel. l. as 'Cap "O ay Orca Orca an Balm Balm ng will will be ther ther f-?" Before'
coul coul
at
nine."
fini finish sh LYCdtis ri
m-
peak peaker er sudd suddeh ehly ly
j11; j11;~y ~yer erpe pecu cula late te
~dd
ibra ibrate te
with with
p i tata p h
if tl)e
as he Seal Sealed ed
one
knew knew Some Some
that that it refe referr rred ed to th ange ange wh ha been been
'Icaled.But the exist existenc enc
,n
!u.WWH
of an,an,gel wasn't confirmed
Twilight)
g.ltn world
W(,I'(,
rote rotect cted ed ,Ill
is th fall fallen en an el in ca ti it
enen'lY or
?Th
enough gh answ answer er not enou
••
I:/Jitaph
if th
.1
ecau ecause se En
T w d i g h t , ' pass passed ed away away.Th .Th
mto th ga
befo before re it
WaS
expa expans ns thro throug ug
'a
an eter eterna na nigh night. t. Ther Ther
il'Y
wa no back backgn gnml ml1d 1d
comp comple lete ted. d. Ye it influence,
like
this place. Just as I'd been teleported I'd been teleported, Just
lound
113411
epic epic wa inco incorp rpor orat ated ed
th logy logy that that defi defi es th crea crea io
)[vi )[vineStat neStatue ue Room Room in th
.hackl/ai_busterllaraa.2_bad_angel/
Wiel Wielan ant, t, wh wrot wrot th
tree tree spre spread ad it root root an bran branch ches es thro throug ugho hout ut Th Worl World. d.
III many many ways ways it's th
bliz blizza zard rd What What litt little le
Is th an el
ysel ysel ta en fr
ngeo ngeo to my
my om
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me
sudd sudden en
he areaI areaI wa te to go
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AI
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ofte ofte
W,)'
et
hi h.
ad
mayb mayb th shiv shiv
ngel ng el
se by th
1IIIcxpe 1IIIcxpected ctedvoice voice heard. heard. an
re
(t ough ough here here
ve be
an
is ussi ussion on on c h I '
re yo are,
W
it
hlizzard.
It was Hokuto Hokuto
World.
"Did "Did yo
le
el as ni ht
I? he sk d.
He biki bikini ni wa extr extrem emel el ou of plac plac in th snow snowst stor orm. m. open opened ed my mout mout
o: Le
L ' :I:I ':': .'.' :.:. r1 r1 : :.:. :
~'.hl).t. di
' J.J. :::: .k .k e d ,
AlbirE'1:': I.Ie' re
wa spee speech chle less ss
"Sur "Surpr pris ised ed to se me?" me?"
L':lc.ot"i. L':lc.ot"i.::.: ::.:~~herem~~heremAlbireo:
to sa some someth thin ing, g, bu
IJ
'90irr9?
here here?" ?" fina finall ll stam stamme mere red. d.
:.o.':I? : .o.':I? :; hJI_ hJI_
k.lh k.lher er-eo. -eo.re re
'9I:.jn3 to h e
,C."F-t.i'.)e,
"W-w "W-wha ha ar yo doin doin
IJ
'90in9?
I ) r eo e o . k n I .·.· .
':IS
Feller» At-r3e 1.
"Alb "Albir ireo eo>" >" He scar scarle lett-co colo lore re
Orca Orca an Boll Bolloc ocks ks?" ?"
unrnes?
lips lips move moved. d.
"Balmu "Balmuhg, hg,
correc corrected ted
"W teve teve
he
help help th
Just Just li
ai th
ou show show
om thto thtoug ug "And "And
imag images es made made me shiv shiver er Of cour course se th offi office ce ai cond condit itio ione ne
.hackl/al_busterl/area.2_bad_angeI1l13611
up
to
th last last
challe challenge nge an
in te to help help
all,
e, ~t il
re oi
ou'v ou'v be
th last last mi ut :' itin itin
er
Il)a Il)ana nage ge to hold hold back back thos thos last last thre thre word words. s.
.hackl/al_buster~/area.2_bad_angeIl/137/1
-hack
II
AI
bUS~
rea. rea.
~==~====~==~
didn't
ad
ngel ng el
louning in lc
carne here
woke
ftg1>l:l1ed
uvcrcome this this even event. t.
W
th most most diff diffic icJ. J.1l 1l
.ine
"Yeah/'
.ujmit it!'
world.
"C'mon,
I'll tell tell
it!"
gain gain th
solo solo play player er:' :'
I'
ig t?
he
-xccption,"
did
II/cas?"Why
.b
head head alwa always ys hurt whenever
conversed
with this this girl girl
it ends."
y O l J sal. so yester
11
"T¥atch?
"I
to
j,oin
didn'tl" me Di
O.
.ay.
part part ea
with with m e ! Y o u ay uc
h inin g
ai it Y o rg ntly ntly
sa
itl You said it!"
roll rolled ed do
th lo
CI
stubborn?"
.hack! .hack! lai_ uster usterllar llarea ea
.2_b .2_bad_angeI1 ad_angeI1l1 l1
11
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AI
buster\L\~=====
rea. rea.
ad
ngel ng el
it.
you
said 'with
AI?" onti onti ed
olli olli
it
gr at
onl';:I
course not,"
"O
l,tr l,tr en y.
party,":
!t. in
AI?"
;:I.
~hi: ~hi:!: !:.p .p 1 c n : : l e , ':::IOU
Pm
~·~hichne';;J.FlS (lIe,
so .jJ.t:,t
evio evio
pa ty ha
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ft
ep rate rated. d.
went
10
L1lOught
is ~·~elb ~·~elbit's it's
::.
nethin nethin·; ·; ~e should
bJ'3e bJ'3ethe the
cleor
Lyco,"
HithclI.~t HithclI.~t letting letting
t.he ot.her::. ot.her::. knm·~ knm·~ob obou ou
Sh co ld 't
ee
co is
ti
er in th same same grou group, p,
it, pcesence.
Then
thinking? again,
really wasn't t h
in
in
it all straighr-s-Lycons,
Balr Balr un
th
dd tr su e.
u p I f only w,
ec us
he
if
around
Orca
W o u l d l 1 't it be ' n i c e if yo
and
sw re
as till till talk talkin in
talk talk?" ?"
couldn't?
ques questi tion on
anyw anyw y.
N PC PC s
tl
needed
co coul coul
yo
ld
to be online.
il
l!1lJJ1('
li
I'll
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te
\_\~.=:;:::::::::::=====
others,
just just pref prefer er to take take on chal challe leng nges es
·hack "I
alon alone. e.
interac interac wit
like like.t .t test test myse myself lf
Area.2 Bad Al')gel th
help orie orient nt you. you. It wa part part of th adde adde diff diffic icul ulty ty in won't help
"You "You'r 'r wr g. Yo don' don' play play "Any "Anywa way,Lyc y,Lycor oris is is an
el with with ther ther at .a11:'
.I,a .I,all llen engi ging ng Th
so it isn' isn' poss possib ibLefo Lefo h € l "
"AI, "AI, wher where' e' yo go?Wh go?Wher er
." Play Playin in offl offlin in bein bein sadd saddle le
didn didn't 't soun soun
turn turned ed around. Hokuto
like
af
with with Hoku Hokuto to
"It' "It' almo almost st nine nine isn't
On Sin. Sin. ar you? you? wa gone gone
rlcarly,
wandered
long long as we werein werein Part Part Mode Mode it didn didn't 't matt matter er ho sh aske asked. d.
sh
was, was, sh woul woul alwa alwa
so
th sa e. In ot er word word
"You "You're 're righ right. t. We shou should ld move move." ."
cl
"Move Why?
to fi
her. her.
only se my eyes eyes could only
cloat changed my
bump
ind. ind.
fa away away
bra
bug.Thi bug.Thi isn' isn'
gettin in pani panick cky. y. ight." Sh wa gett
just just want want to obse observ rve. e.
"Fin "Fine. e. We'l We'l move move." ."
,'ve ,'vel' l'yt ythi hing ng into into
Turn Turn ou chat chat to Part Part Mo e. Ot erwi erwi e, he 'l see ut na es when when we spea spea
to
eac other: other:
bug. bug.
"Wai "Wait. t. Some Someth thin ing' g' here here I'm "Nol "Nol Don' Don' mo e!
is."
hout houted ed
.v diff diffic icul ul to see. see. "Sta "Sta cl se Don' Don' ge lost lost." ." ''I' ''I'
-omething
righ righ behi behind nd you, you, sh whin whined ed
"Who "Whoa, a, whoa whoa whoa whoaaa aal" l"
tram my scre screea ea re
.hackl/al_bust.rllarea.2_ba(LangeI1/14211
was happening happening
wher
In
IC fa
.hackl/al_ .hackl/al_bust busterlla erllar.ea. r.ea.
2_bad 2_bad_angeI1l1 _angeI1l1431 431
.hack
buster\L_\~=======
AI
rea. rea.
ad An Ange ge
activated, event was activated, ha unle unleas ashe he
th mons monste ters rs ri
aw er ea th
ga ge in tant tantly ly chan chan
fr
reen reen to re
it
Sh wa dead dead
was
powerful.
••
unde underl rlin ings gs
er that that toug toug
here here rs
remained
wa dere dere thro thro gh th blin blindi ding ng sn
fo
long long tunt tunt'. '.
bu even eventu tual ally ly foun foun her. her. Hoku Hokuto to's 's shad shadow ow Unfo Unfort rtun unat ateh eh unli unlike ke th real real worl world, d, deat deat wasn't an en
leas leas
vanq vanqui uish shed ed than than anot anothe he this on only only t a l k e d to
ll to
"H rr
complaining.
reap reappe pear ared ed Fort Fortun unat atel ely, y,
much much
up Re urre urrect ct
el
"Oka "Okay. y. Just Just stop stop screa screami ming ng:' :'
aren't 't yo doin doin some someth thin in "Why aren
This is awful. Yo
items items until until
ee to saveme saveme:' :' "How can
ound ound
"I can' can' av you?You you?You'r 'r alre alread ad dead dead That That means
you' you're re beyo beyond nd savi saving ng." ." "Wor "Wor
mons monste te
the first
han
elie elie
crol crolle le down down
li
revi revivi ving ng poti potion on yo
eser eserte te
e. You' You're re
You' You're r e supp suppos osed ed to prot protec ec
e. He
lo stro strong nger er what what ar
waitin waitin for?" for?"
some some magi magi or some someth thin ing. g.
chan change ge my mind mind." ." "What?!" revi revivi ving ng poti potion on." ." th wind wind it
.hack! lai_busterllarea.2_ lai_busterllarea.2_bad_angeI1l1 bad_angeI1l144 4411 11
clos closed ed
on my scre screen en
"W at ar
talk talkin in ab ut?" ut?"
.hackllai_b .hackllai_buster/lar uster/larea. ea.
2_ ad_angeI1l14 ad_angeI1l146! 6!
·hack /I AI
buster\~\===;=;:=~
lo
H.At
l,
t)
rea. rea..2 .2 thl,'
le
YCl1.J
migJht
ad
n~yp.osit p.osit.io .io ;or direct directiou iou,:s ,:sq.I q.I
IIlnp,
ngel ng el just
iook
" W h e r e are we going! to
prot prot ctin ctin "Y
he ever ever
iv seco second nds. s.
cold cold..-he he rted rted
Besides,
"Why?",
ba tard tard
l l be,"
he elle elle
this
wh
me peeC peeC .)
of thesto:nn.'·'
te
b i k i n . ' L running hadn hadn't 't dese desert rted ed h e r ,
the one with the:
couldn't stay stay focu focus' s';] ;] enou enoug~ g~
~(j)
II
(;
this were were rl;' rl;'~l ~l1i 1ife fe we'd we'd al be severely
n.
snowy
across
iderdressed,
before; AI?" Ii ow to k e e p calling " Y e a h , once,
"You don't
Al fought;
b o s s . in a, diff differ eren en
even even here here." ."
"Did yo kill it?" only Itwky
011e
me. he
eath eather er .slo .slowe we
ow
theth i n t hi hi s
th it
ls to
othe othe
11Q
ig
.haok//ai_buaterl/ares.2_bad_sngeIl/146//
fiel fiel
objeGJis
it
t' te
ran? "So yo ran? "N ot
xact xactly ly:' :'
"Then
w h a t h a p pe pe n e d? d? "
was killed killed:,' :,' "You "Youme mean an
even even Al th grea grea warr warrio ior, r, occa occasi sion onal ally ly d.ie d.ies? s?!" !"
11."
.hackl/aLbusterl:tarea.2_bad_sngel//147 //
·~aGk If "Wha "Wha
te
\--'\====~,....,
happ happen ened ed?" ?"
11
while,
wind, yO\1 LJ:wl'
:1
fight."
"Look, A l
"O flee."
bId
"I
to See
weak weakne ness sses es firs first, t, It trie trie
L,_:l itn'fl;~
1lllY
could fi11d anyw anyway ay
ever everyt ythi hing ng-· -· -dif -diffe fere rent nt
sa rhat le
of weap weapon ons, s, spel spells ls all (J
kind kind
upwa upwa d.
"Is this it
on th path path
cont contin inue ue
wher th this this wher
takes placd" placd" event takes
;;11)(/
dark darkne ness ss
bu
othi othi l1
wo ed." ed."
arrived near th top, top,
to
impossible to conquer?" th
no
t at at e
l 1l 1l l
wa J u s t
wind stiU roared behind us, For ,1
of
[ear [early ly se
of
an
tl ,<;:)'[1:)
ir,
mo st ou
to beho behold ld le
"Yes "Yes;' ;' "Bec "Becau ause se it' like
,hackl/ai_busterl/area.
aid, aid, tati tating ng up
at it "Tha "That' t'
The
ne Si !'
good game," is good
2_bad~angel//148//
.hackl/ai_bIJ"Ster/laraa.2_bad_angElII114911
.hack
II
\~\~=:::±:::::::=::::-;--===
AI b~$ter S•
.f
t ,S
' lUl;nongous.·'1
That was an dw
hand, knowing w:e~e
t.
e d b y h e creature t h e y
sil?J~,
couldn't e v e n be viewed
ti
light giant
arrcient
dinosaur;
rea. rea.
an
light
he
if ic
h e two L I g u r e s
th
nd
ne gy
poured
esem esem ie
t h r o u g h : "Ies
felt supp suppre ress ssed ed
111.
an
he~p
tqern,
it
inflict111g From h i
sounds
of batt battle le roared l i k i O ' m i g h t y explosions
of
we
di phye phye
he ve th ir
damage
hara haract ct rs
an
tecovery points
Ever Everys ysin ing~ g~
tt ck Orca Orca
metal.
"Orca!
Balmung!" Hokuto
VOlC!.':.
dist dist acti acti
ngel ng el
gi:m gi:m drag dragon on
They grinding
Th
anyo anyone ne they
mayb mayb
in
Th
ad
of
shouted, lll' didn't l,1'et,'dllll'
It wa nnec nneces es ar
att:tck
ti ir
it
ts
if
di logu logue. e.
le
as several types h~1.s
mutt mutt re
in urpr urpris is
Including when t h e .
"J know, but 15till
find someoneeIsc
out. Coul Couldn dn't 't t h e y find anot anothe he them out.
paralysis, POiSOD,
that lo~ers their offsnsivec offsnsivec
ta
t sl sl v
play player er t~,j : o i , 1 1
ie
doomed.
them>"
tail
S(l
attack cked ed with with have atta
.hacki/ai_busterllarea.2_bad_angeII11501
fulI: party.
'1l'iking
m a s s i v e blow. blow.
.hackl! .hackl! a.l_bu a.l_buster sterll ll area. area. 2_bad_ 2_bad_ang angeII1 eII11S 1S11f 11f
.hack
II
"Loo "Loo
AI bust buster er
\~\~======--..
outi outi Hoku Hokuto to scre scream amed ed
nl fo
li se on
Bahnung irmuediately Hsed
iI
revi revive vepo poti tion on to resu resurr rrec ec hi patt pattne ner. r. Orca Orca then then drank. Shee~1l!I' ReveredWine, which full full rest restor ored ed hi heal health th an stam stamin ina. a. 'T ey'r ey'r
d,
co ld 't help help
tter tterin in
to
.s lf
"Huh?" "Orc "Orc inte inte ti ally ally allo allowe we hi se
ille ille to gl'l tllr
battle battle fresh: fresh: It wa
uniq unique ue stra strate tegy gy on Orca Orca an Balm Balmun un seem seemed ed :l~
myse myself lf coul coul neve neve use. use.
vici viciou ou co bina binati tion ons, s, test testin in diff differ eren en stra strate tegi gies es to se
ow
th drag dragon on woul woul resp respon ond. d.
nume numero rous us weap weapon on an skil skills ls from from al sixWa sixWave ve attr attrib ibut utes es
all
p1aycl'
It wa
ag ific ificen en
wasn't wasn't workin workin
hackllai_bOste rllarea. 2_bad_angeI1l15211
trat trateg eg
Bcrt Bcrt it
ret:;a ret:;a.2 .2 ad
Suddenly; The O n e S in in ' f l1 l1 c ke ke r n g body pulled nd it he
u pw p w a rd rd . h i g h
lift lift
it. kn
tilt
"This
{s
,ha
what
was right.
b: (II
coming"n~~t.
bad:'
't(
thea theatt ttac ac:k :k
that
i nf nf lili ct ct e d e n ou o u g h damage
s t r £ l i i : e II
kilI,ed
n ea ea r
wipe
volume. Then! thegig \1tic an.iron hammer
sound f o l 1 b w e d :
reineJnbrance.
deep, vibrato triJ triJli ling ng soun soun
th
inte intens nsif ifie ie
body slam slamme me
jJl
down downwa ward rd .. Likl
sparks ks shot shot anvil, spar
it in
nd grew
mass. benea beneath th ,its mass.
fight
' w a s none.
th
change
s ttrr at a t e gy gy . T h e y
stopped
stup stupid id?' ?'
Hoku Hokuto to
,l.Itacking.
he
"What
doing? A r
gasped. they stop stoppe pe m o m e n t they
aft'acking,
so di
the
Sile Silenc nc foll follow owed ed Al soun sounds ds ceas ceased ed
" 1 d on on t b e l e v it,"
Orca
next.
pqitiJ.US
nearly ly zero zero to near
Then Balmung emerged from th
"He survived!"
weakne ness ss So fa for: weak
to
creature,
mistake.
pounded do
swordsmen in The W o r l d , They continued
"This is hopeless. Why dlfll1't they tun?"
B1i1mUj1~
time,
drop droppe pe
I'ongest
witnessed
gr
watched
cleared.
1l m t l ut m y r n \l\l ~ 1l
numb number er of hitp hitpo1 o1nt nts. s.
c os os t
vent vent
method methodica ically; lly; seardy seardyi'n i'n
i'Th i'This isis is
wa
th
he One
Btl~these Btl~these thoughts dearly didntenter th mi ds of th tw
"Ala"
disapp disappea eare re
reated. Mayb I,·reated.
Mayb Mayb
Ange An ge
Wh
carn carnag age. e.
''They found
way to defeat it."
"What did they they do?" do?"
"But they stil stil have haven' n' caus cause' e' any d a m a g e . They ~an't
.haCkJ/ai_busterllarea.2~bad_angeI1/15411
one's
it
moving."
shouted.
win!"
Wh
Th refl reflec ecte te
creature
back back th same same level of aggression it receiv received. ed.
.hackl/ei_busterllarea.2_b~d_angel!l15611
only
.hack /I
te tb
\,--\,-::-======= id
t'
id
'.ic '.ich\V h\V ve a;ttllek
first,"
Are~. as
weak weakne ness ss
Obvi Obvi usly usly
wate wate
If th
coun counte tera ratt tt ck
th
Ilefeats Ilefeats wood"etc. wood"etc.
efea efeats ts fi e, ti ave' ave'
we knes knes
xplained. "What?"
;rmage, in
wODden
lg
lv
stilln lnes ess. s. in th stil inal inally ly
Orca Orca move moved, d, Brea Breaki ki
"Awe "Aweso some me:' :' .Hok .Hokut ut
whis whispe pere red. d. li
to reas reason on ·trh ·trhto toug ug
il nce, nce,
a:ul a:ul :che :che
situ situat atio ion. n.
myself
1'11 1'111ot 1ot sure sure th
th
watc watche he
asthe
to atta attack ck an coun counte tera ratt ttac ac
cont contin inue ue
,'here
an atta attack ck
the
Water
based spell
rche rche trat trat
th ir
nsla nslaug ught ht
eaut eautif if ll
he On
in
This This
ly
WaS
ib
IiII'
mouth.
same time,
,I,
sli€cd
wliat
111: 111:ln ln ge to
efea efea
tw thqndl'l, att;IL'k
used used agai agains ns
it
..hackllaLbusterllarea. hackllaLbuste rllarea. 2_bad_angeII116611
BIll
in
ig
,II, ,II,l1 l11c 1ce. e.They T hey must must have have been been fran franti tica call ll II
t h e y hada eomm eommun unic icat atjn jn
ncks
II .llowed
it
.hackllaLbusterllarea.2_bad .hackllaLbusterllarea.2_bad_angeIl/167 _angeIl/16711 11
thei thei
.hack
/I
Fina Finall lly, y, Balm Balmun un le ou degra,ce-·
Area Ar ea,2 ,2 ad An Angel gel
AI buste buster\ r\,\ ,\ sava savagecry gecry ashe deal dealt' t'rh rh from from is h a n d s
st akin akin fl meof ligh ligh
lt "The "The 'T
stly stly on," on,"
ar th creature kuto kuto
"Somet "Somethin hing's g's below below us. What is it what what is it?! it?! Hoku Hokuto to
ti' ;111
fi,,1
reamed.
1 1 , l d ee impr impris is ne in th ic Th "An angel? angel?
hisp hisp re in we
took took ow th le end, end,
Th seve seve colo colors rs of th pris pris th
th wing wings. s.
mutt mutter ered ed alou aloud. d.
"Ang "Angel el?" ?" Hoku Hokuto to said said
dded.
boun bound, d, th ange ange spre spre
drag dragon on spre spread ad th r o u g h I I I I mons monste ter' r'
noti notice ce
body body l1l, l1l,eh ehed ed an new'ligh
appeared.
its wing wing an
flew flew upwa upward rd heaven,
11'1]]11-
\'l: \'l:ha haps ps it ha just escaped h e l L Regardless, it wa clear clear that Balm Balm ng ha
)rca
onqu onqu re
in
Look!" !" Hoku Hokuto to shou shoute ted. d. "AI! Look was, at
"I don' don' know know:' :'
loss loss Th plac plac of never-en never-ending ding darkness darkness
"Al?"
vanq vanqui uish shed ed Fo th firs firs time ever, ever, dawn dawn arrive arrived. d.
,_I
hut
I I I .
orld orld on wall wall both both th dark darkne ness ss an th ic melt melted ed away away-i -inc nc11 111d 1din in th ic
st ndin ndin
onl Sudd Sudden enly ly we were were SUSp SUSp~I ~I}d }dl' l'
in
floa floati ting ng in th ethe ether. r.
.hllckllal_bu.sterllaraa.2_bad_angaI1l16811
WCIl
ve li this this
it tr
ea
land landsc sc pe if re
fr
th
th sn
WaS
nywh nywh re else in Th
World. "The "The map' map' back back!" !" Hoku Hokuto to soun sounde de Byusin Byusin th layo layout ut wa retu return rnin in
iry' iry'
b,
to norm normal al
reli reliev eved ed
ould ould tell tell that that th dung dung n'
.hack
bust buster er
\~\~=====::."'!
Area Ar ea.2 .2 rs
av
ad
ngel ng el
fr r if if t
back." "Yea "Yea
wastal wastalki king ng abou about. t. Al th othe othe feat feathe hers rs were were whit white, e, bu this this
ut we di n' clea clea it!' it!'
one
na e,Th
On Sin, Sin, im lies lies it's it's
or th sa
crim crimso so colo colo as er re s.
si gula gula even event.No t.No on el
ca ever ever repe repeat at this this adve advent ntur ure. e.
within within range. range. . . !'
".
' lo lo u ' . l
.We
o b t .o .o . in in e c : e ':': :! :! e .C .C '= '= , l
when it happened," Sudd Sudden enly ly th ange angel' l' beau beauti tifu fu feat feathe hers rs bega bega to flut flutt( t( S1m"
disa disa pear peared ed it left left "Ple "Pleas as find find th ad 't spok spoken en in so
wake wake
feat feat er
cxrension.
"Ple "Pleas as giveme giveme th eye.cyl," Lycoris Lycoris whispered. whispered.
ehin ehind. d.
rs
feat feathe her, r, Aibi Aibire reo, o, It wa Lyco Lycori ris. s. Sh ti e. It's It's
feat feathe her. r.
(0
finally
ders dersto tood od this this file file It wa
obvious. "Ple "Pleas as give give me th eye. eye.cy cyl; l; sh repe repeat ated ed
mean meanin ingl gles es back backgr grou ound nd imag images es just just like like th snow snow It wasl wasl~' ~' anyt anythi hing ng that that coul coul be targ target eted ed re yo
ure. ure.
"Yes "Yes Albi Albireo reo Find Find my feat feathe her: r:
wh give give th file file such such basi basi name names? s? "Wha "Wha
happ happen ened ed
l?
Hoku Hokuto to aske asked. d. igno ignore re he fo th mome moment nt Inst Instea ead, d, turn turned ed to Lyco Lycori ri nn usin usin th trad trad comm comman and, d, hand handed ed he th feat feathe her. r.
.hackl/si_busterllsres.2_bad_sngeI1l16011
.hsckllaLbusterllaree.2_bad_sngeI1l16111
·hack
bust bust
\~\~===~:;:::: sh
"Y
hank hank
Because th
ou Albi Albire reo, o,
'Was
Lyco Lycori ri smil smiled ed
road roadlY lY
±lagged
ly
'lViI'
coul coul
ta ge th fead fead1e 1e I'Jil1 siUr'l'
i nt nt e light light surrou surrounde nde Hokuto,
LlS,
At ea
lo this
wasn wasn't 't as surp.rise-d, out"
01
th l;l~
away..
.hack//ai_bllster//areEi.2_bad_angeI1l162,//
~\ra ~\rass ssyf yfie ield ld .h
star stared ed into into th sk
watc watchi hing ng th stars twinkle
list listen ened ed to th deli delica cate te whisperof th
in
twee twee th
w as a s s b la la de de s "H
do yo li do
like that?" that?" Hokuto Hokuto asked.
"The "The comm comman an is '/ii '/iie: e: It
1D
th
late latest st
ILpgrade.
(Sig (Sigma ma Serv Server er Zone Zone Murm Murmur urin ing, g, Nigh Night, t, Alchemy why, b u
Ly
.ha'ck 1/ AI b u s t e O r \ I _ _ _ _ _ ' \ ~ = = = = = = = = = = = F.\a1:ty,
Hokuto
Wets Wets Sl
question the telepo telepotta ttat;i: t;i:OJ1 OJ1
ly
" W h e n ar
th
ou gonn gonn
t.
Sh
activ activat ated ed
ic
goblln ln .. la nche nche nf gobl
cut.them tha,t?"
"Maybe
" W h y not?
ob
clown.
"Oh, relax.
"Not yet.!'
mobilizeda
swift
erie erie of
"Did "Didn' n'
AI?"
esur esurre re
Area.S Alchemv
much;" woul wouldn dn't 't
rr
:i
i,tLlpid!"
"Becallse:"
"I'm "I'm
He
arac arac er
bega begati ti sobb sobbin ing, g,
"Bec "Becau ause se why? why?
sympathy:
It It wasn't
working.
" W h y don't YOll watc watc "YO!! bring
the
1'011
wher wher
walk walki. i.ng ng inst instea ea
YOll'r
of
wasting thiv; :,l.ctivatin :,l.ctivatin emotions? emotions?
back."
is
in ic
le
li
H i t ! th
"Yes,
am;"
"O h,
ou'v ou'v
chan change ge
ou
ttit ttit de," de,"s" s"he he
mock mocked ed
to return
"YOLl
tu
my ~ 4 1 1 ,I ik
in
"Hey, what's this?"
.h acklla i_buste i_busterlla rllaraa raa
n r o v e r l fr el
th ug
th
rass rass
lmos lmos
" H e y l She opened
playfLllly, sh
OU,l
Lycori ris. s. over to Lyco
3_alche 3_alchemy myl/16 l/16611 611
.hackl/ai_bustar .hackl/ai_bustarllaFea llaFea
..3_alchemyIl1 3_alchemyIl16711 6711
.hack
uste uste
1/
\~\======::;:" ~h
rea. rea. si
Alch Alchemy emy
de
ar
in code?
ri
hrr name name Th
took
file
the palindr palindrome ome
is
f1h,
ry
in
pd r\al r\al un
"AI!
If it
Th
was it happ happen enin ing? g? What What did
io
PC is
to
nd
"Yeah:'
ht
ha
to be sear search chin in
will allow
fo it voic voice, e, hear hearin ing, g, an e. NPCs
es
are prep;n: prep;n:ed, ed, ws
wall, some someth thin in
ne
impo imposs ssib ible le). ). Most Most play player er will
po
s,
norm normal ally ly
ut
if
re
ti
as
nd
ould ouldn' n'
begi begi
an
ep
al
ug
Ot
se
he
ec
to fath fathom om qu se
dn
ke
en
.hackl/ai_busterllarea.3_alchemyIl16811
Se Bu
ng re
Lycoris' a lsls o
an
e.
"Alb "Albir ireo eo," ," Lvco Lvcori ri
said. said.
.heckl/aL .heckl/aLbust busterlla erllarea rea
.3_alchem .3_alchemyIl yIl1691 1691
·hack 1/ "Yi s,
bu te eons eons," pu
arou arounc nc
probably
an
ar ed
Ul
1 :1 :1 1 ''11 g
high higher er defe defens nsiv iv
as sh maki making ng reaJ~tillPl'
of
th
Area.3 Alchemy in
"Follow
decislons
\'___'\==========t::=
as
h e r ' eyes
with with play player ers? s? It didn't see
"Yeah. "Yeah. Someti Sometimes mes
th
wastelaJ.',d untt untt sill sill
"But
okut okut
ked, ked,
shown naked?"
ea
vshe
he
sh
th
W:l~
nake nake
as call callin in
me
dim starlight, she. appeared
task through?"
"Can esnt esnt ma er
t:ake ce rtott,f'!'''
"What
"Take it ou ar sexu sexual ally ly hara harass ssin in
B e fo fo r
me!" me!"
head headac ache he wa retumiI).g,
s pr pr in in g th explained,
.hsckl/aLbusterllarea.3_slchemy/117011
spri~:gi
ylill
t1~1'0\~
d o y o r ne n e an an ? count
it
"When
er smal smal an
ri~ail.
were.'
"N·11" it
acti acti ally ally
edge of th spri spring ng h e b ac "Yes?" Lycoris stood at th edge ac k
you?"
ge.t something
De
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('A what?"
tholJ,ght,
in
already?
sprmg,
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ii
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No
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" W h a t ) s this this
won't h a p p e n here.Try
l,
message,"
t h c h a s e d LyC.Ql'lSacro across ss th befo before re
on tlie time of day. you'll
depending
t hi hi n
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l"
stopped
anything?" g?" or free.? It < ; l O f r s n ' t cos anythin
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that that?" ?" Hoku Hokuto to crie cried. d. a.spring ng demon, demon, "It's a.spri
eplied"
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olde olde
xe "aske "aske th
prin prin di.im0n.
i'Or i'Or this this silv silver er axe? axe? '1 displa displa (Gold (Gold Silver Silver Axe or Neith Neither) er)
shou should ld only only have have occu occutr tred ed
when when eqtt eqttip ipme ment nt wa drop droppe pe referr rrin in demon wa refe
AX(l,
into into th spri spring ng This This time time th
to Lycoris.
troubled. "It is lever; is item item that that
on of th de on's on's ossi ossi le drop droppe pe
sp ns
'i wa alre alread ad to powe powerf rful ul
conti continu nued ed
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orld orld
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bare barely ly brea breath the. e. Ever Ever da
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ave to deal deal with with traf traffi fic, c, poll pollut utio ion. n.
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comp comput utet et syst system em?" ?"
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ti
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Area.4
emory.
.: The
shon shon weak weakly ly
tt
water contin continuou uously sly the lake's lake's water "Where !t's !t's th
rippled.
AI?; Hoku HokutQ tQ aske aske are we AI?; Hidd Hidden en
Sacred ed Zone Zone:" :" Forbidden, Sacr
rt island
chil chil Ch
I J . . (Delta) Server Zone: Hidden Hidden Forbid Forbidden den Sacred
wa
ui t. Ther Ther
WaS
only
ur
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inco incomp mple lete te
t hi hi s
footsteps,
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st
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me to uc st ng pI
s;
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oe this this late late se
th
st ng to you? you?
on th
st
lake. It diehl',
th
it ui
th illu illusi sion on of th uc
if
the TWilight
ll
te me
ould ould
ar th
also also noti notice ce ou thre thre
shadow shadowsstre sstretch tchedout edout beforeme. beforeme. Lycori Lycoriscon scontin tinued ued by my side. side.
that that with withou ou Lyco Lycori ri tele telepo port rtin in
mounta mountains ins impass impassab able le water water or thick thick vegeta vegetatio tion-s n-some omethi thing ng
willingly
that that look look like like part part of th orga organi ni envi enviro ronm nmen ent,Eve t,Eve here here tl crea creato tors rs coul coul have have desi design gned ed th brid bridge ge to appe appear ar to cros cros to the other other side, side, while while having having som obstac obstacle le preven prevenrin ringus gus
he ston ston ligh ligh of th
hu
un It
us Ye sh foll follow owed ed alon alon quit quit
ominou ou silh silhou ouet ette ted. d. agai agains ns th felt omin at
lo my tmos tmosph pher er
B'Oll}
movi moving ng al th wayove wayove th brid bridge ge Inst Instea ead, d, it wa shea sheare re off. off. noti notice ce
it
whic whic ha noth nothin in to do with with th
soun soun of he appr approa oadl dlin in foot footst step eps. s.
am :'
mory mory nd rogr rogr mmin mmin
okut okut
into into an sect sectio ion. n. Usua Usuall lly, y, th maps maps have have natu natura ra bord border erss-
Look Lookin in down down myse myself lf
th
reli religi gionof onof th realworl realworld. d. "Wai "Wai up All"
World, d, each each phys physic ical al areahas areahas to have have bord border er as In Th Worl th e' only only so
to that that idio idio
walk walked ed towa toward rd th chur church ch
side side
"I supp suppos os that that's 's wher wher th area area ends ends." ." "B
ad held held tr
mean mean it wa morn mornin ing. g. On th othe othe hand hand this this plac plac wa take take
at th brid bridge ge It's It's usel useles ess. s.
to th
st id of th buil buildi di
th desi desi ne
from from th E p i t a p h onne onne
mory mo ry
rher rher wa on due. due. In th real real worl world, d, most most chur church cheshav eshav thei thei nt nc
Hoku Hokuto to aske asked. d. "W
re .4
ther there' e' no map? map?
ou char charac acte ters rs shad shadow ow on
th grot grotmd md Th perp perpet etua ua su 10this 10this area area mean mean it was, was,ne neal al dusk dusk or dawn dawn It wa hard hard to tell tell with withou ou an chan change ge.Ho .Howe weve ver, r,
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noti notice ce
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world!'
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ar
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to r kind o f s to
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ly
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ay
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01
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like like that that t hi hi n
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ic
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sinc sinc th comp comput uter er thou though gh Wash Washin ingt gton on ha been been dest destro roye yed. d.
She laughe laughed. d.
etwo etwork rk ha n' re tart tarted ed when when it id th
If th rumo rumo star starte ted, d,
emor emor
continued.
havebeen destroyed destroyed in
world world would would
nucl nuclea ea holo holoca caus ust. t. An do yo know know
wh th perp perpet etra rato to of this this evilvi evilviru ru turn turned ed ou
to be?"
ten-ye ten-year-o ar-old ld kid." kid."
"Emm "Emm Wiel Wielan an ha pass passed ed away away by then:'
(f
"'Oh:'
"Tha "That' t' righ right. t. Figu Figure re he live live in Lo Ange Angele les.Not s.Nothi hing ng
gathered ed everyt everythin hin "1 gather
good good everco everco es fr lear learne ned, d, Emma Emma disa disapp ppea eard rd:l :l
p. rs al
veL}
late latest st sh wa
on byDecem byDecembe be 24th 24th
that that city city:' :' er
005. 005. Do ou no
th sign signif ific ican ance ce of that that date date?" ?"
victims."
"That "That's 's when when some someth thin in dest destro roye ye th Inte Intern rnet et righ right? t?
"Wha "Wha happ happen ened ed?" ?"
"Rig "Right ht Th
"I lost lost my earl earl fini finish shed ed di sert sertat atio io
P l i 1 t O Kiss
virus. virus. For sevent seventy-s y-seve evenminu nminutes tes
arou around nd th glob globe, e, all comm commerc ercia ia acti activi viti ties es that that reli relied ed on th Inte Intern rnet et ceas ceased ed It wa
ug ?low ?low to th worl worl 's econ econ my
that that
ha spen spen
mont months hs work workin in on." on." Di n' yo keep keep
backup>"
Gove Govenm nmle lent nts, s, finan financi cial al inst instit itut utio ions ns tran transp spor orta tati tion on syst syst:e :ems ms busi busine ness sses es-ev -ever eryt ythi hing ng stop stoppe pe work workin ing. g. Data Data wa corru corrupt pted ed and released,t released,trains rains collided,airplane collided,airplane crashed,it crashed,it wasapocalypti wasapocalypti Eventhe Eventhe Pentag Pentagon' on'scomp scompute uters, rs, whichwerethoug whichwerethought ht to mainta maintain in perf perfec ec secu securi rity ty,fell ,fell vict victim im When When they they went went offl offlin ine, e, it caus caused ed
Hoku Hokuto to laug laughe hed. d. Sh clear clearly ly enjo enjoye ye heati heating ng abou abou nusery. "Any "Anyho how, w, prio prio to P l u t o an worm worm
people le suff suffer ered ed viru viruse se Kiss, peop
time Toda Toda that that's 's unim unimag agin inab able le beca becaus us ll th time
the milita military' ry'sautom sautomati ati retalia retaliatio tio systemto systemto begin begin countd countdown own
.hackllai_busterllarea.4_memoryIl18811
.hackl/ai_busterllarea.4_mamoryI118911
Area Ar ea.4 .4 \Vho \Vho
"It sounds awful:" that's 's wh ther there,are e,aren' n' anycopiesof "AIl}'way, that t h e T w i l igig b t .
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ri in ho
if th Engl Englis is
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"App "Appar aren ent' t'ly ly Emma Emma's 's site site wa se from s a v i r i g , FFintlng,
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is
ve
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only o t l i e t } V t ? i y
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le nc
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when
wa onli online ne al the
right?"
why b01ihe1!~ b01ihe1!~ti; ti;
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th
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to
that. E sp sp e ci ci al al l
ro .ess .ess Inev Inevit it bly, bly,
preven ent: t: p e Q P ] e lp to prev
woul woul have have.b .bee ee to tran transc scri ribe be ever ever word word of it by hand. hand.'! '!
mention
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th
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does doesn' n' even even make make sens sensei ei
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some someon on
base base on th
A n d tf
by Er un W i e a n
or
s.ev s.ev
emor emor
"Y h, th t' true true
translated it?"
"Who "Who know knows? s? om ne
nlin nline. e. Or mayb mayb
grou groupo poif if
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re .4 ra i fact, fact, Kenji Kenji Miyaza Miyazawa wa's 's N igi g h T ra
emor emor
underw rwen en t h e S t a r s unde
thre thre
revi revisi sion ons; s; th fina fina draf draf is hard hardly ly reco recogi gi1i 1iza zabl bl comp compar ared ed to th firs firs draf draft. t.
It's
kind of li
up ra ed pr gr m:
"R lly?Th lly?Th re ar th ning nings, s, Bu just just
ca se tw
ve sion sion of N i g h t T r a inin ? ,
ords ords soun soun th same same in on
lang langua uage ge does doesn' n' mean mean they they will in anot anothe her. r.
didn didn't 't gaiN gaiN.wi .wide de reco recogn gnit itio io
subtleties that s i : W , :l: l p l y can't
ll th di fe en
unti unti1a 1aft fter er
is death,
think
dr ts have have been publis'hed at on time time
01
another:'
'btlt ch ng
hew
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it inte intere rest stin in
or th ne
"That's
sO
love love hi stor storie ies: s:
mi~1ht
life. He
readable!" t. Laur Laur ng ht,"
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only thirty-seven, 01'.E'
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01
th orig origin in
writ writ r.
ords ords
re er deli deli at
di fe nt
I<€ep
dito dito
pu lish lish
if rent rent ve si ns of is story"
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it?" it?"
in mi d. "I ne er thou though gh
as inco incomp mple lete te
ou this this be ore! ore!
dito dito
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ea
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th Inte Intern rn t!
th y've y've
emor emor
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yo said said it
as in ting ting:' :'
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Epitaph
Lake Lake.'Tha .'That' t'
Lord
"Navel?"
it wa tran transl slat ated ed
ha
woul woul sell sell very very well well if it were were rele releas ased ed Even Even J.
wher wher we at now. now.
devo devote te
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ot
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imagination
will live live on." on." h e cent center er of th
'We W e r e now
church.
Albi eo," eo," Ly oris oris wa standing behind mt:;.. "Please, Albi
"Hey,
yc spok spok
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ok to
••
noti notice ced? d?
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what?"
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.-, L.
surprised:
gets swit switch ched ed in
church
Talk Mode."
you r e m e m b e r now?';
asked.
Lycoris Wa
stunned.
Perhaps, she rememb remembere ere
this this ..
"Albireorf"
it do that that?" ?" "It's not permitted
to hide
nyth nythin in
be or
•••
od:' od:' :1
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