Avalon AKA Gate to Avalon (Avalon)

The near future.

Some young people deal with their disillusionment...

by seeking out illusions of their own...

in an illegal virtual-reality war game.

Its simulated thrills and deaths are compulsive and addictive.

Some players, working in teams called "parties"...

even earn their living from the game.

The game has its dangers.

Sometimes it can leave a player brain-dead...

needing constant medical care.

Such victims are called "Unreturned."

The game is named after the legendary island...

where the souls of departed heroes come to rest...

Avalon.

You're not ready for Class A.

Work a little more on B and C.

Well done, Ash.

Still as good as ever.

Charge me for one clip of 7.62mm...

and two clips of PPK.

Two or three more "completes" and you go to the next level.

You'll have a time handicap.

You know that, don't you?

I'll take the rest of my points in cash.

Solo gets more dangerous the further you go.

Are you sure you don't want to join another party?

Good game, Ash.

Great tactics!

Just like Ash!

He's faster.

And surer.

Move!

Ash......

The circuits aren't clear yet.

Even you have to wait your turn.

I'll cancel, then.

Do me a favor.

I can't accept requests from individual players.

It wouldn't be fair.

You know that.

I want data on that "Bishop" who just cleared Class A.

You can at least tell me more than the terminal did.

Why are you interested?

He's challenging me.

But you never make contact with another player.

Isn't that your philosophy?

Avalon

Faraway isle of legend

Of apple groves

And mist

Avalon

When will that day come?

Avalon

Isle of faery

Where heroes go

Avalon

A hero takes ship

And sets sail

To that isle of legend

Avalon

To the Nine Sisters

And Avalon

There together

On that holy isle

O Arthur

Your ship sets sail

Over the misty water to Avalon

It's you......

You're looking well.

I hear all kinds of things.

Maybe because I was in Wizard.

It's a real drag, you know......

I go to different branches, I hear things...

sometimes things I wish I hadn't.

Maybe it's karma.

I hear that there's a solo Warrior who's really good...

and that it's a woman, too.

I started wondering, and what do you know!

Did you search?

For what?

For my branch.

Just dumb luck.

But if we ever teamed up again...

it'd be like fate was giving us a second chance.

I wish I was a Warrior. Then I could play solo.

But who ever heard of...

a solo Thief?

We scout, we spring traps......

We're like river pilots...

or guides.

Any party would be happy to have you, Stunner.

It's been a while since anyone called me that.

All of us old Wizard members are still angry at each other.

All the other players...

resent us, too.

People said Wizard was the toughest party of all.

But instead of that making my career...

it's a handicap.

Wizard was...

I don't want to hear.

I guess not.

That was then.

I don't have time to rehash the old days.

Ash......

I don't need thanks.

That's not it.

What about Murphy?

Maybe you haven't heard......

Look, if you don't want this......

He went solo, too.

He got lost.

You must have heard about it......

A hidden character in Class A?

A weird "neutral character" who appears when you're in there.

A silent young girl with sad eyes.

Some people say she's just a bug in the program.

She's called "the ghost."

Whatever she is...

no one who goes after her ever comes back.

So you'd think no one would go after her, wouldn't you.

Even if you don't care about sharing data...

I'm sure at least you've heard the stories...

about a phantom field called "Special A"...

where you can't reset to escape.

A dangerous field, but you get tons of experience points.

They say the ghost is the only gate into that field.

So they go after her.

Anyone who wants to get into Special A...

chases the ghost.

Just like Murphy did.

Stunner!

Go around to the right and draw them off!

Copper! Cuisinart! Masher! Concentrate your fire!

Murphy! We're running low on ammo! Let's pull back!

Stunner, you idiot!

Stop bitching!

"Reset" is not part of the Wizard strategy!

Ash!

Here Arthur lies, King once and King to be.

My ID data?!

Come on......

Come on come on come on!

Come on!

Class A's busy today.

Watch for time-lags.

Have you heard of "the Nine Sisters"?

Morgan Le Fay?

Yes.

One of the nine fairy queens who rule Avalon...

the legendary Isle.

They lay the dying King Arthur...

on a black ship and take him over the water to Avalon.

The fairy Morgan Le Fay......

The Queen North Galys......

The Queen of the Waste Lands...

and...

his protectress, the Lady of the Lake.

There's a story like that in northern Europe.

Odin goes on a journey.

His ship is wrecked and he drifts to an island far across the water......

There Morgan rescues him...

gives him a gold ring...

and grants him immortality and eternal youth.

But Odin doesn't realize...

that Morgan has set a crown upon his head.

"The Crown of Oblivion"......

He forgets all about his homeland...

and all about the world outside.

Begin.

Hold it! Don't shoot!

I'm Jill, of "The Nine Sisters."

It's a pleasure to meet the famous "Ash."

Welcome, Ash.

Thanks for accessing.

What do you want?

I don't expect data for free.

You don't waste time.

Maybe we'll take your gear, then.

Lots of people would pay cash for your equipment data.

Selling that data's against the rules.

There are lots of ways to make a living in Avalon.

Tell me about "Special A."

You mean it?

All I know is what I've heard.

Only the real Nine Sisters would know.

If not them......

Who are the real "Nine Sisters"?

They're the ones who programmed this game...

Murphy!

Those bastards!

A time-lag!

Sorry I messed up the room.

Don't worry.

Everyone has days like that.

From Scythia to Camelot C. Scott Littleton & Linda A. Malcor

The Legend of King Arthur Richard Cavendish

The Chronicles of King Arthur Andrea Hopkins

A Kaleidoscope of Arthurian Legend Toshiyuki Takamiya

Ash......

You look a bit pale.