Chapter 12

Through the night they took turn standing watch. The Japanese teammates slept comfortable in their corner as Emile didn’t trust them to partake in standing watch. The next morning Luca woke up to a flashing thirst bar and his hunger bar was pretty low. Since they had to share their food from the store, it had run out much quicker than they initially thought it would. They walked down to the river, and Luca had a refreshing slurp. He realized that is first time he had ever tasted fresh water, and took another deep drink. The group walked along the river in a scattered formation. They did not have access to firearms yet and Luca knew it they would be at major disadvantage should they cross paths with anyone right now.

A shoar had wondered down to the water to drink and Luca held up his arm for the group to stop. Slowly he bent down into a crouching position and started stalking the giant boar-like creature. His friends quickly saw his plan and followed while the Japanese trio stayed behind. The shoar was suddenly distracted by movement on the opposite side of the bushes and Luca sprang into action. He leaped forward and ran to jump on top of the shoars back. The shoar heard him and let out an deafening screech as it turn to run away. But Luca had stalked close enough and only had to close a small distance. He landed on top of the shoar, and stab his dagger into its back and held on while the shoar was bucking like a rodeo horse. He took his other hand and grabbed a tuft of its fur and stabbed again this time hitting the spinal cord. He saw text appear and the shoar vanished into a black cloud.

Critical hit!

Congratulations! You killed one shoar and gained 200 exp.

Total spendable exp: 800 exp.

Loot: 3 x Shoar meat

2 x Shoar hide

2 x Shoar tusk

Huh, thats much less than a player would have given, he thought to himself. He picked up the loot and opened his interface. New options had appeared under the crafting tab and he opened it.

Shoar hide top = 5 x Shoar hide

Shoar hide bottom = 3 x Shoar hide

Shoar hide gloves and boots = 1 x Shoar hide each

Shoar hide headgear = 2 x Shoar hide and 2 x Shoar tusks

He informed his teammates of the update and suggested they go back to village they passed a few miles ago.

“We have spent a lot of time walking away from it Luca, if we go back now, there is an even higher chance of coming across other teams. I suggest we push on to the next village further away from the crowd.” Turner suggested.

“That is correct Turner, good plan.” Luca agreed. “Lets push on then, according to the map it seems like Nijad is the closest.”

They turned their direction eastward and followed the forest, staying under cover. They practiced military signals with Isabel and it had come in very handy so far and Luca sent a silent thank you to her. He had been thinking about her a lot and wanted to believe what the dean had yelled out was misheard. But he couldn’t shake it from his mind.

The forest opened up into plains and their cover had run out.

“From here on its a few miles to the village, stay low and a slow jog. If we see something everybody falls flat until we can determine the threat level, clear?” He looked at the group who had chosen him as their leader. He had no way to communicate with the Japanese team effectively but so far they had understand most of what they did, so he hoped they will just follow suite when they see the rest of them react.

The under geared party jogged across the open plains, keeping their eyes open on the horizon around them. Luca’s heart was sitting in his throat as every movement he thought shots will be fired at any moment. They rested for a few seconds in the open. Allowing their stamina bars to replenish and then pressed on.

In the distance, smoke could be seen rising from the horizon.

“Must be the village,” Ana commented.

Moving through the plains, a small village propped up, revealing small houses surrounding a large building in the middle. A patch of trees were on the north side of the village and Turner suggested they hide in there while scoping out the village. They proceeded towards the trees.

“So, who’s going to be first?” A green player was walking in the middle of the village square with a long gun slung over his shoulder. Luca moved to the right to try and see who he was talking to. In front of the house sat three orange players with their hands tied behind their heads. “Or… you?” He pointed his rifle at another player. The orange player flinched and lost his balance, falling over. The green player kicked him in his stomach and they could hear him groan with pain, which turn into a coughing fit. Luca spotted 4 other players guarding the prisoners. “Seems like no one wants to fight, we’ll just have to kill you all then.” He raised his gun the head of the next player. But another green player came walking in pushing three yellow players. With a gasp, Ana looked around her and saw the Japanese players didn’t follow them into the forest.

“Luca!” She whispered harshly, “The yellow players are gone!”

He looked back at where they were being pushed into the square and forced unto their knees with the others.

“What do we have here Georgy?” He asked jokingly. “Who is our unlucky contestors?”

He could see the male Japanese player whisper something to one of the girls. The green player hit him across the face with his gun and started tying them up. “Shut up! Or speak English!”

“Let’s move on guys, we can’t go up against rifles.” Emile said a rushed voice. “They were of no use anyways.”

“They are going to die Emile!” Ana retorted. “Did you not hear the announcement? Death in here is permanent!”

“Yeah for us as well Ana, we can’t save them. We gave them a chance but they blew it. We can’t risk our lives for theirs.”

A shot rang out across the plains into forest and they all jumped.

“Shit!” An orange played laid slumped face down in the dirt, and slowly turned into black smoke.

“They’re going to kill them Luca!” Luca could tell she started crying even though in this world it didn’t show.

Think Luca, think dammit! What would your father do? He opened his interface and saw he could purchase one Glock pistol for 600 exp. He quickly bought it and it dropped from the sky, just like in the interacademy competition. “Turner here, take this. Go around the village and create as big of a distraction as possible. You have 16 bullets make them count.” He turned to the rest of them. “Emile.”

Emile interjected. “No. I am not helping some strangers and risking my life for them. If it was any of you, sure. But strangers. Hell now.”

“Time is running out Emile, if you don’t do this you are no longer part of the team!” Luca raised his voice but quickly lowered it again in fear of being heard. “Carlos, you and Emile come with me, Ana stay out of range, we need you to heal us if anyone goes down. Okay?” They nodded. Emile reluctantly gave his nod as well.

“Good. Turner go!”

Gun shots rang out as soon as Turner left the forest, the green players had spotted him and were opening fire. “Now, to the village, closest building, move!”

He launched from the forest line, hearing Carlos and Emile crash through the tree line with him as they darted to the house. The firing stopped for a second as they reloaded and Turner, who had found cover, took his chance and fired back. He hit one of the green players in the chest and he fell to the ground, dropping his weapon. Luca took the chance and started running towards the dropped gun. He didn’t have plans further but he needed his team to go by instinct now and prove their worth.

The other green players were still distracted by Turner and started giving chase. They hadn’t seen the rest sneak into the village. Luca drew his knife as he came closer to the downed green player as he hadn’t disappeared yet which could only mean one thing. He’s not dead. When got within reach of the firearm, the green players eyes shot open and he saw Luca. His eyes widened in fear as Luca lifted his knife and stabbed him in the forehead. He grabbed the long gun and ran back to the house where the others were.

Congratulations! You killed a player and gained 600 exp.

Total spendable exp: 800 exp.

When he came around the corner he came face to face with Emile who had his knife raised ready to plunge it into his chest.

“Whoa! Emile! It’s me!” He lowered his knife and looked at the gun in Luca’s hand.

“The prisoners had started escaping!” Carlos yelled from the other corner of the house. “They’re untying each other!”

“Ana, Carlos, go help the Japanese players! Emile, you help the yellow players, I’ll go and provide backup for Turner.

Before seeing if they were actually going to follow out his commands he swung the rifle over his shoulder and spun around, running towards where Turners pistol could be heard firing. Leaving the village on the eastern side he saw Turner hiding behind a boulder, shooting only one shot at a time. Good, he’s being smart! As the eldest of the group by over 7 years Luca could really count on him to have more knowledge.

He brought his rifle to his shoulder and fired at the nearest green player, hitting him in the back and dropping him. A small hill was in front of him and he ran and dove behind it. He could hear bullets hitting the ground on the other side, and then Turners pistol firing again. The firing stopped and he peeked over the hill and saw the green players had stopped firing and were charging Turner.

“Turner! They’re out! Shoot them!”

He looked over the boulder and saw them, he dropped two of the players who turned into black smoke before hitting the ground. The final two jumped over the boulder and one tackled Turner into the grass and the rolled over. Luca saw a blade flashing in the sun, “Turner watch out!” He raised his rifle again and shot the final standing one. He looked where Turner and his attacker vanished behind the rock and saw black smoke had appeared. “No! Turner!” Running towards the boulder, he saw a figure stand up and he raised his gun. “Drop your weapon, now!” Luca heard his voice turn shaky. The figure turned around. It wasn’t Turner. Luca fired a single shot hitting him in the chest and he disappeared into black smoke.

Luca gathered the guns from the ground, 3 long guns and a the pistol which he bought for Turner. He focused on the flashing button in the corner of his screen and it opened a text message.

Congratulations you have killed 4 players and gained 2400 exp.

Total spendable exp: 3000 exp.

When he returned to the village he saw the three Japanese players and one of the yellow prisoners standing with Ana, Carlos and Emile.

Ana ran towards him, “Where’s Turner?” Luca ignored her and handed her the pistol and long guns. “Luca, I am talking to you, where is Turner?!” He continued to walk past her and she screamed at him. “Luca, Where is Turner?!”

“He’s dead Ana! They killed him!” Luca looked at Emile who stared at him with a shocked expression.

“You mean, dead, dead?”

“Yes, Emile, he’s dead, dead.” They all stared at him for a second and then Emile charged Luca.

“This is your fault!” He tackled Luca into the dirt and started punching him where ever he felt an opening. Luca blocked his face, and started yelling.

“I’m sorry Emile!”

“Stop!” Ana started screaming in the background and Luca could hear she is crying. “Just stop already!”

Luca gained the upper hand and pushed Emile off balance, giving him time to get on top of him and he started punching Emile’s face. Ana came running and Luca could feel her tugging at his shirt but he pushed her off and continued beating Emile.

“Yameru!” The Japanese man and Carlos stepped in and dragged Luca off. “Tariru!”

Emile laid on the ground, groaning in pain while holding his face.

“That’s enough Luca,” Carlos said by Luca’s ear. Luca shook them off and looked around him. The two Japanese girls and the yellow prisoner were staring wide-eyed at what was unfolding in front of them. Ana was looking at him, he could see fear in her eyes and her bottom lip was quivering.

“I’m…. I’m sorry Ana,” He said and turned around and walked into the forest.