Chapter 3
POV Percy,
Am I dead, what a pathetic way to go out? I never got to grow up, become the best explorer ever, see everything on the horizon, eat another meal with the team. I wish I was stronger, after all, I'm just a mere speck of dust in this universe, time is the only way to tell I was here but even time doesn't care about me. I never reached the top. I don't get that privilege. I hate this world, I hate being this.
Sand. I immediately knew what it was by touch. I had played with sand and rock many times in the mines. The fine-grained small rocks now in their tan color and small shape sprinkled my body. I opened my eyes to a beating sun, wait no there were now two suns, binary stars. Too confused to comprehend I look around me. My heart dropped, bodies everywhere, for a second I thought they were dead until I realized they were all asleep just like I was.
I looked to see a group of kids on the other end sitting around talking, they were students at the academy who couldn't get on the rumblers that were to take them to safety. I tried to look to see if any of my friends were awake.
“Hey, are you a student as well?” A boy who was a tad bit shorter than I asked.
“No, I came here with my parents.” I lied, I didn't want to cause issues and I knew that they look down on people like me.
“Well, we're stuck here. There is nothing, even the ship is gone. We seem to have just teleported and looked up. The sky is not the same as the sky on the Axis.” He said turning back towards his group.
I spent the next hours trying to find my friends as the island was huge and there were people everywhere on the floor. I spotted a silver luminance of hair. It had to be Luna. I rushed over to get into view and as expected she was there with everyone else.
“Hey, I'm back,” I said relieved that I had found my way back to them.
“PERCY”, Luna ran towards me and hugged me, a bit too tight as I was still sore from all the bumps I experienced back on the ship.
“I was so worried, I'm glad you're ok.” She said now holding onto me like a python.
We walked back to the beach to find that everyone had woken up in the small time we were together. I saw groups being formed and little ones crying in search of their parents.
I look around seeing groups eye each other. The atmosphere was growing thick, I could feel it seep in through my pores. I look up seeing the binary stars, they almost look like eyes looking down on us…
“Attention everyone, we are members of an elite academy! We from the academy of Elite will find a way to leave this island and call for help and get everyone to safety.” A guy with light blue hair said, but it sounded like he was trying to convince himself. The mood did improve with people helping the younger find their parents as well as treating the injuries sustained by the attack. I sat quietly on the beach thinking about all the possible scenarios. There was a reason we were here, the black figure wanted us here. Bodies were all alive thrown all over the island and no ship or wreckage. He wanted something from us.
“PERCY” Sara snapped at me. Startling me I snapped out of my thoughts.
“Yes sorry, I was just thinking.”
“Do you want anything to eat, the students are handing out food,” Sara asked worriedly.
I focused my attention on the students passing out the food that seemed harvested as they were a combination of cooked meat from the animals on the island and the wide variety of fruits that grew in abundance here.
“Yes.” I realized how hungry I was. I hadn't eaten before we boarded the ship and was quite hungry. I wolfed down the food given to me mindlessly.
“What are we going to do?” Luke asked dubious, as he played with the warm sand beneath our toes.
He was right we were in an unexplored area and no doubt that high-level explorers were dispatched to find us but seeing the sky it was more like we were in someone's domain or transported to a different planet.
A fight started and we faced to see what was going on.
“I've had it, you think you damn IOTB academy students are so good with your privilege ass.”
“We're stuck in the middle of nowhere looking at the sky, a monkey can tell we're not on-axis anymore.”
“Sit the hell down you insect, you elite academy students are beneath us, failures who couldn't get into Elysium or IOTB academy.”
“Do you want to die?”
Watching the two students while I saw both groups stand up to confront each other leaving the rest to walk away and watch from a distance. Foolish arguing at a time like this, they gain nothing at all.
“Die? And just who will kill me?” The boy's eyes and aurora were leaking out blood lust.
“Matter of fact there are probably a limited amount of spaces on the crafts the explorers are coming here with, how about we cut off some useless fodder and save us the time and space shall we.” I knew I should stop this but getting into the middle of this could be very bad for me and my friends.
“Stop both of you.” A girl with black hair was dark as night and red eyes stood between them. I enhanced my eyes to see her emblem. “She goes to royal high!”, Royal high, Elysium, Isle of the blessed, Coraxas, and Polaris. The top five power academies, each specializing in something different but had talented art users. They all were parallel in power and ability, but the royal, in particular, needed a recommendation from the royal families of Axis.
Ten kingdoms that lived in peace never once breaking out in war because all the leaders were family. Governed by the eleventh family who oversaw the ten great kingdoms and their families. Making Royal high the hardest to get into.
“I am representative, Alora from the ten great kingdoms pledged from King Fulvous.” She said with her commanding tone.
“He started it and should finish it, I despise all talk with no bite.” The kid shot back at her, not giving a second thought of her standings.
A stand-off built up as students from Royal, IOTB, and Elite stood up to back their classmates. A fight would be badass everyone possesses high abilities and would leave many with injuries but even worse someone dying.
“Petty.”
My heart dropped, the voice was so minacious I started to sweat. I knew everyone heard it. The looks plastered on faces showed fear.
“Humans, you are all quite funny.”
Trying to locate the speaker my head glanced at every viewable area. My heart raced faster than light, my breathing became irregular as if I forgot how to do something so simple.
“Hello” I saw him. The voice came into view, as black as the night, and as ominous as the gates of hell, he stood before us.
“I would like to introduce myself, I am Indrus, the Infinite being of will. I would like to play a game with you all.”
There was something wrong, I couldn't place it but the way he carried himself, it seemed as if I had already died, the lights behind my eyes wanted to shut off. In his presence, I was an insect no I was gravel. Death didn't place my ending, it was more a gift, it was a privilege to be in his view.
He let out a quiet shutter, “The game will have 24 winners, the rest will die or go back home. There are 3 rules to this game we will play; you can not step foot into the ocean, there is no teaming, and you must kill everyone on this island until 25 remains.”
My life; I saw it flash, the day I found Luna, using arts for the first time. All of it, death was inevitable but what I feared more is seeing my friend's cold body falling into the seafloor, tossed aside as a mere stepping stone. I couldn't let that happen.
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“How d-d-do-do we get home?” A girl who seemed 6 asked tears in her eyes as she looked down.
“Ah yes, If anyone chooses to leave they can but on a rule. You see it won't be fair that all of you would leave. I can't have that so this is what we have decided. For everyone you love that leaves a connection must stay here for you to live, meaning that if you have a group of friends everyone but one must go and the last shall stay, If you lie to me and everyone you love on the island goes with you or you have the intent to trick me, you will be cursed to kill each other and then yourself. Quiet the big risk if you think I'm bluffing.” He let out with a benevolent tone.
“The time to decide who will stay and who will go starts now you have 30 minutes after the time is up a gun will appear and you will shoot who you want and they will send them home.”
“NO.” I won't have this, a girl my age yelled at him, “Who do you think you are to decide something like that monster. I will kill you-.”
At that moment her head detached from her body as if it were never supposed to be there. Her body crashed down, and like paint, to a canvas, her blood-colored the beach. He looked around challenging anyone to try it again. No one moved, no one dared to speak.
“Good, I will see you all in a half an hour's time.” He opened a rift and vanished like a shadow that meets light, gone without a trace.
I saw a couple of people rush to the dead body crying. Blood now stained their hands as they hugged her lifeless and headless body. The sand peppering the stains of blood on their skin and clothing. It was an eerie feeling, death in an instant with no time to think…
Silence feels among everyone as they look at each other knowing the one thought in each other's mind. Leaving you behind.
“I-i-i’ll stay, Luna said through, her hair seemed translucent as the wind carried it like cobwebs.
“No, I'll stay.” Pax, Adonis, and I said at the same time looking at each other.
“I'm the oldest. I have to take responsibility and I'm the strongest and quickest as of now so I have the best shots of living.” Pax said, trying to convince himself.
“Best shot at living eh, you can't outrun that thing. He is a predator and you will be its prey.” Adonis was shaking and gripping his knees as he choked the words out.
We were never going to find a decision so I knew what I had to do...for them death is a small price to pay...I love them and my actions will show, this life will not be a long one but I had fun with them. I want these last 30 minutes to be able to see their smiles and hear their laughs. They will echo In my head forever and ever in the afterlife if there is one. If I am reborn in this world I hope to see them, just once more, I deserve that much.
30 minutes swept by with everyone on edge and in silence. I looked at my friends once more and smiled. I'm going to tell her how I feel, Luna she means the Axis to me. The sky fell dark and he appeared.
“Hello, it is time to say goodbye. Now one at a time you will be given a golden gun to decide who goes home. Would anyone care to go first?” I hated him, looking down on us lower than insects. I stood helplessly while the question hung in the air ready to break this silence.
“I-I-I would like to go.” A boy my age stepped forward with his group. A gun appeared in front of them. He took hold of it and shot himself, and a bright golden arc blasted him into the horizon.
“HE LIED.” The group behind them yelled, “He was supposed to stay while we went.” The gun laid at their feet, they ran towards it fighting and fighting. In moments they died… all of them from their greed. And unscathed laid them golden gone, greed from the gold had driven them crazy, quite amusing as I recalled the story of King Midas….
“Next team of insects who would like to go?” Indrus amused as he looked at the pile of bodies that were once friends laid.
“I would like to go.” Everyone looked at me, even my friends. “Interesting very well then. I reached for the gun, it was lighter than expected. “Percy shoots himself and I'll shoot the girls and Adonis,” Pax said with no fear behind his eyes.
“Pax, Adonis, Sara, Sapphire I do love you and I hope we meet each other, forgive me…”
I sent all 4 home in an instant shooting them so they can be safe. “PERCY you can't do this I won't let you.” I turned towards Luna, she was crying.
“Luna I love you, I do but the timing was off.” My voice died. I pointed the gun at her...tears flooded my eyes,” Luna till we meet again, if not this life the next will meet I promise.”
“PERCY NO!”
A silent whistle shot in the air, it was done. I dropped the gun, the weight seemed to have multiplied in my hands. I looked down tears falling to the sand. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry please forgive me, I swear I’ll find my way back home.” I choked out. I laid in the sand hearing other cries and screams, more fighting and death. The thousands that laid on the island now down to hundreds as their loved ones sent back home, praying for their return.
“Now the game shall begin, you must kill each other until there are only 25 left. Good luck.” He disappeared as fast as he had appeared. I looked around and saw people slowly conjuring art abilities with vast amounts of light admitting all around the beach.
“I'm sorry everyone but I'm going to take one of the 25 spots…” I whispered.
Yelling erupted and the island was thrown into chaos. I ran into the jungle to hide it out,” Swift wind” my speed doubled as I rushed into the jungle. I could see fires all around me burning the once luscious greenery of the island. I leaped out into a clearing, “I should be safe for a while….”
I looked up to see another person tower over me.
“Forgive me but I'm going to kill you. Light beam.” He let out.
“Apollo flash.” I blinded him trying to close the distance, “ Blood oath…” A stream of blood from my fingertips let out into a blade, this ability allowed me to control their body when injected into their bloodstream. I aimed for his legs until he shot up 20 feet into the air.
“Agusto of the wind. That was a close one. I underestimated you.”
“Yes and as I, I'm going to have to try now.” Damn this kid was good but with my next move, it's checkmate. “PACIFIST RULER.” I hurdled up to him now well above him with my blood oath and pacifist ruler crippling him. I ran through his body.
With a hard thump, his body hit the floor of the jungle and laid there. I went over and sliced his head, there can be and will be room for error. I rummaged through his belongings to find anything, a few rations, and low d tier gear. “Great nothing of great value.”
Nightfall fell upon the island as the once loud fighting became hushed under the moon. The occasional cry for help and screams echoed the night. I set up camp in a nearby cave covering it up with vines and bushes using my abilities. I ate quickly and prepared to travel into the night. I needed to end this quickly and that means killing more at a faster pace. In this place there are 2 kinds of people, the prey and the hunter, to be a prey is to be a bottom feeder, an insignificant speck of dust in this great universe, a waste of carbon space and air. They don't deserve it, and I will do anything within my power to be the hunter among hunters. This is the mindset I knew after everything, being picked on and looked down I hated that look, I wanted nothing more than to gouge out their eyes, they don't deserve to look at me.
I hated this side of me, this dark perception of the world, I knew people would find me weird, but killing this easy at my age was nothing to me. I needed power and I needed my friends' safety. That's all that matters and I would go through hell and back for it.
There, my eyes flickered, movement. I ran dashed towards the high ground to get a better view. The moonlight laid dim light on the jungle canopies, and the sliver of light was able to find its way towards the vast jungle grounds.
In one fell swoop, I gashed his throat, a violet color as the blood touched the moon's light. I quickly looked through the belongings and realized that this kid went to IOTB academy. “Holy hell this kid has an A-tier gear. I put on the gear around my wrist and set the body on fire. I scurried off in the cover of night.
The two binary stars peaked over the horizon casting light over the island. There had to be less than one hundred now, it was too quiet. I enhanced my eyes to look around further, I found nothing after hours of moving from place to place. “Damn how are we supposed to know when only 25 people are left.” It was annoying but I was also scared that at this point all the people will be highly skilled in the arts so it would be dangerous to have a large-scale fight.
“Morning humans, there are 32 people remaining and 7 people that need to die…” The voice rang through my ear, subconscious communication was extremely dangerous as that abilities higher tier can be used to control minds and as well read them.
I remember his casting and demanding figure as he killed countless and gave orders that insisted on death and pain. I would never forgive him if he laid a hand on my friends.
“I should hide with only 7 people that need to die. I need to rest for the final fight. I wonder why 25 people though..” I tried to find an answer as to his goal here, any powerful person on his scale would never go out of his way and attack a cruise ship with the major academy attending on a whim. Searching my mind for an answer I heard a loud explosion. Near the middle of the island, smoke drew the attention of all the remaining candidates. I could see some movement from the treetops to gather information.
The best case here would be a large fight that would involve multiple people so that it would be easier to pick off. I stayed back knowing others would go look for me and playing it safe right now was the right move, no point in playing aggressive here.
I watched undercover changing my location every few minutes viewing the smoke. Flashes of light strikes spewed out. It had been almost an hour and there was still fighting. I was tempted to move forward and see what was happening but it could also be a trap.
My curiosity betrayed me. I ran towards the fight to see exactly what was going on. 11 people were fighting each other trying to catch each other off guard. But there were multiple bodies on the floor. I couldn't tell how many were completely scattered not knowing if it was one dead body or two. I carefully watched the elements and aroused chants and attacks from the 11 fighters.
They begin to stray away from each having the now free for all turn into a one vs one. I followed the weakest pair knowing if I could catch them off guard I would be able to erase space and get home faster. They battled and traded blows for a while, waiting for them to get tired out completely. I watched their once keen and press movement turn sluggish and short cut.
“Hells blow.” A tornado seared every tree in radius forcing me to move back. A final attempt from one of them to end the fight, knowing a prolonged battle only hurts both sides more. I dashed towards them, ending their lives would be the best, “Necrons blade.” With a quick flash, I commanded my sword to control the shadows around them. The shadows grew longer and spikes enveloping both of their bodies.
I looked back seeing fights breaking out all over the place. “Die.”
I looked back and I jumped back trying to create distance. It was the girl, the representative from Royal high in the beginning. “Trying to come out from behind me, not very ladylike,” I smirked trying to buy time.
“Did you not just kill 2 people doing the same.”
“O you saw that they were both injured, I helped them by putting them out of their pain.”
She closed in at lightning speed. Only inches away from my head her blade cut my neck barely missing a vital spot. I dashed back holding my neck. Now the subtle pain became unbearable.
“My sword deals damage over time, slowing my opponent's movements.” She said without taking her eyes off me.
I was losing energy and blood fast. I tried to think, I could use a Pacifist ruler to deal the damage back but I have to admit killing a girl is somewhat unsettling to my tastes.
“Stop.” This voice and feel across my body, I knew it in an instant this was Indrus. He came down as he drew closer the plants around him died and his presence thickened like fog.
“Congratulations all of you pass with there being 25 remaining.” He said pleasantly. “Now if you would follow me let me take you to ascension.” We teleported into a large caravan. Gemstones lined the walls and natural light that refracts off the ceiling gems showered soft warm light. He stood abruptly at what was a large golden gate.
“This is a gate to a realm that ascends this place you call Axis. In this, you will gain unfathomable power.” He showed no emotions looking at the gate.
“There is no catch? We walk in there and get power?” A boy who was covered in blood asked, gripping his sword. I realized that we were all on edge of each other.
“There is one thing if the gate does not take you it will send you back home or kill you depending on your worthiness.” He shot back.
We sat there for what seemed like an eternity watching the gate, “I-i-I'll go first.” I turned around and saw the girl from royal high. She walked towards the gate and stood still.
“So I just go in.” The gates swing open.
It was beautiful.
The endless sky behind the gates, the clouds, and its warm light shined as the light leaked in. Every fiber in my body wanted to run in and absorb everything that realm had to offer.
“Ok, I'll go in.” I wanted to strike her down as she said those words, mine it needed to be mine and mines only to experience. She stepped on the stairs and she was about to enter but a golden shot erupted underneath her and she shot away into the ceiling of the chasm.
“Where is she going???” I turned around demanding an answer.
“She was not accepted but sent home instead.” Indrus hissed at me.
“My turn.” A boy ran towards us and passed me climbing the stairs. “This is mine.” he stepped into and jumped into the gate. My heart dropped. I wanted to kill him, I wanted it for myself.
Moments later he shot out, his skin had gone away and he screamed in agony. “NOOO, it hurts. I'm sorry I'm sorry.” He rolled on the floor screaming for someone to kill him.
“Quiet unpleasant.” Indrus walked towards him and separated his head from his body. “Now be quiet you were unworthy to live this long.” Indrus crushed his head and whipped the blood off.
“Now who would like to be next.”
End of chapter 3