Ugh....my head.....
He lies there, face buried in the grass, now burnt black around him. His shirt and jeans is singed with heat, reduced to mere rags that hang off of his body. He's aware of a stinging sensation crawling over his entire being, tears pricking his eyes.
Everything hurts...what happened?
He picks up the sounds of explosions, of shouts, but they're muffled,as if he's under water. He slowly raises his head, gasping as his scratched and burnt skin aches in protest. Through blurry eyes he sees something hovering in the distance, above him, located on the roof.
Is that.....a flag....?
Oh yeah.....I remember what happened now....we were ambushed....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[A couple of minutes before:]
[New Mission: Capture the Flag!
The last two servers will clash to determine who shall reign victorious! Collect your flag and set it down in place marked on the map! Whoever places it down first wins!
Reward: ????
Failure: DELETION]
"Deletion....!?"
A shudder of fear travels down everyone's spines, rooting them in place.
["Those are the rules! I'm sure you all will give it your best! Now then,
Go on and entertain me, you filthy maggots."]
The screen vanishes, replaced with another that hovers high in the sky.
[15:00]
[14:59]
[14:58]
"I-is that-?"
"A timer." HAV0C answers Catnip's fears. "We have 15 minutes to find the flag and the location to put it down."
15 minutes!?
"Let's not forget the fact another server is looking for this flag as well, and are probably heading over here to kill us all." Everyone turns to glare at Taro, who's tending to his bow. He looks at them in confusion. "What? I'm just saying the truth."
"You're just being depressing-"
"Enough." Meghan quickly takes control of the situation, her mind surprisingly clear, her thoughts uncluttered.
"Everyone, state your abilities. We need to know what we're capable of."
How is she so calm about this....?
Frozen is the first to speak up. "My ability allows me to control and manipulate ice to form structures." A cloud of cold air ebbs from his mouth as he speaks. He doesn't seem scared at all, his voice icy.
Frozen, too!?
"I have the power to analyse situations." Second continues to have a calm smile on his face, even as the timer audibly ticks above them.
Even Second.....
HAV0C looks between the three of them in confusion.
It's like they're not bothered at all....do they know something we don't?
"I don't have my ability yet." Taro fiddles with his bow as he speaks. "It'll probably come soon. Maybe."
.......Why am I not surprised-?
The casual, calm demeanor of the four eases the rising nerves of the group, and one by one they begin to note off their abilities, doing their best to ignore the ticking of the timer.
"Light and Darkness."
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
"Loreminder."
...Isn't that her username-?
"Thread."
"Construct."
HAV0C can feel his skin slowly beginning to crawl, the area suddenly feeling extremely hot. Sweat rolls down his temples as he clenches his fists. His heart beats roughly in his ears.
It's going to be my turn soon. What should I say? That I don't have an ability?
Taro said it with no shame whatsoever....then again, it is Taro. The guy says whatever he wants.
I don't want to be the odd one out. What if they don't approve? What if they think I'm a let-down, all bark and no bite?
"....Thundergod."
"And my ability is Willpower." Meghan looks around at the group, satisfied with the answers. Until her eyes land on HAV0C. Oh, almost forgot about him.
"HAV0C? What's your ability?"
And with that, all eyes are now on him. He nervously laughs as he breaks out into a sweat, heart pounding against his ribs. Meghan raises an eyebrow.
"Well?"
"Um..."
Eclipse and Catnip glance at him in concern, worry and confusion painted all over their faces. Why is he so hesitant to answer?
"I-I-"
"HAV0C, hurry up and answer the question. We don't have the time to just stall around." Meghan frowns at him, picking up the boy's obvious hesitation.
He fumbles on his words, mumbles it before stopping halfway. Just answer the question, you idiot. You're making it longer the more you stall!
Second attempts to step in. "I don't think he wants to say it, Meghan-"
"I don't have one." HAV0C lets out a breath, raising his head. "I don't have an ability."
"......You make it sound as if you're not going to gain one. Ever."
He flinches. "I-I probably will get one soon! I just need to level up-"
I just need to KILL someone.
".............."
Is it odd.....that Catnip and Eclipse have already killed......and I haven't?
"So you're like me then? Why are you so hesitant to say it? We can be the No-Power Buddies!"
"That is exactly why I didn't want to say it-"
"He has some pretty useful skills, though!" Catnip attempts to defend HAV0C's case.
"Oh, he does?"
"It's true." Eclipse steps up as well. "His skill has helped us survive on multiple occasions."
Multiple occasions-?
"I-it was only once-"
"What are they?" Meghan is now curious.
HAV0C stiffens. "Um, Detect Bloodlust and Survivor."
Pffft, remove the Blood bit and you have-no, stop it, brain-
Meghan hums.
"Detect Bloodlust?" That does sound incredibly useful....
"It's kind of like a Spideysense. I can detect the murderous intent of any individual in a certain area."
"Oh, so he's a human danger detector. If he spots a threat he'll scream to warn us."
".........." HAV0C is now planning a murder.
"......No, Taro." Kichi gives HAV0C an apologetic smile. "Sorry about him."
"HAV0C, do you mind using it now?" Meghan is now thoroughly invested in this skill. An actual danger detector....he'll definitely be useful in the long run.
"Oh, sure." He closes his eyes and focuses. Mentally steeling himself for the pins and needles, the rush of adrenaline that will soon course through his veins. He doesn't even say it out loud, knowing it'll activate even if the phrase is said in the recess of his mind.
[HAV0C uses Skill!]
He opens his eyes, every nerve in his body firing off in all directions.
[Detect Bloodlust!]
He almost buckles from an immense surge of pressure he's suddenly subjected to, legs trembling to keep him from slumping to the floor.
Above-
He looks up into the sky, just in time to catch someone up in the air above them. With a grin they swing their hand downward, multiple orbs of flame soaring down towards the group.
They found us already!?
"IT'S AN AMBUSH-!"
The orbs slam into the ground and the floor explodes beneath him. And everything fades to black.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Present time:]
He lies there amidst the chaos, ears ringing, body aching. Then he grits his teeth and slowly pushes himself up, ignoring the searing protest in his muscles.
We were attacked. The other server has found us before we could find them.
Are we all still alive? Or did any of us...
As he gets up he remains unaware of someone rushing towards him, a bloodied bar held high over their head.
Die?
A blur slams into his attacker just as he turns around, sending them skidding back, clutching their ribs. Second straightens up and gives HAV0C a warm smile.
"HAV0C! Glad to have you back with us!"
"....Second, what-?"
Did he just save me?
"Thanks for warning us in time, that attack came out of nowhere!" As he talks he dodges bat swings with an unnerving air of calm and ease.
"H-how long was I out for-?"
"Mmmm, around 3 minutes?"
"3 minutes!?" That means.....
[11:59]
[11:58]
We have 12 minutes left!
His eyes trail back up to the flag, high up in the air and separated by a ceiling of glass.
And I know exactly where the flag is!
"Second, the flag-"
"I know." He ducks underneath a swing and counters with an uppercut, sending them staggering back. "I'm pretty sure everyone has noticed the flag."
Oh okay, make me look dumb, then-
"Then how come no one has tried to take it-?"
He's cut off by a terrible snapping sound. The attacker stares at him with faded eyes, Second's arms around his neck in a choke hold. He tosses the still-warm body aside, before fully focusing on HAV0C, his smile never shaking, never wavering. Eyes glowing a cold cyan.
"S-second-"
What the hell was that? How did he....?
"HAV0C, look around you. Do you think anyone has the time to care about the flag right now?"
Everywhere he looks, all he sees is mayhem and carnage. Frozen dodging orbs of flame. Eclipse running, firing beams of light at a dark blur in hot pursuit, launching themselves into the air and slamming into the floor behind her, a shock-wave knocking her off of her feet. Catnip and his summon facing off against another summoner. Meghan holding off a giant of a man, eyes and hands glowing purple with Andro behind her. The bloodlust in the room threatens to snuff him out, his windpipe closing in on itself.
"As of right now...all everyone is trying to do is to kill their opponent, no matter what. All the frustration, the anger, the fear...they're letting it all out on their enemies." He ties his hair back to prevent it from falling into his eyes.
"This isn't Capture the Flag anymore."
"This is a Deathmatch."