Chapter 81

this is a fictional story by realTensai

“Whoever makes the first kill gains instant freedom.”

These words echoed in Alvis’ ears, yet he just shook his head as if he could cast them away. However, they had already reached his brain, which did its best to process them. But somehow, even his brain couldn’t believe the information he just got, as if it was malfunctioning. Yet the words kept repeating in his mind, hammering their reality in his head until he had no choice but to accept it. A crippling heat shot through Alvis’ body, making him seize every movement.

It’s over.

This announcement was the last straw. It was the last thing that was needed to break the balance they tried their utmost to hold on to. There was nothing left that could hold back the agitated students any longer. There was no hope anymore, and the killing was inevitable.

“This new rule is just like a quest,” the priest said, his cheery voice making Alvis’ inwards twist. “However, it isn’t time-limited and will stay until someone completes it. The objective is to kill someone, the reward is freedom. You can open your system and look it up.”

Almost subconsciously, Alvis did what the priest said.

Welcome, player! A new quest is available.

QUEST INTRODUCTION: FIRST BLOOD

Quest Giver: Elric Zweistein, the Priest of Knowledge.

Location: Within the barrier.

Dialogue: “The game is too boring, so will you help me make it more entertaining? I’ve got a special reward for you if you do.”

Objective:

* Kill another person.

Quest Log:

* Quest Title: “First Blood”

* Objective: Kill another person.

* Reward: Instant freedom.

Alvis gulped, seeing it with his own eyes, making it more and more real.

“And just in case you forgot, if someone in a team completes the quest, everyone in the team gets the reward. I hope you understand what I mean.”

“This twisted piece of shit!” Lia shouted as soon as he heard these words. “He is also trying to encourage teaming.”

Alvis could only bite his tongue in frustration. With this new quest, the students would also be forming teams which they only didn’t do up until now because Mr. Woltzer prohibited it. But they certainly wouldn’t care anymore. Even without this quest, they would’ve wanted to form teams and now they got the final push.

Yet a team was just a disguised trap by the priest. If one had all his dearest friends in their team, one wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice others. As long as one could survive with the people dearest to them, it didn’t matter. This was the essence of a team that the Priest tried to hide behind favorable perks.

“So how long will it take until someone is brave enough to take up my offer? I’m looking forward to it,” the Priest said, ending his broadcast.

The excitement in his voice was enough to make Alvis almost lose his mind. However, he controlled his burning mana and just punched the wall with the back of his fist.

“How can such an evil, perverted person even exist?” Lia asked, her eyebrows pinched and her fingers scratching the table.

The first kill can’t be stopped anymore. And once one person dies, hell will break out.

Alvis couldn’t even take a deep breath as he realized the gravity of a murder within the school by a student to another student. After that, it would be impossible to trust one another and it would be the most natural reaction for everyone to unlock their survival modes. It would be a survival of the fittest scenario.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Is there really nothing we can do to stop this catastrophe?” he muttered under gritted teeth.

Do I really have to take part in this killing festival to complete this level?

Alvis clenched his fists so hard blood started dripping from his palm. He would find it a thousand times better if a level of his system would only make him suffer, similar to the trial of insanity. However, a level in which everyone, even his friends, had to suffer just as much as him was a million times worse.

Is this why you made it this way? Because you want to break me this much?

He could imagine how the Devil was laughing at him right now, which made him almost crash out. However, as soon as he lifted his gaze to Lia and saw how she trembled on her chair, holding her head as the desperation crept into her eyes, he knew he had to calm down.

It’s way worse for her.

Not only was she an empath and the student council president who cared for everyone from the depths of her heart, she also couldn’t respawn. Every death from here on was finale for her. Every life that would be lost couldn’t be regained anymore. Her beloved fellow students could die at any moment and she couldn’t do anything. She had no next try.

Alvis couldn’t even imagine how bad the situation was for her.

A loud slap could be heard in the student council room as Alvis slapped himself.

It’s too early to give up. Instead of despairing, I should try my best to find ways to solve everything.

“Al?”

“Raise your head, Lia. We can’t give up yet.”

Her emerald eyes widened in surprise, and Alvis could see how determination replaced the doubt in them. Her tense face loosened and she, too, slapped her face. After a deep breath in and out, she was ready.

“You are right. We can’t give up yet.”

Alvis could only smile at seeing Lia regain her usual optimism.

“----Hello everyone, here is Mr. Woltzer.”

It had only been a few minutes since the Priest’s shocking announcement, yet Mr. Woltzer already reacted with an announcement of his own.

But what does he want to say? Can he save this situation?

“I guess you already know what I’m going to talk to you about. It’s the new rule the Devil Cult has announced.”

It was just like Alvis had thought.

“We’ve been trapped here for a week now. Our living conditions aren’t great and everyone wants to go home. I get that. I get that more than anyone else because I too want to go home. I too want to go home and see my family, my beautiful wife, and my adorable daughter. I truly understand this feeling. However, killing another person for that is unthinkable!” He suddenly raised his voice, his raw emotions even overwhelming Alvis. “This is something I could never do. No, this is something no one of us could ever do. Killing someone not even to save one’s life but just because one is tired of living in the school for one week. I can’t even imagine that someone is even thinking about taking up this foolish offer.”

Mr. Woltzer’s passionate words had Alvis’ heart in a deadlock and he could imagine that everyone else felt the same. Whenever it felt like all hope was lost, Mr. Woltzer could breathe life in everyone.

“He is incredible,” Lia said, her lips moving on her own.

“Let’s imagine what would happen if someone would be foolish enough to trust the Priest and do as he said. If he wasn’t lying to us, one would get out of the school. But what after that? The people on the other side would ask how one was able to get out while everyone else was still stuck in this cruel survival game. What would you answer? Would you lie to them? Or would you tell them that you mercilessly killed a comrade just so you could get out? If you do that, you would be an outcast for the rest of your life and deemed dead by society. And if you really think you could lie to them, then you are even more stupid. I personally will tell the world the truth after the WRO saves us. And I will make sure you get your just punishment.”

He presents our liberation by the WRO as a fact.

Alvis didn’t know if he did it on purpose or not, yet it was a powerful move either way. It showed that he didn’t doubt that the WRO would save them, making everyone believe it was true. And if it was true, one had no reason to kill another person for one’s escape.

“I can only repeat myself. We have to trust the WRO. I know it might feel long, but it only has been one week since we’ve been trapped here. It was just one week. We have to be patient and believe. We will soon be free.”

With that, he ended his announcement.

A soft smile appeared on Alvis’ face. Mr Woltzer had listed off so many convincing points that Alvis was sure that the first kill wouldn’t happen soon.

But only under one condition.

That the WRO would save them soon.

This was the only hope they had, still stronger than their fear of being trapped here forever. However, as soon as the student lost this hope, their fear of being trapped here forever would take over. And being trapped in the school forever would equal death because they would run out of food and starve. So they would do everything to get out. The situation would develop into a kill-or-be-killed situation.

This can’t happen no matter what.

However, Alvis couldn’t shake off the feeling that the WRO wasn’t even capable of saving them. Even though they had the best mages at hand, they still hadn’t freed them. And because Alvis already went up against the Devil Cult, he knew it probably was because of Elric Zweistein’s curse. He didn’t know what his curse was, but a curse defied the rules of nature, so it was the only thing strong enough to hold off the WRO.

That means we can’t put all of our trust into the WRO.

The only way to de-escalate this situation was if they could break this barrier. So if the WRO couldn’t do it, he had to do it himself.

I have to find a way to save everyone!

And he had to do it fast, because the longer he waited, the more likely it was for someone to start the killing.