The moon shone clearly outside the window as Ai placed her hand on her sister's stomach, trying to calm her down. Hua swirled around, seemingly fighting off something unseen. They were in a lonely small hut in the middle of the city of Anilex, situated in a poor district beneath a road. The only visible thing was the moon at a certain hour. Ai's mother rushed into the room with a worried expression, holding Hua dearly as they all tried to get through the night.
Strange scars adorned Hua's body, and Ai's family never revealed their origin. Her mother's lover was overseas, leaving only Ai, her sister, and her mother to navigate their challenging circumstances. One night, Ai woke up to find her sister missing. Three years passed.
"Can you wait?" he asked. Ai and Noah both widened their eyes. "I love you too. Always have, but - I think I can't handle this. Can you wait until this is over?"
Mirac bit his lip as he never spoke put those words. Instead he turned away. He balled his hands as he didnt say a word and clearly rejected her. Ai almost teared up as she looked up to Noah who was shocked for a moment as well. He sighed as he turned away as well, being a little flustered.
“I was just joking. There is no way I would focus on this in this type of situation. You know how I am,” she sighed, as she closed her eyes. Mirac slightly turned to her. He held her hand, while biting his lips. Ai widened her eyes in shock. She grasped her hand away, also turning the other situation. She bit her lip. “You don´t have to force it. I can wait. I just wanted to cherish the moment since… you never know who comes out alive or not. I´m weaker than you two,”
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Ai huffed as a spear hurtled in her direction. Reacting quickly, she dodged it, sensing the murderous intent that urged her to flee. Stumbling on the stairs, she hit her knee, almost straining her wrist. Coughing, she swiftly got back on her feet. Noah was nearing the building, intensifying the tension. Her heart raced as she sought refuge in the dark staircases. The flickering lights added to the suspense.
"So you were here," someone spoke. Ai jumped up, peering slightly from the corner. In the darkness on the stairs stood a figure. As the lights flickered up, their faces became visible. A girl with long white hair and red eyes.
A faint smile graced the girl's face as she descended the stairs. Ai huffed, not expecting to encounter this person—Hua. The resemblance to her sister was striking, with the only difference being their eye color. Ai managed a strained smile as she looked up at her older sister. Hua appeared like a shallow doll, wearing a faint smile that seemed permanent.
Approaching Ai, Hua slapped her across the face, causing her to stumble. Hua's eyes looked cold and empty as she stared down at Ai. After a few seconds, she bit her lip, trying to suppress her frustration and tears. Clicking her tongue, she grabbed Ai by the collar, forcing her to meet her gaze. Hua pushed her roughly against a wall.
The deadly games—something Ai had only heard stories about from her sisters. What kind of cruel game would leave people starving in the middle of the forest, with no escape until they found a means to do so? It seemed like a macabre form of entertainment. Ai grabbed Hua's wrist.
"Why don't you face them head-on and stop being such a coward? You almost got yourself killed today if it wasn't for my aura termination." Hua said.
"Fuck off!" Just by shouting back, Hua slapped her sister repeatedly across the face, preventing Ai from protesting. Ai finally managed to grab Hua's hands, begging her to stop.
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"Don't," Hua pleaded, shoving Ai's head into her jacket out of nowhere. She tried her best to cover her completely, but there were steps echoing above them. That's the direction Ai came from. Hua grabbed Ai and attempted to run with her down immediately. But out of nowhere, someone seized Hua by the collar. Ai stumbled on the stairs again, losing touch with her sister. Hua gasped as she was thrown against a wall, and Ai's head began to bleed.
All she could remember was blood dripping down the staircase. Hua's eyes looked dead and lifeless as her decapitated head rolled down next to her. Shallow laughter came from the shadow. Ai's heart stopped for a moment as her eyes widened with each passing second. Her hands trembled as she tried to grab Hua's head.
Ai's tears continued to roll down her cheeks as she gazed up the stairs, where a shadow in black clothes stood revealed, hiding their identity. Gritting her teeth, Ai tried to run towards the person, but the weapon they wielded severed Ai's head as well. At least, that's what she thought until someone pulled her away. A boy with platinum hair stood beside Ai, holding another person on his back. He grabbed Ai by the shoulder, pushing her out of the way until she hit her head against a wall, causing her to lose consciousness.
When Ai opened her eyes, she fought against the urge to sleep again and looked up at the newcomer on the scene. The girl on his back had long brown hair and emitted a strange smell, clearly not human. Ai tried to get up, mindful of her scraped knee.
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Ai awoke with the sunrise, finding Noah still asleep above her. Mirac was already up, inspecting his sword and keeping a watchful eye. Blushing as she recalled the events from a few hours ago, Ai clenched her fist.
Out of nowhere, a sword came crashing down next to Mirac, nearly causing him to jump in surprise. The trio, Ai, Noah, and Mirac, quickly gathered around the smoking weapon. To their relief, it wasn't a lance but a sword. Noah scanned their surroundings, eyes sharp for any potential intruders, while Ai readied her weapon. The smoking sword suggested a recent struggle among other halflings, likely flung up and down during a fierce confrontation. However, their safety was short-lived as arrows suddenly whizzed in their direction, narrowly missing the trio. The unexpected attack put them on high alert.
Mirac, Noah, and Ai swiftly responded to the arrow attack. Mirac, lacking his protective shield, expertly cut through the arrows, while Noah skillfully used his lance to deflect them. Ai, displaying ninja-like agility, managed to evade most of the arrows, although one grazed her back. Despite the successful defense, the trio couldn't shake off the sense of danger.
Noah's sharp instincts kicked in, and he warned the others to duck, suspecting an unseen threat. As they quickly left the campsite, Mirac glanced back and noticed two shadows engaged in a fierce battle, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. The familiar shadow sparked recognition in Mirac's mind, but there was no time to dwell on it.
As they sought refuge on a series of tree trunks, Noah inquired about their mission and plans. Mirac admitted he didn't have a concrete plan. Noah, utilizing a watch that operated beyond earthly conventions, provided insight into the time left until the next gate opened and the trial god's appearance. The forest's atmosphere had shifted, signaling a change in dynamics, with new players arriving from different dimensions or worlds each month.
The trio pondered the evolving challenges of the mysterious forest, aware that survival required adaptability and vigilance.
Ai and Mirac found a moment of respite as they leaned against a tree, the weight of recent events palpable. However, their brief exchange was interrupted by Noah, who chastised them for being "cringe" and urged them to focus on their surroundings. As Noah summoned his lance and teleported higher for a better vantage point, Ai observed the movement of halflings in the distance. There was an unusual level of chaos, with people in the forest becoming more active than usual.
Determined to take action, Ai requested to be brought down, announcing that she had another plan. Noah, somewhat confused, teleported her down and, sensing an unexpected twist, raised an eyebrow. Before Ai could elaborate, she was interrupted as Noah teleported himself with her, leaving Mirac alone.
Noah, still unsure about Ai's intentions, remarked, "Don't tell me you're planning to die, bitch." Ai, undeterred, playfully punched him on the cheek and retorted, "We are still in the game. I could find a way to poison you. Don't call me a bitch, you squirrel-looking shit." She shot a smile at Noah and then looked up at Mirac, who observed both of them with suspicion. Noah followed her gaze, exchanging a glance with Ai, curious about her next move.