“So who’s next?”
At those bold provocative words not a single word was spoken it was dead silent around the cage not a single words was spoken in fact everyone seemed to have forgotten to breath then suddenly all together a thundering roar of loud cheering as well as the cries anguish or whatever it could have been as it was too hard to tell resounded in the air all coming from everyone all at once not just from the audience at the top.
Then all at once all manner of sounds returned in an overwhelming floodtide a mesh mass carnage of noises as the spectators on top cried out in a frenzy thrill, while those at the ground level snarled with angry and screamed for vengeance if it were not for the fence all around the arena they would have all rushed at E101.
“Alright, BANG! BANG! (Gun Shots) Alright~! BANG! Settle down you damn animals simmer down before I pop ya’ll a new one so simmer down now you shits! You get back to your hole!”
The man with the handgun then pointed his gun at E-101 however when he did so he froze, E-101 despite staring straight down the though instead of fear E-101 gave such a cold void expression the man felt a fear. Not the kind of fear of simply scared of something this primal fear rooted in all living beings built into them. The man didn’t even have any words to describe what he was feeling at that very moment he couldn’t even speak let alone move. He was tempted to pull the trigger at that very instant if his body would listen to him, but E-101 already moved away with his Podao gripped in hand ignoring the man and the rest of the raging crowd all around him. The noise resounding in the air whether the vengeful cries in the cages around him or the raving screams of ecstasy up above didn’t register to his senses, his ears were dull to the noise as if there were never there as he keep walking. In his eyes there was the one only direction that he had his eyes on and didn’t pay any attention to the rest of the rabble around him.
E-101 casually walked back towards those that he cared for most those of Building-E his kinsmen. He was not welcomed with cheers and laughs of joy at his return as he approached the entrance way of his Building’s Cage, instead he was meet with silence even by the ones who opened the rusted worn bar cage door for him. The hinges on the sides squeaked and cracked hinting at a need for oiling as E-6096 and E0723 forced it opened. They opened the door way together in a motion that they themselves didn’t know what they were truly doing. They moved together like a mirror of two opposites not missing a single beast of their steps and movement and then without form they unknowingly performed a salute once he walked past them.
The others did so too as they opened a path performing the same salute banging their fists to their chest with a loud thump against their ribcage with such force one would think they also broke it. They parted before E101 as he walked unhindered between two waves of bodies at his side, like the mythos of moses parting the ocean during his great journey not that they would ever know or hear about it in their lifetime. He walked a couple more feet in to the till he came up to the person he had his eyes on the whole time.
E57 was there by his side despite his petite profile that allows him to hide easily but it’s also because of his features that makes him stand out like a bright light in a
He nodded slightly at E57 acknowledging his presence who returned the gesture before E-101 turned his gaze by to the bright little light in front of him, his darken blooded face dull of all emotion and cold as ice sudden brighten as a hint of a simile creep on its surface.
“Trust me.” He simply said behind him the fence gate closed shut behind him all the while he never broke eye contact with E-107 as the noise and sound boomed around their cage but it didn’t seem to register to his senses. Not just E-101 the entire company of number from Building E
“Yes….yes.” E-107 said as he simply didn’t have any other words to say, he didn’t even know what to say other that just that words.
Bang~! Another gunshot echoed in the air this time more stretched out due to the noise echoing off the closed space of the dome. Silence came about the arena even as the gunshot died out, no one made a sound it was so quiet not one could even hear the sound of a needle hitting the ground or the sound of one’s own heart beat. Everyone looked towards the source of the noise in unison whether from below or above, E-107 looked up seeing that man seeing his face caused his stomach to turn it felt hot but.
“Alright now that the preliminaries are out of the way let begin the main event shall we?” the man said out loud before he once again raised his gun in the air again and pulled back on the trigger.
Bang~!
At the sound of that bang it must have been some kind of signal for some other person somewhere as the floor in the center of the arena began to shifted. It started from the center a black hole was opening up consuming the space, in reality the floor was just opening up though it seemed more dramatic through the eyes of the numbers. The bodies of the fallen was sucked into that hole falling down as the hole widened consuming more of the space and something could be seen rising from below. The scenery of the area stage has now changed into something that resembles a steep rocky mountain hill, one that they usually found themselves in the outside world. It even came with a few actual trees, bushes and the hill seemed to made of rocks at the top of the hill there was something there, E-107 and many others saw that as well somehow that object stood out of everything there never minding the bodies of the dead that now decorated the areas around the mountain. Or the lovely display imitating an actual scenery from the outside world something that they so rarely get to see only in the briefs of moments of peace, since they were more focused on surviving rather than sightseeing.
This moment however wasn’t one of them.
“Now we are going to play a new game you see. It’s also my personal favorite it’s called Capture the Flag! See that pole with the cloth on top that is called a flag not that you dumb apes would even understand.” The man ridiculed the children bellow before continuing on with his rant.
“The rules are simple if you animals can even comprehend what rules even are……who ever reaches the top of that hill and captures that flag and holds that flag wins simple yes~.” He said with a smirk on his face sweeping his gazes upon the numbers below him, in his eyes he wasn’t looking at fellow humans to him those “things” down bellow were not different than the small pebbles on the dirt soil outside of the building just looking at them simply disgusted him.
“Alright get your toys and put your back into it those who win will get a nice treat as an award that sounds nice yeah~.” He smirked there was no reward why would there be.
Within the cages several racks filled with worn, weapons popped out from the ground every cage started rattling with metal being sling out of the racks, some fights even broke out over those fighting over a single weapon that they try to claim for themselves. There were even sounds of fist being throwing around even cries of pain as metal meet flesh; all cages expected Building E once again who in a clam manner took a weapon or two from the racks and waited in a semi-formation that they took up unknowingly.
Still the same as when they first entered the area today all huddled together in a manner of being shoulder to shoulder in military terms as a phalanx formation. All just to conceal a single soul from all the horrors of the world outside with their measly wall of weak flesh this was unnoticed by E107 as he was hurried into the center of the formation by E57. This all happened faster than what E107 could process and despite his protests, as he originally want to be at the front which of course fell on deaf ears unaware of the mass’s intentions nor could he have ever even imagined it to be that reason.
Once they were in position they waited standing tall, shoulder to shoulder they waited feeling not only just the heat radiating of the one next to them but also the slight tinge of building feeling in their chest but they were more than familiar with the sensation. Their weapon held tight in their now sweaty palms as they awaited the signal.
“Alright you little shits ready~, begin~!” Bang! At the very first sound of that gunshot all hell was let loose at that very moment. Roars and cheers resound, mixing and mashing into an inaudible noise, as down below rumbles of unorganized footsteps caused the whole area to tremble like earthquake as bodies sprang from all cages whose doors then opened together in unison.
Like a chaotic opening scene like those on many race tracks like race cars, horse etc. Swarms of bodies rushed through the opened cage doors, the rapid stomping feets upon the floor caused the whole arena to vibrate heavily resulting in that of a mini earthquake within the closed space. All sides expect for one, the numbers of Building E moved together in near perfect unison matching in rhythm, step by step, breath by breath like one single body they march onward.
From the front where E101 shouted out something that E107 who was in the center of the formation couldn’t hear drowned out by the floodtide of noise around him but it seemed to have been received by everyone else, unknown to him as he wasn’t able to see beyond the formation because of the stunt that E101 most if not all of the other cages instead of heading toward the objective rushed towards those of Building E instead. Like a raging tide of blood hungry predators the numbers from the other cages rushed towards the numbers of Building E, another came from the side as they tightened up bracing themselves against the incoming wave.
It quickly dissolved further into even more of the already chaotic mess once all sides meet the first row of the formation of Building E clashed with the massive sea of bodies crashing onto them like water on rock the first row with E101 at the front. The moment the front lines meet his Podao was free in a blur of ruthless precision, slashing across the throats of the front rows of those who came in front of him. Its dull edge still cut even though it hasn’t been maintained properly still sang with a dull rusted metallic chime from cutting the air so swiftly. There he went on swinging his Podao two handed in wide arcs the rest of the numbers of Building – E beside him swung their weapons wildly as well cutting down any who came before them, they too were unmoved.
Surprisingly E107 saw all that from behind the multiple layers of meat surrounding him, separating him from the outside E57 was by his side lifting a heavy sledge hammer one hand while the other held a firm grip on E107’s hand. E107 saw how unified in their actions was a whole, this was a first for him he has never seen this before they never fought so…..close…..was that the correct word he couldn’t say he couldn’t explain the scene to himself properly.
It was a hard fight blood sprays and severed limps flew into the air with each swing of a weapon though the numbers of Building E were outnumbered ten to one they held their ground. They at this moment were unbreakable as stone against a savage rushing tide unmoved, unyielding as they fought back against the raging horde with equal savagery.
For each blow that they received they returned back twofold at the oncoming tide, each side lashing out against their opposing side with untold fury and hatred. Blood rained down from both side, though they may be of different Number of different Buildings the blood spilled on either was still that of a crimson copper red. The fighting started to intensify further at the front beyond than even what was originally already chaotic enough before at the start. Yet still the front lines of the phalanx the numbers of Building – E held firm E101 leading the way cutting down body after body with each swing creating a gap for which the other can follow, as the formation began to push back against the oncoming tide step by step they moved forward.
The numbers of Building – E as of this moment was nothing like how they were in the past, right now they were unstoppable, unbreakable to everything that the other numbers of the opposing buildings threw at them they weathered it through. This also didn’t escape the sight of the many eyes watching them from above. The ecstatic audience high above the raging battle below bellowed out crying out their praises and excitement with their blood lustful screams that rippled through the air, cheering on at the sight. Crying their out hearts out to the bloody carnage, as if it wasn’t some horrid abominable scene of youths slaughtering each other in cold blood, but out of reverence as if this was some form of a holy ritual.
Their distorted cries seemed more like ritualistic chanting than a baseless mixture of sounds echoing off in the air of the closed space that they were in. Seemingly increasing in volume as the numbers of Building - E fought on but, even that can only last for so long as even rock will begin to cave and break within the passage of time against a raging tidal wave. Slowly but surely one by one, the numbers of Building-E at the front of the phalanx formation began to fall under the various rusted blade and blunt weapons swinging towards them. Whenever one of theirs was struck down in the front the one behind them will take his place closing the gaps that would have lead to the front collapsing. However doing so more and more bodies were moving away from the center of the formation as the number rushed to close the gaps exposing E107 to what was going on around him seeing more clearly the chaos around him.
It was a lot more chaotic than what he had originally assumed there was just fighting at the front there was fighting everywhere, from the left, the right even from the back. They were surrounded, they couldn’t stay here any longer they had to get out of here.
“Move up! We’ve got to get out of here get to the mountain!” E107 found himself barking out despite not knowing whether his voice could be heard or not in this raging sea of screaming voices.
“Move up~! Move up to the mountain!” E57’s thundering voice roared out beside E107 as he pushed toward the front pulling E107 beside him, not long after soon others took up the cry as it traveled along their ranks till it reached to the front where E101 was at.
“Move~! Push forward on me to the mountain!” He cried out hearing the echoing cry coming from behind he lashed out his Podao furiously swinging back left and right, the other numbers of Building – E followed after him through the gap he made pushing through the tide in front of them.
E107 and E57 soon found themselves not far behind E101 as he cut his way through the oncoming tide his body riddled in deep cuts most visible on his thighs and arms, blood was seeping through the opened holes in his flesh. Other positioned themselves around E107 as they fought through the current many fell consumed by the tide rushing over them their screams muffled in the waves. Such numbers such as E4576 to the left of them swinging two dull rusted machetes in each hand, blood overlapping his features much of it not even his own. Each time with a one-two swipe of his blades a enemy fell however just as he was felling another to his twin blades he had failed to see another opposing opposition coming up behind. By the time he realized it was too late the assailant made his move with a simple strike took one stroke to rip E4576’s blades from his grip, and a second to swipe the rusted dull edge that could still cut across his throat. Now gushing out rapidly like that of running water in a bloody red waterfall falling through the gaps of his now nerveless fingers.
E57 reached him too late, while lunging to prevent the final blow. He slammed his sledge hammer downwards one handed crushing E4576’s killer head like a watermelon blood and gore splattering over E57 and E107. The line of bodies around E107 was rapidly diminishing. E57 was thus forced to take action fighting fending off incoming assaults too numerous for the already thinned out defensive lines Numbers of Building – E to handle.
E57 and E4576 shared one last look with another, E4576 still grasping at his torn throat though already choking on his own blood forced his failing vocal cords to speak his last final words, words that E107 had heard finally for the first time among his fellow numbers.
“For…. (gurgle of blood)……the light…. (choking on blood)…..so it…..may light our path.” E4576 spoke through a gurgle choking on blood trying for air before he was dragged down, hack and ripped apart torn to pieces by the numbers of the other buildings. E107 didn’t need to look back as he could recognize the sounds of flesh tearing and bones cracking even among the chaos, there was no saving him and so they moved on leaving any others who fell to their grim fates as the rest of Building E pushed on. Those screams pulled at something inside E107 like nothing before it was painful like every other time when he was stroke, but this was different it pulled at him, it felt bitter a weird taste lingered in his mouth and his eyes started to sweat like the times when he was in great pain.
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This all felt too foreign to him and E107 didn’t like this feeling not one bit but there was nothing that could be done, he could only just watch as those beside him all around him were dragged down and ripped apart in front of him or within his senses as their inner becoming their outers.
However each of them refusing to die without a fight using whatever strength they had left to drag another soul with them down to hell. They didn’t let out screams of pain or agony but of defiance as they fought to their dying breath the only indication of their death was when their roars ceased.
Their roars once they have ceased were replaced by overlapping waves of frenzy fanatic cheering from high above, each wave growing in volume syncing at each dying roar from below in one sick harmonic note.
“Yes Rip at them, Tear them apart yes-yes~!”
No one truly knew who cried out those words first but what started out as a mere whisper among a sea of noises, slowly but surely like a highly contagious virus it soon spread from a whisper cry to raging roar that overcame all other voices and replaced all other spoken words.
“Rip and Tear!”
“Rip and Tear!”
The crowd above cheered and cried out with these three words. Rip and Tear these were the words it played over and over again in E107’s mind. Rip and Tear these words repeatedly echoed in his mind more and more as if it was being spoken right next to his ear rising in volume. E107 heard this phrase among the mind numbing sea of noise in his ear, though he didn’t exactly know what these words mean it resound something within him as it played in his mind.
E107 dislike it but it creep every closer into himself with each passing second he didn’t know what it was as it clawed at him from within, then sudden a click happened within him. His eyes started to see things differently among the crowd, it was hard for E107 to comprehend at the moment what he was seeing but he could see it a path. There was a path there right in all the chaos, he didn’t know if the others could see it but it was there and he had to take it so without a slightest bit of hesitation he decided to take it.
E107 rushed forward ahead pasting through those that surrounded him even passing E57 who reached out to him but failed to catch him, on E107 went failing to catch E57’s wailing cries that followed after but was stamped out by other resounding cries. E107 was now alone as he found himself now rushing through the gaps in the wall of meat that ran crimson red, rusted swords, spears and other cold weapon all around him all rose and fell, twisted and parried, thrust and hacked everywhere, weapons that were so dull through uncheck maintenance now abused and overuse that still cut and carved, bashing their foes apart through the slam of physically strength and kinetic force from each swing against flesh as much as by the blades’ fading capacities to cleave. Blood rained past him in flickering sprays. Endlessly came the crashing sound of steel meeting steel, the sound of metal chopping through meat, the creaking sounds of bones breaking, the cries of agony leading to eternal sleep.
He weaved through all of it, passed through all the horrors happening around him and dangers as easily as a fly passing through the cracks of a door. Nothing could stop him his small stature added to his quickness as he slipped passed the slightest crack he could find among the tide, onward E107 ran as restless as the wind itself as he weaved, ducked and jumped over all obstacles impending his path. Though not all dangers could be avoid his body slowly became riddled with cuts and slash marks throughout his small frame as he braved his way through while gritting his teeth. For a second it was almost as if he was invisible to the horde around him, but that illusion soon faded as they started to notice the anomaly among their ranks. However before they could even acted upon it however it was already gone from their sights.
E107 soon found himself out of the storm and at the base of the rocky mountain hill there were other number climbing up the rocky slope those that didn’t join in the massive melee behind him. But E107 could make out several skirmish happening along the slope but they didn’t concern E107 as his eyes was set on a different prize those fighting on top was too busy with each other that they failed to notice him as he climbed passed them. The mindless ramble too focused and far occupied with each other to even notice the quick mirage of a passing figure. There were the few numbers whom were in his path to where he needed to go, these poor souls were knocked off their feet caught completely unaware what it was that caused their death as they fell to their doom.
E107 pulled under the feet of another number from building before he finally stood where his goal stood.
Without a second though he wrecked flag from where it stood with both hands swinging it over his head the flag flapping to the winds he generated with his motion.
“Here~!”
E107 cried out with all that he had and with that strength he cried out to the heavens themselves but were deaf to his screams expected for those who linger under it. Such power carried in his voice imbued with a command that all the fighters faltered, despite being in the process of mauling or being mauled they were compelled to hold drawn to the source of the power holding their limps no matter how much they wished to fight.
An unnatural silence descend upon the melee below all strikes halted in mid-air before landing home on their intended destinations some were even turned aside. Locked in place all turned their eyes towards the top of the hill to the source and there they see it.
E107 waving the flag high and shouting at the top of his lungs to his fellow numbers those who saw this felt something within them overwhelm them. Their dying limbs came back to life filled with new bountiful energy seeing the one that they sought taking flight his silver hair glittering brightly in the pale dim light that lit the area grounds. Finally……finally at last they saw the light, the light to show them their way through the darkness has shine once again. Even with the filth and blood covering him it failed to hide the unnatural aura radiating off of E107 shining brightly to the point it was all that they could see.
Then with E101 who started it all gave out an ear piercing roar that resonated in the air causing the very air molecules to shake, as he pushed forward and fought with the same untold prowess plowing his way through the sea of bodies trying to reach E107. E101 was followed by E57 who was wildly swinging his hammer around knocking broken bodies into the air while crushing those underneath his foot to red squash. Which then in turn others gave back their own cry as they rushed forwards after his back cutting through the areas where E107 had passed through with ease. Then as if in a rehearsal chorus with a final resounding roar coming from those of Building E in one perfect note, in perfect unison that sweep the air all around the contained space, overwhelming all other noises in this cacophony of screaming voices.
Seeing their light blazing brightly at the top of the hill standing upon what seemed to be the top of the world to them, they knew then and there where they had to go and so they went like moths to a flame they rushed to it.
Chaos ensued once more below as the brawl resumed, battle was joined again but even the chaotic mess was incapable of halting the renewed vigor of the numbers of Building-E, like a wave they went as they swept through all those before them rushing upward towards the top of the hill. Losing just as much of their ranks as they felled but onwards they went.
Right at the epicenter was E101 with E57 right by his side, E-101 wielded his blade, injecting every stroke with fearful poise. He lashed out, catching a screaming young boy much younger than him by the throat, before severing his head from his thin neck, then swung around and thrust the blade-tip into the entrails of another coming up behind him.
E57 with his two hand sledge hammer swinging it in between each hand alternating each swing by either hand or simply with both hands, regardless of the method of his swings broken bodies flew into the air with a sickening crunch each time every blow connected.
The two were a storm’s fury poured into the shape of young boys, they were as restless as the none existing wind seeing E107 in the moment of their most dire to guide them once more filled with the need to rush forwards, to charge through the enemy, to ride them down and never stop moving, to doubt all, to know all, to laugh and live fully through the best of times and the worst of times, and then at the last to greet death with a defiant smile, or to find their guiding light that will lead them to another day another day to fight.
E107 too was not in the clear as those already on the hill swarmed up determined to take the prize for themselves, using the haft of the flag as a spear E107 jabbed and kicked down any opposing numbers who tried rushing up to his position. He screwed another with the flag pole thorough the guts of yet another daring number before the first of Building E came upon on the hill top.
The first two to reach him were E57 and E101, the former who rushed and pulled him into a tight embrace no words was exchanged but the meaning of the act was clear to E107. After E57 released him he turned to rejoin the rest of the surviving numbers of Building E who formed a perimeter around the top of the hill top not one made without any injure. Each had numerous cuts and opened wounds over their bodies blood pouring out like mini rivers, their tattered clothes was next to nonexistent at this point.
Taking his place E101 slowly walked up to E107 he too was not immune to the changes of what has happened his face was full of cuts, the most notable of them all being the one cut horizontally across his face. He reached one hand towards E107 clasping the back of his neck, E107 did the same, their heads touching briefly in solace despite the carnage happening around them.
After that brief moment of peace E101 just as E57 did rejoined the battle, they were all in pain all over not just their outside but their innards too ached. Their bodies stung all over their own sweat felt like fire upon their skin their muscles torn apart from each other yet they wouldn’t stop they couldn’t stop. It was the primal instinct of all living beings to live even when one wished to die and so they fought on, the numbers of Building E fought hard their opponents fought harder hoping to tear a gap in their defenses.
If there truly such a thing that answered prayers and hope theirs was soon answered
Bang~!
The booming roar of a gunshot rang out amidst the nauseating cacophony of sounds, E678 who was beside E57 fell with a hole in his forehead. A defining silence occurred among the ranks of the numbers of Building E, a gun that was a gunshot they couldn’t ever mistaken the sound of that boom with anything else. None of the numbers of either building in the arena had a firearm on them; there was no way that they would ever be given a firearm.
E107 raised his head upward to the place where the shot could have come from and there among the crowd at the front row was the same man, the man who spoke and the only one who has been firing that handgun of his. Its barrel pointed towards the arena grounds.
His eyes lit with a strange craving to them a sort of craziness unreadable to E107 as his hand swam side to side his gun traveled in the air along with his eyes before he squeezed the trigger again.
Bang! The gun rang and this time another number was hit but this time it was a number from one of the other buildings other than Building – E before rapidly switching targets again this time E3789 fell his legs gushing out blood before he was grabbed and pulled down into the mountain depths below.
A gap was thus opened within the defensive meat wall of Building E the other numbers of the opposing side took advantage of it and pushed their assault. The two numbers of Building E that E107 recognized to be E7862 and E1897 rushed to plug up the gap in their formation, Bang~! Bang~! More Shots were fired and those two fell before even reaching their destination then the shot rang out again and two more souls from Building E fell widening the gap even further.
This time it wasn’t from the same man, the gun shots came from two other sources among the crowd high above. Others having been entranced by the flow of events happily went along with the flow. Drawing out their own firearms and releasing a hail of bullets upon the souls below aiming indiscriminately into the melee below.
Orange flashes now added into the dynamite mix within the dimly lit area.
One bullet round flew snapping the tip of the flag pole in E107’s hand the flag draping over E107’s body as it slowly drifted downward onto him. E107 wasn’t even remotely aware of it, at this point seeing the chaos further around him his eyes fixated on the crowd high above seeing the men gunning down the various numbers around him. Unknown to him the fact that E57 and E101 had rushed back to his side once the shooting has started the duo shielding E107 behind them.
Bang! Another shot rang and this time E57 who was fending off head bobbed backwards and he fell the moment his back hit the floor E107 saw the blood flow from his head, his face though shrouded by his long hair as he laid there unmoving. E107 at the sight of this felt something within him break down completely, then he saw red as red as the crimson gore around him. A surge of emotion cut through his body like nothing he has felt before or did it? It felt so foreign to him yet so similar at the same time but he welcomed it all the same.
He screwed through the throat of attacker that E57 was original occupied with. With his broken spear yanking it out through the other way before slowly descended from his the highest point of the mountain top the flap drifting in the air behind him on his shoulders.
E101 who was too busy fending an attacker to notice E107 leaving his side, he only notice all too late before he finally dispatched his opponent only for another to impeded his path after E107.
E107 grabbed at the newest charging assailant before spearing the young boy of similar age through his chest then retrieving it by pulling it out from the corpses back; he then felt the intent of the shooter up high before he even pulled the trigger Bang! The sound of the gunshot rang again he cranked his head slightly to the side just as a flash of orange flew past his head but it hit home on another opposing number who was rushing at E107.
E107 grabbed at the falling body with his free hand sweeping it up by the leg swinging around like a fail into front of him, knocking aside an attacker coming up to him with a sickening crack. This continued until the head of the body popped upon the fifth strike like a ripe watermelon drenching E107 in bone and brain matter. He twirled around swing still swinging the corpse in his hand along with the broken spear in his other hand. Orange flash passed across his vision the bullets rounds grazing his skin drawing blood but didn’t do more than that.
He felled two more foes amidst his dance of death his cape providing extra cover for his tiny frame as he jumped and span around the tiny space. The cape trailing behind him evenly on two sides as he continued to dance then Bang! A gun shot rang and he ducked to the side evading another shot which would have ended him but failing to see the incoming blow behind him until it was too late.
E107 then saw it a heavy looking axe covered in crimson red, greasy with pieces of red meat coming at him from his back. An incoming blow that he had no way of evading this time, this was it he thought this was it all ends he didn’t fear nor did he bother to brace himself as the axe’s edge inched closer to him.
But the blow never came as a sledge hammer came flying in front of his head connecting with edge knocking it aside midflight to the ground and striking the wielder sending the boy behind the axe flying backward off the mountain. E107 recognized the hammer that just came flying by his face he turned his sight towards the direction where it came from and to his surprise E57 was there. E57 who E107 thought had fallen was back on his feet though shakily his limbs trembling slightly, his face covered in blood and the few strands of his hair clinging onto his face.
E101 came up behind E57 blocking a blow that would have cleaved off his head before striking down the wilder of that blade cleaving the opposition in two below the waist. Another tried to rush him from behind to which E57 rapidly grabbed at the hand holding the massive blade halting it in place. E101 then cleaved the hand off the boy’s arm before he could even scream his head flew from his body. E57 grabbed the blade from the severed hand before the duo rushed back to E107 who too rushed towards E57 drooping the corpse in his hand before pulling E57 into a tight embrace. After a second or so they released each other as E107 looked up at E57.
“But I saw you fall.” E107 started not minding the roaring gunshots overhead and the rush of new adversatives that came after then but were thwarted by E101 and other numbers of Building E who rallied to his side.
“Ah…..well…..I got lucky.” E57 simply replied but his voice sounded funny as if he was struggling to get the words out of his mouth.
E57 moved the strands of hair clinging to his face revealing the still sweat fill bloody face for E107 to see. The bullet hole that E107 thought that should have ended E57 was not on his forehead like E107 had originally assumed. The hole was to the sides of E57’s mouth if E107 looked from one side he could see the dim light of the arena through the other side.
E101 meanwhile during this time managed to deflects a gunshot using a dropped machete the blade shattered to which he then threw the handle impaling it on the chest of another number.
Bang!
Ah~! E101’s painful cry rang in E107’s numb ear drums he looked in a panic seeing E101 now on one knee holding one hand still grasping the same pudao that he has always carried impaled on the rocky ground surface. The other was to his face blood seeping through the gaps of his fingers teeth bared and gritted tight E107 once again saw red and he threw his broken spear at the an approaching number that got pasted E7893 and E5123 and was aiming for E101. The spear got the boy in the throat as he dropped both short swords in his hands as he felling grasping his throat.
E107 rushed at the boy grasping his head with both hands and began to pull.
KAR~! E107 continued to pull even as he heard the sickening sound of flesh tearing apart EN~! Next came the bones creaking TUK~! Then he felt the release the head came free along with the spinal cord.
KAR EN TUK~! E107 screamed out loud for all to hear as he held up the head above his head.
KAR EN TUK~!
The war cries of those still breathing from Building E echoed out carrying the battle cry as they slew their foe before them with renewed vigor their opponents responded back in kind -
Bang! Bang! All the while the sound of gun fire can still be heard among the frenzy as others within the audience up above took out their own fire arms and were firing into the chaos bellow not caring who it was they stroke. Each pull of the trigger ended a life or aided in the death of one.
This only further intensive the fighting as the numbers not only had to be wary of the enemy in front or to the side and behind them they now had to watch the one above them. They didn’t really concern themselves with them as they were out of their reach, by this point every single soul within the arena was fighting for their lives every soul down below were now too caught up in their bloodlust to care.
On they fought,
If they lost their weapon they resorted to their hand, if they lost their hands, they used their legs, if their legs were lost, they used their teeth.
A scene of carnage an orgy of blood -
E107 amidst his killing heard E101 laughing from the side, his raw voice filled with undaunted energy sang through the air, mocking those before even as he slays them. On the other side, E57 did the same. The numbers of all opposing sides against those of Building E redouble their assault with twice the fury and half the skill, this laugh was then followed by others numbers of Building E till if consumed all other sound around them.
E107 soon found his own laughter join theirs he didn’t know why or what he was feeling at the moment and he didn’t care, even though E107 didn’t understand the feeling swelling in his chest it felt good and he desired more of it he compare to before he never felt more awake than ever before. He carved more of it with each number of the other building now falling to his blade he felt as if he was alive though his limbs ached and stung it was a smoothing sensation.
His senses felt different as well things weren’t right he saw things different the rounds coming towards him, the rusted dull weaponry swing at him. He could see the rounds cutting through the air as though in slow motion as they spun through air. The dull blades chipped edges before he evaded them he saw thought it all before he retaliated, each blow he gave sent a shiver down his core he liked it. So he continued to kill them but now with an entranced devils simile on his face the flag warped around his body flapping around him due to his movements its pale white color repainted with several patches of crimson red as he danced from one spot to another.
It wasn’t until many hours later that the fighting ceased what once a few hundred breathing souls down in the pits below now only three remain breathing. Ontop the mountain top E107 sat with his head down his arms to his side to support him E101 and E57 were to the right and left side of him respectfully. The torn ripped flag cloth that still hang from his shoulder covered their bodies as they lay their on their back aside the cliff side, much of their face covered in blood concealing their expression to the world. The trio didn’t react even as the crowds above cheer on feverously at the end of yet another deadpool with many commenting within the crowd that this was the most exciting match yet.
Slowly amidst the cheers E107 raised his head his eye was dark losing any sort of light in them as he looked up to the sky that he was denied in this iron cage.
None in the audience understood right then and there the true terror of what had been born at this very moment, too caught up in their thirst for entertainment and blood as they roared in thriller excitement and elastic pleasure at the carnage in front of them.
None but expected one soul who saw it all happened that day and in the future this scene when asked was the sight of when the nightmare truly began and it would still haunt him to the day they die. Forever imprinted in his mind this scene of it freighted him down to his core he could feel it but still he felt entranced no mesmerized by this horrific yet sickening beautiful scene like that of a new born babe being birthed into the world. To him this was the day an devilish angel was born, not a being of grace and beauty like in humanities fantasies but one that was born of blood and death still an angel however, an angel of death whose bloodstain wings shielded two souls underneath its wings ontop a mountain of running blood and bodies hovering over them all.