“Fu-” I screamed before landing face first into the sand. “She shot me!” I push off the ground in a panic, patting down every part of my torso. “Did she miss?” I felt no pain and there was no wound. A ding that went out of pitch while fading into a heavier note got my attention.

“She hit something alright.” I picked up a sparking tablet, it had a nicely put hole through its center. “Wait, if this didn’t stop it.” I held the tablet up like earlier, using my free hand I traced where the bullet should have hit me. “She did hit me.” I frowned in confusion as my hand felt no wound still.

“Hey!” A figure yelled out in the distance. I turned to see someone jumping and waving on the beach just a short swim across. “Hey!” They were waving their arms frantically trying to get my attention. “Gobfin gang!” They yelled while pointing at something. “Swim over here now!” They motioned at the spot where they had a bonfire going.

“Gob-what now?” I turn around to find myself on a tiny sandy island, with some dangerous looking Pals. “Those are dwarf sized body builders with a shark head, do they bite?” With them looking so bizarre, I stood still watching them like a moron. My curiosity vanished when one bumped into a tree it didn’t see and then lashed out with its mouth full of sharp glowing teeth, it ripped the thing into splinters within seconds.

“What are you waiting for?” The voice screamed out from the shore.

“A reason to get into the damned water!” I turned back to the beach and began to sprint with all my might. “I can’t swim!” I yelled to the stranger as I blindly charged into the waist high waters. I opened my eyes as I heard a splash right next to me, worried there was a Pal in the water, I opened my eyes. “Huh?!” There was nothing.

“Just keep going!” The stranger started to get into the water.

“What was that!?” The water next to me exploded, causing me to turn again. I looked back at the shore, the tiny shark heads had their heads glowing a misty watery blue. “What, oh-!” I ducked under the water just as a blast of condensed glowing water was shot out of the Pal’s mouth.

“They can do that?!” I scream as I stand back up, gulping for breath. My fear of the water was momentarily forgotten, due to the huge glowing water sphere hanging above the Gobfins. “Help!” I turn back around and attempt to run towards the stranger.

“Take a breath!” They shouted. I inhaled following their instruction. “Just stay calm!” Was the last thing I heard them say, before a rush of water swallowed me up from behind. The pressure was immense, it was a struggle just to hold my air in. I felt sandy ground in my tumblings under the water, so I pushed down on the ground and jumped up.

“Ah… oh? I can stand up?” I wipe the water from my eyes to see I’m in chest high water. “My back.” I hissed as the pain from my back started to flare up. “Feels like a bruise.” I stretch with a grunt, getting a feeling of how hurt I am.

“Keep going!” The stranger shouted from my right as she swam by. “They can’t swim, have terrible eyesight, but have stupid range attacks!” She dove under water right before a volleyball sized glowing water ball hit the water with a resounding echoing slap. She resurfaced before continuing. “Their attacks also pack a punch, so avoid them.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“What are those thing- Pals, called again?” I asked while doing my best to wade through the water after her.

“Use your Paldex and figure that out.” She pointed to the tablet in my hand.

“This thing?” I held up the tablet with the bullet hole and its shattered screen out of the water.

“That’s going to be one tough repair job.” She chuckled at my broken tablet. “Those Pals are called Gobfin, they usually hunt in gangs, but can still bite off your head when they’re alone.” She stares at me seriously while pointing at the shark headed blue dwarves on the little sandy island firing blue water balls in our direction still.

“How long will they do that?” I ask while watching their attacks fall short of the beach. “Wait, this can be fixed?” I spun at her while pointing to the broken tablet.

“It’ll take some Essences and Paldium.” She said while eyeing the tablet, before nodding her head. “Plus you would also need another Player to do the actual repairs, it’ll be costly too.” She said while smirking at my displeasure.

“What’s a ‘Player’?” I asked with a straight face.

“Holy shit, is this your first time here?” She approached with a curious look in her eyes.

“I just arrived yesterday.” I said while taking a few steps back.

“How did your Paldex break?” She pointed at the tablet.

“I was shot at, and it was in the way.” I lifted the tablet to prove my point. “So does that mean I’m a Player?” I asked her again.

“Players are tamers with that device. Due to the restrictions here, only those with that tech can build and produce what’s necessary to survive with a civil lifestyle on this island.” She folded her arms across her chest while giving me a look over. “So this is your first revive then? Did you choose this respawn point on purpose?” She asked me a bunch of confusing questions.

“Revived? As if I died and was revived back to life?” I ask while shocked at her words.

“What else happens when you don’t survive a gunshot here.” She said it like it was supposed to be common knowledge. “You really are new.” She said, a bit taken aback.

“Wait, if they killed me, and they know about the revival feature.” I gasped with worry. “Does this mean I’m still on the island?” I look at her in disbelief.

“You must have met some crazy people.” She sighed while looking at me with pity. “Let’s get you something to eat while we wait.” She said while waving me to follow her back to her bonfire.

“Who are we waiting for?” I followed her back to the fire, my stomach wouldn’t let me pass up free food.

“My partner is out getting some materials, but will be back soon.” She said while taking a seat by a hanging pot set to boil. “They can help explain about this better than I can. Oh, I’m Sara by the way.” She held out her ladle free hand in greeting.

“I don’t know my name yet, I just hit the random button on this thing.” I shook Sara’s hand while holding up the broken Paldex.