CHAPTER 3.8: THE TRAINING OF SURVIVAL

Omega Man, Rookie, and Skully stood in stunned silence, their thoughts consumed by Beatrice’s earlier words. She had left them reeling, the weight of her twisted philosophy still pressing heavily on their minds. Before they could process any of it further, Beatrice returned, descending gracefully into the clearing with a small creature in tow.

It jingled as it moved, its round, golden body gleaming in the sunlight. Two oversized, innocent eyes blinked up at them, and its soft chime-like noises seemed oddly out of place in this grim context.

Beatrice gestured toward it with a flourish. “Here it is. Let’s start with something small before moving on to bigger things.” Her lips curled into a wicked grin. “Meet your first lesson: the Coin Monster.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances. The creature jingled softly, tilting its head in what looked like curiosity.

“You expect us to kill that?” Omega Man’s voice broke the tense silence, his tone sharp with disbelief.

Beatrice’s expression hardened. “Of course. Only those who truly pursue personal success can win here. You need to kill the coin to achieve a dollar.” Her voice was calm but carried a weight that sent chills down their spines.

THE RESISTANCE

“This is ridiculous,” Omega Man said firmly. “We can’t just kill something innocent. Not for this.” He glanced at the Coin Monster, its jingles now sounding almost plaintive.

Beatrice’s eyes narrowed. “Ridiculous? What’s ridiculous is clinging to outdated notions of morality. Let me spell it out for you: only those willing to do what others won’t truly succeed.” She took a step closer, her voice growing sharper. “Do you want to win, or do you want to lose everything?”

Omega Man shook his head. “I won’t do it. Just because I made mistakes in the past doesn’t mean I’ll keep making them. I have principles.”

Rookie nodded in agreement, his candy-coated body trembling. “This isn’t right. It’s…it’s just wrong.”

Beatrice’s gaze shifted to Rookie, her smirk returning. “Oh, principles, is it? Funny coming from you two.” She leaned closer to Omega Man. “I know what you did to get that hero position. The lake…it must have been cold for your friend, wasn’t it?”

Omega Man’s face went pale, his fists clenching. How did she know? He forced himself to look away, unable to meet her piercing gaze.

Beatrice’s attention snapped to Rookie. “And you…not so innocent, are you? You’ve used your size to your advantage in more ways than one.”

Rookie’s gumdrop face froze in fear. “How do you…?”

“Oh, darling,” Beatrice said with a laugh. “I know a lot about people. It’s what makes me such an excellent mentor.”

SKULLY AND FROSTY’S APATHY

Skully yawned dramatically, leaning against a tree. “All this moral soul-searching is exhausting. Can’t we just move on already? It’s a Coin Monster. Not exactly the end of the world.”

Frosty shrugged, his icy body glinting in the sunlight. “Yeah, I mean, who cares? It’s just jingling over there. Kind of annoying, honestly. If Beatrice wants it gone, why not just do it?”

Beatrice clapped her hands together. “See? At least some of you understand the value of efficiency. But I’ll give the rest of you one last chance.”

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ESCALATION

Omega Man’s resolve hardened. “No. I won’t do it. Not for you, not for anyone.”

Beatrice’s playful demeanor vanished. With a flick of her wrist, a bolt of energy shot from her hand, striking Omega Man square in the chest. He crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Rookie screamed, and Frosty took a step back. Even Skully’s usual indifference faltered as he stared at Omega Man’s motionless body.

Beatrice knelt beside him, placing a hand on his chest. “You see, boys,” she said with a smirk, “I’m not heartless. Just…motivational.” With a faint glow, Omega Man’s body jerked, and he gasped, his eyes flying open.

“What the—” Omega Man stammered, clutching his chest.

“Resurrection magic,” Beatrice explained nonchalantly. “I’m not going to let you die that easily. But remember, defiance comes at a cost. Now, are you ready to train properly, or do I need to make an example of someone else?”

THE COIN MONSTER’S FATE

The group exchanged uneasy glances. Rookie’s gumdrop hands trembled as he reached for his weapon, but his heart pounded in his chest. “This isn’t right,” he muttered again, though his resolve was crumbling.

Beatrice’s voice softened, though her words were no less chilling. “Killing isn’t about right or wrong. It’s about survival. You’ll thank me for this one day. Now, do it.”

The Coin Monster jingled softly, tilting its head as Rookie stepped forward. Its innocent eyes locked with his, and for a moment, he hesitated.

“Don’t make me do it for you,” Beatrice warned, her voice like ice.

Rookie closed his eyes, gripping his weapon tightly. The others watched, their expressions a mixture of fear, disgust, and resignation.

And then, with one swift motion, Rookie struck.

The jingling stopped.

Omega Man followed reluctantly, but it was clear his conviction wavered as he delivered the final blow. Both stood apart, their discomfort palpable.

Skully and Frosty, however, acted without hesitation. Skully drew his revolver, and Frosty unleashed a spray from his submachine gun. They dispatched the creature with ease, their apathy toward the act chilling in its own right.

Beatrice clapped her hands together, though her gaze lingered on Omega Man and Rookie. “Well done, Skully and Frosty. You’ve earned your place. The rest of you still have a lot to learn.” She casually tossed the lifeless body of the Coin Monster into the fountain beside her castle, where it transformed back into an ordinary coin. With a smirk, she pocketed it. “Now, let’s move on. Follow me deeper into the forest. You’ll find all the motivation you need there.”

A MEETING WITH COCO

The group trudged after Beatrice, their apprehension growing with every step. The forest around them grew eerily quiet, the vibrant hum of life replaced by an oppressive stillness. After twenty minutes of walking, they spotted a figure up ahead.

The person appeared to be human at first glance, wearing large, round glasses. But something about their movements was off, too stiff, too deliberate. Beatrice greeted the figure as if nothing were amiss.

“Hello, Coco,” she said, her tone unnervingly casual.

The figure stopped, and with a grotesque tearing sound, the human skin fell away to reveal a massive humanoid tree. Its bark-like limbs stretched unnaturally, and its face was adorned with the same oversized sunglasses. Despite its horrifying appearance, its voice was shockingly cheerful.

“Beatrice! How long has it been? Want some coconuts or apples?” Coco asked, its deep, rumbling voice oddly friendly.

Skully raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “A good apple never comes amiss.”

Coco chuckled, its bark creaking. “These apples come with a bit of skin, boned one. You’ll love it.”

Skully laughed at the joke. “Alright, give me an apple.”

“For 10 Astro Dollars, my friend!” Coco declared, its tone cool and businesslike.

“Ten Astro Dollars? I could get apples in Arcana for five Magma Coins!” Skully retorted indignantly.

Coco leaned forward, its grin widening. “But these are the best in all the OnceLands, guaranteed!”

With a dramatic sigh, Skully handed over the money. Coco handed him an apple, which he bit into. His eyes widened in surprise. “Well, I’ll be damned. These are amazing.”

Beatrice and Coco exchanged a glance, a sinister understanding passing between them.

Through telepathic communication, Beatrice said, “He doesn’t know these apples are made from human skin. That’s what makes it even funnier.” She chuckled softly and turned to her group. “Alright, listen up. Coco here is an expert in killing and survival. He’s going to help you sharpen your skills.”

Omega Man and Rookie exchanged uneasy glances but readied themselves, their nerves fraying as they anticipated what horrors lay ahead.