As we entered a separate room from the other competitors, everyone sighed with relief.

"I thought we wouldn't make it," Silas said, his voice tinged with relief. Naomi nodded, her expression cheerful.

"Yeah, I thought we were doomed when I heard the gunshots behind us."

"There's no need to say welcome," Nolan added, smiling. "In the end, I jumped towards the bullets for you."

"Oh, so that's why you didn't come to us after saying you would help us," Rhys chimed in.

"They were in danger, and you had Bumble," Nolan replied.

"Thankfully," Rhys continued, "you know we might be talking about something else if it wasn't for Bumble."

"Were they about to capture you?" Naomi asked. Rhys shook his head.

"Thanks to Bumble, no. The girl understood where we were, I think. Bumble just came out and stabbed her! Then she threw her spear at Felix."

"Oof, poor Felix," Silas said as he made a gesture. "Well, that's what you get for messing with Bambi the Bee!"

His words put a smile on my face and made me feel happy. Then he turned to Naomi.

"But I have to say similar things about Naomi, too," Silas said with a smile. We all looked at him, confused.

"Our little mouse became a tiger. She almost shot everyone in the head. She got two of them just like that!"

"Wow," I exclaimed. "Really?" I hadn't known Naomi was good with guns. When I looked at her, her face grew redder.

"It's all thanks to you guys. No need to exaggerate."

"Don't be this humble," Silas continued. Her face grew even redder. Rhys changed the subject.

"What about you, Freya? How did they get you?"

"Well," Freya started, looking uncomfortable. "As you know, I got one of them at the beginning of the game. Naturally, they heard the gunshots, so Nolan and I started hiding. Of course, one of the team members climbed a tree and then saw me and attacked."

"Oh, was it Shaun?" Silas asked. Freya shrugged.

"Probably," she answered.

"How do you know all of them?" I finally asked. The way they addressed them by their names confused me since I didn't know any of them.

"Not all," Rhys began to explain, "but yeah, we know most since we were in the same school. Felix, for example, was my classmate."

I nodded, gaining a better understanding.

As we continued, the loud announcer's voice interrupted us. The voice was blurry, but we could still make out what they were saying.

"Welcome back, everyone! Now it's time for our next competitors, class B versus class C!"

As cheers reached us, the team suddenly became silent, their expressions tensed.

"Who do you think will win?" Freya asked.

"Whoever it is, I don't think we have much of a chance," Nolan answered.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Well, they are different levels compared to us and class D. Especially class B and A. I heard that they got special lessons according to their status."

"Well, we can go over our strategies again," I suggested.

"We have to wait till the game finishes. I mean, our tactics even depend on our roles," Rhys said. I nodded, and we stopped talking until we heard the announcer's voice again.

"And the winner is class B! Congratulations! After a short break, we will continue with class B versus class E."

The room fell silent, the weight of the announcement hanging heavily in the air. I could see apprehension and uncertainty in my teammates' eyes.

"So, what now?" Freya asked.

"Well," Nolan began, "we can discuss bad scenarios. Darren is good as a melee weapon bearer, as are Frank and Jade. Julianna, Evelyn, and Thomas are good with guns. If most of them get the right roles, then we're done," he said, sounding depressed. Everyone's eyes were shadowed with sadness. But I felt comfortable, confident even.

"Maybe we should just give up," Freya murmured as I stood up slowly. I was sure it would be as easy as class D. "Let's go," I said calmly. "We have a match to win."

My teammates exchanged glances, surprised by my sudden words.

“Bambi,” Silas got up. "We can't win."

"No," I continued, smiling. "We will win. I'll make sure we will," as I opened the door and stepped out, Naomi following me first. Soon, the others joined me as I strode out of the room, my steps fueled by a determination that bordered on recklessness. As we reached the door that opened to the arena, class B students were next to us, looking at us with contemptuous glances.

"Don't worry," Frank burst out smirking. "We will go easy on you." We didn't answer. I didn't look at them.

"Hey, Silas," Darren suddenly started to talk. I saw his body tense up. "Better protect yourself because I will come for you."

As we stepped into the arena, we heard the crowd's strong cheer again.

"Hey, everyone! It's time for our next match: class B is up against class E. Let's get ready to see some action!"

We bowed to each other slowly. I looked at their happy faces. Something in me was tingling with expectation. I felt somehow different. We turned our backs to them and walked toward the sides of the arena.

"Greetings, competitors! I am MAI. I am delighted to be part of the event you are about to play. From my database, I see that you are one of the class B or E students. Please confirm."

"Yes," Nolan said slowly. "We are class E students."

"Welcome! A random role assignment is being generated," Mai's voice was crisp and synthetic, filled with an almost human enthusiasm. "The random role assignment is complete. The list is as follows:

Bumble: Melee weapon bearer

Freya: Gun bearer

Naomi: Gun bearer

Nolan: Flag holder

Rhys: Melee weapon bearer

Silas: Melee weapon bearer

One minute countdown started. May the best team win!"

I looked at the arena. The environment had completely changed. The empty arena was replaced by a barren desert landscape. The scorching sun hung low on the horizon, its rays painting the undulating sand dunes in a palette of golden hues. Long, eerie shadows stretched across the landscape, creating a stark contrast that added to the oppressive atmosphere. The air shimmered with heat, distorting the distant horizon and making the arena feel even more treacherous.

"All right," Rhys gulped. He was sweating. "Let's plan it out."

We huddled together, our voices low and urgent.

"Okay, here's what we'll do," Rhys began. "Naomi and Freya, you're our scouts. Naomi, you take the left flank. Freya, you go right. Your goal is to find and secure the enemy flag without being seen."

The girls nodded, their faces set with determination.

"Silas and I will stay with Nolan, protect our flag at all costs."

Silas and Nolan exchanged a glance, a silent promise passing between them.

"Bumble," Rhys turned to me, his eyes intense. "You're our wild card. Get out there and cause some chaos. Draw their fire, and eliminate as many as you can. But be careful. Don't take any unnecessary risks."

I nodded and looked at the weapons. Because of my role, the spear would not be a good idea. I needed something more portable, and that was when my eyes stopped on the twin daggers. I took the daggers, a grim smile playing on my lips, and then wore my helmet. Others did the same thing, too. When the countdown ended, and the match began, I sprinted forward, the hot desert sand shifting beneath my feet. I looked around to see anyone around me and saw a flash of movement, dodged instinctively as a barrage of shots whizzed past my head. I rolled and came up in a crouch, my daggers ready, but I couldn't see anyone behind me. As I looked around carefully, the shots started again. I started to run, quickly realizing the shots were not trying to eliminate me but to guide me to a trap. I smiled and continued to run.

Maybe this time, it will feel like a real match, I thought. As I reached the trap, I saw a female with a thin sword. She was smiling, then suddenly struck towards me. I quickly evaded her attack and paired her sword with my dagger.

"So," she said. "You are the famous Beetle?"

"Is that what Darren told you?" I replied to her question with another question. She shrugged.

"Frank, to be exact."

When she tried to kick me, I quickly dodged it. "He told me you are quick to deal with, an outsider loser," she smiled warmly. "I want to see if it was real or not."

She quickly attacked me again. I dodged it quickly and stabbed her arm. She groaned, then tried to slash me, which just passed my belly by an inch. I felt excitement raised in me.

"Not bad, not bad at all!" She smiled. "So sad it had to be over."

The gunshots started again, this time trying to take me out. I charged toward the girl, zigzagging, making myself a difficult target. She raised her sword, but I tripped her leg quickly, then got on her and stabbed her through the head with the dagger. The dagger right passed through her, and then her whole body relaxed as she continued to smile. She looked happy, but for some reason, I couldn't understand. The gunshots started again as I was looking at her. One of them passed through my left arm, causing the outfit to squeeze my arm.

"Darn it!" I hissed and rolled away from the body. A timer appeared at the top right side of the helmet's visor. I had about 5 minutes to use my arm again. I hid behind one of the piled bricks and started to wait. I heard his steps, coming towards me yet not talking.

He might find out I am here.

I slowly walked away, trying to get behind him as quietly as I could. He didn't notice my movements and continued to look at me.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

When I got right behind him, I heard his murmur.

"Did she escape?"

I smiled and struck the final blow to him. With the two class B students eliminated, I took a moment to catch my breath. The timer on my arm was still ticking down, the suit's pressure a constant reminder of my vulnerability.

Over the com, I heard Freya's voice, tense but determined. "Everyone, they noticed me! Naomi, I saw that they left the flag behind. This is your chance!"

Naomi's response was calm and focused. "Roger that. I'm closing in on the flag. Will update if I need backup."

I nodded, even though they couldn't see me.

"I take out two of them. Do you need backup, Freya?"

"It is late for me. But I won't go down without a fight! Concentrate on the flag!"

I took one last deep breath, then took the dagger I threw and the enemy's weapons.

An assault rifle and a sword, all right then.

I put the sword and my daggers on my belt, wore the gun, and then pushed forward. My senses were heightened, and I was alert for any sign of movement. The sun beat down mercilessly, the heat oppressive even through my suit. I looked at the sky, where it showed who was in the game and who was out. I saw Freya's image soon after, and it was grey. My heart sank, and a chill ran through me despite the desert heat.

Freya was out. We were down to four.

I gritted my teeth and pushed the worry aside. I had to focus and trust in my team's abilities. Ten minutes pass with excitement and wonder.

I crested a dune, my rifle at the ready, and froze. There, standing amidst the shifting sands, was Frank. He was talking through his comlink and looked serious. I slowly got out, holding the gun's aim towards him. As he saw me, a cruel smile played across his lips.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, his voice dripping with mock surprise. "If it isn't the little Beetle, I thought you'd scurry on by without saying hello."

My grip tightened on my rifle as I forced myself to smile. "Hello, Frank. Fancy meeting you here."

"I thought Jade took you out for good," he said as he started walking. I followed his movements.

"As you can see, I took her and her friend out first."

"I see that; good for you, Beetle," he mocked me. Before I could say anything, I saw a movement behind me. I turned my back and shot a girl in the head as Frank jumped behind me and put his knife in my throat.

"And this is, dear Beetle, where I will crash you."

I quickly took the dagger and tried to stab him in the leg. He quickly dodged away, letting me go.

"I thought you were a gun bearer!" He hissed and took the dagger from his leg.

"The gun," I said as I took the sword out, "belongs to one of your team members."

He looked at me empty for a second, then laughed. A laugh that was filled with anger. I could feel the tension crackling in the air, a palpable, living thing.

"You know, Beetle," Frank said, his voice laced with a mocking edge, "I've got to hand it to you. You've got guts, I'll give you that."

He lunged, his knife flashing, but I parried, the clash of steel on steel ringing out across the dunes.

"But guts will only get you so far," he continued, pressing his attack, his knife a blur of silver. "Especially when you're up against skill, training, and raw talent."

I gritted my teeth, my own sword moving in a desperate dance of defense, barely keeping his strikes at bay. He was fast, faster than I'd anticipated, and there was a fluidity to his movements that spoke of years of practice.

"Funny," I managed, my voice strained with effort. "I thought this was about teamwork, not individual showboating."

Frank laughed, a sharp, derisive sound. "Teamwork? Is that what they're calling it these days? Face it, Beetle. You're the odd one out, the piece that doesn't fit. Your little band of misfits? They're just using you, a means to an end."

He feinted left, then struck right, his dagger grazing my ribs, a line of fire across my skin. I stumbled back, my footing uncertain on the shifting sands.

"And when this is over," Frank pressed, sensing my momentary weakness, "when the dust settles, and the scores are tallied, they'll toss you aside like yesterday's trash. Because that's all you are to them—trash."

I quickly pushed myself away from him, dodging his knife while I fell.

"Bumble, where are you? Darren is here. We need you!" Rhys's voice came from the helmet. "I'm trying," I whispered, then got up, staring at Frank.

"You don't know anything about me," I said, my voice low, vibrating with barely contained emotion. "Or about them."

"Don't I?" Frank countered, his eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "I have known them for about seven years, and you know them for a month," he grinned as he approached me, brandishing his knife. "And for you, I know your type, Beetle. The loner, the misfit. Always on the outside looking in, always wanting to be part of something bigger. But here's the truth: you'll never belong. Not really. Because, at your core, you're different. And different? It's dangerous. It's a threat."

He came at me again, a flurry of blows that drove me back, step by step. I could feel my arms aching, my breath coming in ragged gasps. But even as I fought, even as I struggled to keep up with his relentless assault, I could feel something stirring inside me. A spark of defiance, of determination. Because, yes, I was different. I was the outsider, the misfit. But that wasn't a weakness. It was a strength.

I lashed out, my sword cutting a silver arc through the air. Frank dodged, but not quite fast enough. My blade caught him on the leg, a glancing blow that sent him stumbling.

His suit reacted instantly, immobilizing the limb. A penalty timer appeared on his helmet's visor, counting down the seconds until he could use the leg again.

"You little-" he snarled, his composure slipping for the first time. He came at me again, but his movements were slower now, hampered by the useless leg.

As Frank struggled to maintain his balance, his taunts grew colder and more pointed. "You really think you're one of them, Beetle? After all you've seen, the way they stood by while you were tormented? It's pathetic."

I stared at him, my mind reeling as I tried to process his accusations. The truth in his statements hit me like a physical blow, and I couldn't help but remember the first time I was bullied. The memory of my teammates' indifferent gazes flashed through my mind, sending a sharp pain through my chest. They had watched, silent and unmoving, as I suffered. The realization left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Frank pressed on, his voice dripping with venom. "You're an outsider, Beetle. They might act close, friendly even, because you're useful for the event. But what about when it finishes? Do you really believe they'll still stand by you? That they'll care about the misfit who doesn't belong?"

His questions voiced the fears I had been too afraid to confront, the nagging doubts that had lingered in the back of my mind.

I wanted to argue, to defend the bonds I thought we had formed, but the words stuck in my throat. Deep down, a part of me knew what he said was true. We were not friends, and we were probably never going to be friends with each other just because I was an outsider.

Frank smirked, his eyes glinting with malice. "You know that I am right, don't you, Beetle?"

When tears started to roll down my cheeks, he lunged, capitalizing on my emotional upheaval, his knife aimed with lethal precision. I parried instinctively, tripping him to cause him to fall, and pushed the sword into his back quickly and easily. Finishing him for good.

I looked at the sky, feeling empty. Frank's face turned to grey. From our side, Freya's and Rhys's faces turned to grey. Silas's face glowed red. Suddenly, notifications showed up in my helmet.

"Class B flag captured by class E."

"Class E flag captured by class B."

I closed the notification calmly and walked toward where the enemy had captured our flag.

The noises got louder and louder, and then I saw Darren and Silas fighting. Nolan and Rhys were down. As Darren stabbed Silas's arm, Silas grabbed his bracelet before falling, causing us to take back our flag.

"Congratulations, you took back your flag. Let me take it back from you now," Darren said with a scary smile on his face. Silas's face was full of fear. I sighed and walked towards them. He turned towards me as he heard my movements.

"You are still here?" Darren asked in shock. I didn't answer. I just walked toward him.

"If you think that being silent is going to scare me, then you are all wrong, sweetie!" He said as he lunged at me. His movements were quick but not quick enough to catch me off guard. I sidestepped, my actions automatic, muscle memory from countless hours of training. Grabbing his wrist, I twisted sharply, flipping him over onto the ground. His back hit the sand with a thud that echoed my own racing heartbeat.

For a brief moment, Darren looked up at me, confusion and anger mingling in his eyes. I didn't wait for him to recover, dropping to my knees beside him and pinning him down with one arm. My other hand formed a fist that I drove into his shoulder, not enough to cause real damage but sufficient to pin him to the spot.

"You have no idea," I hissed, each word punctuated with another punch, soft enough not to trigger the suit's injury protocols but hard enough to make my point. "You have no idea what it's like."

As I rained down punches on Darren, each one fueled by the pain and anger I had kept bottled up for so long, I could feel his helmet starting to crack under the onslaught. At first, it was just a small fracture, a hairline spiderweb spreading across the surface. But with each subsequent blow, the cracks deepened and widened, pieces of the helmet starting to splinter and fall away.

Darren's eyes widened in shock and fear as he realized what was happening. He struggled harder, trying to twist out of my grip, but I held on with a strength born of desperation and fury. "Stop!" he gasped, his voice muffled by the failing helmet. "What you are doing is against the rules!"

But I was beyond reason, beyond mercy. My vision started to get darker as I could feel the white-hot rage coursing through my veins. "You shouldn't have pushed me," I growled, my voice barely recognizable to my own ears. "You shouldn't have made me feel like I was nothing."

With one final, mighty blow, Darren's helmet shattered completely, the fragments falling away to reveal his face. He stared up at me, his expression a mix of terror and disbelief as if he couldn't quite comprehend the monster he had unleashed. I raised my fist and continued to punch him.

"You think it's so easy?" I continued, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. Hot tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision, but I refused to relinquish my grip on Darren. "To just sit back and take it? To pretend like everything is fine when your world is crumbling around you?" The questions tumbled out of me, each one a razor-sharp accusation that cut through the façade I had maintained for so long.

I thought about all the times I had forced a smile, pretending that their cruel words and actions didn't faze me. I remembered the countless moments I had bitten back my retorts, swallowing my pride and my pain for the sake of fitting in. But now, as I let my fists do the talking, I realized the true cost of my silence. By not fighting back, by not standing up for myself, I had allowed them to chip away at my sense of self-worth, piece by piece.

Visions passed in front of me. The student smiled, and the teacher showed joy toward me when I got hurt. No one cared, no one helped. The worst part was that they forbade me to fight back.

"Why, why? WHY!" I yelled as my vision got blacker and blacker. Rage rose within me, and my thoughts were a mess. Darren tried to squirm away, but I shifted my weight, keeping him immobilized. "Stop," he grunted, pain and bewilderment in his voice. I didn't listen, I continued to hit him. I heard screams; many notifications came to my helmet's visualizer. I didn't care, I continued to hit him as I cried. Every punch, every blow, and every blood coming out of his face gave me a strange relief; happiness is what I felt. Suddenly, someone grabbed me from my armpit and took me away from him.

"Let go, let me go!" I screamed as I felt a slap on my face.

"What the hell were you doing!" Nolan yelled at me. My vision was blurry, but darkness started to fade away. "You are expelled from the game!"

I looked at him and tried to understand what he meant. Then looked around. The desert was long gone; we had won, but there was not a single cheer for us. I only heard yells and boos towards me. Saying that I should be taken out immediately. Then I saw my face in the sky, saying that I was expelled. I giggled, then laughed. A wicked, empty laugh. Rhys, who was holding me, let me go. They were looking at me in fear as I laughed.

"What is wrong with you!" A girl yelled at me. I looked at her. "You are a monster! How can you just hit him like-"

My laughs cut her sentence as they got louder.

"Bumble, I think you should leave," Freya said as she got closer to me. I pushed her away, causing her to fall. Rhys pushed me back.

"What is your deal?" He yelled this time. Everyone was watching, their faces a mixture of fear, confusion, and anger.

"My deal?" I repeated, my voice suddenly quiet, almost a whisper. My eyes scanned the faces around me, each one a reminder of the isolation I felt. "You want to know my deal?" My voice started to rise, gaining strength with each word. "Do you have any idea what it's like? To be alone, to be labeled as an outsider? To be targeted, day after day, just because you protected someone and not be able to do a damn thing about it because you're so afraid of losing the tiny bit of safety you have in here?" Tears streamed down my face now, hot and fierce. They all looked at me with confusion. "I've been alone since the day I arrived. Not a single hand reached out unless it benefitted someone. You—" I pointed at Rhys, then at each of them, my finger trembling, "you stood by. You all watched as he and his horrible friends took me away, hurt me, punched me, and the next day, you acted like everything was fricking all right!"

Then, I turned toward the girl harshly. My movement made her jump. She and some of her friends, except Jade, Frank, and Darren, looked at me with fear. Jade's eyes were shining with expectation. I smiled as usual and walked toward the girl who called me a monster. "And now you call me a monster because I've stopped being the quiet? To finally stand up for myself?"

I took a breath, the rawness of my throat mirroring the rawness in my chest. "You're scared because I finally showed what happens when you push someone too far. You're scared because it reflects what each of you hides inside—a capacity for cruelty, for indifference."

"Bumble, stop, please," Silas pleaded.

"And you," I turned towards him, my voice dripping with betrayal. "I thought… I hoped that maybe, just maybe, you were different. That we had each other's backs. But the moment things got tough, the moment I needed you, you stayed away from me like everyone else. You left me to face it all alone."

I let out a laugh, but it was a broken sound. "I was a fool. A fool to think that I could ever be friends with you, that I could ever belong."

I turn back to the crowd, my gaze sweeping over them. "So go ahead, judge me. Hate me. Cast me out. I don't care anymore. Because I'm done. I'm done trying to hold back against your lousy and unfair system. I once believed that humans are supposed to stick together to help each other. But you dimwits are just, just, power hunger people!"

I'm breathing hard, my heart pounding in my ears. The arena is silent—so silent that you could hear a pin drop.

And then, cutting through the stillness, a voice. "Bumble."

I turned my face towards the exit door of the arena and saw Alaric standing there. His eyes are locked on mine, and in them, I see everything I'm feeling reflected back at me - the pain, the anger, but also the love, the understanding. He, for the first time, reached his hand out to me. "Come on, let's go."

A hiccup escaped from my lips, and I started to walk toward him. My walks then turned to running, and I hugged him tightly.

"Sorry," I whispered as I cried. "I'm so sorry."

"Shh," he said as he caressed my head. "I've got you," he whispers. "Let's go home."

Home. The word is a balm, a promise of safety and acceptance. I nod, letting him lead me away, leaving behind the stares, the whispers, the cruelty.

I didn't know what comes next. I didn't know if I'd ever be able to forgive, to trust again. But as Alaric's hand grips mine, warm and steady, I know one thing for certain.

I'm not alone, I thought. I was never alone.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.