Terror Infinity Side B

Chapter 5, HxH Greed Island

It was time to go.

We had all spent enough time in this cramped room and we needed to start the mission, yet I needed to talk to my comrades first. I told the Newbies to go on ahead without us. This included trial members Renji and Kisara, and I had Connor escort them out the room. The Newbies were curious as to why, but none of them had the standing in Team Japan to question us. This was just a conversation between office Players of Team Japan. Connor was an official member, yet since he doesn't talk much and could be told later it was okay if he was not here.

Shin: "Do any of you here have any issues with the way I'm treating the New Players? You’re my important comrades, so what you all say matters."

Hikari: "I think that you've handed them wonderfully... even if you looked at that Kisara woman too much. They also don't seem to be that impressive, or members of the Four Pillars. We can trust them for the moment as they weren't pushed into despair like last time."

Aqua: "I also have no problems with how you handed them Shin... but I wish we didn't have to deal with them. Actually, the best method is to cut off their limbs and leave them here. We don't have the energy to take care of powerless newbies when we encounter the other team... this is the most rational method."

Hikari: "That's far too much, Aqua."

Kampa: "No. Aqua may be right. This is the rule of the battlefield. They are still not our comrades. It's not worth it if the six of us die trying to save them... and we also can't give them to the other team. Otherwise we will be at -10 Team Battle Points or Negative twenty-thousand Points if they all get killed. Then we will have to kill ten of Team Germany's people to even it out."

Misaki: "I somewhat agree with Kampa, but..."

Shuai: "I know what you mean. They're a liability, yet I have – no we have all been on the side of the powerless when we first arrive here."

I saw the conflicted thoughts of my comrades and we considered taking a vote. It was harsh, but if it looked like we couldn't avoid a battle with Team Germany... with the exception of Renji and Kisara, should we kill off the newbies at that time, or let them live and take their chances? I didn't even want to actually go through with this kind of vote, and it was then that Jin gave his impute.

Jin: "There's another option. We can have the Newbies act as bait. They can't protect themselves and, not counting Kisara and Renji, they are worth 16,000 points and eight C rank rewards to Team Germany, and a Team Battle Point each for the team, so they are ideal bait to draw out Team Germany into an ambush. We keep them in reserve as bait. This is a logical strategy in case we decide to face Team Germany and crush them in one move."

Hikari: "Jin your plan more diabolical than Aqua's plan to just leave them as stumpy torsos on the ground. Also, we're going with the assumption that we won't be fighting them. Defeat Bomber and find a place to hole ourselves up for the last thirty days of Greed Island."

Jin: "It can't be helped that we consider the possibility, right? What if we can't find a stronghold to hide in? If the other team has more people us, better equipment, and are more powerful than our strongest members Shin and Aqua, then why wouldn't they want to attack us? Even if they don't attack you in the beginning and we come to an agreement, how can you be sure they don't do it in the rest of the mission? Instead of risking our lives when they finally attack, why don't we use them as bait instead?"

Jin made a good point, yet for the time being we pushed this issue to the side for now. We still went down the path of avoiding Team Germany, but if it is impossible for us to avoid them... Jin's plan will allow the core members of Team Japan a higher chance of survival.

Shin: "Like what was etched on that gold tablet: Cruelty, justice, or evil might not exist in this dimension... only one team can survive till the end. If you don't want to die then surpass your limits and evolve!"

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To catch up with the others we finally left the room all players begin in at the Greed Island Starting Point and walked through the hallway. Like the small room from before, the hall carried that sci-fi'ish look as well and there were beeping sounds on top of that. Anyone who didn't know better would unconsciously accept the idea they were in a game.

Renji: "Leader! Everyone! What took you so long?"

The door on the other side of the hallway had already been open and the rest were waiting there. Connor, Renji and Kisara, and the others were gathered around an unmoving individual sitting on a floating chair. This person's name was Eeta. Eeta stood motionless as the newbies kept bombarding her with questions that weren't being answered. There were stairs leading down in the room where the players exit into the fresh air of Greed Island, yet a force field kept anyone from going down the steps.

Shin: "What's going on?"

Connor: “The lady won't talk unless we're all here. She spoke a few sentences about all of us being present before she can begin the introduction and then she stopped talking."

Renji: "Yeah. Now that we're all together we can finally begin."

Renji was right on the money. At that moment Eeta, who had stayed as still as a statue, moved into motion. One by one she looked at both the Players and Newbies and gently smiled.

Eeta: "Good. All eighteen special players have been confirmed. Welcome. I've been waiting for you."

Aqua: "For us?"

Eeta: "Yes. An individual named G.O.D has made contact with us Game Masters of Greed Island. As per his request, the eighteen of you will be the one of two special teams of new players to participate in Greed Island. And as such there is a special rule I must convey before we start."

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Shuai: "One of two teams? That's-"

Shin: "Not now Shuai. Let her finish before we get into that."

Eeta: "The first rule for you special teams is this. The G.I Rings. Here."

Eeta extended her right hand and three golden rings materialize into existence out of thin air. From there a tiny amount of Aura shrouded the three ring and they floated towards us. By coincidence the rings hovered over to me and dropped into my palm.

Eeta: "As a special team you will be treated as both individuals and as a group. You will be given only three G.I Rings, yet each of you will be able to collect cards. When a non-ring holder of your team acquires a Designated Pocket Card, or a Spell Card that isn't given to a ring holder, then they will be transferred into the Books of any of the holders of a G.I Ring. If you don't specifically say who the card will go to within one minute, then they will be randomly assigned."

Jin: "Can non-ring holders use cards?"

Eeta: "Yes you can, but without a G.I Ring all cards in your possessions will automatically be transferred to a ring holder within sixty seconds no matter what, so please keep this in mind. Also, if there's no room in any of the Binders of the three ring holders, the cards you pick up will be automatically destroyed on contact."

Jin: "Interesting. What about stealing cards? We haven't heard the rules from you yet, but we know G.I Ring holders can kill others and steal cards. Does this also apply to non-ring holders?"

Eeta: "This new rule applies to all humans on Greed Island. It's a new game rule established a while ago when the popularity of Greed Island declined. Anyone with a G.I Ring can steal cards from another by killing them. All Designated Pocket Cards will be directly entered into a players Binder along with half their Spell Cards. From there the death of someone in the field like from natural causes or killed by monsters, all Designated Pocket Cards all drop from the site of death and after sixty seconds they will destroy themselves if no one picks them up. Now, to answer your question, only the Pocket Cards will drop if you kill another since you’re not the holder of a ring. Consider a non-ring holder to be an outside force with only some of the benefits of being a player."

Jin: "So it's more effective for a ring holder to kill for cards. In a large and chaotic battle if the holder of a G.I Ring kills a player, then the cards will go directly into the Binder. Should anyone else do so, then the cards will drop for anyone to pick up. What an interesting and deep game this is! Thank you for answering us."

Eeta: "...No problem. It's my job."

Misaki: "So even the residents of this world can tell how strange you are."

Jin: "Hahaha! Even NPCs can see me for the trash that I am. Wait! I can even say NPC on Greed Island and not have it count as a Spoiler. Lucky!"

Shin: "Then just stop pushing your luck Jin."

Eeta: "That's all for the special rules. Would you all like to hear the explanation of the game Greed Island? There will also be a demonstration."

Shin: "Ah, sure. Why-"

Hikari: "No thanks. We’re good. Shin you already explained everything two us. Twice in fact and in great detail. I don't want to hear it a third time."

Shin: "Come on. What's the-"

Eeta: "Acknowledged. Greed Island tutorial is complete. You have all been presented with the bare minimum amount of information. More details are at your disposal can be found within the game. Try and find it. After selecting the three holders of you G.I Ring you may proceed to the island."

And with that Eeta returned to pretending to being another NPC of Greed Island no longer responding to any of us.

Shin: "So... Who wants a ring?"

Kampa: "You decide leader."

Jin: "They should just go with those with the ability to protect their lives. Also, those who will kill the most. As long as you have a G.I Ring you can kill another player and take their cards without picking them up."

Shin: "Okay then. As the leader I've made my choices."

Along with keeping one G.I Ring for himself, Shin called over the two Players he had decided to hand over the remaining two rings to. In the end he gave the remaining G.I Rings to Aqua and Connor and his reasons were simple.

Shin: "I'm the leader who's normally in charge of Quest Items, so it makes sense for me to hold on to one. Aqua is the most veteran and strongest Player. As a main combatant she can take the Cards of others when needed. I gave the last ring to Connor because he is an able fighter and can attack from a distance. He can pick off enemies from afar and protect his ring as it'll be hard for others to kill him. Is there anyone here that disagrees?"

I asked my comrades this and they all agreed with my decision for who would hold onto the G.I Rings. Once finalized, Aqua, Connor, and I (now wearing a third ring) placed the rings on our fingers. The three rings glowed softly for a moment and the next it stopped as Eeta reawakened one last time,

Eeta: "G.I Rings fitted. Beginning registry. Players Shin, Aqua, and Connor have been registered as the holders of the three G.I Rings. Please do not lose them. You may now use the stairs. Lastly, good luck on your quest and have fun playing our game, Greed Island!"

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Proofread by Hoebagger

From here on out in this arc certain terms will be used. "Player" used to mean the members of a team/veterans, but for now that'll change.

Official/Veteran/Core Member = A Player of Team Japan of more then one mission.

Trial Member = A Newbie who has joined the core members of Team Japan.

Newbie = New Player who have not become trial members.

player = a Nen User of Greed Island