While pulling a golden spear out of a lifeless body, Lennon yelled. It was a guttural, deep battlecry, the type of shout best defined as wild. Around him, mangled corpses sprawled over snapped twigs and dead leaves, most of them with eyes frozen in shock. Some of the bodies slumped against trees, others piled on top of each other.
"Almost there!" Lennon boomed.
"Almost there!" a small group of mercenaries repeated behind him, raising their swords and staffs in the air.
Lennon turned to his comrades as the golden spear vanished. His eyes softened. "Ladies and gentlemen, on the other side of that river, our enemies flee. They run and run and run, pointlessly delaying the inevitable. On the other side of that river is a motherfucker we have been chasing for months! And finally... I'm proud to say..."
The pause created a ripple of excitement. Men and women wearing filthy armour stared through their helmets, eyes glowing with glee.
"... by tomorrow, his head will be ours!"
The mercenaries cheered. One of them danced goofily causing others to laugh. It was almost as if the sea of dead bodies around them ceased to exist.
"Inspiring, crazy monologue?" asked Anya, the captain who was second in command. Instead of wearing heavy steel-plated armour like the others, she wore dark blue wizard robes and a fancy dark blue hat.
"No, shut up. Let's go."
Anya laughed, twirling a blue staff in one hand. "Monologue, monologue, monologue!"
Two mercenaries copied her and then they were all chanting it. Lennon raised a hand in the air, signalling for them to stop. He had developed the habit of giving spontaneous speeches after battles and now his comrades wanted them to be a thing. They had never been for anyone but himself and were simply a way to vent or remind himself of what was important. He preferred for it not to be some silly tradition but he also didn't want to lessen the group's high morale.
"Fuck it. Fine."
The mercenaries cheered yet again.
"For you guys, this is just another day at work where we're hunting down another sucker with a bounty on their head. But for me..." Lennon tapped his chest plate lightly. "This job is special. Very, very, very special. You see, I'm not from this world and neither is our target. Once upon a time, I used to live a pretty chill life until I fell into a coma. I was reincarnated into this shitty world without Wi-Fi and the only way I can get back home is if I become the last one standing out of 1000 other contestants. In other words, by killing this little shit, I'll be one step closer to going home and seeing my family again and getting my custom PC back. It was so high-end, that was my baby. And I was extremely close to finishing my independent video game as well which I spent almost six years on. Now, I'm not saying it's a masterpiece but it's the first time in my life I pursued something I was passionate about instead of spending two decades in a career I secretly loathed. Fuck engineering! Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
Anya rested a hand on Lennon's shoulder. "I don't understand most of what you just said. But we've got your back, leader."
----------------------------------------
The group set up camp between a tall tree and a sturdy boulder under a starry night sky.
Mesmerized, Lennon stared at the campfire that crackled with every ember vanishing into the wind. He watched in simple appreciation at his fluffy marshmallow which started browning in the warmth of the fire. Fireflies intermittently filled the air, as if the stars made the journey down to earth to share the peaceful moment. Laughter and conversation surrounded him.
With 500 contestants of The Half-Dead Game remaining, tensions between competitors had never been higher. The halfway stage had been reached and the top 50 players were making bold moves, causing mayhem and chaos around the world. Most contestants avoided Lennon like the plague. Initially, his playstyle had been passive but gradually became more aggressive as his confidence began to grow. He was currently ranked number eight on the THDG leaderboard with multiple kills under his belt.
You don't need to do this. Please...
Lennon ignored the pleading words of the first contestant he had slaughtered, focusing on the blissful contrast of the warm fire in his face and the cool breeze gently supporting his back. Guilt and shame used to wash over him whenever the auditory hallucination erupted but nowadays he didn't care.
The reason? He was in too deep. There was too much blood on his hands.
There was only one path remaining for him and it demanded a thirst for war. Only two weeks had passed in Lennon's previous world despite having spent twenty years in the world he was currently in. If he was able to win the game, he could wake up from the coma and pretend that all the murders were part of some sick nightmare.
"Can you tell us something about your previous life?" Hilmar asked. The bulky, ginger-haired man stared at Lennon with sparkling eyes that resembled an excited child.
Before Lennon could even respond, the other mercenaries shouted further requests.
"Yes, give another story!"
"Tell us about aeroplanes and cars again."
"Can you tell us about your video game again? It sounds fascinating but it still makes no sense!"
"Let me think of something new," Lennon said. He tapped the air a few times, bringing up a holographic screen and suddenly a plastic lemonade bottle appeared in his hand. He had bought a batch of them from the THDG store for 30 points which was a steal. The price was practically nothing for most active contestants since killing another player gave you 1000 points. "So we have escalators which are moving staircases that carry people between floors of a building."
Collectively, the mercenaries gasped loudly. Lennon stared at the excited faces with confusion. Out of all the information he had told them, this was what blew their mind the most? Not the advancement of medicine or the unlimited access to information through the internet?
"That's incredible," Hilmar said. "Ingenius technology!"
Anya yawned loudly. "You're overreacting guys. I'm sure any advanced mage such as myself could create such a contraption. To be frankly honest, his world sounds lame without magic. I wouldn't want to live there."
Lennon sipped from his bottle of lemonade. "We get it, we get it. You don't want me to leave the world because you're deeply in love with me. Why not just say it instead of being a hater."
The mercenaries laughed yet Anya stared blankly. "You're not wrong. I'm glad you can take a hint."
Lennon's face reddened, avoiding eye contact. Before he could tactically change the topic, the announcer of The Half-Dead Game spoke. The voice was only audible to contestants so only Lennon could hear it.
Hello, contestants. Today we have an anonymous shout-out for you. The message says the following:
"Lennon Hayne's home village is in Oblique town located north-west of Continent Gold. Have fun!"
Lennon froze. Abruptly, he stood up only to sit back down again and bury his face with his hands. His hands turned sweaty as his heart thumped.
Why?
He knew he had enemies but he didn't see why someone would go to such lengths. Public announcements were very expensive in the Half-Dead Game store, worth 5000 points which was the equivalent of killing five contestants.
"Fuck!" Lennon swore before repeatedly tapping his forehead with a palm. He stormed off and sent a fist flying into a nearby tree. Shattered pieces of bark flew in every direction.
The mercenaries surrounding the campfire stared though didn't seem spooked. Their faces hardened, already latching onto his rage.
Anya gripped his shoulder. "Hey, hey. Calm down. Is it game-related?"
Lennon closed his eyes for a few seconds. When he opened them, his breathing slowed. "Yes. We're leaving. Just you and me." He nodded at the rest of his squad. "Keep the chase up and capture the bounty. As usual, you can split the money equally between yourself but don't kill him. Leave that to me. I'll get an XP boost. Hilmar, you're in charge."
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
All emotion dissipated, including the rage.
Only the mission mattered now.
Protect them. Whatever happens, protect them.
----------------------------------------
The two materialised in the middle of a farmers market near rows of tables covered in potatoes, crates of shiny zucchini, cucumbers and trays of tomatoes.
Teleportation magic was one of the hardest spells to perform. Not only were the incantations long and complex but required an absurd amount of mana to be absorbed from the atmosphere. Most skilled mages could perform them one to four times a day depending on the distance travelled but Anya was an exception. Her mana consumption ability was superhuman, giving her the ability to teleport more than twenty times a day.
Lennon stood tall, not moving an inch. Anya gave him a weird look, raising an eyebrow, though she kept quiet. She had been with him long enough to bother asking questions.
Less than a minute later, a voice rang out.
"Stand still! Do not move! You're under arrest for participating in the Half-Dead Game! If you do not comply with our orders we will have no choice but to eliminate you immediately!"
A group of armed soldiers appeared, forming a circle around them. Civillians scattered.
Leading the pack was a man sitting on a black horse. His face was an artistic blend of deep scars, a mixture of perfect circles, squares and numbers. He was not armed and he wore no armour.
Lennon smiled and waved. "Albert! Finally. Just the man I've been looking for. How's life treating you? Are you still trying to go the lawful chaotic route? I need your help."
Albert cracked his neck from side to side and hopped off the horse. "Archers at the ready."
"Wait, wait! I need one of your protective barriers. It's for innocent civilians! That's what you're supposed to do, right?"
Albert's eyes widened. He made a quick gesture and the archers lowered their weapons. "This is about the announcement, isn't it? You want to protect your village."
Lennon nodded slightly. "Please. This is urgent."
"It's a trap. Whoever made that announcement clearly doesn't want you to be breathing and you know what? I don't blame them. You're a piece of shit. It's okay for you to go on killing sprees but now that someone you care about is in danger you want to start displaying empathy and selflessness? I hate players like you the most. Go on the suicidal mission and die."
Anya covered her mouth with one hand.
Lennon dropped to his knees. "Please. I'm begging you. I can't let this happen."
There was a long silence. All the while, Lennon froze in the vulnerable position, his eyes closed tightly.
He caught a spherical device flying towards him without looking up. "Thank you."
"I don't understand," Albert said, voice cracking slightly. "Why kill so many if you... How can you participate in the game when you love them that much?"
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10 years ago...
Lennon's tiny hands buried deep into the hot sand, fists clenched. He stared out into the ocean and pretended to admire the view in an attempt to distract himself from rising anxiety.
"So you're saying that you were reincarnated into this world and the only way you can go back to your world is if you compete with others in a death game?"
"Yes, mother."
"And you're not Victor, my son, but actually a 30-something-year-old man called Lennon?"
"Yes. I know it's wild. You probably think I'm insane."
"No, not at all. It explains a lot of your behaviour. Besides, no ten-year-old would say that."
Lennon stumbled to his feet, eyes wide with shock. "You really believe me?"
"Almost. You're wrong about one thing. Regardless of your previous life, you are still my boy. I raised you and I gave birth to you and we are still connected by blood." His mother smiled warmly. "If you want to leave the village now, I understand. You can make your own decisions. I won't question further or try to convince you of anything. You must have made up your mind days after being born."
Lennon saw no trace of deception or fear in her eyes. There was a softness behind her words that made him feel accepted and warm inside.
I guess this is what they call unconditional love... I'll cherish this feeling forever. Thank you.
----------------------------------------
Being quite the optimist, Lennon didn't think there was going to be a fight at first.
Perched on the edge of a mossy cliff, he observed a quiet rainforest and waited. Repeatedly, he flipped a golden coin up and down and whistled a popular song from his previous life that he couldn't remember the name of.
Approximately 400 metres south of his location, Anya was casting multiple complex spells to trigger the magical protective barrier. It took several hours to prepare and although it wasn't impenetrable it was very good at blocking out high-level monsters and humans with the evilest of intentions. It was a solid long-term solution for protecting the village.
In the first hour of setting up the barrier, there were no signs of intruders but in the 82nd minute, Lennon heard a faint battlecry followed by a rumble.
Then he saw them. A swarm of at least one hundred soldiers ran across the forest. Lennon gritted his teeth and nodded. "This is my fault," he said loudly to no one in particular. "If I didn't participate, this wouldn't be happening. This is simply a consequence of my actions. There's no one to blame."
He leapt off the cliff, flipping twice before landing on the ground with a loud thud. Slowly, he walked as the golden spear materialised in his hand. The cries of soldiers became louder and louder. Lennon's slow walk shifted into a light jog and then a dash. The golden spear rapidly twirled in his right hand. "There's no one to blame?" he cried before cackling. "Who am I kidding? You're all dead! Every single one of you motherfuckers are dead!" He closed his eyes, drawing as much mana as he could from the atmosphere. His eyes glowed a dark purple.
He bounded forward at a blistering speed and suddenly he was in the heart of battle. Limbs, fingers and detached heads spiralled in the air. Every spear thrust hit its mark, impaling armour and crushing vital organs. Valiant, rage-filled cries were immediately halted with every swing of the golden spear. Lennon took full advantage of the weapon's range, completely decimating anyone before they could get close enough to swing their sword. A row of fire mages covered in crimson robes shot sent a wide wave of fire in his direction. Lennon muttered a quick incantation and a tsunami of water poured out of his free hand. The two elemental spells collided and steam filled the battlefield.
"Stay alert!" a soldier cried.
Lennon's golden spear disappeared. He pressed his palms together and muttered an incantation. Slowly he rubbed them together as lightning danced around his fingertips.
He grinned. I seeeeee you.
He struck the air with his right palm and a bolt of lightning erupted into flesh. A cry rang out. He repeated the lightning palm strikes, gradually increasing the frequency of the attacks. Panic and terror surrounded him as bodies dropped one by one.
The Wind Wave spell blew away the steam, exposing him again.
"Over there!"
He quickly reequipped the golden spear to deflect a barrage of flaming arrows and dashed horizontally to avoid the constant heavy fire. A large boulder soared in his direction. Planning to cut it in half, Lennon leapt towards the boulder but it exploded into shards before he could do so. He grunted as a piece of jagged rock impaled his shoulder.
"I got him!" yelled a mage floating in the air. He grinned, raising an arm triumphantly. "I got him, I got him, I got him!"
Congratulations, Lennon thought, fighting the urge to sarcastically clap slowly. You reset my combo. He jumped over a mountain-shaped man charging at him, bounced off his head, and caught the wizard's robes. He pulled the sharp piece of rock out of his shoulder, ignoring the squirting blood, and stuck it right into the flying mage's skull. Before hitting the ground, he quickly equipped a healing potion from his inventory and drank it. He exhaled while observing the countless enemies still alive. Judging from the look in their eyes, all of them seemed eager to get a piece of him but none of them moved.
Was it fear?
No...
They were thinking, either looking for cracks in his defence or wondering how much he had left in him.
"What are you waiting for!" Lennon roared, spittle flying everywhere. "I'm ready whenever you are!"
----------------------------------------
Lennon's clothing dripped in blood. Some of it was his, and some of it wasn't. His breathing was ragged. Hordes of enemies had fallen. Only two remained.
Anya's words entered his mind telepathically. Almost done. Are you okay?
Lennon ducked and weaved a flurry of wide sword swings before spinning kicking the assailant in the torso. A hail of arrows soared from behind but he muttered a quick incantation and a gust of air blew them away. Casting the spell erupted a migraine, catching him off guard, and the nearest soldier tackled him to the ground. They pinned him down with their knees and wrapped their hands around his neck.
Their eyes bulged.
The golden spear materialised right into the soldier and protruded out of their back. Lennon yanked the weapon out of flesh and hurled it as hard as he could. It soared through the air, impaling the last remaining soldier through the chest.
The battlefield was almost silent. Wings fluttered. Insects whirred and buzzed.
Then a voice droned.
"Wow, I can't believe you came." A blond haired-man with green eyes waved at him as if they were friends. "I didn't think you would care because, you know, you're a mass murderer like me. Typically, we don't tend to have hearts but I'm glad you do. It's quite beautiful to see. Really. Brings a tear to my eye. Congrats on taking down that whole army by the way! That was insane! Good on you."
"Remi," Lennon said. He slowly rose to his feet before coughing violently.
Dozens of armed skeletons materialised, surrounding him. They lunged simultaneously, slashing down with their swords, bones rattling. Lennon leapt high into the air only to see Remi meeting him at eye level, grinning wildly. Before he could react, a vicious kick connected with his body, shattering ribs and catapulting him back down to the ground.
I can't move.
The abnormally high level of mana bubbling in his blood was limiting his physical abilities. He had performed so many spells that the magical substance was working against him, gradually crumbling the muscle tissues in his body. He was out of potions and if he cast any more spells, his body would destroy itself.
Lennon sighed as he watched the skeletons advance. "Well... I regret nothing."
THUD!
Something too quick to be identified smashed into Remi's skull, creating a disgusting, loud squelching sound. His head flew into the air and bounced twice on the ground. The skeletons crumbled into piles of bones.
Lennon reacted seconds late, only jolting after the second bounce. He had actively participated in the most brutal battles, but even he was shook. The attack was so swift and deadly that Remi's body still stood momentarily, completely unaware that it was no longer alive.
Lennon quickly turned away from the attacker, not caring who it was. It didn't matter. No detail mattered when an overwhelming terror threatened to wipe his mind clean. He just wanted to flee. Ignoring the excruciating pain, he dragged his beaten body across the ground with one hand as slow footsteps crunched behind him.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
"No," Lennon whispered. "Not like this... I can't go out like this."
Thud. Thud. Thud.
A rough, scarred hand-picked Lennon up by the neck. "You don't need to do this," he spluttered, helplessly kicking with minuscule strength. "Please..."
His body dropped. Immediately, he gasped for air.
"Begging doesn't suit you," a calm, cold voice responded. "But I haven't forgotten our promise."
Lennon didn't bother looking up because he already knew who it was. Instead, he rolled onto his back and looked up at the night sky. Tears blurred his vision.
If he wasn't dead, then there could be only one explanation. There was only one active contestant in the game who would spare him. The individual was far from an ally but their connection was deep. The average civilian saw them as the typical deplorable criminal twirling his moustache. Bounty hunters saw them as a winning lottery ticket. The creators of the Half-Dead Game viewed them as a fan favourite. Most contestants despised them, wishing they were dead.
Lennon, however, was a little different. He slowly raised a shaking arm and gave the thumbs-up sign. "The Champ makes an entrance."