I enjoyed every second of the booming loud music; the flashing neon lights and the smell of marijuana in the air.
“This. Is what I love.”
I couldn’t help but think, I've been here high out of mind for at least the past 24/hrs. and some reason I wasn’t tried at all. I’m guessing this one of the perks of being a part of these games. Maybe the goddess granted us some sort of ability to not need sleep or something.
I didn’t know, but this was the best explanation I could think of.
And this whole time, I kept glancing over at the tv mounted to the wall. Displaying on the screen was the very game show I was a part of.
[Celestial TV]
And I watched all 99 of the other contestants make their appearance. Just like mine when I was thrown against those creatures. If I'd known an audience was watching, I would've kept my composure better. But...it’s a little too late for that now.
Compared to the other contestants, I was nothing special. I was probably the weakest. The majority of them seemed to be experienced and battle-hardened. There were only maybe like 10-15 others as average as me. Even then, they were probably still stronger.
“You’re right about the sleep thing.” a voice came from my side.
I didn’t have to look to know it was Samantha. I could practically see her bright aura shine from the corner of my eyes.
“Can’t have the contestants feeling any sort of fatigue from lack of sleep. I need all of you ready to play the game at all times. So yes, I blessed all of you, so that you won’t need sleep for the time being.”
“Yeah, that would make sense.” I nodded.
“And don’t worry about feeling weaker than the other contestants. I’ve seen desperate people discover strength they didn’t know they had. The kind of strength you only find when going through challenge.”
Words of wisdom, or something. The kind of thing you’d expect from a goddess. I let her words sink in but, I didn’t care about finding my strength. I can accept that I’m not strong. But I could say one thing for sure, I wasn’t going to be the first one to go down.
Samantha nearly jumped out of her seat, glancing at the tv screen.
“It’s time. We get everyone's ranking.”
A man with angelic-white wings, as well as a spotless white suit , stood on screen. Classy black shades to go with his gleaming smile.
[ Host Maximilian: Welcome Everybody, watching these entrances sure is the best part of the getting these days started. We say some impressive performances, but it’s time for the rankings. To the lovely audience, be sure to place your best before the games official begins. And now, we will display the starting ranks of our contestants. Hopefully this will aid in your decision. ]
I watched the rankings slide across the screen, all the way from number 100, to a hundred. All the other names and ranking didn’t matter, the first one i searched for was mine. It was nowhere to be found, till my eyes reach number 90. There i was, sitting with a sad score of 11 points.
‘Well...At least I’m not at the very bottom.’
She clapped her hands together repeatedly, loudly and full of joy.
“You know what time it is, right?!” she asked with exitement.
I couldn’t read mind like her, but I could make a guess. A guess that I didn’t even have to say out loud.
“Corrrrrect!” she snapped her fingers, “Now that all the contestants are here, it’s time the games really begin.”
The more i foundmyself lost in her joyfull smile, the more i could sense something dark about her. Like an uneasy feeling sturck my gut. I could almost see her smile turn into a dark grin, and a glint of red in her eyes, even if it was just for a second. But in that second, I saw semthing.
I tried to play it off, but i just couldn’t. I shivered from goosebumps all over my body, and the hairs on the back of my neck jumped up. Couldn't help but almost stumble back.
‘I have a bad feeling about this.’
Luckily, this was one of the rare times she couldn’t read me. Or maybe she was pretending, I didn’t know for sure.
But one day I would find out, she probably would’ve ended my entire existence if she knew what I saw in her. I could almost see a flash, a flash of a memory I never made, a flash of a memory that didn’t happen. Or at least, it didn't’ happen yet. Just that one second felt like an hour, I watched myself laying on my back, my chest cut open, and the lifeless bodies of other people all around me, dismembered and brutally killed off. I watched the goddesses wide; sinister smile gets closer with every step she took. It wasn’t clear if she was the one responsible for this scene, but I had felt the feeling of certain death approaching with her figure, a death that would erase me from every world.
“What’s wrong?” Samantha asked.
Her question snapped me out of thought and back to this very moment.
“...Nothing...Just...I guess...”
I stuttered, more and more, but I couldn’t really form a sentence that had meaning. All while she started at me, waiting patiently for me to finally spit something out.
“...So, what about the games? I think I’m about ready to get started.” I shifted the topic.
To which she raised her finger up in the air, “Don’t worry. We’re getting to that right now.”
Host Maximilian's gleaming smile spread out, for the hundreds, or maybe millions of celestial viewers that were watching. Surely, all of them were watching intently as the first level of the games was premiering.
“I know you all have waited long enough. So, you will wait no longer. Here I am to reveal the news you’ve all been waiting for. As of this moment, the games will officially begin! Now, let me tell you little about this first challenge for our brave contestants.”
Here’s when it went downhill, with the first, devastating, and mentally draining challenge. But it was the first of many to come.
“As you all know, from previous games that our contestants start out with 3 lives. This time around, we’re doing something different.”
The mood shifted, just like his expression, from smiling to dark, “Those extra lives won’t come in till after this challenge. For this here first level, you’ll have to fight through enemies, and overcome obstacles, all with only one life.”
A twist like that was kind of cruel. We came in with the expectations of having our 3 lives from the start. Surely couldn't get worse.
“And that’s not all!” Maximillian added, “And if you die here in level one, you will not be receiving your wishes. So, to any contestants listening in right now, remember to give it your all and show us some exiting blood splatter. It may be the first level, but we CAN promise it is NOT the easiest.”
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Last but not least, the good news. Which was news in of itself, I didn’t expect any good news here.
Maximiliian lowers is shades and smiled at the camera.
“But don’t you panic just yet, contestants. You will be put into placed of three, to help you overcome these first challenges with some help. Because you are GOING to need it. At the end of it all, the team with the highest total score will be called upon to face the big boss of level one. Details not to be revealed until later.”
Clenched his fist and stuck it into the air. With one final message, “Let these Celestiallll games BEGIN!” The cameras' switched onto the contestant, each channel of Celestial Tv covering a different team.
And I wonder what the audience thought of mine.
To my left, was the annoying smacking of gum coming from this girl's mouth. She was a stereo typical goth chick for the most part. She had on Black lipstick, black hair, a black skirt and black combat boots. [Lisa Woods #85]
Anddd to my right, was a guy who looked like he had no clue what planet he was son. To be fair, neither did I so I guess i couldn’t really say much. Long red hair and big round glasses, he seemed like your ordinary high-school student. [Oliver Hendrick #95]
And if was judging a book by its cover here, I’d say he’s probably the type to stay inside most of the day and play video games.
How do I know that? Because I do the same thing sort of.
And the three of us together didn’t look very promising when thinking about how the other teams probably looked.
All of our eyes gazed at the big round table before us. A table with a variety of weapons scattered across it. Blades, swords, a couple grenades, crossbows, crowbars, lots of things. There was even a revolver, which was my go-to. Without giving it another thought, I placed it in my pants and went ahead and grabbed a manchette as well....and of course, I couldn’t forget about those grenades, I went ahead and slipped one into my pocket.
But while I was getting ready, the other two were still looking at the table, fingers on their chins, clearly indecisive.
Till Oliver looked over at me.
“Hey...I’m sorry if I’m overstepping by asking this but, you don’t think I can have that gun by chance?” he asked, an awkward smile, “It’s just, I have like no fighting experience...and i don’t wanna hold you the team back. So, maybe I’d do better with a gun...you know?”
I could almost see his point but...if you never shot a gun, I wouldn’t trust you to use one around me. And I’m betting he’s never actually shot one.
“Sorry...the gun stays with me...”
“Oh...that’s okay I guess.”
He let it go pretty easily, but it seemed like Lisa had something to say about it.
“If anything. The gun should go to me. I’m the woman here. I’m not as capable you men would be with a bat or a manchette.”
Be sighed and let out a little laugh, “But honestly, I couldn’t care less. I’m fine with this pretty baby right here.”
She lifted a sledgehammer off the table, which I’m guessing wasn’t exactly light-wight. Still, her shoulders carried it like it wasn’t nearly heavy enough.
Seemed like two of us had our weapons figured out, now all that was left was for Oliver to choose. But he still stared indecisively at the table, glancing over at me with sad puppy eyes every once in a while.
And eventually, i gave him and just placed the revolver in his hands.
“...Here.” I sighed, “Just take it.... Please don’t make me regret it.”
His lips curve into a joyful smile and his eyes lightened up at the sight of it.
“Thank you so much! I promise I won’t let you down.”
“Yeah, yeah...I hope not.”
Lisa rolled her eyes and shouted, “Just hurry up! The other teams are probably kicking ass right now.”
Each of us with a weapon in hand, me shoved the double doors open and walked through. On the other side, we set foot on a massive bridge that stretched out at least a couple hundred feet. And it led to one big cathedral.
“OHHH, I LOVE ITTT!!!” Lisa jumped up and down, even with that giant sledgehammer over her shoulder, “It’s so gothic.”
I could see why she would be thrilled about the scenery, but the emerging threats weren’t that thrilling to look at. Climbing over from over the ledge, people appeared one by one, setting foot on the bridge. Each one of them wearing a gas mask, each one of them wilding blunt weapons.
Before we knew it, there were at least ten of them blocking our path. And the only way through was to fight.
“Welp...here we go.” I tightened my grip on the manchette and took the first step forward.
“Don't worry, that’s why I have this.” Oliver shouted. He stuck out his arms and aimr down sights with the revolver, fast and carlessly, he let off a shot.
BAM!
And to my surprise, I watched as one of the men was hit stright through the face, his head flinging back, his body dropping to the ground.
‘Oh shit’
It was a good shot no doubt, better than I expected. But right after the recoil, he left off another shot. I watched, but nobody else fell in agony. Instead, a burning, piercing, agonizing pain shot through my shoulder. It felt as if my shoulder bone just split apart and crumble from the inside.
My legs buckled and I fell to my knees.
“I knew it!”
I had been shot.
“Oh no! I”m soo sorry!! I’m so so sooo sorry! I was aiming for them!”
“...Could’ve fooled me!” I held my shoulder as my wound oozed out blood, “OWWW! Can’t believe you really shot me...”
“I told you I didn’t mean to!!”
“As soon as i handed it to you, I just KNEW I was going to regret it.”
It was far the worse pain i had ever felt. As far as physical pain goes...
A disappointed and tiresome breath flew from Lisa’s lips, “Wow, classic.” she rolled her eyes before rasing her voice, “You idiot! It’s gonna take the three of us to fight through this.” she gestured at the wave of enemies, just waiting on us to come forward.
And here I was, probably gonna bleed out while they argued.
I said I was SORRY!” Oliver stomped. And as he did, he had a little slip of the trigger,
Then, BAM!
Another sizzling hot, piercing pain blasted through my other shoulder this time. The pain was just as bad, but i accepted it and just feel flat on my back. My muscles tensed up in agony, but I was far too disappointed to say a single thing.
‘Shit...is this really how I get eliminated?...By my own teammate...classic....’
“You went and shot him again!!!” Lisa shouted, “Just give me the damn gun at this point!!” she snacthed it out of his hand and aimed it at the crowd of enemies.
Three trigger pulls, three shots, three enemies fell to the ground, holding their chests as they began to leak blood.
Click click!
As soon as the gun was empty, she tossed it the ground and lifted her sledgehammer, watching as the enemies started to storm us, no longer waiting on us to act first.
“Now, you should probably grab Kuro’s machette and help me out! Or all three of us aren’t making it past this bridge.”
Without another thought, Oliver ran over tand picked up the machete that was by my side, quickly rushing to Lisa’s aid right after.
With no way of helping, I was stuck watching the whole thing unfold.
The first guy that charged Lisa was met with a sledgehammer to his knee, and when he fell, she brough it down on his skull, brain matter splattering around. And the next guy took it to the stomach, then to the back of the neck.
But one good angle got the better of her, she was tacked to the ground, and in moments, she was being kicked and beaten.
“Off of her!”
Oliver swooped in and gave a good wing with the machete. Its blade sliced right through a man’s arm, leaving both of them screaming. In in pain, the other in shock. Took him a second, but he following up with a slash to the guy’s throat, leaving another enemy dead.
But Oliver was overcome soon after. A bat to the nose knocked him flat. He was hit hard enough that it pretty much guaranteed his elimination.
I watched him, unable to fight back as one of the men climbed on top of him, and wrapping his hands around Oliver throat. Second by second, the man’s grip grew stronger, cutting off Olivers air supply, bringing him closer to death. His face began to change color as he desperately slapped away at the man’s wrists, hoping to get some air even just a second.
But he wasn’t going to get that much needed air unless Lisa could help him, but she was on the verge of being eliminated herself. The only that wasn’t getting beaten right now was me, but I had two bullets in my shoulder, so I was waiting to lose concioness any second now.
Still, before i leave. I had to something...right?
I gathered whatever strength I had left, and i used to climb to my feet, using the bridge walls as leverage.
“Look here!” I shouted. My hands pulled the grenade from my pocket and my finger pulled the pin, “I’m losing either war. So I guess I might as well go out in style. I’ll play all of us up, together.
Each and every one of these gasmask-wearing stopped in their tracks and gave me their fullest attention.
I took one step forward. And that’s all it took for them to turn the other way in a panic, rushing away hoping to avoid the explosion. But it was sonly when they were a good distance away and close together than I let go of the handle and tossed the grenade in the center of their crowd.
A fireball erupted, bodies blew apart, their remains either painted the bridge or fell down into the river below.
And with that finale, I collapsed. My vison blurred and could feel my consciousness slipping away.
Chapter End Statistics
Kuro
Ranking: # 90 | Kills This Level: 7 | All Time Kills: 11 | Score: +21
Lisa
Ranking: #85 | Kills This Level: 5 | All Time Kills: 8 | Score: +6
Oliver
Ranking: #95 | Kills This Level: 2 | All-Time Kills: 3 | Score: +5