“Wow, I really feel like we’re playing a real-life video game. Too bad we didn’t figure this out at the beginning of this road,” Zeke points out.
“Well, hopefully it will help with the next two levels,” I say. Before I can say anything else, the house starts shaking, and we book it out as fast as possible, grabbing our gear as we go.
Thankfully, we already had everything prepared beforehand, just in case this happened.
CHAPTER 32
Level Six-Killer Game
Rez
“Who’s sick idea is this?” Lynx asks as we look at the battleground before us.
“My guess is Beleth’s,” I respond. The chaotic landscape fills me with dread. And as I look around, I groan. “And why are we split up again?” I stomp my foot in anger. Once again, my group has been separated, and I’m with Lynx, Knots, Ryker, JP, and Reaper.
We’re standing on a hill scattered with skulls, scorched earth, and smoke coming from the ground, with a small hut behind us displaying a glowing blue flag that seems to be acting as a beacon shooting into the air.Well, there’s no way to hide that from anyone.Spinning around, I spot the corresponding red beam of light across the field.That must be where the other flag is.
There are various tree stumps, graveyards, bonfires, huts, trees, paths, ponds, and fences between the two huts.
Wow, talk about a battlefield.Damaged and rusted weapons lie discarded next to bodies at different stages of decay, and pools of blood are spread across the grounds.
“So what is this supposed to be?” Knots asks, stepping closer to the flag.
“I think it’s Capture the Flag,” I reply, picking up on the similarities to a game I used to play online, though with much more blood and gore.
‘Welcome to Level Six and my domain,’a low and growly voice rings out inside my head, pulling my attention away from Knots and the flag.‘There is no escape from Death, but there is a limit, and you must win. Do you have the courage to face one-thousand deaths in two hours? Or will you spend eternity with me? Make no mistake, you not only have to survive but also win your games here.’
A loud ding rings out, and a bright light flares in the sky, pulling my eyes to the boards where there are two clocks: one with our two-hour countdown and another with fifteen minutes. Three short horn blasts ring out, and a roar echoes from the hut across the field, preceding an orc running out swinging a battle axe.
“What’s the odds that he’s the only one we have to go up against?” Lynx cocks an eyebrow.
Before anyone can answer, a swarm of enemies comes rushing out of a structure I didn’t notice off to the side of the hut.
“Why is it we’re always up against impossible odds?” Lynx groans.
“We’re in Hell. It comes with the territory,” Ryker imparts, pulling his knives.
“Well, let’s go play a killer game.” Knots takes off, jogging towards the mob of creatures.
Killer game, yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of.
I take a step to run after Knots and jerk back as a searing pain blooms from my left breast. Grabbing at my chest, I find an arrow sticking out of my leathers and blood pouring out of my wound. Dropping to my knees, I see the fucker with the bowand arrow up in a little tree structure, nocking another arrow. Before I can fall completely, the last thing I see is another arrow spiraling toward my eyes before lights out.
My eyes shoot open at the searing pain throughout my body as I gulp in a breath of air. What the hell? I’m alive? Is that what Beleth meant by one-thousand deaths? I wasn’t expecting that, nor the pain of dying.Fuck that hurt.I rub the phantom pain at my breast and scowl with a slight shake of my head.I wonder if that asshole could have gone through my shield.Quickly donning said shield, I start panting as I catch my breath.Wow. Why am I having such a hard time reaching my magic to make my shield?I sit up and look around, noticing I have respawned in a graveyard, and beyond that is the chaotic battlefield. Knots’ blue wings catch my eyes as he hacks away at enemies like he’s buttering toast.
Red streaks fly across the ground, and taking a closer look, I realize Lynx, in his cheetah form, is running back to our home base with the enemy’s flag attached to him.Sweet!I quickly place a shield around both of them while my death is fresh on my mind, hoping it gives them a little protection in this deadly game, but who knows since the whole of this is dealing with 1,000 deaths. I feel another twinge in my side after placing their shield but breathe through the awkward feeling. Maybe I need to replenish my magic like Mages need to.
JP’s perched on a stump, shooting down enemies in Lynx’s way with his water arrows like the boss he is, and I add my shield to him as well. There’s no sign of Ryker, so he’s either stealth-moding his way around here or he’s resurrecting somewhere on this battlefield. I’ll apply a shield to him when I see him next.
As my pain subsides, I’m able to gather myself and hit the field with my glaives. As the guys take on a more aggressive fighting stance, I’ve decided to take a subtle approach as I hide behind a bush and scope out my target. I want that bastard's bow and arrows that took me out.Now, only to find him from here.
Thwack.
Ryker tumbles ten feet in front of me, an arrow pierced in his back.Where the hell was he?His body slightly shimmers before it disappears, and I realize he had up a glamor for the enemy. I was so concerned with looking for the enemy that I overlooked him. I can normally see through his glamour, but obviously Beleth’s fucking with our dynamic. If I hadn’t died and reappeared in the graveyard, that sight would have shocked me, but knowing he’ll be okay allows me to focus on the shooter. To the left, in the tree, I catch a glint and see the fucker that got me too.
‘JP, sniper at three o’clock,’I call out to him in my mind, hoping he’s still taking calls. I snicker to myself, picturing a tiny JP secretary picking up the phone and taking a message.Come on, Rez. Get your mind in the game,I chastise myself before running from my hiding spot to the tree’s base. Peering around the trunk, I catch the tail end of JP’s water arrow spinning through the air and hear thethwompas a body crashes to the ground in front of me.
Well, that’s convenient. Now, to find a way up into that structure. Circling around the tree, I find a makeshift ladder made out of rope and climb up, easing into the small platform to discover the bow and quiver of arrows on the floor.Jackpot.
