SURVIVAL 8: LEVEL 1 STAGE 2 – BALL OF RINGS

*bell rings*

We were all surprised by the sudden interruption. A hologram appeared.

"Seems like you are enjoying your games. Pardon me for barging in." It’s Author. "If you are playing games, then you should take it to another step and play a real game!” Just as I thought. We will play again. "Welcome to Wealth Level Stage 2! Wealth Level Stage 2 has been carried out but not yet cleared. None of you was able to take the necklace from Forwen’s neck, which is the goal to clear the stage. To finally clear this stage, another chance is given to you." Author stated. "Proceed to the 5th floor," Author ordered us, and the hologram went off.

We hurriedly ran and went up to the 5th floor. The relatively dark and empty space that looked like a closed parking area has transformed into an indoor covered court with benches on both sides, 2 basketball rings, and balls on either side.

The boys who had previously been in their school uniforms were altered into wearing jerseys and uniformly white-colored rubber shoes. Five boys wore silver jerseys, and the other five boys wore gold jerseys. The number on the back of the jersey is their number names. I checked myself and all the girls are still wearing the same uniform.

Author suddenly appeared in the middle of the court. "First, the boys will play Ball of Rings. 10 boys, divided into two groups. The silver team and gold team. 5 players for each team. This is not your typical basketball game.” Author added. “Indeed, it is 5 versus 5. The goal is to shoot and score as many balls as possible into your opponent’s ring before the time runs out. There are penalties given. 15 minutes will be given before starting.” Then Author disappeared.

I then realized that:

Gold team- Fifzen (15th), Sevenzen (17th), Ninezen (19th), Firstwen (21st), Thirtwen (23rd) came from private high schools

Silver team- First (1st), Third (3rd), Fifth (5th), Seventh (7th), Ninth (9th) came from public high schools

We sat on the left side bleachers painted in silver while the others sat on the opposite side painted with gold. I found out from Fourth that she remembered his twin brother was playing basketball. I talked to Third, and he felt relieved that at least there is one who’s a basketball expert and 2 who play occasionally.

"What about First? Does he know how to play?” Third asked.

I paused for a moment. I turned to my left and saw First on the far side of the bleacher, alone.

"I don't know," That's all I answered.

***

Soon after the boys warmed up, Author appeared again in the middle of the court. The ten players gathered at the court.

"I'll explain first the special mechanics of this extraordinary basketball game. The ball that you are going to use is a special one. Neither made of rubber nor any other ordinary material…”

The ball caught my gaze, which is at the side of a basketball ring. “But it is made of human flesh.”

I couldn't grasp the whole meaning of it. "When touched, dribbled, or shot, it feels like an ordinary ball. Inside a ball, there is a living human organ, and that organ is interconnected to each random player. When the ball is shot by your opponent in your team's ring, the ball that contains a certain organ will affect one of your team member’s organ." My eyes widened. "Unlike in an ordinary game, you will have 5 rounds to play and 5 minutes for each round, a total of 25 minutes. Only 1 minute will be the given time interval per round. The scoring will be based on which team will last and endure the agony of this amicable match... Good luck.”

Author’s hologram disappeared from our sight.

"Players, proceed to the court. I repeat, proceed to the court." Someone or something suddenly spoke. It is a voice of a female. "Position, two teams at the center according to your assigned area.”

Then we saw that the clock timer lit up at the height of each team’s ring. The rings are a bit shorter, about 2.5 meters in height only. The female voice that spoke seemed to be the timer.

"Rules and regulations are lifted. When defied, a certain castigation will be given.”

The middle part of the court opened in a circle, the size of a ball's hole. The ball came out of there, and the floor closed again.

“The game will start in 3, 2,

Every player stared at each other seriously.

1, *whistle *”

The ball jumped voluntarily upwards, and the two teams scattered to catch the ball.

The ball has a dark blue water design in it, so it seems to be moving.

"W-Wait, what's in there?" Aeith asked, standing up to get a good look at the ball being passed around.

"Isn't that..." Fourth held her mouth.

“A liver,” I heard Tenth’s voice.

The liver looks real, and it bounces when dribbled. As Author said earlier, the ball contains an organ.

Our team was the first to steal the ball, led by Seventh. He is good. Fifth and Ninth are great too. Third, on the other hand, he tries to do his part. First doesn’t seem to mind.

Two minutes have passed, and still, no one is able to shoot. *whistle*

"Player Fifzen, rule number 3, defied. Castigation will begin at any moment.”

I looked at the timer, and round 1 - 04:06 minutes is down. Round 1 was about to end.

"Awww!" We stood in shock when we heard Fifzen and saw him lying in the middle of the court holding his left leg. "My leg is sprained. Ah!”

"Come on, let's lift him up," Sevenzen ordered.

Fifzen got up from lying down.

"Rest first. You can play after you’ve recovered," Sevenzen suggested to him.

Insistently, Fifzen sat up and lifted his leg.

"Are you okay?" Aeith asked.

"I don't know, but I don't feel any pain anymore." He even stood up and jumped to prove that he’s now okay.

Fifzen ran to court and claimed, "I can run!"

"Round two will start in 10, 9," The timer machine started its countdown.

"Hey, it's the second round.”

"Go back!”

"Get in here”

The boys went ahead and ran in the middle for reposition.

"4, 3, 2, 1, *whistle*”

And round 2 has begun. I noticed the ball. It changes in color this time. Now, it's silver and its inside are... intestines?

"Boys!" The gold team applauded each other. They have already scored.

"Ahhh!" someone shouted and it’s Seventh. He sat on the court floor and lied down. "H-Help. My stomach hurts, Ahhh!”

Other players came closer to Seventh.

The girls of the gold team supported him.

"Players, back to the game. You have already consumed one minute. I repeat, back to the game. Your aching teammate can go back to the game any moment after fully recovered." The machine stated.

"Come on, let's go back!”

"8, 7, 6, 5"

"Get well!”

"4, 3, 2, 1 *whistle*”

They are back in play.

"I think… I’m good," Seventh tried to sit down.

He moved his arms and legs. Seventh ran to the center and ran around as if nothing had happened.

The ball changed. It's still silver in case the flesh inside is different...

“Oh, that organ looks familiar to me… They’re in a pair so it’s easy to remember… Uh-huh! Lungs!”

Round 2 ended exactly. After a minute…

"One minute break is over. Players, back to the game. I repeat, players, back to the game. Round 3 will start in 10, 9,”

04:35 and then the gold team scored again.

The gold team scored three times now. Their team is doing great.

"What the! Argghhh!" someone shouted again. It’s Ninth. He rubbed his face. "It's killing me! It's pricking my eyes, ears, and nose!"

In the remaining seconds, no players played. They just waited for the time before the fourth round.

"I'm just wondering, huh. Why is it that only the players on the silver team are suffering like this?" Seventh muttered.

"Then every time someone shoots, a physical pain attacks a player on the enemy team," Fifth added his realization.

"When the ball is shot by the opponent in the team's ring, the ball that contains an organ will affect one of your members.” Third added.

"When the opponent shoots the ball, the team member's body will be affected depending on which organ is inside the ball held by the opponent." First spoke.

"What are we going to do? Round 4 is about to start," Fifzen alerted us.

"Why don't we try that?" Firstwen talks about an initial plan.

The boys gathered, except for Ninth, who is not yet fully recovered.

"All right, that looks like a good plan," Thirtwen agreed.

"Argh, the pain is still there!" Ninth twitched.

"Players, back to the game. I repeat, players, back to the game. Round 4 will start in 10, 9, 8,”

Each team is positioned where they should be. They become more serious than before.

"7, 6, 5, 4,”

I just hope their plan will work.

"3, 2, 1,”

I know what they are planning.

"*whistle*”