SURVIVAL 26: LEVEL 2 STAGE 2 – ACTUAL FANTASY

I was given a name that is strange to me. I’m not used to being called a number. How strange this place is. It might be completely identical to Earth, but this one works wonders. We encountered a monster. We lived in a big and tall infrastructure that no one knows how it was built. These are no longer accidental deaths, but playing the game kills us gradually. Author’s games that stole the lives of my friends. All of these are absurd. Toying with our minds and bodies has never been fun. But then I remember I have a purpose for someone.

"You will now play the Health Level: Stage 1, the virtual reality games!”

Why do I hear Author's voice?

Why do I hear a girl's voice? It's like I'm the one speaking. Is it a dream again?

I slowly opened my eyes. From the dark surroundings, everything gradually brightened. I'm in a glass tube. I loosened up and escaped from the shackles. We won. I stood up, then I saw First come out of a door— from the control room. He approached my glass cubicle and its door opened automatically. Without hesitation First hugged me before he spoke.

"You're safe. Thank you," Traces of joy and concern are evident in his tone.

I slipped out of the hug, and he wiped away my tears. I didn’t have a single wound or scar, no pain. I looked at the others. Some of us started telling the others about their adventure while in the game.

*bell rings*

"Congratulations, battle 10. You won the Health Level: Stage 1!”

"Where’s Ninth and Sixzen?" Thirtwen is looking for them.

"As for Sixzen and Ninth, they lost the game and died. The character, Sixzen, died in the game because she is incapable. The player, Ninth, lacks compassion and collaborative thinking.” Author added. "You may now leave this place.” Author declared.

When everyone got out, it collapsed and was swallowed up by the ground.

***

LOCATION: Open space landscape TIME: Dusk

When I woke up, it was already dusk. Good thing the tents stayed here after we played a game. I came out of the tent and saw Aeith sitting on the ground.

"Hey there!" she greeted me then smiled subtly.

"Guys!" We both turned. It’s Fourth.

The three of us continue to share our experiences within the virtual reality game.

"Oh, of course! Don't we all have letters on our nape? What about yours?" Aeith asked us. She pulled up her hair. "This is mine, M.”

Aeith has the letter M on her nape.

"Here’s mine," Fourth also turned around and parted her hair. I saw the letter R.

"What about you, Second?" they both asked.

I just bent down, and they parted my long hair.

“Letter H,” they said.

"Speaking of what, what are your names?!" Aeith asked happily. She held out her hand to us for a handshake. "I'm Ms. Quevas, Myriana Quevas!" We shook hands with her.

"Hi, dear friends! My real name is Rochevel Javinendo. Nice meeting you all," she giggled.

I smiled at them sparingly before introducing myself with a real name. "Heavien Cyre Luvitos. Just call me Heavien.”

We went back to the tent and helped with the cooking. The boys gather wood and dried leaves for the bonfire.

***

When the meal was over, we went back to sleep. I stared at the ceiling of the tent and thought about what First had told me after we had eaten.

"What's your name?" I asked him as we finished eating and getting ready.

He turned to me. "Why?”

"Just curious. I knew everyone’s except yours.”

"Let's just say... Hmm, I don't have a name.”

"Huh?” I frowned in confusion.

"Just call me L and I'll call you H," Then he left me with a mysterious smirk.

He won’t tell others, too. He insisted that he wouldn’t call me by my real name to be fair to me. People either keep a secret for good or for their own good.

I closed my eyes because I was thinking too much about the mystery of First, the identity of L.

***

I dreamed of something with the girl’s voice again. I was stunned for a moment, then I remembered that my voice was the girl speaking in my dream. The comic I’m making doesn’t have a title yet, but the content of its chapters is what happens to me in the Tri-Games. I don’t know why and how.

After our short breakfast, Author’s presence came. The ten of us gathered and we surrounded Author’s hologram outside of the tent.

"The battle 10. For your next game, the Health Level: Stage 2, you will be playing again as a pair.”

If my dream about the comics I wrote is correct, this is no longer a common game because...

"This game, unlike the game you played in virtual reality. It will get bloodier because it is an actual fantasy. An actual battle between the five pairs.”

The comic I wrote is correct. If I'm lucky enough to just remember everything I wrote there, all of us remaining ten can survive and make it out of this game.

"Each of you will randomly possess a unique and specific ability.”

It is the five human senses!

"Your ordinary five senses will be enhanced, called the nth sense.”

Bingo! I got it right.

"The enticing sight, the alluring scent, the piercing sound, the acrid taste, and the eerie feeling.”

It would have been nice if we were the ones to choose our nth sense, but it was not possible. If ever, I will choose 'the enticing sight'. I think you will be able to see your opponent from a distance, which is a great asset for this game.

"When you already possess your nth sense, the weapons will choose their rightful owner to hold and use them. Discover what your nth sense, then your weapon will increase its ability."

“How are we going to discover that?” Sectwen questioned with her arms crossed.

“That is for you to answer.”

We don't choose our weapons either.

"Unlike in the virtual game, where you only experienced 60% of the pain and suffering... This time, it's purely 100%.”

I am now wearing black fitted long sleeves, black fitted jeans, and black leather shoes with low heels. The same goes for boys but with flat black leather shoes. I bun my long hair so as not to interfere. I was surprised when I’m now holding a bow. A set of arrows clings to my back. This must be archery. I looked at the others. They have grenades, katanas, pistols, bows and arrows, and swords.

"Those weapons are exceptionally created. The grenade and pistol contain only 20% of their decibels when used compared to the ordinary grenade and pistol in your ex-planet. The katana has a unique material that cannot create a sound when colliding with other solid substances. This will test your hearing abilities.

The pistol contains gun powder but cannot be detected easily by smell. It's a magic bullet that turns into dust when you fail to hit the target. But it can lower your sense of smell and taste when inhaled. A test for smell and taste.

The bow and arrow, the arrow itself, have poison. When it invades the skin of the victim, the victim will feel numb, and worse, may result in death. This is a test of feeling.

And the sword can be turned invisible, which can attack someone off guardedly. A test for your sight.

Your new marks on your nape will be your new names. And remember, hit your opponent where your new mark is embedded. The game will start momentarily." And then Author disappeared.

First approached me. The black suit he is wearing is just right for him. He looks way cooler with his sword.

"Hey”

I just smiled.

"We're partners again," he stated calmly.

"Mm." I nodded.

We will be forced to fight each other again. Thinking of the possibility that I would hurt them minutes from now... I can’t handle the idea of it.

"Okay, now players...” It’s Author again. It has started. "You will be given 60 seconds to run and hide. After the counting, the actual battle will start... 60,”

The others have already run away. First tightened his grip on my trembling and cold hand. He gazed at me.

"45 ... 30 ...”

"What's up?" I asked him what our plan is.

"20... 10 ..."

“Uhm, First, aren’t we going to run?”

I see others, and they are far away.

"5 ... 3 ...”

"I won’t let you go," he assured.

"1, go!”

When Author said 'go', the two of us ran while he was still holding my now warm hands.