SURVIVAL 37: TRIUMPHANT part 2

This game is not the fourth Tri-Games… This is the fifth Tri-Games. That's the reason why I wrote a comic based on this Tri-Games.

Leonthan was a player in the third Tri-Games, and it was also his first time to play. He went back to the game and joined me in the game to save my life, that was the fourth Tri-Games.

I won the fourth Tri-Games because he sacrificed his life like he did for me tonight. Before I finally lost my memory for 60 days about the game, I wrote a comic so I wouldn’t forget all the details about it.

The 60-day interval before losing memories is the time frame given to think about how to use the tri-prize. And before the 60 days ended, I burned my sketchpad—that’s the thing I received from Author as a remembrance gift from the game. We have to destroy the gift we received from the game if we want to get back in the game, but we have to sacrifice the prize of ‘time’ that we’ve won in the game.

My time travel started when I attended the moving-up ceremony. I thought I played the fourth Tri-Games again but that was actually the fifth. I used ‘wealth’ so we got financially stable. I also used 'health' so mama got better. And I used 'time' to get back in the game and save Leonthan. However, he saved me… again.

“That guy, Trake and I knew during level 2 stage 2. And it was his plan to do these. I had an intuition that you went back again to the game after the fourth one, but ignored it. He confirmed it to me, and we were right. His memories of the fourth Tri-Games came back earlier than ours because it wasn’t his core memory which comes back last.”

“What plan?”

“He wants to keep this a secret from you until you win, but you have to know what kind of a person he is. He helped me keep you alive at the mansion and plotted that I was dead. He planned for me to betray you and pulled off a show so that you could kill me. Initially, he would like to be the winner of this. But he risked his life because he already knew that he lost the fourth Tri-Games and didn’t deserve to be in the fifth anymore. He accepted his fate of losing the game and let me do my thing.”

I didn’t notice that Trake was part of it.

“Actually, I heard you talking in the living area. That promise he asked you, the real meaning behind it is for you to accept the truth that this is now the fifth Tri-Games and to forgive yourself for not achieving what you hoped for.”

The purpose of my return to the fourth Tri-Games is to save them. But Leonthan saved me in the fourth game. I should be the one to save them but... it all went in vain. Trake, tell me, how can I forgive myself after all of this?

The mansion collapsed is that the game is over. There was already a winner.

"Please don't blame yourself. Everything happens for a reason. Live your life to the fullest, and I will be the happiest." He coughed.

I did win the second game and got the prize. I did live again. I did live on the nth planet. I did win the fifth game once again. But I don't deserve all of this.

"But please do remember, the burden that you are carrying would not bring you anywhere but drags you where you began to carry it.”

My oil painting of a woman is an indirect self-portrait. It was I who, despite my gentle and calm face, hid my true emotions. Anger, hatred, sadness, frustration. Leonthan saw the real me just by looking at and interpreting that painting. Silence is the title because silence has the loudest emotions.

"It may be a selfish thing to hold on to you, but I will never let go of you even if it kills me. But this will be my end so, letting you go is the last thing I would do... Heavien.”

"Thank you," Two words came out of my trembling lips with puffy eyes.

The boy who changed my destiny closed his eyes. I kissed his forehead and stroked his soft, dark brown hair. I embraced him tightly. Even though there is no more life left, I said...

"I am so glad to have met you—not just as a co-player of this game but as a friend who holds you dear. I will never forget you even 60 days have passed. I will lose my memory of the game but not the memories of you. Because of you, I met more friends from this game. I learned and discovered a lot of things about life. I will cherish it all until I grow old. As for your will, I will live to the fullest because of the second life you granted me in exchange for yours. Thank you for everything, Leonthan."

I glanced at his innocent face.

"Miss Heavien Cyre Luvitos, also known as Second, congratulations! You are the Triumphant of the fifth Tri-Games!" That's the voice of Author.

I laid down Leonthan's lifeless body. I slowly wiped away my tears .

"Author, I know I won't be able to receive a tri-prize from winning the fifth Tri-Games because I already won the fourth. I've used up the 'time' and I just went back to the game. But why are you still here? Is it just to congratulate me?”

"It is a sign of gratitude.”

I smiled subtly at what Author said.

"As for your wit and valor, I congratulate you as the fourth and fifth winner of the fourth and fifth Tri-Games. You may now leave the nth planet and return to Earth.”

“Um, wait. Why is this game the same as the last?” I questioned about why Leonthan had different games and players from third to fourth.

“The fifth Tri-Games is identical to the fourth unlike the third. It is a loop. When a winner wishes to replay Tri-Games with someone from the game who’s already dead, the game style will remain the same with a new set of games, and new co-players. But if the one who got dragged from the previous Tri-Games has wished to go back with someone who’s also already dead, it will exactly repeat the previous Tri-Games.”

I was left in awe.

"What about the body of Leonthan and the others? What happens to them?”

"nth planet has its own cemetery for the players who reached 'game over'.”

"What cemetery? Can I go there?"

"You will be given a chance to visit the nth planet’s cemetery momentarily.”

Good thing Author agreed, but I was surprised when Leonthan's body, which had just been lying next to me, suddenly disappeared.

"Kindly proceed”

Suddenly, Author's hologram screen extended upwards as wide and as high as a door. I walked through that thing. I went back to the center of the galaxy, and I am now inside the glass capsule.

I observed the surroundings and we’re all here, the battle 24 with me. We were all inside an individual glass capsule forming a big circle. They stood there but their eyes were closed. A bit pale, and... lifeless. They still wear a school uniform with a clean appearance and physique. Each capsule has labels of our number names and real names.

I looked to the other side and saw the label, ‘Eleventh’ and ‘Shaunrey Hortaia’. He’s Leonthan’s younger brother. His face strongly resembles Leonthan’s.

I turned to my right side and saw Leonthan's body standing. It appears that he’s just sleeping soundly in a serene place.

"Time is up. You need to leave this planet and go back to earth.”

Everyone, I bid my farewell.

"By the way, I have another question.” A sudden question came to my mind.

“What is it?”

“Since this is the fifth Tri-Games, means there will be next. How can one stop the Tri-Games from happening?”

If there’s a way that I can put a stop to this gruesome game that kills people, I would not hesitate to try.

“Good question. As long as the nth planet exists, there’s no way to stop Tri-Games from happening. After all, the nth planet solely lives because of the thoughts of the people on Earth. What people think that’s impossible on Earth are made possible on the nth planet.” What Author replied has made me hopeless. “Actually, there’s one way.”

That put a smile on my face. “Tell me!”

“That is to cease the human existence.”

“What do you mean?”

“Without people on Earth, there’ll be no thoughts and feelings, so does the nth planet and Tri-Games.”

It made me feel worse. For me to stop the Tri-Games is to end the lives of people on Earth. As long as there are emotions made by humanity, the nth planet continues to live on associated with the Tri-Games.

“You seem to be more friendly to me than the last Tri-Games, Author.”

“An incentive for winning twice.”

“I won’t be meeting you again, Author. Goodbye."

I do not wish to meet Author anymore. I’ve had enough of these tragic events. It was not really a ‘good’ bye because a lot of bad things have happened here. But the thing that I’m grateful for Author is that it has given me the second life that Leonthan wants me to have.

I suddenly disappeared into space. I closed my eyes. The surroundings lit up like the light when Leonthan and I touched his necklace, and we found ourselves inside the game.

I opened my eyes to see that everything returned to a normal beginning.