Guess

The doors opened back into the main room. He didn’t see Izumi yet, but noticed Astro’s large scythe from the corner of his eyes. He was arguing with two people. One was the man from before that tried to kill Welpen and another was a man with spiky green hair that wore a green leather jacket with a death skull symbol on the front and black pants.

Astro: “Huh?! It’s a luck game, idiot. Just cause I picked the right one you want to get in my face? How about you go take a seat and call it a day.”

The man with orange hair spoke.

Kunikise: “You idiot. How about I dice you into a thousand pieces right here so you can’t regenerate?!”

Astro: “Take a shot. I don’t need to be in this stupid place to revive myself. Give me free death tokens. See if I give a crap.”

Tatsu: “Kunikise. I say we beat him so bad that he can’t even get back up. We’ll cage him for eternity.”

Astro: “Why don’t you quit talking and give it a shot then?”

Asro pulled out his scythe while Tatsu’s nails grew into sharp knives and Kunikise’s eyes turned blood red as if activating something harmful along with a spike chain.

Welpen ran over immediately in front of them.

Welpen: “Woah, woah, woah, woah. What’s going on here? Kunikise and Tatsu, right? I don’t know what happened, but Astro apologizes for what he did. It’s just a game after all.”

Kunikise: “Just a game? Ha. You’re funny, kid. However…I hate funny.”

Kunikise swung his chains at Welpen immediately without even talking about the situation. His blood red eyes paused Welpen’s heart for a moment and he couldn’t move.

Astro’s scythe stopped the chains, but Tatsu jumped at him with his claws. Astro jumped mid air and kicked them both across the room.

Astro: “I don’t know who you think you are, but this is the second time you have threatened this boy. One more time, and I might just kill you both over and over and over until you can’t handle it anymore.”

Kunikise: “You Bast–”

Death Bringer: “Testing! Testing! Please no violence in the main area. You will have the chance to kill others later on. Although there are no rules against killing others, I am sure most of you have died in more ways than possible. You may settle that later on as the games continue. I will not stop you then. I’m sure you will find more than enough ways especially in the upcoming events. After all, this place allows you free deaths unlike the outside parties where you may be stopped by guild members for excessive murder. Please sit down in your spots as we tally up the numbers.”

Izumi was already sitting in her chair waiting for Welpen. They hurried back over. Welpen’s score was still 0. Izumi’s score was now 7 along with Astro’s. Kunikise’s score was 5. Welpen looked across the room to finally spot Naoki. His score was 7 as well. He thought about what he said, but decided he would bring it up to Astro later. After all, he didn’t trust Naoki that much, but Clara always told him to understand everyone’s perspectives because you never know what others are going through.

Death Bringer: “Okay! Okay! Above you are your new scores for your death tokens. This round’s death was worth 2 death tokens. Please take a moment to evaluate your scores as I explain the next game. In this game, everyone will actually be staying in the room. This will be a memory tester. In front of you will be small screens with flashing numbers. Multiple numbers will come up on the screen. At the end of the sequence, you will be asked to pick one of three different numbers. If you guess the correct number 3 times, then a red laser will appear across your chest that will pierce your heart. There are 100 contestants here, however, only 90 will be hit by the laser. The game will continue until the 90 are out. The other 10 will not receive any death tokens for this round. This round is worth 2 death tokens as well. The screens will not appear in front of you and will count down from 10. Good luck.”

Welpen thought, ‘This doesn’t seem too bad. I’ll just pick an incorrect number until 90 people are left. This will be super easy!’

Welpen: “Astro. Are you going to lose on purpose too?”

Astro: “I don’t think it will be that easy kid, but I’m going to try and get the numbers right.”

Izumi: “Speak for yourselves. I’m trying to get the numbers right too. I’m pretty smart actually.”

They all peered at the screen as it counted down now from 4 seconds all the way down to 1 before it showed the word ‘Start’ on the white screen. Black numbers rapidly appeared on the screen across the white backdrop.

Welpen: “Woah, woah, woah. This is too fast! 347, 210, 199, no 197? Wait, was that 210? I don’t know.”

The numbers stopped and on the screen showed 3 different numbers. 185, 786, and 990. The question on the screen asked which of these numbers were shown twice. Welpen whispered to Astro across Izumi.

Welpen: “Astro, what number is it? I didn’t even see one of those numbers.”

Astro sat there with his arms and legs both crossed. His hand was hovering over the tablet.

Astro: “I-I’m not sure kid. Just go with your gut. You have 10 seconds left to choose.”

Welpen: “What happens if I don’t pick one?”

Astro: “I don’t know, but I’m sure it isn’t good. Just pick a number.”

Welpen was hesitant, but the timer kept counting down. He lifted his shaking finger to the screen and chose number 786, hoping that it wasn’t the correct one. The timer went off. Everyone's screen was either green or red. Green marked that the number you marked was correct and resulted in you being closer to get hit by the laser and red marked that you lost that round, but for Welpen, it meant that he won the round. Astro’s screen lit up green, Izumi’s red, and Welpen’s red.

Welpen: “Yes! Astro, you got it right.”

Astro: “I got a little lucky. I’m trying to eyeball the numbers, but it’s too quick. This is just a guessing game at this point. I see why it’s luck based. Although, it’s been the same theme for all these games. There is really no skill involved unless you have abilities connected to your sword or are born special. Though, it’s strange. I’ve been thinking. A lot of people here don’t have swords. They either have no weapon at all or strange weapons. It doesn’t make sense with the world that we know…Also, there is no rule against killing each other in the games, so why wouldn’t you want to provoke others to purposely get killed by a weapon? Also…”

Welpen: “Oh, Astro, Izumi, the next round is starting.”

The timer ticked down from 10 seconds again. The people in the room still wouldn’t be quiet about the past round until the clock hit 0 and the numbers flooded the screen again.

Welpen couldn’t keep up.

It was the same speed, but it didn’t make any difference. It was still impossible. He decided he would just take a guess. 3 numbers appeared on the screen again. 199, 408, and 777.

The question this time was different. They were to pick the number that did not appear on the screen at all.

Welpen figured that he would’ve seen 777 out of any number that appeared, but he didn’t. Although, the numbers were so fast that he wouldn’t be surprised if it did appear on the screen. He had a 50-50 chance with the other two. He picked 199, but figured 777 was actually correct.

The screen showed red again. He was right. It was 777 that wasn’t shown. Astro and Izumi got it correct. In fact, Welpen secretly looked around at as many screens as he could see and most people got it right. Most people’s screens were green. ‘Looks like most people thought the same thing as me. That’s good though.’

Izumi: “Welpen, you got it wrong. Good job. Looks like I got 2 more to go.”

Kunikise: “Goddammit! This screen is busted. No way that 777 wasn’t shown. I’m sure I saw that.”

A kid from across the room started arguing with him. He had messy blue hair and devil horns sticking out of his head. His tongue hung out of his mouth and he had a spiky tail on his backside. His name was Kael Gronin. He spoke like he intended to kill everyone in his path in a raspy voice.

Kael: “Hehehe. How about I come over there and bust your face in too? That way, the screen isn’t the only thing that will be broken.”

Kunikise: “Such slander from a mere beast won’t affect me, you idiot. How about I cut off that tail and sell it to some merchants.”

Kael: “Go ahead and see what happens. I’ll cut off that small tongue of yours before you even have a chance to get to me.”

Kunikise: “I’ll take the free death tokens and then after I regenerate, I’ll keep that promise and make sure you can’t regenerate your tail.”

They continued bickering until the countdown ran down again. Astro only needed 1 more. Welpen still had a huge lead. Izumi needed 2 more. The gap was still large. The next round was starting. This was the third round. The screens changed color. The background was orange and the numbers were black still, but this time there were 4 numbers on each panel. They were even quicker. Welpen had no clue. He blinked once and 3 numbers flew by. It was like a blur.

The question came up on the screen. This time, there were four options to pick from and they had to choose again which one came up on the screen out of the four. Welpen closed his eyes and picked blindly. He had no clue. When he opened, he picked the number 1087. The others were 9456, 1235, and 7754.

Izumi had picked, but Astro had still not chosen. He was thinking up until the last second. He chose 9456. The numbers were revealed. It was 1087. Welpen was correct. Izumi was also correct.

Welpen: “Dang it. No. That’s okay. Izumi, yours is green too?”

Izumi: “Yeah. That was a total guess though. I have one more to go. Hopefully I can guess correctly again.”

Welpen looked to talk to Astro, but didn’t say anything. He was deeply thinking about something and didn’t want to interrupt him.

A red laser pointed from the ceiling at 2 people in the room only. One was Naoki and the other was someone that Welpen didn’t know. He had messy pink hair and red circular glasses wearing all black. He smiled while Naoki’s expression remained the same dullness. Both the lasers went off and shot them both in the chest.

Their tablets lowered back into the ground and they laid lifeless. This was the first time Welpen had seen this in person. He was scared. He didn’t want that to happen to him. 2 dead corpses just laid there in silence. ‘I wonder how long it takes them to come back to life,’ he thought.

The timer counted down once again and the numbers fled across the screen rapidly yet again. Before Welpen knew it, the question came across the screen. It asked to pick 2 numbers that appeared out of 4. Astro spoke immediately to Welpen.

Astro: “1001 is definitely correct. Don’t pick that. You should be safe as long as you don’t pick that number.”

Welpen: “How do you know that?”

Astro: “It was the first number shown at the start. The other three is a guess though. Most people won’t get this right, but some might. I’ll go with what I think. Let’s see how many people die this round.”

Izumi: “I think it’s 2998. I don’t remember the first number, but 2998 was definitely the second to last number. I barely caught a glimpse of it on the screen, but I’m sure it is.”

Astro: “Okay, so 2998 and 1001. Welpen, pick 7685 and 4425.”

Welpen: Okay!”

Sure enough, they were right. 1001 and 2998 were the ones that appeared on the screen. To all of their surprises, more people had lasers shown on them than they had thought. Maybe it was skill or maybe it was luck, but everyone had their own ways of thinking. Welpen counted 28 people including Izumi and Astro. ‘That would equal 30. So I have to survive 60 more people.’

Izumi: “I’ll see you in a little bit, Welpen. The other 2 across the room haven’t woken up yet, so maybe at the end of the rou–”

Welpen looked at the two of them before she could finish her sentence as they were shot with the laser in the heart. Astro had already been leaning back in preparation for it, so he looked the same. It didn’t make it easier for Welpen, but he was starting to get used to the death piling around him. Feeling Izumi’s dead presence right next to him was a little haunting though.

Welpen still had a 2 round lead. He figured he was up on most people. The questions were hard enough, so everyone was on equal footing. The screens shifted once more though. They turned red in color and one number came up on the screen…500. The question above was to guess whether the next number appearing on the screen was over or under 500.

It was a complete 50-50 guess. If you guessed correctly, then it would result in one step closer to death. He tried to get it wrong, but this was worse than before. His odds were better when the numbers increased and the questions got harder. Now, it was even more of a guess than before.

The timer was ticking down with only 3 seconds left. ‘Agh. What do I pick? I have no clue. 2 seconds. What do I choose? Astro, help. Izumi, help. Clara, help. 1 second. Pick something.’

Welpen blindly picked under. The number was 209. He got it correct by accident along with over half the room. Many lasers appeared from the ceiling and shined upon 56 people.

They were shot dead quickly. 14 people remained. Everyone had 1 question remaining until it resulted in their death. Kunikise questioned this as he was still alive.

Kunikise: “Hey! You stupid game announcer. You hear me?!”

Death Bringer: “Yes. Do you have a question?”

Kunikise: “Damn right I do. You said 10 people survive the game. What happens if we all get this question wrong? Everyone dies then. That’s not fair. They shouldn’t be receiving death tokens.”

Death Bringer: “Yes. Yes. I understand your concern. Please do not worry. This is all calculated. This last game will determine which last 4 people will receive death tokens. On your screen, you will be asked to pick a number between 1-14. Once someone is locked into a number, then nobody else can pick that same number. Boxes with numbers will appear on all of your screens at once. Once you click the number on your screen, then it will light up with your name over it. The number that is picked along with the three closest numbers will be the remaining winners. The final round will begin in 10 seconds. Good luck.”

Welpen looked around the room as the timer ticked down. 3 familiar faces were still alive. Kunikise, Kael, and the young kid that teamed up with Astro, Ryoko. Regardless of the situation, Welpen decided that he would go out with a smile on his face. The numbers appeared on the screen. He decided to go with Clara’s favorite number, 8. She had said this to him a very long time ago, so he was surprised that he remembered. If he did not survive, then he could give Clara an earful when he got home. He laughed as he thought of this.

As the buzzer sounded and the clock hit 0, the number was revealed on the right hand side. Welpen tensed up. He held his breath as the suspense rose. The number was…13.

He screamed in his head, ‘YES!’

The people who had numbers 11, 12, 13, and 14 were out. The last of them was Kunikise, Kael, Ryoko, and a woman that he had not seen before. She had dark skin, black hair, cat ears, and yellow eyes. She wore a strange looking kimono. The upper half was white and the bottom half was black. Her eyes looked so innocent, yet scary. Welpen noticed her holding the head of an animal or monster that he had never seen before by a rope. It looked like the head of a cat, but had no ears on the top of its head. He was worried on the inside, but figured if he stayed away from her, then he would be fine. Clara had taught him to accept people, but also be weary of strangers. He figured he was fine where he was at right now.

Death Bringer: “Oh! We have our last 4 winners! Congrats!”

Kael: “Hehehe. That was too simple. The number was either going to be 13 or 2. It was just a guess.”

Kunikise: “Huh? How do you know that smartass?”

Kael: “Why would I tell you? Idiot.”

Kunikise: You–”

Kael: “Watch it now. You might burst a blood vessel. Then I’ll really start getting excited.”

Kunikise: “You wretched bastard! Why don’t I come over there and–”

The lasers went off on the remainder of the contestants, stopping Kael and Kunikise from bickering. 90% of the room lay dead in their chairs.

Death Bringer: “I’m truly sorry, but the remaining 10 of you will not receive any death tokens for this round. Do not worry though. Round 4 will start soon enough and you will have another chance to increase your score. Now! Let’s bring our contestants back, shall we?”

The lights went dark. Nobody could see anything, but within a few seconds, the lights came back on and everybody was revived back to normal again. ‘Interesting,’ Welpen thought.

Welpen: “Astro! Izumi! Welcome back!”

Izumi smiled and waved back at him, grateful to be back. Astro looked straight ahead, not moving. Just like before, he seemed to be thinking about something far beyond what Welpen could process. Welpen left him alone in his thoughts again while Death Bringer announced the tokens given to each player again. The numbers came up on the board. This round was worth 3 tokens. Welpen still had 0, but he wasn’t alone. A few people in the room had 0. Astro and Izumi both had 10 along with a good amount of other people as well. Welpen wasn’t sure if he could keep up what he was doing.