The Race Begins

From the floor beneath them, an 8 sided die appeared about as large as double their hand size. For Welpen, it was like the size of his head.

Welpen: “Whaaaat? This thing is huge!”

Izumi: “Welpen, our hands are so small that this thing is massive.”

They both laughed as the game began to start. The red light at the end of the way turned a bright green as if to roll the dice.

Welpen: “Oh? Does that mean we go?”

Izumi: “I guess so. Here we go.”

Everyone rolled their dice simultaneously. Welpen threw his dice far all the way to the finish line where it bounced back against a barrier and bounced all over the red wall of the color that he chose. The die rolled and rolled until eventually landing on a 6.

‘Yes!’ Welpen said in his mind, ecstatic that he didn’t get a 1. He looked around at everyone else’s dice. His eyes peeled over to two people that got a 1. Naoki and Violet. Astro had rolled a 7 and Izumi had rolled a 4. Nobody rolled the bonus side on the first attempt. Naoki and Violet both took a step forward onto the next square labeled with the number 1.

Souta: “Ha! I didn’t roll a 1. Naoki, your tactics didn’t work for this one.”

Souta laughed and smiled with calm collective eyes underneath his sunglasses. He had said this just loud enough for Astro to hear, but nobody else. Astro turned and looked over at them.

Astro: “Hey. Who are you two?”

Souta: “We’re just two guys having fun. What’s your name?”

Astro: “Astro.”

Souta: “Astro? Hey! I had a pet named Astro a long time ago. What was his name? What was his name? Naoki, help me out here. What was his name?”

Naoki: “His name was Naoki, idiot.”

Souta: “Ah! Yes! Yes! Such a forgettable name. That’s why I couldn’t remember it.”

Souta pointed his finger in a gun motion at Naoki and acted like he had shot him. Naoki didn’t flinch, but Astro saw something very little deflect off his hand. It was like a grain of salt, but Astro had caught it flying through the air.

Naoki: “Idiot. Keep messing around and I won’t help you out of here.”

Astro: “Out of here? You’re leaving?”

Souta: “No. You didn’t hear that. Must’ve imagined it.”

Souta took out a lollipop from his pocket and started chewing on it mid conversation.

Astro: “You’re leaving this city? Completely? And how will you do that? Everyone tells me that it's impossible”

Souta: “Yeah, well everybody ain’t us. We know what we’re doing.”

Naoki: “Don’t tell the man the impossible.”

Astro: “I’m just curious. That’s all.”

Naoki: I can tell by the tone in your voice. You’re not just curious. You want to leave too don’t you? How long have you been here? 2 days? 3 days? It’s not hard to tell.”

Souta: “Naoki. Don’t talk to this guy. He looks like he just fought a battle in a wasteland with his stupid cape and stupid scythe. Although you're pretty strong, aren’t you?”

Naoki: “What do you see, Souta?”

Souta: “Mhm. 81. Maybe 82 being generous.”

Astro: “And what does that mean?”

Souta: “Oh, nothing. Just seeing how good you are.”

Naoki: “It’s his ranking of you and your mana. Souta can see the color of your mana lines and how much you have without you bringing it forward. He can also assess how good you are at fighting and gives you a ranking. This isn’t just limited to humans though. Monsters, witches, and other beings too. Don’t ask me how he got this ability. He doesn’t even know himself.”

Souta: “Yep! Yep! And you, sir, are an 81. We might consider letting you come with us. Who knows?”

Astro: “81? That’s it? What’s the scale out of?”

Souta: “100 of course. Although, I’ve never met anyone who has exceeded 96. Your friend over there is an 18. What a pity.”

Astro thought, ‘He can sense my mana and fighting capabilities. Is he using mana to trigger this somehow? Is it a skill he developed over time? I’ve never heard of anyone who can do that.’

The round began to start again as everyone rolled their dice. This time, Astro, Hoshi, and Souta all rolled a 1 to advance. Naoki yet again rolled a 2 and advanced to another spot. Welpen, Izumi, and Violet all stayed in their same spots as their conversation continued.

Astro: “So an 81? That’s all I get?”

Souta: “Don’t feel too bad. You're above the average. You’re not too bad.”

Astro: “So what’s this about leaving? You’ve spiked my interest.”

Naoki: “We’ll talk after. We’ll find you. Just finish out the games. Oh, and don’t leave before the games are over. No matter what. Let that boy know that too. Whatever you do. Do not leave the building.”

Astro: “Alright, but he doesn’t have to know that. He already knows what to do. You’re underestimating him. He may seem stupid, but his mindset is set in stone.”

The light flickered green again. Everyone rolled. Welpen waited this time and gave the die a good throw again as it bounced off the walls. It rolled and rolled until it balanced in between 1, 2, and 3 and then landed on 1. Welpen sighed.

Welpen: “Agh! Astro. I got a stupid 1. Do I have to move forward? What happens if I don’t? Tch. I’ll just move forward. There are some people ahead of me anyways.”

Izumi still had not moved a single spot. Violet however advanced again to the second square. Naoki once again moved forward to the third spot along with Souta who moved to the second spot.

Astro wanted to question how Souta and Naoki kept moving forward with ease. ‘This is a luck game,’ he thought. He didn’t understand how Naoki had rolled a 1,2, and 3 in his first 3 rolls.

Welpen: “Izumi. Looks like you’re gonna be safe for a while hehe.”

Izumi: “Just you wait, Welpen. I’m gonna roll off 7 in a row and run right past you. Oh, wait. That’s what you want to happen. No. Then, I’m gonna stay all the way back here and make you jealous.”

Izumi stuck her tongue out at Welpen as they laughed in sync. The light lit up green again for everyone to roll. Finally, a bonus side was rolled. The one who rolled it…Violet Kocho.

Violet: “Yes! What to do. What to do. I can get points either way. Hmm, Naoki. I don’t quite like that you're ahead of me. Don’t think nobody here has noticed that you’ve gotten 3 in a row and now 4. You know something that we don’t. You’re lucky the game hasn’t kicked you out for cheating. That means they haven’t caught you either. I don’t know how that’s possible. Anyways, I’ll pick the space forward. I’ll be on your tail Naoki.”

Naoki didn’t say a word nor even look at her as she spoke.

Violet: “Huh? Hey! I was talking to you! Don’t ignore me. Why don’t I come over there and–”

Violet tried to leave the colored boundary, but she was stopped by the forcefield that held them separated. She became frustrated and started banging on the glass, but couldn’t do anything about it. She tried to send her snakes at him, but they were negated and sent flying back at her.

Welpen laughed under his breath as she became infuriated even more by this and wouldn’t stop banging on the glass. Eventually, the game pushed her forward to the next space and did not allow her to step back. Her new square lit up in her pursuit to the finish line. Welpen and Izumi yet again did not move at all. Hoshi did as he rolled a 2 along with Naoki and Souta. Astro did not move either with the 7 that he rolled.

Everyone picked up their dice again and rolled simultaneously. This time, Welpen slowly rolled his dice in front of him to see if it would make any difference even though he was doing well. He rolled and it showed a 1 again. ‘Yes!’ he thought. Izumi finally rolled a 1 as well. “Yes!” she screamed out loud.

Astro rolled the bonus side.

Welpen: “OH! Astro! You got the wild card.”

Astro: “Yeah. I’m going forward. The prize money has to be larger at the end than 1 death here.”

Naoki rolled a 5 and advanced forward once more along with Souta who rolled a 4. Everyone else remained where they were.

Hoshi: “Uh oh Violet. You’re losing your lead there.”

Violet: “Shut up. Roll your stupid die and stay back there.”

The next round commenced quickly. Welpen was safe again. He rolled a 5. Hoshi and Violet both rolled a 2.

Violet: “Dammit!”

Izumi rolled a 2 and advanced again back to back. Astro rolled a 3 and moved forward with Naoki who rolled a 6. However, this time Souta rolled a 2 instead and stayed where he was.

Souta: “Naoki. Now you’re starting to piss me off. Why is it so inconsistent?”

Naoki: “Cause you’re not doing it right. Figure it out. I’m not explaining it again.”

Astro had heard their conversation barely enough to know that there was a trick to this game. ‘They both haven’t rolled a wild space yet and they both don’t seem to care about it. How come Naoki can roll the next number with ease? I can’t watch him now. His back is to me basically. I’ll have to watch Souta.’

Welpen: “Astro, I’m doing great. This round will be a piece of cake. Watch. I’m gonna roll a 2 next.”

He started to chuckle even more now.

He couldn’t pick up his die in front of him because of how much he was laughing. Izumi started to laugh too and even Astro smirked a little thinking back on the past and his own kid. Welpen didn’t know why he was laughing hysterically, but he was. He finally picked up the die and rolled it even though everyone had already rolled before him.

He did exactly what he had said before. He rolled a 2 and didn’t even care at the moment, but he moved up to the next spot while wiping off the tears in his eyes.

Hoshi advanced with a 3 and so did Astro with a 4. Astro had watched Souta flick the die in an interesting way the closer he looked. He purposely set the number 5 side towards him and used his thumb on the bottom right corner and index finger on the top. Instead of throwing it or rolling it, he flicked his index finger towards his own body and his thumb away from his body. When the dice hit the floor it bounced forward perfectly around once till the number 5 was on top before it skirted on the floor without bouncing again.

Astro had tried the trick and got it in his first try. Although, he believed he got lucky with the flick. The dice flipped twice before skidding, so he had done something wrong, but got the same outcome. Violet was becoming even more angered now as she rolled a 7. Izumi rolled a 2 again.

Izumi: “Ugh. I’m never winning this game.”

To Astro’s surprise and everyone else there, Naoki rolled a bonus side. Everyone clearly knew now that he was racking up points as he was only 1 spot away from winning, but decided instead to choose a wild. Instead of taking the step forward, he decided to drink poison. However, he was not the only person that had rolled a bonus side. Violet Hocho was also spinning in happiness and chose the same option of drinking the poison. In front of both of them rose a grey stone pillar from the floor with a small bottle. Both of them took it in hand and chugged it.

After a while nothing had happened and everyone had begun to question what was going on. However, a few seconds later, both Naoki’s eyes and Violet’s eyes instantly shut and they fell to the ground.

Welpen: “Naoki sir!”

Izumi: “Interesting.”

The two of them laid there for a little while longer before their bodies began to twitch a little before both getting up.

Naoki sighed.

Naoki: “That didn’t feel so good.”

Violet laughed.

Violet: “I’ll drink that again just for fun.”

Welpen: “Ohhhh? You’re back! That was quick. I got scared there for a second.”

Astro continued to just sit back and observe. ‘It’s similar to what I got at the game Claudia put me in at Felopsten’s underground. Although, the one at Felopsten was faster acting. I’ve dealt with too many poisons throughout my life. Are people figuring out ways to advance them using chaplets? They must be extracting it through the Poison Chaplet. Does that mean that Shin is reviving people somehow through a chaplet? No, is that his ability?!’

The dice came back to everyone’s hands once again as they rolled. Hoshi and Violet both had rolled the bonus side this time.

Violet: “Yes!”

Hoshi: “Yes!”

The luck started to fall to Violet’s side.

Welpen rolled a 3 and advanced.

Welpen: “Aghhhhh! I don’t wanna play this stupid game anymore.”

He pouted as Izumi looked at her die and advanced as well with a 3. Along with them, Astro also rolled a 5, Souta rolled a 6, and Naoki rolled a bonus side.

Everybody this round for some reason had advanced forward or rolled a bonus die. Nobody questioned it out loud, but some thought it was weird.

Hoshi truly believed he had no chance, so he took the poison first before Naoki or Violet made their decision.

Violet looked at the rest of her options. She could use her weapon or be frozen. She was intrigued by both options.

Violet: “Well. I’ve killed myself with my own weapon before here, so I won’t get any points for that. I’ll get frozen, whatever that means.”

Meanwhile, Naoki had already stabbed himself in the heart with his sword. It was strange looking. Astro watched him do this and eyed the sword. Naoki had been hiding his sword inside his clothing the whole time. The tip of the blade was black, but the actual blade was 2 different colors. The top half was green and the bottom half was red. Other than that, it was similar to a samurai sword with the Tsuka being black and gold with a keychain hanging down from it of a mini golden sword.

Blood flowed from his chest and he fell to the ground. Welpen looked over at Violet finally. He was too distracted by Naoki and saw that the inside of Violet’s barrier was almost completely frozen. Her body was chilled and ice ran up from her feet to her head eventually until it was completely sealed shut. As a result, the ice chipped and became sliced in half with her torso separating from her legs. The ice landed on the ground and shattered along with her body.

Welpen was heavily concerned even though he did not like Violet. His mouth was wide open as he watched alongside everyone else.

Hoshi’s view was blocked on the left hand side from the icy smoke, so nobody could see him either.

By the time the smoke cleared, Hoshi was on the ground with his face facing away from everyone. His body slowly twitched before he stood up. Miraculously, Violet was intact as well. Nobody had seen it though because of the smoke that covered the area.

Naoki was the same way. The blood on the floor was no longer there and he rose up like he was fine.

Astro questioned this immensely now, still trying to figure out how people were being revived. ‘It’s not like mine. My immortality has a time limit and a death count. Every time I have died, I just wake up like nothing happened immediately. However, that’s obviously not the correct amount of time that has passed in real time. And how come certain deaths aren’t shown to us? Violet’s death just right now. Smoke filled the area until she was completely healed. For some reason, they didn’t want to show us that. But why? What does it matter if everyone here already knows they come back to life? We need to get out of here, and quickly.’