New Faces

“Toki, it's already been a couple of hours.” Her eyes looked up at him from the log she sat on.

The performance she put on stopped, various instruments dying before slowly retreating into the ripples of the drum major's stick.

“They will come back soon, and if they don't, then we should all get transported together anyway.”

There are merely a couple of minutes before midday. Assuming the worst, Hiwo is dead, and Shina is coming back to kill us as well. She could just be watching, but Ayuri being here makes it difficult.

His eyes scanned around the area, yet nothing seemed to suggest another presence. The only thing he saw was a light tap on his shoulder.

“You're thinking about something bad; don't ruin the mood,” Ayuri sighed out, stressed as well, but trying to cheer them up.

Toki raised his brows. “Where did you learn to know what I think?”

“So I was right after all,” she let out a gentle smirk.

He didn't meet her face; however, the thoughts consumed him, and the worst happening wasn't even that close to what would realistically happen.

“Do you think Shina would kill Hiwo?” The question jolted her awake.

Ayuri frowns down. “Of course not; there is no way that she would kill someone she's known for years and also a believer.”

“Suppose you're right,” he smiled, the thought of Ayuri’s positive analysis giving him a bit of hope.

They have been sitting on these logs waiting all this time; however, the midday event seemed to be faster. The transportation will begin soon.

"Guess we don't have time to worry; let's make sure to know everyone well. We can't be a ruined bunch after all.” He stood up from the log, Ayuri following soon after.

The next moment, two grey robotic entities appeared in front of them; they had no face but just a humanoid figure, and their skin was a pure silvery colour surrounding their entire body.

Are these what are going to transport us? They teleported right in front of us out of thin air, whatever these things are. They are powerful.

“Are you bringing us to our new teammates or not?” Toki questioned

The robotic entities didn't reply; they just extended their humanoid arms towards them, lifting their palms upwards, offering them to grab them.

“Ayuri, I'm willing to go first if you want to wait a bit more,” his voice laced with concern, still questioning whether it's safe or not.

She shook her head, however, before stepping up to one of them and placing her hand on top of the robotic entity.

“Place your hand already…”

Toki steps up and places his hand as well. They both give each other one final look before squeezing forcefully, instantly causing a response; they immediately get put into a black void, reminding them of an unpleasant experience.

Will I get torn into shreds, or perhaps get separated into two again…?

The journey doesn't last much, however, as they look up, seeing the black void fade out to the clear sky once more; they were moving closer and closer despite their bodies feeling as if they had no weight or the effect of gravity.

Clear skies penetrated their vision as they were thrown out of the void into the air, their bodies flung, destined to fall down. They quickly look at each other in a panicked state.

Ayuri looks down, seeing that the fall is at least 20 metres. Her fast instincts made her tap her drum major stick off her body, trying to activate its power, but it didn't seem to work at all.

Their plummet was guaranteed, and they closed their eyes before a current underneath them swooshed them upwards, slowing down their descent and causing them to thud onto the grass.

Did they have to be so rough? Dying is a thing we take seriously. I was having nice memories.

He opens his eyes before shooting himself up on his knees, looking down at Ayuri still lying down on her stomach pressed against the ground.

“We're fine now; you can open your eyes,” he let out a relieved sigh before scanning around him.

There was a variety of people just a metre away from where he and Ayuri were; there were two single people and then a group of four, a total of eight, including them. Shina was nowhere to be seen.

The camp seems to be basically the same; there are two tents for each team, with two members, so it means there are a total of six tents and one campfire in the centre of them with three logs. They were larger this time, however, including the campfire.

So the summoning will have to be done in order now, or all at once? That's rather troublesome then.

He turns back to Ayuri, sitting down on the patch of grass, her white hair messy from the fall. “We still don't seem to have Shina or Hiwo here; perhaps they are more sceptical than us.”

“Of course they are! Shina and Hiwo wouldn't just trust something that appeared,” Auyri added in a playful voice.

We should wait for them then. Hopefully, he managed to convince Shina to give up on the goddess's orders, but I doubt it.

A minute passes, and Ayuri and Toki just sit waiting. The other teams seem to have recovered from their transportation and started to scout out each other.

A black void from underneath opens up; quickly taking a look down, Ayuri and Toki see red hair floating up towards them.

“Let's move out of the way.” They stand back, letting Shina get flung up into the air. Looking at them from down above, she has an annoyed expression.

Ayuri taps her drum major stick. “Just in case…”

Golden threads appear from the bottom of her drum major stick, forming a nest-like structure in case the gust of air decided not to come for the late timing.

She started to fall like they did until the gust of wind blew her clothes up and slowed her descent before she softly landed on the nest structure overflowing with Ayuri’s warm energy.

Toki looks down. His eyes widened, looking around quickly to make sure.

She has my spear? On top of that, Hiwo is still nowhere to be seen despite them being together… Did they really fight to the death?

“Shina, where is Hiwo?” His tone was cold, unwavering and firm.

Shina glanced up from her lying position on the nest with an empty look. “We got into a heated argument; he gave me the spear and said to go first so he can cool off.”

She then threw the spear at Toki’s legs before pushing herself off the nest onto her feet.

"He will come soon," he told me. "He told me that we should get the power the goddess wanted us to get."

Wait, so first he’s not here and got angry, which is something he never does. And on top of that, he told her to get the power, despite his entire purpose in going with her being to stop that.

He glares down at Shina, his entire face full of doubt at her words.

Before he could question anymore, however, they heard the rapid approach of footsteps coming towards them. Toki quickly grabs the spear and turns behind him, seeing a girl wearing an oversized hoodie and shorts run towards them.

What type of clothing sense is that for a death game?

After running a couple of metres, she stops in front of Toki, panting for air already. Her endurance was her strong suit.

“I’m…” Her soft voice spoke a mere word. She panted slightly, putting her hands down on her knees.

At least speak in full sentences. This person looks like a shut-in NEET.

She recovers slightly, raising herself. “I'm here to apologise on behalf of the Goddess Era of Science.”