My plan D is 'The Firearm Assassination', it's up to me if I see pure blood in battle, and at least I have a weapon somehow. And I pray that First's forte is handling and controlling firearms.
I turned to where my plan D's door is when Aeith looked at me, but her expression was unrecognizable. It looks like another Aeith is in front of me now. I knew her for being talkative, naughty, happy-eyed, and a good friend. What is she going to choose, I wonder?
"8 seconds"
"I'm sorry, Second, but I'll go first," she asserted in a heavy tone as if she was threatening me.
She immediately ran to the door of 'The Firearm Assassination'. I followed her and was about to run ahead of her when she screamed. "Ah! A monster!"
I looked to our left, where she pointed her finger. "W-Where?!" Why would there be a monster here that the game hasn't even started?
My heart beats faster. I heard a door open and then she entered. What?
"5 seconds"
I bit my lower lip so hard that it bleeds. How unlucky can I be? I'm too slow. This is so frustrating. Not being able to pick my top 4 at least and I got tricked by my close friend, Aeith, using the dirtiest and oldest trick in history.
"3 seconds"
I ran to the sixth door. It opened and I entered, then it closed again.
Completely closing the door accompanied by the sound of a timer that says, 'time's up'.
LOCATION: Virtual world TIME: Midnight
I am now inside the virtual door. Half a minute later, the door opened automatically. I'm out.
When I stepped on the ground, the door closed and disappeared. I still hadn't left my spot because Author said that when we take a step, the game will start. I stood up feathered.
It was a little dark from about 10:00 PM to midnight. Only streetlights illuminate the street. Despite my hesitation about what happened earlier because no one knows if we're going to die in the game and if we lose, I am amazed at this place that looks and feels so real. I still thought it was just a 3D type of virtual reality game, but the air, clouds, ground, trees, lights, and total ambiance are cool. There are very few people—virtual people. Maybe others are already asleep because of the time I'm currently in. There are parked cars, closed establishments, the noise of a cricket, and... it is snowing. Then I recall the words of Author.
"A dark and terrifying night where your goal is to catch the notorious midnight culprit who assassinates its victims. In the snowy streets of Phantom Street, there lies the serial killer named Zarod."
So, that's why this is the setting because Zarod is a midnight culprit. If he is a midnight culprit, does that mean he kills people every midnight? Oh, since it is nighttime, it can be midnight now! I looked around and saw Big Ben. I turned around to see more of the environment. Am I in London? And why is there a Big Ben? I looked at what time it was, and it was exactly 11:00 PM! It's almost midnight!
"Whooo," I puffed.
It's too cold here. I checked myself and I was still in school uniform, which caused my whole body to tremble. This might be fake snow, but the cold I feel is real. I can see white smoke whenever I exhale using my nose and open my mouth to release a warm breath.
"Are you there?"
I-I heard someone's voice. I checked but no one was near me. Z-Zarod?!
"Hey, it's me, First. I am communicating with you. Are you okay?" I really felt like fainting when I found out that it was just First. I turned around and looked for him to see if he is there. "Sorry if I startled you." I was still holding onto my chest in shock. "I'm here with you."
I sighed deeply, but it clogged my nose because of the cool breeze.
"Where are you?" I asked him as I continued to look around and rubbed my palms against each other to keep myself warm.
"Here inside the control room. Each player has a different and separate room. I have three holographic monitors in front of me that have holographic buttons with options and settings, particularly for the game itself. You'll experience the real world inside the virtual reality game. And I can only communicate with you through my voice. Currently, I can see you here on my screens from a third person's point of view and can control your movements," First stated.
"I'm really happy because you're the controller, so we'll have a chance to win. Not to mention I traveled all the way here to London, haha!" I was changing the mood in our conversation because it was getting a bit serious. Coming here is not exactly what I expected but this is not bad at all. "By the way, I'm sorry because this is the game I entered. I would have chosen the one with the magic wand and powers. And this is the least and last choice I had." I am in dismay because the game I chose might not suit his taste.
"What are you saying? I chose this game right after it was introduced. We, the players, were watching you guys from the holographic monitors before you selected virtual doors. I thought you'd run and choose this game as your first choice, yet looks like I was wrong," he chuckled.
That left me in awe. So, right in the first place, this is what First wants! I'm glad to be of help to him. This is the thing I can do for now for both of us. What's more important is as long as the game category I choose suits his taste the best.
"I see," I lost my apprehension and grinned secretly. "What if we check this place first?" I suggested it because this place is so beautiful. It'll be a waste not to see every inch of it.
"Sure," he agreed.
I took a step, then I remembered something. First and I have already started our game, I shouldn't just stand here, but this made me nervous.
'Player can control the movements of the character but not the character's mind.'
I just thought again of what Author mentioned. I can move as long as there is no battle game. I have no idea what kind of battle I'm going to encounter but I place my trust in First. I rubbed my palms again and blew it straight into my nose and mouth. I'm still slipping on my way because the road is snowy and freezing. I wonder what the outcome of us will be playing this game category. Will I be able to adapt to this sudden change of environment? I smirked at my thoughts. Geez, I even adapted myself to be used in the nth planet so this one would be a piece of cake, isn't it?