I only experienced 60% of the pain when Zarod wounded me a few times. And only 60% of the suffering I experienced? Well, First did buy some sort of healing in the inventory for me while fighting Zarod, which greatly helped me to recover fast and defeated him.
I immediately got nervous. I'm not sure if I can handle this. I assure First that he can, no question about it. He might be quiet for the entire time, but he's already plotting something, and he will surely survive this. I turned to the left and saw him. As usual, he's looking calm. How I wish I could also look calm like him even though I'm really not.
My school uniform is transforming. I am now wearing black fitted long sleeves, black fitted jeans, and black leather shoes with low heels. The same goes for boys but with flat black leather shoes. I bun my long hair so as not to interfere. I was surprised when I felt a heavy grip. I looked at my right hand and for unknown reason, I was holding a bow. A set of arrows clings to my back. This must be what they call archery. I looked at the others. They have grenades, katanas, pistols, bows and arrows, and swords.
"Those weapons are exceptionally created. The grenade and pistol contain only 20% of their decibels when used compared to the ordinary grenade and pistol in your ex-planet. The katana has a unique material that cannot create a sound when colliding with other solid substances. This will test your hearing abilities.
The pistol contains gun powder but cannot be detected easily by smell. It's a magic bullet that turns into dust when you fail to hit the target. But it can lower your sense of smell and taste when inhaled. A test for smell and taste.
The bow and arrow, the arrow itself, have poison. When it invades the skin of the victim, the victim will feel numb, and worse, may result in death. This is a test of feeling.
And the sword can be turned invisible, which can attack someone off guardedly. A test for your sight."
Wait, mine is a bow and arrow. If I hit the opponent, they will become numb, and they can even die. It's scary that I can't seem to bear to see someone hurt, especially when I'm the one who has hurt them. I should be careful in using this deadly weapon. Might as well refrain from using it.
"Your new marks on your nape will be your new names. And remember, hit your opponent where your new mark is embedded. The game will start momentarily." And then Author disappeared.
I thought for a moment. The letter H. The opponent must hit the nape where our new tattoo is. I should protect my nape. While Author was away, First approached me. The black suit he is wearing is just right for him. He looks way cooler since his weapon was a sword.
"Hey"
I just smiled. I didn't know what to say to him. I'm nervous again.
"We're partners again," he stated calmly.
"Mm." I nodded.
I can't look directly at him. First is good at playing the games that we previously had. He looks calm, so he must already know what to do in this actual fight. As for me, I can't even come up with a strategy yet.
Since my memories came back, I have become more fearful than before. I'm afraid not only that I can die in this fight, but I can even harm First and my friends, which are our current opponents.
I didn't say anything more to him. I am wondering how to escape this kind of trial. I looked at my friends one by one. Some are getting nervous, but some are rehearsing, and they seem to be working on a strategy.
I'm hurting. It hurts to think about what will happen to us any moment from now. We will be forced to fight each other again, like when we played basketball and volleyball. But this time not by a team, it will be by pair. Others are a bit used to this kind of setting. They might even be expecting this already. Accustomed to being forced, we all must expect the worst things to happen. It's just that I still cling to that small ray of hope that there must be a way not to kill each other. Even though we always do this, I still can't avoid the dominance of my emotions. Thinking of the possibility that I would hurt them minutes from now... I can't handle the idea of it.
Due to deep thoughts, I only realized that First was holding my right hand. I looked at him, he looked up front, and his face is serious. I moved my hand a little, then he turned to me and smiled.
"Another charm"
"Huh?" I am puzzled by what he said.
"To give you peace of mind"
I beamed with joy at his gimmick. Somehow, I forgot what I was thinking because of his new 'charm'. I just pay attention to him. He has a time when he is very serious, and he has a time when he is a joker. When someone else is with him, he has a poker face but when it's just the two of us, he has a new gimmick and smiles. I am grateful that we became close, and he is my partner. Even though he is very mysterious and sometimes I can't understand him, I am happy that we became friends. He was always there to make me laugh, help me, and protect me. I just wish that he also feels the same about me, even though I can be a burden sometimes.
"Okay, now players..."
It's Author again. It has started.
"You will be given 60 seconds to run and hide. After the counting, the actual battle will start... 60,"
The others have already run away. I was a little confused. First tightened his grip on my trembling and cold hand. He gazed at me.
"45 ... 30 ..."
"What's up?" I asked him what our plan is. His deep brown eyes are captivating.
Some ran away and scattered.
"20... 10 ..."
"Uhm, First, aren't we going to run?" I don't know what he is thinking right now. I gazed at him. His eyes just seemed blank.
I see others, and they are far away.
"5 ... 3 ..."
I don't know, but my heart stopped beating fast due to fear and nervousness. The opposite of what I should feel. First's blank eyes blanked out my unnecessary feelings.
"I won't let you go," he assured.
"1, go!"
When Author said 'go', the two of us ran while he was still holding my now warm hands. I don't know what First is up to and why we just ran now. I also calmed down when he said that he would not let me go. Even though I don't know what that means, I know that First won't leave me in the middle of the fight. I looked at him as we ran, and he was being himself. When he noticed I was looking at him, he turned to me and then smiled. His smile says 'Relax, I got you'.
With that smile of his... I can tell that we can do this.