Step after step, I didn't know how far I had walked, but my mind constantly told me I had to reach the other side.
Thankfully, the watchers couldn't see through my memories in this room. For them, there was only a human who was walking with heavy steps and sweating profusely in the foggy room.
I kept my eyes straight. There was a small white dot that was growing bigger after every two steps I took forward.
It was painful, if you ask me, so painful I wanted to scream. My heart pounded like any second it would break the ribcage and come out. My breath was ragged, the room seemed as if it was shrinking, but I was only hallucinating.
Figures begin to manifest around me; I paid them no mind. Although I wanted to see those faces. I knew among those figures would be my parents, but I just couldn't...
I bit my lips hard enough for the pain to keep me awake. The dot was growing bigger and was now near me. It wasn't a dot anymore but was shaped more like a box than a door.
I began to hear people's voices. Telling me to wait for them, telling me why I did something to them. Telling me they need me.
"You're only illusions." I told them before squinting towards the door.
The bright light enfolded my vision. For a brief second, the light blinded me until I stepped out of the room, the white background faded, and the green world welcomed me. I was in the forest, trees on my left and right.
"You're late!" said Amberok, running to where I was. "And sweating."
"No, you're too quick." I said, looking at him suspiciously. Obviously, I would be suspicious.
I looked behind and found the cave had disappeared. Only a long road that was leading to Brusalus. A different path than usual, which never existed before.
[Watcher 'Golden Moon Light' is congratulating on finishing the sub-game.]
[Watcher 'Selfish Pig' is complaining it wasn't a fun sub-game.]
[Watcher 'Kind Devil' agrees with the watcher 'Selfish Pig'.]
Easy for them to say; if they were in my place, it would be better for them to zip their mouths. Now that I think about it, I knew most of these watchers since they usually stuck around with [Him]. There was only one watcher I hadn't recognized at all.
[Watcher 'The Entity of Arcane' is staring at you.]
Who is this watcher? Maybe I might have written about him in one chapter and might have forgotten him. I was the sort of person who would forget things.
Aside from this, I was waiting for my reward.
[Those that passed the Path of Pain shall be rewarded with a random item.]
A random item; for Maya Blake, it was the same item repeatedly. So, the point of calling it random was meaningless. However, since I'm not Maya Blake, the reward will be different.
Or maybe not.
In the air, a box with a question mark popped out of nothingness, then it exploded.
[A rare item has appeared.]
[You will receive a rare item: Sword of Loyalty.]
A white sword with a sharp, shiny blade. Its pommel was carved into a lion's head. I stretched my arm and, with my fingers curled around its hilt, pulled it down.
[You have inquired a rare sword: Sword of Loyalty.]
[Even in grave, the sword will follow you.]
That... was an unexpected item. I didn't expect to obtain an item this rare. The last time someone had this sword was in Australia, but now I have it, which means she might get something else.
I smiled and saw my clear reflection in the blade.
"Cool sword. Wish I got something similar?"
"You already have something much more dangerous than this."
There was subtle, wary movement in Amberok's eyes. The kid stroked his head and asked, confused,
"What do you mean I have something dangerous?"
Then feigned innocence.
[Watcher 'Selfish Pig' wants to see you in action with that sword.]
"Let's get going; we don't have much time."
Actually, we did, but I still needed to reach Brusalus. There were things I needed to do there. More than that, I still needed that one person.
The sun was setting in the east; its reddish color cast its light on the mountains, and the clouds drifting around its peak seemed as if they were aflame and soon to put the mountain itself on fire.
As we reached the destined place, Amberok was panting. We had been running.
"Let me rest, man. I'm tired." He falls to the ground, breathing, his chest moving back and forth.
I was tired as well, my voice hoarse as I spoke, "We have to pass the bridge."
My mind was whacked out from constant movement. I haven't rested at all since my novel turned into reality.
"We have to reach inside the city." I told him, "Then we will get to rest."
"Nay, I want to rest."
I darted a glare at him, knitting my brows as a frown was formed. Seeing my frown, the boy winced and got up. We had to reach the other side, and I needed to meet Maya, Joseph.
As we traversed the bridge, there was nothing dangerous about this one. I should be thankful for that, or else these Crospeyan (plural of Crospeya) wouldn't miss the opportunity to entertain these Watchers.
As we crossed over the bridge, a system panel appeared.
[The second game will commence after 14 hours.]
The city, only a tiny portion of which we explored, was empty. There were no people at all. This deserted city must have people; it did.
[Watcher 'Kind Devil' is sad about your miserable fate.]
It's too soon to believe such things. I thought in my mind.
While hiding in a narrow valley, I was peeking from the corner to look at the surroundings to see whether they were safe or not. Despite being empty, I was cautious, knowing well the reason behind it.
Amberok, from behind, tugged my shirt.
"Hey." His voice was a whisper.
When I turned my head around, I saw him gaze at a creature. It was a slime-like creature with squid-like tentacles. It had big round black eyes, giving him an innocent, ingenuous look.
Just as Amberok was about to say another word, I placed my hand on his mouth and whispered in his ear.
"Don't say anything; it's blind but can hear us."
It was a hum-slime. Although not blind originally, as long as the second game doesn't commence, not only couldn't they see, but also they couldn't sense anything; the only thing that they had was the ability to hear sound and attack where the sound was produced. Their attack has the precision of eighty-four percent.
I motioned toward outside and slowly, without making a loud sound, crept out of the valley. As we were out, my eyes widened. Before us, a throng of hum-slimes had gathered on both sides of the road.
[Watcher 'Golden Moon Light' is looking at you intensively with his hands on his thighs.]
[Watcher 'Kind Devil' is mourning at your soon-to-be-coming funeral.]
What's wrong with this kind devil? Never mind...
We were trapped. I found an empty valley and grabbed Amberok by the wrist and dashed towards it. My shin stiffened, my legs were heavy, and it felt like rocks were fastened on my feet.
The sound of my feet hitting the ground reached their ears, but I tried entering houses, but whichever door I tried opening was locked and the windows shut. It meant people were hiding in these houses.
Houses were the safe zone for the people; as long as they abided in them, they were safe from these hum-slimes.
Meaning we had no place to hide; perhaps, there were. They couldn't see or sense, and that was a hopeful thing.
Dammit. If that wasn't enough, Hell-Fair appeared in the sky with his mischievous smile and those glowing eyes within the shadows of his hood.
[Are you enjoying it?] he asked, folding his arms.
I didn't answer, and stood sit not making a sound.
[Watchers. What would you think? Should we allow the hum-slimes to sense their foes?]
This guy... I gritted my teeth, and my face hardened.
Allowing the hum-slimes to see was better than allowing them to sense their surroundings. This ability grants them the power to sense the presence of a person anywhere they are hiding, whether he's/she's in the car or any place that's not a house or safe zone.
[Let the votes begin.]
For a moment, every hum-slime was still in their places and so were we. In the air, a system panel manifested. With yes and no to vote.
And the voting started. There were five watchers on my side looking over me with their uncanny vision ability. Since every watcher has his own will to observe any human they like, right now there were only five.
[24 have voted yes/ 3 have voted no]
Twenty-seven? Really? But so far, there were only five I had counted that were observing me, and what was more surprising, there were three watchers, and they voted for three. Maybe I knew who these three were.
With that, the hum-slime obtained the ability to sense things.
And we began to move freely.
"Run, Amberok." I shouted, darting away.
Hum-slimes with their new ability began to pierce through cars and every other object and I heard the screams of agony of dying men and women.
The Hell-fair laughed at us, [Run, humans, run, that is all you can do.]
[Watcher 'Seflish Pig' is getting excited! He wants now these hum-slimes to see.]
I wanted to punch this fool. But I can't fault him; he was really like this. A grown-up fool with a child's mind.
Not long, once again. We were surrounded by the hum-slimes from all sides. Their slimy tentacles, capable of piercing through metal so easily, had turned hard, and the color changed to black.
Without a choice left, I clutched at my sword's hilt and readied myself. The problem wasn't saving myself but Amberok as well. The key to ending the second game.
[The second game will commence in 14 hours.]