The Father of All Communications.The name that should have been mine.Something I never was—and never will be.
So much so that the system simply threw me into this world as Mr. Nobody. And that had been the case until now…
My status had changed. Though illegible, I could make out something like two "T"s. It was as if the system acknowledged that my name was Tristan, yet refused to provide it. The ambiguous theory of mental state—or how one identifies oneself—began to take shape for me… or so I wanted to believe. Maybe one day I would stop being called Mr. Nobody.
That thought pushed me forward.
I changed clothes once more: shirt and jacket, dress pants and shoes, perfectly aligned and tailored. I slipped the thin silver knife into my pocket and set out.
Remaining credits: 115k.
I would make do with that. I would manage with what I had—my gear and level 3.
I could feel how my muscles had toned and how my mood had cleared. Without hesitation or second thoughts, I returned to the Connector.
I didn't run into anyone familiar. In fact, there was very little movement for a place like this.
—Just how I like it. No spectacles.
I muttered, giving myself a couple of light slaps.
Before me, the great crab took shape, golden coral fragments embedded between its pincers. When I extended my hand, the particles granted me access to the challenge that had taken Gerónimo's life.
Bubbles expanded throughout the area. Beams of light blurred into pure white. The ground felt soft, and I soon sank into it; the warm, refreshing rush of ocean breeze filled my lungs with the indescribable scent of salt.
Cancer's arena was a beach.
More precisely, a cluster of islands.
I activated SearchVSearch VSearchV, as custom dictated, initiating a scan of the area. Four islands quickly took shape, not too far from one another, separated by long stretches of open sea.
I didn't need to wait for the analysis to know that swimming was dangerous. The real question was how dangerous it was to stay in one place.
The islands, despite resting on the sea, retained the essence of marine islets. Grand corals rose like trees… but they were scarce. In truth, all four islands were nearly bare, save for small clusters of these coral trees.
When Search finished, I could see the boss's location. It was relatively far, but deep—about two leagues away, according to the system, whatever that meant. I still couldn't scan the boss beyond its position.
Useful information… and useless at the same time.
Of course, I already assumed it would be a giant crab. The designer of this game wasn't exactly the most creative being in the world.
With a long sigh, I closed the interface for now. After stretching to get my circulation going, I saw him.
On the same island, perhaps a kilometer away, he was walking calmly from the far end of the beach. A red-striped shirt, blue denim pants, and work boots. His massive axe and unmistakable red beard stood out immediately.
—Paul.
My body moved on its own.
Even as Axio's voice screamed for me not to go, to remember Bolívar, my body pushed me to trust my friend.
That's what I wanted to believe.
I expected anything: a hug, an apology, a punch, more insults.
But I did not expect the cold greeting of a calm, empty face. There was no trace of his charismatic smile. Only an unkempt beard and a soulless gaze.
I tried to say something.
And that was the mistake.
The first axe swing passed dangerously close to my face. The leap I made was only possible thanks to my recent level increase.
—What are you doing, Paul?
—Didn't you make a deal with Gerónimo?
The words came out dry, emotionless. I didn't immediately understand what he meant, but I didn't have time to think. A second swing followed his shout:
—DIDN'T YOU PROMISE SOMETHING TO GERÓNIMO?!
Yes.
I had.
The last night I spoke with him, I had promised something…
—That we would only surrender if one subdued the other.
A faint smile formed on Paul's lips.
I activated Search immediately, placing my hand over the interface and selecting the black token in front of me.
I was a white token.
—Paul —I tried to raise my voice—, let's talk. I'm sorry for hurting you, but that was never my intention.
I spoke as fast as I could while Paul advanced without hesitation. My words seemed to drown in his resentment.
With a simple motion, he hurled his axe.
For the first time, I relied entirely on Search.
Dozens of calculations appeared instantly, marking the exact trajectory. The axe was heading straight for my head. My body reacted on its own. For a moment, I felt as if I were watching myself from a third-person perspective, moving with millimetric precision.
I dodged the blade—it grazed my face without touching me.
An instant later, a punch landed squarely on my face.
The pain was explosive.
Luckily, my mouth was closed, but even so, the blow sent me flying. The burning sensation prevented me from opening my left eye, but… it didn't hurt as much as I expected. My body had quickly absorbed the damage.
Even midair, I managed to coordinate myself and stop the fall with my right arm.
Paul tried to capitalize on the moment and stomp on my chest, but with my left hand I drew the knife and slashed. More warning than attack.
Paul shielded himself with open hands. The cut was clean and forced him to change tactics. He ran around me, searching for his axe.
With it, I had no option but to run.
I evaluated my choices: use PausePausePause very close to Paul and pray my body wouldn't freeze, stab the knife into his throat… or something like that.
My head was spinning.My vision blurred.Tears.
The idea of attacking Paul made me cry.
This is ridiculous.He's trying to kill me. His hand doesn't shake. He wants to kill me.So then… why?
Why am I afraid of him?
Search flared. Like a sixth sense, it warned me of the imminent attack. Paul had jumped, gripping the axe with both hands. He would land squarely on me.
The calculations gave me options. My body could flee.
But I…
I couldn't.
From the shore, an unnatural roar thundered like a ship's horn. The sound was so piercing that I had to cover my ears. Paul couldn't withstand it either; he dropped his axe and fell sooner than expected, close to me.
The being rising on the shore wasn't much larger than a truck, but its pincers alone were the size of a car.
Cancer had appeared.
Search reacted immediately, initiating the boss analysis. I stood up, still covering my ears. Paul began to rise as well.
I saw his axe.
On instinct, I kicked it as far away as I could. It wasn't much, but enough that Paul couldn't reach it while we both succumbed to Cancer's deafening roar.
When the screech finally died down, what truly terrified me arrived.
As if gargling, beneath its shell it prepared a shot.
A powerful jet of water.
I couldn't do anything.
Neither could Paul.
He stayed on the island.
I…
I don't know where I ended up.