Just A Healer

Chapter 52: The Decision to Surrender

January 19, 2049
10:35 AM

Status: In-Game
In-Game Time: 5:35 PM
Location: Frumshig City Airspace, Greida Province, Country-Continent of Axis

[Lucas Galileo]

"Kuya. Help!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makitang 'yon ang message ni Steve sa akin. Hindi ko napansin na nag-online si Steve ngayon. Akala ko kanina ay pumasok siya ng school. Nalimutan kong estudyante pa pala siya at wala din siyang pasok dahil special non-working holiday ngayong araw.

I long-pressed his profile icon and called him. Pero nagtaka ako dahil binaba niya. I called him again and he did the same. For three times, he canceled my call on his account. Tatawagin ko na sana si Kuya sa kabilang Sky Rift pero naka-receive ulit ako ng isa pang message mula kay Steve.

"Kuya. May mga humabol sa'kin kanina sa Qedium na taga-ibang Guild. Gusto ako kunin. Nakapagtago ako pero nandito ako sa Tunnel Dungeons. Hindi ako makalabas ng dungeon room dahil inaabangan nila ako sa mga pinto. Hindi ko pinapatay agad itong Level 154 na dungeon boss para lang hindi bumukas ng kusa 'yong mga pinto! Hula ko, ho-hostage-in nila ako para sumuko si Kuya Initiator sa kanila. Narinig ko usapan nila bago ako nila ako habulin."

"Kuya!" I called to my older brother. "Ihatid na natin si Sedna sa Qedium. Na-trap si Steve Tunnel Dungeons. Nagmessage siya sa'kin! Nanghihingi ng tulong!"

Agad kong pinasa kay Kuya ang message ni Steve nang mapatingin sila ni Daniel sa akin. I saw how my brother clenched his jaw in infuriation right after reading Steve's message. Agad na akong nag-type ng mensahe at pinadala kay Steve.

"Just maintain your stalling on the dungeon boss. Papunta na kami ni Kuya diyaan."

Only Higher level bosses in the Tunnel Dungeons have dungeon room doors that automatically close when players come in to fight it. No matter what the circumstances, players outside cannot reopen the door while a party or a player is still fighting the boss. Wala namang time limit din sa pagpatay sa dungeon boss. So as long as Steve stalls the boss in the dungeon room where he is, he'll be safe.

"Pati si Steve pinag-diskitahan nilang hulihin. They're really bent on forcing Commander to surrender to them." Sedna whispered to me, since she saw me type a reply to Steve. "Gaano kaya kalaki ang offer na reward ni Gerardum sa mga taong magsu-surrender sa kanya ng mga Guild Masters?"

"I don't know. Pero alam ko, hindi naman papayag si Kuya na susuko na lang siya ng basta-basta nang hindi lumalaban. His will is to fight. It's unlikely for him to surrender in real life. He might as well do the same here, in-game." I assured the female Primoid.

"Hyaa!" I heard my brother yell after swiping his player windows away, whipped the reins of his Sky Rift and it flew faster.

Gano'n din ang ginawa ko sa Sky Rift ko para makapagmadali na kami. In less than 5 minutes, nakabalik na kami ng base at lumapag kami sa harapan nito. Ako lang ang bumaba para ihatid din si Sedna sa gate ng Guild Base, na kakabukas lang ng isang Fairy Swordsmen na mukhang pinababa ng officers.

"We'll be back. Dito ka lang." I assured Sedna holding her shoulder while we were in front of the gates of our Guild Base.

"Ingat kayo, ah. Maghihintay lang ako dito." she nodded with a smile and the same fairy swordsman who open the small gate, escorted her in after locking it.

"Daniel," tawag ni Kuya sa lalaking Primoid at napatingin ito sa kanya. "I need you to stay here. I want to make sure that there's someone with enough power to help defend the Guild if anything worse happens. Please."