Rogue Wars Online

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Gamble With Your Lives

-chapter ninety-nine-

FINN

"This is bad. I don't think anyone's gonna play soon."

Hindi ko mapigilang sumang-ayon sa sinabi ni Maki. The announcement has already passed an hour but no one is still moving. Some of them are standing in groups, may iba ring nakaupo ng kaniya-kaniya.

"But... there are people who started already." sabay turo ko sa mga taong nagsisimulang maglaro ng casino games.

Maki shrugged. "Most of them are from Marcella's guild. Sila 'yong mga nandito at naglalaban pa kahit na nawalan ng kaibigan o kasama. But most of the players here suffered a big loss at the last city. Iyon talaga ang nagbawas sa player count natin."

I frowned. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Ah. You didn't realize since you and Marcella were fighting... but, the past city was a hell to ordinary players. Marami ang nahulog at naitulak ng lalaking 'yon. Even though you saved a lot from being left behind, they struggled at the last rocks. Napressure na din siguro sila ng timer kaya nagpa-unahan ang ibang naiwan at marami ang namatay."

My breath was knocked out of my lungs as I listened to Maki. Hindi ko na napansin ang nangyari noon dahil abala ako kay Marcella. The shadow barrier I made also stopped me from watching the players who moved on. Kaya pala sobrang konti na lang namin ngayon. Most of us died in there.

"See that girl." turo ni Maki sa isang babaeng nakatulala. "She lost her boyfriend of five years in the last city. Tinulak siya nito papunta sa isla bago nahulog. That man too-" he pointed at a grieving man sitting on a stool. "He lost his kid. Nagulat na lang siya na ibang kamay na ang hawak-hawak niya. 'Yon pala naitulak na ang totoong anak niya."

My eyes widened. "May bata dito?"

"I was surprised too. Eura told me that she met the same child back at the Dragon Arena. Siguro ay naglalaro na siya at sinamahan lang ng ama. I mean, we all started at a fairly young age too."

"Wala bang age limit dito sa beta-testing?"

"There was no real requirement, Finn. Whether you play games or not, whether you're old or not, if you accept their invitation then you're in." he laughed without humor. "Nakakapagtaka nga kung bakit nila ginawa ang larong 'to. To cater everyone? To let us know the dangers of games? Why would they kill us just for a fucking beta-test?"

Although Maki was treated as an outcast the whole game, it's heartwarming to see him empathize with the players than say it was karma.

"Baka sobrang bored na siya sa buhay at naisipang pumatay ng tao. Para na rin hindi tumaas ang populasyon natin." Sapphire inserted with a grin. "I mean, geniuses are the craziest, you know."

Maki awkwardly laughed, nodding his head at that. He looked tense and unsure of what to behave now that Sapphire is joining us. Kahit ako rin ay nawiwirdohan sa kaniya.

She was proven to be connected with Marcella and June, to the point that she influenced their actions. Marcella listened to her plans and participated, leading to Caspian's death. She made the way for June to kill Depore. Malaki rin ang kutob ko na may kinalaman siya sa sunod-sunod na atake sa Territory Wars, lalo na't siya ang naging acting leader do'n.