sorry na lang in advance
-chapter thirty-three-
FINN
"Kairo. You took the benefit for the seventh city, right?"
I stopped watching the strange energy that surrounded the red crystal to look behind. Kairo looked unfazed by Oliver's question, while Eura raised a brow.
The seventh city? Iyon ang Magus Arena. The magic tournament required for every rogue. Did the Revolution Flag appear just within the arena? With certain requirements? Or was it also randomly placed in the Magus City, along with the other Revolution Flag?
Speaking of, napatingin ako sa taas kung saan nakalagay ang pangalan ng syudad, ang kailangang gawin para matapos ito at ang bilang ng mga beta-testers na kasalukuyang buhay. It still baffles me how fifty of us are already dead. The Armory and the Den must have accumulated most deaths.
I wonder what would happen to the family they left behind? Would the company send them letter of apology for killing their family member in the game? Paano naman sa mga taong walang pamilya?
I remember the first death I've witnessed here. The voice said something about paying the dead player's family, also implying that the money increases the more city the player completes. Pero kung gano'n nga, I don't think any amount of money can replace a person's existence nor soothe a family's grief.
The small panel beside the city details caught my attention next. It was the leaderboard, showing the list of players with the highest points. Marcella sits at the top with Oliver's name coming up next. Kairo's also there, though most of the occupants are from the Blood Vanguard.
Kahit na hindi ko inayos ang paglaro sa mga cities ay naging parte pa rin ako ng Top 10. Although, I'm on the lowest tile, and will be kicked out with a few points.
I burned the leaderboard with my stare. Sana nga mahulog na ako.
"Yeah. Siguro dahil nauna akong makatapos na walang talo. I'm not really sure but it's with me now so..." Kairo let the next words die in the air.
We turned to a corner, now spotting a screen in the end of the path, which means a riddle is waiting for us. Since papalapit na kami sa crystal, or I think we are since the crystal doesn't look like it's close nor if it's far away, that means the riddle would be harder now.
"Hindi ka hinahabol ni Marcella? I thought she'd be interested in yours too." Oliver chuckled under his breath. "I have a feeling she wants to collect all flags and compile all the benefits."
"She can try. I'm not going down without a fight." nakangising sagot ni Kairo. "Pero, kung ako nasa lugar niya, I'd also exhaust myself looking for flags."
Kumunot ang noo ko do'n. May nangyari kaya? Marcella was chasing me at first because I stole a flag right under her nose, but Kairo seems to be implying something else.
Oliver frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, Kai! May kinalaman ba 'to sa sinabi mo noong nakaraan? Something like a bond link?" hindi rin mapigilang tanong ni Eura.
A bond link? For some reason, it sounds and feels dangerous.
Mukhang tama nga siguro ang masamang pakiramdam ko dahil nalukot ang mukha ni Oliver. He looks constipated. I'm not sure if it's because of what Kairo said or he really needs to go.
"A bond link? Ibig mo bang sabihin everyone in Marcella's alliance is linked? Kung anong nararamdaman ng isa, ay nararamdaman din ng lahat?"
Tumango si Kairo. I kept quiet, still walking a few steps ahead.
"It's the benefit from the Metropolis. Although I'm not sure if it's really a benefit, with how it functions."
That is very dangerous. Ang maramdaman mo kung anong nangyayari sa kasama. If one of them dies, the rest will feel a pain similar to dying. I wasn't expecting this, but this is exactly one of the reasons why I prefer on working alone.
A lone wolf carries no expectations from others.
My heart dropped when I realized something. Hindi ko mapigilan ang kaba na nabuhay sa dibdib. Sebastian is a part of Marcella's alliance and I fought with her in the arena. Did... Did Sebastian also suffered the damage I let out?
What if I actually hurt him?
Nilingon ko si Kairo. I was surprised to see him staring at me, but I placed it away, a bit glad that I don't have to ask louder for his attention.
"The fight in-"
"Does not count. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero nadisable ang bond link doon." mabilis niyang sagot. "I dunno why though. I even went hard on a certain Vanguard hoping I can make their leader bleed for days."
I nodded, lips slightly parted in surprise. Kairo is scary.
"If they share the bad things with each other, that must also mean that rewards are equally divided?" Oliver mused. "Nagpapaka-hero ba si Marcella?"
Kairo shrugged. "Hm. She is thinking of saving everyone in her alliance so she needs all the benefits she can get. Just to make sure nothing happens to any of them."
I could see Marcella's reason. Being a leader of an alliance and possessing a dangerous benefit can entail a huge responsibility. It's a stressing position filled with pressures. Lalo na para sa kaniya na hinahangaan at tinitingala ng lahat.
Of course, Marcella has to meet all ends just to ensure that everyone in her hands leave this game alive.
Bumuntong-hinga ako. Isa pang rason kung bakit ayaw kong may makaalam. I'll do my best to help anyone I've met or seen, but I don't want to fill ideal roles that people have created or judged from me.
"Pft." Eura stifled a laugh in her palm. "Truly a queen saving the peasants. What would sparrow say if she was here?"
Hindi ko alam kung namamalikmata lang ako pero nakita ko ang mabilis na pagsulyap ni Kairo sa gawi ko.
"I bet she'd flap her small wings and try to drag everyone out this game too." Oliver grinned. "Siguro ang dali na lang tapusin ng mga city kung nandiyan siya."
As I've said, unrealistic opinions. I may post tutorial videos or how-to gameplays, but I've mastered them over multiple studies and retries. Hindi ko sila nagagawa agad.
"Or she'd bewitch everyone with her voice, 'no?" Kairo met my eyes, teasing. "Maybe we'd be slaves who'll follow anything she says-"
I pursed my lips. Kairo says that but he wasn't one to listen. Kung pinakawalan niya lang ako noong unang pagkikita namin, sigurado'y walang Marcella na gusto akong patayin.
He raised a brow, lips quirked in a smirk. "-Cursed to forever want to see her face. Hungered to stay within her sights-"
Natigil si Kairo sa kung ano mang weird na sinasabi niya nang itulak palayo ni Eura ang mukha niya. A grimace is present in her mouth and she looks disgusted, disappointed... creeped out?
"Tangina, eww. Amputa, Kairo, hindi ko alam na naiisip mo 'yon kay Sparrow. Hindi ko alam sobrang fan ka niya, the fuck?"
Kairo rolled his eyes, taking Eura's hands off. "Baka may gusto ka pang idagdag na mura."
"Huwag mo nang ulitin 'yon. Like," Eura shuddered. "It's weird, hearing you say those things, lalo na kay Sparrow na super close ko. Not after knowing that you harbor feelings for my sweet, sweet child Fi-"
Natahimik si Eura nang isubo ni Kairo ang tinapay sa bibig niya. She fell into silence, now munching the given bread.
Umiwas ako ng tingin nang dumako sa'kin ang mata ni Kairo. I didn't know people think such things abour Sparrow. Did I really make her too private that people wants to see her so much they feel cursed?
"Enough about her, parte ka rin ng leaderboard since Metropolis, Oli. Alam ko kung bakit nasama si Finn dahil ako ang rason sa benefit niya, but you never went below the top three tile." Kairo tilted his head. "Pray, tell. Is this the result of being Marcella's sworn rival?"
Now that I think about it, Oliver really is like a solid rock in the leaderboards. He shifts a little in his position but then he never falls.
"It's simple. I took the Revolution Flag from the Level City. My benefit's very special though." Oliver smiled. "So special it might be a cheat."
"Sabihin niyo na lang ano ba 'yan. Nahiya naman ako bilang nag-iisang walang benefit dito, 'no?" saad ni Eura at inikot ang mata.
"Only if you start first..." Oliver's gaze drifted towards me. Blue eyes piercing for answers. "Finn."
Tumango ako. Hindi ko naman isini-sikreto ang nakuha ko.
"Ultimate Stealth."
Nalaglag ang panga ni Oliver sa sinabi ko. Kumunot ang noo ko, hindi alam kung bakit sobrang gulat siya. It's advantageous but it's not really jaw-dropping.
"What? Isn't that very dangerous considering the little presence you already have?!" Oliver shouted in shock. "O dahil sa pag-activate mo kaya naapektuhan presensiya mo?"
Activate? I frowned over the word. Is he asking if my low presence is because of me activating my benefit? May gano'n pala.
I tilted my head, looking every bit confused. "Activate?"
Now even Kairo and Eura was surprised at my lack of knowledge.
"Hindi mo ba alam kung ano 'yon?" tanong ni Kairo na tinanguan ko. "It's like my Power Surge, the benefit I got. Once I've activated it, other types of magic aside from mine deals lesser damage. Ang mga kaparehas ko naman, the Dark Arts, I can absorb and add your magic to mine."
"Same with me. Although sa'kin it's Exception. It's more like a cheat or something, dahil naapektuhan niya ang function ng laro. Ngunit isang beses sa isang syudad ko lang siya magagamit. One example is me transferring my fight to you," tukoy ni Oliver sa favor ko na makalaban si Gavin. "I wasn't disqualified or anything. I can just be exempted from things."
"Okay, okay. That is really cheating!" Eura pointed an accusing finger at Oliver. "Paano may ganiyang klaseng benefit at wala ako? Pero kung may ganiyan ka lang naman pala, ba't di mo na lang gamitin para makaalis dito sa city?"
"It doesn't work that way. I can't just be exempted from completing cities. I can just be exempted from certain rules."
"So pwede mong maalis ang protection ni Finn?" Kairo asked, rather hopeful.
Medyo naoffend ako do'n. I was already accepting my job as a guard.
Umiling ang nakangiting si Oliver. "Can't, dude. It's her word, not mine."
There was a pause as Kairo huffed in annoyance. Itinaas ko ang kamay sa pag-asang baka masagot na nila ang tanong ko kanina.
"Activate?" I tried again.
"Ah!" Oliver seemed to have realized they just shared their benefits and failed to answer my question. "Sorry, hehe. Kagaya nga ng sinabi namin, kailangan mong i-activate ang benefit mo para talagang magamit ito. It affected your attributes when you received it, but it can further increase your stealth once used."
Tumango-tango ako sa sinabi niya. I summoned my personal details and doon ko nga nakitang may activate pala sa Benefits tab. Hindi ko ito napansin noon.
▪▪▪
Name: Finn
Alliance: Lone Wolves
Level: 19
Cities Completed: 7
LB Points: 100
Revolution Flags (1):
[Armory] Ultimate Stealth - Activate
▪▪▪
Hesitating just for a second, I tapped the 'Activate' bar. The name of the benefit then shined in purple. Isang kasing-kulay na liwanag ang bumalot sa'kin at sumabog. I slightly frowned, not really feeling the effects.
Ngunit napa-angat ako ng tingin nang marinig ang singhap ni Eura. The three of them are now looking at me in horror.
"Finn? A-Are you really there? Is that you?" Eura frantically asked and I responded with a nod. "What the fuck." blanko niyang saad.
"This is horrifying. Sabi ko cheat na 'tong sa'kin pero walang-wala 'to sa kasalukuyang nangyayari sa'yo, Finn." problemadong wika ni Oliver.
I mentally panicked at their panic. Did something wrong happen? Wala naman akong nararamdamang kakaiba pagkatapos i-activate pero bakit parang nakakita sila ng aswang?
"Bakit?" hindi ko mapigilang itanong.
"I think you just became a monster, kitten." Kairo replied, looking a bit smug. "I can't feel your presence."
Sandali akong natulala sa sinabi niya.
"Can't feel Finn's presence?!" Eura shrieked, both excited and terrified. "Para ngang wala na siyang presensiya! Omg, Finn, my sweet, sweet child! You're... woah!"
It's strange to see that the loud Eura is at a loss for words.
"Siguro'y dahil ito sa low na ang presence mo kaya ngayong may Ultimate Stealth ka, wala ka na talagang presensiya." Oliver mumbled, massaging his temples. "This is so unfair. Bakit ba gano'n ang character attributes mo?"
Hindi ako nakasagot kasi hindi ko din alam.
Pinanood ko ang palad. I can't believe I have no presence now. Parang invisible lang ba ako sa kamila pero nakikita? O nakikita nila ako pero parang hologram lang?
Wait, no, Finn. It's not like I'm hazy or anything, hindi na lang ako nase-sense ngayon. A celebration was happening inside me. Now no one's gonna talk or come to me because they'd never know I'm next to them or with them.
I smiled. It's perfect.
"They're also fixed so there's no way of changing them." komento ni Kairo. "The only chance that we could increase our attributes was through the Level City, but moving past twenty was already hard enough. Kaya nga siguro ang chance na lang natin ngayon ay ang benefit at magic. Aside from mastering our weapons too."
I agree with that. Pero may isang bagay na nakakpagtaka pa rin.
"Benefit helps a lot?" I asked. "Aside from buffs."
I know Marcella is anxious about the bond link, but is there something more to benefits that makes her act like crazy?
"Are you wondering about Marcella's actions?"
Tumango ako. Kairo is really a minreader, coming next to Wes.
"Her bond link benefit makes a dozen of lives tied with her, right? So Marcella has to do everything to save their lives. The benefit can be their savior, a cheat item. Kagaya ng kay Oliver, maraming pwedeng gamitan ang benefit and-" Kairo shrugged. "Naniniwala si Marcella na may benefit ding makakatulong para makaalis tayo sa laro. So she's trying to collect all flags to search for a way out."
"O 'di kaya ay ang assumption na kapag may kinolektang certain flags or benefits, a way or clue out would appear or something." dagdag ni Oliver. "They're just hunches but there's no harm in following them."
Well, there is. If you're already harassing someone just to prove them right.
Naiintindihan ko rin naman. Assumptions, guesses, and hunches. They're necessary for gamers, dahil kung wala nang makakapitan, e'di 'yon na lang. Gamers take the risks, and bravely face the consequences thrown with it.
Kung mali ang atake mo dito at naitapon ka palayo ng kalaban, ang magagawa mo na lang ay tumayo at umatake ng limang segundong mas mabilis at magdasal na sana'y tama na ang move na 'yon.
It's hours of studying which attacks and which techniques would land greater damage or would be more effective.
"Well," Kairo stretched his arms up. "Kung tinatamad ka do'n, then you just finish the game the traditional way. You get stronger, finish cities, and survive."
"Sana all survivor." Eura muttered, now munching on a leaf.
Tumango-tango si Oliver. "Kaya nga mas mabuti na lang na magfocus sa pagmaster ng magic natin. Although we can't just be better at them overnight."
Dahil sa magic na ang pinag-uusapan namin ngayon, my mind briefly wandered to Joanne and her way of improving. I've never heard of it but maybe a night with each other transfers and increases a pair's magic energy?
"Tell me 'bout it." Kairo sighed. "I'd happily do anything that can help me with this freaking magic."
I stopped walking and faced Kairo. Tumigil siya sa pagnguya ng mansanas para taasan ako ng kilay. His piercings were exposed when he ran a hand over his hair, watching me closely.
"'Sup, kitten?"
"Kairo, sleep with me?"
There was a blank pause.
Before chaos settled in.
-chapter end-