-chapter forty-seven-

THIRD PERSON

Nang makatapak si Oliver sa kabilang syudad ay napahinto siya sa nakita.

"Nasa langit na ba ako?" tanong niya nang makita ang napakaraming Finn na nakapalibot sa kanila.

Even Gavin and Caspian who entered first were frozen. Hindi nila alam kung swerte sila dahil kahit saan may Finn, o di kaya'y malas sila dahil hindi nila alam kung saan ang original.

The Finns were acting like how the true one acted. They just stood there, staring and blinking and occasionally tilting their head.

Oliver felt someone push him forward and a familiar, annoying voice irritated his eardrums.

"Ano ba naman 'yan, ang laki-laki ng gubat na 'to humaharang-harang ka sa daan. Sabihin mo nga sa'kin ang totoo, sino ba talaga sa inyo ni Theo ang mas malapit nang mabulag?" Eura muttered and scanned her surroundings only to stop breathing. "Peste. Ano 'to, heaven?"

"Heaven para sa mga may gusto si Finn." komento ni Sapphire na tumabi sa babae. "Grabe kung may harem si Finn, siguradong magtatalon na sila sa tuwa. Isipin mo nga naman, noon kailangan nilang maglaban para sa isa, ngayon siguro'y isang daan na ang pagpipilian nila- aray!"

Hinimas ni Sapphire ang ulo nang malakas siyang binatukan ni Theo.

"Tanga, wala pa ring tatalo sa totoong Finn, ano. Ikaw kaya sabihan kong makipagrelasyon sa fake ng crush mo."

Sapphire stuck her tongue out. "Wala akong crush, sorry ka na lang."

"Very obvious namang tatanda kang dalaga." Depore remarked. "But, damn, this is really bad."

"Bad?"

"Bad for somebody's heart."

Itinuro ni Depore si Kairo na mukhang hindi na alam kung tatawa, mamumula, o iiyak sa dami ng mga adorable na pusa niya sa paligid. If he could just make them into miniature sizes so that he can bring Finn wherever he goes and take her away from the others, he would.

"Finn, nasaan ka?" Gavin asked, staring intently at every Finn and hoping his childhood bestfriend instincts wouldn't fail him.

However, to everyone's surprise, another batch of clones arrived. Hindi na ito sina Finn at sila na. Kuhang-kuha nang bawat clone ang expresiyon nilang lahat; Caspian's blank face, Oliver's carefree look, Kairo's smirk, Gavin's blinding smile, Depore's raised eyebrows, Theo's sleepy eyes and yawn, Sapphire's cheshire grin and lastly Eura's loud laugh ringing in the forest. The clones walked closer, joining the Finns and eventually mixing with the group.

"Nasaan si Finn? Nakita niyo ba?"

"Putangina mo. Gago ka. Bleh."

"Huwag na kayong magalala sa kalagayan ko. I'm alright."

"Insan! Nasaan ka?!"

"Ang pangit ni Theo! Hahaha!"

"Saan ba pwedeng matulog dito?"

"This is fun."

"Talaga ngang napakaganda kong tingnan oh. Yes, 'yan. Ang adorable ko naman."

The different voices made the whole forest alive. Lahat ng mga players nasa gubat ay hindi na alam kung saan ang totoo nilang kasama o hindi. They have united themselves with the clone, who perfectly copied all their behaviors, pattern of speech, and even movements.

However, to a certain person, all eight of them have already been marked.

The forest occupied the whole city. A red squared-box is floating in the crimson sky, moving and circling around, making the letters carved into each panel visible for everyone. Sa unang parte nito ay kita ang kailangan nilang gawin para matapos ang city gano'n na rin ang description nito.

The second panel showed the number of players in the current city over the number of players alive in the whole game. 27/139 was like a hunting nightmare to everyone. There are already twenty-seven players in the tenth city, increasing in number as the minute goes, out of the hundred and thirty-nine people who are currently alive. A hundred and thirty-nine from the two hundred chosen beta-testers.

They have only arrived at the tenth city, but they were already approaching the low hundreds. Hindi pa nga sila nakakahalf sa lahat ng cities dito sa game.

The third panel showed the ranking of players in the city and how many clones have they already killed. As of the current 2:51:43 time-count, there are only five players in the kill-count board. A rogue can enter the ranking once they've reached a hundred total kills.

[Kill-Count Board]
1. Kairo Shantel - 115 clones
2. Jan Oliver - 113 clones
3. Vince Caspian - 109 clones
4. Marcella Maia - 107 clones (all Finn)
5. Eunice Yra - 101 clones
6. ...
7. ...
8. ...
9. ...
10. ...

Napailing si Kairo nang makita ang pangalan ni Marcella at ang nakasulat dito. Really? That girl's hatred could burn for centuries and the flame still wouldn't die. Hindi niya maisip na talagang papatayin ng babae lahat ng Finn clones.

Still, Kairo couldn't help but feel disappointed. Finn was the first one who stepped into this game at agad siyang nawala dahil sa pagdating ng mga clones kanina. But she didn't appear in the kill-count board.

Which is something Finn must have been doing intentionally. Sa skills nito ay hindi magtataka si Kairo kung makapasok siya agad. That might not be in Finn's plan again though. She's probably keeping it lowkey again.

Kairo whistled, twirling the dagger in his hand. Napahinto siya nang makita ang pamilyar na pigura. A clone of Marcella was walking around, looking regal and prideful.

Kairo smirked, a brilliant idea forming in his head. Why don't he make this game more exciting?

The fourth panel of the squared box shows the players the number of clones they've killed over the required amount. Tanging ang player lang ang makakakita ng kanilang napatay at kailangang patayin. It will not be visible to other players.

Wes stopped in his tracks when Marcella's name suddenly bolted to the top ranks. Napailing siya nang makita kung sino lang ang pinapatay ng babae.

[Kill-Count Board]
1. Marcella Maia - 211 clones (all Finley)
2. Kairo Shantel - 205 clones (mostly Marcella)
3. Jan Oliver - 203 clones
4. Vince Caspian - 196 clones
5. Glory Mae - 189 clones
6. Dierk Van - 181 clones
7. John Dylan - 156 clones
7. Eunice Yra - 156 clones
9. Theodore - 120 clones (single location kills)
10. ....

"Grabe talaga ang galit niya kay Finn, ano?" Dierran couldn't help but comment. "Ang sad naman kasi, you know, super cute ni Finn para may magalit ng ganiyan."

Wes stared at his friend suspiciously. Pinaningkitan niya ito ng mata dahil sa sinabi. Nang mapansin siya ni Dierran ay agad nitong itinaas ang kamay.

"Woah, dude. Don't worry, I don't like her like that. Hindi ba pwedeng sabihin lang ang totoo nang walang malisya?"

Iniwas lang ni Wes ang tingin at hindi na sumagot pa. He continued walking, leaving the chuckling Dierran to catch his pace.

"Shit, pare. I've never thought magiging ganito ka. Think of how the boys will react once malaman nilang may kinababaliwan ka na pala. The blind dates they've set for you would all be canceled agad."

Wes really admires how Dierran can just remain optimistic at all times. One of the things why he is considered a good leader is his motivating personality and hopeful thinking. Kapag may mga dungeon raids silang mahihirap at malapit nang mawalan ng gana, si Dierran ang nagpapatayo sa kanila. O minsa'y maaawa na lang sila sa leader nilang sugatan na patuloy pa rin sa paglaban.

Dierran watched as Wes frowned the squared box in the sky and refused to kill the clone that was passing by. Kanina pa ito. Nasa ninety na ata ang buong kill ng kaibigan niya pero ayaw pa rin nitong gumalaw dahil ayaw mapasama sa board.

Napapaisip tuloy si Dierran kung balak na ba ni Wes na sumunod sa yapak ni Sparrow.

"Who's that?"

Napatalon si Dierran nang biglang umikot si Wes patalikod na naniningkit ang mata. Dierran placed a palm on his chest, hoping make his frantic heart calm down. May plano ata siyang patayin ng maaga nina Finn at Wes.

"P-Pare, maghunosdili ka naman sa panggugulat mo minsan. Wala naman tayo sa horror movie para sa mga jumpscares na 'yan, 'no? Ano ba kasi nakita mo?"

"Hindi nakita. I felt something."

Lalong nanlaki ang mata ni Dierran at napahawak siya nang mas mahigpit sa sariling damit.

"Aswang...?" natatakot niyang tanong.

Kumunot ang noo ni Wes. "Ha? Hindi. Basta I thought someone was here."

"Pero 'di ba hindi naman aswang 'yon? 'No? 'Di ba?"

Wes ignored Dierran's question and stared at a vacant branch instead. There was something troubling in his mind earlier kaya napaikot siya. Wala naman siyang nadetect na presensiya ngunit talagang may kakaiba lang siyang naramdaman.

Na para bang may nagmamasid.

A certain loud explosion made the whole forest trembled. Kasabay nito ay ang pag-angat ng isang pangalan sa leaderboard. Depore's explosive entrance was accompanied by 104 kills.

"Pucha." naiinis na tugon ni Eura habang sinusunog ang isang clone na kaharap. "Bakit ang dami namang napatay agad 'yong matandang 'yon? Sigurado ba siyang walang players na nadamay do'n?"

"If you would just stop talking every five seconds, then maybe you could join them in the upper ranks?" tugon ng ka-alyansa niyang si Fern.

"Ngek. Okay na ako sa top seven 'no. Pero sino naman kaya iyang Dylan na nakikihati sa trono ko? Amp. Naiinis ako sa pangalan niya ha. Tunog pakboy."

"Bahala ka diyan, Eura. Mauuna na ako."

Eura rolled her eyes at her friend. Bakit ba siya napapalibutan ng mga malditang kaibigan? Minsan tuloy ang sarap nalang nilang sunugin dahil hindi sila marunong makipagsabayan sa trip niya.

Isang pagsabog ulit ang naramdaman niya at malapit na niyang murahin si Depore dahil hindi siya makatayo ng maayos sa pagpapasabog nito. Ano ba 'to, new year para gumanyan?

Eura was about to go and chase after Fern when a certain name took her attention. Her jaw dropped as the new name casually inserted themselves in the top sixth rank.

[Kill-Count Board]
1. Marcella Maia - 259 clones (mostly Finley)
2. Kairo Shantel - 240 clones (mostly Marcella)
3. Jan Oliver - 219 clones
4. Dierk Van - 215 clones
5. Vince Caspian - 203 clones
6. Finley Lilliane - 199 clones (South Lake clone massacre)
7. Glory Mae - 195 clones
8. John Dylan - 190 clones
9. Eunice Yra - 182 clones
10. Deanne Portia - 133 clones (consecutive explosions)

Umangat ang labi ni Oliver nang makita ang pangalan ni Finn doon. And a clone massacre at that? Tuluyan na siguro itong nainis sa pagpatay ni Marcella sa mga clones niya.

Oliver glanced at his cousin who was leaning on the tree and staring ag the sky. Itinuro niya ang tinitingnan nito at ngumisi.

"Insan. Naunahan ka na oh."

Finn has already achieved the fourth spot, going on a tie with Dierran.

"Ikaw din." tugon ng pinsan niya.

Finn was steadily approaching the second rank, her killing numbers growing by the second.

Hindi mapigilan ni Oliver na mahinang mapatawa sa nakikita. It was insane! For an hour, Finn was doing what she did best. Hiding under the pretense of her clones and fighting just to stay under the rank.

But in one explosive manner, her name just shot up, passing famous players in a blink and now steadily catching up to the two blood-hungry players in the game.

"This is fucking crazy." Kairo chuckled to himself as Finn replaced his rank on the board.

The name Finley Lilliane was now blinking at the second spot with a glaring clone kills of over two hundred fifty.

And not less than five minutes have passed!

"Lily is really amazing here, huh?" Sebastian couldn't help but admire his non-blood related little sister even in the midst of battle.

Hindi rin mapigilan ni Renée na mapatango, a soft smile grazing her lips.

There were about a hundred clones circling them and slowly closing in on them. Renée shifted into an attacking position, both her fans are ready to be thrown. Gano'n din si Sebastian sa hawak niyang kutsilyo.

They were ready to fight against the massive hoard, and if they die or survive, at least they did their best.

Ngunit bago pa tuluyang makalapit ang mga clones sa kanila ay may nangyari.

The first circle of clones instantly fell on the ground, a black throwdagger impaled on their foreheads. The next batch of clones attacked and twenty kunais appeared above Sebastian and Eura, circling for a while before flying and piercing towards the clones. Then, on the next batch of clones that seemed to hold a larger amount, dalawang floating kunai rings ang nabuo sa ibabaw nila.

The bottom kunai ring was wider than the one above, forming a circle inside a cirle. Every ring consisted of twenty daggers and they simultaneously flew towards the targets. Kasabay nang pagtusok nila sa noo ng bawat clone ay siya ring paglitaw ng mga anino. The shadows danced around the clones who didn't attack - sandaling humihinto para isaksak ang dagger at muli namang mawawala. There was only one shadow in control but the insane speed it had almost made it look like there were ten shadows working.

Sa isang iglap ay natumba sa lupa ang mga clones, all of them sporting the same murder weapon.

A black throwdagger.

Sa isang iglap ay nawala ang isang daang clones na balak sanang atakehin sina Sebastian at Renée.

Unbeknownst to them, a red flag was already present above their heads. A reminder that they will never be harmed by the hurricane that was now causing havoc in the forest.

The rankings in the kill-count board once again changed.

Now, with Finley Lilliane's name at the top with almost four hundred kills.

-chapter end-