-chapter seven-

FINN

"Why don't we use her as bait?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko at napasulyap ako kay Kairo. Nakangisi na ito ngayon. I frowned. What does he mean by bait? Itatapon niya ba ako sa horde ng mga Winged Beasts?

Even Marcella narrowed her eyes. "Use her as bait? What do you mean?"

"Let her take the flag. Sa kaniya natin malalaman kung ito nga ay totoong nagbibigay ng benepisyo o makakasama." he cocked his head to the side. "Ain't it a good plan?"

Humalukipkip ang Wes na nakahilig sa pader. Napaisip naman ang ibang mga kasama ni Marcella. Kairo won't just be using me as a determinant of the flag's true nature, but he also wants to lower Marcella's chances of benefitting. May pag-aaway ba ang dalawang ito?

Still, if they share a bad blood against each other, why pull me into it?

Marcella hummed. "So if it offers benefits, she gets the thirty points and the buff?"

"Of course." magiliw na sagot ni Kairo. "But, if it's not, then she'll face consequences."

Consequences? Did the game ever said anything about it? Aside sa hindi nito pagsabi na ganito pala ang galaw ng laro ay wala naman akong nabasang consequences.

I quietly gasped when I realized something. I felt Kairo's hand gripping tighter kaya napatahimik ako.

Bumaling si Marcella kay Wes na nakatitig lamang sa'kin. Siya ba ang official decision maker nila? Or do Marcella just trust his instincts greatly?

"What do you think, Wes?"

Nilabanan ko ang titig ng lalaki. His eyes are really cold and piercing. Para tuloy isa akong masamang tao na naghihintay ng persecution. Dumaan ang isang minuto na wala man lang siyang ginawa o sinabi.

"We should give it a chance." he finally said. "You'll be able to regain back the points you'll lose for now. It's better to be safe."

"Hm. If you say so," inilipat ni Marcella ang matalim na tingin sa'kin. "But if you happen to get the points, you're joining our alliance."

Ha? Ayoko nga.

Agresibo akong umiling. If it's alright, pipiliin ko na nga lang huwag sumali sa alliances. Group battle are fun and easy, but I don't want to betray anyone when we arrive on the knife's edge. At naniniwala akong talagang dadating ang panahon dito kung saan kailangan naming pumili.

I'm afraid that I won't hesitate in throwing myself to the fire just to free them.

"Now, now, Marcella. Hindi pwede 'yan. Give everyone a freedom to choose, especially the person you'll be using as your guinea pig." kontra ni Kairo. "Besides, it's just a proposition. You can take or leave it. I won't mind."

Marcella hesitated. This is the first encounter with a Revolution Flag kaya medyo hindi sila kumbinsido. Lalo na dahil sa nangyari nitong nakaraang oras. Dying here means dying outside, they can't risk their lives over a measly amount of points that they can stack up later on.

The gears turned in her head as she stared at me. Kalaunan ay isang tango ang ibinigay niya.

"Alright. She gets the flag." naningkit ang mata niya. "But if it ever becomes a benefit, I'll make sure you join the alliance, whether I have to force you or not."

Mahina akong itinulak ni Kairo papasok sa silid. Just enough to budge and tell me to step inside. He chuckled.

"What a dangerous threat a lion is making towards a cat." ngumisi si Kairo. "You're probably making an enemy of the wrong person."

"We're always watching for foxes like you." komento ni Wes at masamang tiningnan si Kairo. "We won't be victims of your slyness."

Napabuntong-hininga ako sa isipan. I think you are all victims now.

"Kunin mo na." utos ni Marcella.

I slowly walked towards the flag, very aware of the eyes that follows me. Kung hindi ako dinagit ng Winged Beast ay siguro maganda pa ang pakikipaglaban ko kasama sina Sapphire at Theo. But no, I had to land here and be the subject of their mini war.

It's so early in the game for them to become so hostile. Are they really that afraid of jumping between cities? The e-mail provided that having ranks on the Leaderboard helps with survival. Iyon ba ang pakay nila? An immunity?

Kinuha ko ang flag at walang nangyari.

Amnesia blinked. "Hoy, babae, may lumabas bang notif? Ano sabi?"

Umiling ako.

"Is that a good sign or a bad sign?" kumunot ang noo ni Dierran. "Hindi ko gets. Ano ba mangyayari? Paano ba malalaman?"

Wes sighed and pushed himself off the wall he was leaning. Nanatili ang titig niya sa'kin.

"It won't show up until we finish the city. Doon lang lalabas ang leaderboard at doon din malalaman kung may benefit ba 'yan."

Napayuko ako nang may biglang umakbay sa'kin. Kairo's arm was heavy as he chuckled with delight.

"Tama, tama! Kaya dapat pumunta na tayo sa gate. We found it already so no problems. Hm-" napatingin siya sa'kin. "Tapos mo na ba ang task mo?"

I gave a silent nod. He grinned.

"Eura, Louise. Labas na kayo diyan."

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marinig ang pangalan ni Eura at mas lalo akong nasurpresa nang makita ang babae na lumabas mula sa likod ni Marcella. Tumakbo siya papunta sa'kin at mahigpit akong niyakap.

"Ahh! Finn!" she shouted. "Namiss kita! Bakit hindi ka nagpakita ha?! Iniwan mo ako!"

I blinked in surprise. "'m sorry."

"Aww~ Okay lang 'yon. Ikaw pa ba!" malakas siyang tumawa at biglang sinamaan ng tingin si Kairo. "Hoy, bitawan mo nga siya. Akin na 'to."

Kairo raised a brow. "Sino nagsabi?"

"Ako!"

Eura then pulled me away from Kairo who did not loosen his grip on my shoulder. Nang sobrang sakit na ng ginagawa ng dalawa ay tumalon ako palayo. Napakurapkurap sila nang makitang wala na ako.

"Finn!" mabilis ulit akong niyakap ni Eura. "Ang adorable mo talaga. Paano 'yon? Ninja work ba 'yon?"

Ninja work? Umiling ako.

"Aalis na ba tayo?" nakangiting tanong ng isang babae. Ito siguro si Louise.

Marcella nodded. "We should." then, she offered a glare towards Kairo. "I should have expected she's part of your group."

"Who? The girl? She's-"

"Si Finn?" putol ni Eura kay Kairo. "Hindi 'no! Eh no'ng ipapakilala ko nga sana 'to, biglang nawala. Ngayon ko lang ulit siya nakita. Isa pa, she's my friend. Not Kairo's."

Talaga nga sigurong natural na maingay si Eura. The noisy ones in our group are Gavin and Reñee, naactivate naman ang kaingayan ni Baste 'pag inaaway niya ang dalawa.

Naunang naglakad sina Louise at Kairo para ipakita ang daan. Sumunod si Marcella na kasama sina Amnesia at Aisaka. Nasa middle kami ni Eura na panay ang kuwento sa nangyari sa kaniya noong napunta siya dito. Sa likod namin ay tahimik na naglalakad si Dierran at Wes.

"-Kaya ayun, napatakbo tuloy ako at iniwan ko si Fern." malakas siyang tumawa. "Nakuha nga siya ng Winged Beast pero buti na lang at mabilis si Kairo sa pagpatay doon sa halimaw. Ah! Alam mo ba may bagong miyembro din na napasama sa'min. Kairo likes his guts or something. Ano nga ba pangalan no'n. Si Golden... Griffin... Ga-Gav-"

"Eura."

Napalingon kami nang tawagin ni Dierran ang pangalan ng babae. Eura threw him a cautious look.

"Bakit?"

It's so odd to see her be all guarded and serious. Siguro nga iba talaga siya kapag importante na ang pag-uusapan.

"Hindi mo ba ako naa-alala? Ang guild na Guilty Crown? Si Dierran?" sunod-sunod na tanong ng lalaki.

Eura's jaw dropped and she squealed. "Dierran?!"

"Eura!" sigaw din ng lalaki at ngumiti.

Bahagya ring nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig. Siya si Dierran? The leader of our guild, Guilty Crown? Bakit nga ba hindi ko napamilyaran ang pangalan niya? I guess I was convinced that people here have different name already dahil totoong pangalan na ang gamit. Hindi ko naman alam na nickname niya rin ang ginamit na IGN sa larong 'yon.

Dierran's my guild leader in the two games that I've played. Sa Autumn's Fall kung saan kasama ko si West, at sa Guilty Crown na nakilala ko si Eura.

Now that further confirms Eura's identity. Siguradong magagalit sila dahil hindi ko sinabi kung sino ako pero hindi ko talaga kayang ipagsabi sa kanila iyon. Now, I have to be even more careful with my voice at baka mapamilyaran nila.

But, maybe my voice is not as similar to when I'm streaming? Dahil wala pa rin namang nagkakaroon ng suspisyon.

"So that's West?!" turo ni Eura kay Wes.

Tumango-tango si Dierran. "Yep, yep! Mukhang naisipan siyang isama ng developers dahil sa talino niya."

Oh. Talaga ngang magkasama siguro lagi ang dalawang 'to. I could sympathize with the developers and understand Marcella's trust with him. Magagaling naman talaga ang hunches niya. Maybe it comes with being a pre-med student?

"Ah nga pala, Finn, kasama ko sila sa isang guild ko na laro." ngumiti si Eura sa'kin. "'Di ba naglalaro ka rin? Anong game 'yon at ano ang username mo?"

Most of the games I've played connect me to being Sparrow. At ang recent na game ko ay nagco-consist ng members mula sa guild namin dahil nga sa discord invites. Which concludes that I really can't answer that question.

"Oi, Eura! Nandito na tayo."

Thank goodness for Kairo! Nawala ang atensiyon ni Eura sa'kin at napabaling siya kay Kairo. Sinigawan niya ito na maghintay sa'min. Before she could drag me away, I caught a glimpse of a frown in Wes' face.

Sana naman hindi siya sobrang talino.

The large steeled gates appeared before us. Agad itong bumukas nang makalapit sina Marcella sa pinto. There's a small road we have to pass to get to the other side. Kairo stood by the gates and let everyone in first. However, he joined me when I entered. Binigyan niya ako ng isang makahulugang ngisi.

"There's no fake flag, right?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

His smirk widened. "That must be the first time you talked to me, kitty. Pero hindi ba alam mo na rin 'yon? That there's only one Revolution Flag in a city."

"Why?"

Bumungad sa'min ang susunod na city. Marcella and her comrades awaits us in the other side. Ibinulsa ni Kairo ang kamay.

"You owe me, kitty." aniya nang lumabas ang pangalan ko sa leader board. "But there's no rush. I'll take the payment anytime I want."

Marcella frowned upon seeing my name at the top with fifty points. Binigyan niya ako ng matalim na tingin. Gano'n din ang mga kasama niyang napamura, maliban kay Dierran na panay ang wika ng 'Okay lang' at kay Wes na nakatitig lang sa'kin. I subtly feel my face for any dirt or weird marks.

Biglang may lumabas na hologram sa harap ko at nakalagay doon ang benepisyo na mula sa city flag.

▪▪▪

Wicked, Rogue! You got the Revolution Flag of the Armory. As such you have gained the buff, "Maximum Stealth".

Your presence will be entirely hidden for an entire city in a span of ten minutes. It refreshes at every completion of a city. If used within the same city, it has a cooldown of thirty minutes. So be smart about using it!

You have gained thirty points for taking the Revolution Flag. If you are under any alliance, they will also take the points.

▪▪▪

Nanlaki ang mata ko. This is helpful.

"May message na ba?" tanong ni Amnesia. "Ano daw sabi?"

Bago ako sumagot ay pinili ko munang isarado ang mensahe. Pero laking gulat ko nang makitang ay sumunod pang system message.

▪▪▪

Amazing, Finn! You have placed yourself in the Leaderboards which starts counting at fifty points.

As a reward for your commendable performance, your benefit will be jumping ahead your fellow rogues! Work to the best of your skills and abilities, Finn.

▪▪▪

Then, I was suddenly transported somewhere. Napatingin ako sa paligid pero wala na ang mga taong kanina'y nakita ko. Instead, I was in some kind of underground floor. Rocks and dirt formed around me and in front was something similar to an obstacle course. Iisa lang ang direksiyon na pinapatunguan ng floor na 'to at iyon ay ang nasa other end.

The instructions appeared next.

▪▪▪

Congratulations for completing the previous city, rogues! Weapons are very important in games. It's your tool of survival. And so, you must pick one that resonates with your soul well.

You have exhibited your identity in the last city. Like warriors who wield swords and mages who uses staffs, rogues inserts their identity on the weapon they uses. Even under the pressure of death!

Now, we welcome you to the third city, Level City. Levelling up is one of the most fun factor of games, because every level gives you new functions and benefits.

The Ranking Tower is here to help you identify the level that best suits you. There are about 100 floors in this tower. The lower you go, the higher your level is.

Keep in mind that for every floor you finish, a skill or buff is added to your level. A city exit is available at every floor and players are able to leave the city if they want to.

Remember that your level here determines the attributes you will be possessing in the later cities. Will you choose to level up or proceed?

Make the smart choice, rogues.

Welcome to the Level City!

▪▪▪

Current Alive Beta Testers: 184/200
Beta-Testers Who Proceeded to the Level City: 182

-chapter end-

Hindi ata aabot sa 10k words ang mga salitang sasabihin ni Finn sa buong libro.