Hii! And we're back~ Now for the better lols.

-rogue wars online
second story-

In this crimson sky, a black sparrow flies.

Small but flighty. Its actions are unnoticeable but they're necessary. It sings so low for a word so strong.

But a small bird alone in the sky full of predators is dangerous. For big preys would target them, ripping the wings and making them vulnerable for the wolves below.

It's the reason why Finn fell.

There's another reason why she continues to fly.

The gate was three times their height, making the huge den look like an unbreakable cage. Huge steel rods are used to stop the large door from opening and the stone walls are completely closed. Isang tingin pa lang, alam na ng lahat na isang dangerous monster ang nasa loob. Much less hearing the roar and thundering chains inside.

Only the best of the best could really enter.

Thankfully, the second phase of the thirteenth city only needed three players to fight. Of course, Marcella was already a fixed choice. June was picked next because of her close relationship with Marcella and her amazing display of skills as well.

The final one was the Sparrow, who they confirmed to be Finn when she told them herself.

"Too bad I'm your Black Sparrow."

Tila nagpatigil iyon sa lahat. The cold smirk in her face, together with the blank voice made the insulting words from their mouth died on the air. It left them confused and startled. May pag-aalinlangan sila sa nalamang impormasyon.

Finn, who supposedly killed three of her friends, is the legendary streamer who didn't bother to show herself in this game.

Binuhay ng mga katagang 'yon ang surpresa, pagkalito, pagdududa, at higit sa lahat... galit. Anger that fueled the betrayal they assumed the young player has done.

And facts that would only burn Finn to ashes.

"Siya? Ang black sparrow? Hindi ako makapaniwalang nangyayari ito ngayon!" bulalas ng isang lalaki.

"I can kind of believe it though." komento ng isa. "Napaka-unbelievable naman na nakaya niyang sabayan si Marcella at hindi natin siya kilala. Now that she told us herself that she's Sparrow, it clears everything."

Tumango ang katabi nito. "Tama ka. Lalo na't siya pa ang inaya ni Marcella na tumulong sa dami ng mga magagaling na players dito."

"Marcella knows it's a serious situation so she's being civil even against her rival. All to save us from this city!" a loyal fan of Marcella said. "Hindi kagaya ng iba diyan na sasabihin lang ang totoo kapag nacorner na!"

"But, shit, grabe pala ang personalidad niya 'no? Akala ko noong una cute siya, pero ngayon, I can't help but view her as a demon."

"Tama, tama. Ang pangit niyang magsalita. Tch, hindi nga lang talaga dapat sa itsura tayo nagbabase." sang-ayon ng isa.

The loud ones in the crowd were the players who were already part of Marcella's and June's pact. Sa iisang tao lang sila nagtatrabaho, at isa sa mga kailangan nilang gawin ay gumawa ng istorya para ipakain sa mga players na walang muwang.

Forty percent of the players are feeding twisted stories. Twenty percent fully believes the statement, while the other twenty has to believe it due to their power. Ten percent decided to be silent about the matter and the other ten doesn't believe but wouldn't speak out.

Bakit? Because this is a game of survival. In this world of dangerous games and threatening situations, may mas importante pa nga ba sa sarili mo?

Kung lalaban sila sa mga salita ni Marcella, the player-killers who June controls and the largest alliance in RWO would be against them. They would be at a total disadvantage kung pipiliin nilang magside sa isang babaeng walang kung-sino sa tabi niya.

They feel bad for Finn, but they need to ignore what's happening. All to finish this game and live.

Marcella and June already knew that. From the sparrow's evasive personality who always wants to keep her privacy, alam ni Marcella na hindi siya magpapakilala sa game. Kaya ginamit niya iyon para gumawa ng plano. June, as Finn's old friend, knows that she would rather play alone. If Finn doesn't make strong connections in the game, no one will side by her once the plan commences.

It's a fail-proof plan.

They got rid of those who are very loyal at Finn first - three players who has enough reputation to help Finn against them: Caspian, who will be backed up by Oliver and to all those players who admires him. Depore, who has Kairo's entire alliance with her, as well as those who follows them. Lastly, Renée, who has Sebastian and other males completely whipped for her, ready to help her.

If they drop all their deaths on Finn's hand, baiting her for everyone to bite on, it will be her doom.

Once she falls, she'll change. Just to keep herself from landing on the ground.

At mula sa recent behavior ni Finn, the cold expression and how she even closed in herself, mukhang gumagana na nga ang changes niya. If she becomes the worst version of herself, would anyone still change their perception of her once the truth comes out?

"You look happy." komento ni Marcella nang makita ang kumikinang na mata ni June.

Somewhere in the crowd, may isa ring masaya sa kasalukuyang nangyayari.

"She made my life a living hell. Time to make hers one."

Marcella wondered what Finn made for June to act like this. Kung siya ang tatanungin, it was greed that made her do it. There are things in life that she couldn't just afford to give up. There are things that should never be stolen from here. Dahil ayaw na ayaw niya nang bumalik pa doon.

"Ano ba ang ginawa niya?"

June glanced at her. "That one afternoon, she decided to sit beside me. That was her first mistake."

Kumunot ang noo ni Marcella, ngunit hindi na siya agad nakapagtanong dahil humakbang palapit kay Finn si June.

"Thank you for helping us, Sparrow." nakangiting wika niya.

Finn only stared at her and offered no response.

Watching them, Eura still couldn't believe what happened. Medyo nasaktan siya't hindi sinabi ni Finn ang totoo sa kanila, pero ilang taon niya na ring nakasama si Sparrow para malaman ang ugali nito. Finn must have been afraid that the privacy she built for years will be broken in one snap.

Sa totoo lang, hindi naniniwala si Eura sa sinasabi ng mga tao sa paligid niya. Laging nasa isip ni Finn na mapabuti sila, at kung balak nitong patayin silang lahat, sana sa una niya pa lang sinabi. Sana hindi na ito nag-abala pa na maghunt ng mga player-killers. Isa pa, hindi naman si Finn ambitious to use her skills in order to arrive at the top.

Sa pagsasama nila dito sa game, Finn has never cared about rankings. It was always the people around her who are threatened.

Eura sneaked a peek on Kairo. Gusto niyang tumulong o mag-speak up para kay Finn, ngunit hindi siya makagalaw. There are invisible chains pulling her to stay, ang bawat member niya at ang lider na ayaw umaksyon nang hindi pa nakumporma ang lahat. Natatakot din si Eura na baka kung gumawa siya ng hakbang, mapapahamak si Gavin.

Right now, she's helpless.

There's also something that's bugging her. Kung paano nalaman ng mga tao na present si Finn sa pagkamatay ni Depore, in order to made the assumption that she killed her. Kairo specifically told his alliance to keep it within themselves. They swore on it. Kaya laking gulat niya nang kumalat na ang usapan na si Finn ang nasa likod ng pagkamatay.

There's something not adding up.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Eura nang isang bato ang tumama sa ulo ni Finn. It made her tilt her head to the side, as to avoid the rest of the pebbles that followed.

"Tama na! Huwag kayong manakit ng ibang tao!" Eura shouted.

"Bakit naman hindi? Eh, siya nga, okay lang pumatay ng ibang tao?" Amnesia hollered, arms crossed. "Hindi ba't pinatay niya ang kaibigan mo, Eura? O sinasabi mo bang mas kampi kayo sa demonyong ito na siyang dumulot ng sakit sa inyo?!"

The players stopped throwing whatever they could grab to look at Eura. Dahil sa katabi niya ang ka-alyansa ay dumapo sa kanilang lahat ang atensiyon. Amnesia let out an ugly chuckle, eyes now fixed at Kairo who has a stony expression.

"Huwag mong sabihin mas kampi ka pa sa kalandian mo kaysa sa asawa ng kapatid mo, Kairo?"

"Wala kaming sinasabi dito. My member was just reminding you to check on your morals. I believe violence shouldn't be answered with violence."

Sa sinabi ni Kairo ay may nakuhang pahiwatig ang iba. This situation doesn't have any connection to Kairo and he wouldn't bat an eye on anything that happened.

"Heh." Amnesia scoffed. "Buti naman. Akala ko sobrang galing ng babaeng 'to sa kama para-"

"Huwag na huwag mong sabihin 'yan tungkol kay Lily o makakalimutan kong magka-alyansa tayo." came Sebastian's threatening voice that made Amnesia stop cold.

"What the fuck? She killed your bestfriend!"

"Hindi pa tayo sigura-"

"Sebastian." Marcella cut him off and he found himself incapable of speaking. "The time we're wasting here is unnecessary. We must start the mission right away."

"Of course!" June nodded, clapping excitedly. Inakbayan niya si Finn. "Come on, bestie. Pasukin natin ang nightmare na 'yan- oh."

Her face fell when Finn shrugged her hands off, walking towards the gate without sparing anyone a glance. Nang huminto siya sa harap ng gate ay biglang lumabas ang pangalan niya sa taas, gano'n din ang game ID na lagi niyang ginagamit. The jaw-dropping stats that Finn had made everyone gape in awe.

Lalo na nang makita ang Cooperation at Teamwork na mayroon siya na hindi bumababa sa 50%.

It made everyone's 'Sparrow doesn't care' statement a lie.

The perpetrators of Finn's pain did not mind, dahil mas matindi ang galit at pagkampi sa kanila ng mga tao para biglang lumipat sa side ni Finn. June and Marcella followed the sparrow, standing beside her, each of their ID's showing up the gate's hologram.

It's truly a pity.

There isn't any villain or heroes in here, only rogues who are swallowed by their own darkness.

This is not a battlefield with fair play and fight. This is a bloodfield, a den of survival, where the end justifies the means.

If it's to protect and satisfy one's greed, pride, wrath, and envy, what's a little bait?

It's truly a pity that Finn had to be the sacrificial piece.

As everyone watched the backs of the three girls, one proved to be the loneliest. A back filled with knives and blades, bleeding without being seen.

The world turned its back on Finn.

But Finn is facing the beast that is threatening the world.

▪︎▪︎▪︎

Welcome to the [Dragon's Dungeon], chosen players!

The flame dragon, Igarus, has been living in this den for three hundred years after the Holy War. The magician, Wiskord, has successfully defeated and brought the beast back home. However, the clan of dragons attacked, destroying the great city. They will continue to kill the citizens of the city as long as Igarus lives.

That is why you must finish what Wiskord failed to do. Kill the flame dragon, Igarus, and save the rest of the players from being eaten alive!

There is no time limit in this battle, but remember that the lives of a hundred players rest on your hands.

Good luck, rogues! Show the world why you are befitting to step into this challenge!

▪︎▪︎▪︎

[URGENT NOTICE! ALL CITIZENS MUST READ THIS ANNOUNCEMENT!

The clan of dragons has noticed the revival of the city and are on the way! They will continue to attack anyone who enters the city as long as Igarus lives! As the three chosen players fight the great dragon inside, you are warned to hide and be alerted at all times.

URGENT NOTICE! ALL CITIZENS MUST READ THIS ANNOUNCEMENT]

-chapter end-