-chapter eighty-four-
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VESTA

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[System Update]

Black Hound Sniper Rifle enchanted with Night Vision, Movement Sensor and Focused Shot.

Ice-make crystal bullets activated with 5-second freeze.

Two hundred seconds invisibility buff.

Purifying potion installed with 30-second cooldown.

Xxtra bullets powered with elf powder with mark.

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MABILIS NA gumalaw ang kamay ko, activating buffs and debuffs while I watched Feyre slump down. She's very disappointed with the results of the round. At kung hindi lang kay Hex na bumalik to give her an apple pie, she would have started a tantrum.

For rangers, we have no specific location to wait into. The Kill☆Shot event will only pop-up with the enter button, and rangers will then be transported into the Dead Ground - the abandoned and most-restricted city in the South Continent. The location is unknown and is not available on the map kaya naman only players allowed can enter the place.

"One hour kayo, right?" tanong ni Voldmir habang nakatitig sa baril ko.

I nodded.

"It's starting, Vesta..." Solace muttered looking at the running clock in the screen. "Goodluck."

I smiled at her and to my guildmates, reassuring them of the victory I will bring back.

"Okayyy, players! Wow! That battle with the rogues was fierce! Bakit parang mas lalong lumalakas ang fire dito sa mga event?"

"Siyempre, it's a survival game kaya! The tension there is supposed to be high. Now, however, what will our rangers show us? Will it be as fierce as the rogues or as valiant as the fighters?"

"Shete, partner! Just the first day and we're already getting chills. Attt, without further ado, why don't we start the show? Let the rangers test their skills in the forbidden ground!"

"Of course! Now, participating rangers, an invitation will appear in front of you. You are to click enter within fifteen seconds or you will be consider forfeited. The game system will then check your weapons, equipments and bought potions and buffs. Remember, only one weapon will be allowed to use as main. Twin guns does not count."

"Enchantments must also be made prior to entering the event. Buffs and potions are allowed to be carried, as well as any debuffing item. If any player breaks any of this rule, you will be banned from accessing the game."

"That means that for you to finish the Grand Quest, you must change your job and class to be allowed another entry in the event. Still, your player profile will be strictly assessed, so we are encouraging you to follow and stick to the rules."

"The invitations are sent now, rangers! Show the world how fast and far your bullets can fly!"

I took a deep breathe as the screen appeared in front of me. Alam ko ring nanotice nila iyon because their gazes landed on me. I can feel their encouragement, support, fear and worry. But I am aware it is not for my performance, but for me as a whole. These guys could care less about the results. I am not as prideful as Feyre, and Feyre does not care about rankings that does not affect her.

Solace will, of course, be understanding. No matter how she seems desperate to finish the quest. Her and Hiraeth's relationship still confuses me. There's something between them that I can't pinpoint, but I am sure that exists.

And through all the help Solace have given me, I will make sure to come back successful. Kahit na sobrang kinakabahan ako.

I never did expect that my carefree try-out for this game would land me in this position.

However, was there even doubts, when my hand automatically flew to the enter button without remorse.

Bago ko ito mapindot ay may humawak sa kamay ko. My gaze travelled from his pale hands to his serious gaze.

"What is it, Voldmir?"

He kept staring.

"Putangina," reklamo ni Feyre. "Hoy, fifteen seconds lang 'yan, wengya kayo. Ano gusto niyo magtitigan na lang ka-"

"Be careful." putol ni Voldmir at biglang binitawan ang kamay ko kaya napindot ko ang enter. I had no time to act with a grimace.

Immediately, the world transitioned. Para akong lumilipad sa isang void, with light-blue circles that scanned my body. Tini-tsek nito ang mga rules sa event, and when it was done, I fell.

Hard. On the ground.

"Ouch..." maiyak-iyak kong wika habang hinihimas ang likuran.

It seemed like I'm in the top of a building. The sky is a dusty cloud of smoke in the night. The ground is dirty and the only door in the rooftop is rusty. For a sniper, this is the best place. But is it okay for me to stay on one spot?

Tumayo ako at chineck ang pintuan. A slight push to the door will create a loud creaking sound. If there's another player within the building, leaving proves to be a high risk. If there's one coming, I'll be able to hear them coming.

Sunod akong lumapit sa may railings. Having a quick scan of the rooftop, it's safe to admit I'm the only one present. Although I may lack on my stealth, my perception is high. Feyre has always made it her mission to improve that ability. She will always sneak up on me when I'm eating, resting or fighting. As of our battles, I have 40 wins, 40 losses and 82 draws.

Tinapik ko ang mini-glasses to my left eye. Now I can clearly see my sorroundings. I zoomed it further down. Mukhang sobrang taas nitong building and judging by the four roads around the building, I'm in the center of the city.

The building is also proved to be huge. May isa kasi kaming mini-map just below our health and mana level, na nasa upper left vision namin. There are four mini street districts at the respective corners of the city and there's only one spot where one building is shown.

Ang problema lang ay parang walang masyadong NPC dito. Or they haven't appeared yet-

"FUCK!"

Nagulat ako at napatalon. I immediately ducked and readied my gun. Tiningnan ko mula sa scope ang nangyari.

The shout came from a nearby building, from my left side. And since I could hear the shout louder, he might be closer than I think. With my scope as my clearer eye, iba ang nakita kong pigura. The scream was made by man but all I saw is a yellow-haired girl with a golden arrow.

Ibinaba ko ang baril. Kumunot ang noo ko. Did I made a wrong guess with the direction? Hindi ba dito banda 'yong sumigaw?

Pero ano nga ba ang pakialam ko?

Sighing, I went to turn around and find the NPC. But no action was made because I felt a hand hold my feet.

My blood ran cold and I stood frozen. Don't tell me, may multo dito? Kaya ba Dead Ground ang tawag? Because ghosts appear here? Is that another challenge for-

"Hoy, patulong naman."

"AH!" I jumped and clutched my heart.

"Aray, huwag kang sumigaw!"

I stared at the man in shock. Nakabitin siya sa railing, one hand trying to hold my feet desperately and the other, keeping him from falling. Mukhang familiar siya but I don't recall seeing him.

Itinaas niya ang kilay nang manatili akong nakatingin sa kaniya. "Girl, ano na?"

Technically, we're enemies, right? So, shouldn't I just kick him off the railing and let him die? Or is that too cruel....

But this is just a game and I need to win.

"Look, sis." appeal niya. "You're ganda's guildmate, diba? Close friend sila ni Halcyon, 'yong leader ko?"

Oh. It's one of the dumb gang Voldmir warned me about? I still don't like his way of naming other people. It's offending.

"Ganda?"

"Oo. Iyong warrior niyo. Pero," he squinted his eyes as he stared at me. "Ikaw pwede ring ganda. Ganda for me."

Nangangati akong sipain siya.

I paid his words no mind and instead helped him up. If he was hoping for any conversations after that, then poor him because I have NPC's to hunt.

"Oi, saan ka pupunta?" tanong niya nang magsimula akong maglakad.

When I felt him follow me, I turned around and pointed my gun at his chest. I gave him my most serious and 'do not distract me' gaze. His face lit up and he took a step back, smiling.

"Okay, okay. Aalis na ako." aniya at binuksan ang pintuan pababa. "But you should know, I'm a monster at FPS games, you know. I can be your-"

Mas lalo kong inilapit ang baril sa dibdib niya. He shot me one last smile before disappearing in the creaking doorway. I sighed, taking the end of a round potion in the muzzle of the gun. He had a wound in his shoulder, obviously a courtesy of Chaska who shot him.

I tossed the health regenerating potion aside and positioned myself again. Thankfully now, there are some NPC's on the ground. At mukhang may mga rangers din na nasa labas na, although they are moving in a quick pace to get away from the snipers.

NPC might not always be on the ground so staying on one place may not be the best.

I shot a dying NPC two times. For now, I'm going to steal kills. Sorry na lang sa mga nanakawan ko. I rounded up the rooftop, taking kill after kill. I only stopped when I saw someone at the entrance of the building, looking up and meeting my eye. The female ranger then had a crazed look and ran inside.

Kinabahan ako and gathered all my scattered items. Surely, isa ito sa mga nanakawan ko ng kill. And there's no assurance na mag-isa lang siya. There might be other enraged players who will go after me.

Kaya naman mabilis akong tumakbo at tumalon sa kanang railing. My fall was steady. Humawak ako sa isang cable line to ensure my flight, ngunit naramdaman ko ang paparating na bullet kaya pumagilid ako. I landed on a broken corridor, loaded my gun and shot it to the direction of the flying bullet.

Tumakbo ulit ako at tumalon nang mareach ang end ng corridor. A ranger was waiting at the ground, with his pistol ready to fire. I spinned and kicked it off before breaking his neck with my feet and resuming with running on the ground.

Sunod-sunod na pagbaril ang nangyari. I quickly evaded all the bullets while running but some of them hit me. Patuloy ko ring niloload ang baril, shooting it blindly but with precise precision. I ducked and took my super bullet with my mouth, biting it towards the barrel of the gun. Ikinasa ko ito at ibinaril sa grupo ng mga rangers sa harap at likod ko.

Two loud explosions began to happen at the west part of the city, emitting a silver kind of smoke. Holding my breath, I jumped over the smoke and continued running. Inactivate ko ang hidden blade sa gun when two rangers came to attack me, slicing them by their legs.

"Hah... hah..." habol ang hininga akong umupo.

There's no one chasing me now. The cloud of silver smoke enough as a distraction. Mabilis akong uminom ng potion to regenerate my health and mana. It's a good thing Feyre taught me how to steal, and I stealthily took some of their items.

Nanatili ako sa madilim na parte ng siyudad, looking for any NPC. I stopped when I saw a group of them. Ibinalanse ko ang baril sa may bintana at sunod sunod itong binaril. The middle NPC died but the rest of them turned to look at me.

They're a bit different than the NPC I kill-steal a while ago. Pula ang mga mata nila at mukhang may galit ang tingin.

To my great shock, I saw them running towards me, with claws, glares and snarls. Sa sobrang pagkagulat ay agad akong tumakbo palayo.

Wait just a minute! Were the NPC's actually meant to fight back? Aren't we just supposed to kill them? At tsaka, are there different types of NPCs? Dahil bakit sobrang lakas ng endurance nito!

My heart dropped when I saw a dead end and four of the NPC were nearing me. I shot them with my bomb bullet, only a little bit of damage that stunned. I shot them continuously, the damage is not that big.

And when they're about to corner me, my heart began to beat aggressively. Dahil biglang may humatak sa'kin and instead of seeing four enraged NPC, a familiar lazy smile graced my eyes.

Is it just me or I don't feel like a hunter this round?

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-chapter end-

In this game of predator and prey, a third role appears?

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