Chapter 20: Orbit

Zahtan remains silent and walks toward the register.

"Ooh damn, you really are irritated! Why so? Is it because he used this method to give you a chance to get the key?" asks the man with a circle on his cheek, "Or is it because you hate me for stealing and hiding the two weapons you sacrificed so much for–"

"Shut up, Orbit," interrupts Zahtan as he passes by him.

"Both it is, then," gloats Orbit, a sinister smile covering his face as he follows after Zahtan.

"An application," says Zahtan upon reaching the register.

The guy behind the register hands over an application silently.

"Obstacles along the way just make the journey more fun. My dream will be realized no matter what," smirks Zahtan, signing the application.

"And I also have your response to look forward to–" Zahtan adds but he disappears before he can complete his statement.

"Can't wait to see what his full circle looks like, I hope he doesn't disappoint!" says Orbit, he then turns to the register, "I have to catch up to them to stay updated, Give me an application, Vision."

"You . . . you know my name, Sir?!" asks Vision as he hands over an application.

"Why, of course! I know a lot of pilots," says Orbit as he signs the handout.

"Send my regards to Sheehan whenever you contact him," he says and finds himself in a dark place right after.

A holographic timer appears in front of him, displaying a countdown of five minutes, next to it he sees '100 pts'.

"Five minutes until the game starts, huh? And I start with 100 pts," he considers.

So, if I read the rules correctly, I should be able to. . .

"System, or whatever is listening to this right now, I have an offer for you," he starts, "I am not interested in the prize of the game so I would like to offer all the money I am given now and on top of that, I am giving up the right to participate and win the prize," he pauses.

"What I want in return is to stay here with a seat, popcorn, soda, and screens that let me see every other player at all times. But I'll be allowed to do one thing, there are two things I have that I would like to be able to drop anywhere on the stage. Just drop them in a harmless way on a place of my choice," he offers, "Aside from that, I'll only observe."

Another hologram screen appears in front of him with 'Offer Under Analyzation' displayed on it.

. . .

The hologram screen changes the message to 'Error' after a short pause.

"Why so? Tell me, what do I need to do to have you accept this deal?" asks Orbit.

The message on the hologram screen changes to 'Minimum modifications required. The entity known as "One" cannot be observed, no matter the offer. In addition, you are allowed to choose where one of the two things you have can be dropped. The other will be dropped in a random location, but you will get to choose when.'

"Ooh, now I am even more intrigued about the entity 'One'. Some very good spice just got added to the story. I accept those terms, you have yourself a deal. I would just like to add a small thing, make the popcorn a mixture of caramel and salted, please," requests Orbit.

The hologram screen displays 'Deal Complete' and as Orbit's points go to a zero, five screens appear in front of him, along with a seat and popcorn and soda dispensers.

"Nice! I am definitely rating this game a 10/10 when all of this is over!" he exclaims, looking at the screens in excitement as the countdown reaches zero.

"First things first, I'll keep my eyes on you. Why did the game say I can't observe 'One', but not that I can't observe you?" he questions as his eyes lock on a screen displaying Arcat.

. . .

Arcat looks around as he stands up, he looks behind only to find a huge drop.

Better stay away from that . . .

I have no idea where we've been teleported to. The last telepathic message I sent to Dara as an update was about the game and that I am entering it. And what he should do if I can't reach him anymore. I can feel that our connection is still present, but I don't know how far away from the Castle we are, since we seem to be in a separate space altogether. I'll just send him a telepathic message, asking him to reply instantly to gauge how far away we are, hopefully, it reaches him soon.

With Adora knowing that she should have reacted how she would if she saw what happened to me as if it happened to her husband, I hope it doesn't go badly. But I have to focus on what I have to do now.

Time to experiment with the theories I crafted with the time I spent waiting for the game to start.

"System," he calls.

A hologram screen appears before him, displaying 'Yes?'

"Price to win the game?"

The hologram screen changes to display another message, 'Monopoly'

"Thought as much," Arcat shakes his head, "Price to incapacitate all players?"

The message changes to 'Infinity Pts'

"Infinity? Hmm. . ." considers Arcat, "How about a 3D hologram map of the entire stage? And always assume I want dimensions of the total stage with the scaling factor when I ask about it or if I get it. What's the price of that?"

The message changes to 'Four Pts'

"Interesting. Okay then, price of a map of the stage with all twelve locations of the Properties and live tracking of my location at all times?"

The message changes to 'Seventy Four Pts'

"What the?! That's a huge increase! Remove the location of the twelve properties from the deal, what is the price then?"

The message changes to 'Sixty Eight Pts'

"Huh? I thought that this was the expensive part. Sixty Four points just for live tracking?!"

Arcat pauses and contemplates for a second.

"Price to track a participant?"

The message changes to 'Specify In Any Way Please'

"Specify? Are there different prices for different people? How about Adora?"

The message changes to 'Five Hundred Fifty Pts'

"Wow, so Adora is in the game! Charlotte then?"

The message changes to 'Two Hundred Pts'

"Safe to assume they all made it, that's some free information! But pfft what are these prices?"

Well, it does have some advantages. I can assume that no one has enough money to track me for now, so I don't have to spend money on buying something like a detection obstruction device yet.

. . .

"Wait a second," says Arcat, picking up a rock, "Price to track this rock?"

The message changes to 'Eight Pts'

"Wow! Okay, so I guess the price to do anything that affects others directly is through the roof! Even myself, I suppose. I'll take a map of the entire stage with all twelve locations and live tracking on this rock," he finalizes.

The message changes to 'Sixteen Pts'

The transaction takes place and Arcat's points drop from 100 to 84.

"I'll just keep this rock with me, and I'll simply know where I am at all times," he says, putting the rock inside a pocket on the inner side of jacket and zips it in, "Now, let's have a look at the hologram map."

A 3D hologram map appears in front of him, showing him the location of everything he requested for, and the shape of the stage.

He considers the map.

So, I spawned at one of the four edges of the map. I wonder if everyone else got the same . . . Anyway, the closest property is pretty far away . . . about a three hours walk. I should do something to get there.

He looks up.

A car or any other vehicle would be impossible to drive through the trees. Not to mention that one of the sections stated that there are dangers in the forest.

A plane might be a good idea, but the problem is that it's too loud and a bit too impractical . . . It's good to assume that there might be violence in the future because the game said we are allowed to take any means we want to achieve Monopoly. And I need to be wise with my points right now. What will I do with a plane in a fight?

. . .

"System," he calls again, "Price of a durable spear that whoever throws it can teleport to?"

The message changes to 'Forty Pts'

"Oof. Alright, instead of teleportation, let's say the thrower travels at a speed of 350 meters per second towards the spear at will and I don't mind if it's a regular kind, there is no need for customization, what's the price of that?"

The message changes to 'Twenty Pts'

"Deal,"

A normal-looking durable spear appears and Arcat grabs it. He swings it around with extreme proficiency.

This is the best weapon for me, it seems whatever things I don't specify, the game decides the specifications by itself.

Okay then . . . last thing to experiment on . . .

"Price of a pill that will let me jump high enough to see the property at eye level distance and gives me just enough strength in my right arm to throw from that height?"

The message changes to 'Fifteen Pts'

"Alright, and what if instead of that pill . . ." he pauses as he walks to a tree and hits it, grabbing one of its leaves, "The same power-ups were applied to this leaf, what is the price?"

The message changes to 'Six Pts'

"Deal,"

The power flows into the leaf, making it glow in his hand.

Arcat sighs, "Let's get this game over with," he says as he positions himself and eats the leaf.

"I hope that I get to know by the end of all of this why Sheehan made some of the games for Level 0," he says, feeling the power flow into his legs and right arm.

"There will be no need for landing equipment or protective suits. I'll cut down the costs of that by depending on the immortality I already have. Plus, I happen to have the fastest recovery time of all beings I know of so far," he bends his knees, ready to jump.

Bracing himself, he shouts, "This is gonna hurt like a bitch!" and jumps, soaring through the air.

Looking down on the stage, he sees the pretty view in front of him and the endless void behind him. He spots the property he wants to buy.

He readies his spear, takes aim, and throws it with all his might.

The spear travels at insane speed, hitting the middle of the property.

Arcat's body travels towards the spear quickly, creating a sonic boom as it travels at such a high speed.

Boom!

He crashes.