[2] WHO'S FIRST?

A pearl of sweat slid off of Sliff's chin onto the flat marbled floor. The clarity of these tiles was amplified by the light falling from above, from the multicolored crystal shards that swarmed the ceiling.

"Where did the cave go?" Sliff thought.

"Where the hell are we?" Tane asked in sudden panic. The party appeared to be in the middle of a giant circular room with corpses of many different creatures lining its circumference, radial gradient of white and red on the marble below, marble pillars marking its center. Devo nailed to one.

"Be on guard, you guys," Arlo said. "These bastards got Devo."

"Guard?" Nesina yelled. "Are you just going to stand around like this? He took our friend!"

Verika knelt in despair. "We're dead."

Sliff saw something odd had came over his master. Tane never sweat. Not while an opponent was standing in front of him. But even more than that…Tane did not comfort any of the party members. Not even Verika.

The party leader gulped. "They're just five," Tane said. "We can do it…"

"I don't see any exits," Arlo said. "What're we supposed to do after that?"

Sliff saw Nesina approaching him with a dark expression. "Put it down," she shrieked. Sliff immediately did as commanded.

Nesina took out two leather pouches from the supply bag, tossing one to Arlo. "I don't care about any of that, I just want to kill this bastard."

"Kill"? Were they seeing the same creature that Sliff was? The obsidian scaled giant with red horns was taller than most buildings Sliff had seen.

"Verika, stand up," Nesina shouted. "This is not the end."

Arlo took out several spherical vials from his pouch. "What's the plan then, leader?"

"Pfft," Tane said then slammed his fists together. "We either try or die."

"So it's on, huh?" Arlo said with a nervous smile.

"Yeah," Tane said. "Now, Verika, get up!"

Verika covered her mouth with one hand, pointing ahead with the other.

Sliff looked where she pointed, along with the others. What could explain the terror in her eyes—?

The gasping and gulping beside Sliff was too loud not to notice.

"What in the actual hell…" Arlo said, his voice trembling. "It's the…"

The man held by his head by the middle creature like some dead bug, seemed…broken. Life had escaped his eyes way before Sliff and the party got here. But if that were the case with a man like him, then Sliff realized that their own fate was doomed the moment they reached here.

Tane's hands fell lifeless beside his thighs. "It's the Guildmaster of the third strongest guild…" he whispered. "'Starcrasher' Dubius…"

"We're dead…" Verika sobbed, tears running down her makeup.

Fighting was no longer an option.

The two rocky creatures standing behind the party started creeping toward them. Still silent.

Tane pounded his fists together, Nesina opened out her arms, black rocks webbing her fingers. Arlo loaded his slingshot with a round glass vial which had a purplish liquid inside. But Sliff was the only one who did not fully turn around.

The giant creature…smiled.

"I am Zomir," it said. "Do you wish to live, humans?"

The party turned around, shock and confusion on their faces.

"It can speak our language?" Arlo said. "What is going on here?"

"What the hell did it say?" Tane asked.

"What does it mean by that?" Nesina said.

The two rocky creatures beside Zomir stepped toward the party.

"It will kill us all," Sliff thought. "Tane and the others can't beat them."

Each rocky creature clasped the hand of the one beside it. Suddenly, they started to merge but their color and texture started shifting. From looking like giant, rugged stone golems, they turned to resembling armored knights clad in white marble.

"Answer or die," Zomir said.

"Get up, Verika," Tane said, as the others circled around Verika.

The marbled knights advanced toward them, axes and hammers raised.

Sliff could not talk, or even think straight. His mind kept yelling at him to run. He could not move in the presence of even an injured goblin, how would he now? Even if he did…there was no escape.

"Verika…" Nesina shouted but trailed off seeing her friend get up.

"Yes," Verika shouted toward Zomir. "We want to live!"

The marbled knights stopped, slamming their weapons to their sides.

Tane relaxed. "It…listens."

"He must want something from us," Arlo said.

Zomir's brief chuckle echoed in the giant hall. "You can offer me nothing, lessers," it said. "Try not to get killed by talking out of line."

Tane gulped. "Then, what do you want…I mean… Why did you ask us that question?"

Zomir's expression soured. "Foolish human, why would I need a reason for something like that?"

"Is this what a Distorter is like?" Sliff thought.

Nesina clenched her fist. "Just tell us what you want, you bastard." Tears scaled down her cheeks. "Speak!"

Zomir smirked. "A lively one. I like it. But I don't owe you an answer, little girl."

"Then what the hell do you want us to do?" Tane asked.

"It's not about what I want, lessers," Zomir's smirked stretched to a creepy grin. "It's about what I can take, even from someone as pathetic as you!"

The whole party's expression darkened.

"He'll kill us, after all," Sliff thought.

"You will entertain me!" Zomir announced. "So who's first?"

Verika nervously contorted a smile. "D-Do we get to live if we do?"

"That's right, little girl," Zomir said.

"Then I'm first," Verika said, stepping forward.

"Very well," Zomir said. "State you name, challenger."

"Ch-Challenger?" Verika asked.

"Only those who win a game are allowed to live," Zomir said. "Now… Do as stated without any questions. You volunteered to go first, after all."

"B-But, what is the game?" Verika asked. "What do I have to do—?"

Verika's knees hit the floor. Her torso flattened on the marble tiles, blood gushing out of her neck, pooling around her in a deep red puddle. Her head fell to a roll in front of Tane, stopping with the face up. Tane's eyes widened as he fell onto his knees.

"BASTARD!" Nesina yelled, charging toward the marbled knight holding a bloodied axe.

"W-Wh-WHAT?" Sliff thought. "She…her head… When?"

Arlo leapt behind Nesina. "NO, Nessi!"

Sliff blinked repeatedly from the splash on his face as the enormous creature slammed his giant marble hammer at Nesina. Arlo fell to his knees, his hand reaching toward Nesina. When the marbled knight raised its hammer from the spot where Nesina stood just now, the marble was stamped with a deep red hue, blood and bones turned pulp and dust.

Sliff stopped blinking as he reached for his face to wipe off the dark liquid splashed on his cheeks. He held his hand in front of him, palm dripping blood onto the floor. Terror took over his mind. "AAAAH!" He fell backward, his yells echoing throughout the chamber.

Zomir smiled. "Now, who's first? Don't keep me waiting…"

Sliff looked over at the only two living humans left in that room. It was as if he was staring into a mirror, for all he saw was lost hope.

The silence of the chamber, after the screams and sobs, was broken as the marbled knights continued their creep. They got nearer and nearer and—

Sliff raised his shaking hand. "I…"

"I'm first."

Sliff glanced sideways, putting down his hand. Tane was back on his feet, rubbing his eyes.

"I'm first, you bastard," Tane sobbed. "Tell me what I have to do."

"I…" Arlo said. "I can go first if you—"

"Shut the fuck up, Arlo," Tane yelled.

Zomir grinned deeply. "Very well. State your name, challenger."

"Tane Bigrichard."

"The first game begins," Zomir announced. With that, the marled knights with the hammer surrounded Tane, one slamming its hammer on the floor.

"What is this?" Tane asked.

"Place any body part on top of that hammer," Zomir said.

Tane placed his left hand on the middle of the slammed hammer.

"He won't do that, right?" Sliff thought.

"Let us begin," Zomir announced. "The game of pain! Winning condition: Don't scream!"

"What the—" Tane whipped his head sideways.

Arlo looked away.

The second marbled knight slammed his hammer on top of the hammer resting on the marble, sandwiching Tane's hand in between.

"WAAAH!" Tane shrieked.

"This is not a game!" Sliff thought, narrowing his eyes. "This is just wrong!"

Zomir shook his head. "You failed."

Tane looked up at the giant creature, holding up his crushed hand with the other. "Damn you," he said through gritted teeth.

"Good thing is," Zomir grinned creepily. "You can try for as long as you want."

A chill went up Sliff's spine upon realizing it.

Arlo breathed heavily. "We'll die either way. Even if we play its games…we will die!"

Zomir laughed loudly, filling up the hall. "I never said that you'll be able to win!" Its jaw unhinged. "Entertain me for a while then live or die, why would I care about your pathetic lives? Why would I care how you go about throwing them away? I will get enjoyment either way! What was it you said, challenger? Try or die?" It laughed even louder.

The barrage of demonic words shriveled up Sliff. "This is hell," he realized as his head fell. "What did I do? I did not dare to dream… Then, why?"

Tane glanced around, at the disfigured corpses which circled the room. "So this is what happens to challengers, huh?" he said, gasping with one hand holding the purple one. He turned leftward, looking at the bodies. He kept turning until he was facing away from Zomir. Tears ran down his wrinkled face.

"Don't do it," Arlo said. "Tane… We can do this, only if you don't—"

Tane ran away from Zomir, his numb hand flying along. "Shut the fuck up, Arlo. I wanna live—"

A split second later, he was hammered to the right wall, many feet away, his body embedded into it. Only breaking of bones and splattering of blood was heard, for any agony would require life. A gust of wind flew away from the hammer of the second knight.

Yet again, Sliff could not follow their attack's movement. "Everyone's dead…" he thought, tearing up. "I couldn't do anything…" He pulled on his shirt as his heart raced. He gasped. Then he heard those words again.

"Who's first?" Zomir said, smiling.

Sliff looked through his tearing eyes at the face of the demonic creature. He gritted his teeth, grabbing his shirt with his other hand as well.

"I am first," Arlo said quietly. "Kid, don't worry… I think we still have a chance—"

Sliff pulled away his hands, tearing off the rag of a shirt he wore. "I AM FIRST," he yelled. "BRING IT, YOU BASTARD!"

"Sliff…" Arlo said, gulping.

Sliff stepped past the knights then pointed at the giant creature. "I said…" He raised his voice. "BRING IT! I don't care about anything anymore! Tell me what your game is…ZOMIR!"

Zomir's grin stretched ear to ear before he laughed, his head falling backward. "Such life! I love it! State your name, challenger!"

"Sliff Venrio," he said without hesitation, eyes still tearing.

"The first game begins," Zomir announced.

Sliff stepped toward the hammer.

"I don't play a game twice, challenger," Zomir said. With that, a different marbled knight stepped toward Sliff and handed him a glistening apple.

Sliff snatched the fruit off the knight's slick hands. "What's the winning condition?"

It was the same silence from the moment before Verika was beheaded.

Upon receiving no answers, Sliff turned around. "You have to tell me that. It's not a question."

"Before we begin the game," Zomir said with a stern expression, every speck of smile long gone. "Hand it over to that other human."

Sliff shrugged, tossing the apple to Arlo.

The apple turned dark blue just after Arlo caught it.

Zomir's smile retured. "Now take that apple from him."

"Oh, shit, kid," Arlo said as Sliff put out a hand. "This is no ordinary apple. This is a dark object. It is the Apple of Impurity."

Sliff took the apple anyway. "I don't care. I just want to win this game." He turned around, leaving Arlo frowning. "Are you ready?"

Zomir smiled. "Are you?"

Sliff heard a loud slam behind his back. His eyes widened as he slowly turned around. Only to find Arlo…sliced vertically into two, a giant axe resting between his split body.

"NO!" Sliff yelled, grasping the fruit tightly as he hit the floor. He turned around, eyes burning with rage. "Why, you bastard?"

"To start the game," Zomir said, smiling and pointing toward him.

Sliff raised his hand in front of him, looking at the red apple he held.

The same red apple that now…was pitch-black.

"What is this?" Sliff thought. "Why did it change color…? Why—

"Like it matters…" he told himself.

Sliff climbed onto his feet then turned. "You haven't told me the winning condition, Zomir."

Zomir smiled. "Winning condition: Finish that fruit."

"If I do," Sliff asked. "What will I get in return?"

"That's a foolish question," Zomir said, frowning. "Your life, little boy. What else do you want?"

"I want you to return all of us, dead or alive, to the outside world."

Zomir grinned. "Getting cocky, I see. Pfft… Fine, young challenger. If you manage to eat every last bit of that apple, I will do it. But just so you know, I was going to do it even before you had asked…but after your death, that is."

"Too bad," Sliff said. "I won't die." With that he buried his teeth deep into the dark fruit and chomped off a big bite. Staring at the smiling face of Zomir, Sliff chewed.

The fruit fell on the ground, and so did Sliff. He pounded his chest as a piercing pain hit him while scratching his neck with his other hand. He almost coughed out the fruit…

"If you spill," Zomir said. "You won't get a second fruit. Just like you won't get a second life after this." It chuckled.

Sliff whipped his head up, staring as his vision reddened. He wiped off his tears but then noticed his hand. Blood. He was tearing up blood. Sliff gulped. The sensation felt like he was swallowing needles. Then he glanced sideways, at the fruit on the ground.

Zomir's chuckle died shortly, as Sliff picked up the fruit and took another big bite.

"Amusing," Zomir said.

"Shut up," Sliff said, in between his slow chewing, the blood from his eyes was dripping off of his chin onto his bare chest.

"I will eat it," he thought. He pounded his fist repeatedly on the floor, to distract himself from the other pain. The one far worse. "It's just a fruit… It can't be stronger than me… Eye…vil…vinn…dis…gaim…"

His vision started going fuzzy along with his thoughts. His mind and body both flattened. But he turned onto his back and looked up.

Sliff opened wide his mouth and devoured the entire fruit, crushing it by pressing up his jaw with his hands. "I WILL WIN!"

Zomir leaned toward him. "AMUSING! AMUSING!"

Sliff noticed that even his fingernails had started bleeding out after his nose and ears had done the same. He shut his eyes close, blood splashing around them.

Sliff gulped and felt a searing pain going through his throat into his stomach. It was as if he were burning from inside. But…he had done it.

He had finished the fruit.

Sliff opened his eyes.

Darkness.

"w-h-a-t t-h-e . . ." Even a simple thought was hurting.

The darkness was not just to his eyes but to all of his other senses as well. It was as if…he was nothing…nowhere.

Then a bright light blinded him, a blanket of sudden warmth covered him, and the feeling of weightlessness enveloped him.

"So…good…"

***

The sensations returned.

He felt dry grass rubbing on his back, the smell of sweet flowers, the taste of honey nectar, and heard a calm symphony of songbirds.

Sliff opened his eyes to a bright blue sky with big, fluffy clouds lazily drifting across it.

"Huh?" He got up in confusion, looking around at the field of what looked like golden grass, on which he was laying. "Where am I…?" He drifted off as he saw a bearded man approaching him.

The man wore a red leather vest and a white sash-belt holding up his grayish trousers. It was old fashioned clothing.

Probably too old.

Sliff got up to his feet but immediately dropped onto his butt again. "I'm exhausted."

"Look at you, haha," the man said, holding out a hand. "Can't even get up? You must be weak as hell!"

Sliff took his hand and the man pulled him onto his feet. "Thanks… Can you tell me where we are?"

"Before that," the man said. "You answer the most important question there is!"

"Uh-sure…"

"So…" the man asked with a big smile. "How did you die, warrior?"

"Heh?"