Ep. 8 — Chapter 32: The Hunting Game (3)

"Alicia?" I was shocked by a great deal. She was riding a motorcycle, looking badass compared to her usual formal attire. I didn't expect her to be much of a fighter before, but my opinion has changed now.

She got down from the motorcycle and Han Jiwon did as well, his blade now strung up to his waist as usual. "Hope you didn't wait long. I had to deal with some things on the way. Somebody just cannot get themselves out of trouble."

I assumed she was talking about Han Jiwon as he made a slight frown.

"What about my sister?" I asked Alicia and she gave me an assured look. "And the kid?"

"They're still at ≪Shell≫ now. We've activated the [Shell] and I have also used my own ability to enhance the protection. They should be fine. The place is concealed from any detection abilities as long as the boss's [Shell] is activated."

"And if it deactivates…?"

Han Jiwon then spoke, probably to make me stop overthinking the negativs aspects of things. "Stop with the unnecessary nonsense and focus. It's starting now."

Only 10 seconds remained. I bit my lips.

We gathered together. All of the members of ≪Shell≫ had this anxious but also excited look. I could tell they were used to these things. Leon nodded at me and tried to keep a straight face. I also turned to look at the [Cube] now. It felt like we were counting down for the New Year.

A blare emerged from the [Cube]. Flashing lights also came from it as the contents on the screen changed. It was then when the screens appeared before us simultaneously.

[Initiating the second 'Main Quest'…]

—

Main Quest #2 — [Hunters and Hunted]

Difficulty: 4

Requirements: A hunting game! Half of the players will become 'hunters' and the other half of players will be chosen as 'hunted'. 'Hunters' will protect the monolith spawned around the area whilst hunting other players. The 'Hunted' will be required to search around for 'keys' to activate the monoliths.

Hunted: 0/10 Monoliths Activated

Hunter: 0/100 Players Killed

Time Limit: 3 days

Compensation: 10,000P; items discovered throughout the game area,…

Upon Failure: ???

—

It is here. The main quest had now been revealed. I read the contents on the screen and slowly felt uneasy. How will the hunters and hunted be chosen? If it is chosen at random, then that means…

I turned to the rest of them. They all seemed to have the same confused looks.

"…We might not be able to fight together." Kel and Cielle said at the same time. Normally, they would high-five each other whenever they spoke at the same time. But they were serious now. Scared, even. Of course, they were still young. And the possibility of them being separated was scary.

"Damned Game…I was wondering why it was starting to get easier. Now they're making us kill each other? What bullshit." Ali chewed his lips in agitation, sticking the [Greatsword] into the ground.

Gabriel and Alicia both had composed expressions on their faces. Similarly, Han Jiwon wasn't too disturbed. In fact, they were reading the requirements again, trying to find something from it.

I was surprised to see Leon being pretty composed as well.

"There is a chance we might all be together." Leon said. The twins agreed quickly but Ali added in his point.

"It is highly unlikely. This Game won't let us have such lucky coincidences. It's probably alive too, and wanting us all to start killing each other. That's what this place really is."

It isn't easy to argue against Ali. After all, he was one of the earlier ones to come amongst us. Well, to me and Leon, everyone else's words were weighted. They have been here far longer than we have. They've experienced more of this hell than us.

Gabriel was the one who stepped in. She pulled some strings from her coat and it wrapped around her body. That coat…it's definitely armour of some sort.

"Ali is correct. But that doesn't mean there isn't a way out."

"There is?"

"What is it?"

The twins were now happy. Unexpectedly, it was Han Jiwon who spoke next, "There isn't a rule saying 'hunters' cannot kill other 'hunters'. Or anything that speaks against us working together even if we are in different sides."

"Then…?!" Leon exclaimed, his eyes shining with hope.

"However, that might cause some things to go wrong. Such as the System Monitoring…or even getting other groups to start teaming as well. This tactic should be pretty common, especially in video games."

"Hey, you played a lot of games, didn't you?" Ali asked, lightening up the mood. "Alright, so we'll just go out there and kick ass. Just not each other's asses."

[Issuing players' roles…]

[Your role has been chosen.]

I tensed up. The next message came in after that.

[You are a 'Hunted'.]

.

.

.

Soon after, we were all redirected to different waiting areas. We were all now in the waiting room. A large white room, with about half of the people gathered here. The others must be the 'hunted' as well.

I glanced around the room. I couldn't locate anyone else. Shit, was I the only one chosen as one of the 'hunted'?

"Rayes Kim?"

My face brightened at the sound of the voice. Luckily, it wasn't just me here. I turned around and saw Alicia. But there doesn't seem to be anyone else. I suppose that's about good enough. "Alicia…"

"Seems like everyone else was moved elsewhere. I can't seem to locate any of them."

"No, there might be more." I told her. "This is 'waiting room #3'. There are more waiting rooms, I'm pretty sure."

"But why would there be multiple rooms?"

"I wouldn't know."

We both turned to the screen ahead of us. It was a large screen that displayed the map we were going to be spawned on. Unsurprisingly, it was a large forest. The locations of the monoliths were also displayed on the screen. And beside it, the count of people in this room now.

[25/25 Players]

If that was the same number in each room, then there would be 4 rooms. I had a bad feeling about this.

"They're going to pull some things to make it harder for us all to survive. I can tell." Alicia mumbled something else but I couldn't catch what she said. I looked around the place.

The kid from earlier is there, standing alone. His staff tucked in between his legs and he dug his pinkie into his ear. He doesn't seem to be any older than 14, but his nonchalance was outstanding. Someone like him, being able to adapt to the changing world to that extent…he's bound to grow strong.

But of course, there's a difference between being confident and being reckless. This place is dangerous, especially if you are alone.

Other than the kid, the woman with the guns was also here. She was together with her entire group. Damn those big guilds. They could afford to exploit the Game like this.

The large screen before us began displaying information regarding the main quest. 'The Hunting Game'.

—

Room #3

Role: Hunted

Player Count: 25

Information: Activate the 7 monoliths spawned around the map. Only once a certain number of Points have been achieved will your room be eligible to qualify. Every room will need a total of 1,000 Points. Each monolith activated will give 300 Points to the entire room. Killing members of other rooms is allowed.k

Once two teams have qualified, the timer will be automatically reduced to 20 minutes. Members of the losing team may eliminate opposing room members for Points. Individuals will need a minimum of 500 Points.

—

Still, there is nothing that speaks against harming each other. For now, we were most likely in the clear and are able to proceed with our plan.

And the Game wasn't something that wouldn't know of this cheap trick. It wouldn't even count as an exploit by doing so. It is clear that the Game wanted us to do this. Giving us a way to survive without killing each other. I could vaguely guess the reason why.

Once the players that had killed their comrades found out about this trick, they would be devastated. Once again, I felt that there was truly someone controlling the Game.

"Huh. Maybe we can use this to our advantage. As long as we obtain either 1,000 group Points or 500 individual Points, we should be able to qualify."

Alicia sounded happy, like she wasn't expecting the Game to be as such. It is actually a good thing for us. But there was something that we lacked.

"But we won't be able to tell the others."

I nodded my head at Alicia's words. We were lacking communication. It's unknown whether the others got this or not, or if the requirements were the same for the 'hunters', but we had to only do one thing now.

In fact, it is the only thing we could do.

"We have to trust that they understand." I told her.

"I was just about to say that. Good, we have someone smart like you with us, Mr. Kim."

"Rayes is fine, like I have said."

"You sure know a lot about this. Were you a gamer?" She asks. Her hand travelled up the body of her motorcycle. "We don't know each other much, so let's get acquainted now since we'll be paired up for the time being."

"Of course. But before that…what are they doing?"

Near the screen, a group of people walked to the front to try to gather everyone else's attention. Of course, it was the one from the major guild. ≪Purple Hyacinth≫.

"Everyone! Listen up!"

The first time she spoke, a lot of people still didn't turn. And then, her voice suddenly grew. [Listen, everyone!!!]

Her voice spread throughout the entire room. I knew that ability. It was the [Volume Projection] ability. It isn't an insanely rare skill, but it was useful at times like this.

[As you all know, we are from the 'Purple Hyacinth' guild! I believe it is best that we come up with a strategy now to beat the other rooms! Look, the Game has even given us time to plan!]

It was as she said. A timer was above the screen. The countdown started at 30 minutes. It was now down to 24.

"Isn't that Iris Falcone?"

"You know her?"

"Who doesn't?? She's the daughter of that large guild's boss!"

As expected, she was using her popularity to her advantage. It was clear why she was doing such things. She wanted to claim the biggest share in the quest, getting more compensation than the others so she could fund her guild.

If she truly managed to get everyone under her control and carry out her plans, she would most likely have at least 45% of the share all to herself. And an additional 15% to her guild members.That would leave only 40% to be distributed to everyone else.

This was why I hated high class players such as her. Ones associated in major guilds and piggyback the ones who worked to establish the guilds.

No, I don't know her personally. I shouldn't assume such things.

[Don't you think it's the best idea to go along with the ones with experience? If you cooperate with us, we can assure that you all pass this level without much difficulty!]

"Curse that guild!"

I looked at Alicia. She seemed to be displeased by the guild's actions. Of course, of anyone here, she should hate the guilds most. Even more than me. Anyone in ≪Shell≫ would react the same way, especially the older ones.

"We should listen to what she has to say first. It could be a great strategy to complete this level, don't you think?" I told her and her eyebrow raised.

"Are you saying we go along with her? It's clearly a foolish move! That woman and that guild…!"

"I know. I didn't say we would go along with them."

"Then?"

Iris Falcone continued to speak about her plans to the other people. Everyone was mostly convinced by her words. As she continued to strategise, a mischievous grin overtook my face. Alicia saw that look and we both turned to the woman in the front.

I have never planned on going along with any major guilds anyway. And that included piggybacking them just to survive. My mindset had changed from before. This time…

"We'll spoil her plans, instead."