7 Battle Royale

CHAPTER 7

Battle Royale

The Digital Sin Online competition starts. 50,000,000 gold is at stake. 88 players from all the island's school districts are competing. We're given a level 1 character with the lowest stats possible and zero weapons. We'll fight to the death in a private match taking place on the planet Darling 002.

We're standing by in a lobby. We can't hear what's going on in the auditorium. The real world is far away from us. Suddenly we're thrusted through a blue portal. I'm falling from the sky like a meteorite. I look at the horizon and see the other players skydiving; some are emoting and making lewd gestures.

100 meters from the ground a blue aura envelops me, slowing my descent. I land atop a red pagoda tower. I smash through a door and find a rusty dagger.

Players are rapidly being eliminated. I hear someone on the floor beneath me. Hiding isn't an option; the more kills I get, the more experience points. I'll need all I can get if I want to survive.

I drop to the floor beneath me. The enemy shoots his single-shot pistol at me. I dodge. While he's reloading I stab him in the stomach a few times. He disintegrates into pixels.

[Level 2 — 76 players remaining]

Off to a good start. I take his pistol and ammo. I go to the balcony and shoot someone running across a rice field. They die and drop their loot. It's too risky to retrieve it. I check the lower floors of the pagoda for weapons and ammo. I find some potions and a fire tome. I read it and learn the spell Fireball. Nice. I never liked using magic, but this will come in handy.

I feel a motivation burning within me that I've never experienced… It stems from the Mitsuko-shaped welts in my chest. I'm not even worried about getting the gold to pay off my rent... It's Mitsuko's cruel words that echo in my head. 'Loser, loser, loser'... I'll prove her wrong…

I don't know why she's invaded my thoughts. She's like a parasite, I think to myself. But even in the heat of battle, I know this not to be true. It's my own insecurities. She's the most popular girl in school and she's only been here for a week. I've been here for a few years and am still a loner…

Whatever. I may be a loser in the real world… But this is my domain! Focus… I look down at my rusty dagger. I need to find a better weapon.

I go outside. I spot a fat guy in a full iron set of armor. He's aiming his bow straight at me about 50 meters away. I conjure a fireball and toss it toward him while darting for cover. His arrow sticks near my feet.

He attempts to reposition, running into the open. I fireball him into ashes and take his bow.

[Level 3, 52 players remaining]

I'm surprised by how many players have already perished. The boundary must be small. I check my map and see the danger zone enclosing me. I head north in my new set of iron armor and bow on my back.

I hear gunfire, thunderbolts and magical explosions in the distance. The city is on fire. I'm conflicted between rushing toward the carnage for possible experience points and loot or heading to a less populated area. I choose the riskier option.

[Level 5, 22 players remaining]

I've racked up seven kills so far. I'm wielding a full set of iron armor. I carry an iron katana in hand, a bow on my back and a pistol on my hip. Someone is ravaging all the other players with incantations.

I see the top player in the center of the city. Other players have started teaming against him. He has a cyclone of magical daggers floating around him, hurling them toward anyone he sees. How did he level up so quickly? For a summoning spell he'd have to be level 10, which means he's killed at least 20 players…

I feel a spear pierce my rear delts. I wince at the pain while turning around. I grab my pistol and fire a shot into the enemy's stomach. It takes out a bit of health, but he's still alive. I slash him with my katana. One more hit, for both of us…

He backs away and primes a healing spell. I throw a fireball, cutting him off. He stumbles backward, falling to his ass. I capitalize on his blunder and stab him in the crotch with my katana. He dies while screaming. I level up and use my last remaining potions.

[Level 6, 2 players left]

It's night time. The city is illuminated by burning buildings. I hear a whizzing sound behind me. I roll forward, a trail of magical daggers following behind me. This is it, I think to myself. I have to win!

I hear explosions but I don't turn around. I hide inside of a building to devise a strategy. He might be a higher level than me, but it's still possible for me to beat him… I just have to make sure I don't get hit.

Daggers fly into the building. He's found me! I run outside. He's chasing me. I don't know what to do. I can't close the distance, or those daggers will pierce me. I throw a few fireballs behind my shoulder. None of them make contact, serving as a mere irritant.

I sneak into a building and ascend to the third floor. I'm terrified, feeling like a total poon…

I remember the bow on my back. I peek my head out the window and see him searching for me 100 meters away. Can I make the shot? I have to try. I take what I learned from Maya and assume a wide, powerful stance. I pull the bowstring and aim above his head. The arrow arcs and lands in his eye. He's been afflicted with partial blindness!

His magical daggers vaguely assault near where I shot the arrow. One last chance… I fire another arrow and impossibly, it hits him in the other eye. Two arrows stick out of his face. His magical daggers float beside him, but he cannot aim. He curses and shoots wildly at nothing.

I step out into the street and release an arrow into his chest. He evaporates.

[Winner Winner, Digital Sinner!]

I… I won?... I take off my headset. I don't believe it.

The dilapidated city of planet Darling 002 turns into the auditorium. I hear faint clapping. Nothing like the archery tournament. It sounds like a golf game but the audience is depressed.

"Jin Hazuki of Bebop Academy is the winner of the Digital Sin Online tournament! Please, come up on stage!"

Most spectators are leaving. The other competitors stay seated because that is what they're supposed to do. I get up on stage and see the spearman in 3rd place, the magic user in 2nd. I shake their hands and stand on the tallest podium next to them, facing the bare-bones audience.

My cheeks flush. Is that Mitsuko?!

I blink a few times. It's really her. Why is she here? Did she… Did she come to see me play?

No, that's impossible… I can't hear what the announcers are saying; only my heart thumping in my ears. I'm feeling dizzy. Let me just shut my eyes for a second…