Chapter 2: Saviour

Iris couldn't help feeling a sense of thrill in her heart as she let out a low laugh.

'This is crazy!'

'But, what is the reason for this sudden possession?' She wondered.

Knowing that this question wouldn't be answered so simply and immediately, she decided to discard this thought for now.

Staggeringly standing up, Iris looked down at the wound on her shoulder and found that it is almost healed.

Taking a deep breath, she first looked at her status window again before swiping it, and as she did, the blue holographic screen disappeared into small pixels.

'If this is really just the same as in the game, then my health status should also appear.'

Thinking of this, Iris looked in front and opened her mouth. "Health Status!"

The moment she uttered those words, another blue holographic screen appeared but this time, with different context.

[Health Status]

[HP: 76/100]

[Sanity Value: 6/10]

[Divination: 0]

[Curse: -2]

[HP] or also known as "Health Percentage" indicates the player's physical health and also shows whether the player is on the verge of death or not.

Meanwhile, the [Sanity Value] demonstrates the mental health of a player. Amongst all the health status, sanity is considered to be the most valuable and terrifying one. Because if this drops to zero, then that means you had already fallen to madness and can no longer retain your humanity.

It means, you are no longer human, you are no longer who you are.

You're a monster now.

Iris felt uncomfortable and seeing that her sanity is nearly half already, she couldn't help feeling a little bit petrified.

She doesn't know why but- somehow this feeling...

... doesn't seem to be that bad after all, it actually makes her excited even more.

Realizing her deranged thoughts, Iris involuntarily smiled as she patted both her cheeks.

"Keep it together, Iris! This is probably the doings of this sanity value and that's why you are thinking such insane thoughts!"

After taking a deep breath, she then refocused her thoughts on the health status.

Next one was [Divination], and this one stipulates the "blessings" a player receives throughout the Trials, be it from a deity or from ancient artifacts.

[Curse] is also just the dame as [Divination], the only difference is that this is bad luck and makes you closer to death. Just like the blessings, this can be received through an underworld beings or through ancient artifacts aswell.

'And seeing that my curse value is a negative number, then it most likely says that the original owner of this body has already been targeted by either another player, an evil spirit, or maybe just bad luck and has stumbled upon a cursed artifact.'

The corner of Iris' lips couldn't help twitching as she heaved a deep sigh.

Iris then checked the remaining time limit in this Trial but found that it was still the first day and yet the original owner already died.

'Just my luck!' She complained internally. 'And if I'm not mistaken, it also said that there are only 7 remaining players out of the 11 that went in?!'

'This is so over!'

Not long afterwards, the wound on her shoulder finally healed and Iris first looked around before deciding to walk forward.

Walking cautiously, she made sure to make her breathing stagnant and her footsteps light as to not be heard by any Wretched.

As soon as she got out of the alley, she found that it was just the same as in the game.

This Trial was set in an a small city being swarmed by Wretched as slowly, each villager becomes one as well.

At the corner of her eyes, Iris saw a small clothing store and saw her reflection.

She was wearing a common ancient british empire clothes for woman, but it was all rugged and covered in crimson now as it is torn apart.

Seeing this, Iris subconsciously smiled and entered the clothing store.

As she picked up a simple attire, with white turtle-neck shirt and a black pants and boots, she tied her long brown hair and looked into the mirror.

Her eyes were dark amber and it was very different to her appearance in Earth.

Back then she had a short black hair and black eyes, but now she had a contrasting long brown hair and amber eyes.

"Hm, not bad i guess." She mumbled with a smile.

Just as she prepared to go out, screams echoed in her ears. Turning her head abruptly to the side, she hid behid the counter and peeked slightly outside the window.

There she saw three people running in a hurry, as if something was chasing them. One was a male with blonde hair and two were female, one with blonde hair and the other with hazel colour.

Seeing their appearance, Iris' eyes widened slightly. 'Wait- isn't that...?'

Just as she was surprised, countless of synchrony growls suffused the area and when Iris tilted her head to the side, she saw that there was a swarm of Wretched chasing them from behind.

Iris' brows unconsciously furrowed at the memory she recalled.

'If that person is really them, then that means at this time around, they will undoubtedly...'

'...get killed.'

Iris fell silent and she slumped against the counter, sighing. 'Although i already know what will happen to them, I can't do anything about it...i mean- it's not like i have some power to save them, do i?'

Brushing off her bangs, Iris thought of something and opened her status window once again.

Pressing the [Ability] which the word "Locked" is painted on it, a smaller screen appeared beside it.

[Condition for Unlocking: Become a Saviour]

[Apostle: 0]

[Believers: 0]

Seeing this, Iris became dumbfounded and her mouth was agape but no words came out whatsoever.

"...What nonsense is this?!" Iris couldn't believe what she is seeing, 'Me? A Saviour?!'

"Hah! Of course! In this kind of damned world, it is obvious that a saviour shall appear..."

"But hey! I think this system got the wrong person for this power?!"

Knowing that she couldn't change this ability of hers, Iris sighed, mumbling to herself.

"I don't even know what kind of ability i have, and you expect me to act like a saviour all of a sudden-" Suddenly, she paused and her pupils instantly contracted. 'Act?'

'Wait, that's right! Just because it says i have to become a saviour, doesn't mean that i should "be" one, right?!'

Iris' grin widened as she muttered with excitement, "I don't think it's against the condition to just act like one, is it?"

Lost in contemplation, Iris thought of an idea but was not as thrilled as she was before.

'Since i don't have currently any blessing or powers, that means my only option to become a saviour is by...'

'...by sacrificing myself to save them since i can regenerate either way...'

"..." Iris' expression darkened as she thought of this.

'Just because i can regenerate doesn't mean I can't die!'

'What's more- i hate pain the most!'

Clutching her forehead she mumbled to herself, "But I'm certain there is no other way, is it?"

"But- if it is for the greater good and for survival, then i guess i have no choice then, do i? Unless i want to die of course that's for sure."

After weighing the pros and cons, Iris decided to go with it anyway.

'Alright, so the first thing that i should do-'

'-is to of course, wait for the perfect timing and act!'

'And to do that, i will need to let the tragedy befall on them first!'

Thinking of this, Iris stood up from behind the counter and looked outside cautiously.

Seeing that they and the Wretched have gone off to a pretty good distance, Iris grinned and said, "Perfect."

As she said that, she went to the opposite alley and began with her plan.

****

Rustle Rustle

The sound of many hurried footsteps echoed and as Reiner, Amanda, and Chelsea ran to escape from the clutches of the Wretched.

Seeing a hidden corner ahead, Chelsea shouted, "Over there! Let's hide there!"

Reiner and Amanda did not even think about it and went ahead as Chelsea halted the very moment they reached the corner before toppling over the giant trash bins to block the small path.

As expected, the Wretched was not able to pass through it because their size are that compared to an average height of a human, just a little shorter.

As Chelsea blocked the trash bins with her body, she shouted, "H- Help me with this! Guys-" but then her breath hitched as her pupils contracted.

She saw her friends, both Reiner and Amanda just looking at her with a distant gaze.

"Hey-...you- you don't seriously think about it, do you?" Chelsea stuttered, her voice laced with a cry.

Amanda lowered her gaze as she spoke softly, "We're sorry."

After saying that, Reiner grabbed Amanda's hand as they ran at the back, opposite to where they entered and turned to the right side where there is another path.

Chelsea widened her eyes in despair as she stared at their fading back.

"Hey! Don't leave me! Please!"

"Amanda! Reiner! You guys-!"

Then, her frantic screams slowly faded as well, turning into a small whisper. "Please."

But neither did Reiner nor Amanda turned to look back at her as their figures completely disappeared.

Chelsea knew that if she runs away this time too, there is not even a minute before the Wretched will catch up on her.

Chelsea couldn't help but laughing crazily out of agony as her back slumed on the trash bin that kept being pushed by the Wretched.

Tears streamed down from her face as she laughed bitterly.

'Reiner, Amanda, is this really how far you guys have thought of me?'

'Am i really that easy to be abandoned?'

'How can you guys betray me?!'

Chelsea cried and she couldn't help speaking through gritted teeth. "Dear God! If i were given another chance, i swear that i will make them pay!"

Recalling the face of her parents, Chelsea cried even more. 'I'm sorry, mom, dad...'

'I shouldn't have left to enter this Trial, i shouldn't have trusted them...'

Just as she felt the urge to give up, she suddenly heard a voice speak to her.

"Really? Will you actually take revenge on them?"

Chelsea was startled and looked up abruptly to see a woman with long brown hair, wearing a simple attire with amber eyes.

The woman stared at her, narrowing her eyes as she inquired, "Will you truly take revenge on them?"

Chelsea was lost but maybe because her hatred was not ignorable, she gnashed her teeth and said, "I will! No matter what, i will take revenge upon them!"

"But i thought they were your friends?" Iris asked with a smile.

The flame in Chelsea's eyes burned even more than ever at Iris' words. "Friends? Ha! After they left me to die here?!"

"My parents! Mom- she must be so worried about me, worrying that i wouldn't come back home, and i still willingly went with them in this Trial, and yet- they dared to betray me after all I've done for them?!"

Iris was stunned momentarily before a chuckle escaped her lips and said, "Well, now that was surprising, i didn't think that a person can change their mind this easily."

Bang! Bang!

Seeing that the Wretched are about to break in, Iris heaved a sigh as she placed her hand on her waist. "Listen here kid."

"I'll help you, but in return, you must get your revenge and owe me a debt, understand?"

Chelsea was hesitant for a split second before her eyes became sharp and said, "Okay."

Seeing that she agreed so easily, Iris was satisfied and said, "Good."

"Now, you'll listen to what i say and never question them if you want to survive, got it?" Iris said.

Chelsea gulped before she nodded her head solemnly.

"Okay, so all you have to do, is to just run and don't look back no matter what."

Chelsea was surprised but seeing that Iris seemed serious about her words, although she doubted this person's capabilities, she still followed.

Just as Iris was about command her, Chelsea spoke first and asked, "What should i call you?"

Iris pondered for a moment before she grinned and chuckled. "Just adress me as your saviour."

Chelsea was stunned but before she was given the chance to react, Iris opened her mouth.

"Run."

The moment Iris said the word, Chelsea ran as fast as she could and while running, looked back but saw Iris frowning at her from the distance, indicating that she shouldn't look back.

Chelsea bit her lower lip before she continued to run.

Seeing that her figure disappeared, Iris heaved a sigh of relief before it was replaced with a solemn look as she turned around.

"Now, how do i stop this things from chasing after her and at the same time, not get killed?"