Competition

"How do you know my name?"

"It's like...right there, on top of your head." Isaac said with a tone I do not appreciate and a face that suggests he thinks I'm stupid.

I looked up above my head and indeed, there was a gamer nametag on me that reads my real name, 'Sean Anthony'.

"Allow me to explain the invitation..."

Most of his explanations is just reiterating what he had said previously but with different wording, can't believe this guy hasn't been fired as a recruiter yet.

"Is this still the game?" I thought in my head while Isaac continues his worthless blabbering.

"Yes, everything you can set foot on before you obtain the pass back into life is game region." The earpiece responded.

"How do I get this 'pass' back into life?"

"You will need to compete with other players in the monthly Afterlife Tournament in teams of five. Winner of every tournament receives five passes back into life."

It's not easy as one would expect, I have to compete with other players, or dead people like myself in a tournament.

That's not my biggest concern however, I'm more concerned about finding teammates, this tournament follows the format of teams of five, I don't know if I'm capable of finding four reliable allies.

"What does the tournament test?"

"Your combat skills. In a tournament match, two teams of five will be placed randomly on the map of the game. Last team standing wins the match."

"I'm gonna assume the map of the game being the post-apocalyptic world I was in previously?"

"Yes."

If it's only combat skills they're testing, then I'm at an immediate disadvantage with my melee weapon.

However, since it's the post-apocalyptic world where the battle happens, there's firearms near the gates, I guess that may be my only hope.

"Your main weapon as well as Fighter-oriented weapons are far more effective than weapons in the map of the game." The telepathic earpiece strikes again.

"Is any of the Fighter-oriented weapons similar to a gun?"

"No."

Damn it, this is gonna be far more difficult than I thought then. Since I'm stuck with melee weapons, I might as well get better at it.

"Is there any methods to get stronger at the game?"

"Yes. You can head to the training halls to refine your combat skills, or the shopping district to purchase upgrades and other Fighter-oriented weapons."

"Judging by the amount of stores and players I'm seeing, I'm gonna assume this will be the shopping district."

"Yes."

What a beautiful place to shop in. Alright, I've decided, shopping shall be the first thing I do. Wait no, I have another question.

"Is there any ways to find a specific person in this place?"

"No."

That's unfortunate.

"...so on and so forth. And I think that's it, what do you think?" Isaac seems to think I was actually listening attentively.

"All I heard is you're gonna tax me."

"For a good reason we will. We receive a portion of points you collected from your games, and in return we protect you through these games." His smile only grows creepier, I do not want to be near this guy any longer.

"No thanks, I'm gonna have to decline."

"Wait wait! It's a great deal that you will regret not taking in the future. Join us right now, you will need the protection otherwise you will surely die!"

He got a lot more nervous when I started moving towards the shopping district, he scampered beside me with a worried look on his face that says "I'm begging you please."

"No." I denied more vehemently this time, his offer sounds like one made by a high schooler asking for my lunch money.

"No no no listen, you need it, the campaign stages later on are so difficult you will not get through it alone! They're multiplayer, multiplayer man! There will be other players eyeing for you because you're a weak beginner, they will kill you for your points! If you didn't already die in the game itself that is."

He does not know how to take 'no' for an answer at all.

"Is blocking players possible in this game?" I thought in my head

"No"

Damn it, I was really hoping blocking is a system to get Isaac the hell away from me.

"I don't need the protection you're offering." I responded to Isaac.

One useful information that he did say though, is "other players eyeing for me because I'm a weak beginner".

There does seems to be a lot of other players looking in my direction, yet not approaching like Isaac, they're just following me with a distance.

It makes me uncomfortable that I feel I'm being constantly stared at, is it actually because I'm new and they want to kill me for my points?

"You need it, seriously, it's not even that hard, just think in your head that you want to join Living Cemetery and you're in! Just like that! So easy!"

I refuse to answer him this time and opts to just ignore his prattling.

He continues being a nuisance in my ear relentlessly, but I still ignored him and concentrated my focus on shopping.

What I found is that the shopping district sells a variety of products, including weapons, food, even clothes.

Looking at my current outfit, I was no longer in the white collared shirt and black trousers, I was now in the outfit from when I died in that house fire...my pajamas.

An embarrassing blue striped pajamas set, could be another reason why there's many other players following and staring at me.

I want to change my awkward outfit, but the cheapest shirt I can find costs 300 points, it's literally just a plain white t-shirt and it costs 30% of my earnings from the game.

"Hey hey are you listening? Helloooooo?" Isaac questioned while waving his hand in front of my face when I was checking out clothes.

I've stopped listening quite a few minutes ago, Isaac.

"I thought I've already said no, please stop following me."

"No you don't get it! You really need this man. You're missing out I'm telling you!"

Guess he just won't quit it, might as well ignore and keep shopping, food section next, I'm starving.

‎ ‎ ‎

"Sean!"

Just when I arrived at the food section of the shopping district, a familiar voice came from behind. A strong, deep, masculine voice that even ceased Isaac's blabbering.

I turned immediately to see who it was, and indeed, the familiar voice belongs to a familiar man.