The group appeared in the old home. It had been cleared out and boarded up as Lee Seng casually took a look around. The place was empty with no remnant indicating this was once his temporary home. The portal closed behind Keng as the group took time to look around.
Victor made his way to the front of the group and looked around. "What's this place?" Victor asked. He looked at the group, who all looked around. They all knew their time at this home was short, but they also realized Fate played a cruel role in the last two years.
"An old remnant of who we were." Ritsuka answered Victor. That snapped everyone out of it.
"Alright, what do we gotta do?" Manny asked Victor. "What're we searchin' for?"
"Where that cargo truck went and what's hiding here." Victor answered.
They exited the house and descended down the path they were so used to. There was no sign of their cars. Their old life had been erased, hidden away for the majority to forget and move on. Lee Seng took a moment to take it all in. Everything about him was hidden away, erased and/or destroyed. He was no one here.
'It's better that way.' Lee Seng told himself. He didn't need to find any more attachments to this world. He just wanted to end and make things right. 'The Deimons need to be destroyed. I have to make sure of that.' He closed the door and caught up to a waiting Keng.
It didn't take long for the group to see people. They just… looked like they weren't really paying attention to anything. They looked like mindless zombies, standing in the streets, in the houses, stores. Students of the Academy. Students of near and far high schools. Adults, children - the Academy's district was filled with them. Evan and Victor waved their hands in front of multiple peoples' faces. They all didn't respond to them.
"It's like they're all… in a trance." Liz whispered. "How long do you think they've been standing here for?" Manny shrugged.
"Maybe a couple hours?" Evan guessed.
"This one looks like they've been through it." Ritsuka pointed at a weathered man who looked pale. Lee Seng pinched his nose as he passed by some of the people.
"They stink." Lee Seng closed his eyes. Keng followed suit and turned to look at the group.
"It's time~" A cheery voice washed over the air. "Let's see how this one does! Release… Experiment 10545!" A loud blaring noise triggered and all of a sudden everyone around them snapped out of their daze. They began to panic and run in all directions. Lee Seng struggled to keep himself on his feet as people freaked out and collided into him and everyone else around in his vicinity.
"Monster!" A little girl shouted.
"Already running when you don't know where the monster is yet?" The cheery female voice spoke. "I haven't even randomized the land point! Let's ROLL!" She began to make 'dadada' noises as a beeping noise echoed through the air. It clicked and stopped. "Oooo! District 4! How lucky! You're far away from the good action! Let's see if anyone can make it to the Year 2 building! Y'know the rules! First come, first serve!"
Lee Seng watched the people scurry in every direction. Chaos had completely taken over. They screamed and avoided Lee Seng and Keng like the plague.
"Did they hear the person even talk?" Keng asked Lee Seng. "The real 'monster' is in District 4."
"Let's get to the second year building!" Victor motioned.
"What's going on with them?" Manny asked. They ran down the street, following after Victor as he led the way to the second year building. "What happened to all of these people? How did they get here?"
"We're gonna find out. Keep up!" Victor motioned. The group quickly made their way out of the Third District and into the Second District. The chaos Lee Seng thought couldn't get any worse did. People began to stop each other from getting into the Second Year Academy building.
"H-hey! It's my spot! I have a family to get back to!" A salaryman worker shouted.
"I don't want to die!" A woman punched back. The two fought with each other as hundreds of other fights were happening all around them. The Second Year building was lit up, counting how many people were in the Academy.
345/800
"Hold on. I got a great idea!" Keng lifted the group up and propelled them overhead. People noticed this and began to scream at them.
"Monster!"
"Stop them!"
Anyone who could throw elemental abilities were immediately met with disappointment. The group zoomed straight through the roof side, breaking into one of the windows with a loud thud.
"Everyone alright?" Keng asked as he landed.
"Did we need to go through the roof window?" Manny asked.
"Well, well, well~ I didn't think anyone would do that!" The cheery female's voice came overhead. Lee Seng noticed the strange energy wisping along the ceilings. "There's seven of you… Hmmm, have fun with the second part! Try to get to the gymnasium. Maybe you'll be safe then!
"Hurry up! People are entering quickly! You poor chumps are gonna be left in the weather again! Les go! Chop chop!" The ethereal voice clapped and disappeared.
"To the gym?" Victor whispered.
"Which one?" Liz asked.
"I don't think she's gonna specify." Olivia shook her head.
"C'mon, let's go." Manny motioned. Victor and Manny led the way, almost bumping into each other. Manny glared at Victor while Victor simply continued forward, hitting the elevator button.
The group climbed into the elevator and descended down into the first floor. It was quieter than outside, but Lee Seng could still hear the fighting. Doors were wide open and the academy building seemed ransacked. People were doing everything they could to survive the twisted game.
Victor and Manny led the way. The building layouts were exactly the same for the most part. The gyms would be easiest to find.
"Ahhh, you know what happens when we get there! They're just going to pit us against each other! We should ban together, not fight against each other!" A man clutched his shoulder. Someone had sliced clean his arm as blood fell from the strange blade that cut him. The woman grinned with a sinister smile and lashed forward.
The man jumped backwards, barely dodging the woman's jagged blade. It slammed into the wall, easily piercing as she pulled it out and went for another strike. The man jumped away with ease, keeping his distance.
"Niisan?" Ritsuka whispered. The tall Japanese man dodged the woman's attack.
"That's your brother?" Lee Seng looked at Ritsuka.
"Niisan!" Ritsuka shouted. He sprinted forward, summoning Obsidian Glass.
"H-hey!" Victor shouted, reaching out for Ritsuka. Manny put a hand on Victor and held him back.
"You'll only get in the way." Manny told him.
"Ritsuka!" Evan shouted running after. Ritsuka's brother grunted as he jumped backwards. The jagged sword slammed onto the floor as its user pulled it out and went in for a jab.
"Hey, stop picking on my brother, you bitch!" Ritsuka's body shimmered. He shot himself straight for the woman, who turned and met his attack.
"Oh, two brothers trapped in this game?" The woman raised an eyebrow. "Interesting! Repel!" The jagged sword rattled and blasted Ritsuka backwards.
"R-Ritsuka!" Ritsuka's brother stuttered. He grunted and summoned his blue longsword. He lashed forward, drawing attention to himself as the woman turned and caught the longsword in her jagged sword. She giggled as Evan produced the shield and slammed the ground. The hallway shook, absorbing some of the damage as cracks formed. It was enough to catch the woman off guard as the shield flew straight into her side, sending her flying into the wall while her sword twisted and threw both swords into the air.
"Evan?" Ritsuka's brother recognized. He winced, clutching his shoulder. A green smoke was barely visible to Lee Seng.
"Manny." Lee seng called out. Manny turned to look at Lee Seng. He could see people moving away from the fight and taking other routes. They were avoiding confrontation. "Ritsuka's brother might need your healing. His arm is gone and there's a strange green cloud around it."
Ritsuka grunted as grabbed his weapon and sprinted straight for the woman. "Void Art: Piercing Viper!" Obsidian Glass flew forward, making a jabbing motion of pierce attacks. The blade sank into the woman's body, quickly pulling out and sinking in again. She cackled as the jagged blade shook. Ritsuka's brother's eyes widened.
"Ritsuka!" Ritsuka's brother shouted, running straight towards his brother.
"J-Jiro!" Evan stuttered, following suit.
'They don't know she's dangerous!' Jiro thought. He threw himself in front of the blade, feeling the jagged blade pierce him and stop.
"Jiro!" Evan shouted, grabbing Ritsuka's older brother. Ritsuka stabbed Obsidian Glass into the woman, pinning her to the wall as he pushed the blade deep. He turned and watched as Jiro fell onto Evan. The entire group was rushing over as a ringing grew in Ritsuka's mind.
Lee Seng shouted at Ritsuka with a furious move motion. 'What?' Ritsuka thought. He turned and realized what he meant. The woman had managed to get herself out and was going straight for his neck. 'Is it… over? Am I going to die here with my brother…?'
"Ritsuka!" Lee Seng's voice cut through the ringing in Ritsuka's head.
This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om