Months passed, and Nera and I became somewhat... closer. She taught me a lot of things like kung ano yung mga useful survival skills na dapat matutunan ko. I also met her 'rebellion' group, who are also helping me how to combat someone na mas malakas at mas malaki kesa sa'kin. The first week, aaminin ko, was an utter hell.
After namin sa mga chores ng dungeon, they were bribing those guards para bigyan kami ng extra time to hone and practice our skills. Meron 'tong si Xaevan na laging sinasagad ang mga training routines namin like planking, bench pressing, shadowboxing, continuously na nagbubuhat ng mabibigat na bloke ng bato, para daw mas tumatag ako pag close combat daw kuno. Ito na ata ang papatay sa'kin sa totoo lang. Pero after kong mag-improve at masanay, hindi na ako pagurin, mas lalong tumatagal yung endurance ko lalo kung ganito ang usapan. Nakakamatay pero worth it yung pagod.
"Huy! Focus Twi, wala na tayong oras," sabay tapik sa'kin ni Nera habang pinapaliwanag niya kung ano ang gagawin ko to survive the Choosing. Ito ang tawag nila sa araw na pagpili ng mga bagong Privileges. Sa Mansion pala, may tinatawag na inner and outer circles. Sa inner circle manggagaling ang pinaka-efficient and pinakamagagaling na Privileges—which is the Chosen 12. They are the most vicious, victorious, and they produced the most money para sa Waltons. However, yung mga nasa outer circles, sila yung mga expendables. In other words, madali lang palitan at itapon. Sa darating na Choosing, dito mapupunta ang mga napiling Privileges—bale may 3 outer circles. 'Yan ang goal ko for our show, makapasok sa isa sa mga outer circles together with Nera's group. Napaka-ironic lang, dati gusto kong makatakas sa Mansion na 'yon, ngayon naman nagpapakahirap ako para makapasok.
"Always remember Twi, it doesn't matter kahit gaano ka kagaling sa challenges na ibibigay sa'yo. What matters is, you survive. You remain inconspicuous until the day of the Choosing. You must always have cards underneath your sleeves, dahil hindi ka papatayin ng nasa itaas," sabay turo sa direksyon nung Mansion, "papatayin ka ng mga kasama mo rito sa baba." She was looking at me intently causing me to shudder. I can do this. This will be my greatest show yet.
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"Hey, here's your food Nera," sabay abot ng mansanas kay Nera. Napatingin kami kung sino, si Xaevan lang pala. If I were to describe him, he's bulky parang isang rugby player pero through the months, pansin kong pagdating kay Nera—tiklop siya.
"Well? What about mine?" pang-aasar kong sabi sa kanya pero inirapan lang ako. Sus! Kalalaking tao!
"You'll get yours later, hindi ka pa tapos sa 100 laps mo." This time, ako naman ang tumingin sakanya ng masama.
"Now chop-chop! We don't have much time, they're gonna announce the commencement of the Choosing anytime now. Go go go!" pansin ko lang din dito, para akong sundalo kung tratuhin niya ako. It's good for discipline pero nakakainit ng dugo minsan.
Nasa pang-96th laps na ako nang biglang umalingawngaw ang tunog ng kampana sa buong dungeon. Nagsitaasan ang balahibo ko, ito na talaga 'yon. Sabi sa'kin ni Nera, sa first day ng Choosing ang pinakamadugong labanan ng mga preso dito. Karamihan daw ng mga tao, either magtatamo ng mga sugat na hindi na gagaling pa or worse, mamatay at never ka nang makakabalik.
"Twi!" rinig kong sigaw ni Nera sa'kin pero nagulat ako nang may nagsalita mula sa mga speakers ng dungeon.
"AS WE WELCOME THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CHOOSING, 200 PRISONERS HAVE THE CHANCE TO COMBAT TO THE MOST AWAITED, REWARDING, AND THE "PRIVILEGE" PATH TO GLORY, FREEDOM, AND WEALTH. INTERESTED PARTICIPANTS MAY BE GIVEN 3 MINUTES TO PREPARE THEMSELVES IN THE MOST GRUESOME BATTLE THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. SHORTLY AFTER, WE WILL OPEN THE GATES—AND THE FIRST 200 PRISONERS WHO CAN PASS THE NARROW PARAPET OF THE DUNGEON THROUGH THE HELDING FACILITY OF THE CHOOSING, WILL PROCEED TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE CHALLENGE. GOODLUCK, VICTORS."
After nung announcement, maririnig ang hiyawan at padyak ng mga preso. Agad-agad akong pumunta kay Nera—sabay sabing, "Seriously?! Are they asking for death?!"
"This is the first time this happened—dati, magkakaroon ng sparring match ang mga taga-preso, kung sino ang matitira from all the prisoners who participated, diretso sila sa helding facility. Pero this time, hindi. Mas mahihirapan tayo, it could also result to death kung mahulog tayo taas. We have to chalk our shoes kaya dali! Habang may oras pa, we should keep our shoes dry. Malakas ang bagyo sa labas, for sure, madulas ang dadaanan natin."
I don't know if the shoes will hold, dahil panigurado—madulas talaga ang dadaanan namin. I just have to take the leap of faith. I was shivering pero hinawakan ni Nera yung balikat ko—parang sinasabi sa'kin na magiging okay din ang lahat.
Pero alam kong malayong mangyari 'yon. It will never be 'okay' as long as that evil couple is targeting my back.
The horns blared and they opened the gates. The game has begun.
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Author's Note: After loooong exhausting months, nakapag-update na rin HAHAHAHAHA. I cannot promise na tuloy-tuloy ang update pero no worries, I'm very determined na tapusin ko 'to hihi.
BINABASA MO ANG
GAME OF DEATH: Wrath Online
FantasySynopsis: "Man by nature is a selfish creature." A girl who wants to escape from the clutches of her adopted parents--a living abomination, as they say. However, as her bottled fury grows and her desires burrow deeper--stronger, the place where she...
