EXO:DEAD or ALIVE

CHAPTER 1: The Beginning

Today is just an ordinary day for all the people of Norrath (the last among the sixth capital of Exoria), same situation wherein hunger, poverty, sickness, depression and any other kind of illnesses are attacking the people's lives including me. But today, for me it is a special one.

So here I am, trying to find my luck today in this beautiful and peaceful forest where you can only hear the sound of birds singing, the noise of crawling animal creatures lingering around and the sound of the spring water flowing gently at the other side.

Here is the only place I know to ease myself and relax for a minute, for me to forget my problems, for me to run away from the noisy village and find the inner peace in myself. And of course the perfect place to hunt for food.

"krrrkk" I hear a sudden sound coming from my stomach. Oh god my stomach is screaming in pain and emptiness. I'm so hungry right now, I need to find a food immediately.

"hrrkhrk" a scratching noise caught my attention. It is coming from that tree behind me. So I sneak back quietly and see what it is.

"Ahah" I silently cheered my self upon seeing this crawling boar busy looking for food just like me. "a healthy food for a hungry stomach" I smirked to myself.

I grab my wooden bow and arrow silently at my back and start preparing to shoot and hunt my prey.

"One. . .two. . .thr-"

"Hey Xiumin what are you doing here hunting again?" a sudden loud voice broke the silence. The boar run quickly and gone.

"Dam it!" I shouted.

Even without looking at the person shouting, I already recognized who he was based on his voice. It's Baekhyun, my funny and crazy childhood friend.

I turned my back and saw him walking towards me.

"What the hell bro! You just ruined my hunting time." I shouted angrily at him. "Look . . . my lunch has gone."

"Oh, haha I don't mean to disturb you bro. But you should come with me. I need to show you something." he said.

"What the heck is it this time bro? Is it more important than a food?

"Oh come on Xiumin I know you will like it. I'm sure of it. Just trust me bro. " he insisted.

"*sigh* okay I will come, just promise me that this will not a waste of time okay" I said as I cool my self from anger.

"Okay, okay understood. Let's go follow me." he said excitedly.

So I just followed him because I trust him. He has been my best friend since we were kids and he is like a real brother to me. His family are so kind, despite of so many struggles and poverty they still kept me when I lost both my parents because of the great war.

Twenty years ago, the land of Exoria was still one nation under the regime of the great leader Exol. He was the nations father and the one who created Exoria, an independent land in the East. The land where the sun rises. During that time there has no division among us. Both rich and poor, weak and strong are living together harmoniously. Until the government changed and ruled by one of his son named Red. Red is not like his father.  He is cruel and powerful. He changed everything including the system in Exoria. He created divisions who separated rich and poor. The people's different statuses are the one who determines where they belong. On what capital they should be put on.

Red created six capitals in Exoria. The first capital is the Ere. It is the capital where all the super rich and powerful families are belong. They have all the privilege and access to everything. They are the upper class people.

The second capital is Argus. Almost the same with Ere but the only difference is that in terms of the income of the families there. They have less income than Ere. They are the upper-middle class people.

The capital of Valdemar is the third capital. Here are the middle class families are belong. Less income and access compared to the capital of Argus.

Fourth is the capital of Shiran, wherein the people here are also experiencing poverty and lack of access just like us but they are more capable off in terms of producing products and supply for themselves.

The fifth capital is Lyrah. The closest capital from us. They are also lack of everything but they still have a better situation compared to us who belongs to the lowest rank.

Norrath is the sixth and last capital of Exoria. The people here are the poorest among them all. We are lack of everything, we don't have access to anything in Exoria.

So right before the creation of these six capitals, many people was not in favor of these changes including my parents. That's why they tried to fight Red forces during that time but they failed and die. Then after that we then called it the great war, the war between the corrupt government and the people who rebelled against them.

So I'm thankful that Beakhyun's family accepted me and treated me as one of their family. And I also considered them as my family too. That's why I'm still here and I want to help them for me to give back their kindness that they've showed me all throughout.

After the great war has ended, a game was established to give tribute to all the people who died during that time. So Red forces granted the wish of the people and decided to create a game wherein the six capitals of Exoria must need to send two male representative each in the game. The representatives of each capitals must be twenty-five to thirty years old. It will be a game of survival wherein the winning delegates including their families will be granted.  They will have a chance to live in the Grand Capitol together with Red. That's why it is a life changing opportunity for  the winners. But winning this kind of game is not easy, your life is equivalent to the prize.

"Bro is it far yet?" I asked curiously.

He answered me right back " No we're almost there, just a few more steps.

"O-kay" I sighed.

Then after a long walked together, finally we reached our destination and-

"What's this? . . . . . ."