Battle Royale: Apocalyptone

Tale 1: Chapter 1 - A Tale of Two Hopes

All 200 people in this world mourn about the death of 201st person before the end. She was 100 years old... and many people wants to make her still alive to make Apocalytone not possible. I didn't mourn about her, but I felt pity, also. Her last words that I will be the victor. Be used to the 5th.

Days before the funeral, almost everyone cried because of fear to the punishment. I know that this punishment is the only chance for salvation. No choice for that, even if I hated to do so. Weird things starting to show. Some say that they want to commit suicide, but a force of an angel stop them to do it. Some whispers, "Unfair". I think the punishment is going to start after her funeral.

I am a father of 2 children. They died due to unknown reasons. Even my wife, my family, everyone I know but one. I don't even know if my wife died because of mind control from the Plague, but that image of her and my child's death tremors me. I knew my friend is still alive. She said that she is currently stuck in Trisonemia (United Kingdom in the second cycle). I don't know what she's doing there, but I know she's okay. She is used to survive alone in the apocalypse, since her second year of her Trisonemia journey.

An hour after the funeral, The Creator announced that the war has begun and we'll be teleported to Plains of Eidolon (Iceland in second cycle). I had no choice but to participate this punishment, and I shall get the Grail of Salvation to regain humanity and life once again, and retrieve the lost.

We teleported to our own Arsenal managed by the Angels. I was chosen to be a Warrior class. I instantly learned all spells and sword skills.  And I was told to have a different name for this punishment. I was thinking of a name that can make my friend, who will participate this punishment, remember me. Wait, I remember something... 14 days ago, we planned our names for the battle. She will be called Artemis, while I will be called Orionus. I said my new name, Orionus. So, I entered the battle place.

I was unconscious for a moment. When I heard the sea waves, I woke up, on the sands. My sword is there, custom made by me. My shield is also there, custom made too. I swang my sword, and it was heavy. I know I can get used to it. I saw my clothing. This is what I wanted to use and wear. Complex armor always amaze me.

I was hungry but luckily, I saw a roast chicken with the mashed potatoes left on the camp table. I ate there. After I ate, the Spectators was spawned. The plague came before my eyes. I know it's 2 kilometers away from where I woke up. It moved slowly, like one kilometer per hour. It still bought me more time. I entered the lands of the plains. The hills were so high like mountains but not like mountains. But somehow, it has forest, which is an advantage for me.

I heard screams of other people. I sensed a Hunter and two Warriors, one of them was slayed by Hunter. I checked their names. The Hunter is Frionel, the dead Warrior is Getsemane, and the still alive Warrior is Mordred. I sneaked out their battle, trying not to make noise. It was so quiet I did it, but I stepped on a twig. They heard that cringy cracking sound I made. They froze, but turn their targets to me. I quickly ran as fast as they lose contact with me. Unfortunately, Frionel shares the Radar spell with Mordred. Unfair to me, I cast a 3-Sword Aim Burst spell, which spawns three swords targeting to the foes. I also cast a Metalblock spell, which creates a big shield being a wall. I had a chance to hide and create a big slashing bow, so I hid myself to the bushes, silencing myself.

How come they dodged by swords? Oh, Mordred's invisible swords. They gave me no luck. Frionel's Dead X attack. One X mark attack, then he destroyed my durable wall. He still detected me as if I am still hiding like a chameleon. Is this the end of me? Mordred drew his sword like he knows where to slash my body. Frionel aimed his bow to the bush I was hiding.

I don't have chance but to unleash a powerful Cataclysm of Swords spell. About to attack them, a ring of mirrors blocks their way, creating a destructing illusion spell. They were killed like a plague. Who cast it? I turned my head and saw a lady. She is Artemis, my friend. We were surprised we met at my near-death experience. We hugged like siblings. Of course, I didn't see her since 3 years.

"Oh how lucky I came here and I saw you here," Artemis said.
"And you just randomly save a person," I responded.
She laughed. She continued, "I thought I saved an Assassin, but it was you actually."

Assassin? I was questioning myself how powerful is the Assassin. I asked her, "Have you seen the Assassin?"

Luckily, she had full details about him, but it was hard to discuss in the middle of nowhere. She said, "Save that later. As of now, we should hide and rest." She started grabbing my hands. She cast a Flicker teleportation spell, a basic and fast teleportation spell. Luckily, she's an Illusionist. After we flickered, she cast a portal to secret copy of dimension. We entered there. That spell is a pure camo spell with illusion mix.

She built a camp just for us two. After 9 hours of sleep, the plague will come to this area. Anyway, I asked the same question. She told me the whole story.

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In the city where I was trapped, I only fear one thing, the Reaping Jack. We are like 100 people in the country, but for 3 years of waiting for this punishment, he killed everyone but me. According to my friend there, he enjoyed killing. He always likes to eat, so he killed people. He loves human meat more than any kind of animal.

Anyway, my friend died to buy me time to escape from him. She told me about the hidden door being a part of the earth's crust. It will take me to the hidden house, where I can stay. There, I stayed. He never saw me, as if I cried below.

I called you about the last human before the punishment's population count. You told me that she died, but we have still more time. I dunno why, but maybe because of funeral. You even told me that you are the last person that talked you. You said that she mentioned you as the victor, and being even to the commandments, and 5 is the important as if it's a blessing.

I am so blessed that I still have time to live. I asked the angels of God to have a class that can save you during the punishment.

After I spawned to the Arsenal, the class they chose for me can really save you. I thanked Him for it. I chose a look, so cool and so recognizable for you.

I woke up in a camping spot on the top of the hills. I can see not just the sea from there, but also the Plague. I still see hope that you can be alive. But, unfortunately, the Assassin did a first move, rightly saw in front of my eyes. It was far but visible, and he's enjoying killing with overpowered stance and curses. He's so fast that is faster than my teleportation spells. I quietly escaped the hill, as if I cast a very far targeting teleportation spell. When I flickered to the forest, I realized that he's the Reaping Jack. How fortunate for him. Luckily, he's too far from us.

I walked down the forest. It was scary as the animals run everywhere. I heard an Architect's building spell making a real house for his family. They are so kind and loving. I managed to stay there for hours. They gave me real food. And luckily, that family had almost all classes, except the Assassin and Illusionist. The Black Mage is so kind, and she drains health to her sibling that is a White Mage. For her, he is unlimited source of healing and mana. Their little siblings are Hunter and Soldier. They are so to be protected and they are sharpshooters, too. The parents, a Warrior and an Architect. The father is the Architect and he combined building skills with his children's magic to create traps and laser hidden in this house. The wife, a Warrior, creates weapons for each of the family members. She is really good at forgery. They told me the story of how they survived before the punishment. As their curiousness, I told them my story, too. After the lunch-dinner, I heard squads of hunters trying to destroy the house. The trap alarmed us, so we managed to buy more time escape with our magic. Their tactics of their attacks are so genius and powerful, that the enemy squad can't have the defense to it. Of course, a white mage is there to block it with 7 layers of shields.

I told them to escape while casting a temporarily illusion spell, making them see that we were self-destructed. We managed to escape with our own paths. They followed their father's path, while I managed to find you. Because I know you are here. Then there you are. I saved you from two people.

As I see, 150 people are still alive. The Assassin is still hunting for people. The Plague's Eye is still shrinking. We should make ourselves clean as if there's no trace of us.

Oh, you should create a weapon for me, since you have a legal blacksmithing skill.