future_gamers[holy_book].exe

27 - Chapter XVI

[System]: The finalists have been introduced. The terrain will be wasteland. After a few minutes, the battle will start. A remaining of 2 hours is left for today's round. Masters may speak with other masters. 10 minutes countdown, starts now.

Nagsimula na yung 10 minutes na countdown. Walang reaction halos lahat ng players. Walang nagsasalita ni isa sa kanila. Halatang magkakakilala na sila.

[Z-One]: I'll send report to HQ and to SilverProgram. The game shouldn't be televised nor be live. It will cause big problems to the game company, even Future Tech. Three, try to hack to their AI's program. It'll be risky so be sure to be mobile to avoid detecting your location.

[Z-Three]: Will do.

[Z-One]: Nine, I'll be out for a while. Be sure to survive until I get back. Alam kong kaya mo yan.

"A-Ano? Mangiiwan ka nanaman?!? Yun ba yung plano mo? Hoy! Teka lang!" Luke replied but Arthur already left the line.

[System]: The game will start in 5 minutes.

"A-Anong gagawin ko?" Luke asked himself. "Siyam ang kasapi ng Rouge Virtual Crusade. Alam kaya si Ashleigh ito? Malamang si Misaki walang alam dito. Pero alam ba nilang nakay Misaki ang code? Pero mukhang hindi naman siya ang habol nila..."

[System]: The game will start in 1 minute.

"Players from regions 1, 8 and 11." Biglang nagsalita ang master ng region 9 na si Sebastian Williams. "I don't know how you were able to beat my subordinates tasked in your region. Oh. I don't know if you will understand what I meant. But, as you can see, nine of us here were in a team. I suggest you should leave the game now. We have important job to do here."

"So that's is the reason why the last player I fought was easily defeated. He was with you." Sagot ni Ashleigh. "By the way, he's still weak even he cheated. Might be the same with the rest of you. Oh, and I don't plan to leave."

"W-Weak? You're telling us that we are weak? That I'm weak? Hahahaha!" Tumawa lang si Sebastian sa sinabi ni Ashleigh. "You were given the chance. You should've left."

[System]: The game begins in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

Bigla silang napunta sa isang wasteland. Tigang ang lupa sa init ng araw. May mga lantang halaman at kalansay ng mga hayop sa paligid. Nakapalibot pa rin sila ng pabilog. "Get them!" Sabi ni Sebastian. Sa isang kisap ng mata, nagsimula ng kumilos ang mga miyembro ng Rouge Virtual Crusade.

"The player in region 8! Leave him to me! He's mine!" Sinabi ni Dominic sa mga kasamahan niya. "Aura! Let's get our revenge!"

"Crysta! Entrap Ashleigh, Misaki and I with Crystal Wall! Sakura! Transport us to a very far place! Also, make a shadows of us! Buy us time as I encourage them to work with us!" Luke gave his orders to his guardians.

"Yes master!" Both of them responded positively. Crysta trapped Luke, Ashleigh and Misaki with her Crystal Wall skill. Sakura transported them to a far place then she made shadow copies of them as substitute inside the walls.

"Wh-What happened?!?" Nag-tataka si Ashleigh kung paano sila napunta sa malayong lugar.

"That's my guardian's skill." Sumagot agad si Luke. "We only have less than 5 minutes left before their guardians will know our location so please listen to me carefully." Huminga ng malalim si Luke. "I supposed all of us faced one of their members in the last round, right? They are a group of virtual terrorist. I still don't know their exact plan but for sure they plan to use the Holy Book for their business. I think their leader is the player named Sebastian Williams. I need your help to stop them from pursuing to their plan."

"W-Wait, wait, wait a minute." Ashleigh interrupted Luke. "And who exactly are you? How did you know about these information?" She asked.

Luke replied. "I-I.. I'm a secret agent.. I.. M-My team is in-charge of investigating their activity in this game. I was the only one left as my teammates lost.." Nauutal si Luke habang nagsasalita.

"Oh really?" Hindi pa rin naniniwala si Ashleigh. "So your teammates lost and you blew your cover as a secret agent just to ask help?"

"I..uhm..." Nahihirapan mag-isip si Luke ng isasagot. "Nasaan na ba si Arthur?!?" Sabi niya sa sarili niya. Wala pa kasi si Arthur na sana ay natutulungan siya sa mga sasabihin niya. "Y-You want to win right? How could you win if the other players are cheating? Right?" Pilit na kinukumbinsi ni Luke si Ashleigh. "I don't need the Holy Book. I just need to catch those terrorists. If you help me, I will forfeit from this battle."

"Really?" Hindi pa rin naniniwala si Ashleigh. "What if I'll tell you that I also don't need the Holy Book?"

"I will help." Biglang sumingit si Misaki sa usapan na kanina pa tahimik. "I don't care if you're a secret agent or whatsoever. Just keep your word."

Natuwa si Luke sa sinabi ni Misaki. "Th-Thank you.. I will keep my word!"

"So, you have a plan?" Game na game na si Misaki na makipagtulungan kay Luke.

Kinagulat naman nito ni Ashleigh. "W-Wait, you agreed just like that? Ugh.. I-I'm.. d-don't leave me! I'm in!"

~~~~~
Finalists: 3 versus 9