Somnia stands on the platform that overlooks our two classes. Besides her is a large helmeted figure; despite his intimidating nature, he looks like he's awkwardly shifting away from her.
Our class forms a huddle, and beside us is another group. Their builds are much larger, as though a pack of bodybuilders, while ours looked like a mangy group of convicts.
The yellow lights of his rusty helmet glow as he steps up. "Death arrives for us all, but we, the few, are given the opportunity to decide how we answer the door for the reaper. So welcome! Today is a joint class, and as some of you already know, my name is Maine, I am the instructor of the Raze Breakers."
Despite their towering builds and intimidating nature, they contrast our rowdy and impolite manner as they stand at attention with optimistic smiles.
"Today will be a friendly skirmish, pair versus pair. The main focus of today's training is to practice using your elemental cores, teamwork, and to put all of those combat strategies you've been studying to use."
Somnia has not taught us a single tactic or plan. Most of our classes are composed of witty one-liners and egotistical bragging.
"The rules are simple: each member gets three lives; once you're out, you're out. The field will be based on the surface of Hugon, uncertainty is as certain as the weather, so take this chance to practice your ability to adapt."
Somnia has not said a word, and it doesn't look like she's planning to, as she takes another swig from her half-empty whiskey bottle.
"While today is just a friendly competition, I've decided that as a reward for all of your hard work, we will offer a reward for the winner. If a pair wins, they will receive 300 polar each; but, if only one person wins..."
He wheels out an armor display stand, on it is a full red armor suit, with a white underglow.
Maine puts on an innocent front, but he knows the weakness of us High Rollers, our avarice. While he has likely trained his class on the importance of working together, we are trained to get what we want, no matter the cost.
Hallow turns to me with a smile, "I hope you don't mind, but I'm going for the 300 polar. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what I would do with that armor piece."
"I couldn't agree more, money is easier to find a use for. So, let's win this then."
We walk over to the line, where we stand opposite another team of Raze Breakers. Their opposing dark green armor glows red while his teammate, a perfect opposite.
While my other classmates mock their optimistically kind opponents, Hallow is the one to start the conversation.
"I like the antithesis of your armor, you guys must have some great teamwork."
They hesitate, likely considering whether he was being sarcastic. "Thank you, we initially were unsure about one another, but Walker here is now my best friend." he strains a smile. "And you two also seem ...close."
He says this despite our color schemes being completely different, Hallow's a white and gold, while mine is red with a white underglow.
"Well, Coffin here is the real Pioneer here, I'm just trying to survive." Hallow turns to the other Raze Breaker. "And, I never caught your name."
"My name is Futo."
"Well then, Futo, tell me, what's it like being a Raze Breaker? Are they all as kind as you two?"
Walker kindly laughs. "Our branch is founded on concepts of honor. But, don't let our kindness fool you, when it comes to competition, we get serious."
"You'd better. We don't plan on going easy either; isn't that right, Coffin?"
"Yeah." The three are talking like old pals while I am a flower on the wall. Never been much of a talker, and I don't have anything to add.
It seems we are up first, as Maine waves us forward.
Somnia puts her arms around our shoulders with a hiccup. "Alright, you two, try and win, if you do I think I get a raise, so yeah...you'd better win!"
Hallow strains a smile. "Thank you for the motivational speech, Instructor Somnia, we will try our best."
"Shouldn't you be giving US something to motivate US?"
"Hmm... I guess, if you win... I... would be very happy."
Continuing on, we step up to a circular pad, a timer counts down before whirring to life.
The area around us vanishes as we're teleported to a rocky area, there are abandoned buildings scattered around white sand. Sharp triangle geodes extrude from the ground as their purple and blue gems glow through the thick fog.
Pulling out his Platinum star, Hallow pulls back the slide. "So, do you have a plan, Coffin? Because if I'm being honest, I have nothing."
"I can't say it's a plan, but they are Raze Breakers, specializing in close combat, meaning we're looking at melee, and SMGs."
"So distance is key."
"I would assume. Did you catch any hint of their element proficiency?"
"One is also an aquatic, the other I've never seen before, it was green, blue, and pink."
Scratching my head with the base of my gun, I sigh. "That makes it easy, I'll handle the water, you pepper the other until you get a grasp of its ability, after which we reconvene."
"You said you have nothing, but you already have a plan."
"Don't compliment me until we win. Remember, retreat is always preferable; aimlessly striking at a rock won't do you any good, but over time, even water can erode rock."
"Look at you, strategic and poetic."
"No, I ju-"
I am interrupted by silence. The sound around us is forced into desolation as though we were commanded to listen.
A blood-curdling scream echoes against the rocks around us. Like an elk being eaten alive, it continues until the voice drowns to a gurgle.
We stare at each other with a look of concern as fog encases our surroundings.
"I'm really hoping that's just a battle cry."
Booming sounds around us, yet even from our vantage point on the rock, we don't see anything.
A barrage of bullets echoes behind me.
Whipping around, Hallow looks to me, his body is full of entry and exit wounds. With a slosh, his body flops to the floor before me.
20 feet away, a pair of glowing yellow eyes direct their attention on me.
It was Walker, but his appearance had changed. The once kind-looking boy now has the appearance of a wild animal.
As though encased in living armor, the plates shift, his helmet with the appearance of a mouth as it bites down on the air around it.
His body twitches as though his existence were painful. Bolting towards me, the siren noise somehow became even louder.
We both lift our arms up, his SMG begins to glow as its steel merges with his body in a fleshy transformation.
But my draw is faster as I fire two rounds.
One lands as it hits him in the shoulder, causing him to drop his gun.
Jumping backwards, I attempt to create distance between us.
Every step back, Walker matches it.
I need to distract him long enough for Hallow to be revived, but he's likely driving me towards his teammate.
Planting my foot before me, he continues charging, despite having no weapon.
Firing another round, I manage to hit his leg, yet it barely slows him down. Even with the wounds, he closes the distance.
Winding back his fist, his body reaches out to me, biting down, his shark like fist bites into my shoulder.
This is worst-case scenario, a close-range fight-
I hear a gunshot.
Walker's body falls to the ground.
Hallow stands there holding his gun up.
walker's fuse pops out, as the fleshy wire begins to reel in.
"Thanks for the save."
"Next time, I expect you to do the same." He chuckles.
The two of us sprint away from Walker's corpse
Due to the time-reversing nature of the cores, camping their corpses would only be to our disadvantage. Within their area, nothing from the present can enter, giving them a 4-second frame of invincibility.
Finding cover, we momentarily hide.
"We were planning on splitting up the work, but it seems we can barely beat one.
We hear another echoing scream in a lower pitch, this time right beside us, it was not a cry of fear, but a premonition.
Booming sounds echo around us once more.
For a single moment, I hear it, the sirens.
Whipping my head around, I see those glowing eyes face to face with me.
It's Walker, he stands there behind me, with an SMG aimed at my cranium. A grin widens on his skinned armor.
I don't have time to get my gun up.
Despite the advantage, he never fires the gun.
Taking the moment of weakness, I aim my gun.
Yet, a tearing noise sounds while Walker's body slides forward as it's chopped in half with a water-pressure slice.
His corpse slams to the ground with a squish. This time it was not Hallow who saved me, our opponent.
Futo is hunched over with a huge broad sword in front of him.
As though his teammate were nothing but an obstacle, he steps over the corpse, throwing his sword back, and he attempts to slice down on my head.
In an act of panic, I try and block the colossal sword with my hand. My core begins to glow white as I feel ice begin to form on my hand.
With my ice-like gauntlets, I managed to freeze his water pressure in an icy mist, but the momentum is maintained as the blade cuts through my hand and halfway down my forearm.
I cry out as the two halves of my forearm flop aside like a banana peel.
Wincing, I attempt to jump back, giving myself covering fire as I aimlessly shoot towards him.
After 7 seconds, the blood vessels on my arm begin to reattach with one another. Hallow finally begins to fire at Futo, landing two shots in either arm, causing him to drop his sword. The temporary distraction gives my own arm enough time to fully reform.
His body aimlessly sways before he ducks down and grabs his sword.
Firing twice, he deflects. My temporary retreat has caused a shift in his target as he now bolts towards Hallow.
In a futile attempt, he tries to run away.
Temporarily stopping, Futo poses himself in a sprinter's stance. His calves begin convulsing before he explodes forward.
Like a human bullet, he flies towards Hallo,w holding his sword before him.
Firing two shots, I manage to hit Futo in the chest, yet his momentum carries him forward, causing him to impale Hallow with his sword, pinning him into a nearby tree.
Hallow's body temporarily twitches before going limp. Futo yanks out the sword, causing Hallow to fall to the ground. He temporarily leans on the hilt of his sword as he attempts to cover the two bullet holes.
Hallow has died twice, so has Walker, which now makes us even.
Water surrounds Futo like a bubble as he stomps towards me.
Shit, shit, shit, close combat again?
What do I do?
I have the disadvantage again.
He knows I'll try and retreat, only giving him the chance to impale me like he did with Hallow, what is the last thing he would expect?
Every step forward booms as the water rushes around him.
I need strength, that's the only way to beat him.
The kind of strength he has.
But why do I care?
This is just a pointless match.
I don't care about the prize.
Then what is this feeling?
Why do I want more than anything to...
Win.
...
But what can I do?
He has every advantage.
None of that matters.
I have to adapt.
You cannot burn a mirror with light.
So I will steal his move.
Whatever power he has, it's starting to wear off as his wild animal expression has lessened, his eyes widen as I now match his pace, stomping towards one another.
I can't aim.
I can't win with strength.
Gritting his teeth, he lifts his sword, swinging it down with a grin.
My core glows an arctic white as I steady my breath.
The water surrounding him turns into snowflakes before evolving into ice as they plummet to the ground.
Before he can strike, I grab his face.
Slowly, I raise my hand up, making an ok sign with my hand, tilting my head down with a grin.
"Z-e-r-o"
His slash is slowed down as his body begins to crack, and his rapid breathing begins to slow down to a stop.
He was controlling the 60% of the water in his body to manipulate his own body, allowing him to physiologically override his homeostasis.
But, at zero degrees, water freezes, and our blood, brain, and organs rely on water to function.
Futo's body stands before me motionless as a statue, but I don't leave room for doubt.
Pulling out my gun, I fire two in the head and one in the heart.
The feeling of victory overwhelms me.
Yet it's short-lived, in the next moment, I hear a bang as my body falls to the floor.
...
My eyes open as I feel my raging heartbeat return to its steady tempo.
Shots are fired as Hallow stands between Walker and Futo as they clash with one another.
I'm not sure how long I was out for, but it's become an all-out free-for-all.
Hallow manages to evade their aimless strikes and hits Futo in the arm, causing him to temporarily drop his guard.
Walker's aimless gunfire hits Futo in the head, his corpse slams down with a thud.
The shock of the team killing causes me to temporarily drop my guard.
Instinctually, I jolt back as Futo side-eyes me with his glowing pupils.
My eyes widen as he bolts towards me, lifting his gun, he grins with the expression of an animal.
Behind him is Hallow, yet he doesn't have his gun up, instead, he just watches.
A barrage of bullets fills my body, causing me to cough up blood.
Kneeling down, my vision goes black as I keel over and my world goes black.
...
Wincing, my stomach aches as my core is still slowly repairing my organs.
Picking myself up, my eyes dart around.
Hallow has his gun up, the moment I notice him he hastily lowers it.
"Sorry, I was just too late. But I managed to kill him."
Beside me is Walker's body lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his head. That's three deaths, which means he's out of the match.
"There's no need to apologize. It's not your fault... right? that leaves us with one life each, and one enemy."
"Right, well then, it sounds like this should be an easy win."
Making our way toward the center of the field
Approaching a geode cliff face, he crouches around the corner. "I heard him coming from the south. How should we handle this Coffin?"
"How did it feel... to watch me die?"
His eyes widen as he whips around.
He attempts to grab his pistol, yet I already have my gun pointed at him. "I know it was you who shot me, Hallow."
"I- I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Then why are you reaching for your gun? And why did you hesitate to save me when you had the advantage earlier?"
"well- because yo-"
"That was rhetorical. if both people lie in a conversation, it's just a waste of time. I'm not mad, if anything, I'm just a little disappointed. But a part of me also understands the value of better armor. Even knowing that, I still want to win this together. That was the whole point of this armor prize: to use the High Rollers' weakness of selfishness against ourselves."
Hallow relaxes his expression, yet still has his hand over his holster.
"Even if it does come to killing one another, I would rather it be an honorable open act, an act of victory, not deception."
"I-" his eyes widen as he remains speechless.
With a kind smile, I put my hand out. "What do you say, Hallow? Let's win this... together."
Wincing, he temporarily hesitates. His usual smile returns as he nods, meeting my handshake. "Yeah...let's win this."
****
After 5 minutes of aimless searching, we managed to find Futo.
Like a wolf stalking its prey, He lurks around, his eyes on the lookout for us prey. The screams from earlier must have been him activating his berserker mode as he now pants like a wild animal.
Leaning in, I whisper to Hallow. "I will go in front and distract him, you just need to sneak up behind him."
"Really? We promised to win this together? Yet you're willing to act as bait?"
"I told you, I want to win this together. Even if it means sacrificing myself, as long as one of us wins, that's still winning as one."
Hallow looks down before giving me an expression of guilt. "Coffin, I- I really am sorry for betraying you earlier. I got greedy, but I know it was wrong."
My expression relaxes as I face him. "That means a lot. Thank you, Hallow." Putting my hand on his shoulder, I give him a kind smile. "So, let's win this...together."
Putting my hands up, I count down.
3.2.1.
Hallow runs along the outskirts, attempting to sneak up behind him.
Looks like it's my turn.
Holding out my hand, I focus, attempting to imagine a snowball.
My core glows as the sweat from my hands and the condensation from the air consolidates into snow.
Packing up the ball, I throw it as hard as I can to the far side.
Futo whips around, his attention tracks the ball, his eyes darting around the field as he holds up his sword.
Bolting forward with a jump, he slices down, cutting the snowball before it ever hits the ground.
Running up from behind, Hallow jumps forward.
Futo's eyes widen as Hallow holds his gun up.
As though jumping off the air, he dodges the first shot. Lunging at Hallow, he manages to stab Hallow.
Grabbing the blade with his open hand, Hallow grins as blood spills through his teeth. "Game over." With three water pressure shots, the bullets rip through Futo's head.
A click sounds as his core pops out.
Keeling over, Hallow catches his breath, wincing as he holds the wound.
"Coffin, we did it! We won!"
"You really are a good person. In such an awful and unjust world, I'm just glad to have someone so kind, someone so..."
Lurking behind him, I pull the hammer back.
"... Gullible."
Hallow's eyes widen, whipping around, he's met with a frozen gun barrel.
*BANG!*
"But, if nothing matters, that includes you."
The ice freezes his brain into a splintering icicle. It shatters like glass as his corpse hits the floor.
With a pop, the blue fuse in his core jumps out, slowly reeling in by its fleshy wire.
The timer clicks down:
5...4...3...2...1
Sirens blare. "Match over!"
"Results: Winner, one... Coffin."
Standing there, the wind rips through the field as my body trembles, but it's not due to the cold... It's this feeling.
Seeing their corpses on the ground, I stand there empty.
Their hands were outstretched, with their fingertips touching the trophy, yet I have cut off their hands and stole victory simply for the act.
They fought so hard to win, they wanted the prize so badly.
Yet here I stand, with no desire for such petty prizes.
I have been given a far better prize.
A grin widens on my face as I fail to hold in my excitement.
I am a void, having no direction or purpose, so why does it feel so good to steal theirs?
...
What am I saying?
Stealing their purpose?
Walking back to the tele pads, I'm brought back to the main area.
With defeated expression, the pair of Raze breakers give me a respectful handshake.
"Well played, you two."
Meanwhile, Hallow has tears of frustration in his eyes.
Once we are back to the main area, he walks in the opposite direction without saying a word.
Maine stands before me with an approving nod. "Congratulations." He unlatches the chest piece from the armor and hands it to me. "I look forward to seeing what you do in the future, Coffin."
The feeling isn't gone.
Taking the armor, I make my way toward Hallow as he sits there with dried-up tears.
Standing before him, he slowly raises his head to look up at me.
"You played well today, Hallow." I scoff. "You're a far better shot than me, and you're definitely more skilled, so... take it," I command as I hold out the armor.
His eyes widen. "What? But why? I- I betrayed you?"
Giving him a closed-eyed smile, I tilt my head. "I told you, I wanted to win... together. Plus, you got the last kill, so it's only fair that it should be yours."
A smile widens on his face as he reaches out. "Really?"
"But..." My pupils constrict as I grab the collar of his suit. "... don't ever turn your back to me again." Leaning in, I whisper. "This armor might even the odds, so take this commiseration trophy as your hard... earned... victory. Just remember, it doesn't matter how many times it takes, I will crush your meaning, squander your purpose, I will kill you in your entirety and do so with a smile."
His eyes widen before I release him.
Walking away, I join the crowd as they watch the monitor; it seems the second match has already started
The display doesn't show much besides a camera positioned in the main area and a map of the terrain with red and blue dots representing the current teams.
One of the cameras shows my classmates standing out in the open. A blood-curdling scream is heard off-screen. Their eyes widen as they now aimlessly hold up their gun.
In the next moment, a colossal broad sword flies into their stomach, pinning them into a nearby tree as they cry out.
An untraceable figure darts and dodges my classmate's futile last stand as they attempt to fire.
Lunging forward, the figure impales the face of their target with their golden clawed gauntlet.
Finally stopping, the figure yanks the sword from its impaled target. With a dripping hand stands Salem, she's hunched over with a thousand-yard stare.
My classmates' chopped body falls to the ground with a splat.
Another scream sounds, moments after her teammate slashes down at her.
It seems Somnia was right about the Raze Breaker's knack for friendly fire.
Salem side steps the slash with minimal effort. Like a rabid animal, her teammate turns its neck, attempting to bite her.
Without ever seeing the strike, Salem now has her blood imbued gauntlet inside her teammate's neck. Suspending them in the air, she temporarily holds their esophagus before crushing it.
Her eyes dart to the side, throwing her teammate's corpse into the bushes, revealing the third attacker's position as they jump back.
Yanking her broad sword from the tree, she throws it like a hatchet.
It spins before impaling the third attacker, splitting their head in two.
As the cores revive their hosts, Salem continues to continuously slaughter them all.
With a score of 3 - 0, it was a flawless victory for Salem, and Salem alone.
She is teleported back, everyone's eyes widen as they step away from her.
She tilts her head in confusion with an innocent look of concern. "Is everyone alright?" She gasps, "Do I have something on my face?"
Grabbing a handkerchief from her pocket, she smears the blood on her face.
Her eyes widen. "Is that blood?" Looking down at her body, she still has that look of innocent confusion. "Where did all of this blood come from?"
Her teammate is teleported back, scoffing as she pats her on the shoulder. "Sorry about that, I think I tried to kill you, Salem."
She giggles, "No worries, I get it, I barely remember the match."
It seems team killing has been normalized for them.
Like the grim reaper, the rattling golden chains of her firefighter jacket jingle as Salem begins walking over.
I'm not sure if I should run or beg.
She holds up her bloodied gauntlet.
The red gloves look like they're made of leather, as to whether they were always red or if it became stained that way left me concerned. Despite being drenched in blood, the gold shines through.
Wincing, I prepare for death.
"Nice win, Coffin."
Pausing, I look at her with confusion, her white bodysuit has become splattered with red stains.
"Oh...yeah." Meeting her handshake, I nod with concern. "You too."
Her sunflower smile beams at me, as though she didn't just massacre three people like a living blender.
"Well, I'm not really sure what happened, but I'm glad to see you are no longer suicidal." She gives me her warm smile for a moment before jolting forward with wide eyes. "I'm so sorry! That sounded wrong. I just meant, you looked so happy!" Profusely bowing, she apologizes, the short braided bangs jingle as the bell attached to them shakes.
What is up with this girl? "Uh... don't sweat it, you're right. I'm feeling much more...optimistic."
She beams at me once more. "That's great to hear!" Clenching her fist, she gives a very cute expression of determination, contrasting the blood dripping from it. "I'm going to be a pro Pioneer- well, I already was, but for some reason I lost that title. I just know that if I continue being a kind and honorable person, I will achieve my dream once more."
"...well, I wish you luck."
Those damn red thigh highs, why do they overflow like that?
"Um...Coffin? Is there something down there?"
"OH! No, I was just-" I was just wondering if I could rest my head in those thighs for a week. That's what I want to say, but I don't feel like dying again. "Nothing, I too hope to become a pro one day."
She grabs my hand with an excited smile. "Then you can be my rival! Who can become a pro first!" She crosses her arms with a confident smile. "But I warn you, I'm no pushover."
Cautiously, I strain a smile. "Yeah...may the best pioneer win."
The rest of the rounds were pretty evenly matched. Despite the lack of training, our class won half and the Raze Breakers the same.
We all gather around Somnia as she slouched back in a chair, she lazily claps her hands. "i guess congrats on your victories!- at least to those who won."
"What the hell?"
"It's your fault some of us lost."
"You haven't taught us anything."
"Shush, those who won are now my favorite students, the rest of you'd better pick up the pace."
Despite being under the umbrella of her favoritism, it doesn't seem to block out the rain.