Blood and Strategy
* * *
Yunji, Jake, and I stood inside the now-empty class 2-1.
As I looked around the room, the reality of the situation hit me. This was no longer the world we knew, and the stakes were incredibly high. Just then, a new timer popped up on my system window.
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[System Notification]
Round 2 will begin in 1 hour.
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"We've got some time to strategize," I said, glancing at the timer. "Round 2 will probably involve unifying this floor, the second floor."
After the first round ended, we tried to go through the middle hallway connecting the left and right corridors, but it was blocked off by some invisible wall.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "We managed to take over the right-side corridor of this floor rather peacefully," I continued, looking at Yunji and Jake.
"But the left side might be a different story. Every time someone kills, they earn 10 karma. The survivors there could be a lot more powerful than we think."
Yunji nodded, seeming to understand the problem. "So, even if we have more people, their soldiers are probably stronger. That's going to be a challenge."
"What if we try to unify peacefully, just like we did here?" Jake suggested, sounding hopeful.
Yunji looked worried, her brow furrowed in concern. "If they've already killed to unify their side, they'll do whatever it takes to stay in power. They won't agree to anything peaceful," she said, her voice tinged with anxiety.
"But we do have a gun right? There shouldn't be a problem!" Jake suggested, sounding hopeful.
I shook my head, considering the implications. "It's not that simple," I replied. "They might have increased their vitality stats. If they're too fast, I might not be able to shoot them in time. And my gun, as powerful as it is, isn't a guaranteed solution."
The room fell into silence again as we each pondered our next move. We knew we had to act carefully, but time was ticking away, adding pressure as we tried to devise a plan to handle the potentially dangerous opposition waiting on the other side.
The thought of facing another class with potentially ruthless leaders was daunting, but I knew we had to be prepared for whatever came next.
* * *
In a blood-soaked classroom, three men stood trembling in line. The room was a gruesome sight: the floor was littered with corpses, and the walls were splattered with crimson stains. They shivered in fear as they faced a man sitting nonchalantly on a table, his gaze fixed out the window. His school uniform was stained a deep red, as if it had always been that color, and he held a dagger, its blade dripping with blood.
"J...Jack," one of the men stammered. "We said we surrendered. You unified the left corridor, right? Why did you have to kill everyone?"
Jack, sitting with a sinister calmness, turned his head slowly to face them. His eyes gleamed with a malevolent light. "Why, you ask?" he said, his voice dripping with menace. "Because it was fun!"
He leaned forward, a twisted smile on his face. "Every time you kill someone, you get 10 karma. Using that, you can increase your stats. And—and!" His grin widened. "It's like a fucking game!"
Before the three could react, Jack vanished from his spot. Panic surged through the men. The one in the middle barely had time to comprehend what was happening when he heard a sickening thud. He turned to see the head of the man next to him roll onto the floor, blood spraying from the neck.
"Wha—what?!" the middle man screamed in terror.
Before he could even process the scene, the head of the man on the other side fell to the ground in a splatter of blood. The remaining man's screams grew more frantic. Jack reappeared directly in front of him, his expression cold and triumphant.
"Guess how many people I killed?" Jack taunted, his voice echoing with dark glee. "I killed 110 people! That's 1,100 karma!"
The terror in the remaining man's eyes was palpable as he realized the brutal reality of their situation. Jack's ruthless actions were not just about domination; they were a perverse game, and the stakes were life and death.
"And guess what?" Jack said, I put all my karma into stat points and put them all into Vitality!!! So my speed is insane!!! Wanna know what my Vitality stat is? It's 70!!! I'm basically moving at the speed of sound!!!"
In an instant, Jack vanished again. The remaining guy stared in horror, his breath catching in his throat as he saw his own body from an unnatural angle. 'Huh? How am I seeing my own body...?'
The realization hit him like a freight train. He felt a cold, searing pain and the sensation of his head no longer being attached to his body. A
s his vision darkened, he understood the grim truth. His head had been severed from his body, leaving him to die in terror and disbelief.
* * *
I sat at the table, staring out at the crimson sky. The world had become a grim, unfamiliar place, with the sun long vanished from view.
The silence in the room was heavy, filled only by the distant sounds of chaos from the corridors. My mind was focused on the coming battle, strategizing for what was to come.
Yunji walked in, her face set with determination. "I told everyone to buy knives just as you instructed," she said, her voice steady.
"Good job," I replied, acknowledging her effort. The room fell into silence for a moment.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. "How much time is left until the next round?"
She checked her watch. "About 20 minutes."
"Alright," I said, "when the fight begins, I want you to stay in class 2-4."
Yunji's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! I need to help you. I can't just sit here while you're out there fighting."
I shook my head firmly. "No, Yunji. I don't want you to die. It's too dangerous."
"But I can't just run away!" she protested. "I can't leave you to face this alone. I want to help."
The concern in her eyes was palpable, and her determination was admirable. "Yunji," I said, my tone softening, "this isn't about bravery. It's about survival. Class 2-4 is the safest place. It's far from the middle hallway connecting to the left side corridor. You'll be out of harm's way there."
Her eyes met mine, and I could see the frustration and fear battling within her. "But… I can't just abandon you," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I've always been there for you, and I want to be now."
I took a deep breath, knowing that her stubbornness came from a place of deep care. I hesitated, my mind racing through memories.
Yunji had been a part of my life since we were children. When my parents died, her family had been my refuge. They took care of me, offered me solace, and provided a sense of normalcy in the midst of tragedy.
"You're not abandoning me," I said gently. "I need you to stay safe. If something happens to you… it would be like losing a part of my own past. I can't bear that."
Yunji's face softened, her eyes glistening. She took a step closer, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and affection. "I… I understand. But if you really need me to stay here, then I'll do it. Just promise me you'll come back."
I nodded, a small smile playing on my lips. "I promise."
She gave a small, relieved smile, and I could see the resolve in her eyes.
And the time finally came, and the two corridors were finally connected.