Chapter 6 - The Fifth Player

[VenX Gen2300; HP: 10,000]

Zera and her friends watched the enormous beast with its almost depleted health points. Its wings angled in a different direction.

EEEEEEEEEEH!

Fueled by this outcome, Beatrix fired her guns. The bullets were in an endless attack on the monstrous creature.

Yet, her effort was in vain, as the wise thing put up a shield, dodging the rain of bullets that would have ended its life sooner than they anticipated.

"Why wouldn't it just die?!"

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!

It flapped its wings, going in a direction opposite where the friends were running to.

"Well, we wouldn't know for sure. But, right now, I think we need to head for the gate!" Jaspreth barked, his eyes never leaving the lingering monster that continued to screech.

It wasn't flying away from them much as he wanted it to. The sound it was making reminded him of a group call some animal would make.

Muttering a curse, Jaspreth pushed forward, running with his might despite the sand, making it difficult for him to move.

"Um, guys?" Astherielle sounded nervous. She was looking in the same direction as they were and noticed a red dot from afar.

Soon that single red dot multiplied. As if with the ground moving and the crack continuously chasing after them wasn't enough, there was a horde of the same beast that was only moments ago, was hell bent on killing Beatrix, coming speedily towards them.

They all resembled the creature in perfect essence, except for its size. Miniature versions of it came flying from nowhere.

Though the larger beasts didn't regain its health points, it would take them a little while in getting through the small version of itself before they can finally take down the monstrous creature.

"I hate to repeat what has been said, but at this point we have no better choice but to run!" Zera shouted, willing with all her might to make her tired legs work.

'Was this some sort of punishment? For what?'

She tried to think of anything she'd done recently. There was nothing to consider. She'd been trying to do her best to make her father proud. What else could she have done to offend whoever brought them into the game?

EEEEEEEEEEEH!

The unified screech of the small creatures had the four friends to cover their ears. It was proving to be difficult the more they made it towards the gate.

'Was this how that other group felt while we watched them earlier?' Zera couldn't help but wonder.

In her head, it was also just the beginning. They haven't even made it halfway through the stupid game and yet, they already faced such threats in their lives.

But, in line with that thinking, a thought crossed Zera's mind.

What would happen if, hopefully not going to happen, one of them actually dies? Were they capable of dying in the current state they were in?

The idea made her shiver. She couldn't even imagine what to do if that actually happened. One thing was certain: things would never be the same.

Worse; each of them might drift away, abandoning the bond they shared.

Curling her hands into fist, Zera clutched the sword in her hand. She was determined to kill the beast and move on to the next round.

The faster they get to the last level, the better.

"We can't run forever! We need to do something!" Beatrix belted out, firing the guns in rapid succession. The one upside of the weapon in her hand was that it had unlimited shots.

Zera exchanged glances with Jaspreth and Astherielle. They were the strategists in every game-play they had. Right now, they badly need their heads to work on a plan.

"You keep firing that gun, Beatrix! We'll think of some other way to lure the beast out. Once it is depleted of health points, it can die and maybe, maybe!" Japreth heavily put the emphasis on 'maybe'. "This would all be over and we could cross the gate!"

He huffed. His speech slowed his pace a little as he tried to catch some breath.

Talking and running at the same time was not good for each of their health.

"You know!" Astherielle chimed in. "I've been wondering about that fifth spot! The other team before us had only four people, too. When do we meet the fifth?"

Zera pondered on that too, now that Astherielle mentioned it.

Who was the fifth player?

EEEEEEEEEEEEH!

"Z! Duck!" Beatrix called out. Zera lowered her head in time before one of the monstrous beast's minions could scathe her. She wasn't certain if she'll bleed crimson red or if they could even bleed at this rate.

Some role-playing games don't show it.

Zera had to shrug the idea away. There were far more pressing matters they needed to deal with as of the moment. One of which was not to die.

"Who knows?! The fifth player might be from some other team or…" Jaspreth trailed off, shielding his face from inhaling the thick sand that sprayed over them.

"Holy–!" Zera did the same. The momentary assault had them stopping in their tracks.

EEEEEEEEEEH!

The flying creatures sounded close. Zera didn't even want to turn around and check, afraid that she'd be frozen in place if she sees the beast about to outrun them.

Coughing and waving his hand around his face like he was swatting a fly, Jaspreth reached out to help whoever was closest to him.

The ground had stopped shaking underneath their feet, which was a temporary relief.

However, the winged monsters had taken advantage of them falling to the ground, the bloodthirsty monsters encircled their small crew.

Flapping their wings simultaneously above them, the four huddled together, uncertain how to move forward.

"If this is my last day to be alive, I'm grateful to have spent it with you all. I wouldn't have asked for a better company." Beatrix breathed, her voice a little shaky.

No one contradicted her claim, each of them moving closer as they watched the little birds wait for their leader.

The surrounding temperature had turned cold as the friends awaited their demise.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!

It was a triumphant screech. Zera closed her eyes. She couldn't bear to look at what was about to happen next.

EEEEEEE–!

The noise the creature made had Zera opening her eyes once more and her mouth hanging open. Black feathers rained in the sky and a glowing message from the system blared on top of them.

[VenX Gen2300; HP: 0]

Ping!

[Congratulations! You have slain the Stage Boss! You have gained additional damage points]

The four friends looked at each other. None of them understood what just happened. It wasn't until a silhouette landed from the sky.

A glowing samurai sword was in the stranger's hands. The sharp blade had reddish liquid oozing down on it, dripping onto the sand.

Her back was facing them, but Zera was certain that it was a woman, dressed like a ninja. Her long hair was braided behind her, a black ribbon tied on its tip.

When she turned to the four, she gestured a polite bow. Most of her face was covered except for her eyes.

She had the richest bluish eyes Zera has ever seen.

"Who are you?"

"Profile."

[Accessing Profile…]

[Player Name: Nayowmi]

[Gender: Female]

[Player level: Advanced]

[Class: Fighter]

[Affinity: Hawk]

[Mana Points: 3000]

[Attack Damage: 5000]

[Weapon: Samurai sky lv.5]

[HP: 3000]