Chapter 10 - Let's Begin

Let's Begin

"Are we going to stand here forever?" Albert sensed the tense air and asked the team leader. He did not mind that one of the players was not suitable for a perfect team however in his eyes they should not keep blaming things and wait for the worst. The Level compilation time was running on their heads. It was in-game time including their recesses between the game continuances.

Albert was wearing paint on his face for hiding the identity. His head was bald which he especially did for creating his character design. In real identity he has long hair. His clothing sense was also weird. There were weeds printed on the shirt and pants. Mace in his hand looked a perfect combination of appearance and weapon. His tone was not overbearing or haughty. Jake found him interesting player because Albert did not once sneaked his right arm. 

Being head of the team; Junan distributed professions among the players. There were only seven professions available. Jake was not happy however he cannot refuse the allotment of the Thief profession. The others got the professions according to their choice of weapons though the professions were entirely different from the skills sets usually available in other games.      

"Sure as hell; we need to move." Junan shook his shoulders. There was nothing noticeable other than his concern for the level one success or failure. It was understandable for Jake. "They told us to clear this ruined district. So be sure to use appropriate weapon and means for this purpose. There are two teams other than us and I am not bit of wishful about their interests. Everyone should keep alert and active. If you notice something off immediately inform the other team players." Junan gave general advise as to how they will be proceeding as team. 

"I have played several games where I used close to hundred skills and appeared victorious. Here we have only weapon and the limited controls. I am sure some retarded planned this game." Albert shook his head seeing the dull ground ahead. There were some broken colonies and most part of the district rustling with the wind and the creepers. 

Some of the broken houses lost their original paint and they looked yellowish and green. Algae perhaps invaded half part of the district. They were on much distance else they would not have taken it algae. Small green snakes were crawling on the left part of the abandoned district. Junan moved toward the left part in hope to search the hidden dangers and then clear this part. He was fairly going along with the normal method of clearing any in-game place. Here it was slightly different. The first level solely was designed for the Hidden Python. 

Anyone who reached the den of the Python and killed would succeed next level. It was so that the Python had been hiding in the abandoned district and eventually learned how to deceit the players. The team was heading toward the left part and the crawling snakes stopped moving. Now they looked fairly similar of algae unless someone observe for long time and discern the difference. Junan was not the one to consider such gesture. 

For him it was another leveling game with clichés of the developers' braining. Jake was walking behind them and looking at the ground. The ground as they proceeded toward the said part was changing its texture. There feet were getting the drops of the dewdrops but instead of feeling normal; the liquid was leaving some marks as if the skin was getting harmed however a very slow process. 

It began after they decided to move toward the left part of the district. The other players were focusing on the broken colony present in front. The distance was decreasing. The crawling snakes held their poisonous breaths because the human players were coming to bother. Every snake was few inches long however their poison was extremely harmful. As they moved Jake got the notification of the system. 

"Warning: you are entering the Dead Breath Area. The player can easily get poisoned by mere few breaths in this range. Walking here is dangerous. You should use the thick cover on your face or eat the grass roots." Jake immediately looked around whether any other player was giving attention to him. He was not sure if others could also see the visual screen or not. 

"Wait here…" seeing that the team players were moving forward Jake yelled his lungs out. They halted their steps immediately thinking that perhaps the little kid found something important. Jake saw them and ran back from where the system pointed the right place. He stooped over it and dug out the grass roots. Jake started stuffing the grass roots. The team players were in dazed after a series of other expression reeling in the flow. It was the last of it when they saw him stuffing the roots of the grass. 

"Is he gone mad? What even his intentions are?" Junan frowned seeing the sight in front of him. "He seemed hungry?" Albert rubbed his chin. They have zero understanding of the situation which was more like dumb actions of a kid. They walked toward Jake and stood near. "Can you tell the reason behind your actions?" Junan plainly stressed on each word. His temples were throbbing; it was due to the poison because he was leading in front and already stepped in the threat range. 

"Seniors I felt the strong smell of poison near the broken colony so I ran back. For pocket money I work in the chemist shop and know about some of the poisons." Jake straightway lied with the stuffed mouth. He was bending over the ground and looking at them after stuffing his mouth with the grass roots. He cannot care what they were thinking because his life would fade and he would lose the game too. The poison was slowly working. It was silent yet deadly killer. He was sure now that the first level might become the morgue of many players.