Chapter 9: Day 10 – New People

Chapter 9: Day 10 – New People

The group I had killed managed to gather up 20 crystals in total. A pitiful amount. I left very early in the morning. I wanted a brief window to look at the forest in the dark. There was nothing different, but the slimes stood out more with their very slightly glowing blue bodies.

Dawn quickly came as I started grinding away. I left my pack open, not putting the flap over the top, so I could just toss the small crystal marbles in over my shoulder. Maximum grinding efficiency.

I made sure to pace myself as well. After the area was cleared out, move slowly to the next one, manage my breathing. I also kept an eye on the time and my gathering speed. I spent 12 hours gathering crystals and managed a decent rate of around 15 per hour.

When I was done, I had reached 200 slime crystals total. The reason for my faster speed compared to when I was in a group, was that I had spent the entire day grinding away. There was no one to share with either. So, while I was more tired than if I had been with a group and made less overall, it was a reasonable pace for just me.

The main slow down, was having to walk between groups of slimes, not killing them. Killing them was quick enough. I just needed them to come to me on an assembly line.

I made my way back to the gate. I saw people standing on the far side and looking out. I ducked behind a tree and mentally cursed. From what I had seen they appeared to be fairly fresh. Day 10, other people had arrived.

Well at least the bodies from yesterday had been disappeared by the mysterious System that controlled this place. It certainly wasn’t nature. So, there wasn’t a massacre on the other side of the gate. Still, it was annoying. I didn’t want to deal with people right now.

I took a seat behind the tree and waited calmly. There was no need to rush. I would stay out here during the night if I had to. With that thought, I got back up to my feet. This wasn’t a good spot to rest at. I carefully maneuvered my way to the wall while making sure to keep trees between me and the gate.

I made it to the wall and went a bit closer to the gate. I picked a spot behind a tree. A tree could easily conceal a single person, two people would be a lot more difficult. I sat down there and waited. I heard some voices but couldn’t make out the words.

“See, there is nothing out here.” I head a woman say. They must have gotten closer, so I could finally make out what they were saying.

“We need to be careful, this entire place is creepy,” a man said. “We should probably head back.” That confirmed they were new arrivals. I smiled at being right at the 10-day guess. No need to think about my 5-day guess, 100% right all day here.

“What about food, or points. We need to find something, and the secret must be out there. The city has been scouted already,” the woman said.

“And die like the other people who stepped out?” That was quite fast if they arrived today. Very fast, which implied they were far more organized than the group I had shown up with.

“And die in the city like starving dogs, no thank you,” the woman countered. The man let out a sigh.

“Alright, say you are right. Then what should we do. All we have are these useless wooden clubs.” There was a long stretch of silence after that.

“I don’t see anything in the trees or hear anything. You?” the woman asked.

“No, nothing either. Which means we will have to leave the wall. It is getting dark. I don’t want to be out here in the dark. Let’s find a building near the gate and camp there. We can check in the morning,” the man said.

“So up for some adventure,” the woman said.

“Not really, but that plaza is a death trap. Those survivors looked...raw. Almost beast like and starving to death.”Witness the debut of this chapter, unveiled through Ñôv€l--B1n.

“Too bad we don’t have an axe. Wait, there is no dead wood, is there,” the man said.

“No, no dead wood. Put that in the weird and creepy category,” the woman replied.

“Come on, let’s go back and find one of those tombs to sleep in,” the man said.

After that I restocked up on fruit and two new clubs for another 50 points, leaving me only 79. I quickly put everything in my pack and began to leave the plaza. After a short distance from the plaza, I went up to the second floor of a building and changed.

My old shoes and socks were quite ripe. I took the belt off my worn-out khakis and used the belt with my new pants. The material was quite coarse. I frowned at that. I couldn’t tell what it was, but there was a reason why I didn’t buy new underwear after initially feeling the pants.

The synthetic fiber of my underwear had held up far better than the cotton of the khakis. They were also quite ripe, but I needed to bear with them for a while more.

“Hello?” I heard someone call out and looked out the window from the second floor. A worn-down looking man stared up at me.

“Yes?” I asked while scanning the street for anyone else. I didn’t like people coming up to me, not at all.

“Parley.”

“What?” It took me a moment to place the word.

“I want to negotiate.” I looked around but didn’t see anyone else on the street. I considered my options, but it wouldn’t hurt to speak. I was also in a good mood and good condition for a conversation at the moment.

“Alright, come on up,” I said. The man made his way up to the second floor, stopping in the middle of the room while I leaned on the wall next to the window. I just gave him a slight hand gesture to get on with it.

“I want to team up. You clearly know a way to get points. I refuse to die.” What an idiot. He had a club in his hand and was desperate. Each fight meant another risk taken.

“And why would I help you?”

“You probably have to fight something or do something, so half. Half of what I get I will hand over as payment.” I considered that for a long moment. I already knew my decision.

“So, what is happening in the plaza?” I asked.

“The first wave starved to death, none of the people who left have returned. There is complete hopelessness.” I really was lucky with the gate I had chosen. Probably used my luck all up as well. This also meant the monsters out there besides the slimes were no joke, since no one returned.

I made another gesture to go on. He swallowed nervously. “I know everyone who is left and kept watch on the pillars for an opportunity. You purchased clothes.” I nodded at that.

“Alright then half.” I reached into my pack that I had set beside me and pulled out an orange. “Here, a gift to start our partnership.” I tossed the orange to him. I watched carefully as it sailed through the air. He dropped his club to catch it with both hands. That was what I had been going for.

I smiled as he quickly began to rip off the peel to get to the juicy inside. I rushed forward and he scrambled back. But I was upgraded and had a restoration. He was tired from spying all the previous night and had dwindling food and water. I swung the club and he blocked with an arm.

I could hear the familiar crack of a bone break. He let out a cry of pain. He rushed at me as I stepped back. I gripped the club with both hands and thrust it forward. He tried to twist and block, but I managed to jab him in the ribs. The air went out of his chest. Another swing into his head and he was dead on the ground.

“Foolish.” I shook my head.

“Maybe.” I looked up in shock and saw another man enter the room. He was quite large and didn’t look tired at all. He looked around and was taken aback by the body as he recoiled. Then he looked at me and put on a grin. It wasn’t a happy grin; it was a Joker type grin. I had been out maneuvered. Dammit! The first man was a patsy.

“Dammit,” I muttered. He wasn’t like the brute I had to wear down from the group that chased me. But he was clearly fit and in shape. Even with the upgrades it would be a difficult fight. His eyes weren’t sunken, and he appeared confident. I would have to think of a way through this.

This was going to be the toughest fight yet. I could feel it.