HannahWhat would I do when I'm bounded by deadly choices? I'm just a kid who wants to be with mom. My sister has already chosen my dad despite that it was breaking my mom's heart, and now, Jimmie was pressuring me to side with him...at the expense of my mom. What would I do then? Hannah was fidgeting her fingers while she was thinking. Without the Outsiders knowing, without Carsen knowing she's in trouble now, deep inside. Weeks ago, Jimmie's boundless have got her mom, though the Outsiders promised her that they would locate and rescue her mom but still she can't be complacent with that. Yeah, she's got the ability but her dad has got the resources and he can hide her mom away from her in places she can't find, even with the help of the Outsiders. " Hannah are you okay?" It was Carsen. His voice had interrupted her thoughts. Hannah forced a smile on her face and nodded. Carsen of course felt that something is bothering the girl deep inside. He asked Hannah but the girl was av
Flashback to the first game dayLizie falls wailing on the floor. The players were hesitant to comfort her for they don't know how. Of course, they know how Lize and Jair loved each other. "You!" Lizie rose and wiped her tears and pointed at Carsen. There's blame in her tone. " You! What kind of Emanator are you? huh? You're supposed to be greater than us...newly elected Chairman of Life!" Lizie hissed at Carsen. There's mockery in her tone when she uttered the word Chairman. Carsen lowered his head and sighed. He knows that Lizie is just emotional right now and it's valid. " Lizie...stop---" " No!" Lizie yelled at Janesi who was trying to wean her. " I'm correct! Right?" Lizie continued. There was bitterness in her tone. " All our lives since this f*** new world order has taken effect we have been battling for survival and we have placed so much hope on him!" Lizie pointed to Carsen again. " We have hoped much when he finally got the chairman position from that Jimmie m
Carsen and TalynI never wanted to be a hero. They all just expected me to be one. Sometimes when you have greater abilities than the rest, they will hail you and placed you higher but when you failed their expectations, they're not gonna embrace you at your weak moment. I guess, this time I want nothing. Yeah, I don't want anything. I don't know what I wanted anymore. I just wish my mother is here, perhaps her words will be better than those I've been hearing from the humans. Carsen thought to himself. He sighed and prepared to nap. His belly is heavy for consuming much meat, and he feels sleepy. " So is this all what you've been doing?" Carsen rose from his sleep when he got disturbed by a voice. He couldn't be mistaken. It's Talyn. " You disappeared from the world only to eat and sleep here?" Talyn's tone sounds like an older siblings that's ranting. Carsen frowned. " How did you found me?" he asked. He turned to Sareash who gave him an apologetic smile. Carsen darted a
" Hello, girl on fire...I've been waiting to meet you again. I heard your players now turn into bandits. C'mon, where's the glory on that huh?" Saskia's words were full of mockery. " I don't have time to talk to you!" Lizie answered with gritted teeth. And she began to unleash her fire. Saskia blocked it with Halvar's abilities. Lizie almost forgot that he's the boundless guy who doesn't use melody as a weapon yet he's more deadly. Damn is this a trap? Lizie thinks. Lizie immediately draws out her daggers and ignites fire on them. She needs to get ahead at Saskia before he could use his Halvar ability on her for she knows that when he does, she'll be no match for it. She clearly remembers how they were played on when he trapped them into his own timeline during the game. That can't happen again. So, before he could use his time manipulation ability, she need to knock him down first. Lizie circled warily in front of Saskia. Saskia scoffed. He too pulled a dagger. Saskia grow
Lizie and Janesi exchanged glances at each other. Now that they got tricked with the commodities they have robbed this means they'll be forced to join in the game for the sake of having supplies or else the oldies and kids, and the rest of the vulnerable in this village will die in the game. " Should we have another robbery--?" I think no...it's obvious that Saskia tricked us. That means they already know our doing!" Lizie said. Now, she gets why Saskia just fight her with a dagger, why he didn't use his boundless ability. They wanted us to feel that we were winning...damn it! Lizie thinks. " Pick those who can fight somehow and let's train," Lizie ordered. The villagers were sad when they heard it. Training? That means they will be joining in the game -- again. And there's no guarantee they could go back here alive. It's a risk. Well, everything here now since this second apocalypse was a risk. They need to risk hijacking trucks to have food, to not join in the game, or they
Carsen was sighing in protest against the chill of dawn while dreaming. East of Shawlawn, on the western shore of Lake Putrid, he is positioned on a plateau. Why would he be waiting in such a location? Suddenly, a massive phagophore spots him. Sand is stirred up as the ferocious animal charges. But that's okay! Carsen is used to this scenario. He's used to being exposed to the dangers of death, and a glimpse of life outside the mundane, sedentary, and perpetually frustrating routine. He lacks a weapon, though, to combat the warthog. "Why do I arrive here unprepared and untrained, and fear prods me." he thinks. The warthog is closing in during this time. Carsen can still picture the switchblade he once sewed inside his jeans.But he long ago tossed those garments away. It's amusing how poorly he can recall the celestial name for warthog. He hears the group yelling "Watch out!" as they run away from him and into a safe area. Run! A warthog, that is! Carsen has no hope of fleeing b
Usiu and CarsenThe warthog was actually not a threat. Usiu just used that animal to push Carsen to witness what he needed to, here in his dreamland. But now that Carsen had realized he was being intruded on in his dream, that this isn't a reality, he's more determined to kill the Warthog. But it can't be! If the warthog will be destroyed, chances are they both might get trapped in here. The warthog was the key, and the guide here as they both dream walk in Carsen's dream. " You'll pay for this!" Carsen screamed. Usiu heard Carsen's scream from where she was hiding. What will I do? If I'll show myself to him, he'll get mad at me...Hmp! Whatever!And Usiu exudes a force, he again placed the warthog in his control. The warthog growled at Carsen. It dived at him. Carsen landed his back on the ground. He wrestled with the warthog. In this dreamland, he's at his weakest. And he's got no choice but to deal with this beast like he was a human. He groaned as he exerts his best effort.
Talyn "Look what we got here! An angel that had fallen from nowhere! A boundless being to be sacrificed for this game!" Usiu?Talyn felt something pinching in her heart telling her that something isn't right, and it was Usiu who first came to her thought. Has he come out of the dreamland? She asked herself. "How would I know that you're already out of the dreamland?" "When you hear me singing my song," But Usiu isn't yet singing his song. Talyn thinks as she recalled their deal. MeanwhileThe size and massive structure of the stadium were overwhelming. Though there were only a few audiences occupying the row seats, still the entire game area was giving an anxious vibe. Who would not? This wide game area isn't for entertainment but this is more of a death row. The audience' scream pierces through the players' ears. Their disrespectful, merciless words add to the tension which the players felt. In the wide floor arena are several groups of players. One of them is Lizie's team.
Everything in the cosmos has become a void. Almost a third part of it has fallen into blackness and emptiness. At this moment, Prime had been transported back to planet Earth but nothing was left in there. This planet has been long in desolation but this time it is very different, even dreadful, even emptier from the previous. Perhaps this is the earth's worst state. The planet has come into the void, and what was left were just vast barren, dry lands. There's not even a single drop of water. The planet is no longer the blue planet, the life-sustaining, and Prime knows that it would be just an hour before this entire land would disappear, and this planet would turn into just -- "a darkness", like those what happened in the cosmos. Seeing the planet's most devastating state, seeing its travail, and dying state, Prime couldn't help but be overwhelmed by emotions. He's late. There's not even a single life he had caught in here when he arrived, and that's so disappointing. Remorse, yeah, h
The High Council's realm is a serene scenery. It is so beautiful that it gives the beings there a sense of peace. It also has a kind of vibe that will make anyone feel in awe and somehow hesitant. But Prime Emanator has been used in this place. He no longer felt any intimidation. He moved inside. His steps were sure to where he was going -- to the Council hall. When he arrived there, he was met by a group of creatures in their human-like figure, yet their aura tells they aren't humans. "Oh, so gate did not reject you!" one of the Council commented. "We can see that you are now completely back, Emanator," one said. Prime ignored their comments. He has no time for that. "I bet you all know why I'm here," he said. The council who were sitting at the center seat raised his eyebrow for Prime's snobby attitude. "Careful, know where you are and who you are talking to," said the council. Prime scoffed, " I wonder if you still could act like high and mighty when all of us here got w
The stability of the planet was just a temporary relief but it was never the cure to what Earth is going through right now. Today is another menial day for the people. Some were bustling down the streets. At least now, though in a short time, city streets had become alive, again. Though there were remains of ruined buildings, at least the streets are no longer ghost towns. People are starting to go out and live their normal human lives. Friends and families gathered for a common work, for a meal, while the rest of humanity are beginning to get up again. It was particularly interesting to watch everyone having life in these busy streets, some walking busy, some walking leisurely, they're the symbol that the planet is now recovering. "This is disheartening to see," Talyn whispered. She was there in the side street, observing, and perhaps guarding. Usiu didn't reply for he felt the same way too. These humans didn't know that the peaceful lives they were enjoying now were just tempora
"So, how would I achieve that kind of state?" Carsen asked Tadhiel. He flexed his grip and his Mithril came out. Tadhiel clicked his tongue, " That's not just that," he muttered shaking his head. Carsen's brows furrowed, "What then?" he asked. "The battle you'll be in in the next days no longer needs combat, but it will be a battle of abilities, of powers. If you really want to stop the Vilgroi, you need to surpass him," Tadhiel explained. Then, his gaze trailed at Carsen from head to toe. " Aside from that the High Council will reject you, you won't win against the Vilgroi with that state of yours, so human, or a superhuman? No," Tadhiel stated. Carsen sighed, "Okay, so what are we going to do here?" "I will guide you in tapping into your full state as Prime Emanator," Tadhiel said. "Uh, but wait, erasing my humanity would that mean I'll forget all my memories as Carsen Adams?" he asked. Tadhiel chuckled, "No, you're not like the Vilgroi, that thing happens only when on
The gathering of all the gems in the pillar was the collapse of the entire game world. Because of that, no game realms would exist on planet Earth no matter how powerful the Vilgroi and his boundless are. Carsen and the Outsiders made sure of that. With the help of the supplies and lands they personally cultivated, and together with those gems, the Outsiders were able to at least restore the planet's vegetation a little. Such a thing has a big impact on human lives for that means, now supplies, food and all the basic necessities they need for living would no longer be denied of them. For a little time, the world was back to its normal state where the people's lives had been lived normally like before Jimmie Vaughn rose to power. However, Carsen Adams, and the Outsiders, know that this isn't the end yet, that there's still a threat out there, and perhaps there will be until the Vilgroi is alive. "It's like there's an eternity in each sound in this moment here in this farm," Uncle Br
Now Carsen is on his way to the trail to the pillar to collect the last gem he needed on it, the cruxible. "This is perhaps the last time I will be helping you dude," Takii said to Carsen. "I'm already quite obvious to the other hunters." Carsen tapped Takii's shoulder, " It's fine, bro, thanks for this anyway," he said. "But if I may ask, the game hunters, what are they?" Takii's brows furrowed, " What do you mean, what are they?" "What are they? Like are they like you? A human?" Carsen asked. Takii laughed, " Of course, but unlike the players, we weren't given choices to side with. Our allegiance must be with Jimmie Vaughn alone, and what I'm doing now would certainly risk my life." Carsen sighed, " This is the last time you'll going to be doing this anyway," he muttered. The trail to the pillar is extremely dangerous compared to the others he has gone to. Takii told him that it was a different world there beneath the portal, yet he needed to accomplish it all in a design
" I'm opening the cell gate now, master, but I can't guarantee your powers will work out fine when you guys come out," Talyn informed Carsen. They were still communicating through telepathy. "It's okay, Tal, I don't have time to play this game, can you give me some information about those voices we heard in our headphones?" Carsen asked. Talyn swiped the large monitors in front of her, and as she did so, certain images popped out on the hologram screen. She was quite surprised to see who were those. "Uhm..master based on the voice recognition here, it's Adeleum and Mihr," she told Carsen. "Adeleum? Mhir?" Carsen muttered. "Mihr?" Usius interrupted when he heard what Carsen had just uttered. Carsen turned to him and asked, " Yeah, why?" Usiu's eyes gleamed at the recognition of an old friend's name. Yeah, how could he forget such a name? Mihr and he grow up together in their realm. He was a childhood friend. Mihr even learned first to sing than him. He used to look up at hi
Carsen's eyes lit up as he sensed the Adeleum and Mihr's arguing. Although it isn't clear to him who's the creatures behind manipulating them into this game, he could sense right now, that whoever is behind this, they're not on good terms. My ability is working despite the unknown. Now, what I needed to know was to learn who are the boundless behind this! Sadly, I can't communicate with Talyn. Carsen thought to himself. The cell gate sounded again. This time, the game soldiers are fetching another player. The players hold their breath, expecting that one of them will be chosen to face their death. "It's now your turn, doctor!" Todd was startled at what he heard on his headphones. His face went pale in fright. He looked around as if asking for help from his fellow players but he knew that they couldn't. Todd looked back at his co-players when the game soldiers took him. Meanwhile, Dizal banged the cell in frustration. "We must get out of here!" he muttered. He then turned to C
The cell gate opened. The players all hold their breath anxiously. This time, the first one to play was called. It was Jair. Hearing that, Lizzie broke out in tears and begged she'd replace him instead but the operators were too deaf. It's unusual this time that there aren't any explanations or rules given before they were called out, before the start of the game. The more reason that the players get nervous. They wonder about the uncertainty, and they know its possible danger so it's scaring them. The rest of them remained quiet, while others had violent reactions. Like Lizzie who was crying on the floor now, and Dizal who was hitting the cell door and cursing at the cameras above them. While Carsen on the other hand just sits calm, thinking in the corner. "Urgghh!!! Let us all out of here!" Dizal was screaming. He tried to throw some force field on the cell bars but it just bounced. The prison cell where they are held is indeed resistant to their ability as Carsen said. Aside from