In Game: Survive or Be Killed

13: UNDERGROUND BATTLEFIELD

Ashtria was still holding her chest and take a deep breath. She was overthinking that her Aunt might know something about her parents but she must not act recklessly. From what she saw, the man with her aunt might be one of the nobles in this kingdom. If she will try to drag her out, her life might be in danger, especially since the guards at her back have sharp senses and looks like skilled and professional fighters. 

She can't do anything but move her feet away from the wooden house slowly and walk back to where she left Lucas and Sanya. She was now walking and tried to find Lucas and Sanya but couldn't find them. She tried finding them for an hour already but couldn't find them and just decided to leave at the black market. 

She was walking and her feet brought her to a peaceful and eerie place where only dead trees and dead flowers can be seen. Crows were flying and were making noises but Ashtria didn't bother them.  

She takes a seat on the ground and lets out a heavy sigh. After seeing her aunt and wearing her mother's favorite necklace, she felt like her heart was torn into pieces. She misses her mother and so is her father, it's been years already but for her, it was just like days after that happened. 

Tears started dripping from her cheeks and crying silently to release the pain she felt once again after remembering her parents' death that she didn't even see their dead bodies. Remembering when she left at their nipa hut and leave her dada alone fighting the knights and guards of the new king of the Creshtian Kingdom. She doesn't know what to do or whether she will continue her life as she doesn't have anyone on her side anymore. She only has herself at this time. 

Ashtria slowly bowed her head and hide her face to her knees, embracing herself in a wide dead grassy land. Cold wind touches her skin, the crows flew away from the place while still making noises. 

Lucas and Sanya on the other hand were still finding Ashtria and their feet brought them to a silent place. Both of them were hesitant to head inside but they'll never know if they try finding her there until Sanya heard a woman crying. She take a look at where she heard it and saw Ashtria crying in pain all by herself. Sanya only knows about Ashtria being strong and somewhat cold but after seeing her crying hits different to her. Ashtria needs someone to lean on as well. 

She slowly walks closer and Lucas notice and takes a look at where her sister will go and there she saw Ashtria crying. He was shocked at first but he decided to stay and standing at where he was standing, letting Sanya go to where Ashtria was sitting. 

Ashtria heard footsteps coming near her which made her eyes move and slowly take her dagger out and quickly stand up and point it at Sanya's neck. "M-miss, i-it's me," Sanya stammered and was shaking in nervousness when Ashtria suddenly pointed her dagger to her neck. 

"I-I'm sorry...I mean, sorry," Ashtria said and turn around to wipe her tears. 'This is embarrassing,' she thought to herself and slaps her cheeks hard which made Sanya surprised. "Where did the two of you go?" she asks still turning her back to Sanya. 

"We must be the one to ask you that, miss. You unexpectedly ran off without even telling us!" Sanya scolded her placing her hands on her waist and looking at Ashtria's back angrily. 

Ashtria was surprised after hearing Sanya's voice scolding her. She laugh softly which made Sanya confused, Ashtria turn around to face her and speaks. "I'm sorry, let's go now or we'll be late for the game," Ashtria said and halted after seeing Lucas approaching them. 

"What's on your mind and you suddenly run away?" Lucas asks her in a stern voice. Ashtria just raises her eyebrows without responding to Lucas's question. Sanya teasingly laughs at her brother after what he receives from Ashtria. 

"I guess, miss Ashtria only wanted me and not you, brother~," Sanya said and wink at her brother and quickly followed Ashtria. She quickly hugs her from the back and they both started talking. 

"Yeah, women," Lucas just said to himself and followed the two girls in front of him. 

.

They're now walking on a dark and narrow road with just the three of them. Lucas was now in front, Sanya in the middle, and Ashtria was at the back. 

When they exited the narrow road, they noticed a small lamp that was the only one that gives light to the road. It is surrounded by flying insects, and there are two walls on either side of the area. They also saw a narrow and dark road to the bottom, as well as a staircase with only darkness at the bottom. The descent has an eerie feeling to it, making Sanya's body shiver. Especially when a gust of cold air brushes against their skin. "It's terrifying," Sanya said.

"This is the entrance to the Underground Battle. I already registered our name there, including Sanya," Lucas said and take the lamp and give them a sign to follow him. Sanya, on the other hand, holds Ashtria's hand while walking and her body was shaking in nervousness. 

"Are you afraid of the battle? You're the one who insisted earlier to go with us, right?" Ashtria asks her and Sanya slowly nods her head as a response. "You're really shaking," Ashtria added looking at Sanya's hand. 

"W-well, I am not afraid of the battle, miss. I am afraid of the dark and, and, and what if there's a ghost will suddenly show in front of us?" Sanya responded quickly walking like a robot out of nervousness and fear. 

"There's no such thing as a ghost, Sanya. Monsters, yeah," Ashtria said and hold Sanya's hand tightly. "Just take a breath, don't be nervous," she added. Sanya nodded her head and breath in until they now come out of the dark hallway. 

When they finally got out, the exit was locked immediately after they stepped into an area surrounded by large walls and a large number of fighters. Some were big and some were thin; Ashtria could sense their dark auras and tell which ones were skilled, but she could also tell which ones were just ordinary humans with no battle experience.

"Please wait for more minutes as the players are still incomplete. When the clock strikes at 6:30 pm, we will start the game with or without them," a woman abruptly speaks, and her voice can be heard through the speakers attached to the tops of the walls.

Ashtria and the others had been waiting for a few minutes when two men began arguing about something. Both were yelling and cursing at each other, but the three were unconcerned until the two men began fighting with their weapons.

The first man charged at the second man and stabbed him in the heart with a knife, causing him to vomit blood. He twisted the knife away from the second man's heart and kicked him, causing him to fall to the ground.

Despite the fact that the second man was now lying on the ground, the man had no sympathy for him. He even kicks him several times with an angry face, and no one tried to stop him. He stepped in his face and kicked him again, causing him to fly towards the wall. The blood of the second man was scattered on the floor, and no one attempted to take his body. The second man has already died.

"T-that's inhuman," Sanya muttered as she looked down at the man on the floor showered with his blood.