Nation 27

CH 15: Whatever Reality This Is, It Isn’t Similar To A Game

[Earlier in the year, before the incident occurred--- 29th May 2021, Saturday…]

“Hello everyone and welcome to the stream!” Jared greeted.

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[[Super chat]] 

[Hey, Jared!]

[Hello! I’m so glad I managed to catch your stream today!]

[Hi, Jared! Is the gang playing today?]

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“Haha~ Yes, both Omar and Nic will join for a special 6 hours challenge!” Jared answered before continuing, “We’ll be playing World Crafter, and the challenge is to see how much we can do within the allotted time. So, we’ll definitely have to go to the End and slay the dragon. But, we’ll try to build as much as possible after that.”

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[[Super chat]] 

[That seems interesting, but what kind of builds are you guys going for?]

[Yeah, is there a theme?]

[Is it on hardcore or normal difficulty mode?]

[Ooo~ Yes, that’s a good question!]

[Are you guys working on a single build or do each of you have to build your own thing?]

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“It will be on hard mode, not hardcore since we plan to have the entire play during the night. So, there will be plenty of mods trying to kill us. Also, we’re using a mod pack that increases the buffs on zombies. Well, to be exact, Omar and I created that mod pack. As far as Nic knows, the mod pack is for shades and textures. I can’t wait to hear him scream~”

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[[Super chat]] 

[Haha. R.I.P]

[Omg! I can’t wait to hear him scream~]

[I’m so going to clip it~]

[Yes! Clip it! Muahaha~]

[Poor Nic, but it’ll be funny though! Ah, I miss watching you guys plan Phobia~]

[Oh my~ Is Jared on his villain arc?]

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“Villain arc? Hm… Who knows?~” Jared teased.

“Oh! By the way, the builds are for each of us to complete within the given time. So, by the end of it, you guys get to vote on which build you like best. The loser will have to wear funny World Crafter skin for an entire week. Oh, and the winner is the one who gets to choose the skin.”

“Oh my, I hope that I win the challenge. I already have the skin saved for the loser~” Omar chuckled into Jared’s headset.

“Ah! You just jumped in without any warning!” Jared exclaimed, “But I’m now very curious to see that skin~”

“Shhh~ You’ll find out later on,” Omar laughed evilly.

“Dude, I’m already at spawn. Where are you guys?” Nic asked.

“We’re coming. Just stay at spawn. There is a small area within spawn that protects you from the mobs’ attacks,” Omar said.

“Okay, got it. Just hurry up!” Nic nagged.

Jared chuckled and logged into the server. Within seconds, his character was transported to the middle of the plains. Void of immediate structures and trees, it was evidently clear that the three of them were completely surrounded by mobs. The only reason the boys were not immediately attacked upon logging in was the fact that they were within the area of spawn. 

“There you guys are! More and more mobs are spawning the longer we’re here! Hurry up and grab your stuff from the bonus chest!” Nic squeaked nervously.

“Don’t worry. We can always tower up,” Omar said assuringly.

“Yeah, but the lag is real! My frame rate is decreasing by the minute.”

“Aww~ What can I say? The mobs just LOVE you~” Omar teased.

“Dude! That is SO not cool! Look at all of the… Wait… Why are there more zombies than usual?” Nic asked with a slight quiver in his voice.

“Huh… No idea~” Omar replied.

“How strange~” Jared said as he strained from laughing out loud.

“That reminds me, don’t forget to place down torches or the mobs will start spawning on our platform,” Omar warned.

“Yeah, I’ve been doing it on the rear end here. Just watch out for any attacks coming from the front,” Jared replied.

“Huh… Although I’ve up the lighting to see in the dark, I can’t really make out all of the mobs…” Nic trailed off as he bridged closer to a hill.

As Nic was more concerned of the mobs below, he was oblivious to the mobs that were inching closer from the hillside. By the time Omar and Jared noticed, Nic had already connected the platform to the hillside.

“Okay, done… AH!” Nic screamed as zombies began to attack him.

Instead of instantly running to Nic’s aid, both Omar and Jared started snickering.

“Guys, this isn’t funny! Come and help me! Ah!!! There’s a baby zombie attacking me! Help… Oh, I got it. It’s just the adult zombies to handle. There shouldn’t be a problem… Dude, why are the zombies so strong? They’re breaking my shield!”

But Omar and Jared only laughed harder.

“DUDE!!! COME. AND. HELP. ME. NOWWW!” Nic screamed.

Feeling that it was enough teasing Omar and Jared rushed to Nic’s aid and killed off the zombies. Despite the amount of damage the zombies caused, the boys were not deterred and continued to tease one another.

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[28th September May 2021, Tuesday…]

[1.10 pm--- Fire escape door that leads to the basement]

Jared inhaled deeply before exhaling softly.

‘Whatever reality this is, it won’t be like World Crafter. One hit, scratch, or bite--- and it is all over. Whether I survive the attack or not, it is going to hurt a lot.’

A random thud was heard coming from the basement and Jared feel a chill go up his spine. His heartbeat quickened. Unconsciously, Jared tightened his grip on the metal rod he carried.

“Jared, just follow my lead and you’ll be alright. If anything, aim from the head and avoid getting bitten at all costs,” Louis warned.

“Yes…”

“Mm. Are you ready?”

“Y-Yes, let’s do this.”

“Good, let’s go in quietly… I just hope that the door doesn’t creak and give us away,” Louis muttered under his breath.

Wincing, Louis slowly opened the door. Fortunately, not a sound was heard. Stifling a sigh of relief, the boys looked around at the large space in front of them. Although the basement was not shrouded in darkness, it was poorly lit and of a pale green hue.

‘Is the green hue from the light or is that the paint and floor tiles? …Why do I get the feeling that the people here are obsessed with the color green?’ Jared wondered as he squinted at the closest source of light which was about 30 meters away.

Louis lightly tapped Jared’s shoulder to get his attention before pointing toward the left side of the basement. Jared nodded and followed closely behind Louis.

‘I wonder what made that thud sound earlier… It seems very quiet and empty here. I don’t think it was a zombie, so could it be a rat or something?’ Jared thought as he surveyed the vast space around them. 

Preoccupied with his thoughts, Jared bumped straight into Louis.

“Oof-” 

Fortunately, the bump did not cause both boys to fall over as Louis simply steadied himself by placing a hand against the wall.

“Careful… We’re here,” Louis whispered so softly that Jared was initially unsure if his friend said anything at all.

Not waiting for an answer, Louis proceeded to open the door and Jared took a sharp intake of breath. Although the food storage room was in complete darkness, the dim lighting from the basement gave a little illumination to the contents that lay within the room.

There were crates upon crates of food--- at least from the signages and logos displayed--- stacked up in the room for as far as the eye could see. There were even medicines, first-aid kits, clothes, and bed linens.

‘This is enough to sustain us– I mean, everyone, for an entire year. That should give us time to scavenge for more food and start up a garden… It’ll depend on what we’ll have access to…’

Louis took a few steps forward and looked around. Then much to Jared’s horror, Louis took a small capsule bottle from an opened first-aid kit and tossed it a few feet in front of them. In the deserted basement, the capsule clanked loudly.

Feeling cornered like a caged animal, Jared backed up against a wall and looked around the vast space of the basement for any sign or movement from zombies. 

But nothing happened.

Seconds passed to minutes, yet there was no disturbance. It would appear that the boys were all alone.

Sighing in relief, Jared scowled at Louis who merely shrugged and smiled sheepishly. Jared then shoved Louis lightly while his friend chuckled softly.

“Come here. Help me with this,” Louis spoke softly as the boys slowly lifted a crate of food towards the entrance of the door.

***

On the other side of the basement, hiding within the shadows, there were two figures huddled in a corner. They have watched the two boys sneak into the basement and towards the food storage area. 

The figures have snuck into the basement through an old, rusty vent a couple of weeks back. As far as the figures were concerned, the basement was as good as abandoned--- or at least they hoped it was.

The smaller figure of the two gripped tightly at the blanket they were covering themselves with.

“Brother, what should we do?”

“I don’t know, but they’re only boys. I’ll approach them, and you stay here.”

“No, please don’t… What if they’re dangerous?”

The bigger figure watched Jared and Louis in the distance.

“Then I’ll kill them.”