There was nothing but the quiet and serene dream that plagued my mind. I wasn't sure what happened last night, if what I saw was real or a dream that followed after the peaceful one.
The last I recall was embracing Art like a pillow as he slept and the loud snorting of Johnny.
It was an unfamiliar sight, what I saw. A wooden-floored stage, drop lights, and long flowy red curtains before me.
"W—Where am I?" came the voice of a man behind me.
As I turned around to see him, I noticed that my once bloodied medical scrub had turned into a suit made of metal.
The confused man wore a clown costume.
All while I was looking around, I gathered my thoughts.
I wanted to make sure if I knew anyone so I looked around: there was no one I was familiar with. Neither Art or Johnny was around.
Johnny, I could let go, for he was grown enough to take care of himself. Arthur, I was worried about. He was too young to be left on his own, that is the plain truth.
Plus, I haven't given him his reward yet.
There were around twenty of us backstage. I peeked through the red curtains but it was too dark to see the audience's face, and I was not to risk my life after that speech Junhan had given. But I could tell the audience were fine men and women as they were dressed in neat tuxes and gowns.
A screen surfaced before all of us.
[Round 1 "You are what you eat" | Main]
[You are each given a role. You cannot act in a way that is unlike your role. The gamemaster is watching. Fulfill your roles accordingly and keep the audience pleased.]
[Compensation: 500 points, saying | Failure: ???, Death]
[The round will begin in 00:09:59]
I stared directly at the interface, chin cupped in palm.
The man from before had begun panicking. "What is this? I didn't kill anyone! Why am I here?"
Another victim of insect-killing. Another one bites the dust, as they say.
A blond young man of maybe seventeen or eighteen stood on a wooden spacer.
"Everyone," he began, "please calm down."
Or so he says. In truth, only the clown was panicking.
All gazes turned to the blond.
He cleared his throat.
"My name is Lucas Fleming, and I am certain I could be of help in this round."
He was wearing a tiger suit, which made it difficult for me to take him seriously.
Everyone's mouth went agape at the sight of such a young man taking the lead.
Honestly, I didn't think much of this Lucas. People could use a leader.
The clothing of Lucas had turned into a robe of a wizard.
Rubbing my chin, I pondered.
Even though the round's instructions were rather simple I knew well enough that I shouldn't underestimate it. I did that once when I thought that those rascals would be safe as long as I was around and the rounds took them away from me.
Not that I cared for people whom I've only known for a day in total. But I appeared during a time where they were vulnerable, I had to take responsibility. I could only imagine what they felt now.
Lucas pressed on his chest.
"Doing this," he said, "will activate your profile. It should appear in an instant."
People pressed on their chests, a mild "whoa" coming from their mouths. Some looked at Lucas with malice before doing so, but eventually became one of those who held him in high regard.
Lucas explained what had appeared before them and what Word was. He only went an inch deep when he explained verbal and non-verbal but had said things even I wasn't aware of.
Anomalies.
"While anomalies are exclusive skills, it is not as exclusive as it sounds since a single skill can be used by more than one user.
"What's more is that, while the power an anomaly gives you is immense, it will always have a worse disadvantage. I guess you could say it's an eye for an eye, a leg for a leg."
Just who was this kid? A runaway of The Federation?
"By the way, anomalies are usually named after titles, often ending with -er.
"As for how to level up your skills, pressing the skill you wish to level up for one second will increase it by one level. For five levels, you must press on it for five seconds. It will, however, use up points. It takes fifty points for one level. "
A crowd had begun to circle around Lucas who stood on a spacer.
I for one was not one of them.
Ending up on the corner of the dim-lit stage amongst old men who had too high of a pride to praise Lucas, I crossed my legs and sighed.
As though my sigh was meant for Lucas, the old man to my right said:
"That boy, actin' all cocky."
"Who does he think he is?"
From one look you could tell that these two middle-aged men who sandwiched me were the type to go home and drink immediately, maybe beat the children and wife.
They seemed to be under the impression that I was like them, preying and spiting on children.
But, in reality, I was too busy with my own problems.
[Points: 4500]
—————
User
↳ Reverie Vickroy Schneider
Attributes
↳ Nurse (Uncommon)
Sayings
↳
Anomaly
↳
Skills
↳ Strength Level 5
↳ Agility Level 3
↳ Endurance Level 6
↳ Word Level 7
—————
I hummed in amusement.
The points I had were a considerable amount. It made me wonder if I could convert into real cash.
For now, I decided to increase my strength.
[500 coins > Strength Level 5 > Strength Level 15]
I didn't have any sayings at the moment so I planned to disregard my Word level, but my instinct told me that I must.
So I did.
[500 coins > Word Level 7 > Strength Level 17]
[Points: 3500]
—————
User
↳ Reverie Vickroy Schneider
Attributes
↳ Nurse (Uncommon)
Sayings
↳
Anomaly
↳
Skills
↳ Strength Level 15
↳ Agility Level 3
↳ Endurance Level 6
↳ Word Level 17
—————
…hm?
Lucas had begun walking towards our little group of drunkards.
"Hello, hello," said Lucas, his voice casual and whiny. "I'm sorry for bothering you all but as we are in the middle of an apocalypse, we would need to ration every manpower we can have, even if this round may not be a combat type. Would it be possible for you to sit nearer to us? It is so we may explain our plan further."
"We don't want to hear it," came the man beside me, not sparing even a glance.
"I'm sure you don't," he said kindly but his voice was laced with venom, turning his head towards my way. "But I'm sure that Reverie would."
My face darkened.
I hadn't been called Reverie in a decade.
I ignored the middle-aged man's remark, "What kind of name is Reverie?" and I trotted towards Lucas's path.
My hands wrapped against his neck.
"Wow, my brother wasn't lying. You do always resort to violence."
"Shut up," I said. "Who are you?"
He gave a conceited grin.
"I'm a Harbinger of the Apocalypse."
[The round will begin in 00:03:32]