"Ate!" Frank's voice boomed through the small apartment, his head poking in from the front door. He wore a goofy grin, two bulging plastic bags clutched in his hands.
I, meticulously tidying up, didn't even bother looking up. "What?" I replied.
"Guess what I discovered!" he said, holding up the plastic bags like trophies. Inside, four tubs of ice cream were visible.
"I know," I said, finally turning to face him. "They gave us 20,000 Zech to spend on whatever we wanted."
Frank's face fell, his grin replaced by a look of utter betrayal. "How—"
"Remember that black envelope from yesterday?" I interrupted, giving a smirk. "They left a new one here. That's how I found out about our 20,000 Zech money, the mission system, and the fact that we can earn a lot more by taking on jobs. Oh, and the whole 'badges for completing missions and don't get eliminated' part."
"Ugh, what a pain," Tyler grumbled from the corner of the room, earning a sharp glare from ate Clydelle.
"Indeed," the three of us sighed in unison, a chorus of shared misery.
Just then, ate Clydelle emerged from the bathroom, wiping her hands on a towel. "Come here," she said, her voice dropping into a serious, no-nonsense tone. "Let's have a quick huddle."
Frank, recognizing the shift in mood, quickly went to the kitchen and stashed the ice cream in the refrigerator before joining us.
Ate Clydelle pulled out a small, metallic device and placed it on the table. "Based on Mr. Yabo's announcement, our top priority this week is to earn as many badges as possible so we can move on to the next level."
"I didn't expect it to be this complicated," Tyler mumbled.
"We have no choice," Clydelle stated matter-of-factly. "We're in another world where things are done in complicated ways. Back home, it was all about money, but here, it's about power and some other complicated things."
"I just hope this will end soon," I sighed, leaning my head against the back of the sofa.
Ate Clydelle's stern expression softened slightly. "Don't say that in a depressing way. Lola Naomi has been training us since we were kids. We're ready for this."
"I know I'm a genius and all, but how can they start a tournament if all they have to do is ask for volunteers who want to fight in the war?" Frank asked, his confusion obvious.
Clydelle looked at him, her expression serious. "You don't understand it, do you?"
"Hmph!" Frank grumbled, turning his back on her in a huff.
"They opened this tournament so that participants could develop and surpass their limits," she explained patiently. "Look at how many people have volunteered, but only a few of us passed the test. It's not just about having power to win. They wanted to recruit someone with potential, with a strong commitment and a will to fight. They can't just let those teens risk their lives and die on the battlefield." She paused, her gaze fixed on Frank's retreating back. "They understand that not everyone has the courage and strength to fight." She let the words hang in the air for a moment, and I could see Frank's shoulders tense. "Do you understand the purpose of the tournament now?"
"Sure, I understand," he said, his voice laced with annoyance, though his aggressive tone was an obvious attempt to avoid further lectures.
"How about the two of you?" she asked, turning her attention to Tyler and me. I nodded quickly, but ate Clydelle's eyes narrowed as she noticed Tyler starting to nod off.
"What?" he said, jolting upright as her sharp gaze snapped him awake.
"Do I need to repeat it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and snapping her fingers.
"No! No! You don't have to! I clearly understand!" he assured her, nodding frantically.
"Ugh, guys! Come on, let's eat the ice cream!" I yelled, my stomach growling in protest as the lecture droned on.
I practically sprinted to the kitchen, my mind already picturing a perfect spoonful of the frozen dessert. My eyes scanned the four tubs Frank had brought back, the familiar labels a comforting sight in this strange new world. Double Dutch, Cheese, Chocolate, Ube... they were all there, just like on Earth. But I wonder what's different in taste of these desserts.
I grabbed my favorite, the Double Dutch, and tore off the lid, a strange mix of anticipation and curiosity bubbling inside me.
"Hey! Who told you you have a share of our ice cream?" Frank yelled as he saw me take a spoonful.
"Duh, you bought four tubs, so clearly it's one for each of us."
"Tss, you still have to pay for it!"
"No, just give it to me because we should celebrate your improvement!" I said, shoving another spoonful in my mouth.
"Hmph! Fine!"
"Yay! Thank you!"
Last night, Mr. Yabo announced that we should name our group to create a team identity. So we decided to name it after our beloved grandmother, Naomi, to honor her in this tournament. Naomi is derived from the Hebrew word for "pleasantness," but it's also a Japanese name that means "honesty" or "correctness." We figured it was the perfect name for a group that needed to be pleasant and honest in everything we did.
—
"So, what's your plan for today?" I asked ate Clydelle, who had just finished washing the dishes. I plopped down on the sofa, stretching out lazily.
"Let's accept a mission," she said, walking out of the kitchen and wiping her hands on her clothes.
"A what?" I exclaimed, sitting bolt upright.
"A mission, Sari," she repeated, a hint of impatience in her voice.
"Sure, and best of luck!" I said, trying to subtly sink back into the sofa cushions.
She walked over to the table and pressed a button on the device. Instantly, a shimmering, blue hologram of our mission lists appeared.
"Let's try a medium level," she suggested, her finger hovering over an option. As soon as she touched it, a confirmation button appeared. "You're coming with us, Sari."
She pressed the CONFIRM button. A bright blue portal swirled into existence beside the device, with a timer ticking down above it.
[4Hrs: 59Mins and 50Secs]
"That looks weird; I'm not going through that thing," I stammered, my voice trembling with fear.
"You must accompany us," she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me to my feet.
"Frank and Tyler, go in first."
"Okay!" Tyler replied, and the two of them leaped into the portal without a moment's hesitation.
"Tell me first what mission you chose before I come with you," I pleaded, my heart pounding in my chest.
"We're going to catch some fire-breathing wild boars in the Glamarxean Forest, right beside the well-known Lumber Mountain," she said calmly, before shoving me through the portal.
"A WHAT?!" I screamed in terror as the world dissolved into a flash of blue light.
—
"This is gonna be a piece of cake, it's a four against one after all," I said, my voice calm with a hint of desperation and sarcasm, as I watched a three-foot-tall boar munching on grass. "...Right?"
My sister, Ate Clydelle, however, had a different plan. "Our mission, Sari, is to capture four of them," she announced with a gleam in her eye.
My brother, Frank, and Tyler, our other companion, were a little too enthusiastic. And it was a surprising sight to see.
"Sweet! A boar for each of us," Tyler exclaimed, as if he'd just won the lottery.
"Fine by me; at least I'll get some training in," my brother agreed, and they both darted off to stalk their own unsuspecting prey.
"Since when have you guys been so hard-working?!" I yelled, which, in hindsight, wasn't my brightest idea. I feel a warm breathing behind me. I slowly turned and looked a down to my waist, I saw a boar's head, its beady eyes locking onto me. A moment of silence, and then it was a full-on war charge.
"Sari, Sari, Sari—!" Ate Clydelle's voice trailed off as I activated my power. 'Time Pause' and I slipped away, leaving her to deal with the enraged pork missile. I'm sure she's capable of capturing it on her own... right?
I, on the other hand, just needed to find another one. "Yoohoo! Any wild boar in here?! Please come out now, sweet little vegetarian boar~!" I called out, my voice echoing through the forest. My plan was to find a new boar, capture it, and get the heck home.
*GgRrrr*
I froze. Did I just hear something growl behind me? I slowly turned around, and my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.
My head slowly tilts upwards. There, towering over me, was a boar that looked like it had been eating steroids for breakfast. It was at least six feet tall, with tusks that could probably be used as swords. My brain immediately shut down, leaving only one thought: This is DEFINITELY not a vegetarian boar.
"Who's a good boy? You're the good boy, aren't you?" I squeaked, reaching out to pat its nose. It responded with a roar so loud it probably shattered a few eardrums.
"OH MY GOSH! SOMEONE, PLEASE SAVE ME!" I screamed, bolting away from the giant beast. My body, fueled by pure adrenaline, I think I was running faster than I ever had before. I could hear Ate Clydelle's voice in the distance, "How's your hunt, Sari?!"
I glanced over my shoulder and saw that she had already knocked her boar unconscious. "I. DID. NOT. SIGN UP. FOR. THIS!" I yelled back, my voice laced with panic. I was so focused on not getting stabbed by the boar's long, pointed tusks that I didn't even notice I was at the edge of a cliff.
"Seriously?" I mumbled to myself. "How unfortunate can one person be?"
I had to capture this beast, but it had to be alive. And how is that even possible for a beast who's taller over me?!
My last two brain cells finally cooperated, and I activated my powers again. "Time pause."
"What now, Sari?" I wondered to myself, picking up a palm-sized rock. I wound up, threw it with all my might at the boar's head, and... nothing happened.
"I hate my stupidity," I groaned. "Please work! I just want to go home!" I grabbed a tree branch and aimed it at the boar's head.
"I'm so sorry, giant boar," I whispered, closing my eyes. "I'm sorry I don't have the strength to just knock you down." Just as I was about to strike, I felt a familiar sensation.
Someone, or something, had stopped my arm from launching towards the boar. I opened my eyes, and there was nothing there. I decided to hide behind a tree, let the boar go, and find another one. I reset the timer, and to my surprise, the boar passed out seconds later, falling to the ground with a loud thud.
"Of course!" I exclaimed, slapping my forehead. "Nothing will happen to it if I throw a rock at it while time is paused."
With the massive boar finally secured, I contacted the others. "I'm finished with my task, but I'm not sure how I'm going to carry it."
"That's a nice catch Sari." Ate Clydelle praised me when they arrived at the scene.
I looked down at them giving them a sigma look, "Hmm, yeah. I know I did great." I boasted while sitting proudly on top of the boar.
"Pfft! I bet you just found that passed out already." Frank teased.
"Just close your eyes if you're jealous!" I rolled my eyes at him and stick out my tongue.
Ate Clydelle activated the mission-generator device, and a portal opened before us. "Let's go," she said, and Frank, using his telekinesis, lifted all four boars and led the way.
I felt nauseous again as we entered the portal. I hate these things—they always make me feel sick. We emerged in a large white room with three massive doors, each labeled with a different mission level. We went into the third room, the middle level.
[Welcome, participants!] A robotic voice announced.
[The following were the rules and regulations in the mission collecting rooms: >>]
The voice went on to explain the rules, and we followed them step-by-step. We placed our device, then the boars, and finally, we all stood on our platforms. The device scanned us, reviewed our loots and actions, and then awarded us nine badges.
"You better treat us to a snack, ate Clydelle," I teased.
"Alright, let's go back first to our room and change our clothes!" she replied, and we all stepped back through the portal, our mission finally complete.
—