Be My Comrade

Kisha wiped the sweat that had formed on her forehead as she looks at the chunks of body scattered at every place she and her group are currently standing

'What a mess.' Kisha said inwardly.

Everybody present was also thinking the same thing. A person's body parts were everywhere. Hands that have no fingers, the bones inside the person's body were seen, and the head of the person which is not true right now as its skull was not there anymore.

It's really disgusting to look at it.

Coming too late at the scene, this is the only thing they got. The monsters have all been killed that has eaten the man, worse case, their teammate

All of them are just looking and waiting for Nash to tell something.

Either this unknown person was Gin or not.

After a few seconds of waiting, Nash stands up in his position and speaks, "No, it is not Gin."

Hearing an answer they wanted to hear, the four have their face brightened up and felt relieved as the person was not Gin.

If it's not Gin, they will just ignore it.

They gathered themselves once again and leave the corpse behind to run quickly. Somehow, all of them felt that they're almost there to find Gin.

Although Nash felt the same way, he was also anxious at the same time that it was quite visible on his expressionless face.

Scanning the hole that they were running right now, Nash comes to a conclusion, 'Isn't this where... No, how would he know that? It's just a coincidence. This kind of situation happens sometimes...right? Please Gin... don't go in there...'

The four running beside him didn't miss Nash's anxious face, making them feel uneasy. Slowly, the excitement they felt they accumulated from that finding drastically go down, replacing it with a chilly feeling.

…

"Do you find something Jas?" Gin asked as both of them keep finding a place to stay but many minutes had passed now and even he can't find any.

"Still nothing Uncle and... what do you mean, Jas~? Are we really close to calling me that way?" Jasmin teased.

Although she was weirded out by the peacefulness, she decided to converse as a way to calm the situation.

"Jasmin then." Gin flatly answered.

"No, Uncle! I'm just joking! Call me however you want."

"Jasmin, did you find anything?"

"No, You can just call me, Jas. I think that's a good—"

"Jasmin, did you find any place to stay?"

Hearing Gin's voice again, Jasmin glanced half of her head at him with a pout. She said, "You're teasing me, uncle. You can just call me Jas."

"Jasmin, I repeat again. Did you find anything?"

This time, Jasmin looked at Gin intently before answering back in an annoyed tone, "No, Mr. Frest."

Hearing Jasmin calling him in his last name, Gin looked at her with a slight frown before he chuckled, 'Did I do it too much?'

As they continued to walk, Gin look through the holes they passed. Holding his chin, he knew not only him notice how quiet the holes are, which didn't fit the situation at all.

'Isn't it too safe? I mean it is good that it is but… where are the monsters now?' Gin shivered as he mused the thought inwardly. 'Why am I having a bad feeling about it?'

"Stay alert, ok?" Gin quickly spoke in a calm tone, noticing that the situation was a bit out of a place.

Hearing his alert tone, Jasmin stopped in her tracks and asked, "Is something wrong, Uncle?"

"Nothing really. I just said to be alert." Gin answered calmly, "If you hear or see something, just tell me, ok?"

"Geez Uncle, you're such a worrywart." Jasmin said as she glance half of her head at Gin before continuing, "Understood, I'll be careful and alert at the same time. I'll tell it right away to you if something weird happened."

"Aww…That's a nice thing to be called, Uncle~"

Suddenly, a voice that didn't belong to the two seemed to join them at their talk.

The two flinched, halting their movements from that eerie voice. Although the voice was low, it was clearly heard as the person's voice vibrated onto their position.

Slowly, both of them turned their body around and what they saw is Fritz waving his hands at them with a smile.

"Hello!"

Tak!

Gin quickly moved and placed his hands in front of Jasmin. After positioning himself, Gin faced Fritz as he didn't hide the frown on his face, "You... you're one fast bastard."

Fritz was taken aback as he heard Gin talk before he smiled wider, "We meet again, yellow-eyed man. And that eyes... It's not just a design, right? It must be your attribute."

Gin didn't answer and remained standing in his position. Jasmin, on the other hand, felt a familiarity with the guy but seem to not remember fully.

'Who is this... guy again?' Jasmin questioned inwardly as she fully guard herself up, giving the man, which she didn't know, a death glare.

Seeing her glare, Fritz let out a fake spooked expression before saying, "Woah, little girl. Chill, will you? I just wanted to talk about something about the guy beside you."

Fritz faced Gin and smiled warmly, "Hey, I'm getting tired of calling you 'yellow-eyed man'. What's your name... well, that's kinda annoying. Hey, will you answer me?"

Gin didn't comply to talk but he slowly stepped back, making Jasmin also do it. Fritz isn't oblivious and saw them moving slowly.

Smiling, he also moved and matched Gin's pace, not having any intention to make Gin run away.

"Do you have a low hearing? What a party killer." Fritz spoke in an annoyed tone before he decided to introduce himself first, "Well then, I'll start. Hello, you two. My name is Fritz. Fritz Fele."

He paused, "Nice to meet you little girl." he paused and looked at Gin, "And my soon-to-be comrade."

Hearing a quite familiar name, Jasmin formed a shocked expression on her face, 'What? Hmm, It's the guy Gin had been talking to earlier. Wait...'

Suddenly, Jasmin moved her head at Gin and do the same expression, 'Based on their conversation. Fritz didn't seem to know Gin as he wouldn't introduce himself in the first place. But, Gin knew him?'

She paused, 'How did he know...? They seem to be strangers, meeting for the first time. What n the world happ—'

As Jasmin was in her own thoughts, Gin looked at Fritz with a serious expression and decided to not accept anything about everything that Fritz would be saying.

'Comrade? What a bastard! Be my comrade when I die, you lunatic!' Gin shouted inwardly as he began to move back faster than before, not wanting to stay in their position any longer, "Say, what happen to Luke?"

"Oh, him?" Fritz answered calmly as he brings out his dagger, didn't seem to hide it from Gin.

Fritz saw Gin moving faster than before. Adding to his glowing eyes, Fritz needed a weapon that could protect him as he still didn't know what function does Gin's eyes could do.

Fritz then answered flatly, "I let him be eaten by the monsters. I don't know what happen to you all but I saw the guy's attribute is stronger. It must be related to your eyes but who cares about that guy now."

Fritz paused as he extended both of his hands forward, before he continued, "I'll tell my offer again. Be my comrade."

"Hmm…"

"Oh! Take note, if you do anything unnecessary or do something weird. I'll take that girl beside you and kill you instantly." Fritz added.

Gin had his one brow raised before he smiled faintly, "Hohh... are you threatening me?"

"That's not a threat, Mr guy." Fritz answered with a smile, "It's just the effect if you, by chance, choose a bad choice. "And you know what the bad choice is, right?"

Gin stared at Fritz silently. He then glanced at Jasmin before giving an answer to Fritz, "Ok, but first, let me talk at Jasmin."

"Jasmin?" Fritz questioned before he nodded his head, "I see. I see! Well, it's ok if your girl can join. Oh, wait! Your name?"

Gin glanced half of his head and answered with an impassive tone, "Gin Frest."

"Cool name for a cool guy, I'm now liking you more," Fritz said while having an amused expression, "Just remember my reminder, ok? I'll wait here at your talk."

Gin didn't more answer and just faced the confused Jasmin. He didn't know why she is making that face but she doesn't need to know the reason why.

As he was about to speak on their situation, Jasmin interrupted by saying nervously, "Uncle... how did you know his name?"

Gin remained stoic but he was quite surprised on the inside. 'This kid... I thought you'll just listen to my talk thoughtlessly but... you're listening very well. Anyway, it doesn't matter now...'

"Jasmin, listen to me." Gin spoke in a serious tone, 'Act like you accept his proposal. Just give a nod or something. After that, we're going to run really fast. The sign will be after you followed my fake agreement."

Jasmin immediately nodded but she seemed quite hesitant about something, which Gin noticed. Still, they don't have time for useless things before the two of them began to face Fritz.

"Ok…" Gin said in a low voice as he raised his hand that had the same level on his head, "I'll accept. I'll be your comrade."

Then, the two men both looked at Jasmin, waiting for her to speak.

"I… Eh… Uhh…Erm...Accept."

But she stutters a lot.

'Ugh, what a bad acting… Is that why the evaluation said she's a good-hearted person?' Gin complained inwardly.

Seeing that it failed with just that one acting, Gin swiftly gets an arrow on his quiver, position himself, and shoots it at Fritz's position.

Whoosh!

'I can't let my whole week of soul be gone in this situation...' Gin said inwardly before he gestures his head to Jasmin, who had a sorry expression on her face.

Then, the two started to run away from Fritz.

Whoosh!

"I said you'll regret it Gin! You are fu–eh?" Fritz instantly stopped when he saw an arrow coming towards him at a fast rate but he wasn't afraid and paranoid. He evades it with ease by rolling at the side.

After rolling, he quickly moved his face forward but Gin and Jasmin weren't there anymore.

"Shit!" Fritz cursed as he clicks his tongue before ordering his men, "Let's go!"

Tak!

Gin, together with Jasmin, has started to run again once more.

"Uncle! Why are we running into that guy? We can just kill him and go, you know?" Jasmin suggested with a huge pant, "Is that guy really dangerous?"

"Yes..." Gin was weirded out by Jasmin's suggestion, but he answered nonetheless, "Anyway, run until we find a place where we can hide from them, especially Fritz. I have a feeling that his attribute is something like teleportation, making him confident about capturing you or me."

Understanding what Gin meant, Jasmin answered with a certain voice, "I see. Is that the reason why he said that he can get me and kill you instantly?"

"Something… like that." Gin said lowly, thinking why Jasmin believed him so easily, "Anyway, just run until we can find a place."

Although Jasmin finds Gin so calm in the situation, which is not the case as his thoughts were full of doubts and his inside was nervous about everything happening. All of the uncertainties were making him scared.

'Where is Nash? They are taking so damn long!' Gin nervously said inwardly before hearing a shout coming from his back.

"Gin! Just run while you can!" Fritz spoke loudly, "If I can get closer to you, I'll really kill you, hahaha!"

Fritz could be heard shouting as he greedily chase Gin like a lion, eyeing its prey.

But, Gin felt something was out of place. Their interaction with each other was only a last piece for his new thought to form.

He didn't even mind Fritz or his men chasing him as he was now in a state of his own world.

'Something is strange, something is really strange...' Gin thought as he looked at his surroundings, 'Where are the monsters... they could have heard us from our talk...'

[Truth Eyes-See Through- has been activated]

Gin activated his ability see-through to see if he can see the monsters from holes, even though the coverage of his eyes can see is only a little bit.

But, facing the holes now, there are no monsters. Whether it's a large one, small, big, or thin... nothing.

'There's a whole lot monster a while ago... it turned into a few ones... and now, they're gone? They should be now roaming around the tutorial but... where are they now?!' Gin shouted inwardly as he run forward, full of skepticism inside his head.

Then, he focused himself on the way, making him stop thinking about certain thoughts, "Huh?"

For a moment, he saw a familiar path as he looked forward. 'Isn't this... the way where we are escaping at the start?'

Gin could see thee read which leads to the start where everything had started, after him and everyone involved was transferred.

As they escaped from that event, Gin remembered everything that had happened they are venturing out towards it.

'There are also no monsters chasing us when we are escaping... Also, they are safe zone or what Nash called it...'

A thought resurfaced in Gin's mind.

'Now that I think about it... it's also strange why there are building and things like huts, caves, tables, and even a fricking bed in a safe zone, when everyone is trying to survive! And the weird thing is... it's so many!'

Another one...

'Then monster's sudden attack...' Gin paused as he evaded a big rock on the ground and jumps it, 'Yes, the attack wouldn't be that fast even though, by chance, Fritz ordered his men to lure the monsters in... If that is the case, everything that had happened seems really fast.'

'The events should happen much more late than early. Why... what did I miss?'

For more seconds, information keep entering his mind until he stopped at one point as he reached some sort of conclusion, which sent shivers right down to his spine.

'Does the System intentionally built that way...?'

It was giving him a chilling vibe.

'No way… no fucking way! The monsters would sure attack the so-called safe zone but because of Fritz's intervention, it fast-forwarded the event...? Does the safe zone purpose is to attract... people?'

'It must be the case...' Gin said inwardly as he agreed on the thought he had just now.

But.., something was out of a place from that very idea.

"But... why Nash wouldn't know it...?' Gin mused the idea before he began to think very deeply about it.

After a few seconds of thinking... one assumption formed inside his head.

'The information outside is… fake?' Gin thought inwardly and had some sort of dilemma inside his head, 'Or Nash is just wrong? Maybe some are safe and some are not... fuck. Something is missing! Shit... it's true that there is a safe zone or... there are others? But... it's impossible! I would've seen it during the time we hunt as a group!'

Suddenly, all of Gin's thoughts had stopped when he heard someone shouting at him on his side.

"Uhm… Uncle! You're biting your lips so hard!" Jasmin shouted worriedly as he look at Gin's lips.

Jasmin didn't mind it at first as she saw Gin was in his own world. Even though it is the case, Jasmin surmised that Gin is focusing himself on the road, avoiding the worse possible case such as tripping on it.

She let her be until one time when she glanced once more, she saw Gin biting his lips so hard that it started to bleed.

'Why am I thinking this now?' Gin said inwardly before coming back to reality, "Thanks."

Gin breathed for a second before he said inwardly, 'I will think this once I'm outside.'

After running for a few minutes, the two glanced half of their heads at the back and saw that Fritz and his men were nowhere in their sight.

They focused their senses forward but they instantly stopped, when they saw a familiar, gigantic entrance.

'It really is the place where everything had started...' Gin said inwardly but with no surprise as he was thinking about this earlier.

The two made up their minds and decided to go inside the gigantic hole. Walking inside, they moved their heads at the surroundings, seeing the result when the monsters poured inside the place.

The stench of blood circulated, corpses scattered from everywhere, and weapons are still there but they're either on the ground lying or disorganized.

The timer on the middle is still there too as it continued to tick down. Seeing the timer, both of them walk towards it.

Both of them had a frown on their faces as they walk towards the bodies. As they continued to walk towards the timer, they noticed something weird for a moment which made them stop walking.

"Stairs?" Jasmin and Gin spoke in unison as they moved their heads at the side.

They could see one big five-meter stairs at the side of the gigantic hole, which they didn't remember when they have been transferred from this place.

The stair is moving upwards, towards the place which they don't know.