Puzzle pieces

With Zera refusing to do anything, the rest of their opponents secured their weapons towards them.

Jaspreth was left to crouch and try to make Zera understand their situation.

"Z," he whispered, watching her defiant gaze remain on the vast whiteness ahead of them. Her arms were folded over her chest. "I understand how you feel. I too want to be mad about our situation, but this is not the time for you to act like this."

Sharply turning her attention towards Jaspreth, Zera glared at him. She made sure to level her tone with his, briefly glancing at her surroundings.

She noticed the other team looking at her and Jaspreth. Part of her felt relieved that they didn't take advantage of her sudden outburst.

"Act like what?" she countered. "Don't you see Jay? All other players know something we didn't. They are all here for the money."

Jaspreth let out an exasperated sigh. He mimicked Zera, eyeing their opponent one by one. Each of them seemed to be waiting for Zera and Jaspreth to finish talking, like waiting for the verdict coming from Zera.

Either that or they may be curious what happens if the game maker would actually give Zera a response.

Truth be told? Jaspreth was actually counting on it, too.

"I know that. I'm beginning to understand that this game might have been rigged right from the start." Zera locked gazes with Jaspreth. He shook his head at Zera, letting her know he cannot speak further than what he already said.

He had no death wish just yet.

Scoffing, Zera rolled her eyes. She looked at each player around them. She still didn't understand why she and her friends were specifically chosen. But for the time being, she wanted to figure out a way for all of them to make it to the next level.

She refused to follow the game. It was her way of rebelling.

Not bothering to pick up her sword, she tapped Jaspreth on the shoulders, using him as her support to get back on her feet.

"Alright. I still won't play as they want me to. But, as you have said," Zera looked at the cat lady, letting her gaze linger on her. "You all joined because of the money. But that's not the same case for us." Zera paused, tilting her head to the side while she considered Nayowmi.

"At least for me and my friends."

The cat lady snorted. She finally dropped her aim and folded her hands over her chest, eyeing Zera up and down.

"What are you? The governor's daughter?"

"Actually…" Astherielle trailed off, her eyes fleeting towards Zera. Zera shook her head, warning her not to say it. Their identities would be revealed if she told the cat lady that she wasn't actually wrong with her guess.

"Actually, we're just regular kids who might be well-off, partly. But that's about it." Beatrix spoke, finishing what Astherielle started.

Among their circle it was she and Zera who could relate the most when it comes to being careful about revealing their identities to people who do not know them.

"And who happens to like playing online games." Jaspreth added.

The other team players exchanged glances. Zera focused her attention on the camouflage guy, his gaze seeming to linger on her, too.

Eyeing his crew, he dropped his dagger on the ground just as Zera did, pocketing his hands right after.

"If I call out a truce, how do you plan to get us to the next level without having to fight each other?"

Zera's heart thundered inside her chest. She actually had no idea how to proceed. There was no plan. But it was all a risk, a trial.

"We search for a loophole, anything that could be hidden around the game." The other girl from the other team stated. She glanced at Zera and then back at her team leader.

"Before I play any game, I try to find a guide," she stopped short, realizing what she was telling them, but knew it was too late to take it back. "I know, it's like cheating, but hey, I always want to win."

"No judgments. Go on." Zera interfered before anyone could say something mean towards her.

"Anyway, I almost came up with a blank regarding this game. I know it's new but I'm pretty sure the game developers at least left some notes or whatever in some article. I don't know why they didn't include it in the brief welcome message. But I picked something up. They did not directly relate it to Priestess Online, yet there was a mention of a challenge within a challenge."

"And you're only telling us about this right now?" Cat lady snapped. She was obviously not happy that she had withheld this kind of information until then.

The other girl glared at her for only a few seconds before she turned back to Zera and the camouflage guy.

"What if there's a hidden challenge in every stage, which is like a bonus? If we happen to find it, then we might actually have a way to cheat on this level. Our way out."

"There's a lot of what ifs there." Jaspreth stated, his voice getting a little deep. Zera eyed him, noticing a soft bluish aura emanating from his body.

Squinting, but not wanting to suspect her friend, Zera turned to the other girl from the other team.

"I agree with…" Zera paused and cleared her throat, almost calling out Jaspreth's nickname. "I agree with the Trickster. That's him, by the way." She pointed a finger towards Jaspreth.

"The only thing I remembered written in the welcome message was that we need to pass each level by defeating the big boss. Ultimately, the team that survives until the end reaps the reward. Considering that it's an online game, and a five-man team, I knew we'd be competing with other players."

Tarzan boy spoke, his voice resonating with the nickname Zera already thought of him.

"Well, none of us thought about physically playing it though, isekai'd into the game like in some fantasy movie or novel, or was that part of the message which all of you received but not us?" Beatrix didn't even try to hide her annoyance. She had folded her arms over her chest, her brows furrowed.

Zera caught her friend's gaze. Beatrix only shrugged. She knew someone had to say it at some point. Everyone else had read the same message, one that explained parts of the game and what awaited at the end.

But for her and the rest of her friends, they were merely curious players who stumbled upon it.

Or was that really just a coincidence?