Chapter 11

Inside the elevator running upwards, Mizu was holding a rectangular card with her profile. The supposed to be named was written as Player 11659, with the data record of her skills and people killed, showed in the pentagon shape on the side, which is 'Zero.' Then a capitalize letter on the topmost indicates the group she's in, the "EAST HOUSE" and her level under her pic, 'Level 1' a beginner. This will change every fight, she will have, after the scanning.

This plain card is used for some necessary things in this strange and unknown place. But limited only to the house they belong to and the level it indicates, a rookie floor, from level 1 to level 10. However, they can't go up to further floor if they can't win their game.

Mizu was in the center of this elevator, surrounded by the top players of the game, from rank 1 to 3, all was a youngster. Two males in front and two females at the back and all are in a high guard, wary of the people they just met. It was not surprising, as they are the players who have the most killed.

The traces of blood of their victims can still be seen in their clothes and hands.

Mizu was a bit relieved that all weapons they used were left behind on that floor. These youngsters with her, are the players chosen by that 'man' to be under his house. Just remembering him ignites her hatred, but she chose to cool down.

These four from now on will be her teammates, but it's unimaginable to be happening with this tense atmosphere, they are all in silent and giving off an aura to not be disturbed.

It was strange but the administrator of this game has given a rule that the host mentioned a while ago. It was the most important one;

‛Players must not kill his own allies within the house they belong to.'

As from now on, they will play as one and building the bond as a teammate. It is essential for the next 10 levels where they will fight as a team. But for the beginner, to get further data and knowing their unique traits and skills they will fight individually, 1 vs 1 on other houses. More importantly, they can't consider win if their opponent is 'alive'. If the player can't do it with the allotted time, they will be 'killed' by the executives known as the 'Cutthroats', along with their teammates.

Then a team with a complete member who will reach level 11 will receive an unexpectable bonus.

When the door was opened, it was a bit dark, 2 solemn guards welcomed them. They checked their cards first and immediately give them a set of clothes to wear and later after they took their bathed, they escorted them to their room.

It can't be considered as room, as it has no beds, pillows, nor blankets. It's a plain ground surrounded by bars. The set of their plain gray clothes and this jail, they seem in a prison rather than a comfortable room. The strange environment was the same when they've arrived at this place. It was dark and only the bluish fire coming from the walls give them light. The only difference was there's a wall clock to check the time and they are not in a chain.

When the guards leave, the group was still in silence sitting in the corner, until one of them courageously breaks it.

She stands up and faces the group, "We will be a team in the future, at least we should know our name, I'm Himari." she offered her hand towards them.

"Akane," the girl with red hair, taller than any of them, said too, following the blonde one.

Mizu stands up and willingly took their hands, as they are the two people who save her life recently. "I'm Mizu and thanks for the help before." she gratefully said while shaking their hands. Mizu then has thought that their palm is strangely rough for a teenage girl, beautiful as them.

"Nice name and don't mind it," Akane said pleasantly with a killing smile, followed by a wink.

One of the guys also sprung up and took Akane and Himari hands and shakes it terribly, like a fan, "Woah, thanks for breaking the silence, I was honestly at my limit to speak too but I was too scared to introduce myself. But thank goodness you are not exactly what I'm imagining off. Oh, and actually, I quite like you. You two are so cool and have great teamwork, and... "

Akane cut off his conversation, afraid his talk will take long, "So, what's your name?"

The lively guy stops shaking their hands like he was taken aback by a sudden question, and continues, "Ah, I forgot, they called me Zhi, not an alphabet letter 'Z' but 'Z-hi', I'm Zhi. Nice to meet you, hope you will take care of me."

Because of his jolly character, the atmosphere becomes one too. He has black long hair at a shoulder level for a boy, a neat small braid on his left side is tied to the back along with a knot. His fringe has an orange highlight that makes it even more beautiful. His looks are quite feminine, a pretty boy. He was also not so tall, and a guy expert in bow weapon in a moment of fighting awhile ago.

Mizu can't help but gaze at how pretty he was, especially his long eyelashes, just then Zhi and her eyes met. She was immediately taken aback, when this guy hugs her out of nowhere, and said enthusiastically, "Mizu is so cool and beautiful. Those death vibes, I can still feel it till this time, it's so horrifying scary."

Mizu wondered about how weird this guy is, but it's so strange as she felt nothing ill coming from him, instead, his pleasing aura is very comfortable.

Zhi let go, and uttered, "Was it's not rude to ask for your age too?"

Himari immediately answered him, "17."

Akane followed, "I'm 18 boy, you?"

His coffee-like eyes brightened, "I'm 17, yes, I'm not the eldest one haha. How about you Mizu?" his lively character is like a virus spreading rapidly.

"I'm 15," Mizu replied, smiling, she was thankful they were more approachable than what she thought, and to this talkative guy.

"Uh-huh, you're the youngest among us, oh wait... " Zhi eyes swift his gaze to the guy standing in the corner in a cross arm and on his own world. The other three followed his gaze as well. From a glance, he was extremely aloof. He was the top guy among them, who killed plenty. The weapon he used was a scimitar sword.

His handsome features were also unparalleled to anybody. Black hair and black eyes are quite endearing, even his voice, "I don't want to play a fake team with a bunch of twerps." though he is straightforwardly rude.

He then staidly added, "Do your part and I will do mine too. Let's just don't get in each other way...

Murderers."

Mizu noticed how gravely Akane clutches her fist which was held by Himari to stop her from attacking. In a second, the atmosphere changed back drastically to a cold one.

What this guy said was true, they were already a murderer. Killing people just for their own safety. They can't answer him back, but only to stay in silence.

That's when Himari steps up, "You were right, we are already killers, but that is for us to survive, you who were in top rank exactly knew what I meant. If we didn't kill them, we will die. We might have different goals to join here, but let's work together to survive in this outrageous 'game'. You will need us, as well as 'Us needing your Strength."

'Himari has such a strong personality,' Mizu thought.

Zhi has also joined "Oh, bro, we just wanted to know your name and age, but you uttered something rudely here and then. Where did you bear to? You seem not to know the thing called the "norm" of this country. Well then I will educate you when someone introduced themselves to you, you should tell your name also."

But the guy just coldly looked at him, and so he added, "What? Don't tell me you're a secret agent hired by a higher individual? Oh, No... Was it true?" he covered his mouth with quite surprised at what he said.

'He was kinda annoying,' Mizu thought.

The guy well-lined eyebrows knitted, veins are bulging every time this talkative one speaks. Quite angry, he warned, "If it is not forbidden, I will kill you right here right now, in instant."

"Oh, I was scared," Zhi said teasingly, but when the guy moved, like a flash he runs away and hides in the back of Mizu.

Mizu sighed, "Can you please state your name? We just wanted to know it. We meant no harm, it's a trouble to just say, 'You' every time."

The guy glared at her intently which Mizu didn't avoid and stared back undauntedly. The guy clicked his tongue, and finally say his name in this long fuss.

"I'm Haruto, 16," he said, averting his gaze.

The guy hiding at the back of Mizu, suddenly step out bravely, "Eh? Your 16? I'm older than you in one year, call me big bro, Haruto." Zhi was already acting casual.

"Damn, shut up," Haruto complained about him being noisy.

Himari then uttered, getting their attention, "So, Mizu is our youngest sibling, from today on, in this survival game we are a family. Let's survive this till the last floor." her hand was in midair, palm facing the ground was waiting for them to put theirs too.

And they did. "Yeah," they agreeably shouted.

In the monitoring room, 4 groups of people in the cell were shown on the screen. A man watching the Mizu team has said, "This team, they become one in just a short period of time. This blonde girl has a great sense of leadership incomparable to the other team of their batch, who can't even start a conversation. These other 3 teams will surely fail."

His partner, then added, "I agree with that. This blonde girl team will surely rise to the top. This reminds me of the top team in all levels right now, the team of the "Dark King". This girl is really interesting along with this orange-guy."

They suddenly stand up from their seat when the screen showing the Mizu team blackened,

"Wait, why is the camera from their team suddenly turned off?" the man monitoring them perplexity shouted.

In the room where Mizu was, where all of them were already asleep, a young lad in a silky white hair and black stylish mask covered his handsome face, wearing a thick dark cloak with a logo of a terrifying dragon, a crest of the East House was walking in a very light and untraceable step, and stops, looking tenderly at Mizu in the cage.

His voice has a trace of longing and sadness when he called her name, "Mizu... "