TCG-The Gauntlet of Fire (2)

The Clown's voice echoed through the ominous silence that had settled over the contestants. "I give you one hour to choose your team," he announced, his tone laced with sadistic glee.

As the contestants began to contemplate their choices, a sudden interruption shattered the tension. A man named Isak, his face contorted with anguish and fury, erupted from the crowd. "I don't want to play this game!" he roared, his voice filled with raw emotion.

Isak's outburst sent shockwaves through the assembly. His grief was palpable, and the pain of losing his beloved one had pushed him to the brink. In that moment, he cared little for the game or its twisted rules. His heartache was too profound to be stifled by secrets.

The Clown's eerie smile remained fixed on his painted face, unfazed by the man's defiance. "Heeeee," he cackled with an unsettling amusement, his amusement bordering on sadism.

But before Isak's rebellion could fully register, a sudden, thunderous blast echoed through the space. Isak's body was torn apart by a merciless shotgun blast, his life extinguished in an instant. His demise was brutal and final, sending shockwaves of horror and despair through the crowd.

Gasps of horror and sobs of grief filled the air as the contestants recoiled from the grim spectacle they had just witnessed. Amelia couldn't help but mutter, "Idiot," under her breath, a mixture of frustration and pity in her eyes.

With a cruel and chilling calmness, the Clown continued, "Time to choose your teams starts now," as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. "And, by the way," he added casually, "because someone was stupid today, one person can have up to four teammates. Good luck."

As the shocking death of Isak unfolded before them, the contestants found themselves in a state of collective disbelief and horror. Among the hundred individuals gathered in that eerie space, a chorus of comments and reactions filled the air, reflecting the diverse range of emotions stirred by the grisly scene.

"My God, did you see that? This is madness!"  whispered one trembling voice.

"Poor guy, he just couldn't take it anymore,"

murmured another, his face contorted with sympathy. As murmurs and gasps spread, a somber mood settled over the group.

"Isak's sacrifice... it's a stark reminder of what's at stake here,"

someone commented, their eyes haunted.

"That's one less competitor, but at what cost?" pondered another, their voice laced with unease. In the midst of the chaos, a solemn realization hung in the air: they were all trapped in this nightmare together, forced to navigate its horrors, with no clear path to escape. The chilling reality of their situation weighed heavily on their hearts, as they grappled with the consequences of their unwilling participation in this bloodthirsty game.

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5 minutes later

A group of 5 People Gather 

Suki, Rizka, Rizky, Alex, and Amelia

in claustrophobic space, the tension between the five individuals was palpable. Suki's resentment toward Alex hung in the air, like an unspoken accusation. She couldn't fathom why she had been placed in this dire situation with someone she had grown to despise. 

Desperation gnawed at her, urging her to break the silence. "Hey, talk!" she demanded, her voice tinged with frustration. She needed answers, a way out, anything to regain control.

Alex remained unfazed by Suki's anger, his posture exuding an air of domineering confidence. He was well aware that in this game, alliances were not formed out of friendship but out of necessity. With a calculated glance at the vigilant Rizky and the timid Rizka, who sought refuge behind him, he finally spoke, his words laden with a chilling pragmatism.

"I can't talk, but if you want to survive, joining me is the only option, and you must joining me, i force you, in the name of the right citizen who pays the tax, you need to protect me, cough,,cough protect us", he declared, leaving no room for argument. In this deadly game of wits, Alex had little patience for petty disputes, knowing that cooperation was their best chance at survival.

"You Bastard", Suki rolled her eyes', this is so shameless right?"

Alex remained resolute in his decision to ignore Suki's pleas and questions. In his mind, Suki's status as a heroine in the heaven was a critical factor that fueled his indifference. He couldn't afford to let the protagonist, if there was one, swoop in and save the beauty in this dark narrative. Alex understood that in this villainous tale, heroes didn't exist, and heroines like Suki were nothing more than pawns to be used and discarded.

Moreover, he was acutely aware of Suki's potential to become a formidable adversary. Her determination to uncover the truth behind the elusive Clown and her relentless pursuit of justice had the potential to lead the Metropolis police to their ultimate demise. Alex had seen it all play out in the future, a future where Suki had transformed into a cold, unrelenting demoness. Her obsession with the Clown had cost her dearly, and yet, the elusive mastermind had continued to elude capture, creating new games with each passing day.

In this Clown games, there were two lives at stake for each participant. If they perished within the confines of the deadly challenges, they could still be revived, but at a harrowing price. To regain their life, they had to sacrifice someone dear to them, someone who held a special place in their heart.

'That Clown doesn't even bother to explained this rules, what a cunning clown'

Suki had paid this horrifying price with the life of her beloved father. Unable to survive the clowb game, she lost her father's life for her own. It never be her choice, the clown responsible of this, and that had left a permanent mark on her soul, turning her from a determined heroine into a tormented and blackened soul.

The weight of her father's death bore heavily on Suki's shoulders, and the guilt and sorrow she carried with her were palpable. Her transformation from a bright and hopeful young woman to a cold and unyielding figure was a testament to the cruel and unforgiving nature of the Clown's games. In this twisted world, sacrifices were made, and innocence was lost, leaving behind only hardened survivors.

Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of revulsion as he thought of the future and the relentless cycle of chaos orchestrated by the Clown. To him, Suki's blind pursuit of vengeance seemed futile and misguided. But in this treacherous world, his focus remained solely on survival and finding a way to outwit their sadistic captors.

'You pain in the ass, Clown, just like my Ex-wife'

'You look sentimental all of sudden' bush suddenly comment

'You shut up, i though my ex wife is being hostage in this game'

'Yeah, I didn't meet her in the future, and I though the clown cannot capture her, she maybe way stronger than you Alex'

'Useless husband'

'you talking about yourself, you know'

'I know', then Alex look at RIzka and Rizky and his mouth turn up slightly 

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As Alex approached the young boy and girl standing at the end of the room, he couldn't help but notice the wariness in Rizky's eyes and the shyness that seemed to envelop Rizka. They were twins, and their bond was evident in the way Rizka sought refuge behind her brother's protective presence.

"Hey, are you okay?" Alex offered a warm smile, his handsome features seemingly at odds with the grim circumstances they found themselves in.

Rizka, her cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment, stammered, "I... I'm okay."

But Rizky, the older and more vigilant of the two, didn't seem inclined to trust the situation. He questioned Alex's motives,  these past year, he use his brain to think warily, and he never trust anybody, including his uncle, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Why did you choose us?"

Alex couldn't help but be impressed by Rizky's level of vigilance, a trait honed over the years of facing life's challenges. He chuckled at the young man's skepticism

"I Saw you Potential"

"Cut the crap. I don't believe in you. I'm just a level 1, a commoner, and you're a level 3. You chose us? You must be kidding, right?" Rizky's words were laced with distrust.

Alex found himself slightly taken aback by the blunt honesty but appreciated it nonetheless. He decided to be straightforward with them, realizing that trust had to be earned in their precarious situation. he thought 'You know, there's a poem that goes, 'If you're handsome, you can do anything.'

But Bush, his internal companion, wasn't one to let such a statement slide without a remark. He interjected with a sardonic comment, 'That poem was probably created by a scoundrel.'

Alex's lips twitched in response to Bush's remark. He shook his head, acknowledging that even in this dire situation, there was room for a touch of humor, albeit a dark one.

"I'll be honest with you," Alex began, locking eyes with Rizka, whose heart seemed to flutter at his gaze.

"The only way for you, the level 1s, to survive is to join my team. And Rizka,

he continued, causing her blush to deepen

"You're the only one here who cannot die. I promise you."

hearings this, Rizka felt hot and her checks being red from her ear to ear

As Rizka blushed even harder, Bush couldn't resist commenting, 'Damn playboy.'

Rizky, however, was less amused. He raised his voice in protest, "Damn sucker! Flirting with my beloved sister in front of me is a sin, you know!"