Chapter 86: Trouble in paradise

Darkness clouded my vision the moment we entered the mouth hole of that creature. It felt like i was trying to swim in murky waters, all while being completely robbed of all of my senses.

In what felt like a few seconds though, I finally saw light at the end of the tunnel. My vision began to clear up just like the way it usually did every morning I woke up.

The first thing I saw was people appearing out of thin air, and into certain slots on a massive platform. Did I forget to mention that Sia and I were also in stuck in one of these slots each?

Yep, just like she said, we were completely immobilized, incapable of moving even a single muscle. Usually, in such cases, people would be move their eyeballs, but no, we couldn’t. Everything I was seeing was only in a straight line in my field of vision. Even Sia, I could only see her from my pheripherals.

All in all, It was a feeling I utterly disliked, but there was nothing I could do about it. Plus, I wasn’t the only one. Like the saying went, misery loves company.

I kept watching, or rather was forced to keep watching as all the slots on the platform got completely filled, or at least the ones in my vision.

In what felt like a quarter of a minute, a grand voice echoed through the entire place.

“A hundred participants have arrived. All slots have been filled.”

’So the total is a hundred huh?’ I mused. Not bad at all, considering it could have been unlimited.

Suddenly, a translucent figure appeared mid air as if he had been present there all along. He looked like a middle aged man with overly long sideburns, wearing a long cloak that seemed to cover his entire being, if he didn’t seem translucent that was.

“Ah, it’s good to see the younger generation flourishing.” The man nodded with a calm smile. “Back during my time, children as old as you all wouldn’t have reached your current ranks.” He said with a shake of his head. “I’m sure you all are probably wondering who I am.” He said sagely.

’No shit.’ I though as I rolled my eyes, or rather tried. I kinda forgot I still couldn’t move.

“My identity matters not, I am nothing but a remnant will of a long forgotten being. My era has long passed, and honestly I don’t even know how many years this will of mine has survived. Even though, it’s good to see youngsters brave the immemorial Deadlands.”

’What’s with the yada yada bullshit?’ I inwardly frowned. ’So it’s true like in those books that these kind of wills love to spout bullshit.’ I thought contemplatively.

“You all will be free to move in a few moments. I expect everyone to be well behaved. Anyone who attacks another, would be instantly eliminated.”

’Wait what?!’ my mind churned. ’Eliminated eliminated, as in they’d be disqualified from the trial, or eliminated eliminated, as in they’d be disqualified from life?’ I thought as beads of sweat began to involuntarily drop down my forehead.

From what I could tell, I wasn’t the only one scared at that prospect.

Like a domino, Sia twitched, then I felt my body under my control again, then the person next to me was able to move again. It continued all until everybody could move.

If I had to guess, I would say it was based on the order at which we entered this place. Sia entered first, followed by me, and the guy next to me, so we were released in that order.

As everyone was freed, no one dared to attack anyone with the words said by this remnant will hanging over our heads like a sword.

I could probably guess why everyone was momentarily frozen until the complete hundred participants were slotted. If it wasn’t so, a death battle would have been ongoing by now.

“Now that everyone is in control of their self again, I will speak of the trials that you have to overcome to win the various artifacts, and techniques in this tomb.” The translucent man spoke.

Those words of his seemed to get everyone’s spirits up.

–”Yeah!” shouted a brute.

–”Let’s fucking go!” shouted another.

–”I’ll fucking win everything!”

“There are three trials in total, and each of these trials require a team of five.” The man said. “Which means only a single team of five would get away with everything at the end.”

Unfortunately, that wasn’t what anyone here wanted to hear.

–”Oh shit!”

–”What the hell is that supposed to mean, old man?!”

–”Working with someone we don’t know? that is asking for death!”

I shared their sentiments too, what type of only a team of five? This was a winner takes all situation. Also who would want to partner with someone they didn’t know?

“What do you think?” I turned to the dark haired woman.

She smiled.

“I think this remnant will has gone senile from old age.” she simply said.

“That’s what I thought.” I replied.

“Do keep in mind that nothing prevents your teammates from betraying you after getting the prize, so pick your teammates carefully?” The old man continued.

“You have five minutes, get into a team of five, or automatically forfeit the trial and be teleported outside.”

Those words seemed to get everyone moving. They smiled, trying to strike up conversations as if they hadn’t been trying to kill each other just a few minutes ago.

“How are we going to go about this?” Sia turned to me.

I blinked.

“Why are you asking me?”

“Well, you seem to have solutions to most problems.” she shrugged.

“I see.” I nodded. I didn’t have one at the moment, and I wouldn’t call what I had in mind a plan whatsoever. Which was why I just planned to wait for others to approach us.

As if drawn by fate, a group of three approached us, led by a particularly savvy young man.

“Hello, my name’s Dpress, these two are my friends, Nina, and Greg.” The dude pointed to a blond girl, and a stocky dude, with a calculating smile. “I noticed that you two seem to already know each other much like my friends and I, so I thought it wouldn’t be a problem if we teamed up.

’No!’ I thought, but before I could open my mouth, Sia did.

“You’re right, we do in fact know each other.” She smiled at them. “I’m Sia, and this is my younger brother, Amon.”

’You’ve got to me kidding me.’ I thought in disbelief. This woman really went and did it. I shot her a look that said; “Are you crazy?”

But unlike what I thought, I wasn’t the only one in disbelief. The savvy guy flicked his head from her to me, and to her back again.

“Really?” he raised an eyebrow in what I would call genuine confusion. “You two look nothing alike.”

“So I’ve been told.” Sia shook her head with a wry smile.

“I mean no disrespect, but you look stunning.” the guy continued. “And well, he looks…” the guy paused as if unsure what to say.

’This is just a disguise I’ll have you know.’ I inwardly fumed. My real face was ten– no a hundred times better than his.

“So what say we team up?” the guy shifted the main reason that brought them here.

“No problem, we agree, right little brother?” She turned to me, making them all turn to me.

“Yes, we agree.” I muttered with forced smile through gritted teeth. “But, could you guys excuse us for a bit? There’s something I need to talk about with ’my dear sister’.” I said smiling, putting emphasis on ’my dear sister’.

“Okay then, we’ll leave you to it.” the savvy guy smiled, and motioned for his friends to come with him.

“What was that shit for?” I whispered the moment the three went away.

“What shit?” she feigned ignorance.

“The shit about me being your younger brother.”

“Oh that.” she drawled. “Would you prefer if I said you were my boyfriend instead?” she winked.

“Absolutely not!” I exclaimed, but turns out that was probably not the best of ideas. It was only when I heard the silence, that I turned and saw everyone looking our way.

“Great, now we have all the attention to ourselves.” I muttered sarcastically. “Just friend would have been fine.”

“I didn’t think of that at the moment.” She shrugged.

’Like he you didn’t.’ I inwardly scowled.

“Anyway, that aside, you know those three don’t seem trustworthy right?” I asked.

“Why of course, why wouldn’t I?” she scoffed.

“So we’re crossing them before they cross us right?” I asked again.

“Oh definitely.” she smirked, turning her gaze back to the three who stood a far distance from us.

That was it, if we knew they were definitely going to betray us, why not play along and betray them before they betray us? That seemed like the obvious move to make.

Just the thought seemed to wash away the previous frustration I was getting from the stunt Sia pulled.

“There’s something else I haven’t told you.” I said to her. She turned to me with a smirk, but the smirk faded away seeing how serious I was.

“What is it?” she asked.

“We are currently under a different time flow than the outside world.”

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