* * *
Polly, she's seventeen years old and she can't remember more than half of her life.
'I don't remember but I can feel things.'
I feel good when I curse.
I hate fake people.
Blood makes me snap.
And she lived for three years staying true to those feelings. At fifteen she was found by a river. She was holding on to a handkerchief. She still had that handkerchief until today.
'The symbol of snake is embedded in the handkerchief.'
She had tried to find it, but she never succeeded. Of course, she told no one about this. She even tried to forget it and live with the person who helped her. But even that person died and what she saw almost scared the living daylights out of her.
'That fucking snake insignia.'
She needed to find it but she needed money, connections, and many more.
"I'm not going to run away anymore," she said.
Ilya, who had been listening to her, nodded. "The plant says it understands."
"Holy hell! For the first time, that plant said something not obnoxious."
"The plant says it will help you in exchange for something."
"Hah!"
Polly scoffed but she was really thinking about it. She needed allies. Ilya was obnoxious but she had saved her earlier.
SNAP!
SNAP!
SNAP!
The two of them were inside the orb. They were more like rats trapped inside a jar rather than people defending against some meteorite-like attacks. For some reason, they were talking while waiting for time to pass by and Polly being Polly, got too talkative.
They were getting along that's why they didn't notice the ground had stopped shaking.
All they could hear was threads of the barrier snapping outside.
* * *
"H-Hyu... I can't say it, you idiot!"
"You better keep your word! Mature people keep their words!"
"Y-Your lying!"
"You're being petty!"
Huff. Huff. Huff.
"Haaaaaa. Oh, give me a damn break!"
I stopped running to catch my breath but soon my feet moved again to dodge a black hole. The ball made of void and darkness barely grazed my shoulder before hitting the platform again with a loud crash.
BAAAAAAAAANG!
I looked at the space with wide eyes and so did Jashan.
There was nothing there anymore.
"What the hell are Polly and Ilya doing?!"
"You idiot! Grab the platform!"
"Agh! So tired."
But I still grabbed the platform. We finally realized why the ground was shaking so much since earlier. It had detached itself from the building and was now orbiting the building just like how the moon orbits the earth.
Luna, the system, explained this while we were busy running for our lives.
"Luna! Time!"
Jashan's voice echoed.
< You have twenty-seven minutes left. >
"Haaaaa. Haaaaaaa. I… can't run anymore!"
"You're the older one here! You're supposed to have much more stamina than me! Don't give up, you idiot!"
"That's not what I mean! And call me Hyung!"
He looked in my direction and said, "Ah."
The platform around me was full of holes that one wrong move will send me falling down a decent height enough to send me to hell.
'And all we've been doing is dodging!'
"Watch out---H-H-Hyung!"
Hyung?
'Did a thunderbolt strike somewhere?'
I looked up and felt a large pressure but that's not what I was focused on. My feet are trembling, my hair is sticking to my skin because of sweat, and I'm definitely out of breath but I felt a lot of energy inside me.
I could hear the small traumatic voices inside my head.
'Friends? I don't want to be friends with you.'
'I am taking care of you but we're not family.'
'Hissss!'
Life with no friends. Life with no family. Life where not even animals wanted me.
The pressure got so near that I wanted to puke. Even still, I smiled, no, I laughed triumphantly at myself.
"Hahaha!"
SWISH!
It was above my hair when I decided to move. Jashan paled when he saw what I was doing. His mouth opened and yelled.
"Idiot! Are you crazy---?!"
TATAP!
That was because I jumped.
"Hup!"
PLAK!
And imperfectly landed on a narrow part between two holes.
I looked at Jashan and smiled.
"See? You can call me Hyung."
"You…! Just get out of there!"
I ran towards him, almost falling in one whole but prevented myself from doing so because Jashan tried to save me with a whip made of black fire that almost burned me alive, and then I jumped again before landing on a decent part of the platform.
I frowned at him.
"Are you trying to kill your Hyung?"
He was panting but he still had energy to glare at me.
"It wasn't like that!"
But he also looked oddly terrified at my joke. I just shrugged it off and patted the dust off my now ruined clothes.
"A-Anyway, Hyung I've been wondering…"
"Hmm?"
"Why isn't he coming down? He could've gotten rid of us if he went down from there."
He pointed up to Sir Deus.
I started to agree with him. I've been too engrossed in escaping that I only noticed it now.
"Luna, why isn't Sir Deus coming down?"
< According to Crescent, Gramps must not move from one spot during the test. A handicap must be given to the new members in their initialization process. Crescent's orders are absolute. Crescent is nice. >
"Wow. Where should I begin? Should I be impressed that even Luna is calling him Gramps?"
"Hyung, Luna is a fanatic too. That's more surprising."
Whatever. At least we got one thing clear.
"Should we launch a counter attack? We've been running for hours."
"Hyung, why don't we involve the other two as well?"
"Oh, good idea."
He blushed.
"A-Are you crazy?"
Hmmm. I should tell Ilya that the third statement in Jashan's dictionary after 'Idiot' and 'Silence' is 'Are you crazy?'
He looked at me with a slightly better expression on his bruised face.
"What do I do?"
I smiled at him.
"Hehehe. I have a great idea."
Jashan gulped.
"I don't like that idiotic look in you face."
He was near me so he could clearly see my glowing eyes. There was a fine-sized hole between us but the distance was enough for us to have conversations. He was on the other side on my right and on my left was the pink orb.
Ah, just looking at it makes my blood rise. It must be so safe inside that damn orb.
'We've been running here and distracting this old but OP character while they've been inside there? What were they doing? Taking a nap?'
"Jashan!"
"H-Hyung?"
"Hit that orb with fire."
"What? Are you crazy?"
'No! I'm pissed!'
I looked at him with a smile on my face. He flinched when our eyes met.
"HIT. THAT. ORB."
"Y-Yes, Hyung."
A black flame grew in his hand, and he immediately threw it towards the orb. He wasn't kidding when he said he could not control it. I couldn't help him every time he uses his powers. I'll die if I do that.
That's why all I could do is watch him.
"Don't spread!"
He ordered the little fire, but it did the opposite.
SWOOOOSH!
BAAAAAAAANG!
FWOOOOOOOOOSH!
The fire immediately ate the pink threads like a hungry animal. We were finally able to see the two people inside.
Polly and Ilya's voice echoed throughout the smoke.
"The plant is surprised!"
"Kyaaaaa!"
Two figures jumped out of the fire as it engulfed the whole orb. Polly's pink hair was glowing with her eyes while Ilya was still there, gracefully holding her plant.
"You two, have you rested enough? Hmm? Why don't we switch?"
"Idiots! A bunch of idiots!"
Polly and Ilya looked genuinely confused. They seem to forget that we were still in the middle of the test. And what is this relaxed atmosphere around them? Did they have a heart-to-heart talk or something?
"What the heck happened here?"
Polly screamed while looking around. Her gaze stopped at my smiling face, then she gulped. Blood seemed to leave her face and her lips were turning blue.
I answered.
"Oh, it's nothing much. Just some attacks here and there."
Really, it was just a cycle of running and being attacked for the past few minutes. Nothing more than a walk in a part filled with lions.
"Haaaaa."
I sighed in relief when I saw that they were fine all along but why does Polly look so scared? Even Ilya is not looking at my eyes.
"The plant wants to thank you for letting it rest. Because of that, it was able to make some weapons."
"Weapons?" Jashan interfered.
Polly retorted as I expected, "She just said so, blackie-bastard. Are you deaf?"
"I'm not deaf, you idiot!"
I shook my head and looked at Ilya.
"Ilya, why not explain a little---?"
I stopped speaking again and jumped away from the incoming attack. The rest did the same. We ran around the platform and stopped at the space where we all fitted in.
"Did you idiots realize that if we get attacked here, we'll all die?"
"Jashan."
"S-Sorry. Two idiots and Hyung."
"What the hell? Hyung? Sharp-eyes? Then, can I call you Oppa?"
"Not unless you work harder than me in this test."
"The plant is asking when it will explain the details."
I sighed.
I guess we'll need to plan properly first.
"Luna. Time."
< Ten minutes left. >
"Situation."
< Gramps is planning a rain of black holes. >
"Huh?! Gramps?! That old-baldie?!"
"Idiot, just make a barrier again!"
Polly looked lost but she still followed.
SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!
Pink threads emerged around her and covered us four. It was only a few at first but each thread snapped and formed little but much more threads. It formed a pink and bright orb.
Then there was silence, less awkward and hostile when we first met, but still silence.
"Why don't we save the introductions for later and pass the test first? I'm curious about you guys but I want some money first."
"Hyung is right, you idiots."
"Blackie-bastard, since when were you an underling?"
"The plant wants to know you guys too, even though you're all insignificant to it."
I shook my head to the unnecessary comments of the plant before looking at Ilya. She nodded at me, understanding what she needed to explain.
"The plant says it is special unlike all of you. It is a seed-bearing plant. Ilya can control plants and I can make them. We are an offensive-type duo, but I don't think this information helps at all."
"Wow. How can it stay obnoxious while just explaining something?"
"Just shut up, you idiot. Hyung?"
"Polly, is your barrier only restricted to be around you?"
Polly nodded while glaring at Jashan.
"Yes, it only forms near me or around me."
I nodded.
"Everybody listen, I have a plan…"
I told them what I was thinking about in around four minutes. We were in a hurry since the pink barrier was slowly starting to deteriorate. At the end of the explanation, no one was complaining. We were running out of time and we knew it.
"Luna. Time."
< Five minutes. He is attacking now. >
"Disperse!"
BLAAAAAAAG!
BLAAAAAAAG!
BLAAAAAAAG!
After we changed positions, we heard the sound of exploding platforms all around us. We didn't mind it and focused on the plan.
TATAP!
Ilya held her plant in one hand and raised her free hand in the air.
"Grow!"
For the first time, Ilya did not start with the words 'The plant.'
PLOP. PLOP. PLOP. PLOP.
SHHHHHHHHHHHH!
She threw seeds in the air and vines grew from it. The vines connected to the platforms and grew towards Sir Deus, forming an instant bridge of roots in the air where Polly ran. On her left was a half-orb and inside it was Jashan who was preparing for an attack, while on her right hand was another half-orb that formed a shield to deflect the rain of black holes.
"You better not miss, blackie-bastard!"
"Don't you dare drop me, you idiot!"
Polly gave me the signal when they were near Sir Deus which made me sigh internally.
'I can't believe I'm the first to say it out of the four of us.'
Sir Deus was still grinning ear to ear as if he was preparing something big. Well, it doesn't matter now whatever it was.
I took a deep breath and screamed.
"Gramps!"
His gaze shifted towards me with surprise and happiness.
"Freeze!"
He immediately stopped and Jashan used that opening to jump out of the orb. He fixed his posture mid-air with his back bending backward along with his flaming right fist. Then he swung.
"Ignite!"
"Bleghhh!"
Blood gushed out of my throat before he could reach Sir Deus so the old man got out of my hypnotism before he got hit by a violent fire and he was able to dodge at the last minute but the fire managed to graze him. He then made a little light even though his posture was broken.
"Shit! Holy shit! A fucking supernova!"
"You idiot, get away from there!"
"The plant says it's dangerous!"
"Run---! Bleghhh!"
Jashan backflipped while he was still in the air and perfectly landed on a thick vine while Polly connected the orbs and enclosed the star inside it.
Sir Deus yelled.
"Explode!"
BOOOOOM!
The air shook along with the nearly destroyed platform. Jashan who saw Polly almost losing her balance immediately jumped from vine to vine to help her. Ilya was too focused on keeping the vines together while I'm too busy coughing up blood.
"Fuck! You strong old-baldie!"
BOOOOOOM!
The air shook again.
"Damn old-baldie!"
It was when we heard the voice, the voice was still mechanic as ever, if not a little angry.
< Time is up. Test over. Result, successful. Gramps moved. Points will be added. Processing rewards. >
Ilya helped me up.
"The plant is asking if you're alright because you look like a corpse."
I shook my head. "You look good too, Ilya."
She did. She still looked graceful even though her hands were shaking. But she frowned at me for I don't know what reason.
"The plant doesn't like sarcasm."
My head blanked out.
'But I'm not being sarcastic!'
Before I could answer, two figures landed in front of us. It was Polly and Jashan who were staggering back and forth as they supported each other.
"I am never doing an impromptu plan again."
"You idiots are the worst! What kind of performance was that? We just ran around or hid and did a reckless plan at the end!"
"The plant doesn't think we're suited for each too."
"Hmm? I think we make a great team though?"
Their confusing gaze pierced me but I did not waver. I looked back at their wondering gazes and confidently answered.
A socially awkward guy who tries too hard to be polite but comes off as sarcastic.
A plant-loving woman who has no problem about being obnoxious.
A loud teenager with an unfiltered mouth.
And a kid who's trying to be mature but is never honest to himself.
"I don't like normal people or good people. They seem suspicious. That's why I find it great that we all have our own issues but still have the same thirst for similar things. Why else did you think that plan worked? Like it or not we've established some little trust, right? If the want for something is what makes people trustworthy and what made you trust me, thank you."
I really mean it.
"Thank you for trusting a plan that only endangered your lives."
I smiled.
I thought they would get emotional but the three of them glared at me followed by complaints.
"Hyung, stop sneering!"
"Sharp-eyes, stop sneering!"
"The plant wants you to stop sneering."
I frowned.
'But I wasn't…'
It was at that moment when Luna, the system, interrupted us with her mechanical voice.
< The top four are officially recognized, alias will be given in a moment. Adding data to the system. Allowing access to private properties and information. >
There was a beeping sound.
< Crescent Moon has decided on your alias. Half-Moon has agreed to this. >
Crescent Moon, that must be the boss.
Half-Moon, that's Sir Deus.
< Kaven will have the alias, Red Moon. Position on the private manor, south wing. >
"Oh? Me first, huh."
South wing? This must be the place I can stay at.
< Polly will have the alias, New Moon. Position on the private manor, west wing. >
"New Moon? I don't like how normal it sounds after I went through shit."
Polly glared at the building with a still pale face but Luna, the system, just proceeded to give more alias.
< Jashan will have the alias, Full Moon. Position on the private manor, north wing. >
"Why does it always have a 'Moon' word like these idiots?"
He muttered angrily as well but then took it back since I had Moon in my alias too.
< Ilya will have the alias, Blue Moon. Position on the private manor, east wing. >
"The plant just wants Luna to owe Ilya."
Ilya says. She was still going around making people owe her for some reason.
Luna's mechanic voice continued.
< Rules states that each wing will be your own private property. Anyone who enters will be identified as an intruder apart from the fellow moons. >
< You are to select your private special ops after the party on Wednesday. >
< Requests will be given at any time, and you will have the right to refuse. >
Then a beeping sound was heard again.
< Syncing authority. Complete. >
Then Luna surprised us with a new, no longer mechanic voice. It was a voice of a woman, blank and robotic, but still human.
< Welcome to the Crescent Moon Company. >