"I'm sure you all know what to do." The window screens had faded to black and the bus driver put his hands behind his back, no longer moving. His eyes bore into everyone silently.
Immediately, everyone started to panic. Those closest to the doors ran towards them, but even before they could touch the doors, a translucent barrier with a padlock symbol appeared, repelling their hands.
"Nuh-uh. No skipping." An eerily playful voice came out of the driver's mouth, "It'll unlock in ten minutes or when all remaining Killers have scored a kill! Tick tock my friends!"
Numbers appeared on the blank glass panes.
[10:00]
[09:59]
[09:58]
Now that they know they can't escape, all the students on the bus eyed each other warily, all edging away from each other. Anyone could be a killer, and no one wanted to die. (Obviously)
A rather manly and commanding figure stood up, "Everyone! We are all students from the same school. Fighting among ourselves is pointless. We should all pick [Spare], and then leave."
It was Donavan, the vice student president. He held up his hands as a sign of peace, "If we work together-
*Clap clap clap*
A golf clap cut him off, and a thin and unruly student got up. "Tsk, tsk. What a moving speech. Spare us the details, hotshot."
"Rey, stop causing more trouble. There are rules that-"
"Can't you see? This is a new era, a new age. It's the survival of the fittest now."
"Don't pick [Kill], you'll regret it."
"Regret what? Besides, it's too late." A shining knife materialized in his hands.
He looked around, his grin widening for the looks of fear he received.
"You...come here." He grabbed a scrawny student by the scruff and threw him to the ground.
"Don't worry, this is a sacrifice for the greater good." He flipped the blade into reverse grip, and plunged it down.
*Thud*
"Urgk!" A strangled cry escaped Rey's lips as he was sent tumbling across the ground. (How there is enough space in a bus for this I don't understand.)
Mason got up, after slamming his shoulder into the ribs of the poor boy.
"Oi! You want some of this too?" Rey waved his knife belligerently. (After getting back up of course)
Mason loosened his school tie, dropping it on the ground, "I guess so."
His elbow tapped the [Kill] button. Blood red text form a small waterfall
[Congratulations for choosing [Kill]!]
[You have received: 1 non-magical weapon of your choice. Claim reward?]
[You have received: 1 randomized combat skill. Claim reward?]
[The Reaper's Authority guides your hands.]
("Accept Skill.")
[Randomizing...]
[You have received the skill [Inner Force Release] Lv. 1!]
"What? Getting cold feet, you pussy?" Rey tapped his foot on the ground impatiently as Mason stared at him without moving.
[Open Status Window?]
("Yes.")
[Status]
Name: Mason Song
Race/Gender: Human, Male
Class: Wordsmith (G)
Sponsor: Nil
Vestige: Nil
Personal Attribute: Chronic Loner (Rare), Pioneering Writer (Mythical), Budding Warrior (Rare)
Unique Traits: Sweet tooth, Cold Blooded, Quick Witted
Stats: Strength G(4), Agility G(6), Vitality G(5), Intelligence G(7), Will G(6), Charisma G(6)
General Skills- Basic Martial Arts Lv. 2, Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 2
Specialisation Skills- Grappling Lv. 1, Inner Force Release Lv. 1
Exclusive Skill: Fade Away Lv. 1, Mental Library Lv. 1, World Book Lv. 1
Unique Skills- Unusual Adaptability, One who wielded a God's Blade, ???+
Class Skills- Scribe Lv. 1, Writer's pen Lv. 1, Fourth Wall Lv. 1, Almanac Lv. 1
There also was a red bar, a green bar and a blue one. All of them were full.
("God's Blade? Okay…?")
"Oi Oi! Pay attention!"
Rey dashed forward and slashed at Mason.
Mason tried his best to dodge and stall for time, but Rey pelted him with attacks. A few nicked his face, but Mason endured. Rey was slightly faster than him, and had a knife. The only thing holding him back was his inexperience, though somehow Mason wasn't restrained by that.
"I don't like people who look better than me…I'll rip your face off!"
"You don't look half bad yourself though."
"Shut up, pretty boy!" A mad light filled Rey's eyes as his slashing got wilder.
He kept retreating and blocking passively before raising a hand to cast a skill.
[World Book Lv .1]
A thick book appeared in his outstretched hand, and the pages rifled on their own before stopping at one in particular.
"You a wizard or something?" Rey cackled.
[Character Sheet]
Name: Rey Wang
Race/Gender: Human, Male
Class: Nil
Sponsor: Nil
Vestige: Nil
Personal Attribute: Chuunibyou (Rare), Problem Student (Common)
Unique Traits: Hot headed, Belligerent
Stats: Strength G(6), Agility G(7), Vitality G(5), Intelligence G(4), Will G(6), Charisma G(5)
General Skills- Basic Martial Arts Lv. 1, Basic Dagger Arts Lv. 1
Specialisation Skills- CQC Lv. 1
Exclusive Skill: Edgy Lv.1, Dark Edge Lv. 1
Unique Skills- Emo
Class Skills- Nil
The three bars could be seen, but the green one was dropping.
"Is your only move running? Fight me coward!"
("Accept weapon. Chosen weapon, Tang Blade")
An archaic sword appeared in Mason's hand. He swiped at Rey, their blades drawing sparks.
*Clang! Clang!*
The jarring sounds of steel on steel caused all the spectators to take a step back. A scene right out of a movie was right before them.
Rey started being pushed back, both by Mason's superior skill and his weapon's length. The Attribute [Chronic Loner] had the effect [Lone Wolf], boosting his abilities when he fought alone. Rey staggered back, tightening his grip around the knife.
"You leave me no choice." He muttered dramatically.
[Dark Edge Lv. 1]
The blue bar in Rey's status dropped, and an ominous black aura flowed out of his hand and formed around his knife.
[Edgy Lv.1]
[[Fourth Wall Lv. 1] nullifies the mental debuff!]
[CQC Lv. 1]
Rey charged forward, his attacks noticeably faster after unleashing all his skills.
"It's funny. You protected that kid, but you also chose to [Kill]. Who will you allow to die? That kid? Yourself?"
"You."
[Inner Force Release Lv. 1]
According to Regressor's First Rule, this was one of the better skills. Ordinary humans could not feel the energies within them, let alone channel it. Only through rigorous training or outside stimulation would they be cognizant to Mana, Aura, Qi or whatever they called it.
But [Inner Force Release] allowed one to release that energy into their body, strengthening it. And most importantly, some of the expended Mana would be withdrawn and recovered after the skill ended.
Mason felt a cool, refreshing strength flow through his limbs from his heart. His now lighter body sped up, matching pace with Rey.
He glanced at the window.
[6:37]
He knew that Stephen, the protagonist, was a student in his school and that he started on one of the buses. If he came out before them, who knows what would happen. Mason had to end this.
But Rey was on more or less equal grounds with him, and a battle of attrition would take forever. He had no other battle skills, except this. But first he had to distract his opponent for a second.
He took out a pen and a notebook from his pocket and flung them at Rey's face.
"Stop playing around!" He swatted them away. His eyes were obscured for only a moment, and that was long enough.
[Fade Away Lv. 1]
When Rey raised up his knife to attack, he realised his opponent disappeared before his eyes, like a fly he lost track of.
*Chik*
The Tang Blade pierced through Rey's chest and was pulled out. His red bar dropped dangerously low, and was still falling rapidly as he flopped to the ground weakly.
"No…Sa...ve...me..."
"Sorry, but it's survival of the fittest now." Mason grimly returned Rey's words to him.
"B..ut….I'm.."
*Chik*
The sound of steel ripping through flesh signalled his death. Mason bent down and picked up the long bladed dagger in Rey's hands coldly. The red pop-ups obscure the terrified looks he was receiving.
[You have killed a G Tier human]
[260 Coins have been awarded]
[You have acquired First Blood! 10 Points have been awarded]
[Sufficient Coins have been acquired. Would you like to see the "Coins and Points" tutorial?]
[Sufficient Points have been acquired. Would you like to see the "Coins and Points" tutorial?]
[The Reaper's Authority will extract a skill from victim]
("Extract [Dark Edge]")
[Extraction failed]
("Extract [Emo]")
[Extraction successful]
[Emo grants a random dark-type skill. Randomizing...]
[Vampiric Touch Lv. 1 acquired]
("Amazing")
[Vampiric Touch] was a life drain type skill. Although a lot less effective against non living foes like the undead or constructs, it was an attack skill that allowed the user to heal, and it synergizes well with [Grappling]. Powerful skills were important, but finding skill sets that worked well together was also vital.
Normally Mason would be much more excited, but it wasn't over yet. There are more [Killers].
"Mason! Look out!"
He calmly sidestepped a longsword that was about to crush his skull.
"Nice try, Donovan." He smirked at the stunned vice student president.
"How did you know?"