Step Step Step
The sound of rhythmic stepping, rippled out of a dark, filthy alleyway. The steps stemmed from both Mute and Mai who were walking next to each other. Mute took a few more steps until he spoke with his hands in his pockets. " We got lucky. There's no telling how crowded the streets of Tokyo are right now. " Mute was completely correct, the streets of Tokyo were overcrowded by non-sorcerers who were panicking unsure of what was happening.
" As soon as we walk out of this alleyway, you want me to hide correct and build information? " Mute nodded until he spoke.
" Yeah, stay alive. I'll be on one of the roofs- " Before Mute could finish his sentence, the presence of cursed energy suddenly appeared behind him, making him snap his head back. However, the curse energy didn't come from a sorcerer, instead, it stemmed from a small curse that floated in the air with a black spade-like tail.
{ Welcome to the culling games, Mute. I've been expecting you. }
Mute glanced at the spirit with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "What do you mean? Who are you?" he questioned, his voice laced with arrogance. The spirit went silent for a brief period thinking to itself until it spoke.
{I am the game interface of the Culling Games, Formally known as Kogane.} It declared Mute's eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. "So, you work for Kenjaku?" he asked, trying to understand who Kogane truly was.
Kogane shook its small head. { Nope, he's just a player in the game. I work for the gamemaster and you, everyone in this game has its own personal Kogane, } it clarified. { Fortunately for you, you don't need to register to become a player in the Culling Games. You were already a player from the start. }
Mute's eyes widened slightly, his mind racing to comprehend what the spirit was telling him. "So, what are the rules of these Culling Games?" Mute asked. Kogane floated closer, ready to explain. { Every player in the game is worth at least one point. Non-sorcerers are worth 1 point, while sorcerers are worth 5 points. To earn these points, you must eliminate other players, } it revealed. { Once you accumulate 100 points, excluding your own life point, you will have the opportunity to make a new rule with the gamemaster. He will accept any rule as long as it doesn't disrupt the balance of the Culling Games. Additionally, if your point total remains the same for 19 days, you will undergo curse technique removal. }
" Curse technique removal? How he's going to pull that off? Oh, well. I'll figure it out later. But I'm worth 5 points correct? " Asked Mute,
{ Nope you're worth a whopping twenty-five points. } Said Kogane in a cheerful tone. Expecting that Mute would be happy to be worth more than 5 points. However, Kognae didn't get the response he expected, Mute smacked his lips annoyed, before he murmured under his breath. "Great, just great. Now the gamemaster will have every player on my ass," Mute knew all too well, that having 25 points would be a curse instead of a benefit. The premise of 25 points would encourage both Sorcerers and Non-Sorcerers to attack him and the number 25, wasn't high enough or low enough to discourage weak players. Meaning that everyone in the barrier would be hunting Mute.
Mute wasn't afraid of losing to the sorcerers inside the barrier, instead, he was more annoyed that the gamemaster had played him. Mute would be forced to use his curse energy and would fuel whatever the hell Kenjaku was planning. Mute inhaled deeply until he asked another question.
" I'm guessing players can see the amount of points other players have, correct? " Kogane nodded at the question. Mute exhaled loudly before speaking.
" I don't know who the gamemaster is. But it was a good play. Am I the only outlier in the point system? "
{ You are. Everyone else, is worth 5 points or 1 point. } As soon as Mute heard this, he let out an audible scoff and walked pasted Mai with his fists tightly balled. As Mute walked past Mai, he spoke giving her orders.
" Mai, call your Kogane here. Ask more questions about the rules and see if you can find a loophole in the rules. "
" What are you going to do? "
" I'm going to go get 100 points, and make a new rule. "...