"You've got the honor of trying out my prototype for the first time," Eric replied proudly, stretching out his hand to showcase his creation.
"Is this safe?" Ian asked with uncertainty. Even though it looks similar from the outside, this machine operates with the brain and nervous system! He definitely wouldn't want to wake up with the wrong mindset.
"Hey! Are you doubting me?! Care to bet that this machine can function properly? Oh, I forgot, you've got nothing to wager. You're even shamelessly living in your father's house, the one who disowned you as his child. You don't even have an ounce of self-respect."
If Ian had thought Eric's teasing was harmless when they first met, that was not the case now. Eric had crossed a line!
"BUGH!!" he swung his fist at Eric, catching him off guard. He stumbled and crashed into his prototype transitioning machine, causing its cables to detach and become a mess. The machine roared, creating a cacophony. Eric panicked, trying to reassemble the cables.
"Fuck you, man! You caused this mess!"
"You asked for it," Ian retorted casually, folding his arms across his chest, relishing in Eric's panic.
"Guys!! Your behavior is like that of children! Sort out this mess quickly! The game is about to start." Erica scolded through the loudspeaker connected to the control room above.
"Erica! Guide me through reconnecting these damn cables!" Eric pleaded, and it seemed Erica consulted their notes and guided Eric.
"You claim you built it from scrap yourself, why do you need help now? I'm even more skeptical..."
"You're insane! This involves the brain and nerves! Of course, I don't want to endanger myself by getting lost in a chaotic system and messing up my own brain!"
'Hmm... So he's being cautious. Well, it doesn't hurt to give it a shot,' Ian thought after realizing that Eric's transitioning machine was meticulously crafted. Ian also noticed the change in Eric, who became quiet and focused as he repaired the machine. It was a far cry from his usual behavior, as if the machine had become a part of him.
"Eric, shut up and work! We have to log in in 5 minutes!"
"Okay, done," Eric reported 2 minutes later. The once noisy machine now pulsed calmly in sync with a heartbeat.
"Let's kick their butts," Ian said, immediately lying down on the bed of the machine.
"Uh-,"
"Eric..."
Eric, about to throw a taunt, held back upon hearing Erica's cold reprimand from above, which immediately silenced him. He grumbled as he also lay down.
"Eric! I can't join! There's an intruder up there. Someone needs to stay here to fend them off." Erica yelled.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, kick those hunters' asses for me, bro," Erica requested.
"Sure do," Eric promised. "Hey, this isn't a daycare, you need to set it up yourself. Install the patches like this," Eric guided me by demonstrating on himself. "Lastly, the key concoction to link our consciousness with the entire nervous system. You inject it yourself until it pierces the skull." Eric pointed to the syringe filled with green fluid while gesturing to his temple.
Ian looked at Eric with horror. Being injected by someone else versus doing it yourself was a vastly different concept, and Ian didn't dare!
"Are you cowardice now? There's no time to back down, now or never!" Eric goaded him.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Ian yelled as he injected the green fluid into his temple with his eyes tightly shut. The sharp, cold tip of the needle pierced his skin, and now came the most crucial part—Ian had to gather the courage to inject it until it pierced his skull. His suffering wasn't over yet; he had to force the fluid into his brain too!
"AAARGH!!" Eric's scream next to him diverted Ian's attention. The glint of reflected light caught Ian's eye, and strangely, it bolstered his courage. Eric was afraid too, but he was determined to conquer that fear.
"Alright! I can do this!" Ian mentally reinforced his determination. With a calmer mind, he pushed the fluid into his head in one go.
He woke up in that familiar dark room, a small transparent screen appearing in front of him.
"Welcome back, Ian."
[Points: 7,000]
"Hm, something new," Ian thought as he observed the new system information display.
[Game Level: Calcite 2 – Rain Forest]
[Ding! Here's the predator in this level]
The screen glowed before him, but it was interrupted as someone approached. A face came closer, grinning, revealing a row of decayed and blackened teeth!
"I will be watching you closely, young one... Xixixi, Bartwin paid you an extravagant price, but no matter, no one refuses a lot of money," the man grinned like a lunatic. His entire body was covered in tattoos, even on his face and bald head, with his gums showing the same inked designs.
Apart from Ian not being able to see him in this darkness, the presence of this man also went unnoticed by Ian earlier! This man wasn't an ordinary opponent.
"Torro... Don't forget about me too. I'd be disappointed if you only noticed him," Eric wrapped his arms around the man named Torro from behind.
"Oh, I certainly haven't forgotten about you, you miscreant. By the way, did Bartwin not make a mistake when setting your bounties? You lost to this kid? Tsk tsk tsk, disgraceful."
"You'll understand the meaning of disgrace when your head is separated from this tattoo-covered body of yours, Torro. And after that, I'll gladly relieve myself on your repugnant face."
This time, Eric retorted coldly while choking Torro, causing choked sounds to emerge from Torro's mouth.
"Eric, that's enough. I need to concentrate on the screen," Ian shooed Eric away to make him stop. All the other participants were watching them, and Ian didn't want to miss the opportunity to see the predator they would be facing.
"Don't boss me around!"
Eric resisted but eventually released his grip on Torro's neck. The man coughed and held his throat, struggling to catch his breath. Eric walked over to Ian, casually bumping his shoulder.
"See that double-braided woman over there? She's the one you should be wary of, not Torro," Eric whispered as he passed by Ian.
When Ian followed Eric's gaze, he noticed the woman also looking at him, flashing a sweet smile that was anything but innocent!