Initially surprised, the group's demeanor quickly shifted to one of arrogance and dismissiveness as they saw who their enemies were.
"Aren't those just three girls?"
"Hey! Why bother with that guy when you could join our team instead? I'm Jackie Champ, by the way," the same guy who had thwarted Fred's plan earlier announced, attempting to entice Wendy's group.
"Yeah! We're way better than that fat-ass!"
"Don't worry, we won't lay a finger on you! Instead we will protect you!"
Hearing their words, disgust contorted the expressions on the girls' faces. It was as if they were staring at a pool of ugliness.
"Have you ever considered looking in a mirror? Your hideousness would probably shatter it into pieces. Ugh!"
"Honestly, a sewer might appear more appealing than you all~!"
Wendy and Sylvie exchanged disgusted glances at the group's crude behavior, their disdain palpable.
However, the they were not entirely in the wrong.
These boys had previously endured harsh conditions, navigating treacherous environments to evade Dead Walkers. Some had even spent entire nights hiding in toilets, their appearances marred by dirt, blood, and dust.
In contrast, Kalsie and his group had managed to maintain a degree of cleanliness, thanks to their access to water supplies after their encounters with the Dead Walkers.
"You!!" The boys' expressions contorted further with anger and disapproval.
"Wait! Aren't those Rankers as well?" Suddenly, a member of their group pointed out, scrutinizing the girls' tags.
"Oh, I didn't notice that before!"
"Oops… Things just got interesting."
"It must be our lucky day!"
Their ire faded as they shifted their focus to the girls' tags and observed their kill counts. Greed and cunning replaced their initial anger.
"Why do they suddenly look at us like we're easy prey?" Nicole queried, her dissatisfaction evident in her tone.
"This is precisely why most guys are scoundrels. They change so readily when greed rears its head!"
"True gentlemen are a rare breed nowadays."
"Am I not still alive?" Fred, who had remained silent thus far, chimed in.
"Shut up. No one was asking you," Wendy promptly rebuked him, prompting Fred to fall silent once more as he leaned against the wall.
"I hate to interrupt your bickering, but we have some business to discuss," Jackie interjected.
"Then get lost. Why are you wasting our time here?!" Wendy retorted.
"The thing is, our business concerns you as well. Hehe," he remarked with a wicked smile, their avarice evident on their faces.
"Ah? So, you want our kill counts?" Wendy quipped, sporting a mocking grin.
"I loathe it, but what can we do? If blame must be assigned, it falls squarely on the person who established these rules," he replied with a feigned smile, drawing his sword.
"Hmmm~? Can you all handle us though~?" Sylvie inquired, her own smile taking on a cold edge, somehow echoing John's demeanor.
"Hah, I suppose you lot don't comprehend the gravity of the situation. But fret not, we'll grant you a swift death," declared one of the boys.
"Are you all fine with becoming murderers?" Nicole asked, her usual demeanor marked by a frown.
"HAHAHA. The door to wonders has just swung open for us all! We can do anything to secure its rewards! You are all merely stepping stones on our path to unimaginable heights!"
"Yeah!" Their eyes practically oozed greed.
"Wait a second. Now that I think about it, I've heard this annoying voice somewhere before... Where was it?" Sylvie strained her memory.
"Now that you mention it, I think I've heard it too, but I can't place it."
"I remember! It was him, the one who accused Kalsie of causing his friend's death!" Nicole, blessed with a good memory, recollected the scene upon Wendy's prompt. Her tone carried anger as she recalled that incident.
"It figures. What can you expect from someone like him, who cowered and abandoned his friend in danger?" Sylvie, too, now cast narrowed eyes and a disdainful glare in his direction.
"SHUT UP!! I, too, killed those Dead Walkers after that!!!" He erupted in anger as his past actions were unveiled.
"Just five," Wendy remarked, pointing to his tag above, her tone tinged with mockery.
"I've had enough!! Brothers!! Let's kill them and steal their kill counts!!!" Jackie riled up the group.
"YEAH!!! Let's show them how real men do things!!!!" They all rallied around him, their egos wounded by the girls' condescension.
"Hey, Fatty! I believe you've had enough rest by now, haven't you?" Unfazed by the situation, Wendy turned her attention to Fred.
"Yeah, thanks for giving me some time to recover."
"Look out!!!" Someone remembered Fred, though they had entirely forgotten about him during their confrontation with the girls. But it was too late.
Swish!
Pop!
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!" An arrow pierced through the shoulder of the guy holding the spear.
"These scums made me run for so long!" The archer responsible for the arrow was Fred, who now stood with a bow in hand, looking at his enemies with a sly smile.
"Humph. I was getting tired of waiting!! I already hated this guy, but after finding out he's the same scum from before, it made my blood boil even more!" Wendy's glare was firmly locked onto Jackie.
"You all!!!" Jackie was shocked by the sudden turn of events and cursed them angrily. But...
"What? Having second thoughts?" Sylvie giggled mixed with disdain at them.