Chapter 51 - Stage 1 (Survivor) - 1
After returning, Alanna starts training Vesper. Based on her experience, Vesper only needs to prepare for a few types of death games:
- Rune Scavenging (Solo/Team)
- Hide and Seek (Solo/Team/Free For All)
- Battle Royale (Free For All/Team)
- Escape from a Locked Area (Solo/Team)
- Death Race (Team/Free For All)
These were the five main game types that seasoned hunters typically hosted during her time as a hunter. However, Alanna isn't certain which type of death game Vesper will face, so she equips him with a hundred strategies to handle common scenarios.
The crash course runs from late afternoon on Friday to Sunday morning. After that, Vesper gets time to rest and recharge his mental strength.
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Sunday, 11:55 PM, Alanna's House
Vesper and Alanna are still cuddling in bed, both naked. Vesper has already prepared all the necessary items in his personal inventory chest, including food and water. Even if he were to be stuck in that dimension for a month, he could survive with the backup supplies in his stash.
Based on Alanna's information, the transmigration process begins precisely at midnight on Sunday local time. Whatever Vesper is wearing will not accompany him. Only the items in his personal chest will matter.
As they snuggle, Alanna gazes up at Vesper's face, her fingers gently caressing his chest.
"Five minutes left. Are you ready?" she asks.
Vesper licks his lips and kisses Alanna's forehead, "Thanks to you and your care, my mind is fully charged. The first stage won't be an issue."
"Don't forget the strategy I taught you, and don't get complacent. We don't know which hunter will be your opponent. If it's a black-cloak hunter, run! You'll definitely lose in a direct confrontation. Anything else, stick to the strategies, okay? Remember, if you die three times there, it's game over."
"I'll keep that in mind. Also, will you be transferred to that world with me?" Vesper asks.
"No. I've already broken free from that cycle. It's up to you to reach my level and escape."
"I forgot to ask. How strong do I need to get?"
"You'll need at least 10,000 points in every attribute or a legion score over a million."
"…Yikes."
"Don't worry. You'll get there in a few years. Survivors progress faster with the right strategies. If you can thrive as a survivor, the hunter's rounds will be manageable."
"…A few years, but you said you were out of time."
"Yeah, it's going to be hectic. You have roughly a month or two to get stronger before the Supreme Judge and the Supreme Protector descend and start abducting everyone. Anyway…"
Alanna checks the clock again, realizing their limited time. She embraces Vesper and whispers in his ear, "Remember, don't be greedy and choose the first option. It's a death trap. Always pick the fourth one and kill the hunter three times."
Vesper closes his eyes, relishing the warmth of Alanna's embrace. It feels oddly nostalgic.
In this moment, Vesper meditates, calming his nerves before the impending challenge.
…
*DING*
Midnight arrives. Vesper's vision plunges into darkness, and his body feels weightless. A few seconds later, he snaps open his eyes and finds himself free-falling into a void. At the bottom, a tunnel of light shines, blinding Vesper before consuming him.
As Vesper's sight adjusts to the brightness, he realizes he is sitting at a campfire in the middle of a dark forest at night. Three naked men are present around the bonfire - one asleep, one sitting, and one standing.
The sleeping figure is an Asian teenager with bleached hair, surprisingly fit for a delinquent. Next to him sits a young man of Middle-Eastern descent in his early 20s, gazing calmly into the fire. The third man, however, is familiar to Vesper.
It's Noah, the survivor who narrowly escaped Vesper's grasp in the last tutorial round. He looks rejuvenated, with his hair, eyes, and personal assets restored.
The group exchanges glances. Noah gives Vesper and the Middle-Eastern man a meaningful look before speaking.
"No matter what happens next, I'll be working alone. Don't talk to me or get in my way," Noah declares.
Vesper raises an eyebrow, noticing a change in Noah's demeanor and confidence. He wonders what happened to Noah after the tutorial game.
The Middle Eastern man doesn't bother looking at anyone else. He speaks English in his native accent, though both Vesper and Noah understand him.
"Likewise. I don't work with scum like you. If you cross me, I'll kill you," the Middle Eastern man warns.
From their conversation, Vesper gathers that they must have gone through tough experiences or faced betrayal during the tutorials. He recalls Zillion, who sacrificed his colleagues to survive.
'They must have encountered similar situations. Pity them,' Vesper thinks. 'The next game could be cooperative or a free-for-all death match. Either way, I can't waste time with them. I need to survive this round first.'
Vesper scans the area but doesn't find his stash. He sighs deeply and gazes up at the sky - the same starless, void-filled sky from the hunter's campfire world.
As Vesper gazes at the black sky, a massive eyeball appears and stares at everyone. Its crimson pupil burns and emits intense flames, showering the forest with fire. The southern, western, and eastern forests are instantly engulfed in flames, spreading towards them like a tidal wave.
Vesper and the others startle, never having experienced anything like this before. Instinctively, they kick off and dash north, fleeing from the advancing flames. The heat jolts the delinquent youth awake, only for him to realize that the flames have already reached him.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!? AHHHHHH!!" he screams in agony as his body ignites, turning into a human barbecue.
However, the flames slow as they reach the northern forest, allowing Vesper, Noah, and the man from the Middle East to escape. The fire stops pursuing them, as if by some intentional design.
Exiting the black forest, Vesper, Noah, and the man stumble upon an abandoned fountain. At its center stands a statue of a faceless elderly man, holding a real chainsaw. Someone has humorously painted a smiley face emoji in red on the statue.
Vesper eyes the little chainsaw statue warily, using his left eye to inspect its details.
*DING*
In that instant, Vesper thanks his foresight for examining the entity before, sensing that something dangerous was afoot.
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General Information
Name: Jackson Friday
Title: The Smiling Butcher
Career: Sealed Serial Killer
Strength: 13.50
Dexterity: 12.75
Vitality: 20.20
Stamina: 10.65
Aura: 6.50
Runes List
Forehead: Smiling Mask of Madness (3rd Grade) (Bound Rune)
Left Hand: Chainsaw of Brutality (3rd Grade) (Bound Weapon)
Spine Slot: Wings of False Angel (2nd Grade) (Bound Rune)
Background Information
Jackson was once a serial killer who murdered 20 survivors during the trials, earning him his title. Despite his superior attributes compared to his peers, he ultimately failed to transcend the 3rd stage, which required cooperation from two or more people. Jackson was left behind and died three times in the third stage. Due to his exceptional willpower, the judges turned him into a statue and sealed him away.
Notes
- Jackson can join your legion if you defeat him or he surrenders to you.
- Jackson serves as the elite guardian of the domain you will be entering.
- If Jackson is defeated, the hunter will be released from restraints.
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This is a critical clue in the first stage. Vesper gazes at the elder, pondering whether to take the initiative and destroy him with a spell right away.
Putting his theory to the test, Vesper casts the Gold Enchantment spell. "Gold Enchantment!"
He directs the spell at the fountain's foundation beneath Jackson's feet, aiming to trap him with the object.
*CREAK*
Suddenly, the statue turns, tilting its head to mock Vesper.
*BZZ*
Dizziness overwhelms Vesper as the spell fails. A light backlash causes him to lose his balance.
Noah and the man from the Middle East glance at Vesper, their frowns deepening as they sense something amiss. They shift their attention to the statue, bracing for the worst.
*RUMBLE*
A billboard emerges from the ground, interrupting their focus. It displays welcoming messages.