[Let the death game... Begin!]
As soon as the announcement was made, the entire city erupted into chaos. Even from far away, Logan could see the prisoners causing chaos and with no guard present there, no one was going to stop them, either.
Death game...
Logan remembered hearing the same before. Back then, he expected it all to be in-game, like the first time. But now he realized his life in Tartarus would not be all that easy after all.
As the elevator left, Logan looked up and noticed every screen inside the city now had someone's face and a number plastered all over it.
"122... so here, we're all numbers. Nothing more," Logan mumbled, getting closer to a small electronic screen next to him.
The man's bizarre face was printed over a crosshair, marking him as the target for this time's death game. But that wasn't what Logan was looking at. He was busy staring at his face.
The upper half of 122's face looked normal, with dark, piercing eyes. However, the lower half was made up of some metal. Thin metallic lines had replaced his lips and even his teeth were made of chrome.
Logan noticed wires and small vents going along 122's jawline, pulsing faintly as he breathed in the screen. Although it looked bizarre, Logan wasn't all that surprised by it.
If they can make me go from a stickman to a hulking beast, then this much is nothing.
While Logan was busy thinking about his next moves, someone was slowly approaching him. The one-handed man moved into the corner like a snake.
However, just as the man was about to attack Logan, he noticed the man's reflection on the screen and instinctively moved sideways, narrowly avoiding the blade.
The blade hit the screen, causing it to glitch and spark as the dagger got stuck in it.
"Who the hell are you!?" Logan yelled as he turned.
He got the first look at his attacker and he looked like a serial killer from some C-grade movie. He saw a tall, gaunt man staring back at him. The man's bony figure and sunken eyes added to his feral look with 111 tattooed on his forehead.
111 didn't respond and charged at Logan like a rabid dog. Logan didn't waste a second. He pushed the man away, causing him to stagger backward. He even heard a bone crack inside 111's body, but the maniac didn't seem to register any pain and smiled, revealing his yellow, jagged teeth.
"Why are you attacking me?" Logan asked again.
With 122's face plastered all over, Logan thought they were supposed to hunt him. Instead, 111 attacked him. But he had more things to worry about, likely his lack of fighting talent.
Outside of games, Logan had no actual fighting experience. Even if he had any skills, he didn't think it'd be enough for a place like Tartarus.
I need to do something... I didn't get this body for nothing!
But before Logan could put his thoughts into action, 111 replied to him.
"For... bounty..." the man snarled, licking his cracked lips as he smiled.
"Bounty?" Logan mumbled. "If you want bounty, then go hunt 122! Not me!"
However, 111 wasn't listening and lunged at Logan again. Logan tried to grab him, hoping to overpower him with sheer strength, but the man was too fast and slipped through his grip.
Before Logan could react, 111 had jumped onto his shoulders with his bony legs wrapping around Logan's midsection. Logan tried to shake him off, but 111's arm wrapped around him tightly for additional support.
"Meat!" 111 snarled.
The moment 111 opened his mouth, a nasty smell filled the air, causing Logan to tear up. Even though he didn't know what 111 was planning to do, he wanted to get rid of the man.
Desperation kicked in and Logan slammed his back into the wall before 111 could sink his teeth into his neck. More crunching bones followed the impact, and a moment later, 111's grip eased. 111 let out a groan, and Logan, sensing the opportunity, grabbed him and threw him off.
However, throwing 111 away did Logan more harm than good. He didn't realize that the impact had loosened the dagger from the screen, causing it to fall to the ground... right next to 111.
Fuck!
Logan lunged to get the blade, but 111 was quicker and snatched it away. 111 licked the edge of the blade, and it sizzled like meat cooking on a stove, but it didn't look like 111 cared about his tongue being burned by the dagger's glowing red edge.
"Food..." 111 snarled and raised the dagger to hit Logan.
But before he could strike, a knife flew past Logan and buried deep into 111's skull, right in the middle of his eyes. The neon glow in the man's eyes flicked for a moment before going out as he fell on the ground... lifeless.
Logan remained frozen on the spot. He could hear his heart pounding in his chest, too scared to look back and face another opponent.
What should I do...
Judging from the stranger's aim, running was not an option. Even if he did, there was no saying he wouldn't stumble across someone even deadlier. Slowly, his breathing quickened, and he realized how delusional he was to think he could make it out of there alive.
"Let's... go..."
Logan's eyes shot up when he heard a familiar voice. He slowly turned around, only to see Snake perched on a metal pole above him.
"What are you doing here?" Logan asked as Snake jumped down the pole.
Now, in the light, Logan got a good look at him. Much like himself, Snake to had those neon eyes, instead of natural ones. But other than that, Logan couldn't see any major changes in him, apart from the 201 tattooed on his cheek.
Ignoring his question, Snake approached the dead man and retrieved both daggers before handing one to Logan.
"Come... Miss Izna... is waiting for... you," Snake replied before casually walking ahead. "Stay close..."
"...right," Logan replied, taking a last look at the dead man before leaving.