With their food now in front of them, both men began eating their hamburgers in silence. Ali devoured three burgers in the time it took Jacob to finish just one. They talked intermittently between bites, with Jacob sharing stories about his time in the four other worlds he'd been sent to, detailing the challenges and near-death experiences he'd endured. He also mentioned his imminent ascent to the second level of Paradise, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
After taking a sip of water to wash down his meal, Ali set his cup down and asked, "So you were just told to go to the base of the tower in a couple of hours, and that's it?"
Jacob nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, that's the gist of it. I had a chat with the guild master about it, and he explained the process. One of the Paradise officials will find me and open a door in the tower. That door will lead me straight up to the second level. Everything's already been arranged. He's already spoken to the guild up there, so they'll be expecting me when I arrive."
Ali, thoughtful, considered Jacob's situation for a moment. "Are you planning to stick with them once you're up there? The Air Guild, I mean."
Hearing Ali's question, Jacob looked out the window, his eyes focused on the towering monolith that dominated the horizon. His expression darkened, and his voice became more serious. "What do you think? If I leave them, I'd have the five strongest guilds in Paradise gunning for me, not to mention the smaller guilds that follow their orders. It's not as easy as they make it sound, you know? They say you can walk away anytime, but the reality's different. Who can really leave once they're in this deep? An apostle like me? Not a chance," Jacob finished with a bitter scoff, the weight of the situation heavy in his voice.
Ali nodded slowly, acknowledging Jacob's predicament. 'The politics in Paradise run deep,' Ali mused silently. 'The guilds are like a jungle within an even deadlier jungle, all filled with their own rules and unspoken dangers. I've seen this kind of power play before. But this kid… he's a survivor. He'll make it, even if it takes everything he has.' Ali's eyes rested on the white-haired young man, whose outwardly casual demeanour belied the burdens he carried on his shoulders.
Just then, Jacob's somber expression brightened suddenly, and a broad smile spread across his face. Ali noticed the shift and instinctively followed Jacob's gaze, looking out the window as well. A massive blue light had illuminated the towering structure, casting an eerie glow over the entire area. The light formed a giant interface, hovering high above the base of the tower and stretching over the circular space around it.
'What the hell is this?' Ali thought as he watched the massive display. His body tensed on instinct, his muscles ready for action at the first sign of danger.
Jacob grinned, his earlier gloom completely evaporated. "Man, I love this part the most," he said, his voice filled with excitement.
Ali glanced at him, still on edge. "What's happening?" he asked, just as a line of text appeared on the blue interface. It read:
"The weekly review will begin in 200… 199… 198…"
A countdown had begun, ticking away slowly on the screen.
Jacob practically bounced in his seat, his enthusiasm unmistakable. "Every week, Paradise does this. They announce the best and worst results from all the worlds that had missions this week. They start by listing the world, how many players were sent, and how many survived. But the best part is when they announce the top player's performance in each world and give them a grade. That player's name gets displayed for everyone to see."
Ali watched the countdown continue, but he couldn't help noticing how captivated Jacob—and everyone else—was by this event. "Your enjoying this huh?" Ali said, his tone more of an observation than a question.
"Definitely!" Jacob replied, unable to contain his enthusiasm. "Your name's going to be up there, just watch. That's how a players name gets famous around here you know. If your name's announced during one of these reviews with a high grade, all the guilds will rush to you with the best offers!" Jacob's pride was evident, as if the memory of his previous success had fuelled him even more.
As the countdown ticked closer to zero, Ali scanned the restaurant and saw how all the players—veterans and newcomers alike—had their eyes glued to the screen outside. Some had even abandoned their meals to stand by the windows, their faces filled with anticipation. Players in the clearing outside had also stopped whatever they were doing, all turning to face the tower. The attention of every single person in the Slum was now on the forthcoming announcement.
'This must be the highlight of the week for a lot of players,' Ali thought as he observed the intensity of the crowd. Even a player like Jacob, who was about to ascend to the next level of Paradise in a few hours, was utterly absorbed by the upcoming review. It showed just how deeply rooted this ritual was in the lives of the Slum's inhabitants.
Jacob broke the silence, speaking with pride in his voice. "The weekly review is where it all changed for me. It's where I became somebody. Getting an A grade meant my name was announced to the entire Slum. That's how Tempest Wraith became known."
Ali stayed quiet, his eyes never leaving the glowing interface outside. The countdown continued its march toward zero. "7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…"
The timer hit zero, and the first words appeared on the screen.
"Starting with the worst World Travels…"
"World: Cyberpunk"
The first world to be announced was Cyberpunk, and immediately, murmurs spread throughout the crowd. The very mention of the Cyberpunk world sent a ripple of unease through the air.
"Players sent: 420"
"Players returned: 17"
The murmurs grew louder at the staggering death toll. It was a massacre. Ali's eyes narrowed as he mentally calculated the survival rate. 'That's approximately four percent. Brutal.'
"Damn, that's rough. I've heard some horror stories about that world," Jacob commented, shaking his head in fake sympathy for those who didn't make it back.
The next world to be announced was "World: Jujutsu Kaisen."
"Players sent: 97"
"Players returned: 4"
The mood in the clearing turned even darker with the announcement of the second world's results. The few whispers among the players grew quieter, and the weight of despair seemed to settle on the crowd. For many newcomers, the dream of surviving in Paradise was being crushed by these brutal survival rates.
Jacob, who had been ready to make another comment, hesitated as he took in the atmosphere. "Man, two bad ones in a row. Usually, there's only one world with such a terrible survival rate, but it looks like it's been a tough week for the Slu—" he was cut off as the next world was announced.
"World: One Piece"
The clearing fell silent. The mere mention of the world seemed to suck the breath out of the crowd. The silence was so absolute that the sound of a single feather falling to the ground could have been heard.
Even Ali, who had maintained his composure so far, felt his eyes sharpen. He noticed that some of the more experienced players had frozen in place. The veterans' sudden stillness caught the attention of the newcomers, who, sensing the gravity of the situation, turned their focus fully toward the screen.
Then the numbers came up.
"Players sent: 210"
"Players returned: 0"
Not a single player came back.
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Author here, y'all liking the Paradise drama?
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