#3. No KiLl CoUnT GaMe
The survivors of the first game were all still dazed, no one knew when the next game would pop up but they weren't given much of a choice to refuse either. Axel had noticed the biggest challenge in the game, it was that they would learn the rules of the game as if progressed. That unpredictability in itself was a death sentence.
Their phones were all dead, nothing that ran on power worked. Whatever the game was, it was not something conducted by same people. Rather they had serious backings. Axel wondered if it was the work of a mass terrorist group.
"Beep."
"Preparations have been completed."
"The next game will begin momentarily."
"In the meantime a hint will be given for the next game... The trick is to make sacrifices that don't matter."
"Now the game will begin."
"What kind of hint is that?" Someone barked from the crowd.
Axel spoke quietly to himself. "I can't figure anything out till the game starts."
The screen slipped:
Result Of Fifty Heads Game: Pass
Kill Count: 1
Points Received: 100
Bonus (Kill) Points: 20
Contribution: B
"Why are they giving out the result of the first game when the second one is just about to start." Axel asked himself knowing that there was a trick to it. "But what's the clue here?"
The screen information changed again.
Second Task: Warm - Up Round
#2 Game: No Kill Count Game
Level: E
.Time Limit: 20 Seconds
Axel just like everyone was confused but unlike most he was already thinking ahead. "Uncle, does this mean the killing is over?" Emma asked Axel who then looked around and gazed at the puddles of red and dead bodies lying around.
He responded with a long silence.
"Beep!"
"Our administrators have boen displeased with the actions of some participants. This game is specifically for those with a no kill count, at the end this game round any participant with a no kill count will be penalised."
"To make things more interesting for those with a kill count, you are permitted to kill those with no kill count and in the process gain bonus points."
"The limitation to this rule is that you can not attack those with a kill count."
Axel furrowed his brows as he thought. "Those with no kill count have to kill at least one person to be saved and those with a kill count will have to kill for bonus points. The catch is that the only people who can be killed are those without kill points. This is not a survival game, it's a murder game."
"What thr-- 20 Seconds, how are we supposed to kill someone in such little time?" Someone boomed.
Axel looked down on Emma who was shivering with fear, "There's a reason why the timer hasn't stated yet. They're giving more time to figure out the hint or a way to win."
"Beep."
Know that survival is of the fittest. Game starts!!"
Blip.
Digits appeared above their heads. Axel saw a '1' on his head and others, 2, 4,6, and some zeroes including Emma. They were a lot. The numbers made it more easier to identify those without a kill count.
The speed at which the seconds went by was astronomical even if it was just the same, the time limit itself made fear to grip Axel.
"Dammit, you can't turn a child to a killer." Axel gnashed his teeth.
Time Limit: 20-5 seconds
"Uncle? What do I do now?" Emma asked with tears overflowing her eyes.
Axel thought to himself. "She had just watched her mother died and saw grown up people kill each other, that level of trauma would be overbearing for a young girl. There's no way she can kill a grown adult in less than fifteen seconds, meaning that there's no way to win."
Time Limit: 20-20S
Blip.
"Now the overall statistics evaluation will begin."
Results Of No Kill Count Game: Pass
Number of participants recieving bonus pts- 0
Number of no kill count(s) advancing- 0
Completion Grade- E
Axel looked down at Emma crying and clutching tight to him and said. "I'm sorry."
"No, I don't want to die." She wailed.
BLIP!
"Now the penalty shutdown has been given."
The zeros on those without a kill count turned blood red and they started to drop dead one at a time till they were all but gone.
"Well that's that." Axel huffed out as he leaned back on the counter.
A ruckus soon erupted as murmurs surged in Axels direction.
"Hey!! How the hell is that girl still alive?" One of them cried.
"My son just died, is that a glitch?"
Emma hid behind Axel who was busy contemplating on his newly found responsibilities as he had just be one her guardian unexpectedly. The huge red zero above her head flashed consecutively as it on a countdown. "If any of you actually listened to the hint you would have gotten the gist of it. The trick was to make sacrifices that don't matter."
"So I had her step on a bug, I know it doesn't add up direction to the kill count but it was a saving grace."
"You knew that and kept it to yourself you bastard?!" Someone yelled at him, the rage etching evidently in her voice.
Axel looked up at the orb. "It was nothing but an assumption within the time frame I was given. If any of you were too dumb of foolish to take the risk then how is that my problem?"
No one could oppose him.
The screen blipped again:
Results Of The No Kill Count Game: Pass
Kill Count: 0
Point Received: 0
Bonus (Achievement) Points: 100
Contribution: A
"Lucky me", he nodded to himself.
Blip!
"Now the third and final game of the area will begin."
Axel swore under his breath, he was sure the next game would be much worse than the first or the second. Betting on luck would just be asking for too much.