THE SUZAN WAR
Mason turned around looked who was missing and realize that lian was not there. His heart pounded as he frantically scanned the area. He was gone.
The harsh realization hit Mason like a thunderbolt—Lian was no more. He had failed to complete the level and had perished.
Mason's eyes filled with tears, his heart shattering into countless pieces. This is my fault, he thought, guilt consuming him. His friends stood in confusion, trying to process what had just happened. But when the truth sank in—that their friend, Lian, was truly gone—their emotions erupted. Tears streamed down their faces as grief took over. They stood frozen, unable to move, paralyzed by sorrow.
But Mason clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. He wiped his tears away and turned toward his friends.
"We have to keep playing to stay alive. I won't lose anyone else. We will fight against the rules and complete the next level before time runs out," he declared, his voice filled with resolve.
The others, struggling to hold back their tears, nodded in agreement. They couldn't afford to let their emotions weaken them. Not now. They had to survive.
As they stepped forward, glowing golden letters appeared in the air, spelling out:
"The Suzan War."
This was their next level.
A mysterious, robotic voice echoed through the surroundings:
"Welcome, players. The Suzan War is a level where a battle between animals and players will take place. All animals will be your enemies. Your mission is to survive until the end and defeat the King of the Beasts, who resides in his den atop Miroki Hills.
You will be provided with weapons, but your powers have been altered. You can only use the weapon assigned to you perfectly. You have five hours to complete this level. Your time starts... now."
A timer appeared on their wrists, counting down from 5:00:00.
Owen's face twisted in frustration. "What? We don't have our superpowers anymore? This isn't fair! I just started getting used to mine!"
The weapons materialized in their hands.
Mason gripped a silver longsword with intricate engravings along its blade.
Luna received a sleek, powerful bow with glowing blue arrows.
Owen was given a virtual energy shield—a translucent barrier he could summon at will.
Sophie held an AMW sniper rifle, perfect for long-range attacks.
Mason turned to Owen and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't panic. We probably had powers because we were fighting supernatural entities in the previous level. But now, we're only facing animals. The game won't let us die so easily, so it has adjusted the rules accordingly. We have to trust the system and fight smart."
Taking deep breaths, they began their journey.
---
The Battle Begins
As they ventured deeper into the level, the dense jungle around them came alive with danger. The first wave of enemies emerged—a wild elephant, a ferocious tiger, and an enraged gorilla.
Mason leaped forward, his sword gleaming as he struck down the tiger with precise movements. Luna swiftly pulled back her bowstring, releasing an arrow that pierced the elephant's eye, making it roar in agony before collapsing. The gorilla charged, but Sophie, positioned at a distance, took aim through her sniper scope and fired—a direct hit to its chest. The beast fell with a deafening thud.
One by one, they fought off the animals, pushing forward.
But as they progressed, the difficulty increased. The creatures were no longer attacking alone; they came in packs, working together as if guided by a greater intelligence.
A group of giant jungle dogs leaped from the shadows, baring their sharp fangs. One lunged at Owen, sinking its teeth deep into his leg. He screamed in pain, barely managing to activate his shield to push the beast away. Blood dripped onto the ground, but he clenched his jaw and forced himself to keep going.
"I'm fine! Keep moving!" Owen shouted, gritting through the pain.
Mason's sword slashed through the air, cutting down any beast that came too close. He had already slain ten animals, his skill with the blade improving with each strike.
Owen, despite his injury, used his shield effectively—blocking attacks and saving Luna and Mason multiple times. Three times for Luna, twice for Mason.
Meanwhile, Sophie remained at a distance, picking off threats one by one. Her precision was unmatched. With every shot from her sniper, another enemy fell. She was their silent guardian, ensuring no creature attacked them from behind.
The deeper they went, the deadlier the beasts became. Soon, they found themselves surrounded by a massive ambush—ten gorillas and five tigers, all enraged and ready to kill.
---
The Deadly Ambush
It was chaos.
The gorillas roared as they charged, their enormous fists smashing into the ground. The tigers circled, their eyes glowing with hunger. The team was battered and exhausted.
Owen was barely standing, his injured leg slowing him down. And now, they had no shield to protect them.
"We're not going to make it!" Luna gasped, pulling back an arrow but struggling to aim under pressure.
Mason gritted his teeth, his grip tightening around his sword. They couldn't lose here. They couldn't let Lian's death be for nothing.
Then suddenly, Mason realized something.
His eyes widened.
He took a deep breath.
And with renewed determination, he whispered, "There's only one way to win this."
To be continued...