บท 3: ☆ II - Fake Earth ☆
//Warning⚠️: There is a lot of disturbing scenes, vulgar words and many things that may trigger some negative reaction. Please read at your own risk!
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Nox felt like someone pounded every part of his body with a hammer, his whole body aches and tingled with pain—as if the sleep he had acquired enervated him instead of giving him energy.
Lumipas ang ilang segundo ay hindi pa rin maalis ang pagkahilong kaniyang nararamdaman. Umiikot din ang loob ng kaniyang tiyan na para bang siya ay masusuka.
Walang magawa si Nox kundi imulat ang kaniyang mga mata. He blinked several times, feeling disoriented. Dahil sa malakas na liwanag ng ilaw na tila nakaharap sa kaniya, walang nagawa si Nox kundi maghintay na masanay ang kaniyang paningin sa liwanag.
When he regained perfect sight, he was dumbfounded.
Ang dating higaan niya ay tila naging upuan nalamang. Wala na rin ang computer at keyboard niya, ang malaking lamesa kasama ang mga abubot niya ay tila naglaho na lamang bigla.
At ang mas pinaka-nakakabigla ay ang dating kuwarto ni Nox ay naging row na ng mga upuan.
He's now...inside a bus...
HE'S INSIDE A BUS! HOW THE H*LL HE'S INSIDE THE BUS? DID SOMEONE KIDNAPPED HIM?! TOOK HIM AWAY WHILE HE'S ASLEEP? NO... THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE... BUT HOW?!
Nox frantically looked around, and was greeted by some people who's with the same expressions.
"What the h*ck is happening here, bakit kami na sa loob ng bus? At saan papunta 'tong bus na 'to? I remembered I'm sleeping inside my room—did you guys abducted me?!" Sigaw ng isang babae malapit kay Nox. Bakas ang kaba at galit sa mukha ng babae, at base sa sinabi nito—mukhang parehas sila ng sitwasyon ni Nox.
Isang lalaking estudyante ang sumunod na nag-salita, "Please, pakawalan niyo na kami kung sino naman kumuha sa'kin...I'm just sleeping in my seat when suddenly narito na ako."
Nox's eyes narrowed as he caught the important detail: sleeping. Apparently, parehas silang nakatulog bago magising sa loob ng bus na ito.
"Even if you whine non-stop, wala na kayong magagawa. Parehas lang tayo ng sitwasyon. There's no abductors, or kidnappers here. Human? No. Ghost maybe? Lahat tayo biktima...well, except the driver I guess." Giit naman ng isang middle-age man na naka-suot pa ng barong. Ang sagot niyang ito ay agad na umagaw sa atensyon ni Nox.
Driver?
Nox immediately looked towards the rearview mirror and the moment he saw the driver's face...a chill crept up to his spine.
Goosebumps broke out from his jade-like skin and he couldn't help the curse coming out of his mouth. "What the f*ck?"
Nakuha ni Nox ang lahat ng atensyon dahil sa kaniyang sigaw, at nang makita nila kung ano ang tinitignan ni Nox, everyone of them screamed in fear.
"Ahhh! W-What's t-that?!"
"Oh godd*mn f*ck! What the h*ck is that?! Ano 'to prank?! That's it i'm getting out of this shitty bus!"
Nox can pretty much relate with their reaction. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng kaniyang puso, gusto niyang tumingin papalayo ngunit tila may magnet na humi-hila sa kaniyang mata pabalik sa mukha ng driver.
Ewan nga kung matatawag pa itong "mukha". It's not even recognizable anymore. Halos wala ng makita sa mukha ng driver maliban sa mga mata nito at bibig, punong-puno na kasi ito ng sandamak-mak na uod, disgusting maggots, busog na busog na ang mga ito at patuloy pa rin na kinakain ang laman sa mukha ng driver.
There's blood everywhere, ilang beses bumaliktad ang lamang-loob ni Nox sa pagkasuklam.
He even saw a maggot nearing the driver's mouth, then the driver unceremoniously opened his mouth and chewed the fat maggot.
Pweeeee.
Bago pa man masuka si Nox ay may nauna na sakaniya. 'Yung highschooler boy na kanina pa tila maiiyak.
"Argh! Disgusting! What the heck is going on? The bus and open the door! I'm leaving!" A girl with fancy clothes and shoes screeched like goose.
"That's impossible, miss."
"At bakit naman? Hindi niyo ba ako kilala? I'm a superstar, Avery Hillson! If you don't want trouble, then stop this disgusting bus and I'm getting off!"
Dahil sa sobrang curiousity, nagawang kumawala ni Nox sa magnet na humihila sa kaniyang mata papunta sa mukha ng driver. Nagawa niyang luminga at pagmasdan ang itsura ng sumisigaw na babae.
A superstar? Even a bigshot was taken here? What the heck is this bus?
Ang lalaking naka-suot ng barong ay tumayo at nagpakilala, "I'm Joseph, Miss. Siguro umupo ka muna upang maipaliwanag ko muna ang lahat. Puwede naman mag-usap ng mahinahon hindi ba?"
Everyone nodded, at wala na rin nagawa si Miss Superstar kundi bumalik sa kaniyang upuan na may expression ng pagka-inis at pagka-bagot.
"You better make it fast. I have my schedule full for today—I can't afford to be late."
Tumango-tango lang si Joseph saka huminga ng malalim. "First, i'm going to ask everyone a question. Did anyone of you play a game?"
...What?
"We did!"
"Oo, bago ako maka-tulog, naglaro ako ng game...bakit ano'ng koneksyon?"
"I did play a game, but I don't see any relevance to this..."
Kumirap si Mr. Joseph, "Ang game bang 'yon ay "The Abyss Game"?"
Goosebumps broke out from Nox's jade-like skin. Hindi niya mapigilan na mag-isip ng kung anu-ano. Don't tell me he's gonna say we're inside the game?
"I think that's the name. A skull surrounded by roses 'di ba?"
"Kami rin ng kaibigan ko. We played the game with the same name."
Lahat ay kinompirma na parehas sila ng games na nilaro bago sila makatulog. Some played it alone, some played it together...
Bumuntong-hininga si Joseph, nilibot ang tingin sa lahat ng pasahero. 1...2....3...7...13...
13 people.
"...We are inside that game."
Well damn. Hindi mapigilan ni Nox na manginig. It sounded so apocryphal yet at the same time ay parang nagsasabi siya ng totoo.
Kanina pa ino-obserbahan ni Nox ang mga ekspresyon ng lahat upang makompirma kung may bahid ito ng pang-loloko kahit kaunti—pero sa mga nakita niya, tila wala naman namemeke ng reaksyon o ekspresyon.
Their fear, panic and confusion were very much real and authentic.
"Niloloko mo ba kami? Ano 'to? Joke?" Singhal ng isa pang babae. Nakamot ng ulo si Mr. Joseph at akmang muling magpapaliwanag ng biglang may tumatawa.
"Hehehehehehe...hehe...hehe,"
It was the driver, laughing with blood all over his mouth. Unti-unting umiinat at lumalaki ang butas ng kaniyang bibig hanggang sa umabot ito sa kaniyang tenga. The remaining meat was exposed as the fat maggots fell one by one due to the movement.
Nox instinctively put a hand on his mouth.
Patuloy pa rin sa pag-tawa ang driver, tawang tila nahihirapan huminga, at tila nauubusan ng hangin. Ang isa sa mga mata niya ay nahulog na tila ping-pong ball, at kung hindi nga lang sa ugat na nakadikit dito, it would've rolled down the floor.
It dangled down on the driver's meatless cheek, making everyone screamed once more.
Unti-unting umikot ang ulo ng driver hanggang ang mukha nito ay nasa likod na. No, he's definitely not a mfng* human!
"Wuwuwu, w-what i-is t-that monster! I'm so scared! I'm so scared! Buksan niyo ang pinto, parang awa niyo na!"
"Open the godd*mn door!"
Thankfully, parang wala naman balak na lumapit pa ang driver—as if stuck lamang siya sa kaniyang driver seat.
A mother covered her son's eyes, bumubulong na h'wag itong matakot dahil po-proteksyonan siya ng ina. Some vomited their guts once again habang ang iba naman ay pinipilit sirain ang pinto.
Ngunit kahit ano'ng atake nila sa pinto, tila ba isa 'tong napaka-kapal na balak—there's not even a single scratch despite how hard they tried to hit the glass door.
Tila bumitaw na rin si Mr. Joseph sa pagnanais na mag-paliwanag.
"It's useless," bulong nito. Ibinaling ni Nox ang tingin kay Mr. Joseph at sa unang pagkakataon ay binuksan niya ang bibig upang makipag-usap.
"Will you continue? Explain everything, please?" He remained polite, kahit pa tila sobrang lamig ng kaniyang boses.
Binigyan siya ng tingin ni Mr. Joseph tsaka tumango, "We're inside the Abyss game, at hindi na tayo makaka-alis dito—for now. I'm a player, at ako ang susundo sa new batch of tyro-players, which is kayo."
"Tyro-players?" Muling tanong ni Nox.
"Tyro-players or also known as beginners, or novice-players."
"So we are Tyro-players...and we are gonna do games para maka-alis? ...Parang gaya lang sa mga nababasa kong webnovels..." Sabat naman ng highschooler boy na kani-kanina lang ay sumusuka pa. Nox turned towards him with glance.
"Parang gano'n...ang pagkakaiba nga lang, it has become a reality...and no longer apocryphal."
Shiver shots through every part of Nox's body. Ngayong nasa loob sila ng game—then everything is real too. Ghosts, deaths, and many more.
"...Sabi mo isa kang player, ipaliwanag mo nga sa'min?"
"Yes. I am a Mid-level Tyro-Player. Ako ang nabigyan ng task from Game System na i-orient kayo. Everyone...listen...Game Over here means... annihilation."
Napayuko si Nox, sinusubukang ayusin ang lahat-lahat sa utak niya. Patuloy pa rin sa pag-tanong ang binatang highschooler kay Mr. Joseph.
Sasagot na sana ang Mid-Level Tyro-Player ng biglang prumeno ang bus.
SCREEEEEEEEECHHHHHHHHH—BANG!
"What was that?!"
"We have arrived. Welcome to the real Abyss world, Dear Players."
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Gulong-gulo pa rin si Nox, hanggang sa makababa na sila ng bus at naglaho ito ng parang bula. Patuloy pa rin sa pag-re-reklamo ang iba, tahimik at nagmamasid naman ang iba habang lutang naman si Nox.
Iginiya sila ni Mr. Joseph papunta sa isang malaking tarangkahan, kung saan may isang babaeng naghihintay. Naka-suot ito ng itim na pencil-cut skirt at itim na puffy blouse. Sa leeg nito ay may naka-sabit na ID.
Nox thought it was a real human, ngunit ng makalapit sila ay 3D hologram image lang pala ito. Hindi mapigilan ng lahat na mamangha.
"Welcome back, Player 0672389654170! Everyone, please align your face into the scanner for us to give you an identity card."
Walang gumalaw na kahit sino man, tinignan ni Mr. Joseph ang lahat hanggang sa mapatingin siya kay Nox.
Nox caught his message and did what the 3D woman taught. Ini-linya niya ang mukha sa scanner malapit sa babae.
>> Player's identity is recognized.
>> Player's identity code is 0812119876912.
>> Player's Identity was done recorded. Thank you!
Lumakad paatras si Nox, at nang makita ng lahat na wala naman masamang nangyari sa kaniya ay sumunod na rin sila sa utos ng babae.
Matapos ma-record ang lahat ng Players sa system ay muling nagsalita ang babae sa hologram.
"Player 0672389654170, please guide the 13 Tyro-players into the Tyro Village. "
Taimtim na tumango si Mr. Joseph, "Yes."
Ngumiti ang babae sa hologram ng marinig ang tugon ni Mr. Joseph. The woman in the hologram was truly beautiful na halos idikit na ng highschooler boy ang kaniyang mata sa mukha nito. Awtomatiko rin na bumukas ang malaking tarangkahan.
"Tara, sumunod kayo sa'kin."
"It's done, I'm late. I'm definitely late." Galit na galit na bulong ni Miss Superstar sa tabi. Mr. Joseph glanced at her and said, "Kung ako sa'yo miss? Kakalimutan ko na career ko. Dito sa lugar na 'to, what's the most important thing is that you're alive. You're already inside this world, and you can no longer go back—unless you clear all the games—that is. Sa bawat araw, higit 1000 players ang namamatay. That's how fragile human life here is."
Everyone froze with Mr. Joseph's words. No one spoke, no one asked.
"Kada linggo, maraming batch ng newcomers ang dumarating. And mostly mga katulad natin na Tyro-players ang laging namamatay. It's scary, but it's true. May gusto pa ba kayong malaman?"
Itinaas ni Nox ang kaniyang kamay at marahang nagsalita, "Me."
"Sige, tanong ka lang. Susubukan ko sagutin,"
"How about the Cards inside the game?"
Ito ang tinanong ni Nox dahil isa ito sa mga interesting na napansin niya sa loob ng Abyss Game. Hindi pa masyado nag-si-sink sa kaniya na nasa loob siya ng game at ito pa lang ang unang lumabas sa utak niya.
"Regarding that, there's two types of cards given by the system. 'Yung para sa loob ng games lang at 'yung cards na para sa labas lang ng game. The In-Game Card and the Off-Game Card.
Isa sa mga Off-Game Card ay ang Game Opener Card—which is i think pamilyar din kayo. In-Game Cards ay 'yung mga card na sa loob lamang ng Game puwede gamitin. May limang level ang Cards, ito ay D (lowest), C (second to the lowest), B (Fair) A (High) and S (highest). Halimbawa, a B-level Weapon Card. Isa itong card na puwede mong i-tranform sa isang weapon na may katumbas na level. B-Level Weapon Card into a B-Level Firearm. May restriction din ang Cards tulad ng time usage. Mas mataas ang level, mas malaki ang time for usage, mas mababa ang level—mababa din ang time for usage. A B-Level card can be used in 10-20 minutes. A to S-Level Cards has higher given time."
Nox nodded, sinusubukang tandaan bawat impormasyon tungkol sa Cards.
Sa pagkakataong ito, may naglakas loob na rin na mag-tanong. "...Ano ba talaga ang lugar na ito?"
Mr. Joseph smiled, a bit hopeless. "What, who and when this place exist—no one knew. Wala na sa recorded history ang pinaka-naunang batches ng players. Walang nakaka-alam kung kailan pa nagsimula ang Abyss. What is the abyss? In the end no one really know anything about it. Prolly even until our death.
... There's two cities inside the Abyss. Ang city kung nasaan tayo which is Soliel City , at ang Luna City.
Newcomers are usually based here in Soleil City, at kapag naabot lang nila ang certain level bago sila maaring pumili ng kanilang titirahan. May tatlong distrito sa dalawang city. Una, ang Tyros' Area, Regulars' Area and Elites' Area.
Sa ngayon, sa Tyro's Area muna tayo, since all of us are novices or beginners.
This is the Abyss...but we also call this place...the Fake Earth. "
— ตอนใหม่กำลังมาในเร็วๆ นี้ — เขียนรีวิว
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