1.30 – Super Ethical Reality Climax III
The guideline leads us through the third floor. We reach a room that appears as if it was supposed to be the place where we’d fight for another key but we find nothing but bodies spread along a wall as if people had faced a firing squad there. Seeing no point in waiting, we keep going, following the guide through the jail until we end up outside in a massive prison yard. A large digital board over the area displays faces, names and HP Bars of nearly fifty competitors. In the center the word ‘prize,’ is displayed brightly. Below it, two keys matching the key Daamin had grabbed earlier. The two largest images on the board are of a man wearing a black ski mask and another in a black hokey mask. These must be the third and fourth bosses, but it doesn’t look as if they’re on the same team. Three faces turn to grey as their HP bars drop to zero before they finally vanish from the board. It seems to be a free for all fight to the death beyond the gates to the prison yard.
“That’s not supposed to happen,” Kay seems concerned.
“What isn’t supposed to happen,” Kai asks.
“Both keys are up for grabs. That’s not supposed to happen. Two bosses in the same place. That’s not supposed to happen. A boss abandoning his room. That’s not supposed to happen. This many players on the final level. None of this is supposed to happen,” Kay seems panicked now.
“What is supposed to happen?”
“One key up for grabs here, and one key on the previous floor. This was supposed to be similar to a paintball course where ten people fight to the death, not 43.”
“Doesn’t matter now, we need those keys,” I interrupt Kay’s panicking.
“I can not let you do this, I need to study the changes to my game,” Kay produces a data pad and begins inputting notes.
“Sorry, I’m going in.”
“Dre, wait. We don’t know how this is going to go, it could be dangerous,” Kai pauses. “It could be more dangerous than the rest of this.”
“You almost died twenty minutes ago.”
“That’s why I don’t want you taking the risk.”
I equip Excalibur II, add an assault rifle for select and smile at Kai, “if you don’t take risks, you can’t create a future.”
“Give them hell out there,” Daamin holds his hand out for a fist bump.
“You got it big man.”
“If you’re going to do this, take these,” three of Kai’s micro drones begin to circle around me. “The combat drones need to recharge but these will feed you information.”
“Take a sword too,” Daamin transfers a katana to my inventory. “Never know when you might need it.”
“Thanks guys,” I head toward the fence.
I know they don’t think I can do it. That’s why they’re giving me the extras. I’ve been useless this whole time. I got knocked out in the first challenge. In the second I got separated from the group and tried to blackmail Kevin into giving us their data drive they had already gotten. Did nothing but get drunk and embarrass myself against The Snake Prince. This time is different. I’m going to do it and not on a technicality either. I will leave no doubt in anyones mind that I’m the winner.
On the course, it’s a warzone for real. Different colors of smoke fill the air making it hard to see, obstacles shaped like bombed out cars, barricades and anything else that can be used for cover as far as I can see. The sounds of gunshots and lasers are only drained out by the occasional explosion. No sooner than I’ve had the chance to take in my surroundings a man appears above me in the sky bringing a sword down. I sweep Excalibur II upwards and fire, sending him flying and eliminating him in the process. Fired four on that one, that’s 24 shots left. I quickly take cover and look for any other competitors. I spot several moving in a group. Thanks to Kai’s drones I know many people are working in teams. Maybe brining Kai and Daamin in with me would be a good idea. No, I need to do this alone. I switch to single shot mode and vault over my barricade. Four quick shots drops the entire group approaching me. Yeah, I can do this. I’m a beast in a gun fight. I make a quick left at full speed, two more shots drop a woman sprinting in the opposite direction. I witness a man dive behind a round object, and I follow firing down into his chest. A small caliber bullet strikes my shoulder from behind, no big deal for now. I turn to fire at my assailant, he doesn’t drop from one shot so I fire another sending him to the ground. A hard fist connects with my face and stuns me, some kind of steel knuckles. I roll with the next punch softening the blow enough that I can swing Excalibur into the face of my assailant. I fire off a shot next to his head that hit another competitor approaching; stunning him with one of Excalibur’s bonuses. I finish my attacker with a combat knife to the neck before rushing the second competitor and finishing him with a second shot. I lean back into cover, just to recover my stamina. Kai’s drone alerts me to incoming enemies. I switch to an assault rifle and blind fire. When I hear screams I pop up and fire off several more shots eliminating four more competitors.
A massive explosion shakes the ground and sends a shockwave. I glance at the scoreboard and watch as dozens of competitors turn grey and vanish back to back. They must have all been caught in the explosion. The final competitor to vanish is one of the bosses, the man in the ski mask. Only ten competitors left. They must have all made a push to take out one of the bosses. The other boss is left with less than a quarter of his health. I can do this. I can really do this. The sounds of automatic fire off in the distance let me know the fighting hasn’t stopped. I watch as five more players are wiped off the board in an instant. I’ve got no choice but to head towards the violence. As I rush through the smoke I dive for cover when I realize where the automatic fire is coming from.
The hockey mask boss is firing at everyone with a minigun. He’s got me and the other three players all pinned down. Any time one of us makes a move he starts to fire. I’ve got no doubt I can take the other players but the minigun will be a problem. I’ve got a plan, and it’s an asshole move but it’s a plan to get out of this situation. Three drones, three other players, I’ll send the drones to stalk those players. Make it obvious where they’re hiding at, and wait for them to get the boss’s attention. I rush to a different cover location as the drones take off not wanting to be found. The drones begin to go flash lights and make sounds, drawing attention from the boss. I switch Excalibur back to four shot mode and wait for my chance. As another player is wiped off the board, I roll a few grenades out hoping to take the last of the bosses health. They detonate, but I don’t succeed. I manage to take out another player but a sliver of health remains for the boss. He sets his sights on the last competitor who figures out it would be a good job to shoot Kai’s drone. They make a run for it, drawing attention and fire. This is my moment of glory. Squeezing the trigger never felt so easy, as I fire three times for a total of 12 blasts that finally manage to drop the boss. I spot the last player peeking out to see if the boss is dead. I dive towards the ground as he opens fire. I’m hit several times before I drop to the ground with a thud. I fire, only two rounds exit the gun but it’s enough. It’s enough for me to get the win.
