Assault Game!

The first mission

“.......”

“Hold up lemme recap. Everyone in this room — except, of course, me, your administrator— have successfully passed the first test and you are all eligible to gain these ‘special abilities’

Now, am not going to tell you what your abilities are for obvious reasons. But everyone should know what he or she can do before midnight.

Next are the Do's and Don't.

—Listen to the rules of each test and obey them.

— As long as you don't go overboard and find yourself faulty, you can bend these rules how you wish.

— While I remain your administrator, I can change the contest how I wish as long as it brings a better effect.

— Days into the game, you'll acquaint yourself with the surroundings. You can move anywhere you want to, except for some restricted areas, my bureau, the detention center, and The Wall.

Do not try to look over the Wall. Do not walk closer than 10 meters to the Wall. Do not touch the wall. Do not stand too long near the wall. Do Not Cross The Wall”

For Dorian to recite this more than thrice, still with a solemn look, everyone knew he was serious.

“Your resident would be a closed dormitory system for the first parts of the game. You're sent to your room, and only called upon when it's time to play.

....

Now, little hints that could help you here and there,

‘ — Your special abilities have grades, some are weak, while some are strong. Starting from rank D which is the weakest, it goes up to rank SSS.

Don't mock anyone, that is, until you've ascertained the rank of his skill.

Do not showcase your ability. These are your hidden cards. The earlier you show it off the faster you fall to your doom.

There's another thing to note. As you play the game, there would be a leader board that would rank you based on the level of your participation,

Ranking high in the leader board can give you what we call Merit Points. These points can be exchanged for stuffs; Weapons, drinks, strength, even receiving and sending information to your loved ones... Who wouldn't want that?

... Time for Questions”

A woman hurriedly raised her hand, “Sir, W-when can we go home?”

“Of course, of course. You are all free to go back after you've completed the game”

“Can those merit points buy these special abilities?”

“Well, what do you think? Your merit points can buy you about anything.”

“Even the privilege to exclude yourself from playing the game?” The young boy asked placidly.

“That's a lot of calculating thinking... Yes it can”

Murmurs sounded from all corners of the hall. Everyone did the maths in their head. With enough merit points, they could be King in this hell.

“How many levels are in this game?”

. “How many levels does soduku have?”

“What are the gifts we'll receive after completing the game?”

“Anything you want. Money, power, fame, women...”

“What if I want to live forever, or go back in time?”

“We don't have a genie lamp. But we're several times more efficient. Your wish would still be granted.”

“Who has a title above?”

“No comment.”

“Where is he? What does he do? Is he here?”

“.....

No comment.”

But the boy was not satisfied. His eyes turned grim and he scoffed with annoyance, “Tell me, how much of what you said is true?”

“Mr. Kiragi, am at loss as to what you mean—”

“Don't give me that. You said whatever we ask you'll answer. Now answer my question, how many hints were actually true and which promise was false.”

......”

Kiragi looked on with his placid face, the delinquent scratched his head a bit, The Soldier had a forlorn look on his face... Dorian still kept his smiling mask. Whatever expression he was making now, it was hidden beneath the mask. Nevertheless, if anyone had the tiniest bit of smart, they could've figured it out. Dorian's next answer would determine the severity of our condition.

“hehe, about 90% of the hints I gave are helpful?”

‘We're doomed! We are all freaking doomed!’ I wail inwardly. Even the tepid boy winced for three whole seconds after he heard that. Recall a certain lecturer boredly glossing over his course, then at exams day he walks in, stares at everyone, eye to eye, and laughs?

I remember one, he took it upon himself to enter the exam hall, just to leave the words, “You've seen what's on the paper right? Are you shocked?” Before laughing away. I could have sworn there that Dorian was his ancestor.

Everyone, at least, had some brains to reason it out after a while, Dorian said 90% of what he said was true, but then there was the question about his integrity just from that statement and everyone knew it.

There's a short brain teaser about a Lion, a Goat, and whatever animal that I'm too freaking scared to recall— and their freaking lying habits. The Lion lies on Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but speaks the truth the other days. The Unicorn lies on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and speaks the truth on the other days,

The teaser went this way,

The last animal...? comes across a lion and a unicorn in the forest. The lion lies on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and speaks the truth the other days. The unicorn lies on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and speaks the truth the other days.

Today, the lion tells Alice, “Yesterday I was lying.”

The unicorn replied, “So was I.”

Which day of the week is it?

—————

Dorian said he lied for only about 10% of his speech, but just that 10% alone left a huge window of doubt.

‘Who knew what he lied about, who knew what the truth was? And most importantly, no one knew if he was speaking the truth now... Or was it still a lie?”

“Sigh, don't look at me like that, you'll make me have goosebumps!” Dorian hid his head embarrassingly. An act that spooked everyone. This lying bastard!

“In absence of questions, I believe everyone knows, and is okay with the rules, the do's and don't-s... What is it, Kiragi?”

Dorian's threatening look forced the ones with questions from rating their hands, but the boy— Kiragi was it? Raised his skinny—ish hands, still with an indifferent look. Somehow, he reminds me of some sort of WEEB or NEWT.

Although we couldn't see the expression Dorian had under his mask, it wasn't difficult to guess based on his exasperated manner of speech. He might he figuratively rolling his eyes at Kiragi.

“I've got questions, a lot actually. Like how large is the establishment, who fund you guys, why is your mask disgusting, and what kind of out of the world tech did you use to fix our bodies... But I guess your answers would not be good enough to wart fart.”

“You!!—”

Dorian seems to say, ‘How dare you for throwing away protocols and disrespecting me? You should know that I can kill you like a fly. I lied a bit, fine. You don't have to wash it on my face '

I know this because it was obvious that Kiragi was implying Dorian's dishonesty.

“So I'll just ask these—”

“Three! Just three questions from you, and am out of here. You better think twice before asking them though, mixing black with white and calling it sparrow is kind of my forte”

Dorian surprisingly admitted to that? And with such bravado.

“One, How many times have this game been played?”

“How would I know? Next question”

Kiragi frowned but continued, “What is the last level of the game?”

“That, I can tell you. Level #12” Now, everyone frowned with mixed expressions. Murmurings echoed through the hall.

“Next question, what are your functions in respect to this game?”

“Smart brain, foolish mouth. Destructive combination. Sigh, since your first and last questions could not be answered, I'll let you ask one more... Think, boy, think”

“Why are you like this? You could just answer those questions before!—” The delinquent spoke out in anger. Whether it was out of pity for his new friend or he was just annoyed with Dorian, I don't know... Probably both. But Kiragi stopped him from speaking more with a blink of an eye.

“This time question is just out of curiosity. What are your senior bosses called?”

“Ha-Ha-Ha! Can you tell? Can you play? Can you defeat? They are elusive as they are strong. Sleeping Dragons with SSS ranked powers. The ones that ARE the game. They call themselves ‘Observers’...”

“....!”

Humans are truly a weird bunch, all of took for a woman to cry was seeing a rose and a ring. All it took for murder to be justified was if it was done with a sense of righteousness.

All it took to rile up the war blood in man was a sentence spoken about power... And glory!

Every man's eyes turned red. Even the females felt their hearts palpitating. What sort of a sentiment is this? It was one that could bring out the greatest sensation in human lives. Some suppress it, but none can bury it...

Valor! It was the feeling of Valor!

Even Dorian was dazed momentarily, but unlike others, envy was hidden in his gaze.

“Now, now. Do not forget what you are. Jailbirds, Convicts... Slaves. A chance is before you, grasp it and you can change your eternity, fail... Don't fail, you can not afford to fail.

...

Use the next hour after you wake to familiarise yourself with your abilities... Your Admin would take his leave.”

“After we wake? What is the meaning of this—”

The sanctuary turned bleak in pitch darkness, and with it, our senses were robbed out of us.

Before I closed my eyes to the sweet oblivion, I kept having the feeling that I forgot something important. But I've got time, don't I?”