Virtual Reality : Dystopian Tales Online

013.3 | Hide and Seek

There is not enough time to explain the details of the game but the gist is that it wasn't just an ordinary hide and seek game.

There are many local variations of the game and the one presented during the said game event is the Hide and Seek Team Up. It is the type where one seeker will look for the hiding players. Once found, the hiding players will join the ranks of the seeker.

There's a time limit in the game. As what Damian can recall, the whole game will last for an hour. The winner will be determined to which team has the most number. If the seekers win the game, the game play will be considered a failure - game over. If the players (or the hiders) win the game, the seeker will be killed and the system will allow the players to leave the game instance.

It is in fact such an easy game.

Many players would attend this game that some would even repeatedly enter the instance without worries. There is no limit in getting the event prizes, so the players are seizing the chance to loot as many as they can. They are not apprehensive since their abilities could conceal them to the most secure places that not even their team mates could perceive them.

If chances where they got defeated, maybe due to poor choices or having pig teammates, there is still no worry since they could just resurrect back to any town's birthstone the player previously registered. There are penalties every time the player dies but it could still be compensated.

They are fearsome since they are immortal.

Will they be able to have the same thoughts in their game now?

The last ten seconds are slowly counted. Xavier looked around to search for a hiding area but decided to return to his studio. Seeing the creepy creature counting in front of the room with fastened eyes, Xavier has no reaction and just simply slipped to the space inside the room. The initial fear of encountering the creature did not linger that long.

Actually, he is not the only one feeling the same way. The moment Damian activated the game play, all the players present had realized that it is a game instance. Which of it is part of the Dystopian Tales Online, nobody knows, but it undoubtedly increased their odd chance of survival.

If not, then, they could merely wish for death.

The monsters could kill anyone it wants but since it is bound in the game it has to follow certain rules. Inevitably, this is considerably safer than a brainless maniac randomly massacring people. They could employ the rules to nullify the monster's movements and could end it by completing the game.

They only have to win to survive.

Xavier swiftly searched for the hidden compartment somewhere in the room that he only knows. He wasn't the one who made it but a senior student who is using the same room before. It was said that the senior uses this compartment to hide their food or to hide when the instructors are seeking them.

The compartment is built on an obscure corner that is hidden by a couple of boxes and curtains. It wasn't visible unless someone will promptly remove the curtains and peel the plasters out of the wall. Xavier had only just entered the compartment once when the senior revealed it to him. It seems like the senior wanted to hand out the custody of the secret base.

It wasn't large but enough for Xavier to sit inside without arching his neck down. He pulled the cover of the private compartment and remained extremely silent. He won't be found out as long as he remains in this state. He gently leaned unto the wall and slowed down his breathe. He closed his eyes and listened as the creature finished counting the numbers.

...98 ... 99 ... 100!

The moment the timer reached the designated, an unknown force slapped the surrounding area. A light blue translucent force field has been activated from the ground a meter from the specific building. It rose to form a dome, engulfing whatever is inside the circumference by the process.

The people inside is now had been trapped.

A mechanic voice resounded from somewhere rang into everyone's ears. Normal people associated it to a news caster reporting forecasts while the players identified it as the voice over of the game. Their speculations are true. This is indeed a game instance!

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[GAME INSTANCE: HIDE AND SEEK]

THE GAME INSTANCE HIDE AND SEEK HAS BEEN ACTIVATED. The seeker had selected ten players, namely: Xavier Church, Alexander Murphy, Damian Forbes, mob character X, mob character Y...

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A massive screen suddenly appeared in front of the dome encompassing many camera angles primarily focusing on the areas where the players are hiding. The broadcast is not limited to this area. Somewhat, all media seems to be hacked by something that replaces whatever current program is playing to the scene of the game instance. The one retaining the best spot are the other DTO sixth beta players that received the notification beforehand.

What is a game instance? Is their first question.

The participants of the game lost their connection from the outside world and to the people within the building. Xavier checked the GPS map Alexander handed and thought that that guy's intuition is always the best. He adjusted the angle of the map to clearly mark the position of the other players.

The system finished announcing the name of the players.

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Ten players sufficiently filled the required quota. The game can commence.

WELCOME TO THE GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK! DON'T LOOK BACK AND CONTINUE FORWARD - DON'T LET THE MONSTER FIND YOU!

RULES:

1. The game will only start once one seeker and ten hiders is completed. Incomplete players will default the seeker as the winner. This is only plausible after the game trigger has been activated.

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The trio cursed under their breathe. They don't know the rules so they just took the plan of playing the game without considering possible consequences. If they didn't fill the ten places, then, does it mean that the monster would have slaughtered them?

"No, it will not," Xavier answered his thoughts.

Damian said that the seeker would randomly choose ten players around the range of the game. Hence even though they are not aware of this rule, the game could still continue. The problem lies to the chosen players. It's a question if they will be able to win the game with their given abilities.

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2. The game will have five rounds, with a five-minute probation period in between. The hiders will be given immunity within the five-minute periods. The seeker will automatically enter sleep mode. Within the five minutes, the players could do everything they desire.

3. Every round has a duration of twenty minutes. The seeker will start seeking the hiding players. Within the twenty minutes, the players could not move from their position, or the seeker will precisely find their hiding places. Once found, the seeker will convert them.

4. The players could only change their hiding position thrice. Hide wisely.

5. If no players are found in a certain round, the seeker will gain an ability. The ability will accumulate in each round. If there are two seekers present, both seekers will receive two abilities. If there are three seekers, each will be given with three abilities. The ability can only be used once.

6. Each ability the seeker earns, one weapon will appear in the map. The weapons will have their respective uses and can only be used once. It can nullify the seeker from extending its influence to the player or can revive a teammate back to the player's side.

7. Once the player is exposed, the player can reject the seeker's influence by answering three questions. The player has to satisfy the questions with the given time limit. It only needed to be answered correctly twice. If the player is successful, the player will be immune to the seeker and can use a chance to hide in another place.

8. The player can only utilize the three-questions tactic once.

9. The winner will be decided after the fifth round. The team with the most number of members will win the game.

10. Have fun! Good luck!

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The rules have been announced by the system but also handed the written ones to the players and the people watching the broadcast. Xavier recited the rules repeatedly and thought that the rules have a lot of loopholes. This is notably to the seventh rules.

He thought, what if the player consumed its three chances of hiding, how will the seeker react if they got two answers correctly?

Other players are also thinking the same. They also wanted to know if the five-minute probation starts after the first round or before the first round. Or could they retrieve the weapon during this freeze time?

They need a plan, but they don't know how to communicate. The signal has been cut off and the sole way they know that the others are alive is from the GPS map. Xavier wondered if he could see the feed of the school through the hacked camera. When the images showed up, Xavier realized that only communication that needs interaction between the players has been cut!

He has been thinking on ways of disclosing this information to the other players when he heard a rustle. His body jerked and breathing hitched when he realized that the creature entered the studio. He did not dare to move his hands and tried to breathe less as possible. He did not want to be the first casualty.

Fortunately, the creature only roamed around for a bit then left. The laughter and cries of the two heads were quite loud so everyone could discern them coming.

Nobody dared to move a muscle as they waited for the first round to end. The people watching the scenes are also tensed. They could see where the players are hiding and every time the creature passes by it feel like their chests are tightening. One of the professors almost passed out after successfully deceiving the creature when he was almost discovered.

The first round ended without any scruples. The twenty minutes ended. The laughter and cries of the two-headed creature stopped. The system congratulated the players for surviving the round and that the five-minute probation has started. A large holographic timer appeared in their vision.

The spectators also took their break. The military had arrived to the school and had protected the students that managed to escape the game instance. They are given food and water. When they are requested to leave the area, the students resisted. They don't want to leave the place until the game ends.

Even though the trio volunteered, there is the feeling of guilt leaving their schoolmates behind. After all, Alexander issued the request of assistance, and none of them dared to take a step forward. The professors are also ashamed. They could have taken the places of the students but because of fear they dared not to.

Their thoughts and sentiments did not matter to the people playing the game.

Silence succumbed the entire area when suddenly one student exclaimed while signifying something to the screen. Everyone trailed the line of sight and found the camera showing the position of the creature. However, the creature wasn't alone in the picture. Instead, someone is swiftly running towards it.

Alexander is considered as one of the best people that could identify flaws between the rules. There is also Aries but that guy never uses it because he is already capable. Alexander doesn't possess the same strength, so he uses his intelligence to overcome many challenges.

This game is only small scale compared to what he had experienced.

"The second rule says that the players could do whatever they desire within the five-minute probation," Alexander grinned. “Isn’t that allowing us too much leeway?"

Alexander is carrying a steel pipe he got from somewhere and smashed the bony sides of the creature upon closing in. His actions were solid with no ounce of hesitation. One hit is not enough so Alexander made another strike. The sound of metal striking brittle bones echoed throughout the corridor.

Such violence surprised the spectators especially the people who knows Alexander. They perceive him as a cool and easy guy. They never thought that he had this side of him. Then again, this generation had treated violence as a crime, so nobody had witnessed this kind of aggressive behavior.

But nobody could denounce Alexander for doing so. If they are in his place, they will do the same. Nobody knows the consequence if they lose the game and Alexander striking the creature is just one way of weakening the enemy to which is remarkably effective.

An HP gauge appeared above the creature's head.

Alexander wasn't surprised when he discerned it. He continued to powerfully strike the creature and see how much of damage he could give. Naturally, Alexander will not purely be undertaking the attack by himself. After a few seconds, Damian showed up. He wasn't carrying a steel pipe but a metal bat.

Like his cousin, he did not show hesitation when hitting the creature. Every time the metal bat hits the bone, a crisp sound would come after. The two wasted no seconds in pondering and just went in full attack mode.

Xavier came after them but he did not make any actions and just chatted with the two. He distinctly offered Damian a look.

He said, "How fun it is to beat up your fellow undead?"

"Are we friends?" Damian paused and stated his answer. "Friends won't kill each other. Also, if a human could hate its fellow human, then I could do it too."

"That is true," Xavier agreed. He opened up his terminal and showed the camera feeds. "The cameras are working. It seems that only our communication is severed."

"Give us the code access," Alexander chimed in.

"That's what I am planning. Here, give it to others when you encounter them."

The three chatted so casually beside the creature. The spectators felt that it is bizarre. The situation inside is very dangerous yet there are three people casually chatting as if they are merely talking about their ordinary affairs. It is not limited to the three. The other students are also calm that is opposite to the professors that are sweating buckets while praying on their deities.

The five minutes are coming to an end. The three people immediately dispersed and returned to their respective hiding place. The system issued the start of the second round. The creature is now able to move. Despite all the hits it received from Alexander and Damian tandem, the creature was able to stand still.

Well, the creature is bony so there should be only little pain.

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The first round ended. No players are found. The seeker gained an ability.

Ability gained: X-ray Vision