Read DIREGAMES: Survivance :: Ch 4

"Hey, Mr Yang!" It was Pixie cut again.

Kris waved back at the girl.

"Spring rolls?" She offered him the box filled with the snack.

Kris picked one and thanked her.

"I made them myself," she told him as she took a seat opposite to him.

They were now travelling via a subway train, swiftly out of the suburbs of Hiju and to the game arena.

"What happened to your hair?" Kris asked her as he munched on the delicious rolls.

Her past unkempt bangs were trimmed and styled with green highlights. She wore a glittery black evening dress paired with black stilettos. But didn't seem to be very cautious about ruining her look. The only thing she was concerned at the moment were the spring rolls.

Kris looked down at his own outfit. He was in a formal shirt paired with a grand blue waist-coat and trousers provided by the guild. The other male players from his guild had worn formal suits and tuxedos too. The guild had made them wear such outfits, as though they were out for a dinner night instead of a gaming arena, a scary one at that.

Kris watched the busy streets of Hiju fade into hinterlands. It was cool and breezy. A breath of fresh air. He didn't know how long he had been living in this place. But the landscape gave him a sense of discovery. He wanted to let go of all the troubles and slip into a sound sleep, something which he hadn't done in weeks. And he doubted if he'd have one for a long time to come.

"That's a cool accessory," said Pixie cut, pointing at the copper Brooch on the lapel of his waist-coat.

"Have you thought how are you going to manage the games in a stiletto?"

"I know right, these outfits are overkill. Mr Chen even had my hair groomed and colored. No idea what he is trying to prove with this, but we can only hope not to become laughing stock in front of the entrants from other guilds... and the whole nation."

Kris nodded, agreeing.

"I mean it's a new guild. I am a bit doubtful if they knew what they are doing."

"Why did you enter the games?" Kris asked all of a sudden.

"Huh?"

"I cannot remember my own reason as to why I willingly entered this nightmare... but it should have been for money after Dad got himself into jail... that's what my sister said. What about you?"

"The same. What else could it be. I needed money to get into Harleon university. You know how costly it is. My parents could never afford it. But thanks to the guild--as they are new... and the pay is good and the zero level contests they conducted to choose the entrants weren't that hard either. I got lucky with this you could say."

"How much did they pay you?"

"The advance was about 10000 dollars, if I get through the first level it will be 20000. It doubles each level."

That was too low on what they had spent on him. It seemed as though they had been really looking forward for him to perform well. Kris ran his hand over his buzz-cut hair. He had to at least try his best to reach the title of scout and enter the second level.

Wiping off the remnants of the spring rolls from his fingers Kris picked up the game catalogue and ran his eyes over it once again.

Kris let an exasperated sigh.

Now that he thought about it, he had let his guild down.

"10000 dollars to clear the i1 and i2. I don't hope to get past the i3 anyway. But its okay for new guild. The expectations are always low for them in the market. Well, for them we are just fillers. I am sure they will receive the value and recognition from Andre and Bang Cha. So you can cut yourself some slack, you know," she said, motioning at the catalogue in his hand. "Don't be so fidgety."

"I am trying to ease out, trust me."

"Yeah, I can see that," she muttered. "It wouldn't be easy--I agree. Not for you, nor for me. There are going to be so many players with potential to level up super fast, you know from the top guilds. And its okay... we'd be fine as long we play smart. It's really not about the physical strenght. There'd be no sense behind putting a seventeen year old like me in the same game as a old-ass man like you."

"The hospial form says that I am twenty-four."

"Well, you get the gist."

"I do, and thank you for the golden advice."

"If you need any help then just ask."

"Sure. I'll come running to you whenever in need to reach things in high places."

Manila scowled and kicked her foot in retort. "I am not very forgiving to people who make fun of my height."

Kris huffed a laugh. "Alright, I am sorry."

The hinterlands were slowly turning denser as the train dashed through the blankets of chilled wilds. The night was fast approaching as well.

Soon enough, a virtual screen popped up in front of the players with a ding.

[Approaching the arena]

[Server scan complete]

[Recognising the user]