The Zero Countdown

Chapter 8: Classification

The girl deceives Elyon into thinking her ability was merely to determine the future. It turns out the Bearer of Truth Foresight can see past through her trickery.

Now that they are in the shower room anyways, Elora undid her clothes and set aside her used garments on a mountain towel hanger.

Of course, Brina did the same without any embarrassment or shame. Her proportion wasn't comparable to Elora's skinny figure but she had no intention of backing off nor running away from a confrontation.

"Your power differs from what you told us. It wasn't deviating on its effect as it has the same outcome, but just tell me why you prefer keeping it a secret from Elyon." Elora addresses the most important thing which is true before they can operate as a team.

Without sincerity nor integrity, they'd end up splitting up out of misunderstanding and that could spell their imminent doom.

"Because I had no choice. I'm stuck between the two endings I should go for or the endless possibilities that my head clearly can't comprehend. The alternate universe is way more complex than you could ever imagine. It's a system of the world in which wasn't meant for humans."

Brina stated the truth, and her very reasoning is within Elora's values, proving she isn't lying to deceive; she's telling a lie for the sake of the many.

"It's scary to think you already know the ending of this game... Perhaps I take you chose the endless possibilities then? The remaining options must have been a reality where you die." Elora fills the tub with hot water, soaking herself as it cools to a temperature she can take pleasure in.

"You are are wise and smart aside from your alluring charm. I'm glad we were on the same side for now."

Brina no longer had anything she can say. She meekly waits at a corner not covering anything from her body as if she's used to people seeing her exposed.

Either way, Elora yanked Brina into the tub with her so they can save up water while they are at it.

"How come your skin is much smoother than mine? Not fair! What skincare were you using?!" She's jealous of the maiden's fair complexion, fawning over at her beauty upon closer inspection.

"I bet you don't wanna know." Brina feels so awkward sharing a bath with a woman she just met. She can't help but ignore Elora's fine bosom touching her back.

"Is that so? Now that you mention it... You should be pretty unfortunate for joining the Zero Countdown. Did you participate for the sake of reward just like any of us? Some delude themselves under their power, some were blinded by grief; you must have taken a lot of steps to accept things as they are..."

Suddenly, Elora acted sappy showing her transparency to her. She sounded melancholic as if remembering something in the past she so regret.

"The world is unfair and unjust... The Unknown Entity was our salvation, and a change we did not deserve as well as the same suffering we should endure."

Despite carrying a heavy burden she can't embrace her own, Brina was still keeping up her facade of adulthood, assuming she can hide the frailty of her broken heart.

Elora could tell the girl experienced hardship she probably can't handle, so she gave her a slight hug as she pats her back.

"I may not have the ability to see the future, but I can read through woeful girl like you. I may be a stranger, but overlooking a poor soul hating herself means I'm no different than those who are above, stomping on us who clings on our illusionary hope of salvation."

The two then fall in silent as they soak in the lukewarm water, praying for the nightmare's end. Elora went out first covered in a towel so she can get their dress from the wardrobe outside the shower room.

They came back only to see the boys were so awkward they turned the television on, snacking on the sweets Elora left on the couch.

"So Brina, when will we go back to our room?" Elyon can no longer handle the unbearable tension in the air.

"Ha? You two are like next door! Stay here, it's safer that way okay?" Elora suggested. She rests her arms over Brina's shoulders, dragging her to the same spot she was relaxing a while ago but now freshly come out from the bath.

"We don't mind really. Besides, I'm worried what this Elyon guy might do to a high school sweetie such as Brina." Ruther wasn't just in favor of Elyon's guts.

"Even if I say I'm not the kind of person you think I am, none would believe so say whatever you want." Elyon brushed them off and didn't say anything after completely ignoring their provocation.

And they waited for hours that goes by, allotting their time for maximum survival by staying as a group together, ensuring the number of players participating in the game kills each other first until they dwindle to a number that which they can handle easily.

They had a salad and steak for lunch and a pizza for dinner because Elora was craving it. The couple was having a blast, drinking a beer in the middle of the night.

Brina knew the Silverfolsage Hotel keeps a pair of futons under the bed so she took those out and laid them beside the bed. It was as if they were having a slumber party while their lives are on the line, expecting the enemies could come out anytime and they had no choice but to be on guard all the time.

Except for Elora and Ruther having their intimate moment on their comfy bed. Brina couldn't fall asleep hearing their groans so loud it resounds in the room along with their lovemaking period.

"Argh... Why am I not surprised they'd still do this while we're down here and there they are doing their thing." Brina whispers near Elyon's left ear.

"So you agreed to stay here because you thought they'd get embarrassed to have i*********e when we're around?" Elyon reckoned.

"Kind of... But the results were worse than I thought. Maybe I should use my insight of the future even if it's a trivial concern." And Brina covered her ears with her pillow, the same as she did yesternight.

The couple eventually finished their thing but the audible smacking of their kisses amidst the darkness could send Elyon to his sleep deprivation.

Brina eventually fell asleep, the brightness of the moonlight showers Elyon's clouded thoughts of tomorrow and the next day, as new dawn arrives, what greets him was the familiar voice of which forsake him and the rest of the Fantasms.

The flat-screen on the wall was totally wasn't open but it's simmering a slight taint of darkness, along with a shivering entity that speaks the language of the gods.

"And because of unforeseen turns of events, only 8 players remain... The one who stands alone atop the corpses of their sin shall have their wish be granted by the will of heaven—"

The Unknown Entity's speech was discontinued as Ruther jabbed the flat screen wearing his metallic glove, leaving it shattered and broken in an instant.

"Hey, Ruther! What if the attendant makes us pay for that?!" Elora tied up her hair before calming her boyfriend down.

"Small price for tarnishing the false god who deceived me... I told him not to include you in this mess and I'll gladly play along, but he or she, or whatever that entity is... He put you in peril when I should be the only one who deserves to die...!"

Even though Ruther's strong from the outside like a knight and shining armor who's are always beside his princess, he still fell on his knees clenching Elora hands weeping, crying out of fear that he may not be able to protect her despite the fact his ability can kill anything he touches.

They drop dead silent not because they were desperate for the same wish they so seek, instead, they finally realized the game they entered for could douse out the flames of light they possess, and potentially meet their end like the rest of the Fantasms.

Elyon finally realized that power nor wealth could bring out what is inside a person. He had the literal strength of determining the impending doom of those who are around him yet he still fears the agonizing truth he might fail to change their fate the way he sees fit.

Nevertheless, Elora slapped her lover's face and forced her to stand up on his own feet.

"And what? Leave me alone for totally no reason and let you venture into the unknown? I'm sorry, Elyon and Brina that you had to see this side of ours. Please forgive our trivial bickering when we should be planning things out."

Elora was fighting with Ruther though she decided to keep the arguments away from them than act irresponsibly illogical couple that suffers no shame.

"It's fine, really." Brina lies.

"Anyways, we should now talk about why we needed help from both of you who have the ability classified as Prediction Class." Elora introduces a new term that Elyon recently heard.

"Does Fantasms have classifications?" He wonders.

"So we need to start from that? What a drag, didn't the Voice of the Creator tell you this ahead?" She was scratching her head, deducing they have to start from square one.

"The Unknown Entity really gives a free push almost to anyone... Strange." Brina ponders on her own as her eyebrows draw a line, perplexed by the behavior of the entity that started it all.

"Well, there are a total of 4 classifications namely External, Internal, Modification, and Prediction. These four differences set them apart based on what their Fantasm Ability can attain."

And Elora instigate sharing her own knowledge of the game which had kept her boyfriend and her alive so far during the first day of the game.