Chapter 8: Survive the Onslaught

"Listen up humans, this is your only chance at surviving."

The two monkeys let out a sinister grin. It was clear from the start that this was never about survival. It's plain entertainment.

Mosong threw up a strange hand sign with his thumb, middle finger and ring finger.

"Opulent Territory."

The ground below us morphed and change

into an unknown substance. It was warm and stretchy, yet strong in its construction. I had no chance of escaping, nor did the rest of the squad.

"Gaaah! Everyone hold on!" I yelled in desperation, yet my words couldn't reach them.

Based on the sensation, I could tell that I was being sucked in by the substance. Mosung also mentioned something about a territory earlier…If my hunch is correct…the entirety of Miyo is itself Mosung's territory.

______

[Miyo Mountain range - Gaelic River]

Suddenly my vision was bathed in bright light. The sound of rushing also resonated around me. It seems I've been ejected from the object and transported somewhere…but where could this be?

"Ahem! Have you become accustom to your surroundings?" A high pitched voice called out to me. I turned around, ready to engage in combat, yet the result was surprising.

"Hi there player 1! I'm Momo! Master Mosung's loyal servant! I will explain to you the structure of the challenge!"

"Challenge…"

I planted my combat knife firmly into the creature's skull. In order to test my hypothesis, I made sure not to use even an ounce of my Magical Energy.

Blue streaks of lightning flares out and rejected my attack, sending me hurling towards a tree.

"Argh…just as I thought…this game is an enforcer ability!"

An enforcer ability was a unique application of Magical Energy. Magic in its purest form is incredibly unstable and can't be used properly, like paint or ink. An ability is the "canvas" that the Magical Energy is embedded onto, a proper medium for drawing out power.

My test run with the servant demonstrated the "enforcement" archetype. It is a subset of abilities that govern "laws" within a specific "territory". As long as Mosung's territory and various other conditions were met, he could create rules that nothing could bypass.

It wasn't much, but learning more about Mosung's ability could only benefit me.

"Ahem! Are you done? Well anyway, here are the rules player 1!"

He tapped his index finger on my forehead and a quick burst of Magic surged into my brain like never before. In an instant, I could easily recall the rules of the game.

[You are now a player in -Onslaught-]

[Each player is given a strict 24 hour time frame to survive various deadly encounters]

[Every hour, a new wave of enemies will spawn and seek out your head!]

[Dangerous bosses known as -The Three Heavenly Generals await your arrival in the domain]

[You may regroup with other players if they are not within a boss encounter]

[Defeating a Heavenly General grants a player -Imperial Privilege-, allowing them to challenge Master Mosung to the throne!]

He even calls himself master in the game…

[Good luck players!]

Damn…this is really a suicide game. I need to hurry and regroup with the others immediately. Perhaps I can call them with the black suit? No…there is probably no signal in this territory.

"The game shall now begin! Currently taking down barrier."

The invisible wall separating me from the rest of the forest was cleared away. Hawks, jaguars, snakes, and various other deadly Magic Beasts emerged from the cover of the foliage.

I draw my blade and handgun without hesitation and let out a loud sigh. "Nothing I can do at this point. Might as well clear out the mosts before making it back.

_________

[Miyo Mountain range - Sanctuary]

"Huff...Huff...Huff..."

It had been 4 hours since -Onslaught- had started. Amid the ancient temple called "Sanctuary", chimera composed of 5 of more beasts, along with large minotaurs were scattered across the floor. Their bodies smashed into paste and the interior was bathed in blood.

"So strong...I'm so strong! Ahah! Malery! Big sis! Look what I can do!"

Ever since their arrival to the Canbrian Mountain range, and as such, the newly manifested Miyo Mountain range, Pam's synchronization rate had steadily been rising. Perhaps due to the influence of her contract, an unnatural amount of power was flowing into Pam's body, and she couldn't reject such an offer either.

"Hazy...hazy...I can't see...but I feel it! I'm invicible!"

With a child-like grin, Pam Fuller swung her staff with the verocity of a wild animal. The trees, bushes, and creatures lying within the wild flew and violent winds tore through the air. Everything around her was merely an object for her destructive impulses.

She smashed up floor like brittle tiles and exhaled in ecstasy. Her laughter echoed as a reflection of the soul, of the heart.

"Ah...Argh..."

BANG

"…Ah?"

A burst of energy darted past Pam. An unknown entity with 4 arms and 4 eyes looked down at the unstable Pam with eerie and disgust. It was a female ape with a handful of gold coins tucked in her right palm. She wore golden jewelry that glimmered in the sunlight. The mysterious figure was clearly a woman of opulence.

"That's the right arm, now lets aim for the head."

[A Heavenly General has engaged in battle against Player 2!]

[Constructing barrier]

She was the 1st Heavenly General, Toura Eria.

BANG

The second shot rang out with even more force than the last. However, something seemed distinctly wrong.

"The sound was different…did she somehow manage to reflect it?"

The truth had been far more grotesque than she could imagine. As the dust cleared, an ape-like appendage sprouted from Pam's eviscerated shoulder.

Pam's voice fluctuated as though she was both in great pain and pleasure. "Ahhh! My head's spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spin spinningggggg~ Why is everyone so mean to me! It hurts!"

She swung out an enormous staff at Toura Eria, thrashing the massive trees as though they were paper. Her power had truly exceed the boundaries of humanity and dabbled in the madness of a demon.

"You know, out of every player I've seen so far, you're easily the most fucked up."