Midel's POV
Right before I could lose all my decreasing HP. Pinched my fist more as I hardened my body into metal strong. The sword piercing through me broke as I twisted from his hold. Kicked both of my enemies apart, faster than they could even react.
That sword I pulled from my body was infused with poison. And if I could count it, I only have less than five seconds before its effect could completely drain my life to zero.
Azmael's arm was broken by that kick. "You're dead, Lazarus! Quit now and surrender!"
But as his shout could even reach me or his comrades, I appeared right behind him. The sense of shock was evident through his eyes. Trying to defend through my incoming attack but with just one decisive punch: his head exploded with a hair-raising shockwave.
The ground broke, wider than a tennis court. As his headless body drops few meters away from my weakened and dying state.
\LAZARUS HAS ELIMINATED AZMAEL\
Three seconds!
As soon as the other two witnessed the loss of their strongest soldier of this war. They retraced their steps immediately. Running for their survival within that quick seconds as possible. Thinking that if they could at least ran around for those remaining seconds without dying, they could still win their way out.
But one of them. Drops on the ground with a hole on his body when my lightning speed throw of a rock hits him from a hundred meters distance.
\LAZARUS HAS ELIMINATED VLAKERIN\
"Dammit!" I heard the last one from behind. Hiding from a rubble few steps back.
He tried to sprint faster than he can while leaving sets of explosive straps. But giving him the set of mind where he can actually escape from that. Greatly gave him confidence of winning.
But with a strong throw of a sharp residual plate from someone's armor; his head was cut off from his body in a blink.
\LAZARUS HAS ELIMINATED VELZIL
__
"Hey. How's school?"
"It's fine." I walked right passed him by the door.
"The rain's pouring too often these days." He's the one who closed the door. And I went directly upstairs after changing to my indoor shoes. "You want anything?"
"I can eat later. Don't mind me." I can sense him staring behind before I could close the door of my room.
Placed my bag on the bed and took out my NerveGear inside. I opened a clean brown cabinet beside it and along with my other toys; Legos, sports cars, robot figures, Game CDs, and even pictures of my favorite game characters are neatly placed there. I placed the NerveGear on the top left corner where an appropriate space was left untouched. Solely intended for this thing's size.
Before closing it. I caught a glimpse of an old chess board just below it. It's not been used for many years but it never even got visited by dusts. It is a reminder of my grandpa's passing. Too long for me to remember his face or the sound of his laugh. But his legacy of knowledge never left my heart.
If I could just wish to meet him again even just in a dream. I'll play with him again. Just so that I can finally see his proud face when he is losing. But winning's not really the deal here. Or the arrogance of how I'm implying it to anyone. It is the idea of my longing. And the simple wish of care and bond that my parents couldn't even give me... or for her.
The next day. The sun rises once again. That rain almost flooded the city especially by the coast. But luckily, the storm subsided before anything could get hurt or damage completely.
As I walked down the stairs, passing through the living room where my brother's eating and watching TV. He called out as he noticed my presence. "You didn't eat last night, did you?"
"I'll eat later at school."
"Boil some egg before going outside. At least eat something while on the road."
I could see and hear the TV reports about the game that happened yesterday.
"LAZARUS ONCE AGAIN DOMINATED THE RUMBLE WAR CHAMPIONSHIP. IT IS SAID THAT HE DEFENDED THIS CONTEST FOR AT LEAST SIX TIMES IN A ROW—SIX TIMES IN A ROW CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? AND NEVER EVEN GOT DEFEATED BY THE OTHER TEAM CONTENDERS.
"REPORTS' SAID, THAT, UH, THE POWER BEHIND THIS LEGENDARY PLAYER WAS STILL REMAINING A SECRET AND THE MAN BEHIND IT WASN'T EVEN KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC FOR SO MANY YEARS. HIS MANAGER, MR. DOUGLAS WAS REPEATEDLY HARASSED BY THE MEDIA OR EVEN THE PEOPLE. JUST SO THAT THEY COULD FORCIBLY TAKE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC: WHO IS LAZARUS OUTSIDE THE GAME? IT IS AN INTERESTING TOPIC, TRULY."
My brother noticed my interest was redirected unto the TV's report. "You know that guy?" He said rhetorically. "Lazarus."
"What about him?"
"He's making his identity unknown in public, for what? So that he can gain more fame and be called as the legendary player—the most dangerous of all?" Arrogant may I interpret it: that's what my brother sounded like while saying that.
I'm not insulted. At least not by how my face would show infront of him. He doesn't know anything about Lazarus. Nothing. So how can he be so sure about the way he is badmouthing this player?
"Don't try to be like that man, Mid."
"Like how?"
"He is arrogant. Egotistical. Etc."
"Too many to mention, huh." I remarked, sarcastically. Placing the strap of my bag, back to my shoulder properly.
He tilted his head, lips pressed tightly. "Look, Mid. I know you know what I'm saying, right? Just. Don't be like grandpa."
"Grandpa's a better dad than his son. You know what I mean, right?" I returned what he said. "I'll eat at school. Goodbye, Azmael."
"At least call your brother by his real name, Mid." I slammed the door right after I heard him shout that behind me.
"When she died... I only have grandpa as my family."