Chapter 5 – Gamers

SCRAPE. SCRAPE. SCRAPE.

Bananafeel felt excruciating pain and fatigue in his shoulders and arms. They were simply unbearable. The sharpening process was easy for the first hour or so, but as time went on, cramps crawled through his muscles and sweat rolled off his eyebrow. With one last squeeze of his energy, he finished his 43,200th scrape--one scrape for every second.

HONNNNK

No time to rest. The Honk signaled their arrival.

Without a warning, Bananafeel’s cabin door banged open and Tectus stepped in. She sure was energetic. But then again, who wouldn’t be after sleeping ten hours straight?

“Why aren’t you packed?! Everyone’s already getting off the boat!”

“My…arms…back…hands…can’t move.”

“I’m sure you’re fine. Now let’s get the hell out of here,” Tectus said as she pulled Bananafeel up by his arms. Big mistake.

The pain was excruciating. Imagine getting your face burned. Skin’s peeling off and someone comes up to you and slaps you in the face with a smile. Ouch.

Bananafeel trembled. He couldn’t waste his breath screaming, he needed the oxygen to do some…inner healing.

“You okay? Why are you shaking like a rat that just came out from the freezer?”

“I’m f…fine.”

“Ok, then. Let’s get the hell outta here.”

When Tectus was commanding, the corridors were already empty. Everyone had already gone out.

“What happens if we don’t get out?” Bananafeel asked, squeaking every time his muscles moved.

“They take us back and drops off us half way there.”

“And how do you know this?”

“I don’t.”

She really wasn’t the best person to talk to when you had something important to say.

…

The huge walkways, rows and rows of lanterns, noisy markets, and beautiful ladies. This was your typical capital city. This was Archterra.

Busy. Noisy. And Confusing. Bananafeel had no idea what was where. He needed a map.

“You know where I can get a map?” Bananafeel asked Tectus, who was sniffing the air, “And what the hell are you doing!?”

“It’s good to be back here. Anyway, map’s five gold coins, you still want to buy it?”

That’s half of what Bananafeel had!

“Hell no!”

“How are you going to find your way around?”

“I need a map.”

“It’s five gold coins.”

“Hell no!”

“Guess you’re lost, then.”

“I need a map.”

“Guess I’ll have to give you one.”

“Hell no!”

“Ok.”

What did she just say?

“Hold on a minute. I was just kidding,” Bananafeel shouted, “Don’t you need one though?”

“Yup. That’s why I’m stuck with you until you get me a new map.”

Goddamn it.

Dealing with Tectus was far more annoying than dealing with a six-year-old boy. She wouldn’t stop nagging and bragging about everything. She first shows off about how she knew her way around everywhere. Then, she tries to explain why Bananafeel needed her. Now, she was trying to explain the classselectionprocedure when he clearly had already read about it in the guidebook.

“The guidebook doesn’t tell you everything. It’s only a GUIDE book,” Tectus said as they were both walking into the temple where people select a class.

“Yeah well, it’s still a guidebook.”

The temple was huge. The entrance was large enough to fit an elephant through. The ceilings were at least twenty meters high, and the space inside was just goddamn dazzling. Furthermore, a beautiful lady was waiting inside.

“Would you like to select a class?” asked the female wearing robes.

“Would I like to have sex with one of the hottest Hollywood female stars?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“Of course I do.”

“Step in this way, sir,” she said, taking the lead into an unknown place.

Bananafeel looked back to check on Tectus to find her following a hot guy to somewhere.

“I guess Hollywood hotties are everywhere in this game…” he muttered, and followed his guide.

The temple was larger than Bananafeel ever thought possible. Furthermore, his surroundings were getting darker and darker. Everything was fading into darkness until absolutely nothing was visible.

“IS IT THY WHO COMES FOR POWER?” boomed a voice from behind. Or was it from the front, or was it from the sides? Hell, darkness made it impossible to confirm.

Speculating that he was the only one around, Bananafeel answered the question, “Yeah.”

Then, something extremely annoying happened. A burst of light blinded Bananafeel. It was like what happens in bible movies. God appears in front of someone with extreme light behind him that he almost looks like light itself. Simply put, is it so damn hard to portray what God looked like? And did he have to appear half-blinding everyone? If he was all so mighty, shouldn’t he be able to control his ‘brightness’? Anyway, it really annoyed Bananafeel.

Little by little, the blinding light faded away and there was the Hollywood hottie in front of him, waiting for him to stop rubbing his eyes out.

“That was bullshit,” Bananafeel gasped, trying to get over the brain numbness. It sort of felt like a brain freeze, but only a bit less painful.

“Please follow me,” the female NPC said.

With no other options but to, Bananafeel followed the NPC to find himself coming to an exit.

“What the? So the light was all?”

“Yup. What did you expect?” Tectus came from behind. She didn’t look at all shocked from the sudden burst of light. Then again, that character was her second.

True. There was nothing to expect from what just happened.

“Guess I’m stronger now, huh?” Bananafeel said, flinging his arms around, letting the happy moment seep in.

With pride and confidence blooming in his heart, Bananafeel headed for the exit. He felt as if the world was at his doorstep, or at least like a ripe apple that’s waiting to be plucked.

“Ten gold coins, please.”

Huh? Did someone just ask for ten gold coins?

Bananafeel slowly turned his head, facing the source of the voice. The voice that asked for ten precious gold coins. The voice belonged to his guide.

‘Maybe I should run for it…’ Bananafeel thought, thinking how far the NPC was willing to run for ten gold coins. As for him, he would run forever it.

The NPC must have seen through Bananafeel’s thoughts, for it said, “Not paying for class selection would have the following results: You will only gain 50 experience points while hunting and also be labeled Red.

Being labeled Red was probably the worst thing that can happen to Players. In game, Players can kill other Players whenever they wished. However, if the murder were done unjustly, meaning that if the duel wasn’t planned, the Player that first attacked would be labeled Red. Furthermore, Players that are labeled Red would lose their items once they die according to their Red Rate. The Red Rate was divided into three levels, three being the worst. With just the level one, Players’ fingernails and toenails turn red. With level two, their hair turns red, and finally, with level three, their pupils turn blood red. Once a Player is marked with the Red Eye, the Player will be listed on the Black List and lose everything they have once they die. This means that there will be other Players hunting these Reds down for their items and gold coins.

“Shit, here you go,” Bananafeel said, handing over ten gold coins. “Hope you money ripping-off NPCs all rot in hell.”

Coming out of the temple, Bananafeel checked his status.

Name: Bananafeel Class: Adventurer
Level: 20 HP: 975/975 MP: 420/420

Strength: 10 Damage: 70 (plus) 25
Intelligence: 10 Armor: 10 (plus) 10
Agility: 105 Patience: 4

Available stat points: 0

“What?! I’m Sneaky?” he exploded. Something must have gone wrong with the class selection procedure. “And why the hell am I a Thief!?”

“Wow, I never saw that Class trait before. I’m sure it’s not that bad,” Tectus said, faking sympathy. She was too busy being happy with hers to put more effort into her so-called sympathy. “There isn’t much difference between yours and mine, so don’t feel too bad.”

Now she’s just plainly teasing him.

“You’re a Revived Death Knight. Now how is that similar with Sneaky Theif? It’s like your saying diamonds and rocks are fucking tradable.”

Different classes have different advantages and disadvantages. Why don’t you check your Class Skill?”

Opening up the Skill Window, Bananafeel didn’t know whether to be happy or not. His Class Skill was…

“Counter-Attack.”

“What are the affects?”

Bananafeel read out, “Bonus damage when you counter-attack. What kind of a joke is this? I already know how to counter-attack. I wanted something new.”

“Class Skills don’t work that way in Archterra. They only enchant one of the actions you do most, of course this also determines your Class.”

“Fuck it, what’s up with yours?” Bananafeel asked. “Revived Death Knight?”

“Ignore it, it’s nothing to important,” Tectus averted the question.

Being the man who had the utmost respect for other’s privacy, Bananafeel decided to drop the question and ask a less private one. “What’s your Class Skill, then?”

Grinning widely, Tectus tapped her kite shield. “Shield Defence.”

She didn’t have to explain what that was. Bananafeel could still picture her blocking the Troll’s savage blows.

The chilling wind announced the digital night. Nocturnal animals came out and played their musical croaks and tweets. The town’s houses lit their lamps and fireplaces, radiating dancing light out their windows.

Bananafeel, who felt his bio-clock ticking, waved his hand at Tectus. “Good-night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“What do you mean ‘good-night’? Tectus shouted.

“You’re not sleeping with me, hell no.” Bananafeel snapped and headed for the closest tavern, exposing his back.

Then, something happened. Bananafeel sensed something, or someone sneaking behind him and sticking a sword through his back, penetrating his liver. Without hesitation, the Sneaky Thief leaped to the side, letting his instincts take over.

Bananafeel’s Keen Sense proved it’s worth, for Tectus lunged at where his liver would have been.

“What the hell?!” Bananafeel shouted, forgetting how sleepy he was.

Posing for another attack, Tectus shouted, “I’m not a slut!”

“I never called you one!” Bananafeel retorted, hoping to calm her down.

“You meant it!”

“Uhhh, I meant that as in sleeping in the same tavern.” Bananafeel muttered.

That was the worst make up ever.

“Oh, ok,” Tectus said, sliding her sword back in.

The bitch is nuts!

“What the hell was all that about?!”

“Nothing. We had some miscommunication. See how important communication is?” she cheerfully said.

The bitch is nuts!

“You know what? Forget it. I’m going to sleep,” Bananafeel walked off.

That feeling again!

Bananafeel jumped to the side, cursing whatever God existed in this game for sticking him with a mentally screwed up bitch.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to dodge out this time. However, instead of a sword, something soft wrapped around his neck.

“What’s wrong with you?” Tectus said, pulling Bananafeel’s head toward her with her arm.

“I thought you were trying to cut my freaking head off!” Bananafeel gasped. Tectus had a tight grip around his neck. “Why don’t you just let me sleep!?”

“You’re an idiot, aren’t you?”

“What?!”

“Gamers don’t sleep at night,” Tectus winked. “We’re going to look for quests tonight and head out tomorrow, so fuck sleep!”

To be Continued…

A/N: sorry for the (plus). They wouldn't let me have it in symbol... strange because it worked in previous chapters.