Jack was now laying down on the floor and looking up at the ceiling with only his thoughts to keep him company. Both Riveria and Loid were both asleep so he was the only person awake at this time. But right now, that personal time was needed so that he could think over what had happened that day.
Now, everything makes a lot more sense. Her parents dying engraved a viewpoint on all death and killing that caused her to despise all types of murder. While I have been trained and nurtured to kill anyone deemed the enemy. By the time my kill count reached the double digits I just didn’t feel anything anymore. Perhaps I’ve been so brainwashed into being an emotionless killer I forgot that my enemy was human too. When I kill someone I don’t think about how they have lived and loved and felt just like me. I don’t see them as people, just objects in my way. Does that make me inhuman? A monster who is incapable of feeling empathy for another human life? In truth, Riveria and I aren’t worlds apart. Her parents are dead, and I can’t remember mine. But the real difference is that she stayed morally just, while I was taken and bred to be a human weapon.
These thoughts clouded Jack’s mind for the rest of that night until the rest of the trio awoke in the morning. Once they did, they encountered two different tunnel pathways and a tablet with scrambled letters.
“Which way should we go Mr Jack?” Loid asked Jack with concern in his voice.
Riveria just stayed quiet and looked a bit detached from everything. Jack glanced at the tablet and at turned his attention back at Loid.
“The tablet says, go left if you want to die.” Jack says casually.
“How did you decipher that so quickly?!” Loid asked with surprise evident in his voice.
Jack shrugged and said “It wasn’t very difficult.” Then he walked into the right tunnel with Riveria following suit.
“That’s not the poi- HEY WAIT FOR ME! MR JACK!” Loid exclaimed while he quickly caught up to the two adults.
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The trio continued navigating through the maze, this time with Jack leading the way with no complaints by the others. Riveria stayed silent throughout the entire time they were walking. It was almost as if her mind was in a completely different place. Meanwhile, Jack and Loid were conversing normally and talking about all the fun things they both would do together once they got out of the tournament.
This is how everything went until they hit a checkpoint. Once they did, they stopped and were about to take a break.
“One day I’ll take you to Lunar Park so we’ll both go to an amusement park for the first ti-” Jack started before noticing someone.
Someone is coming quickly…and they are overflowing with the intent to kill.
Just then, a green haired man dashes at Loid and attempts to punch him but Jack catches the man’s fist.
Damn he’s strong, what the hell is up with him?!
The man pulls his fist back, kicks Loid, and jumps away. Riveria ignites her flames and charges up a beam of fire and shoots it at the man. The man punches the ground which causes it to shake and Riveria’s beam to miss. The man dashed towards Riveria and jumped up in the air, intending to dropkick her but ended up getting punched by Jack and getting sent flying.
Jack ran at the man and began to pummel him straight to the ground with a barrage of relentless punches. Each punch caused his fists to be covered in more blood with no end in sight. Only a single thought was going through Jack’s head at this moment.
Kill him.
The man managed to somehow pry Jack off him and land a punch straight to Jack’s gut. Despite this Jack remained with only a cold, emotionless expression on his face.
How is this man still standing?! My power sextuples my strength, that punch would’ve been strong enough to level a small building! The man thought as he trembled in fear knowing only one thing for sure.
His opponent was an absolute monster.
Crap, I shouldn’t have attacked them. I just thought I could’ve lowered the amount of competitors in future games. Please god, I don’t want to die. The man internally pleaded. Hoping for any way to escape this situation.
Jack knocked the man to the floor, leaving him out of strength and barely conscious.
“Are you going to kill him?” Riveria asked, speaking for the first time since yesterday.
“No, I won’t.” Jack responded.
“Let’s keep going.” Jack said while picking up the now unconscious Loid.
The kick barely made contact so it didn’t give him any serious injuries but it was still enough to knock Loid out cold.
Poor kid, I should’ve protected him better.
“Thank you for saving me…If that guy hit me, he would’ve killed me right?” Riveria said.
“No problem, that’s what allies do.” Jack said and looked at her, giving her a warm smile.
Both of Jack’s hands glowed after that, signaling not only was Riveria now in debt to him, but the man he spared as well.
“Thank you…” The man whispered in a tone that was nearly inaudible.
I only let that man live so he’d be in debt to me…yeah that’s the only reason. Because sparing him is too kind, too merciful. And I’m never supposed to show mercy…right?
