“Forty-eight hours?” I ask.
“Failure to engage inanymatch triggers degradation protocol,” he continues smoothly. “Physical capacity will decline. Sensory function will diminish. Structural integrity will deteriorate. Your authorized mortal will experience the same fate. ”
Moe’s breath catches softly. “And if we still don’t fight?”
“Degradation will escalate to termination,” he confirms my fear.
Silence follows, thick and pressing. For a moment, no one moves.
The wraith takes a single step back, his role complete. “Starting tomorrow. Proceed to nearest obelisk. Select engagement. Accumulate points. Avoid termination.”
He turns to leave, his movements as precise as when we first saw him. He pauses, just long enough to look back.
“Welcome to Aimaxion,” he says.
There is no change in his tone. It’s the same flat, dead voice as before, yet now it soundstooominous.
“Bleed well—or bleed to death.”
Then he disappears.
That slogan is starting to make sense.
38
Moe sits on the bed, her chin resting on her hands.
“I keep waiting to wake up and realize this is all a dream.”
“Me too.” I sigh and join her on the bed. “I wonder…”
She tilts her head toward me, listening. Weariness is etched into her features.
“Remember those rumors about Horan Forest? That those who go there never come back? I wonder if it’s tied to this.”
“You think they also fell into this realm?”
I nod. “It would make sense. But if they never came back, then the chances of us making it out of here are…”
“Slim.” She lets out a breath.
“Do you regret following me?” I ask quietly.
“No. It is what it is.” She shrugs. “I wanted an adventure, didn’t I? Well, I’m getting that and much more.” She chuckles.
“That’s a good way of thinking about it. But…” I press my lips together. “There is one thing that worries me.”
“What is it?”
“There is no energy in this realm. Nothing tofeedon.”
Isn’t that quite the irony? My meridians are clear, but there is no energy for me to consume.
“What does that mean?”
“I won’t be able to level up without energy. I might be able to hone my fighting skills but there will not be any qualitative change in my strength. I think this must be purposefully by design. You must fight but you can only rely on your current level.”
“So the system is designed so participants fail.”
