Kitana began grinning, and Alan found himself smiling as well. Even as sweat began to drip down his brow and his body began to tire he paid no attention to it; this was fun.
Midway through one slice, the blue outline’s right hand opened, dropping the knife. Unconsciously, Alan did so as well. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the outline’s left hand dart forward, grabbing the knife, stabbing forward. He followed through, not even marveling at his ability to catch a falling knife midair perfectly, instead focusing on another outline showing that Kitana’s blade would knock the knife out of his weak grip.
As he lunged forward into the stab, the blue outline used the momentum to pivot onto its left foot, letting the knife fly away. The outline instead focused on kicking Kitana, trying to knock her legs out from under her.
Alan could see that Kitana was focusing on the knife, but as soon as the sword met with his knife, knocking it out of his hands, he began the kick at her legs. Kitana shifted focus onto Alan himself, but it was too late to avoid the blow. Alan watched as an outline of the katana started a motion to cut off his leg. It stopped and reverted, allowing Kitana to be swept off her feet. To his surprise, his kick connected as the outline's did. Kitana absorbed the blow, making a forwards somersault while holding her katana with apparent ease, not reacting to how painful it must have been to be kicked right in the shins.
When Kitana completed the somersault, a step away from Alan, she leapt up, stabbing at Alan’s neck. Eve’s projection showed that it would stop right at his neck, not piercing it, thus he stood there, allowing the katana to brush against his Adam’s apple.
Kitana grinned. “That was rather impressive, though I almost cut your leg off.” Alan thought a slight amount of her health was missing, maybe 0.05%, but that might have been wishful thinking.
“Yeah, that was quite something,” Alan said, falling to the floor. He was amazed at how tired his body was; it felt like he had emerged from a trance. He was covered in sweat, but couldn't remember it bothering him during the sparring. Replaying the memories in his head, he was amazed at the various stabs, lunges and almost aerobatic maneuvers he’d been pulling off.
To Alan's surprise, in addition to his agility, perception and endurance increasing, he’d also gained seven levels and a series of new skills. What sort of game didn’t require killing things or turning in quests to gain levels? If training was all it took, maybe he should become a hermit and spar with Kitana. She’d probably need some convincing though.
As he was about to look more closely at his new skills, Eve said, Thiago is calling. Accept?
Accept.
“Where are you guys? Why aren’t you back yet?” Thiago asked, sounding almost frantic.
“What? We still have 20 minutes until round one is supposed to start,” Alan replied.
“Alan, where do you think the hounds are coming from? Did you think that they’ll appear out of thin air? They are travelling to the bunker, and will ARRIVE in 20 minutes. That means they’re racing closer, probably from your direction, right now. They could be at your position in five minutes! Maybe sooner if they smell you out in the city!”
“What!? But…” Alan said. Honestly, he had been thinking the hounds would spawn right outside the base.
Then, off in the distance to the south, Alan heard the loud howl of an animal. A series of other howls joined it. Like clockwork, the timer for the start of the round shifted from 0:20:23 to 0:07:53.
“Fuck,” Alan said.
Panicking, Alan began thinking through his options. He could try to sprint back to the base with Kitana, but they’d likely be caught out in the open before they got back in time. It had taken nearly all his effort to get there in 15 minutes, and he was still exhausted from the sparring.
Eve, I think we should try hiding in a building, do you agree?
That seems like an acceptable option.
Immediately, Alan began walking towards nearby buildings.
"Alan, where are you going? What is happening?" Kitana asked, grabbing Alan's shoulder.
Alan recalled that other people couldn't hear Eve.
“Um, right, sorry, I think we should try hiding in a nearby building, as we won’t make it back before the round starts, and getting caught out in the open would probably be a bad idea,” Alan said to Thiago and Kitana.
“If that’s what you think is best,” Thiago said. He didn't sound very happy. "Good luck.”
Thiago ended the chat.
Kitana nodded, then started looking around, trying to find a defensible location.
The only open building they found was a convenience store. It looked like any other corner store, once selling snacks, liquor and groceries among other things. Alan motioned Kitana over.
Upon entering the store, Alan noticed that all the shelves were bare. Someone had cleaned it all out a while ago. The cash register was still there, as well as a few old magazines and lottery tickets.
There were two small aisles, and a door in the back. Alan tried the door, it was locked.
"Well, I guess we should try to hide in here, they probably won’t find us,” Alan said.
Negative, the scouting hounds of the Predecessors have already picked up your scent, Eve sent.
“Um, actually, scratch that. Looks like we’re in for a fight.”
Kitana took up a stance in front of the entrance to the store, shutting the door.
“So, uh, well, what do you think I should do in this fight?” Alan asked.
Kitana glanced at him. “Stay in the corner behind the counter and don’t get in my way.”
Eve?
That seems logical. At your level you are more likely to hinder than help.
Oh, well if you agree…
Alan climbed over the counter, standing behind the cash register.
Huh, despite all the times I’ve been in a convenience store, I’ve never seen behind the counter, Alan thought to himself. There was a digital safe below the counter. Apparently there was still electricity within the city, as the safe made a beep when he pressed the enter key on it. Maybe it ran on batteries. Now if only he had the PIN…
There is something inside the third magazine from the top, Eve sent.
A pile of magazines also sitting behind the counter was highlighted.
Alan grabbed the magazine, opening it up. Halfway through it there was a folded post it note with a code on it.
It can’t be that easy, can it?
It was.
The safe opened revealing a stack of cash, now probably useless, and a handgun with a box of ammunition. Alan took it all. Some files and permits were in there too, but Alan ignored them. After putting everything else in his backpack, he began examining the gun, making sure not to point it at himself or in Kitana’s direction.
Kitana looked over at Alan, seemingly unsurprised he’d randomly found a gun in a safe. “Have you ever fired a gun before?” she asked.
“Um, no, but how hard could it be?” Alan said. Kitana rolled her eyes.
“Don’t point it anywhere near me, all right? Even if the gun is unloaded, or you fired all the bullets, or there’s a giant kaiju about to bite my head off, do NOT point the gun anywhere within five feet of me.”
“Um, okay,” Alan said. This was the first time he'd heard Kitana raise her voice.
Hey, Eve, you could show me where to shoot as well, right? Like give me an outline where I should aim the gun, including my reaction time, then highlight the enemy green when I should shoot.