Chapter 15: Resonant Call

"Man, even for a simulation, everything feels real. This place feels like home for whatever reason."

Potato went silent, but something distant clicked within his mind.

“Home… Gaillardia.”

Potato and Blaze were walking amidst ruined buildings further into the plains of the simulation. Various debris and bushes were scattered on the road they took.

"Like the ones in Sparrow Gaillardia? Yeah, they kinda do feel like home." replied Blaze. "We should scout for things inside the ruins, we may find some good stuff to keep."

The pair first ventured into what looked like a partially dilapidated house out of stone and bricks. It had vines growing on the walls that seemed to consume parts of the building.

The building had nothing inside besides the overgrowth of plants, so they both went up a stony dirt path leading to the ruins of an abandoned cathedral, in hopes of getting supplies or an overpowered weapon.

As they trekked along the way, both of them felt like they were being watched, despite being in an abandoned place no contender has ever been so far… or that's what they thought, at least.

"I don't know man, it suddenly feels really creepy here," said Potato. "Like, something's been watching us and I can't put my finger on it."

"Well, people from the Spectator Dome actually watch us." Blaze looked up to the simulation's skies, remembering Ryuga's wish as it echoed within his head.

I hope Blaze wins the Hunger Games. I believe he can do it!

"Besides, I think we should do our best, Potato."

"But I'm feeling something else. I think we're being followed." Potato replied. "I swear I heard something from a while ago."

"I see. Let's just be more wary as we explore this place."

Eventually, the pair reached the cathedral and were greeted by the carefully carved high central doors. Somehow, those doors still looked good as new, as opposed to the building’s weathered and ruined-down condition.

Blaze tried to reach for the doorknobs but was immediately stopped by Potato, who grabbed his outstretched hand.

“What’s with the hold up?” asked Blaze.

Potato let go of his hand and pointed out something coming from above the door.

 

"Pretty sure it hasn't rained in the simulation, right? Just wondering why the door looks kinda moist on the top, as opposed to the stone bricks looking dry."

They both noticed droplets of water that trickled down the door, leaving a wet trail as they slid down the ancient wood. Potato grabbed his sharpened bamboo pole and used it to bust open the door. It was flung open, and as expected, something fell from above.

 

A big bulk of water rushed downward along with a pufferfish that slammed onto the floor, flopping around while trying to seek water.

“How convenient, a pufferfish trap.” Potato muttered.

“I am not going through that way, there could be more,” Blaze said. Potato gave a contemptuous look at Blaze and lightly pushed him toward the dying fish. “Hey!” Blaze yelled out to Potato as he gave a quiet short snicker.

“Was this trap recently set by someone, or is it supposed to be a thing here?” Blaze asked.

Before Potato could even answer, the sound of footsteps was coming from their direction. They both stopped for a moment and readied their weapons in their hands almost instantly while trying to listen carefully.

"GET PRANKED!" yelled a recognizable voice that came from behind. Potato's eyes widened in realization and recognized who he was up against.

A figure came out of the pillar and charged toward them. "Pleebs!" exclaimed Potato, just as he readies himself.

“Oh, gee-“ Blaze got startled but was cut off as Potato threw his bamboo pole right at Pleebs, successfully impaling her through the chest.

Suddenly, a cannon fired from a distance.

"Well, that was anticlimactic," scoffed Blaze. "We gotta look out for her teammate."

"I mean, her teammate is literally just a pickle in a jar," said Potato as he rummages through Pleebs' bag to keep some of her belongings. "We gotta look for her stuff, it's surely- Aha!"

He held up the jar with Minji inside it. The hidden cameras around the simulation were focused on Potato holding it, all while the viewers from Dove Rose watched in horror and disbelief.

"MINJI, NOOOO!"

"Not like this!"

"Minjipickle deserved better!"

He opened the jar, reached for the pickle, and gulped it all in one go.

The spectators from Dove Rose were outraged, making a mess in the Spectator Dome. Potato swore he could even hear them protest even in the simulation.

"Dove Rose has pretty strange people, huh." commented Potato. "Check this out though."

He grabbed something from Pleebs' waist. It was a shiny rapier with a golden hilt. As he held it against the light and swung it, the purple enchanted aura glinted amidst the sunlight, and the weapon made a buzzing sound as it sliced through the air.

"Hey ain't that… the Bee Stinger?" Blaze recalled. "I kinda have an idea who the original owner is."

Blueveria's.

"Sharpness, Sweeping Edge," Potato was focused on analyzing each of the swords' enchants. "...and Knockback? Yeah, I'll take it."

"Now that's OP. It may seem stupid but it's genuinely a good choice to add sweeping edge to a rapier as it increases its range even further." Blaze mesmerized the weapon's magnificent quality and its purplish ethereal glow.

"Let's go. Just take their whole bags with us."

The pair rushed out of the site, now with enough loot to tackle with the other participants.