Terror Infinity - Side B

Chapter 4 - 1, Btooom.

Shin: Hikari, are you ready?

Hikari: Yeah. The plan... I'll follow it. Please go ahead.

Shin: Alright, I am going now.

After telling Hikari of my near full proof plan to help her hunt for NPC chips ( Making sure to avoid words like people or murder ) the two of us set out.

Using Hikari's computer as a valuable source of information we went to an area that according to the last system scan there were many possible NPCs/players were last spotted. Then, once the next scan was complete we would begin to head over and track down the nearest chip. Twenty minutes of walking later we found our next chip, a gangster looking man in his late thirties.

Once I saw the man, I was honestly very thankful for our luck. Not because of this chance to get an NPC chip, but because the NPC himself looked like a villain no matter what angle one looked at him. It shouldn't matter when you are killing a human being or NPC, yet for a first timer like Hikari, the more they look deserving of death and that killing them will be benefiting society, the better.

Shin: Still, I hope the plan works.

The plan that Shin came up to kill the chip was simple.

Shin will use explosives to scare the the NPC and force him to run in the opposite direction of himself. And Hikari, who will be hiding and staying still to avoid being caught on radar, will wait for the chip to pass by and... Hopefully she will take him out with her handgunand not freeze up. The last of is the only real danger of their plan. Hikari was the best shot out of the three newbie survivors of H.O.T.D, but Shin was worried if she would really pull the trigger, yet in the end he could only trust Hikari.

Shin: I can't do this her. Just disabling the enemy myself and having her finish him off is no good either. If she can't fight and kill with her own hands then somewhere down the line, this mission or the next she will die. Like hell on my journey towards an OP protagonist am I going to let my comrades die!

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And then the battle began.

- *EXPLOSION*!!!

As per the plan, Shin began throwing grenades at the NPC.

Shin opted to use his grenades first instead of the Timer BIM since he felt that they were more useful in a fight. He threw the grenades not directly at the NPC as he could have done, so that the enemy would follow his role and head towards Hikari, but the NCP didn't runaway without putting up a fight.

NPC: Damm, this bastard, trying to kill me... Give it your best shot moron!

The enemy NPC began his own attack at Shin.

The NPC threw one of his BIM into the jungle despite not knowing where his opponent was, yet he didn't have to. The eight BIM that he started out with were Homing BIM. They lacked destructive power, but made up with it with there unique function of being able to track opponents and fly directly at them with its attached propeller.

Shin: Homing BIM? Surprising, but not outside my expectations!

When the Homing BIM was nearing Shin, he took out his handgun and shot the BIM in mid flight. The BIM exploded and lit up the surrounding area. Shin was not the best shot in the world, but his Reaction Speed stat that improved reaction time and vision more than made up for any lack of talent.

NPC: A gun! Damm, how did he sneak one onto the island! They took mine, but not his? Shit!

Shin: Good! He is running away.

The effects of the NPC hearing the gunshot was what Shin was looking for. A gun was a weapon that none of the other NPCs had on the island due to anything other then food or a survival knife being confiscated to keep the theme of a bomb battle that is Btooom. Guns were an exclusive right held only by Players who were outsiders to this world and somehow ended up in this death game .

Despite bombs having a strong effect of death, the gun was a much more clearer form of danger for a person of modern society. That was why hearing the gunshot scared the NPC and erased the idea that he could fight back with toy looking futuristic bombs.

Just as Shin had hoped for.

Shin: Good! The man is running away as planned. Now all that is left is for Hikari to do her part and finish him off!

Shin said this, but he was obviously worried about Hikari's ability to pull the trigger and take the NPC's life, so he chased after the man just in case. Fearful that Hikari would be unable to shot the NPC and the NPC in turn spots her and... But in the end it looked like his worries were unneeded.

- *BANG*!

The NCP who was running for his life was shot down without even seeing the one who took his life. A bullet entered from the left side of his head and exited out the right. The only words for it... It was a perfect execution.

Shin looked down and then walked over to the corpse of the NPC to confirm the kill. He looked at the gunshot wound and he was very impressed. Hikari took down the man with one shot through the temple. Shin had really believed that Hikari would chocke up at the last minute and get herself killed.

Shin: He is dead alright. Too bad he used one of his BIMs before he died. Still, seven Homing BIM can be used in a lot of... Hikari?

Shin looked towards where Hikari came out of the jungle to surprise attack the NPC... Trembling where she stood, with her hands still out holding onto her gun and tears running down her face. Shin called out to her again worried, but received no response for her.

Anyone who saw her now could tell that she was in shock and needed to time to collect herself, but... Shin knew that they didn't have time for that. They needed to gain as many chips as they could before the day ended and there was still light out, so they both couldn't wait for who knows how long for Hikari to recover form this shock.

Shin, choosing that they had to power through this event, in Hikari's stead he checked the BIMs of the fallen NPC, Homing BIM, and took them. Having then found nothing else of importance on the man that could benefit them, Shin picked up Hikari up off her feet and and carried her away. He felt deeply conflicted about exposing her to more battles, but telling himself that it was for her sake, they left to find their next NPC and chip.

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After killing the gangster looking NPC and acquiring Hikari's second chip allowing her to survive Day 1's midnight execution, the two of us moved on to our next chip/target. Hikari was still a little in shock, yet Shin was able to get her to move on for the moment.

Shin: Now on to the next target.

The NPC we went after next was after the latest scan that gave us his location. The NPC was a white collar worker similar to my first opponent. Hikari recovered somewhat by this point and working together, it became an easy kill.

This time our positions were reversed. Hikari would be the attacker to draw enemy attention and I would hide in wait, waiting for a chance to kill the NPC when he let his guard down.

Hikari started off by using her new Homing BIM she gained from the gangster NPC to attack the enemy from a distance. They didn't have much destructive power, so they couldn't make the man runaway in fear like our previous opponent when we used grenades, but they gave Hikari a different advantage.

A short distance away hidden in the jungle, Hikari could just stay still and let the BIM fly to the NPC. This allowed her to stay out of the NPC attack range and if he were to use his radar to look for her, she wouldn't show up at all. This was one of the tactics that best bring out the power of Homing BIM, but we weren't looking for an immediate and decisive win.

The point of this strategy wasn't to kill NPC outright with explosions, but just distract while I go in for the kill from behind, but unexpectedly the NPC was a foolish to an extent that surprised even us. He saw the Homing BIMs that Hikari released coming at him and did nothing as it made contact and exploded right in front of him.

Who knows if he forgot the detailed explanation on the types of BIM on the plane ride here and so he thought it was a toy, but whatever the case he was done for from the moment he didn't run away.With the first Homing BIM doing a lot of damage and two more later hitting him, the man fell all too quickly.

The battle was so anticlimactic that even Hikari who was still reeling over the guilt of her first kill felt that the man was far too pitiful and stupid. She still felt bad for him, but Hikari's sarcastic side came out. Hopefully, this was a sign that she was adjusting to this place in her own way. If what it took for her was to look down on others to stay sane then so be it.

Now the problem was...

Hikari: ...Shin.

Shin: I know?

Hikari: He

Shin: I know.

Hikari: Th-this NPC is still alive.

Shin: ...I can see that.

After the battle was over and we were about to leave with the NPC's remaining BIM, Hikari spoke up and said that she did gain the dead NPC's chip. She also couldn't turn on her new Timer BIM, that belonged to the man, so we realized that that the the dead NPC wasn't so dead after all. I kinda knew that he wa still alive from the start, but I was sort of in denial and for good reason too.

His skin had turned a redish black color from the multiple explosions, yet he still breathing, barely, unfortunately for him. Even with medical treatment who knew if the man could ever step out of a hospital bed again in his life time. We could leave him here, wait for some Komodo Dragon to eat him, but not only was that too cruel, it was ineffective as well.

At times you can't underestimate the human bodies ability to survive trauma.

Shishio Makoto survived his own execution of being burned alive and lived for days without proper treatment. This man was obvious no great warrior like him, but the premise is still the same. Leaving him like this was bad for many reasons, so the natural choice was to...

Hikari: ...Let's put him down.

Shin: What?

Hikari: What's the matter? It is obviously the right choice to put a bullet in this guy's brain. Besides, that is what we came here for anyways.

Shin: Yes, but... I wasn't expecting you to suggest it first. It is obvious that you hate killing, and this would be nothing less then an execution, or mercy killing, but that's besides the-

Hikari: ...So what? Death is death here in this world. Using guns or BIM from a distance won't pretty it up. Let's stop wasting time here and move on, ok?

Saying so Hikari took out her gun.

She was about to kill this NPC, this man here, lying on the dirty ground who was basically burned alive and put a bullet into his head. And she wasn't doing it for mercy. This was pure murder, not even for survival.

Right now, I bet anything that Hikari isn't even thinking about killing this NPC for his chip or BIMs. She is just going through the motions and killing just because. No reason, just because it was an option she was going to kill this person.

That kind of mentality... Is absolutely wrong.

Killing for fun or killing for profit are absolutely wrong even in this world is what I believe even now. Even if you think that way in the back of your mind, if survival isn't your first and final goal then... Murder can't be forgiven. I am doubtful that murder ever could be, but if it is possible then only for one's survival could it become one's justification.

What Hikari is doing can't be allowed to happen. She... Isn't a broken human being like me nor should she ever be. As a man, comrade and possibly a friend, I can't and won't allow this place to change her in that sort of way.

- *BANG*!

The gun that Hikari fired at the more then half dead NPC was quickly pushed away and the bullet priced into the ground inches away from the man's head. Hikari tried to resist and break free of my grip, but for her or even for someone as strong as Misaki after his stat increase, it would still be impossible with my Muscle Density stat.

I then took out my own handgun and aimed it at the NPC.

Hikari: What are you doing?

Shin: Shut up. Let me handle this kind of dirty work.

And then I opened fire.

- *Bang**Bang**Bang**Bang**Bang**Bang**Bang**Bang**Bang**Bang*!!!

I'm a man here in this world to have fun playing the main character, but I want to live above everything else. I am a broken human who enjoys punching, kicking, shooting and bashing in skulls, but above all I want to live to achieve my goal to become special. That is my justification for all I do on this island and for all past and future missions.

But what about Hikari?

She is just trying to survive this hell dimension to the best of her ability. Her killing others to live in this world is justifiable, but meaningless killing can't be forgiven. Just killing because you are pushed emotionally like this can't be right.

I really might be splitting hairs here, but as the person closest to her right now I can't allow it. Also, seeing Hikari fall down a dark path, and then maybe seeing her die one day on that path definitely won't be good for me, or my heart.

Using Aqua as an example, whatever made her the badass killing machine who laughs in the face of death and won't hesitate to kill, all that happened before I met her. There is probably nothing I could do at the moment to change her here even if there is or is not a need to, but I met Hikari here on my watch as we came to this Mission World together.

I should only feel responsible for my own life, but for whatever reason I feel that I am responsible for the weak girl that I met in H.O.T.D who asked me to support her because she knew that she was too weak to make it on her own... And to me she was the first girl, the first person asking to rely on me, a useless otaku.

Her actions and her survival are directly linked to me, and if the worst were to happen to her and she dies, my own desire to live will be effected. It was fuzzy logic that I couldn't understand where it came from, but that was my answer as I shot as I shot round after round of bullets into the NPC on the ground.

- SIDE QUEST REWARD 2, NPC CHIP - 10 POINTS ACQUIRED.

Once more I killed.

All for points, chips and for Hikari, yet ultimately it was all for my survival. I won't make any excuses. Like the Shield Hero said about his own actions to protect what he wanted to protect in an imperfect world... I am definitely going to hell.

Hikari: Shin, why did you stop me from killing him if you were going to do it anyway?

Shin: Sorry for taking your hard earned chip, but I am not going to let you execute a man like that. Leave that kind of thing to me. Let's go.

Hikari still looked at me upset, not knowing why I stopped her, but this was fine.

Even if she needs someone to hate other then the God of this world to hate, to blame for forcing her to kill. It is fine since... What I only want is for her to live. I don't know when I developed such strong feelings, but it didn't matter.

We still had things to do and NPCs to kill. This was just the first day and we had so much left to face.

Hikari: ...Creep ( GOD DAMM IT! THAT IS FIVE ALREADY ). Acting like a MC.

Shin: ...Oh, how I wish that this world was a game or movie. Then I can fast forward the boring parts and just get to the fun action scenes. Also, why can't I act somewhat cool without being insulted?

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Tyrannos Japan: Game Planner Gemu Shusaisha's Report 4.

Real World Btooom Game, Hard Mode - Day 1.

11:11 A.M

Players Alive: 13/15.

NPCs Alive: 129/150.

Btooom Soldiers Inactive: 25/25.

Btooom Commanders Inactive: 5/5.

Ryota Sakamoto, Btooom Lord Inactive: 1/1.

Daily Minutes -

1. More, and more fun battles have been starting all around the island.

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Authors Note:

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