Chapter 25 Saving Red
They ran as fast as they could until they finally reached the other side of the forest safely. Around them, people kept fleeing deeper into the woods, too terrified to care about whoever was still being slaughtered out in the field.
Kit and Call stared at the battle in horror.
Neither of them had imagined the game Viz described would turn into a massacre like this.
“This is insane,” Call muttered under his breath.
“How are we supposed to beat something like that?” Kit’s eyes remained locked on the field before turning toward Flame. “Can’t you do anything, Flame?”
“We can’t use our powers, Kit,” Flame answered quietly.
Kit’s pupils widened. “What?”
“Our powers are gone. Just like that,” Phi added with a shrug.
Call froze after overhearing them. “How is that even possible?”
The two Metaphysics simply shook their heads.
“We don’t know.”
Call quickly looked around for Yasmin, who had been running with them earlier. But with the crowd panicking around them, he couldn’t spot her anywhere.
“And Yasmin?” Call asked carefully. “Did she—”
“Yeah,” Flame cut in. “She lost her powers, too.”
Call felt his stomach drop.
This was bad. The Metaphysics were supposed to be humanity’s greatest hope, yet they were completely helpless now.
So what were people supposed to do?
Sure, this was Savage Glory’s game. But how were they supposed to win?
Nobody knew.
What even was the mission here? Kill those ancient robotic monsters?
The AI’s twisted game suddenly made Call hate the machines that had coexisted with humanity all this time.
“We should head deeper into the forest and find somewhere to hide,” Flame said while holding Phi’s hand. “Let’s move.”
The group prepared to run with the others, hoping to find shelter from the robotic Tyrannosaurus until someone figured out how to destroy it.
“Wait,” Kit suddenly said.
She stopped walking and slowly turned back toward the field.
A second later, her eyes widened in panic.
“Call!” she screamed. “It’s Red! That’s Red!”
Call instantly turned around.
Following where Kit pointed, he saw the restrained robotic Tyrannosaurus thrashing violently across the field. And there—
Red.
She was standing in front of the monster, waving a wooden block at it.
“Has she completely lost her mind?!” Kit cried in frustration. “Why would she do that?!”
But Call immediately understood.
Red was trying to break the system. The Metaphysics couldn’t use their abilities. Something was blocking advanced technology and powers in this place.
Like an antivirus. Or some kind of suppression shield.
“We have to help her,” Call muttered.
“What?” Kit frowned. “What did you say?”
“We have to help Red!” Call shouted.
“But—”
Kit choked on her words. This was terrifying. Was Call seriously asking her to run straight toward that monster?
“She doesn’t even have a weapon, Kit,” Call argued. “And I’m pretty sure she’s trying to destroy the cables underneath the surface.”
“I know, but this is insane!” Kit swallowed nervously.
“She’s risked her life for us over and over again.” Call immediately pulled the revolver from his belt holster. “Without Ursula, she could die out there. I’m not leaving her.”
“We should find more people first! Don’t do something reckless!” Kit pleaded.
“And wait until when?” Call snapped. “Until Red dies?”
Kit fell silent.
“If you don’t want to help me, fine,” Call continued. “I’ll go alone.”
Flame and Phi, who had stopped nearby, immediately approached them after noticing the argument. Phi gasped when she saw Call pulling out his weapon.
“What’s happening?” she asked.
“I’m going to help Red,” Call answered without hesitation.
Then he sprinted toward the field without wasting another second. Kit stood frozen in fear, tears already gathering in her eyes.
“Where is he going?” Phi asked again. “Is he seriously trying to kill himself by running toward that thing?”
Kit wiped her tears angrily. “He’s such an idiot!”
“Yeah, I know.” Phi nodded sympathetically. “Didn’t I already tell you your group is ridiculously stupid?”
“Call wants to help Red destroy the cables,” Kit sighed.
“What cables?” Phi tilted her head in confusion.
“Ugh, forget it!” Kit groaned.
Taking a deep breath, she immediately ran after Call without answering Phi’s question.
Meanwhile, Flame kept watching the field carefully, tracking Call and Kit as they rushed toward Red. At the center of it all stood Red, facing the robotic Tyrannosaurus alone.
“Do you know what cables Kit’s talking about?” Phi asked.
Flame shook his head. “No idea.”
“Then why are you helping them?”
“Because they still need help,” Flame answered simply. “Especially against that thing.”
“Oh.”
“They can’t do this alone, Phi.”
Phi crossed her arms stubbornly. “I’m not going. Too many humans have already tried playing hero, and look what happened to them. They got ripped apart for nothing.”
“That’s fine. I’ll go.”
“I’ll wait here. Just don’t be stupid, okay? Run if things get too dangerous.”
“Find Yasmin later,” Flame said. “I’ll catch up.”
“Obviously.” Phi nodded obediently.
Without another word, Flame dashed after Call and Kit.
Phi watched them disappear farther into the field. Then her eyes shifted toward Red—
Just in time to see the robotic Tyrannosaurus slam its tail into her body.
Phi gasped softly in shock.