Another Stupid Isekai

From the very morning, Adam focused on the preparations for his grand appearance in the arena. He started quite fancy, with a cup of coffee, from a can, since we didn't have any other type. He heated it up with his magic, and then enjoyed it while eating e breakfast. The only thing he lacked was a newspaper, and I had this weird feeling of wanting to get him one, but in the end, I didn't.

People knowing he will go out there didn't bother him at all, and did their best to get out of his way. What happened yesterday was a good reminder that we could very easily die here.

Martin was feeling better physically, and a bit mentally since he got some rest, but you could see that this whole thing had an effect on him. He wasn't as cheerful as he used to be, and spent a lot of time just with Hailwic, avoiding other people.

I couldn't blame him. He was in a way dead, held alive just by the skills. Experiencing something like this had to have an effect. I could tell since I was quite close to that when I fought one of the ghosts and melted off my own hands while casting a spell in a rush. Still, the two of us had one major difference, I was addicted to balancing on the edge between life and death, he wasn't. Which meant that this whole thing hit him even more than it would affect me.

I spent my morning splitting my attention between them and Adam. At least until Will sat next to me, and demanded that I would focus on him.

- I think I'll go after Adam - he announced. - From what that alien said yesterday, we are doing great, and I think we should keep pressing on.

- You realize that Avakadaisu could be lying to us? - I asked him.

- Yes, but I have this weird feeling that she is actually telling the truth.

- Ok. I agree, it's a weird feeling. Very fucking weird, since even a complete moron could tell, that there is something wrong with that alien, and we are not getting the whole truth here.

- I'm not a moron.

- Yes. You are worse than one - I agreed. - I have a feeling that she was trying to bite us into charging full speed at Zor'xal forces, and I'm not doing that.

- You sometimes are such an asshole, Peter.

- Thanks for acknowledging my efforts.

He snorted and shook his head.

- I'm being serious here.

- Me too Will, me too. We were so full of ourselves because of all the winning, and look what happened? - I lowered my voice. - Martin almost died. And that's with all the magic I used on him. He wouldn't win his first fight if that was not the case. We can't be reckless here. We have to stay on our toes. What will happen if they send another of those fucking things that exploded?

- Ok... I see your point.

- Will, you have a kid. No matter what, you have to come back to Dustin.

- You have a kid too, Peter. You also are not somebody with nothing to lose.

- I know, but I have my means of escaping, and you don't.

- Yeah, but I'm stronger now.

- And that could be your demise. Don't lose your focus. Don't get too cocky. Let others fight for you this time.

- I'm not sure if we can afford that.

- Me neither, but let's go with it for now. Adam said he has some kind of plan, so let's watch it. Maybe it will change everything.

Will nodded again, then patted me on the shoulder and left. Soon after that Boris joined me, curious about our little conversation.

- What you were talking about? - he asked as he sat next to me on the empty chair.

- He just had some stupid ideas because of what Avakadaisu said yesterday.

- Let me guess, he wanted to charge, because she said if we keep winning, we might end this sooner?

- Yeah.

Boris snorted.

- She is full of shit - he said. - You don't need a degree in psychoanalysis to see that. We shouldn't change our approach. It's working.

- I told him the same thing. He wanted to go after Adam and keep our winning score.

- It's good that you stopped him. We need to be careful here since we barely know what really is going on. We had to step in this pile of shit, because of the pressure, but that doesn't mean we should swim in it.

- Yeah - I agreed.

As I said those words the AI announced the beginning of the event for today in two hours. I chatted with Boris for a bit longer, until Adam finally finished his breakfast. He left the waiting room and went to wash up.

- What do you think his plan is? - Boris asked.

- I have no idea, but knowing him, it might actually work. He is a cautious and smart guy.

He nodded.

- I think the same. Whatever it is, I hope he will show them that they can't just play with us as they want to. We are not sheep to be slaughtered. We will fight back.

I looked at him. He was dead serious and clearly angry. Probably because of what happened to Martin, who was our friend.

- Yeah - I agreed.

- I'm hungry. I'm gonna eat something - he added shortly after and left me alone.

I remained in my spot, watching the door leading to the corridor. Eventually, Adam returned, and slowly walked across the waiting room, straight to the armory. His parade silenced everybody, ad they all watched him with respect. He was about to represent us out there with his life on the line, and I could feel how some people were thankful for that, as they didn't have to go there themselves.

Probably because they realized that there will be no more weaklings waiting for them out there. The jokes, and games ended.. It was os or them.