The Greatest Supreme

The Last Stage, Part IV

Default Dyslexic Roboto Lora

Samantha was walking back and forth while biting the nail of her thumb. Rin was leaning against the cabinet with both of his hands on his face.

I could clearly see their anxiety, knowing that if we failed this Quest Act, death would knock at our doors.

And as for me, I couldn help but also feel anxious.

No, anxiety was an understatement; terror was the accurate term.

Then in front of me was Fia, whose elbows were on the table. Her hands were clasping while her sharp eyes were blankly staring at the air.

We all remained silent for a short while, but that moment felt like an eternity as we exceedingly cherished every second that had been wasted.

I looked at the timer.

[Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:06:07]

…We can stay like this.

Just earlier…

* * *

Spark.

”Aw! Dang, we can pass through this barrier. ”

[Performers cannot reach the Exit of the «Quest Stage» until the Quest Act is completed.]

I placed my hand on his shoulder and stopped him.

”Rin, give it up. We have no choice but to clear this Quest Act before we can go out of this area. ”

”Then how do we suppose to create strong mutual bonds? We already did introductions, handshaking, chattering, and some sorts of stuff… and nothing seemed to work. ”

”We still have quite a lot of time to think. All you need first is to calm down. ”

[Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:11:03]

Rin added,

”…Its just that the description of this Quest Act is terribly unclear. And the only clue we have right now is this office-like environment. ”

[Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:10:56]

Rin asked while rubbing his face.

”A-are you sure that well literally die? What if… ”

I answered him, ”We already had the sorts of development, yet you still doubt your reality? You already have read many fiction stories, so you should already have even the slightest of ideas on what to do in these kinds of situations. ”

Samantha then spoke,

”Rin, many die of wrong presumptions. ”

”Theres no time to waste. ”

We instantly shut our mouths and looked at the person sitting at the front of the table. Fia crossed her arm and began to speak.

”Set aside first your irrational emotions. Nothing good will come out of it. ”

”Ah. ”

We averted our gazes to Samantha.

”I have a suggestion. Since this place was stage-like and random things appeared like props… Upon observation, it resembled an office. Maybe the clue was we need to act like really close business friends…? ”

I asserted,

”Good observation. However, it is indicated that it must be a strong mutual bond. And acting… Im not really sure about that. ”

”What do you mean by that? This is a stage-like, no, this is literally a stage where performers act. ” Samantha rebutted.

Haaa.

I told them,

”This stage is just a metaphor, a metaphor made by Shakespeare, probably. ”

”Give it a try. Its better than doing nothing, ” Fia said while her fingers continuously tapped the table.

”Hey, man. Shes right. Lets give it a shot. Plus, strong is subjective, you know…? Okay, then think about some other ways just in case while we do the act. ”

I looked at Rin and sighed. I sat at the other end of the table and thought deeply.

Samantha began explaining the things we should do. While explaining, she found a bottle of wine and wine glasses from the cabinet.

Afterward, we immediately did the act. We introduced ourselves and interacted with each other like close businesspersons. Surprisingly, all of them were good actors. Even Fia, who I have thought to be uncooperative, performed so well.

…It was plain stupidity. Our acting, I mean.

There was no corkscrew, however, there was a knife. Samantha used it to release the cork from the bottle. She poured the wine into the wine glasses.

”Cheers! ”

Clang. Clang.

We drank the wine and instantly emptied it. We immediately looked at our own Quest Act window to see if it was effective.

*Allied Performers Count Progress: Partial (1/3)

However, despite the efforts and performance we gave, our hopes were flushed into the drain.

It didn work.

[Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:08:14]

”Damn it. ”

I couldn look at Samantha, the one who said that.

”Hey, you already have an idea? ” I looked up at Rin.

I shook my head.

…Why can my brain function properly, especially in times like this?

Then, I realized.

No matter how strong or intelligent a person is, all have vulnerability in a psychological battle.

[Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:07:46]

Then, we remained silent.

* * *

[Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:04:45]

”H-hey, thought of something? ” Rin asked me. He was already shaking.

…I need to say something.

”Strong mutual bonds may pertain to strong emotional attachment. Im still not a hundred percent sure since the real challenge is the vagueness of the Quest Act. ”

”Then how will we do it? ”

”I don know. ”

”Fuck! ” It came from Samantha who was punching the wall.

I added, ”Rin and I were close friends. So, Rin and I have partial progress in Allied Performers Count. Then I came up with an inference that some valid friendship might meet the Quest Act description. ”

”…But its not easy to make real friends, ” said Samantha.

”….. ”

”Z-zekiel, are we doomed? ” Rin asked.

”….. ”

”Zekiel! ” He couldn control his emotions now.

…Think, Zekiel, I affirmed to myself.

I tried looking into the massive amount of memories I recently had. Maybe there will be some useful information.

However, the memories were just too vague and fragmented, and my head hurts when I try to think about them.

I glanced over at the insignias.

«Faces»

…Maybe, these are the clues?

I tried to reach for the medallions, however, a spark emerged.

”Urgh. ”

A message was delivered.

[The usage of «Faces» is not yet applicable.]

…Just as I thought.

Rin began to speak.

”I have an idea. ”

We all immediately looked at him.

”…If friendship is a strong bond… but we all can do it… Maybe we can do something more extreme. ”

…..

”…W-what is it? ” Samantha asked with a baffled expression.

Rin then replied,

”Lets be sensual. ”

Samantha exclaimed,

”W-what the hell!? ”

”We are going to die, Samantha! ” Rin was in a state of anger.

Fia broke her silence.

”Id rather die than do that. ”

”That made sense at least, I mean, what Rin has said, ” I told them.

Samantha looked at me and spoke in quite a shocked voice.

”A-are you that kind of pers— ”

”Our body may reflexively react and our mind may be temporarily blinded by affection. However, being sensual doesn necessarily mean we would genuinely like it or form a strong bond through it. And look at them Rin, do you think that they would? It clearly said that it must be mutual… You made a mistake by suggesting that, Rin. ”

”Haaa, ” Samantha sighed with a relieved expression.

”Ha, Ill just drink. Maybe this will be my last drink. ” Rin reached for the bottle of wine that was on the table.

”…Don say that, ” I consoled him.

I tried thinking once more.

…Maybe this office thing is just a diversion.

I looked at the timer.

[Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:02:37]

Damn it.

I looked at Fia, but it seemed she also couldn think of a solution.

Time was running out.

I observed the stage.

Table… cabinet… chairs…

I saw Rin sitting on the chair, scraping the wine bottle with a knife.

Knife… glasses… wine…

Knife… wine…

…..!

Knife and wine…?

Ha, haha.

Fuck, why so dumb, Zekiel? Why only now…

At that very moment…

”Rin! Give me the wine and the, and the knife! ” I shouted at him with haste.

My guts were telling me that this might work out.

”W-what are you going to do? ”

”Just give it! ”

I immediately looked for a bowl or something hollow.

Luckily, I found one inside the cabinet.

Then, I placed the hollow object on the table and poured it with wine.

[Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:02:07]

Faster…

I grabbed the knife and told them…

”Give me your hands. ”

Samantha then asked, ”What are you going to d…! ”

Fia and Samantha looked at each other then brought back their gazes to me.

Samantha had a surprised face, while Fia had slight changes in her expression.

They both opened their mouths at the same time.

”S-sanduguan? ”

”…Pacto de Sangre. ”

[Language de-Barrier is in effect!]

Rin then muttered, ”B-blood c-compact? ”

I nodded.

”Now, I need to cut your palms so that the blood will come out, ” I told them.

They all permitted me.

”Aw. ”

”Urk. ”

”….. ”

While deeply cutting them, I explained, ”Blood compact is an ancient ritual, especially in the Philippines, which is supposed to seal a friendship or validate a mutual agreement. ”

A burst of soft laughter emerged. It came from Rin. Maybe he was amused.

I continued. ”It also symbolizes comradeship. ”

Then I cut myself.

”Apparently, there were also types of lood oaths in other cultures such as in Scythia and some parts of Europe. ”

Blood flowed.

Then I placed my hand above the hollow object.

Thick blood dropped into the wine.

I commanded them.

”It may not be an accurate way, but for now, lay your hands on my hand. ”

And they did so. I felt their blood flowing at the back of my hand. Then their combined blood dropped into the wine.

”Are you sure this would work? ” Samantha asked me.

”All or nothing. ”