Game of Higher Hands - You Should Have Left

8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg79q7kbp0q

The thing in front of us opens.

Not like a door.

More like the air is being pulled apart.

A line of white light appears in the middle of the structure.

Then another.

Soon, the whole thing looks like a broken mirror.

I take one step back.

Mei takes one too.

Good. She learns fast.

Then something walks out.

A person.

No.

Almost a person.

It has two arms, two legs, and a face.

But its face is wrong.

Too smooth.

No eyes.

No mouth.

No nose.

Just skin.

“Okay,” I say softly. “I officially don't like this place anymore.”

The thing turns toward us.

I feel cold.

Not because it is scary.

Because my ability says nothing.

Nothing at all.

No state.

No information.

Like it doesn't exist.

That is impossible.

Everything has a state.

Everything.

Mei whispers, “Can we run now?”

“Good idea.”

We both turn.

The creature suddenly appears behind us.

No sound.

No steps.

It is just... there.

I blink.

“Oh, that's cheating.”

The creature raises one arm.

I push Mei down.

A second later—

BOOM!

The wall behind us explodes.

Stone flies everywhere.

Dust fills the air.

Mei looks up at me.

“You saved me.”

I stand.

“You're welcome.”

Then I start running.

“Move!”

She gets up and follows.

Good.

At least she doesn't freeze.

We run through the empty streets.

The creature keeps appearing closer and closer.

Sometimes in front.

Sometimes behind.

It doesn't chase us.

It plays with us.

I hate that.

Only I am allowed to do that.

I turn a corner.

Dead end.

“Perfect,” I say.

Mei almost crashes into me.

“You sound happy!”

“I am not!”

“Then stop smiling!”

I touch my face.

I am smiling.

Huh.

Didn't notice.

The creature appears at the entrance of the street.

Standing there.

Waiting.

Mei grabs my sleeve.

“Jax…”

I look at her hand.

Then at her.

She lets go quickly.

“Sorry.”

I shrug.

“It's fine.”

Actually, it is strange.

Most people avoid touching strangers.

Especially in places like this.

But I don't think much about it.

People do weird things when they are scared.

I look around.

No escape.

Good.

I like problems.

I focus.

If I can read this thing, I can beat it.

Come on.

Give me something.

Anything.

For a second, words appear.

Very weak.

Very blurry.

Entity: ???

State: copied existence

Core: incomplete

Then the information disappears.

Copied existence?

Interesting.

So it isn't a real creature.

It is a copy.

A bad copy.

I smile again.

“Alright,” I say.

“I understand you now.”

The creature moves.

Fast.

Too fast.

I pull Mei to the side.

Its hand hits the wall.

The entire wall breaks apart.

Mei's eyes go wide.

“You call this understanding?!”

“I'm working on it!”

A piece of broken stone falls from above.

Straight toward Mei.

Without thinking, I grab her shoulder and pull her closer.

The stone crashes beside us.

Dust covers both of us.

For a second, we are very close.

Then I step away.

“Watch your head.”

She just stares at me.

“...Okay.”

Why does she keep looking at me like that?

Never mind.

Not important.

I think again.

Copied existence.

Incomplete core.

That means it has a weakness.

Everything does.

Then I notice something.

Its movements.

Every few seconds…

it pauses.

Just a little.

Like bad internet.

I grin.

“There you are.”

Mei blinks.

“What?”

“I found its problem.”

“You did?”

“Maybe.”

“That doesn't sound confident.”

“It isn't.”

The creature attacks again.

I wait.

Three seconds.

Four.

Five.

It pauses.

Now.

I grab a metal pipe from the ground and throw it.

The pipe hits its chest.

Nothing happens.

Mei looks at me.

“That was your plan?”

“No.”

The creature turns toward me.

I point at it.

“But now I know where its core is.”

Right in the middle.

Inside its chest.

The place where the pipe hit.

The creature rushes forward.

I pick up another piece of metal.

“Jax!” Mei shouts.

“What?”

“You can't fight that thing!”

“Probably!”

“Probably?!”

I laugh.

This is fun.

Terrible.

But fun.

The creature comes closer.

Then—

Mei steps in front of me.

I freeze.

“What are you doing?”

She is shaking.

Her hands are shaking.

Her legs too.

But she still stands there.

“If you're wrong,” she says quietly, “you'll die.”

I stare at her.

“And?”

She looks at me.

“Then... don't be wrong.”

I blink.

That is a strange thing to say.

I gently pull her to the side.

“You really should stop doing dangerous things.”

“And you shouldn't?”

“No. I do it professionally.”

For the first time since we met—

Mei almost smiles.

Almost.

The creature attacks again.

I take a deep breath.

Then I run forward.

Because I finally understand something.

This world is broken.

The rules are broken.

And maybe…

I am becoming someone who can break them too.

I grip the metal piece tighter.

The creature raises its arm.

I smile.

“Let's test a theory.”

And I jump toward it.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnvmZuTcuP

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