My System has a Glitch

Willaim wasn't aware at the time but he had become filled with rage and as he made his way to the man, he had a very strong intent to really hurt him, an intent the guide responded to.

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[WEAPONS: Brass Knuckles Level one(1)]

[PERMISSION TO DEPLOY?]

[YES] [NO]

'Deploy!' William answered, almost immediately he felt the brass knuckle wrap around his fingers, he felt their weight and he felt his anger grow.

The man's eyes were popping as he stared into hers, all she could do was hit his hand but everyone around could see she was losing her strength.

"Hey bub?" William said as he tapped on the shoulder, immediately the man turned and the first thing he saw was a golden flash as William fired a straight punch at his face.

The man fell down on the mud like tree that had been chopped down while the red head staggered as she had almost been driven unconscious.

She rubbed her neck and coughed as she caught her breath, then she raised her head and looked at the people around her, the ones who had been in her group, the ones who had failed to help her.

Willian grabbed her and kept her on her feet.

"Are you okay?" He asked and she coughed some more and said,

"Oh it's nothing, I've always had a hard time making new friends."

"Well you better watch your back." She stood firmly on her feet the tapped him in the shoulder,

"Thank you, you can let go now, I think I'll be fine on my own."

William slowly let go of her, just in case she was still unstable on her own. Their eyes were locked together the whole way through.

"See?" she said

"Well it's not about being right or wrong, it's about being cautious, you don't want to walk around having people who think you owe them something."

"I'll be fine and if it's any consolation they owe me, I got them out alive."

William looked at people around her and said. "Well they don't look so grateful," he looked at the unconscious man on the floor and said, "I doubt he was either. You better play fair, next time I may not be around to help you."

"Don't worry," she said. "I won't be needing your help."

Willam smiled and nodded like a gentleman then he said, "Thank you for the tip about the acid. It didn't help much but still thanks."

"You're welcome," she said then they heard a creaking sound that echoed everywhere, it came from within the fog right in front of them.

William turned and stared into the fog like everyone else.

'What the hell is this now?' he said to himself as he scratched his head.

Soon they heard the sound of moving water, like something was riding across the river. Suddenly they could see a silhouette within the fog and William heard several people behind him gasp.

He had hoped they all came to a different conclusion than he had but now he was certain they were all seeing the same thing.

They saw what looked like the head of a giant snake and they could all see its red eyes glowing through the fog.

Then they heard a harsh sound, like something had crashed into the earth and the snake stopped moving towards them.

Everyone was silent and still, no one had a single idea how to react to the strange creature in front of them.

The fog quickly moved away like someone had parted two sets of white curtains and they all breath a sigh of relief as they saw what it really was.

It was a large, wooden ship with the carved image of a snake on its tip.

"I think that's our ride," someone said.

"I'm afraid to know where it would take us."

Suddenly they heard footsteps for the top of the wooden ship, more people gathered around as they all watched in anticipation.

One gentle step at a time they could hear him get closer and closer to the face of the ship,those looking on from the side could see him walk up to the face.

But those looking straight up saw him appear bit by bit with every upward step until he was standing on the head of the wooden snake.

He looked like a proper gentleman, nicely cut with slick back hair and a well selected pair of suit, his hands were hidden in brown leather gloves and he gave off the air of knowingness a well learned fellow would.

The only thing that made him look a bit roguish was the red tainted circular glasses he wore. He looked down at them from the craved predator, the mist swirling like smoke behind him.

"Congratulations," he said. "You made it through your first ordeal."

He paused and watched them like he had expected a more lively reaction but he didn't get any so he continued.

"Now! I'm here to take you to your next one. I hope you don't mind, I'd like to brief you all on what it all means. I'm afraid the Time Bearer might have left out a couple key details."

"Yeah, like what? Someone yelled. Like how we're all dead!?"

"Well I'm happy to see that you're all caught up on that part sir, but I'm afraid it's more geographical, more to do with the immigration policies of our world here."

"Huh?" Willaim like everyone else, was confused, 'immigration?' He understood what the word meant but what did that have to do with anything?

"I see you're all confused, what I mean is this; the world of purgatory is in layers, currently you're on the outermost layer."

"Here you're citizens by default and it is here you prove yourself worthy for a chance, a chance at … Well, a second chance."

"Huh?" Willaim was even more confused now, he followed everything the man had said, word for word, he even understood everything but like everyone else he was unsure of what he had understood.

"What you're fighting for now is a citizenship, a citizenship into the inner world of purgatory and until you have that you will not be allowed into the new life."

"So what's going to happen to those that fail to make it?" Someone said,

"Well if you survive the ordeal without dying but fail to beat it you he left in the outer rim of the world where you will be given more chances to earn your way inside but it's quite harsh out here and there's very little time to go around and you're never sure when the next game will be."

"What if we don't want to play your silly games? What if we refuse?"

He watched the crowd and realized everyone had their heart around this very question.

"I'm sorry but that's not an option," he said. He paused and watched the crowd die a little more than he said. "Well I was speaking more for myself. I'll advise you to stay in the game, we're else would you go? Look over there! the man points to his left."

"If you walk over there into those fog, you'll fall over the edge as those places are yet to be created yet and when you walk into the non-existent, you'll cease to exist as well, no heaven, no rebirth, just a total destruction at the level of your very soul."

"So I wouldn't advice running away or suicide. Just try your best and I hope you find the game rewarding."

The guide snapped his fingers and a rope ladder rolled down on the side of the ship.

"You may bow board," he said. "One at a time please and quietly, if you can, there's still so much we have to cover."

Left with no choice of their own, they began to board the ship, one at a time. Willaim turned around and forced his way through the crowd of people as he walked away from the ship.

"There'll be food and refreshment on board, as well as a change of clothes for those of you who would prefer something more sporting," the guide said. "After all, we're headed to the jungle."