Martial Arts Worlds

With the rest continuing with their card game on the ship's small cafeteria room table, Kiernan strolled over to the window to take in the view of the vast sky stretching out before him.

He looked like he had dropped his guard, but he hadn't and was not going to do that either.

'It's just a matter of time before someone makes a move. If no one 'dies,' then that means everyone will get disqualified.

'I don't know these people, and one of them might be psychotic enough to actually start killing.'

Kiernan said and cracked his knuckles.

He thought that the whole 'Zero Event' was quite a crazy concept—if they lied about having to kill others, and someone actually did that, what would happen?

Would they stop it before it got to that point?

What would be the point of lying?

'Everyone who attempts to kill a fellow participant will get disqualified, perhaps? Why though? I thought only the strongest are allowed to step inside God Island.

'Disqualifying those who are willing to do anything to get there seems… counterproductive.'

…

It turned night, and after a few hours of card games, with few yawns, most of them had enough of playing and scattered around the cafeteria to find a place to sleep.

"Mm~"

Arin opened a cabinet with a wide array of alcoholic drinks to choose from and chose the one with the highest alcohol content.

"Oo~"

He popped the cap and took a long swig, feeling the burn as it traveled down his throat.

When he stood up and sat down on the cafeteria's counter, he saw that Kiernan was still sitting on the windowsill, just looking out.

"Want a drink? These flying pirates sure know their alcohol!"

He chuckled.

"Pirates? You think they're pirates?"

Kiernan looked over and asked.

"That guy we met. Iron Knuckle MacJesus. He has a bounty of 1,000,000 golds on his head. Imagine that, fucking insane!"

Arin said with a laugh.

"That much? He's got to be one hell of a pirate."

Kiernan said in surprise and then started wondering whether the red color of the instinct came because of him.

In just the presence of such a powerful pirate, he could be in a lot of danger!

"Yeah… the flying pirates, such as themselves, are more dangerous than sea pirates. It's very difficult to catch them, and the Flying Andorian Ship has enough destructive capabilities in their cannons to destroy an entire city.

"Not to mention that Iron Knuckle MacJesus himself is fucking Martial Emperor."

Arin said and took a long sip of his whiskey.

"Why are they taking us to God Island then? They're hired to do that, but why are the governments asking the pirates to do that?

"Aren't they cautious that they might, who knows, kidnap us and sell us as slaves instead?"

Kiernan asked.

"They get paid way more for taking us to God Island than for selling us. They only get their payment once they deliver us to God Island, y'see."

Arin said.

"Hmm…"

Kiernan mused.

"God Island is only accessible with a flying ship. Thus, a deal was made between the government and the owners of the flying ships!"

Kairo said, laid down on the table next to a coffee-brewing machine and a microwave.

With the conversation dying down, everyone started napping without any worry in the world, but Kiernan snuck out of the cafeteria.

He moved down the hallway and found a tucked-away storeroom, which had a hammock strung up between two shelves.

"Ah…"

Kiernan laid down on the hammock and took out a red-handled knife from his inventory, which he hid underneath his right arm, just in case.

At that moment, as his eyes closed down into a sleep, he happened to open them one more time and used his instinct.

The red-colored walls changed colors. Usually it was a good thing. However, it turned black like night itself, and he felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

'Black…?'

Kiernan's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly calmed down his racing heart and turned on his side, facing a wall.

His back was facing the door, and he was completely free to be stabbed in the back.

Kiernan clutched the red-handled knife in his hand, and his eyes narrowed into a dangerous glare.

…

It was dark in the storeroom.

It was impossible to see whether it was day or night anymore, but Kiernan had kept his eyes open for many hours now.

They had even turned red from the strain of staring into the darkness.

At that moment, he heard footsteps behind the storeroom's door, and the person on the other side stopped moving.

A shadow loomed under the door.

Kiernan gulped and took a deep breath.

Knock! Knock!

Out of nowhere, the person knocked and opened the door to reveal a bald-headed man looking very serious.

"There you are. I was looking for you."

Arin said.

"?!"

Kiernan looked over his shoulder at the bald-headed Arin and frowned with a puzzled look.

"Why?"

"Something happened last night. I think it's better for you to see it."

Arin said in a heavy voice and started walking away.

Kiernan jumped off the hammock, hid the red-handled knife in the back of his waistband, and followed Arin back to the cafeteria.

Malika and Ishikawa were sitting silently at one of the tables, their heads bowed in silent contemplation.

"What is…"

Kiernan asked and looked over to one of the tables that was used as sleeping beds. It was bloody with scratches and scuff marks.

"What happened?"

"It's Ishikawa. When we woke up, we found him dead. Dead on the table, covered in blood, and his eyes still wide open in horror."

Arin said with a cold look.

"He… It looked like he had been cut with a knife. The throat was cut, so he couldn't scream, and then he just bled out."

Malika said in horror and covered her face with her hands, unable to bear the memory.

"Dead? What the fuck?"

Kiernan's eyes shook, and his throat turned parched.

"By the way. Where the hell have you been? You were the only one that wasn't here, and as soon as you appeared, one of us died!"

Kairo shouted.

Arin and Malika also turned over to Kiernan with suspicious gazes—it was very coincidental.

"Y-yes… Y-you could've sneaked here with a knife. Killed Ishikawa without anyone noticing!"

Malika cried out.

"If so, why didn't I kill all of you then? Why only him?"

Kiernan shook his head, but he touched the red-handled knife on his back and quickly stored it inside his inventory.

If they saw him with a knife, there was no way he could explain that.

"What did you touch behind your back just now? He is hiding something!"

Malika screamed.

"Yo… mind if we search you? Just in case, of course."

Arin said with a serious look, and when he clenched his hands into fists, they cracked like popping knuckles.

"Fine by me."

Kiernan raised his arms and stood still as Arin began to pat him down.

A few moments later, Arin stopped doing that and looked at others.

"Nothing."

"H-he might have hid the knife somewhere!"

Kairo said.

"Kairo is correct. I think we should search that storeroom he was sleeping in!"

Malika shouted.