第１１９４堀：二回戦その３ (Part2)
Just as I was contemplating our next move, the unthinkable happened.
*“Team 1, Team 8, Team 15, eliminated.”*
The report arrived, leaving us in a state of shock.
“Wait, what!? Team 1 is Seraria-sama’s team, right!?”
“And Team 8 must be Deryu-san’s.”
“Team 15… that’s Taizo-san and Taiki-san’s team!”
What on earth could have happened? The map hadn't even shrunk significantly yet, and already, a slew of powerhouses had been wiped out in one fell swoop.
“That leaves us with…”
I immediately tallied the remaining teams.
Team 2: Eris, Milly, Ratz
Team 3: Aslin, Firia, Vilia
Team 7: Comet, Agil, Riel
Team 9: Kagura, Micos, Enola
Team 10: Steve, John, Mino-chan
Team 12: Eupia, Schau, Rurua
Team 13 Detachment: Aurelia, Yayui, Hobis
Team 14: Yuki, Zargis
Team 17: Fiora, Nilua, Wasfi
Only eight teams remained. Well, plus one, though we could safely discount Aurelia’s group from our calculations. In essence, half the participants were already gone. The attrition rate was far more brutal than the previous match.
“I mean, is our alliance even doing anything at this point?”
“Hard to say. The system doesn’t announce who took out whom, so we’re flying blind.”
“True. It would be nice to exchange information with the other surviving teams, at least.”
“Even if we wanted to, the alliance rules dictate we become hostile once the fourth shrinkage begins. We’re running out of time.”
“The third shrinkage is already underway, after all.”
We had formed this ‘alliance’ primarily to prioritize taking down Yuki, but we were wary of being too overt, and we knew we couldn’t trust anyone not to betray us. That was why we’d set the rule that the alliance would dissolve the moment the fourth shrinkage began.
Before we knew it, the third shrinkage concluded, and the fourth zone appeared on our displays.
“Yes! The area where Micos-chan and the others are is still inside the safe zone!”
Just as Micos said, luck seemed to be on our side; the house we were currently hiding in remained right at the center of the new zone. Furthermore, because we were positioned right in front of the road, we had a clear line of sight to scout a vast area. It was, without a doubt, the perfect vantage point.
“It’s a shame, but given the remaining time, we won’t have a chance to meet up and talk with the others.”
“Yeah. We’ve only got ten minutes until the next shrinkage. It’ll be over before we know it.”
“No need to force it. We’ll just have to defeat Yuki and his team with our own strength.”
Enola was right. We just had to take Yuki down ourselves. It would be an incredibly difficult feat, but we had no other choice. Just as I was thinking that…
“Kagura, Enola. There’s a silhouette in the house to the west, on the left side of the road.”
At that, we immediately took up our positions and began scanning the area. Fortunately, I had the scope Enola had given me, so I peered through it and…
“It’s Yuki and Zargis-san.”
“Speak of the devil. Well? Can you take the shot?”
“…Honestly, it’s tough. They’re wearing helmets, and while a shot to the neck would be a one-hit kill…”
“That’s way harder than aiming for the head, you know.”
“I know. And—wow, as expected of Yuki. He’s already vanished from sight.”
“Well, he wouldn’t just stand out in the open forever. It’s safe to assume they’ve entered the building.”
As we were discussing this, *bang-bang-bang!!* *Pop-pop!*
Gunfire erupted nearby. It seemed other teams that had entered the zone were encountering one another and engaging in combat.
“Enola.”
“Got it.”
“Micos, keep watching the direction Yuki and the others came from.”
“Okay!”
“I’ll keep watch on the rear, toward the other houses. No firing unless absolutely necessary.”
That’s right—the moment we fired, our position would be compromised. Micos and Enola seemed to understand this perfectly, nodding in unison.
Now, it was just a matter of waiting patiently, staying hidden, and letting the enemy numbers dwindle. Yuki had taught us that choosing not to fight was also a form of combat. Still, the tension was absolutely suffocating.
For now, the story of this game ends here. If you would like the finer details, please let me know. The narrative will continue from this point on in the next installment, so look forward to it.