In the end, Mira agreed to the arrangement, but not before nagging Levin first about his health.
'Don't stay awake for too long, okay? Use a blanket too! The chill wind in the night will be terrible for your body! If you cannot fall asleep outside, just go inside the tent! I don't mind you sleeping with me, you know it, right? Just make sure you are sleeping! Even though I have already healed your body, you still need to take it easy!'
Levin couldn't help but chuckle when he remembered Mira's barrage of nagging. Even though the girl looked cute and harmless, when it was related to someone's health and well-being, she would become a mother hen, nagging everyone to follow her words. It seemed she was so used to that kind of role in her world that she brought it with her right now.
Still, he was curious, though. With her innocent personality, how would she try to win this game? Does she want to take advantage of her cute appearance to deal with her enemy? Or hoping that the player she met would take pity on her just like he was right now?
No, even though Levin's trust in people was a bit shaken by Alex's betrayal, he was still confident that he was good at judging someone's character, and he knew that Mira was far from the cunning and devious little girl he had just imagined. However, the first question popped inside his head once again, how would she try to win this cruel game?
As the night was getting late, Levin started to feel a shiver down his spine. The forest was quiet, almost like a dream, with only the rustle of leaves swaying in the gentle breeze. Every so often, an owl would hoot softly somewhere in the distance, reminding him of the first month after the alien came to his world. A quiet night was pretty much a theme as everyone was too afraid to wander around when the sun went down, the time when the alien went berserk and started their hunting game.
Levin shook his head, wrapping his jacket tighter around himself. As he gazed into the fire, a little bit of fear creeped in. The night was alive, and he was right in the heart of it, watching over the little girl as she slept soundly, lost in her dreams.
Suddenly, a noise broke the peaceful silence of the forest. Levin's heart raced as he strained to listen. It started off soft, just a faint rustling, but it grew louder, more distinct. His eyes widened, and all the sleepiness he felt just moments ago vanished like fog in the morning sun. Quickly, he reached for the laser gun hanging at his waist, getting ready for whatever coming next.
"Should I wake her up?" he thought, glancing back at the tent where the little girl was sleeping soundly. She sounded so peaceful, and he hated to wake them. "No, she has such a long day. She needs her rest." However, the sound was coming closer, each rustle and crack sounding more urgent than the last. Levin was ready with his gun, his mind racing with possibilities. "Is it an animal? A bear? No, it shouldn't be. The ruler mentioned that there are only players here, so there shouldn't be any animals in it. Would it be another player?"
Tension grew as Levin prepared for an ambush. He had half a mind to wake Mira, but before he could even think about it, the ambush struck. From the shadows, something darted out with blinding speed. He barely had a moment to react when he felt a powerful blow against his side.
BAM!
"SHIT!" Levin cursed as the blow knocked the breath out of him and sent him straight to the ground. "What the hell is that?! The kick is as strong as a pregnant bull!" He gritted his teeth, trying to get up quickly.
He didn't have time to think about everything as the shadows closed in around him, dark figures moving fast like wraiths in the night. Levin felt a rush of adrenaline and now was more than ready to receive the blow. He sprang to his feet, bracing himself for another strike. The pain in his side reminded him that he needed to stay alert.
Levin threw up his arms, trying to block the next attack. However, the enemy was relentless. It was like he or she was all around him, fast and fierce, aiming to bring him down. He could hear the rustling of leaves and the sound of feet thudding against the ground as the enemy rushed him.
"Mira! Wake up! You need to run!" He shouted while trying to stale as much time as possible for the little girl to escape from this situation. He was afraid that whoever this person was, he or she would use the little girl as a hostage to take advantage of him. However, much to his frustration, he didn't get any answer he wanted from the girl. "Fuck! How long do you want to sleep?!" He even cursed out loud, showing a hint of desperation as he had a hard time fighting against the enemy.
"HAHAHA! DON'T WORRY, SOLDIER! YOUR FRIEND HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF FIRST!" The enemy suddenly laughed, sending a chill down Levin's spine. His heart dropped instantly as he recognized the owner of the voice. There was no way he would forget the creepy growl that could give a nightmare to even a grown-up adult.
'The intelligence alien.' He hissed loudly.
"YES! That's it, Soldier! That is the reaction I want to see!" The alien suddenly came out of the shadow, the sharp claws that killed so many of Levin's companions in the military shone brightly under the moonlight. "You've been escaping from my grasp like a slimy snake you are! But now, your life is mine!"
Even though Levin looked calm, his mind was racing so quickly right now. He didn't even think about how was it possible for the alien to come here if what the crow man said was true. No, all the memories of his fight with this alien rushed in, and with that, the PTSD also followed along.
The alien was strong, quick, agile, and deadly with his claw. As for Levin, he didn't even possess a weapon since he used his laser gun as a shield to protect himself from the first strike before. Even though it was just one step away from his current spot, with his exhausted condition that hadn't recovered to the fullest after the fight with the fire mage before, he wouldn't be able to draw the gun quickly enough to kill the alien in one strike. Hell, even with him being in his best condition, he still couldn't do that, let alone right now.
However, Levin also knew that this alien liked to toy with its prey and played a hunting game for a while. There was no way he would be able to die peacefully under its watch, and honestly, he didn't want to do that either. So, in a desperate moment, with adrenaline coursing through his veins, he lunged for the laser gun on the ground, grabbing it tightly.
Before the alien could react, Levin aimed it at his own head, heart racing. "Sorry, Mira. I cannot fulfill my promise to you." he thought. "I will never let this bastard dictate how I would die!" In a heartbeat, he pulled the trigger—his mind filled with the hope that it would end everything.
BAM!