Huh?
What?
A 9th wave… over 1 million enemies and just … two hours to prepare.
This… it's a joke right? I know the difficulty is supposed to scale exponentially… but there is no way you believe we can actually survive this, right?
Right?
ANSWER ME YOU DAMNED SYSTEM!!
…
Ahahahaahahahaa, I get it now. Ofcourse, the system will finally give me superpowers which will make surviving the last wave actually possible. Still your timing is absolutely horrible, my staff and I have been continuously fighting for 11 hours. A day of rest is at minimum required for any of us to fight for a moment longer.
But I'll take your challenge, after all it will be only me who'll be recieving the powers to fight anyways.
So, come on. Do it already!
"Bestow upon me thine powers, ohhh divine system of the chosen!"
I called out to the system.
…
…
…
[Content locked, you will recieve your first Ether ability after clearing around 2.]
Crash! I could almost hear the world I made up crumbing down. These twelve words made me feel more fear than I had ever faced in my entire life.
I'm Jean D. Choppafeller. I was born with the biggest diamond spoon in my mouth. The sole daughter and heir to the world's biggest economic empire, I was destined to live lavishly and to climb higher than anyone else. My caretaker and the one and only for me, head maid Anna who was raised alongside me would alone be there, to witness my peak.
My whole life, I excelled at everything I did. I was reminded, everyday, that I am the ultimate talent who adapts to anything and shines anywhere I so desire to go. Like a diamond, my sparkle never fades. That's who I am!
But these past two weeks, again and again and again I faced hurdles, and hurdles and oh so many hurdles!
I had to live in a guest mansion shared with others. I had to get my hands and feet dirty Every. Single. Day. Just to prepare for the next wave. I had never seen a rat in my house ever before but now the blood of thousands of these damn rodents have stained my skin today.
And now you say, you want me to DIE here?!?!
I will not!
I will not let it go the way you want it.
I am Jean D. Choppafeller and I will survive! I will kill all the mice you'll throw my way and survive and then it will be you who I kill next!
I gritted my teeth, my desire to survive today burnt so bright it illuminated even the sun.
All the staff had already left, the ones critically injured were being treated and tested for diseases and the uninjured were resting and having their meals. Only Anna who noticed my outburst stayed by my side, along with Marcus.
… Marcus…. Oh Marcus, forgive me. I didn't want to use your ability but my life is more valuable than yours. I'll pray that the next life you'll be reborn to a better world.
Heh, pray huh? The old man Plates must be smiling by now.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As the timer counted down, I gathered all I could to prepare and then sat down by the arson squad's elevated position. The fire still burnt below, burning away at the remains of the previous wave.
It stunk, it really did but that stink indicated that I was still alive.
I had a look at all I prepared;
3 kilos of explosives, it fell out or rolled away during the battle of the 8th wave so it was left unused. It won't do much though.
A single undamaged pistol and 12 remaining bullets in its magazine. It fell out of the crate and under the truck, in the heat of the moment the supply squad didn't have the time to search for it. It won't do much though.
To my right, sat Anna. The head maid, my babysitter, my closest friend, advisor, aide, whatever other supporting role you can think of. She knows of the 9th wave now, likely she'll try her best to have me survive even if it is at the cost of her own life. I will not let it happen, I will protect her and we will survive together. She won't be able to do much though.
To my left, sat Marcus, the young boy I met 2 days ago. I feel much pity for him, a subject to the cruelty of the world, he still remains a brave soul. I have told him about the 9th wave and he knows what to do. He'll be our hero today.
—Huff—
With an exhale, I stood up. The last minute before the 9th wave, faced with the impossiblility of my situation I stared at the hole. This hole… despite the anguish and suffering this hole caused me, unlike the battered old me, it was still as pristine as ever.
But don't you let it go your head you unfeeling portal of evil, after I survive this wave, I will come for you. This feeling I don't know what it is but the closest word I can think of is…
Determination.
Yes, I am determined to survive today regardless of whatever uncertainty this hole and the system may throw my way. I am determined to survive even at the cost of another's life. And I am determined to protect this life of mine and the life of her who is most precious to me.
I raised the pistol with my non-dominant left hand. The adrenaline from before gave out so I can't even move my right arm.
[Wave 9 Begins: 00:00:01]
[Wave 9 Begins: 00:00:00]
[Wave 9 has begun]
[Objective: Defend your property]
"Damn right I will."
The first rat climbed out of the hole. It was massive. Around 20 times bigger than any rat that came before it. It didn't have buckteeth like the smaller rats, rather it's jaw was armed with tens of long canines drooling for blood. It's tail too was longer, much much longer, 5 times longer than its whole body.
Ofcourse the enemies of the challenge round won't be ordinary either. This is no rat, it is what the system calls it; A monster.
I lowered my pistol not wanting to catch its attention, at my hand signal Marcus jumped down into the killbox and made his way into the hole while me and Anna ran.
We made our way inside the pick-up truck that carried supplies in the past and Anna began to driving. From the rear view mirror I could easily catch glimpse of the monsters already overrunning the killboxes, at their size and number it was not a matter of 'if' but 'when'.
We drove fast and we were halfway to exiting the premises, yet the sea of rats seemed to grow ever faster and closer.
Even if we all stood there and tried to defend against this wave like the last 8, we would be overwhelmed and killed within minutes… no, seconds.
Just then the first system message came.
[Alert! Property Destroyed: Human no: 4,389,997,841 Barth Dwayne.]
[Alert! Property Destroyed:….]
[Alert! Property Destroyed:….]
[Alert! Property Destroyed:….]
….
The staff were all dead.
Me and Anna were already out of the ranch and on the road when the final message came:
[Alert Properties Destroyed: Primary Guest Mansion, Secondary Guest Mansion, Stables, Orchard, Garden, 200,000 hectare Wyoming ranch]
And just that quickly, it's all gone now… it's fine you can have it all. I have my most precious property right by my side.
[Alert Last Remaining Property: Human 6,415,405,425: Anna Quincy Adams]