Puzzles In Darkness: Beginning Read online

  Roland, Increst, and Maxizz had all showed their weapons, now it was Kyzeip’s turn to show his. Maxizz said: “alright Kyzeip your all that's left, show us what you got”. Kyzeip put his hand in his dark trench coat pocket and pulled out a dark toned switchblade and said: “here it is”. Everyone in the room had a look of disappointment as they were expecting something more from Kyzeip. Increst said: “are you fucking kidding me or do you think you're some kind of badass, cause your goanna die with that pussy knife”. With a press of a button the switchblade pop out with a flash of light, a quick jolt of lightning came out and hit the ceiling light causing a flicker of lights for about three seconds. Rolando in surprise spoke: “OH my word”. Increst said:” fucking lightning element, gothy your crazy”. Maxizz says: “impressive, I should have guessed you would be the type of guy to pick the most dangerous crystal, no judgment but is that all you have”. Kyzeip responds: “No judgment, but what do you mean by that”. Maxizz says:” well it's just that the blade is big enough to kill a Broot, but won't you have to be face close to stab one”. Kyzeip responds: “is that supposed to be a problem”? Maxizz and Rolando was stunned by how Kyzeip respond with a serious face, Increst was impressed and said: “fucking guts on this guy, your one crazy guy gothy”.

  Everyone in the room now had some knowledge about each other and with that Rolando spoke: “tis now we know all verily, let now be the start of our---(announcer voice: ALL NEW SLAYER RECRUITS PLEASE HEAD OUTSIDE TO THE MAIN TRAINING FIELD FOR EXAMINATIONS AND BRING YOUR WEAPONS) --journey”. Maxizz confused said: “what the hell do we need another examination didn’t we already do one before being accepted into the academy”. Increst said: “are you talking about the fucking physical/crystal control test, cuz that was just the requirements for entry, I think the examination is some dumbass obstacle course we have to do to stay in this piece of shit academy”. Maxizz says: “shit where was this information writing”. Kyzeip said: “at the main office, rule book, and website, did you just decided to become a Slayer last week”. Maxizz said: “eh pretty much, I always thought a can use my skill and talents to be an awesome Slayer for a long time, I just walked in, showed my stuff and got teamed up with you guys without ever reading the rules”. Kyzeip said to Maxizz: “you are a real piece of work”. Rolando spoke up and ended the conversation: “halt thy words, and charge to the field of training at once, let us follow the orders we be given”. Increst stood up from her bed to head to the training field, Rolando and Kyzeip headed out the door, but Maxizz stayed behind. Maxizz says to the rest of the team: “you guys head go on ahead, now that I know I don't need to wear this shitty battle uniform, I’ll go change really quickly”. Increst said: “whatever dude just don’t fucking get us in trouble”. Maxizz closed the door to get changed, while Kyzeip, Increst, and Rolando headed off to attend the first examinations in Evie academy.

  Chapter 2: The Course

  It was around noon that Kyzeip and his team stood on the field with all the other Slayer, there was about fifty Slayers there and it could be seen that Kreetons made up the majority of the Recruits. A large man with big muscles in a nice battle uniform came ready to yell at the new Slayers while Maxizz still had not arrived to the field. The large man yelled at the top of his voice: “ROOKIES STAND UP AND LISTEN, today I see Humans, I see Kreetons, but do I see Slayers, DO I, that question will be answer today and again at the end of the month for every month for the duration of your training in Evie's Slayer academy. I will be your physical Instructor, my names Coach Terence, you can all call me Coach, my job will be to make sure all of you are in peak physical condition to be a fully fledged Slayer. That means every week I will run the exercise, target practice and combat training, at the end of every month you all will go through an obstacle course like the one today. If you fail to meet the expected time in completing the course you will be accounted as unready and sent back home. As for personal weapons you will all be responsible for keeping yourself sharp along with the weapons you have, the firing range is open from morning to curfew for all gun wielders, the rest of you with swords and other blunt weapons, the gym has Broot dummies for practice”.

  While the Coach continued to explain all the details of the training schedule, Maxizz appeared beside Kyzeip and Increst in a formal tuxedo and top hat and said: “well looks like I haven't missed much right”. Kyzeip, Rolando and Increst looked at Maxizz with faces of disappointment. Increst says: “are fucking kidding me, I didn’t actually think you would do something this stupid”. Maxizz says: “what do you mean”? Increst replies: “the suit your wearing it’s going to get us in trouble”. Maxizz says: “what do you mean, a magician always wears a tux and tie, it’s a symbol of greatness”. Kyzeip thinks to himself: “and here I thought this was a place where Broot killing hunters were trained, nope I must of been wrong, this is clearly an insane asylum”. Coach yelled: “WHAT'S WITH ALL THE CHIT CHATTER, (he looks at Maxizz and the rest of the leftover team) oh dear lord what the hell is this, YOU in the suit are you lost”? Maxizz says: “are you talking to me or the big guy in the suit of armor” (Maxizz points at Rolando). Coach walks up to Maxizz and says: “you with the hat, what do plan on doing here”? Maxizz says: “well obviously to be a Slayer, why, don’t I look the part”? Coach calmly says to Maxizz: “get out”. Maxizz responds with a “excuse me”. Coach repeats himself: “get out, you’re not a Slayer and you will not become one”. Maxizz says: “what why is it because of how look”? Coach said: “that is correct”. Maxizz reacted in shock: “UNBELIEVABLE, you hear what this man said, he's discriminating against me because I’m a magician, OH what injustice just fallen upon me”.

  Coach yelled: “SHUT UP YOU IDIOT, I train dedicated hard-working Slayers, not disrespectful comedians”. Maxizz says: “seriously all this fuzz other what I’m wearing, last time I check we were allowed to wear whatever you wanted, just look at Rolando” (points at Rolando again). Rolando spoke: “I bid you, bring me not into this”. Coach yelled: “I DON'T CARE HOW OUT OF DATE OR STUPID HIS OUTFIT IS, IT’S STILL PERFECT FOR FIGHTING! You on the other hand, it's clear to see that you're nothing more than an open target, to make things clear if I were a Broot you’ll be first one to die”. Maxizz responded: “oh I’m sorry but this card told me a different story” (Maxizz flicked his wrist to revealed a card). Coach asked: “and just what did the card told you”. Maxizz threw the card at coach's face, the card exploded into a flash of fire like it did before, in the flash coach yelled: “AHH DAMMIT MY EYES”! In an instant of the flash Maxizz took out a pistol out of nowhere and pointed it straight at coach's head. Coach clear his eye only to see the pistol in his sights, Maxizz then said: “if you were a Broot you’ll be dead right now”.

  Every recruits were surprised, they started talking to each other to make sure what they saw was for real. Roland spoke: “my lord”. Increst said: “what happened”? Kyzeip thought to himself: “maybe it's just Maxizz that belongs in an insane asylum”. Coach angrily said to Maxizz: “well okay boy if you're looking for a chance to prove yourself, then you just earned it”. Maxizz happily said: “great sounds good to me”. Coach said: “glad to see yourself so happy, because now you will be the first to run the obstacle course”. Maxizz quickly said “shit”. Kyzeip thought to himself: “it’s about time we get this idiotic exam done with already”. Coach grabs Maxizz in front of everyone and yelled: “ALRIGHT, MR. COMEDIAN HAS VOLUNTEERED TO BE THE FIRST TO RUN THE OBSTACLE”. Maxizz said: “it Maxizz actually”. Coach yelled: “SINCE YOU'RE ALL FIRST TIMERS TODAY'S OBSTACLE WILL BE EASY, first a one kilometer lap around the track, second a five-meter-high rope climb, third and lastly a Broot take out. Gunner will stand behind a one hundred meters line and shoot the head of the dummy at the end of the course. Sword, blunt, or any other weapons that isn’t a gun will run and attack, simple right. There will be no limit of how many shoots need to be fire or how many attempts to take out the dummy's head for the time being, limits will be place and as time goes by, the expectable run wi
ll increase in difficulty”. Maxizz said: “wow is that it, you said it was easy but I didn’t think it would be a walk in a park”. Coach said: “I would not recommend walking when you only have ten minutes to complete the course”. Increst says to Maxizz: “don’t fuck up”. Maxizz respond: “ten minutes will still be a breeze for me, I might even have enough time to stop and have a snack on the way”. Coach says: “oh a breeze, then I guess just for you I’ll change it so you have to complete the course in less than five minutes, than you can stay in the academy”. Increst says to Maxizz: “you fucked up already”. Rolando spoke to Maxizz: “I bid you, keep thy mouth shut”.

  Maxizz readied himself to take on the obstacle course, but before Coach started the time Maxizz ask: “hey Coach, what's the rule on element crystal, are they allowed or do I have to shoot without activating it”. Coach responded: “I guess you're good for something after all, (coach turn and says to everyone) one last thing I forgot to mention, element crystals are recommended during these course runs, only when I say you can’t use them you can't, UNDERSTAND”! Maxizz said: “really loud and clear”. Coach then yelled: “ALRIGHT GO, THE TIME STARTS NOW”! Maxizz took a second to get himself running from the sudden start all the while everyone watched. Coach says to everyone: “whatever you do, don't be cocky like Mr. Comedian, these courses well replicate real life situation when in a Broot invasion. That will mean each time you run the course any hesitation, trips or other mistakes that will put life at risk, you will be required to redo the course until it's done right, fail to improve yourself and your out of here”.

  Two and a half minutes pass by of Maxizz running, he finished the lap and then he headed to the rope climb when he managed to climb to the top in less than twenty seconds. Rolando spoke: what speed thy friend hadeeth. Increst said: “pretty fucking sure he had lots of practice climbing into people's house to steal shit”. Rolando spoke: “methinks my lady watches hours of cartoons”. Increst said: “shut up, I can see with my fucking eyes he had practice before, coincidence I think not”. Back to Maxizz he had reached the final part of the course sweating and heavily breathing, with over a minute left he took out his pistol and calmly shoots the dummy once. In big blast of air, the shoot blows a hole on the top left side of the dummy taking out about a quarter of the Broots head, after that Maxizz fired two more shoots, completely removing the dummy's head. Coach congratulated Maxizz in completing the obstacle: “well great job big shoot, you chewed off what you have bitten and proved you can be somewhat of a real Slayer, I only recommend not getting yourself in over your head when I’m around got it”. Maxizz exhausted said: “will keep that in mind”.

  Coach said: “alright you, the knight, I poked fun of you earlier, got any witty comebacks for me before you run”. Rolando stood up like a soldier and spoke: “not at all good sir, a warrior acts not in thinking, but in doing their orders”. Coach cracked a smile and said: “well looks like we got someone that's well disciplined, alright this is a better improvement from the last one”. Maxizz lying down on the ground softly said: “fuck you”. Coach looking at Maxizz yelled: “YOU SAID SOMETHING”! Maxizz replied: “nope, no I did not, there's nothing to be said around here.” Coach ignores Maxizz and starts Rolando off, Rolando started his run, he ran at a decent speed for a man wearing a full suit of metal armor, Rolando did have some trouble with the rope climb, but managed to get to the top. Rolando reached the final task of the course, he took out his sword from his back and ran the one hundred meters to slash the Broot dummy in half with one single strake. At first it didn't look like Rolando used the earth crystals he had in his sword until the blade hit the ground, causing a loud deep tone sound that can be heard from the start. The dirt cloud surrounding the area Rolando hit cleared out and revealed a very small crater under his sword, Rolando taped the crater and the dirt raised up and returned the ground to its original flat from. It took Rolando seven minutes and twenty-two seconds to pass the course. Coach congratulated Rolando and praised him: “Magnificent job big job, don't let your time hurt your pride, we can't expect a tank to be strong and fast”.

  Rolando walked back to his team all casual, Increst said: “how the fuck are you not breathing like a dog in a sauna in that outfit, magic-dick here was sweating bullets after his run”. Maxizz said: “magic-dick, is that an insulate or a complement”. Increst gave Maxizz a blank stare, it was clear to Maxizz that Increst was not complimenting him at all, he sighed and said: “why is everyone against me”. Rolando padded Maxizz on the back, comforting Maxizz he than said: “brethren let not the words of others drown your shine, you are a sparkling gem waiting to be polished, follow under my leadership and will polish thee, I shall polish my gem”. Maxizz thanked Rolando for his awkwardly kind words, while Increst had a huge grin on her face trying to resisted the urge to laugh, Coach called for her to run next. Increst said: “fine let’s get this fucking done already”.

  Before Increst could start the obstacle course, Coach saw her guitar from the back and had to ask: “rookie what do you have on your back”. Increst said: its a fucking guitar dude, is there something wrong with your eyes, oh wait never mind”. Coach said: “I can see it's a guitar, but what I want to say is why do you have one with you”. Increst said: “because I fucking rock and its my weapon”. Coach says: “a musical instrument use as a weapon, and I thought Mr. Comedian’s fancy clothes was the most ridiculous thing a slayer would have (Increst twisted the secret switch to turn her guitar to the multiply shotgun/Gatling gun and pointed it at Coach) a ridiculously clever modified weapon that is acceptable for a Slayer to carry in public, my bad for doubting you”. Increst pointed away the gun-guitar from Coach and said: “that's fucking right”.

  Increst started her run, she ran slowly, Increst is strong enough to carry a gun hidden guitar, but was clear she had limits. Increst spent six minutes running the kilometer and two minutes on the rope climb, finally she reached the end, exhausted and breathing heavy she prepared to shoot the dummy. She twisted the switch, played one of the strings and the barrels of the guns turned around to the one with a blue tip. She fired a shot and missed the dummy completely, the shot ended up hitting a steel wall further back from the dummy. The shot left a small hole, but released a small amount of water, after twelve failed shots Increst got mad and switched barrels to a grey tip. She than fired wind bullets like Maxizz did before, she fired once and got a bullseye on the dummy's head, Increst ended slightly over nine minutes. Increst taking her breath walks back to her group. Maxizz asked: “why did you use water bullets when it's easier to use wind one’s when don't have a steady hand”. Increst laid on her back and said to Maxizz: “huh, huh fuck off, I could have gotten it first shot if I, huh, huh I need more stamina”. Maxizz looked at Kyzeip and said: “well it looks like you will be up next…. got anything to say you’ve been quiet for a while now…. hey Kyzeip hey”. Kyzeip quickly blinked his eyes and gave a small yawn, Maxizz asked: “were you just sleeping right now, your eyes were wide open”. Kyzeip said: “it’s none of your business, why did you bother waking me up in the first place”. Maxizz said: “you're going to be up next as soon as a new dummy is up, how long were you asleep for?”. Kyzeip said: “just before you started your run”. Maxizz said: “aww then that means you missed me get the best time”. Increst said: “there was only three fucking runs and you didn’t have something heavy slowing you down”. Maxizz said: “well it's not my fault I choose to go light and I still hit the dummy on my first shot (Increst glared at Maxizz), anyhoo I bet a hundred dolls no one’s goanna beat my time”. Increst said: “fucking cocky little bitch, you're on”. Kyzeip looked at Maxizz and said: “I’m in, I expect my money by tonight at the latest”. Maxizz said: “so does that mean he is going to beat my time. Rolando spoke: “let us observe “.

  Coach called out for Kyzeip: “alright nightmare maker, you’re the last one of this weird team”. Kyzeip responded: “correct”. Coach said: “looks like you fit the bill, you know the deal when I say go that's when
we start, alright”. Kyzeip said: “just get this started already”. Coach yelled “go”, but Kyzeip did move, he stood there putting his hand in his trench coat to grab something. Coach came up to Kyzeip and yelled: “WAS THERE A MISCOMMUNICATION, WHY AREN'T YOU RUNNING”! Kyzeip took out dark glove with light blue crystals attached to the knuckle area, as Kyzeip puts it on he says to Coach: “the point of the obstacle course is to kill a Broot as quick as possible, in the expected time right, you never said we have to go through the obstacles first to do so”. Coach said: “what in the hell are you talking about, of course you have to go through the obstacle, its called an obstacle course is it not”. Kyzeip took out his switchblade with the same hand the glove was on, light came out from the crystals on the glove, the switchblade started to make a static noise. Kyzeip said: “if I cared for you, I would tell you to close your eyes”. Before Coach could respond, Kyzeip swigged his arm and right as he let go the blade a bright flash of light emitted in the area from his hand. Coach yelled: “FUCK MY EYES AGAIN, are you freaks trying to make be blind”.