The rain slowly subsided. Everyone looked at Alexandria. Dominio's face was much more shocked. Aurelia's eyes opened wide. Her mouth opened slightly, then closed. Rela raised an eyebrow.
"Five? How did they die?" Aurelia asked.
Alexandria closed the door, looking directly at us. "There's something bigger going on in this ship." Her voice was low.
"Why would the moderators (the figures) just allow self-defense when Rowan attacked Zain before you got your weapons confiscated?"
Wait... she wasn't lying. When I first encountered Rowan, he was about to attack before the moderators stopped us. Now self-defense and murder were allowed.
I raised an eyebrow. "So what's your guess?"
"That maybe this is another exam," Aurelia said.
"Look at the clues. Five adventurers died because of the psychopaths. But why would they murder five rookies out of the blue? This has to be an exam."
Dominio sat on my bed. "So you're saying this whole thing is an exam? It makes more sense, but now there's an issue. Who are these psychopaths?"
Rowan. It had to be him. Why else would he attack us last night out of the blue? He must be one of them. He probably used that status as an opportunity to kill me.
"Rowan," Alexandria exclaimed.
"So you also think he's a suspect?" Rela asked, crossing her arms.
"It makes sense. Why would he attack Zain? Either he took an opportunity during the panic to get a kill. Specifically... Zain, after all that priest bullshit." Dominio jumped up and stretched.
"Then let's get ready to find these bastards!"
"Wait, let's not jump into combat yet." Aurelia placed her arm in front of Rela.
"Rowan probably isn't the only psychopath on the ship. If we find more suspects, we'll be in a much better position. If we get rid of them, it will be easier to deal with Rowan. He has eighty adventurers on his side. Going after his faction first would lead to immediate failure."
Aurelia had a good point. It was better to find the suspects first. But finding them would be a problem... unless...
I could probably smell the blood of the psychopaths. If I caught a hint of blood from someone, it could be a big clue.
"Though there's a big issue for you guys specifically," Alexandria said.
"Now everyone thinks you are the killers. You're the ones who murdered the rookies."
"Shit..." Dominio murmured. "We killed a non-combatant priest and his damn bodyguard. Now it's biting us in the ass."
"Most adventurers are ready to attack you. Some are scheming. Some are scared. So if I were you, I'd be careful." She paused. "Though I have a question..."
She turned to look at me. "Zain..."
"If you had your claymore, your armor, and time to prepare..."
"Can you beat Rowan?"
That question alone made my body immediately feel goosebumps. Almost like it had switched into battle mode. My heart beat faster. Rowan's assault. His stab. My headbutts.
He could have killed me, but I still fought. I still disoriented him enough to save Dominio. He beat Dominio, who was weakened, but I beat him at full power. He was a fighter. I was a berserker.
He relied on skill. I relied on instinct. So if I had to fight him again with time to prepare... would I win?
"Yes."
Everyone looked at me. Alexandria's left eye shifted to red, then she smiled faintly.
"Good."
"You'll need it."
She turned and left the room. The room fell silent as the door shut. Then Rela laughed.
"Men like you are my favorite. Even against the odds, they still think they'll win. You're different, Zain."
Aurelia looked at me, her eyes wide, her mouth half open. "Really different," she murmured.
I stood and walked toward the door. "Alright then, guys." I turned to them. "Let's look for these psychopaths. I already smell blood."
Everyone stood and followed me as we walked out of my room and headed to the cafeteria.
There weren't as many rookies this time. Probably all in their rooms.
I followed the scent of blood. As I got closer, I could even smell a faint hint of intestines and flesh.
Then I stopped.
A man stood alone. He was a lizardman, his skin azure blue, with patches of hair growing over two of his horns. He wore leather armor and carried two curved blades at his sides.
So this was the first imposter.
He looked up from his seat, then closed his eyes. "So you've found me already. I knew there was another berserker on this ship."
I placed my hands on the table, standing across from him. "So you're the first psychopath?"
"Congratulations. You've found me." He drank from his goblet.
"You were waiting for us? Or were you?"
"I was waiting for you specifically, kid. We're the only berserkers on this ship. And only one of us will be left standing."
He set down his goblet.
"My name is Ren. Ren the Azure Berserker."
"And I was waiting for you, Zain."
So he had been waiting for me. He killed those adventurers to lure me here. So he could fight me.
"Are you ready to fight, Zain? Right here and now?"
"Wait, what?!"
Immediately, he jumped up and kicked me through the cafeteria wall, sending me flying to the upper outer decks.
During the launch, I planted my feet on the floor, my boots tearing through the wooden planks.
Shit. I didn't bring that damn axe.
I looked at him as he walked toward me. Dominio tensed, ready to jump in.
"Don't jump in!" I shouted at them.
"If he wants a berserker against a berserker, he'll get it!"
A blade flew toward me. I caught it. It was Ren's. The blade was built like a machete—as long as my claymore, but more curved.
Rookies rushed outside, ready to fight. Over a dozen of them stood near the crater.
"I knew it! That damn Berserker was the psychopath!"
One of them charged at me. Before he reached me, Ren turned and slashed his head open. Blood sprayed as he collapsed to the floor.
Ren turned fully to face the crowd.
"Come and kill him! I'll kill you first! You want to hunt the psychopath? Here I am!" He spread his arms wide.
Did he just confess he's the psychopath? Why would he do that?
More adventurers poured out of the cafeteria. At this point, there were far more than a dozen. I even recognized some of the Eighty from yesterday—the armored woman among them.
They encircled us like a battle arena. Their expressions were a mix of caution, fear, and worry.
Everyone was watching.
This fight. Between two berserkers.
"Ren, why did you confess that you're a psychopath?"
He turned to me and smiled widely. "Because it's fun."
He raised his voice to address the crowd.
"Everyone, this is an exam given to us by the moderators! There are five rookies who have been given the chance to kill as many adventurers as possible! The one with the highest kill count in three days will gain one wish from the moderators—a wish that will help them pass the exam! I and four other rookies are the psychopaths!"
He spread his arms wider.
"So if you're brave enough to attack me... come at me now!"
Everyone froze. No one attacked. Most shrank back, flinching. They were scared of him. Scared of Ren.
The berserker who had just dropped a bombshell on everyone.
Unless... he wanted something else.
Something like chaos.
"Now then, Zain, let us fight! Berserker against berserker! To the death! Do you accept?"
I looked at him. This guy was insane. Beyond insane. But if this fight could prove our innocence... then fine.
I pointed the curved blade at him with one hand. It was much lighter than my claymore.
I met his eyes. I've met death many times. Almost everyday and if this fight gets rid of one of these killers. Then-
"I accept."