"I'll go look for the rest of the Yellow Team," Jay whispered .knowing if they fight with the blue team now the yellow team would reap the benefits.
Before either of them could answer, he slipped away silently into the darker side of the arena.
Philip stared after him nervously. "Where is he going?" he whispered harshly. "What are we supposed to do now?"
The footsteps from Blue Team were getting closer.
Closer.
Philip tightened his grip on the laser gun.
Meanwhile Rick simply shrugged,
completely unbothered as he rested against the wall lazily.
"Relax."
"How am I supposed to relax?!"
Elsewhere in the arena, Jay moved quietly between the glowing barriers.
He had already spotted two remaining Yellow Team members hiding nearby while secretly observing the Blue Team advancing toward Rick and Philip's position.
But the last Yellow member was nowhere in sight.
Jay narrowed his eyes slightly.
Then suddenly lifted his laser gun—
Pew! Pew!
Two Yellow Team members were eliminated instantly.
"WHAT THE—?!"
The laser shots echoed sharply through the arena.
Exactly as Jay intended.
The advancing Blue Team immediately turned toward the sound.
"There!"
All five members rushed toward Jay's location, guns raised.
Back at the hiding spot, Philip and Rick both looked up at the sudden noise.
Then saw the Blue Team exposing their backs completely while focusing on Jay.
Rick's eyes lit up instantly.
Without warning
He kicked Philip straight out of hiding.
Philip stumbled forward in complete shock.
"What the hell?!"
Before the Blue Team could react properly, Philip panicked and fired blindly.
Lasers flew everywhere.
At the same time, the hidden last Yellow Team member finally appeared and started shooting toward both Blue Team and Philip.
Philip nearly screamed while dodging.
Rick casually leaned out from cover and shot the final Yellow member immediately.
ELIMINATED.
Then chaos ended almost as quickly as it started.
The arena speakers rang loudly.
"BLUE TEAM ELIMINATED."
"YELLOW TEAM ELIMINATED."
"Defeated by RED TEAM."
A replay screen above the arena briefly showed the ambush scene to the remaining teams before shutting off again.
The eliminated Blue Team members looked devastated.
They had spent several minutes hunting Yellow Team down only to unknowingly walk into another team's trap.
Meanwhile the surviving Yellow members looked even worse.
Especially the two girls Jay eliminated earlier.
One of them pointed at Jay in disbelief.
"You exposed your own location just to save your team?!"
Jay smiled politely. "Teamwork."
The Yellow Team boy shot by Rick looked toward Philip and Rick with pure betrayal.
He clearly hadn't expected Rick to use his own teammate as bait.
Speaking of—
Philip was still frozen in disbelief.
Then he slowly turned toward Rick.
"…You kicked me out."
Rick clapped proudly. "We killed two teams."
"YOU KICKED ME OUT!"
"Well yes," Rick answered calmly.
"What if I got shot?!"
Rick looked thoughtful for exactly one second."Then your sacrifice would be remembered."
"YOU BASTARD!"
The eliminated teams finally started leaving while glaring at Red Team.
Rick immediately bolted away laughing.
Philip chased after him with his laser gun raised.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Rick jumped directly onto Jay the second he reached him.
Jay caught him smoothly out of reflex like the most natural thing ever with Rick's legs wrapping around his waist while still laughing shamelessly like this was normal.
"Okay, both of you stop," Jay said calmly while holding Rick up. "We should move before the other teams come here." but it was clear as day he was supporting Rick.
Rick rested comfortably against him and stuck his tongue out at Philip.
Philip looked ready for murder.
"I'm going to find the rest of our members before I actually die because of you idiots!"
He turned and stormed away dramatically.
Jay sighed softly while adjusting Rick's weight.
"What a waste of a good human shield."
Philip overheard that sentence.
He nearly tripped over a glowing barrier.
Rick rested his chin against Jay's shoulder lazily.
"If he didn't die now, he'd die later anyway. That's fate of a human shield."
Jay finally shifted positions, moving Rick onto his back properly while Rick casually held both their laser guns.
"We should honestly just pretend we got eliminated," Jay muttered. "Or hide until the game ends."
Rick nodded
Philip ran immediately after leaving Rick and Jay, not daring to stay near that area any longer.
"Crazy people," he muttered while gripping his laser gun tightly.
The arena lights flashed around him as laser shots echoed nonstop from different corners. Every direction sounded dangerous.
Philip turned a corner quickly then nearly walked straight into another battlefield.
Five Pink Team members were exchanging fire with five Purple Team members while Derek, Kai, and Big V from Red Team were trapped right in the middle behind cover.
"Shit," Philip cursed under his breath before instantly crouching behind a broken neon barrier.
Lasers flashed across the area.
One Pink Team member got shot directly by Kai.
Another got eliminated almost immediately by a hidden Purple Team member from above.
The entire area became chaos again.
Meanwhile
Jay carried Rick through another side of the arena while avoiding most of the crossfire successfully.
Rick looked completely comfortable on Jay's back.
"This is nice," he commented lazily.
"Of course you are the one being carried."
"You wound me Jay I'm giving you the honor of carrying this beauty you should be happy are you happy." Rick whisper in his ear
"Yes yes I'm now behave"Jay said and ignored him turning to another corner only to pause.
Ahead of them—
Ava and Matthew were casually walking through the arena like they were taking a nighttime stroll instead of playing laser tag.
Matthew had one hand in his pocket while Ava spun her laser gun carelessly behind him.
A Purple Team member suddenly appeared behind them and aimed.
Before he could shoot.
Pew.
Ava shot the purple member from behind Matthew without even showing her face.
The Purple Team member froze in disbelief before his vest lit up eliminated.
Rick blinked slowly.
"…Okay that was hot."
"Sup," Jay greeted calmly.
Rick waved from Jay's back happily. "Hello children."
Matthew glanced at the two of them.
"That's one way to play the game."
Ava immediately looked at Matthew.
"Carry me too."
"No."
"Come on."
"Not even in your dreams."
Matthew folded his arms while Ava stared at him accusingly.
"Heartless."
Then without warning.
Ava turned and calmly shot another Purple Team member sneaking toward them from the side.
The guy looked personally offended after getting eliminated.
"Because a no is a no," Matthew continued like nothing happened.
Ava immediately kicked the back of his leg.
Matthew stumbled slightly before glaring at her.
"Ava," he scolded, "are you trying to push buttons?"
Then his eyes shifted toward Rick and Jay like somehow this was their fault too.
"Don't look at me like that," Jay said instantly.
Rick giggled against Jay's shoulder while looking at Matthew mischievously.
"You can kiss her but you can't carry her?" Rick teased. "Wow. Two-faced."
Matthew's expression darkened slightly.
"Come on," Rick continued shamelessly, "we'll pretend we didn't see anything."
Matthew ignored him completely.
Instead, he grabbed Ava by the wrist and started dragging her away.
"Tsk," Ava complained dramatically while following anyway. "So controlling. I can't do this, I can't do that. You're no fun and you won't even carry me ."
"You're wearing a short skirt," Matthew replied flatly. "Why the hell would I carry you or let you run around?"
Ava paused for half a second.
Then slowly smiled.
"Ohhh," she dragged out knowingly. "So you're being possessive."
"Yes," Matthew answered immediately, clearly too tired to argue anymore. "Very possessive. Extremely."
Rick almost fell off Jay's back laughing.
Ava looked disappointed by how easily he admitted it.
"No fun at all," she sighed dramatically while letting him drag her deeper into the arena.
Meanwhile Jay suddenly looked behind them sharply.
More footsteps.
More players approaching.
Without hesitation, Jay turned and started running again with Rick still on his back
.
Rick bounced slightly while holding both laser guns up proudly.
"To war!" he declared dramatically.
"You haven't walked once this entire game," Jay pointed out calmly.
"That's because I support teamwork."Rick said shamelessly
Back on Philip's side—
The crossfire between Pink Team and Purple Team was getting worse by the second.
Lasers flew everywhere while people shouted directions over each other.
Philip slowly peeked from behind the barrier.
"…I should leave," he whispered to himself.
The second he tried backing away.
Big V suddenly sprinted toward him.
Philip's eyes widened.
"Wait—"
Before he could react, Big V grabbed his shoulder and shoved him forward.
Philip became the shield instantly.
"WHAT THE HELL—?!"
Several laser shots hit Philip's vest at once while Big V casually leaned around him and started shooting back.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Two Pink Team members got eliminated immediately.
Then three Purple Team members.
"Damn," Big V whistled. "I'm talented."
The surviving two Purple members and one Pink member quickly turned toward them.
Philip's eyes widened seeing the lasers coming.
Without hesitation
He shifted sideways.
Big V got hit directly instead.
Big V froze dramatically as his vest flashed eliminated.
"Damn it!" Big V yelled. "Philip, can't you be a good human shield for once?!"
Philip looked ready to commit murder.
"Fuck you!" he snapped back. "Who the hell wants to be a human shield?!"
Nearby, Kai almost burst out laughing at the scene.
Derek quickly covered Kai's mouth before the sound exposed them.
Kai's shoulders still shook slightly from trying not to laugh.
Big V noticed immediately.
He turned toward their hiding spot and sighed loudly.
"Guys," he called out shamelessly, "just come out. We're caught anyway."
Kai and Derek stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you serious?" Derek mouthed.
Big V waved dramatically.
"Come on don't hide!"
Then the traitor added loudly—
"Hey! Two more people are hiding here! Come shoot them!"
Philip immediately joined in out of spite.
"Yes! Come shoot them! We can't die alone!"
Kai looked horrified.
Derek looked tired.
Three seconds later
Lasers started raining toward their hiding spot.
"Unbelievable," Derek muttered before both he and Kai got eliminated almost instantly.
Their vests flashed brightly.
The giant arena screen lit up overhead again.
PURPLE TEAM — 4 MEMBERS LEFT
PINK TEAM — 5 MEMBERS LEFT
RED TEAM — 5 MEMBERS LEFT
The screen briefly revealed everyone's locations once more before going dark again.
Kai stared at Big V in betrayal before throwing his laser gun lightly at him.
"Damn you bastards."
Big V caught it easily.
"No need for violence," he replied shamelessly. "Now we just sit here peacefully and wait to see if our team wins or loses."
Philip looked genuinely offended.
"Why does everyone keep using me as a human shield?"
Derek crossed his arms calmly.
"To be fair…" He glanced at Philip thoughtfully. "You really do look like one."
Philip's jaw dropped.
"The smart ones always die first," Derek added seriously.
Kai nodded beside him. "It's fate."
Philip pointed at all of them furiously.
"I hate every single one of you."
Another side of the arena.
Felix was hiding quietly behind a glowing metal wall, occasionally peeking out while chewing gum peacefully.
Then the giant screen lit up again.
The remaining players' locations flashed across the map.
Felix froze.
"…Oh no."
According to the screen—
The remaining five Pink Team members were all heading directly toward his area
.
And judging from the pink lights moving across the map they were very close.
Felix immediately got up to run.
Too late.
Five girls suddenly appeared from different corners surrounding him completely with laser guns aimed straight at him.
Felix slowly raised both hands.
"Ladies," he said dramatically, "ladies ladies ladies… why don't we settle this peacefully?"
One girl laughed. "Peacefully how?"
Felix flashed them a dazzling smile.
"A free kiss? Free hug "
The girls paused.
Then looked at each other.
Then back at Felix.
"…Continue," another girl said interestedly.
Felix blinked.
"I don't know I'm just too handsome to die "
The girls burst into laughter.
One of the girls walked closer, clearly amused.
"You are indeed handsome," she admitted.
"Fine. We'll let you eliminate us…"
Felix's eyes widened hopefully.
"…If you agree to go on a date with all five of us next weekend."
Felix gasped dramatically.
"DEAL," Felix answered immediately.
The girls laughed again while exchanging phones with him quickly.
The girls finally lowered their guns.
True to their word, each girl leaned over and kissed Felix on the cheek before running off laughing toward the exit area.
Felix stood there looking victorious.
Then the arena speakers announced
"PINK TEAM ELIMINATED."
Felix placed a hand on his chest proudly.
"now I understand when Kai said if you don't have talent then earn with your look"
Elsewhere
Ava heard the announcement immediately.
The screen briefly flashed the remaining locations again before disappearing.
Only Blue Team remained besides Red Team now.
Four Blue Team members left.
Ava's eyes lit up instantly.
Without warning, she grabbed Matthew's wrist and dragged him through the arena.
"Ava—"
"Shh."
The two moved silently through the glowing maze until Ava suddenly stopped near a corner.
Voices.
Blue Team.
Very close.
Ava peeked once.
Four remaining Blue Team members.
All girls.
A dangerous smile slowly appeared on Ava's face.
Then suddenly
She shoved Matthew out into the open.
Matthew stumbled forward in complete shock.
"What the—"
Ava hid instantly behind the wall again.
Matthew turned back toward her with disbelief written all over his face.
Ava gave him a thumbs up.
Meanwhile
The four Blue Team girls immediately noticed Matthew standing there alone under the neon lights.
Even with the laser gun lowered loosely in his hand, he still looked ridiculously handsome.
One girl hiding nearby slowly started sneaking closer toward him carefully while the other three finally stepped out openly from their hiding spots.
Matthew sighed softly.
Then dropped his laser gun entirely before raising his hands calmly.
The girls visibly hesitated.
Exactly as Ava expected.
No one can resist pretty bait, Ava thought proudly from hiding.
"Hey," one of the girls asked while lowering her laser gun slightly, "you don't want to play anymore?"
"Yeah." Matthew smiled calmly at them. "I'm tired it is kinda boring."
The four girls visibly froze for a second.
Then two of them turned red almost immediately.
Even Ava hiding nearby had to admit
This bastard really knew how to weaponize his face.
"Well…" the same girl spoke again, suddenly fixing her hair, " yeah the game is indeed boring I bet you were forced to play the game right someone as handsome like you won't like the game "
Another girl stepped forward excitedly.
"Can we have your number? You seriously look like a celebrity."
"My phone isn't with me right now," Matthew replied smoothly voice like honey even if the girls were rejected they felt it was normal.
The third girl tilted her head curiously. "Then where are your teammates?"
Matthew gave a helpless sigh.
"Not sure." He glanced lazily toward Ava's hiding direction for half a second. "They abandoned me. I guess I'm not important to them at least I have you guys ."
Ava's lips twitched violently behind the wall.
"Tsk," she cursed softly. "Seducing girls bastard."
" What bad friend if I were your friend I would never"
" Me too"
"Me too"
"You can come hang out with me"
Meanwhile the fourth girl had already started moving closer toward Matthew.
"You're actually really handsome up close ...."Before she could even finish
Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!
Four laser shots rang out instantly.
All four girls froze in shock as their vests lit up eliminated.
Especially the fourth girl whose hand had been seconds away from touching Matthew.
The arena speakers immediately announced.
"BLUE TEAM ELIMINATED."
"RED TEAM WINS."
Cheers and sound effects exploded through the arena.
Ava immediately ran out from hiding and wrapped her arms around Matthew's waist proudly.
"We won!" she cheered.
Matthew looked down at her calmly.
"done using me as bait why don't I keep them company as I'm no use to you."
"big no handsome only belongs to me ."
"He is mine now, back off," Ava said sweetly while smiling at the four eliminated girls.
The sweetness somehow made the sentence sound even more threatening.
The fourth girl frowned immediately.
"You actually used him as bait," she said, clearly judging Ava now. "That's unethical. If I were you, I wouldn't treat him like that."
Then she looked back at Matthew softly.
"He deserves better."
Ava's smile turned lazy instantly.
"Well too bad, too sad." She wrapped an arm around Matthew possessively. "You can't be me."
The girl's expression stiffened.
"And he likes me," Ava continued proudly. "He doesn't like sour sweet girls like you because you people aren't exciting."
Matthew looked down at Ava slowly.
"…Sour sweet girls?"
"Yes."
"That makes zero sense."
"It makes perfect sense."
Without giving the girls another glance, Ava dragged Matthew away deeper into the glowing hallway.
The moment they turned the corner
Matthew finally looked at her with raised brows.