1st, a standalone mercenaries game in the style of 5 or 6 (maybe not gameplay mechanics, but definitely in how mercs works) or raid mode (based on Rev 2) game (though it would be better if it was both in the same game). Like they did with Mercs 3d, but you know, multiplatform and not on just a 3DS with its underpowered hardware.
Easily could make so much money off of it. could be f2p or b2p, doesn't matter. but their main monetization would be cosmetics and/or charactemap packs. they could add stages from all of the games mainline and spinoff through the series. like, imagine all the maps you could have from prior raid/mercs games + stages based on the other games. don't think we've seen stages based on 0, 1, 2, 3, or CV.
and the characters, literally hundreds of characters they could make from main and side characters, different skins/load-outs, etc, etc. Just a small selection that comes to mind, Richard, Raymond, Bravo team members, Brad, Parker, etc.
admittedly it would probably take a decent bit of effort though since with the RE engine it is probably only easy to take the things that already exist and port them over and then just figure out what does/doesn't work versus having to make brand new models for old characters and maps from the previous engines/games.
2nd would be porting/remaking outbreak. Honestly, I would prefer a port because I heavily doubt Capcom would give it the care and love the game deserves, especially with the 100s of characters and being able to unlock them all just by playing the game. A remake would be good for the better graphics, engine, and gameplay but I don't see Capcom porting over all the characters and we'd most likely get a heavily gimped list with the main characters plus 1-2 skins per character that have the same stats as the original character. If you didn't know, all the characters and skins in outbreak file 1/2 have different stats. etc despite being based on one of the original 8. So David-type characters as an example can do things that David can usually do, or at least some things that David can do. and then they have their unique stats. Some of the characters are even just stick figures like Mrs. Water, Mr. Black. etc.
The original games were really good but honestly came out in a period where having internet, let alone high-speed internet was uncommon and expensive, especially having the little PS2 network adapter for it. 3 separate things you need but are uncommon to play the game it was meant to be played and you need to pay over 100 dollars (IIRC, don't remember what internet cost back then since by the time internet was common and I was old enough to understand money it cost about that much for 2 MB down from Verizon lol. Maybe they could improve the AI too and maybe even add split-screen so solo/offline play is feasible. The outbreak games are hard if you don't know what to do and it's your first time, having good AI or at least being able to play split screen could make it a lot more tolerable.

"i tell you kids, back in my day, we had it so rough... or so much better, i can't tell anymore. anyway, every day, we would wake up at 2 in the morning and go to the table for breakfast. we all lived in a closet, you see, so it was one room. and we would ask, me and my 64 brothers and 27 sisters, "what's for breakfast mum?". she would smack us all with a shoe and say "cold beans". and if we complained and said "but we had cold beans yesterday" - because we had cold beans every day - she would smack us all five times with a shoe and say "tough its all we can afford. i'm trying to feed a family of 93 with just half a silver buckington", a silver buckington was about the same as half a penny back in the day. then we would head to school. we met up with the johnson kids from down the road, and walked the 1674 miles to school. on the way to school, we had to walk up a mountain so tall it extended to outer space. when we got to the top of the mountain, we would see the peterson boys on their fancy bikes - which they dont make like they used to, and we would race them down the mountain. then, when we got to school at 4 in the morning, the headmaster would come up to us and say "you bloody kids are late", then he would smack us all with the cane 10 times and tell us we had 7 years of detention. then, we went to class, and mr stevenson would say "ok line up kids", then he would spank us each 60 times, then hit us each with the cane 40 times each. then it was 7 at night and we had to walk home. then, when we got home, we'd ask "whats for dinner mum?", and she'd smack us each 50 times with a pan and say "rotten cabage". and if we complained, she would smack us each 100 times with a broom and say "im trying to feed a family of 154 on just one islet sliver, just you wait until your dad gets home" - now an islet silver was worth about as much as a grain of sand. then, when our dad got home from his job at the soot factory, he would hit us all 180 times with his belt. if we had been naughty, we would hit us all another 600 times. then, at 1:58, mum would say "ok time for bed". then, we got into our potato sacks, and she would hit us each with a shoe 8 times before we went to sleep. on saturdays, we went down to uncle bob's farm to work. we would have to walk 345 miles to the bus stop, then catch the route 4 bus for 56 stops. we would get on the bus and pay our fare of 3 teddy roses - now a teddy rose is worth about the same as a flake of skin. then, if the ticket inspector came to us, he would hit us all 4 times with his baton. if any of us had lost our ticket, we would hit us all 10 times again and throw us off the bus and we had to walk the rest of the way. when we got to the farm, uncle bob would drive to the gate in his tractor, hit us all 780 times with his crowbar, and tell us to get in his trailer so he could drive us to the farm house. then, we had to plow the fields with a toothbrush in the blazing summer heat - now, they dont make summers like they used to, so it was about 1345.4 degrees spencer, or 67 degrees centigrade using your new-fangled metric system. then, we would have to milk the cows - now, they dont make cows like they used to, so each cow weighed about 459 hog's heads, or 3.2 tonnes in your new-fangled metric system. if you touched a cows udder, it would kick you and you would die, so you had to be really careful when you milked the cows. then, when we were done, uncle bob would say "ok kids time for your pocket money". he would give us each 9 copper jemimahs - which are worth about one political promise each - and beat us each 6 times with his tractor before we left. on sundays, we would meet the johnson boys and go down to the river - now, they don't make rivers like they used to, so this river was about as wide as the whole of america, and as deep as the marianas trench, and it was filled with liquid tungsten. we would play by the old oak tree near the river, climbing on it and building tree houses and such. now - they don't make trees like they used to, so this tree had a trunk as thick as a city, and was tall enough that the branches on the top could scrape the moon. one day, little jimmy fell from the top of the tree. when he hit the ground, the only bit of his body we could recognise was his left eyeball. we picked up all his bits and rushed him to the doctors surgery. dr james said "oh its just a scratch little jimmy dont worry pop a plaster on it and you'll be right" and he gave little jimmy a plaster and a lollipop and he was ok. after we finished playing by the river, we would go into town and get some candy. now, back in the day, you could give the shopkeeper one bronze winglet - which is worth about as much as a ciggarette butt - and he would give you the entire stock of the store. so we would go and get our candy, and we'd go into the town square and eat it. now, we didn't have any of your fancy food laws back in the day, so there was all kinds of stuff in our candy. bleach, lsd, ecstasy, you name it. so we would always get a little hyper after our candy. one day, when we were hyper, we went up the mr boris's car, the only car in the town, and touched it. as we touched it, we saw dad storming down the street holding his belt. "you kids, having fun while i work all day in the soot factory just so you can have grilled water for tea every night, i oughta smack you all". we were sure he was going to smack us, but then he said "no, i got a better idea, ill take you to see mr henderson, he'll set ya right". now, dad had told us about mr henderson. mr henderson was a veteran from the great war, where he got a really bad injury, but we never knew what it was. dad walked us all down to the pub, and we saw a left testicle propped up on a pegleg. "mr henderson," said dad, "i have some kids here who need a good whooping". then, mr henderson picked up the entire pub, and hit us each 4006 times with it. then, dad said "right, i gotta go back to the soot factory, you kids run on home now". now, by now it was 1pm, which meant it was curfew. while we were walking out of the town square, we heard a man shout "oi you bloody kids, its curfew". we turned around and saw the constable holding his baton. he hit us each 160265 times with his baton, then put us in gaol for 60123865 years. now - they don't make gaols like they used to - this one had 5 mile thick steel walls, and a single hole in the top let in some light. we were in there for about 13526 years, until mum baked the constable some cardboard pie so he would let us out. then, she hit us all 1292 times with a washboard, and grounded us for the rest of our lives. so don't you come complaining to me about nonsense like not being able to breathe or not being able to feel your legs.

"i tell you kids, back in my day, we had it so rough... or so much better, i can't tell anymore. anyway, every day, we would wake up at 2 in the morning and go to the table for breakfast. we all lived in a closet, you see, so it was one room. and we would ask, me and my 64 brothers and 27 sisters, "what's for breakfast mum?". she would smack us all with a shoe and say "cold beans". and if we complained and said "but we had cold beans yesterday" - because we had cold beans every day - she would smack us all five times with a shoe and say "tough its all we can afford. i'm trying to feed a family of 93 with just half a silver buckington", a silver buckington was about the same as half a penny back in the day. then we would head to school. we met up with the johnson kids from down the road, and walked the 1674 miles to school. on the way to school, we had to walk up a mountain so tall it extended to outer space. when we got to the top of the mountain, we would see the peterson boys on their fancy bikes - which they dont make like they used to, and we would race them down the mountain. then, when we got to school at 4 in the morning, the headmaster would come up to us and say "you bloody kids are late", then he would smack us all with the cane 10 times and tell us we had 7 years of detention. then, we went to class, and mr stevenson would say "ok line up kids", then he would spank us each 60 times, then hit us each with the cane 40 times each. then it was 7 at night and we had to walk home. then, when we got home, we'd ask "whats for dinner mum?", and she'd smack us each 50 times with a pan and say "rotten cabage". and if we complained, she would smack us each 100 times with a broom and say "im trying to feed a family of 154 on just one islet sliver, just you wait until your dad gets home" - now an islet silver was worth about as much as a grain of sand. then, when our dad got home from his job at the soot factory, he would hit us all 180 times with his belt. if we had been naughty, we would hit us all another 600 times. then, at 1:58, mum would say "ok time for bed". then, we got into our potato sacks, and she would hit us each with a shoe 8 times before we went to sleep. on saturdays, we went down to uncle bob's farm to work. we would have to walk 345 miles to the bus stop, then catch the route 4 bus for 56 stops. we would get on the bus and pay our fare of 3 teddy roses - now a teddy rose is worth about the same as a flake of skin. then, if the ticket inspector came to us, he would hit us all 4 times with his baton. if any of us had lost our ticket, we would hit us all 10 times again and throw us off the bus and we had to walk the rest of the way. when we got to the farm, uncle bob would drive to the gate in his tractor, hit us all 780 times with his crowbar, and tell us to get in his trailer so he could drive us to the farm house. then, we had to plow the fields with a toothbrush in the blazing summer heat - now, they dont make summers like they used to, so it was about 1345.4 degrees spencer, or 67 degrees centigrade using your new-fangled metric system. then, we would have to milk the cows - now, they dont make cows like they used to, so each cow weighed about 459 hog's heads, or 3.2 tonnes in your new-fangled metric system. if you touched a cows udder, it would kick you and you would die, so you had to be really careful when you milked the cows. then, when we were done, uncle bob would say "ok kids time for your pocket money". he would give us each 9 copper jemimahs - which are worth about one political promise each - and beat us each 6 times with his tractor before we left. on sundays, we would meet the johnson boys and go down to the river - now, they don't make rivers like they used to, so this river was about as wide as the whole of america, and as deep as the marianas trench, and it was filled with liquid tungsten. we would play by the old oak tree near the river, climbing on it and building tree houses and such. now - they don't make trees like they used to, so this tree had a trunk as thick as a city, and was tall enough that the branches on the top could scrape the moon. one day, little jimmy fell from the top of the tree. when he hit the ground, the only bit of his body we could recognise was his left eyeball. we picked up all his bits and rushed him to the doctors surgery. dr james said "oh its just a scratch little jimmy dont worry pop a plaster on it and you'll be right" and he gave little jimmy a plaster and a lollipop and he was ok. after we finished playing by the river, we would go into town and get some candy. now, back in the day, you could give the shopkeeper one bronze winglet - which is worth about as much as a ciggarette butt - and he would give you the entire stock of the store. so we would go and get our candy, and we'd go into the town square and eat it. now, we didn't have any of your fancy food laws back in the day, so there was all kinds of stuff in our candy. bleach, lsd, ecstasy, you name it. so we would always get a little hyper after our candy. one day, when we were hyper, we went up the mr boris's car, the only car in the town, and touched it. as we touched it, we saw dad storming down the street holding his belt. "you kids, having fun while i work all day in the soot factory just so you can have grilled water for tea every night, i oughta smack you all". we were sure he was going to smack us, but then he said "no, i got a better idea, ill take you to see mr henderson, he'll set ya right". now, dad had told us about mr henderson. mr henderson was a veteran from the great war, where he got a really bad injury, but we never knew what it was. dad walked us all down to the pub, and we saw a left testicle propped up on a pegleg. "mr henderson," said dad, "i have some kids here who need a good whooping". then, mr henderson picked up the entire pub, and hit us each 4006 times with it. then, dad said "right, i gotta go back to the soot factory, you kids run on home now". now, by now it was 1pm, which meant it was curfew. while we were walking out of the town square, we heard a man shout "oi you bloody kids, its curfew". we turned around and saw the constable holding his baton. he hit us each 160265 times with his baton, then put us in gaol for 60123865 years. now - they don't make gaols like they used to - this one had 5 mile thick steel walls, and a single hole in the top let in some light. we were in there for about 13526 years, until mum baked the constable some cardboard pie so he would let us out. then, she hit us all 1292 times with a washboard, and grounded us for the rest of our lives. so don't you come complaining to me about nonsense like not being able to breathe or not being able to feel your legs.

"i tell you kids, back in my day, we had it so rough... or so much better, i can't tell anymore. anyway, every day, we would wake up at 2 in the morning and go to the table for breakfast. we all lived in a closet, you see, so it was one room. and we would ask, me and my 64 brothers and 27 sisters, "what's for breakfast mum?". she would smack us all with a shoe and say "cold beans". and if we complained and said "but we had cold beans yesterday" - because we had cold beans every day - she would smack us all five times with a shoe and say "tough its all we can afford. i'm trying to feed a family of 93 with just half a silver buckington", a silver buckington was about the same as half a penny back in the day. then we would head to school. we met up with the johnson kids from down the road, and walked the 1674 miles to school. on the way to school, we had to walk up a mountain so tall it extended to outer space. when we got to the top of the mountain, we would see the peterson boys on their fancy bikes - which they dont make like they used to, and we would race them down the mountain. then, when we got to school at 4 in the morning, the headmaster would come up to us and say "you bloody kids are late", then he would smack us all with the cane 10 times and tell us we had 7 years of detention. then, we went to class, and mr stevenson would say "ok line up kids", then he would spank us each 60 times, then hit us each with the cane 40 times each. then it was 7 at night and we had to walk home. then, when we got home, we'd ask "whats for dinner mum?", and she'd smack us each 50 times with a pan and say "rotten cabage". and if we complained, she would smack us each 100 times with a broom and say "im trying to feed a family of 154 on just one islet sliver, just you wait until your dad gets home" - now an islet silver was worth about as much as a grain of sand. then, when our dad got home from his job at the soot factory, he would hit us all 180 times with his belt. if we had been naughty, we would hit us all another 600 times. then, at 1:58, mum would say "ok time for bed". then, we got into our potato sacks, and she would hit us each with a shoe 8 times before we went to sleep. on saturdays, we went down to uncle bob's farm to work. we would have to walk 345 miles to the bus stop, then catch the route 4 bus for 56 stops. we would get on the bus and pay our fare of 3 teddy roses - now a teddy rose is worth about the same as a flake of skin. then, if the ticket inspector came to us, he would hit us all 4 times with his baton. if any of us had lost our ticket, we would hit us all 10 times again and throw us off the bus and we had to walk the rest of the way. when we got to the farm, uncle bob would drive to the gate in his tractor, hit us all 780 times with his crowbar, and tell us to get in his trailer so he could drive us to the farm house. then, we had to plow the fields with a toothbrush in the blazing summer heat - now, they dont make summers like they used to, so it was about 1345.4 degrees spencer, or 67 degrees centigrade using your new-fangled metric system. then, we would have to milk the cows - now, they dont make cows like they used to, so each cow weighed about 459 hog's heads, or 3.2 tonnes in your new-fangled metric system. if you touched a cows udder, it would kick you and you would die, so you had to be really careful when you milked the cows. then, when we were done, uncle bob would say "ok kids time for your pocket money". he would give us each 9 copper jemimahs - which are worth about one political promise each - and beat us each 6 times with his tractor before we left. on sundays, we would meet the johnson boys and go down to the river - now, they don't make rivers like they used to, so this river was about as wide as the whole of america, and as deep as the marianas trench, and it was filled with liquid tungsten. we would play by the old oak tree near the river, climbing on it and building tree houses and such. now - they don't make trees like they used to, so this tree had a trunk as thick as a city, and was tall enough that the branches on the top could scrape the moon. one day, little jimmy fell from the top of the tree. when he hit the ground, the only bit of his body we could recognise was his left eyeball. we picked up all his bits and rushed him to the doctors surgery. dr james said "oh its just a scratch little jimmy dont worry pop a plaster on it and you'll be right" and he gave little jimmy a plaster and a lollipop and he was ok. after we finished playing by the river, we would go into town and get some candy. now, back in the day, you could give the shopkeeper one bronze winglet - which is worth about as much as a ciggarette butt - and he would give you the entire stock of the store. so we would go and get our candy, and we'd go into the town square and eat it. now, we didn't have any of your fancy food laws back in the day, so there was all kinds of stuff in our candy. bleach, lsd, ecstasy, you name it. so we would always get a little hyper after our candy. one day, when we were hyper, we went up the mr boris's car, the only car in the town, and touched it. as we touched it, we saw dad storming down the street holding his belt. "you kids, having fun while i work all day in the soot factory just so you can have grilled water for tea every night, i oughta smack you all". we were sure he was going to smack us, but then he said "no, i got a better idea, ill take you to see mr henderson, he'll set ya right". now, dad had told us about mr henderson. mr henderson was a veteran from the great war, where he got a really bad injury, but we never knew what it was. dad walked us all down to the pub, and we saw a left testicle propped up on a pegleg. "mr henderson," said dad, "i have some kids here who need a good whooping". then, mr henderson picked up the entire pub, and hit us each 4006 times with it. then, dad said "right, i gotta go back to the soot factory, you kids run on home now". now, by now it was 1pm, which meant it was curfew. while we were walking out of the town square, we heard a man shout "oi you bloody kids, its curfew". we turned around and saw the constable holding his baton. he hit us each 160265 times with his baton, then put us in gaol for 60123865 years. now - they don't make gaols like they used to - this one had 5 mile thick steel walls, and a single hole in the top let in some light. we were in there for about 13526 years, until mum baked the constable some cardboard pie so he would let us out. then, she hit us all 1292 times with a washboard, and grounded us for the rest of our lives. so don't you come complaining to me about nonsense like not being able to breathe or not being able to feel your legs.

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APRIL 2024 GAMES

• THE CALLISTO PROTOCOL
• HUMANKIND DEFINITIVE EDITION
• FASHION POLICE SQUAD
• TERRAFORMERS
• SYMPHONY OF WAR: THE NEPHILIM SAGA
• COROMON
• THE EXCAVATION OF HOB'S BARROW

MARCH 2024 GAMES

• WARHAMMER AGE OF SIGMAR: REALMS OF RUIN – ULTIMATE EDITION
• NIOH 2 - THE COMPLETE EDITION
• SAINTS ROW
• CITIZEN SLEEPER
• BLACK SKYLANDS
• SOULSTICE
• AFTERIMAGE
• DESTROYER: THE U-BOAT HUNTER

FEBRUARY 2024 GAMES
*LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS *SCORN *DESTROY ALL HUMANS 2! REPROBED *BEACON PINES *THERE IS NO LIGHT: ENHANCED EDITION *CHILDREN OF SILENTOWN *OAKEN *SNOWTOPIA: SKI RESORT BUILDER
JANUARY 2024 GAMES
*MARVEL'S MIDNIGHT SUNS DIGITAL+ EDITION *MIDNIGHT SUNS - DOCTOR STRANGE DEFENDERS SKIN *TWO POINT CAMPUS *ARAGAMI 2 *ROGUEBOOK *THE RED LANTERN *HELL PIE *TWIN MIRROR
DECEMBER 2023 GAMES
*EXPEDITIONS: ROME *MIDNIGHT FIGHT EXPRESS *ELEX II *LAST CALL BBS *FROM SPACE *GET TWO MONTHS OF IGN PLUS
NOVEMBER 2023 GAMES
*HARDSPACE: SHIPBREAKER *UNPACKING *FRIENDS VS FRIENDS *PRODEUS *THE LEGEND OF TIANDING *SCP: SECRET FILES *SOULDIERS
OCTOBER 2023 GAMES
*METAL HELLSINGER *DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY: HOUSE OF ASHES *REBEL INC: ESCALATION *SPIRIT OF THE ISLAND *LORDS AND VILLEINS *A JUGGLER'S TALE *MR. PREPPER
SEPTEMBER 2023 GAMES
*THE FORGOTTEN CITY *ACES & ADVENTURES *PATCH QUEST *FORETALES *WHO PRESSED MUTE ON UNCLE MARCUS *AUTONAUTS VS PIRATEBOTS
AUGUST 2023 GAMES
*CHIVALRY 2 *ROAD 96 *TREK TO YOMI *ARCADE PARADISE *SUCHART: GENIUS ARTIST SIMULATOR *TIN CAN *HOT BRASS *SHOTGUN KING: THE FINAL CHECKMATE
JULY 2023 GAMES
*YAKUZA 4 REMASTERED *ROADWARDEN *KRAKEN ACADEMY!! *MERCHANT OF THE SKIES *OZYMANDIAS: BRONZE AGE EMPIRE SIM *SHOTGUN KING: THE FINAL CHECKMATE
JUNE 2023 GAMES
*CURSE OF THE DEAD GODS *HONEY I JOINED A CULT *ETERNAL THREADS *GRIME *TURBO GOLF RACING *MEEPLE STATION
MAY 2023 GAMES
*WARHAMMER 40,000: CHAOS GATE - DAEMONHUNTERS *SPIRITFARER: FAREWELL EDITION *BENDY AND THE DARK REVIVAL *OPERATION: TANGO *WINDJAMMERS 2 *BUILDER SIMULATOR *BEHIND THE FRAME: THE FINEST SCENERY *THE INVISIBLE HAND
APRIL 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*ROLLERDROME *LIFE IS STRANGE 2: COMPLETE SEASON *THE LIFE AND SUFFERING OF SIR BRANTE *MONSTER PROM 2: MONSTER CAMP *REVITA *FOUNDERS' FORTUNE
MARCH 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*BIOMUTANT *EDGE OF ETERNITY *HERO'S HOUR *ROGUE LORDS *DEMON TURF *GOLDEN LIGHT *MONSTER CROWN
FEBRUARY 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*PATHFINDER: WRATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS *FALLOUT 76 + FALLOUT 1 *THRONEBREAKER: THE WITCHER TALES *OTHERCIDE *SHADY PART OF ME *SCOURGEBRINGER *FOBIA - ST. DINFNA HOTEL *FIVE DATES
JANUARY 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*TRIBES OF MIDGARD *ENCASED: A SCI-FI POST-APOCALYPTIC RPG *OLLIOLLI WORLD - RAD EDITION *GROW: SONG OF THE EVERTREE *CONAN CHOP CHOP *HOKKO LIFE *THE SERPENT ROGUE
DECEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*GREEDFALL *FIRST CLASS TROUBLE *BACKBONE *TOEM *WHERE THE WATER TASTES LIKE WINE *BLADE ASSAULT *SUPER MAGBOT
NOVEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*KINGDOMS OF AMALUR: RE-RECKONING - FATE EDITION *SHADOW TACTICS: AIKO'S CHOICE *ROBOQUEST *ELDEST SOULS *UNMETAL *RAJI: AN ANCIENT EPIC *MORBID: THE SEVEN ACOLYTES
OCTOBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*DEATHLOOP *MONSTER TRAIN (FIRST CLASS - COLLECTORS EDITION) *DISCIPLES: LIBERATION *MAID OF SKER *EPIC CHEF *RAILROAD CORPORATION *GOLF GANG
SEPTEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• THE DUNGEON OF NAHEULBEUK: THE AMULET OF CHAOS
• FORGIVE ME FATHER
• CROWN TRICK
• DESCENDERS
• INDUSTRIA

JULY 2022 GAMES

• LEGEND OF KEEPERS
• LAWN MOWING SIMULATOR
• BANNERS OF RUIN
• YES, YOUR GRACE
• ATOM RPG TRUDOGRAD

JUNE 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• STAR WARS SQUADRONS
• PHOENIX POINT: YEAR ONE EDITION
• CALL OF THE SEA
• GAMEDEC
• PUMPKIN JACK
• SIEGE SURVIVAL: GLORIA VICTIS
• I AM FISH
• SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE

MAY 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• COMMAND & CONQUER REMASTERED COLLECTION
• SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
• IF FOUND...
• GENESIS NOIR
• EMBR

APRIL 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• MONSTER SANCTUARY
• SUZERAIN
• CHICKEN POLICE
• NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER
• MARCH 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
• RED SOLSTICE 2: SURVIVORS
• POLICE STORIES
• EVAN'S REMAINS

FEBRUARY 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• BLACK BOOK
• PER ASPERA
• JUST DIE ALREADY
• BEFORE WE LEAVE
• PARADISE LOST
• EVERHOOD
• EVERHOOD

OCTOBER 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• AMNESIA: REBIRTH
• JOHN WICK HEX
• RING OF PAIN
• GUTS AND GLORY
• THE TEXTORCIST: THE STORY OF RAY BIBBIA
• GARAGE: BAD TRIP
• HIVESWAP FRIENDSIM
• TOOLS UP
• SYBERIA 3
• BLACK FUTURE '88

AUGUST 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• CEPHEUS PROTOCOL
• DRAKE HOLLOW
• BLUE FIRE
• ENCODYA

JULY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• HAMMERTING
• KILL IT WITH FIRE
• BEE SIMULATOR
• S.W.I.N.E. HD REMASTER
• DEADLY DAYS

JUNE 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• STUBBS THE ZOMBIE IN REBEL WITHOUT A PULSE
• WORMS RUMBLE + LEGENDS PACK DLC
• PANZER PALADIN
• GOING UNDER
• MILKY WAY PRINCE - THE VAMPIRE STAR
• DESOLATE
• PAW PAW PAW
• IKENFELL
• DISJUNCTION
• EFFIE

MAY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• HELLPOINT
• COOK, SERVE, DELICIOUS! 3
• FURY UNLEASHED
• RELICTA
• FAMILY MAN
• VANE

APRIL 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• SHENMUE III
• MAIN ASSEMBLY
• ROCK OF AGES 3: MAKE & BREAK
• AVEN COLONY
• IN OTHER WATERS
• AVEN COLONY
• SIMULACRA + SIMULACRA 2
• COLT CANYON
• SKULLY
• POPUP DUNGEON

MARCH 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• XCOM: CHIMERA SQUAD
• HOTSHOT RACING
• PEAKY BLINDERS: MASTERMIND
• CYBER HOOK
• PESTERQUEST
• AGELESS
• BOREAL BLADE

FEBRUARY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• MOVING OUT
• THE WILD EIGHT
• VALFARIS
• TRAIN STATION RENOVATION
• LOVECRAFT'S UNTOLD STORIES
• WEREWOLF: THE APOCALYPSE HEART OF THE FOREST
• BOOMERANG FU
• IRIS AND THE GIANT

NOVEMBER 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• CRYING SUNS
• DARKSBURG
• SMILE FOR ME
• DARKWOOD
• ROVER MECHANIC SIMULATOR
• TSIOQUE
• TOWNSMEN - A KINGDOM REBUILT
• YOUROPA

OCTOBER 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• IRON DANGER
• SHADOWS: AWAKENING
• AUTONAUTS
• FANTASY BLACKSMITH
• THE UNCERTAIN: LAST QUIET DAY
• GOAT OF DUTY
• BASEMENT

JULY 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• RAILWAY EMPIRE
• BEAT HAZARD 2
• METAL UNIT
• SIGMA THEORY: GLOBAL COLD WAR
• DON'T ESCAPE: 4 DAYS TO SURVIVE
• VERLET SWING
• EARTHLOCK
• BASINGSTOKE
• Vikings - Wolves of Midgard

MAY 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• XCOM® 2 + 2 DLC
• NICHE - A GENETICS SURVIVAL GAME
• THE SWORDS OF DITTO: MORMO'S CURSE
• WARSAW
• NEOVERSE
• MO:ASTRAY
• HORACE
• CHESS ULTRA
• Planet Coaster - World's Fair Pack

Europa Universalis IV: El Dorado
January 2020 Humble Choice

• DiRT Rally 2.0 - H2 RWD Double Pack
• DiRT Rally 2.0 - Opel Manta 400
• Dirt Rally 2.0 - Porsche 911 RGT Rally Spec
• GRIP: Combat Racing Artifex DLC

December 2019 Humble Monthly

• Fluffy Horde
• Sword Legacy Omen

November 2019 Humble Monthly

• 11-11 Memories Retold
• Evergarden
• Shenmue I & II

October 2019 Humble Monthly

• Avernum 3: Ruined World
• Override: Mech City Brawl
• Planet Alpha
• The Spiral Scouts

September 2019 Humble Monthly

• Distance
• God's Trigger
• State of Mind

Humble Crusader Kings II Bundle

• Crusader Kings II: The Republic
• August 2019 Humble Monthly
• The Adventure Pals
• Almost There: The Platformer
• Swords and Soldiers 2 Shawarmageddon
• Yoku's Island Express

July 2019 Humble Monthly

• 60 Parsecs!
• Love is Dead
• NAIRI: Tower of Shirin
• Road Redemption

June 2019 Humble Monthly

• 911 Operator
• 911 Operator - Special Resources DLC
• Duskers
• Paratopic
• Pool Panic

May 2019 Humble Monthly

• Do Not Feed the Monkeys
• Finding Paradise
• I'm not a Monster
• The Journey Down: Chapter Three
• Monster Prom

April 2019 Humble Monthly

• Dandara
• MINIT
• She Remembered Caterpillars
• Steel Rats

March 2019 Humble Monthly

• Fight'N Rage
• Late Shift
• Paradigm
• Slipstream

Humble Paradox Bundle 2019

• Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne
• Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game
• Magicka 2 Deluxe Edition DLC Upgrade

May 2018 Humble Monthly

• Moon Hunters
• NBA Playgrounds

April 2018 Humble Monthly

• AER Memories of Old
• Laser League
• Subterrain

November 2017 Humble Monthly

• The Elder Scrolls: Legends: 2 Card Packs (Skyrim) 1 Event Ticket 100 Gold 100 Souls
• Quake Champions Early Access plus 50 Shards, 100 Platinum, 2000 Favor

My IGS Profile
My Steam Profile
APRIL 2024 GAMES

• THE CALLISTO PROTOCOL
• HUMANKIND DEFINITIVE EDITION
• FASHION POLICE SQUAD
• TERRAFORMERS
• SYMPHONY OF WAR: THE NEPHILIM SAGA
• COROMON
• THE EXCAVATION OF HOB'S BARROW

MARCH 2024 GAMES

• WARHAMMER AGE OF SIGMAR: REALMS OF RUIN – ULTIMATE EDITION
• NIOH 2 - THE COMPLETE EDITION
• SAINTS ROW
• CITIZEN SLEEPER
• BLACK SKYLANDS
• SOULSTICE
• AFTERIMAGE
• DESTROYER: THE U-BOAT HUNTER

FEBRUARY 2024 GAMES
*LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS *SCORN *DESTROY ALL HUMANS 2! REPROBED *BEACON PINES *THERE IS NO LIGHT: ENHANCED EDITION *CHILDREN OF SILENTOWN *OAKEN *SNOWTOPIA: SKI RESORT BUILDER
JANUARY 2024 GAMES
*MARVEL'S MIDNIGHT SUNS DIGITAL+ EDITION *MIDNIGHT SUNS - DOCTOR STRANGE DEFENDERS SKIN *TWO POINT CAMPUS *ARAGAMI 2 *ROGUEBOOK *THE RED LANTERN *HELL PIE *TWIN MIRROR
DECEMBER 2023 GAMES
*EXPEDITIONS: ROME *MIDNIGHT FIGHT EXPRESS *ELEX II *LAST CALL BBS *FROM SPACE *GET TWO MONTHS OF IGN PLUS
NOVEMBER 2023 GAMES
*HARDSPACE: SHIPBREAKER *UNPACKING *FRIENDS VS FRIENDS *PRODEUS *THE LEGEND OF TIANDING *SCP: SECRET FILES *SOULDIERS
OCTOBER 2023 GAMES
*METAL HELLSINGER *DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY: HOUSE OF ASHES *REBEL INC: ESCALATION *SPIRIT OF THE ISLAND *LORDS AND VILLEINS *A JUGGLER'S TALE *MR. PREPPER
SEPTEMBER 2023 GAMES
*THE FORGOTTEN CITY *ACES & ADVENTURES *PATCH QUEST *FORETALES *WHO PRESSED MUTE ON UNCLE MARCUS *AUTONAUTS VS PIRATEBOTS
AUGUST 2023 GAMES
*CHIVALRY 2 *ROAD 96 *TREK TO YOMI *ARCADE PARADISE *SUCHART: GENIUS ARTIST SIMULATOR *TIN CAN *HOT BRASS *SHOTGUN KING: THE FINAL CHECKMATE
JULY 2023 GAMES
*YAKUZA 4 REMASTERED *ROADWARDEN *KRAKEN ACADEMY!! *MERCHANT OF THE SKIES *OZYMANDIAS: BRONZE AGE EMPIRE SIM *SHOTGUN KING: THE FINAL CHECKMATE
JUNE 2023 GAMES
*CURSE OF THE DEAD GODS *HONEY I JOINED A CULT *ETERNAL THREADS *GRIME *TURBO GOLF RACING *MEEPLE STATION
MAY 2023 GAMES
*WARHAMMER 40,000: CHAOS GATE - DAEMONHUNTERS *SPIRITFARER: FAREWELL EDITION *BENDY AND THE DARK REVIVAL *OPERATION: TANGO *WINDJAMMERS 2 *BUILDER SIMULATOR *BEHIND THE FRAME: THE FINEST SCENERY *THE INVISIBLE HAND
APRIL 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*ROLLERDROME *LIFE IS STRANGE 2: COMPLETE SEASON *THE LIFE AND SUFFERING OF SIR BRANTE *MONSTER PROM 2: MONSTER CAMP *REVITA *FOUNDERS' FORTUNE
MARCH 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*BIOMUTANT *EDGE OF ETERNITY *HERO'S HOUR *ROGUE LORDS *DEMON TURF *GOLDEN LIGHT *MONSTER CROWN
FEBRUARY 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*PATHFINDER: WRATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS *FALLOUT 76 + FALLOUT 1 *THRONEBREAKER: THE WITCHER TALES *OTHERCIDE *SHADY PART OF ME *SCOURGEBRINGER *FOBIA - ST. DINFNA HOTEL *FIVE DATES
JANUARY 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*TRIBES OF MIDGARD *ENCASED: A SCI-FI POST-APOCALYPTIC RPG *OLLIOLLI WORLD - RAD EDITION *GROW: SONG OF THE EVERTREE *CONAN CHOP CHOP *HOKKO LIFE *THE SERPENT ROGUE
DECEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*GREEDFALL *FIRST CLASS TROUBLE *BACKBONE *TOEM *WHERE THE WATER TASTES LIKE WINE *BLADE ASSAULT *SUPER MAGBOT
NOVEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*KINGDOMS OF AMALUR: RE-RECKONING - FATE EDITION *SHADOW TACTICS: AIKO'S CHOICE *ROBOQUEST *ELDEST SOULS *UNMETAL *RAJI: AN ANCIENT EPIC *MORBID: THE SEVEN ACOLYTES
OCTOBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*DEATHLOOP *MONSTER TRAIN (FIRST CLASS - COLLECTORS EDITION) *DISCIPLES: LIBERATION *MAID OF SKER *EPIC CHEF *RAILROAD CORPORATION *GOLF GANG
SEPTEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• THE DUNGEON OF NAHEULBEUK: THE AMULET OF CHAOS
• FORGIVE ME FATHER
• CROWN TRICK
• DESCENDERS
• INDUSTRIA

JULY 2022 GAMES

• LEGEND OF KEEPERS
• LAWN MOWING SIMULATOR
• BANNERS OF RUIN
• YES, YOUR GRACE
• ATOM RPG TRUDOGRAD

JUNE 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• STAR WARS SQUADRONS
• PHOENIX POINT: YEAR ONE EDITION
• CALL OF THE SEA
• GAMEDEC
• PUMPKIN JACK
• SIEGE SURVIVAL: GLORIA VICTIS
• I AM FISH
• SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE

MAY 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• COMMAND & CONQUER REMASTERED COLLECTION
• SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
• IF FOUND...
• GENESIS NOIR
• EMBR

APRIL 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• MONSTER SANCTUARY
• SUZERAIN
• CHICKEN POLICE
• NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER
• MARCH 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
• RED SOLSTICE 2: SURVIVORS
• POLICE STORIES
• EVAN'S REMAINS

FEBRUARY 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• BLACK BOOK
• PER ASPERA
• JUST DIE ALREADY
• BEFORE WE LEAVE
• PARADISE LOST
• EVERHOOD
• EVERHOOD

OCTOBER 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• AMNESIA: REBIRTH
• JOHN WICK HEX
• RING OF PAIN
• GUTS AND GLORY
• THE TEXTORCIST: THE STORY OF RAY BIBBIA
• GARAGE: BAD TRIP
• HIVESWAP FRIENDSIM
• TOOLS UP
• SYBERIA 3
• BLACK FUTURE '88

AUGUST 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• CEPHEUS PROTOCOL
• DRAKE HOLLOW
• BLUE FIRE
• ENCODYA

JULY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• HAMMERTING
• KILL IT WITH FIRE
• BEE SIMULATOR
• S.W.I.N.E. HD REMASTER
• DEADLY DAYS

JUNE 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• STUBBS THE ZOMBIE IN REBEL WITHOUT A PULSE
• WORMS RUMBLE + LEGENDS PACK DLC
• PANZER PALADIN
• GOING UNDER
• MILKY WAY PRINCE - THE VAMPIRE STAR
• DESOLATE
• PAW PAW PAW
• IKENFELL
• DISJUNCTION
• EFFIE

MAY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• HELLPOINT
• COOK, SERVE, DELICIOUS! 3
• FURY UNLEASHED
• RELICTA
• FAMILY MAN
• VANE

APRIL 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• SHENMUE III
• MAIN ASSEMBLY
• ROCK OF AGES 3: MAKE & BREAK
• AVEN COLONY
• IN OTHER WATERS
• AVEN COLONY
• SIMULACRA + SIMULACRA 2
• COLT CANYON
• SKULLY
• POPUP DUNGEON

MARCH 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• XCOM: CHIMERA SQUAD
• HOTSHOT RACING
• PEAKY BLINDERS: MASTERMIND
• CYBER HOOK
• PESTERQUEST
• AGELESS
• BOREAL BLADE

FEBRUARY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• MOVING OUT
• THE WILD EIGHT
• VALFARIS
• TRAIN STATION RENOVATION
• LOVECRAFT'S UNTOLD STORIES
• WEREWOLF: THE APOCALYPSE HEART OF THE FOREST
• BOOMERANG FU
• IRIS AND THE GIANT

NOVEMBER 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• CRYING SUNS
• DARKSBURG
• SMILE FOR ME
• DARKWOOD
• ROVER MECHANIC SIMULATOR
• TSIOQUE
• TOWNSMEN - A KINGDOM REBUILT
• YOUROPA

OCTOBER 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• IRON DANGER
• SHADOWS: AWAKENING
• AUTONAUTS
• FANTASY BLACKSMITH
• THE UNCERTAIN: LAST QUIET DAY
• GOAT OF DUTY
• BASEMENT

JULY 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• RAILWAY EMPIRE
• BEAT HAZARD 2
• METAL UNIT
• SIGMA THEORY: GLOBAL COLD WAR
• DON'T ESCAPE: 4 DAYS TO SURVIVE
• VERLET SWING
• EARTHLOCK
• BASINGSTOKE
• Vikings - Wolves of Midgard

MAY 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• XCOM® 2 + 2 DLC
• NICHE - A GENETICS SURVIVAL GAME
• THE SWORDS OF DITTO: MORMO'S CURSE
• WARSAW
• NEOVERSE
• MO:ASTRAY
• HORACE
• CHESS ULTRA
• Planet Coaster - World's Fair Pack

Europa Universalis IV: El Dorado
January 2020 Humble Choice

• DiRT Rally 2.0 - H2 RWD Double Pack
• DiRT Rally 2.0 - Opel Manta 400
• Dirt Rally 2.0 - Porsche 911 RGT Rally Spec
• GRIP: Combat Racing Artifex DLC

December 2019 Humble Monthly

• Fluffy Horde
• Sword Legacy Omen

November 2019 Humble Monthly

• 11-11 Memories Retold
• Evergarden
• Shenmue I & II

October 2019 Humble Monthly

• Avernum 3: Ruined World
• Override: Mech City Brawl
• Planet Alpha
• The Spiral Scouts

September 2019 Humble Monthly

• Distance
• God's Trigger
• State of Mind

Humble Crusader Kings II Bundle

• Crusader Kings II: The Republic
• August 2019 Humble Monthly
• The Adventure Pals
• Almost There: The Platformer
• Swords and Soldiers 2 Shawarmageddon
• Yoku's Island Express

July 2019 Humble Monthly

• 60 Parsecs!
• Love is Dead
• NAIRI: Tower of Shirin
• Road Redemption

June 2019 Humble Monthly

• 911 Operator
• 911 Operator - Special Resources DLC
• Duskers
• Paratopic
• Pool Panic

May 2019 Humble Monthly

• Do Not Feed the Monkeys
• Finding Paradise
• I'm not a Monster
• The Journey Down: Chapter Three
• Monster Prom

April 2019 Humble Monthly

• Dandara
• MINIT
• She Remembered Caterpillars
• Steel Rats

March 2019 Humble Monthly

• Fight'N Rage
• Late Shift
• Paradigm
• Slipstream

Humble Paradox Bundle 2019

• Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne
• Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game
• Magicka 2 Deluxe Edition DLC Upgrade

May 2018 Humble Monthly

• Moon Hunters
• NBA Playgrounds

April 2018 Humble Monthly

• AER Memories of Old
• Laser League
• Subterrain

November 2017 Humble Monthly

• The Elder Scrolls: Legends: 2 Card Packs (Skyrim) 1 Event Ticket 100 Gold 100 Souls
• Quake Champions Early Access plus 50 Shards, 100 Platinum, 2000 Favor

My IGS Profile
My Steam Profile
APRIL 2024 GAMES

• THE CALLISTO PROTOCOL
• HUMANKIND DEFINITIVE EDITION
• FASHION POLICE SQUAD
• TERRAFORMERS
• SYMPHONY OF WAR: THE NEPHILIM SAGA
• COROMON
• THE EXCAVATION OF HOB'S BARROW

MARCH 2024 GAMES

• WARHAMMER AGE OF SIGMAR: REALMS OF RUIN – ULTIMATE EDITION
• NIOH 2 - THE COMPLETE EDITION
• SAINTS ROW
• CITIZEN SLEEPER
• BLACK SKYLANDS
• SOULSTICE
• AFTERIMAGE
• DESTROYER: THE U-BOAT HUNTER

FEBRUARY 2024 GAMES
*LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS *SCORN *DESTROY ALL HUMANS 2! REPROBED *BEACON PINES *THERE IS NO LIGHT: ENHANCED EDITION *CHILDREN OF SILENTOWN *OAKEN *SNOWTOPIA: SKI RESORT BUILDER
JANUARY 2024 GAMES
*MARVEL'S MIDNIGHT SUNS DIGITAL+ EDITION *MIDNIGHT SUNS - DOCTOR STRANGE DEFENDERS SKIN *TWO POINT CAMPUS *ARAGAMI 2 *ROGUEBOOK *THE RED LANTERN *HELL PIE *TWIN MIRROR
DECEMBER 2023 GAMES
*EXPEDITIONS: ROME *MIDNIGHT FIGHT EXPRESS *ELEX II *LAST CALL BBS *FROM SPACE *GET TWO MONTHS OF IGN PLUS
NOVEMBER 2023 GAMES
*HARDSPACE: SHIPBREAKER *UNPACKING *FRIENDS VS FRIENDS *PRODEUS *THE LEGEND OF TIANDING *SCP: SECRET FILES *SOULDIERS
OCTOBER 2023 GAMES
*METAL HELLSINGER *DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY: HOUSE OF ASHES *REBEL INC: ESCALATION *SPIRIT OF THE ISLAND *LORDS AND VILLEINS *A JUGGLER'S TALE *MR. PREPPER
SEPTEMBER 2023 GAMES
*THE FORGOTTEN CITY *ACES & ADVENTURES *PATCH QUEST *FORETALES *WHO PRESSED MUTE ON UNCLE MARCUS *AUTONAUTS VS PIRATEBOTS
AUGUST 2023 GAMES
*CHIVALRY 2 *ROAD 96 *TREK TO YOMI *ARCADE PARADISE *SUCHART: GENIUS ARTIST SIMULATOR *TIN CAN *HOT BRASS *SHOTGUN KING: THE FINAL CHECKMATE
JULY 2023 GAMES
*YAKUZA 4 REMASTERED *ROADWARDEN *KRAKEN ACADEMY!! *MERCHANT OF THE SKIES *OZYMANDIAS: BRONZE AGE EMPIRE SIM *SHOTGUN KING: THE FINAL CHECKMATE
JUNE 2023 GAMES
*CURSE OF THE DEAD GODS *HONEY I JOINED A CULT *ETERNAL THREADS *GRIME *TURBO GOLF RACING *MEEPLE STATION
MAY 2023 GAMES
*WARHAMMER 40,000: CHAOS GATE - DAEMONHUNTERS *SPIRITFARER: FAREWELL EDITION *BENDY AND THE DARK REVIVAL *OPERATION: TANGO *WINDJAMMERS 2 *BUILDER SIMULATOR *BEHIND THE FRAME: THE FINEST SCENERY *THE INVISIBLE HAND
APRIL 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*ROLLERDROME *LIFE IS STRANGE 2: COMPLETE SEASON *THE LIFE AND SUFFERING OF SIR BRANTE *MONSTER PROM 2: MONSTER CAMP *REVITA *FOUNDERS' FORTUNE
MARCH 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*BIOMUTANT *EDGE OF ETERNITY *HERO'S HOUR *ROGUE LORDS *DEMON TURF *GOLDEN LIGHT *MONSTER CROWN
FEBRUARY 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*PATHFINDER: WRATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS *FALLOUT 76 + FALLOUT 1 *THRONEBREAKER: THE WITCHER TALES *OTHERCIDE *SHADY PART OF ME *SCOURGEBRINGER *FOBIA - ST. DINFNA HOTEL *FIVE DATES
JANUARY 2023 HUMBLE CHOICE
*TRIBES OF MIDGARD *ENCASED: A SCI-FI POST-APOCALYPTIC RPG *OLLIOLLI WORLD - RAD EDITION *GROW: SONG OF THE EVERTREE *CONAN CHOP CHOP *HOKKO LIFE *THE SERPENT ROGUE
DECEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*GREEDFALL *FIRST CLASS TROUBLE *BACKBONE *TOEM *WHERE THE WATER TASTES LIKE WINE *BLADE ASSAULT *SUPER MAGBOT
NOVEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*KINGDOMS OF AMALUR: RE-RECKONING - FATE EDITION *SHADOW TACTICS: AIKO'S CHOICE *ROBOQUEST *ELDEST SOULS *UNMETAL *RAJI: AN ANCIENT EPIC *MORBID: THE SEVEN ACOLYTES
OCTOBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
*DEATHLOOP *MONSTER TRAIN (FIRST CLASS - COLLECTORS EDITION) *DISCIPLES: LIBERATION *MAID OF SKER *EPIC CHEF *RAILROAD CORPORATION *GOLF GANG
SEPTEMBER 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• THE DUNGEON OF NAHEULBEUK: THE AMULET OF CHAOS
• FORGIVE ME FATHER
• CROWN TRICK
• DESCENDERS
• INDUSTRIA

JULY 2022 GAMES

• LEGEND OF KEEPERS
• LAWN MOWING SIMULATOR
• BANNERS OF RUIN
• YES, YOUR GRACE
• ATOM RPG TRUDOGRAD

JUNE 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• STAR WARS SQUADRONS
• PHOENIX POINT: YEAR ONE EDITION
• CALL OF THE SEA
• GAMEDEC
• PUMPKIN JACK
• SIEGE SURVIVAL: GLORIA VICTIS
• I AM FISH
• SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE

MAY 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• COMMAND & CONQUER REMASTERED COLLECTION
• SURVIVING THE AFTERMATH
• IF FOUND...
• GENESIS NOIR
• EMBR

APRIL 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• MONSTER SANCTUARY
• SUZERAIN
• CHICKEN POLICE
• NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER
• MARCH 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE
• RED SOLSTICE 2: SURVIVORS
• POLICE STORIES
• EVAN'S REMAINS

FEBRUARY 2022 HUMBLE CHOICE

• BLACK BOOK
• PER ASPERA
• JUST DIE ALREADY
• BEFORE WE LEAVE
• PARADISE LOST
• EVERHOOD
• EVERHOOD

OCTOBER 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• AMNESIA: REBIRTH
• JOHN WICK HEX
• RING OF PAIN
• GUTS AND GLORY
• THE TEXTORCIST: THE STORY OF RAY BIBBIA
• GARAGE: BAD TRIP
• HIVESWAP FRIENDSIM
• TOOLS UP
• SYBERIA 3
• BLACK FUTURE '88

AUGUST 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• CEPHEUS PROTOCOL
• DRAKE HOLLOW
• BLUE FIRE
• ENCODYA

JULY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• HAMMERTING
• KILL IT WITH FIRE
• BEE SIMULATOR
• S.W.I.N.E. HD REMASTER
• DEADLY DAYS

JUNE 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• STUBBS THE ZOMBIE IN REBEL WITHOUT A PULSE
• WORMS RUMBLE + LEGENDS PACK DLC
• PANZER PALADIN
• GOING UNDER
• MILKY WAY PRINCE - THE VAMPIRE STAR
• DESOLATE
• PAW PAW PAW
• IKENFELL
• DISJUNCTION
• EFFIE

MAY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• HELLPOINT
• COOK, SERVE, DELICIOUS! 3
• FURY UNLEASHED
• RELICTA
• FAMILY MAN
• VANE

APRIL 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• SHENMUE III
• MAIN ASSEMBLY
• ROCK OF AGES 3: MAKE & BREAK
• AVEN COLONY
• IN OTHER WATERS
• AVEN COLONY
• SIMULACRA + SIMULACRA 2
• COLT CANYON
• SKULLY
• POPUP DUNGEON

MARCH 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• XCOM: CHIMERA SQUAD
• HOTSHOT RACING
• PEAKY BLINDERS: MASTERMIND
• CYBER HOOK
• PESTERQUEST
• AGELESS
• BOREAL BLADE

FEBRUARY 2021 HUMBLE CHOICE

• MOVING OUT
• THE WILD EIGHT
• VALFARIS
• TRAIN STATION RENOVATION
• LOVECRAFT'S UNTOLD STORIES
• WEREWOLF: THE APOCALYPSE HEART OF THE FOREST
• BOOMERANG FU
• IRIS AND THE GIANT

NOVEMBER 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• CRYING SUNS
• DARKSBURG
• SMILE FOR ME
• DARKWOOD
• ROVER MECHANIC SIMULATOR
• TSIOQUE
• TOWNSMEN - A KINGDOM REBUILT
• YOUROPA

OCTOBER 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• IRON DANGER
• SHADOWS: AWAKENING
• AUTONAUTS
• FANTASY BLACKSMITH
• THE UNCERTAIN: LAST QUIET DAY
• GOAT OF DUTY
• BASEMENT

JULY 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• RAILWAY EMPIRE
• BEAT HAZARD 2
• METAL UNIT
• SIGMA THEORY: GLOBAL COLD WAR
• DON'T ESCAPE: 4 DAYS TO SURVIVE
• VERLET SWING
• EARTHLOCK
• BASINGSTOKE
• Vikings - Wolves of Midgard

MAY 2020 HUMBLE CHOICE

• XCOM® 2 + 2 DLC
• NICHE - A GENETICS SURVIVAL GAME
• THE SWORDS OF DITTO: MORMO'S CURSE
• WARSAW
• NEOVERSE
• MO:ASTRAY
• HORACE
• CHESS ULTRA
• Planet Coaster - World's Fair Pack

Europa Universalis IV: El Dorado
January 2020 Humble Choice

• DiRT Rally 2.0 - H2 RWD Double Pack
• DiRT Rally 2.0 - Opel Manta 400
• Dirt Rally 2.0 - Porsche 911 RGT Rally Spec
• GRIP: Combat Racing Artifex DLC

December 2019 Humble Monthly

• Fluffy Horde
• Sword Legacy Omen

November 2019 Humble Monthly

• 11-11 Memories Retold
• Evergarden
• Shenmue I & II

October 2019 Humble Monthly

• Avernum 3: Ruined World
• Override: Mech City Brawl
• Planet Alpha
• The Spiral Scouts

September 2019 Humble Monthly

• Distance
• God's Trigger
• State of Mind

Humble Crusader Kings II Bundle

• Crusader Kings II: The Republic
• August 2019 Humble Monthly
• The Adventure Pals
• Almost There: The Platformer
• Swords and Soldiers 2 Shawarmageddon
• Yoku's Island Express

July 2019 Humble Monthly

• 60 Parsecs!
• Love is Dead
• NAIRI: Tower of Shirin
• Road Redemption

June 2019 Humble Monthly

• 911 Operator
• 911 Operator - Special Resources DLC
• Duskers
• Paratopic
• Pool Panic

May 2019 Humble Monthly

• Do Not Feed the Monkeys
• Finding Paradise
• I'm not a Monster
• The Journey Down: Chapter Three
• Monster Prom

April 2019 Humble Monthly

• Dandara
• MINIT
• She Remembered Caterpillars
• Steel Rats

March 2019 Humble Monthly

• Fight'N Rage
• Late Shift
• Paradigm
• Slipstream

Humble Paradox Bundle 2019

• Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne
• Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game
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11/20/2017
Log book of Det. Ryan Snow
Case #2798: The Appalachian Murders
The past couple of days are events I pray no one else ever has to go through what Kate and I had. I had her and Mr. Raines cleared of all charges, having found the proof we all needed to end this case and find the true killer. Kate no longer has to go into witness protection and I had given the police a good enough lie to keep myself from looking insane in the eyes of my co-workers. I know no one will ever know the true story or believe it, but I’m writing it out here. It at least needs to be known written somewhere. Even if my and Kate’s eyes are the only ones that will ever read it written out and forever imprinted in our memories.
The morning Kate had run off to the mountains on her own, I had made my way to the Blackwell home where I was immediately met with Mr. Blackwell charging at me and wrapping his large hands around my neck. He was shaking me and blaming me for getting his daughter killed and not doing more to keep her safe. The police who had been called to examine the scene and read Kate’s letter had to sedate Mr. Blackwell to get him off of me, lying him down on the couch, his head resting on Mrs. Blackwell’s legs. Though the woman was distraught and begging the police to bring her daughter back, she still took the time to shoot that cold, death glare my way. The ice in my chest growing. I couldn’t tell these people that this thing had come after me to get to Kate. I knew it wouldn’t change anything. If anything they’d hate me even more for keeping it to myself.
The sheriff was there and he pulled me away from eye sight of the Blackwells, trying to tell me that this wasn’t my fault. But I couldn’t help but blame myself. I should have done everything I could to keep Kate as far from those mountains as possible.
There were no signs of a struggle in Kate’s room and the letter was definitely written in her hand writing. Her father’s rifle missing from the study, a backpack and some food and supplies gone as well. She had only grabbed one set of clothes from her drawers, showing she did indeed have plans on returning after only one night in the mountains to confront whoever or whatever the killer was.
I told the sheriff to keep any police from going up to the mountains without first allowing me to go up there first to find Kate. He of course argued, telling me that he couldn’t break protocol based on any hunches I may have had. However, I told him that I could get Kate back without her putting up much of a fight, whereas she may struggle with a group of cops who didn’t understand the situation she was in. I was close enough to this case to have built a trust with her after all. I was mentioned in her letter about ending this case for me.
It took a good hour to get the sheriff to eye the Blackwells, Mr. Blackwell beginning to stir from his sleep, and allow me to go to the mountains to find Kate. He didn’t bother to call off the search to the police that had already begun making their way to the mountains, but did radio to tell them to not try getting Kate home without first allowing me to speak to her. He then gave me twenty-four hours to find her to which I told him I’d only need at most ten.
Without telling him about the disturbing scratches on my car, I sped to the mountains, taking the same path Kate had that day she took her friends on their trip. The route, as the sun began to rise was scenic. A drive that may have been a sign of a bright future ahead with a beautiful week in the mountains of nothing but nature, was now a reddening sky of horror. I couldn’t understand how Kate felt, going down the same roads that led to her only friends’ fates to avenge them, but the feeling of guilt did weigh heavy on my chest as I saw the signs of the Appalachian Mountain trails grow bigger on the horizon. Guilt for not doing more to prove Kate was innocent, for allowing Mrs. Mayfield for getting killed right before my very eyes, and for Liam for not being lucky enough to save him.
When I finally arrived to the cabin, there didn’t seem to be any change since the first day I was called to the crime scene, the only thing out of place being Mr. Blackwell’s truck parked precariously near the cabin. The police tape was still up, the cars of Kate and Mr. Woolfe still left where they were, the tires still slashed, the door wide open from when Kate, Ms. Greymoore, and Mr. Woolfe ran out of the cabin upon Mr. Billings was killed by an unknown force. All the bodies had been found and were now being prepared by their families to be buried or cremated. Only one body of the five still roaming around to avenge each and every one of their deaths.
I called out for Kate as I made my way into the cabin. The Ouija board was still on the coffee table, the white line of where Mr. Billings had been found lying face first on the floor with his head bashed open remained on the spot. The planchette was still missing. I kept calling out for Kate as I made my way up to the attic, the door left unlocked, using my flashlight to shine down on the white outline where Mr. Steele had been found completely torn apart. To think Kate had done such a thing, I now realize made me look like a complete dumb ass for believing it.
When I couldn’t find Kate in the cabin, I made my way out the cabin, still calling for her. I called out to her, promising that she just needed to come back home with me and we could solve the murders together. I knew it was a lie and that the sheriff would immediately have her take away to some secluded place where the killer couldn’t find her, but it was all I could think of to try luring her out to meet me. Still, she never appeared.
The sun was soon beginning to set as I tried retracing the very steps Kate and Ms. Greymoore had taken to outrun the killer. I had passed the small shrine of flowers and the pictures of Mr. Woolfe where the boy had been found, his face permanently remaining nineteen forever in the photos of him with Kate and their friends. I kept going, trying my best to follow the same path to the cliff where Ms. Greymoore was found, calling for Kate along the way.
It wasn’t until I found the place Kate had buried her best friend that I found Kate. She was on her knees before the rock where she left her bloody handprint, sniffing as her head was lowered, her dad’s rifle in her hands.
“Ms. Blackwell-“ I began as I took a step toward her. I was immediately cut off as Kate jumped to her feet, raising her father’s rifle at my head. I jolted back, raising my hands up to show her I meant no harm to her. “Ms. Blackwell, it’s me, Det. Snow!”
“Detective…?” She gasped, slightly lowering the rifle, but keeping it on me. “P-Prove it!”
“I’m sorry?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I… I thought I saw Sonja…” Kate breathed between tears, the rifle shaking in her hands, “it… It was wearing her face… It had her voice… How… H-How do I know you’re really Det. Snow?”
“You… Saw Sonja?” I asked as gently as I could with a terrified woman pointing a gun my way. “She spoke to you?”
“Prove you’re Det. Snow!” Kate demanded as she stilled her arms, readying the rifle as she pointed straight between my eyes.
“Alright! Alright!” I kept my hands up, backing up slightly as I tried thinking of how I could prove to her I was really me. “I… I, ah… I have… Had a brother… We went to get ice cream together once and… I dropped a dime and went to grab it… I was five… I followed it out to the road and despite how trafficked it was, I didn’t get hit. I grabbed the dime just as a truck was speeding my way and it swerved just before hitting me… Seeing how close I was to death, I dropped the dime and it rolled into the sewer. My brother called me Lucky Dime since then… Saying the dime was lost to me because it did its job in protecting me… I haven’t seen my brother since I was seven and I haven’t spoken to my parents in…” I looked at my watch. “Five years… No one else calls me Lucky Dime… Not even the people at the station know that was my nickname.”
With this, Kate lowered the rifle, her eyes softening from her furious fear to a more melancholy terror. She looked to Ms. Greymoore’s grave marker, her hand print just barely visible In the approaching darkness.
“It… It looked just… Like her…” She sniffed, “it had her voice… Why did it have her voice… Why did it look like her…?”
“Ms. Blackwell,” I soothed, relaxing now that there was no weapon in my face, “we need to head back, your parents are worried about you and the police are looking for-“
“I can’t go back yet!” She snapped at me as she spun to look at me, tears in her eyes. “That thing is still out there and will kill again unless I end it!” She held up her dad’s rifle as if to show me how she meant to “end it.” “I’m not leaving until I end that… Thing that had the balls to wear Sonja’s face and have her voice!”
“Ms. Blackwell, we will catch the killer, I promise, but right now, we need to get you home before your dad ends up killing a police officer for keeping him from looking for you.”
“I told him in my letter I’d be back tomorrow! I’m twenty-years-old, he can’t force me back home if I don’t want to! I just want to stop this thing before it-“
A howling in the distance cut Kate off. Coyote from what I could hear. If I couldn’t get Kate home, I’d have to get her somewhere safe. I turned to begin talking her down and taking her to one of the other two cabins for shelter. However, when I looked back at her, her face had turned to a bone chilling terror I’d never seen on a person before. She looked like hunted prey that had been found by its predator. She gripped her dad’s rifle to her chest tightly, her hand reaching for the trigger.
“Ms. Blackwell, it’s just a pack of coyote,” I tried telling her calmly, “let’s get to one of the other cabins and-“
“No, no, no,” She stopped me as she stepped back, looking around for where the howling was coming from, “I… Heard that same howling just before I saw Sonja! I thought it was far away, but she… She was right in front of me… She… Something was off, but it looked just like her!”
“Ms. Blackwell, you didn’t see Sonja,” I assured her, “I don’t know what you think you saw, but it wasn’t-“
“Lucky… Dime…”
I froze. My blood turned to ice. The fear on Kate’s face grew as she began backing away, her back hitting the grave marker. I spun around to see a figure in the darkness limp toward us, a scratched and garbled familiar voice coming from it.
“Lucky… Dime…” It wheezed, “You brought her… Back… Give her… To me…”
I whipped out my gun, pointing it at this thing that had his voice. I stepped back to stand directly between this thing and Kate.
“Stay back!” I demanded. “Don’t come any closer!”
“Lucky… Di-“
“Shut up! Stop calling me that! Who are you? Not another step or I’ll shoot!”
The thing stopped limping toward us, its body shuddering in place as it stared us down. I took the safety off of my Glock, ready to blow this thing’s head off if it got any closer or even dared using that voice on me again.
“Kate…” It turned its attention to Kate, a completely different voice coming from it, another male’s voice. “Kate… I’m cold…”
“J-Jasper…” Kate began to sob, “Please, stop using their voices… Please stop!”
“Kate… Kate why did… Did you leave me…?” Another male voice asked. “I… I was in so much… Pain…”
“Shut up!” Kate cried out.
“I thought we… Were friends… Kate…” A female voice. “You said you… Loved me… Why won’t… You let me have… Your warmth…?”
“I said shut up!” Kate screamed as she pointed her rifle and shooting at the creature. She had missed, but the thing still let out an ear piercing shriek as it dodged out of the way of the bullets Kate was shooting. It ran off into the darkness, but Kate kept pulling the trigger of her rifle.
“Stop!” I shouted as I snatched the barrel of her rifle, shoving it to the ground before us. “It’s gone, you scared it off, get to the cabins, I’m right here with you!”
I began shoving Kate back toward where the cabins were, the sounds of that thing screaming out in a symphony of different voices ringing out throughout the woods. I shoved Kate into the first cabin we had arrived to, Cabin #1 I could only assume as I slammed the door shut behind us. It smelled God awful, like the smell of the corpse I found on my first murder case, and it was getting darker as the sun began to sink behind the trees outside.
“Detective, it smell terrible in here!” Kate cried out, covering her mouth and nose, but the tears still falling from her eyes were still visible as they rolled down her cheeks.
I pulled her close and kept her behind me as I took my gun and flashlight out. “Stay close to me,” I ordered, leading the way through the cabin, “do not run off or use that rifle without may say so, understood?”
Kate didn’t answer, but I could feel the heat from her body following after me as I made my toward the smell. It was getting worse as we inched closer to a closet door in a hallway that connected the living room to the kitchen. The door was locked, but after a couple of kicks I was able to get the door to swing open, the smell blasting us in our faces making us gag and nearly throw up on the floor. I fumbled around the sides inside the room to find a light switch that I was able to find to the side of the entryway. A yellow light flickered on, revealing the door led to a staircase. I led the way down the creaking steps, Kate close by as she kept her mouth covered with her shirt.
Once we had made our way to the bottom, Kate dropped her dad’s rifle and let out a scream as we stared at what was waiting for us at the bottom of the steps. In a large pile at the corner of this basement room were nothing but skin and bones of humans and animals covered in maggots and flies. Some of the human bodies being small and child-like in size. The missing people who were never found after vanishing when they came to Cabin #2.
I grabbed Kate’s rifle off the floor and began pushing her back up the stairs, her screaming and sobbing all the way back up to the cabin. I slammed the door shut behind us and pushed Kate to the front door.
“We need to leave,” I had told her, trying to calm her down as we made it outside, “we need to get you home and away from here as soon as possible.”
“N-No… No!” She began fighting me, trying to escape my grasp on her. “No! That… That thing is still out there! You saw it! You can’t say you don’t believe me now! It even called you Lucky Dime! It said you brought me back!”
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you!” I shot back. “I do, I saw exactly what you saw, but it’s way too dangerous for you to be out here while you’re the one it’s after!”
“I escaped it once, I can do it again!” Kate pointed out as she struggled against me while I tried getting her into my car. “I’m not running away this time, I want to kill it!”
“God damn it, Blackwell, we’ll let the police handle it! Just because you have a weapon doesn’t make you safe or ready to handle something like… Like that… That thing!”
“It killed my friends! It wants me! I’m going straight to it so I can blow its head off! It’ll come right for me!”
“I came here to bring you back home, not let you accomplish some stupid ass revenge plot! Get in the fucking car, unless you want to end up like those bodies down that-“
“D… De… Detect… Detective…”
A scratched and moaning voice cut me off. Kate and I both froze at the sound of something approaching. I turned to see a police officer stagger toward us from the tree line. I could barely tell who he was or who he used to be, his head held low and blue uniform covered in blood.
“H… Hel… Hel… Help… Help me…" It croaked as it stumbled closer.
I held up Kate's rifle. "Stay back!" I barked. "Not another step!"
The thing that stood before us wearing the cop like a full-bodied suit stopped in place. It swayed where it stood, blood water falling from its head and down to its chest.
"It… It… It's inside… Inside me…" It breathed painfully. "I… I can't… Help… Me…" Its voice then changed to that familiar voice that made my skin crawl. "Lucky… Dime… I… I'm so… Hungry… Give her… To… Me…"
I pulled the trigger of the rifle, hitting the creature in the head, the rest of it staggering backward from the blow. Still though, it remained on its feet, turning itself to look toward us once again.
"Give… Her… To… Me…" It wheeze, blood and brain pouring from where I had shot it, it beginning to stumble toward us once again. I continued shooting, hitting it in the shoulder, the arm, the leg, the head again, but it just kept coming toward us faster, demanding I give Kate to it.
I was about ready to ram it with the rifle, having run out of bullets, when a voice off in the distance made the creature freeze just an inch before us.
"I'm here! I'm here!" It called out in an almost sing-songy way, using the voice of a little girl. "I'm here! I'm here!"
"I'm… Here…" The creature repeated as it jerked its body to look to where the voice was coming from. "I'm here… I'm here… I'm here! I'm here! I'm here!" It began shrieking in a high pitch wail. It sounded like a mixture of different voices ranging from child, to woman, to man. Keeping flat on its feet, its upper body fell forward onto its hands before speedily crawling off like a spider.
We stood in shaking silence for a moment, Kate digging her fingers into my arm while I was too numb from shock to care about the pain she was unknowingly inflicting. It wasn’t until the radio from my car buzzed to life that jolted us back to whatever reality was at this point. I scrambled to the driver’s side, swinging the door open as I fell inside to grab the intercom to respond to the voice yelling for me over the receiver.
“Det. Snow, what the hell is going on up there?” The sheriff’s scratched voice called out over the receiver when I could barely get my name out of my mouth.
“Sh-Sh-Sheriff…?” Was all I could respond with, still trying to wrap my head around what I had just seen.
“Y-Y-Yeah,” he responded in mock shudder, “what the hell is going on up there? I’ve tried radioing every man I’ve got up there and am constantly being left on red! Do I need to send back-up?”
“No!” Immediately, I returned to full reality, finally understanding the severity of the moment and putting that knowledge into my tone. “Landon, do not send any more men up here, call everyone back immediately! I don’t know what this thing is, but it’s too dangerous! Call everyone back, we’re heading back to the Blackwell house now!”
“We?” The sheriff questioned, skepticism in his voice.
“I found Ms. Blackwell, she’s here with me.”
I was met with statice before the voice of Mr. Blackwell blasted over the intercom.
“Bring my daughter home, right now, you son of a bitch!” Mr. Blackwell demanded. “You bring her home this instant before I decide to kick your teeth in!”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the radio was snatched from my hand from Kate. “I’m not coming home until I kill this thing!” She snapped into the radio. “I don’t know what it is, but I at least know I’m not crazy and that it needs to die before it kills anyone else!”
I grabbed the radio from Kate’s hand, beginning to tell her off when a agonized scream erupted from the intercom. I dropped the radio to cover my ears as Kate did, the scream piercing from my car to throughout the forest around us. The voice screaming and crying for help sounded male and it seemed to echo all around us.
“GIVE HER TO ME, YOU SON OF A BITCH!” A mix of the screaming voice and Mr. Blackwell’s hissed out after a good five minutes of screaming before the radio short-circuited and puffs of smoke flowed out.
After allowing my ears to adjust to the sudden silence, I grabbed the radio once again and tried calling for the sheriff, for the cops with us in the mountains, for anyone. When I was met with more silence, I slammed the radio back down on the holder and cursed loudly, hitting the wheel as if it were the source of all my problems.
After a moment to take some deep breaths, I told Kate to get in the car as I placed her rifle in the back seat.
“Didn’t you hear me?” she shot back. “I’m not-“
“Damn it, Blackwell, we have no idea what we’re dealing with, it can mimic peoples’ voices, and it just ran off like a fucking black widow!” I snapped, stepping out of the driver’s seat to glare down at her. “The last thing I’m doing to leaving you here alone and I’m not staying here another second until I can wrap my head around what the fuck I just saw! So, you either get yourself killed out here while I try talking you down this hero complex high, or you’re going to do what I say and get in the damn car!”
We stood in heated silence, glaring each other down before Kate huffed and stormed over to the passenger side of my car and slamming the door shut as she climbed in. I jumped in after her and began driving away from this nutty nightmare I had found myself in.
We drove down the trail back to civilization in silence, Kate staring out the window and trying to keep her tearful sniffs quiet. I had finally begun calming down and was starting to feel bad for snapping at her. She had only gone there to avenge her friends by killing that thing that had most likely killed a whole bunch of cops to find her. However, I still couldn’t just let her stay to hunt it and I didn’t want to stay out in those mountains with some kind of creature that could take the form and voice of someone I knew. I still couldn’t understand what is was I had even seen.
“Wendigo,” Kate whispered, breaking the silence in the car first. She had said it as if she had just remembered something important.
“What?”
“A Wendigo,” She repeated, turning to look to me with wide scared eyes, “that’s what that thing is! It’s a Wendigo!”
“Slow down, what’s a Wendigo?”
“It’s… Oh, just forget it! You wouldn’t believe me anyway.”
“Ms. Blackwell, I just saw a cop being used as a puppet and then run off at inhuman speed on all fours; I doubt I’m not going to believe a single word that comes out of your mouth now. What’s a Wendigo?”
Kate eyed me for a moment before releasing some of the tension from her face as she took a deep breath and began explaining to me. “They’re a Native American myth; it’s believed they’re the spirits of people who would lose themselves in the woods and would end up eating other people to satiate their hunger. I think that’s what that thing is. They can mimic the voices of people who died and use it to lure people to them, they can take the form of that person too.”
“Why does it want female hearts?” I asked, not realizing I had yet told her what my mysterious caller kept asking for when they called me.
“It… It wants my heart?” she asked shakily.
I cursed to myself before letting out a frustrated sigh. “I think this thing wants hearts, but it only wants female hearts. Why? I don’t know yet. But the only other person to be found after killing someone in those cabins was found with his partner’s heart missing to which he was blamed for taking out of her. Recently, I’ve been getting calls from some… Thing wanting me to bring you back here so it could take something from you. It would have taken Ms. Greymoore’s, but you hid her well enough that only the police could find her in time. Now, I’ve been getting calls asking for you and to get something from you.”
Kate looked to me in shock before a wave of guilt twisted her face in pain. “I… I’m so, so… So sorry, Detective!” She cried out. “I… I had… I had no idea you were being… Harassed by it! Had I known it wanted me back and was demanding you brought me here, I never… I didn’t… That’s why it said you brought me back! Oh, I’m such an idiot!” She pressed her hands to her face, grabbing at her hair between her fingers and tightening them around her eyes.
“No, no, no, stop, stop that!” I ordered, screeching the car to a halt, having to bring it to a crooked stop so I could stop her from hurting herself. I snatched her arms from her head and pinned them to her lap, tears flooding her face. “It’s my fault for not telling you sooner! I was too focused on trying to solve this case with the most efficient evidence I could, but that just kept me looking to you as a suspect. I should have stopped thinking you were the killer the moment I got that first call. There’s no way any of us could have seen… This coming… Except people who probably already believe in that kind of stuff or don’t stop to assume a more rational explanation like a cult… I’m… I’m sorry. But, I won’t let it take anything from you, not anymore. I’m going to get you home and then I’ll deal with this with the rest of the police department. You don’t have to deal with this thing anymore, it’ll be my burden from now on. You need time to finally get some rest and mourn your friends with your and their families. It’s already fucked your life up enough, I won’t let it go on making it worse.”
I stopped her before she could argue with me with a wave of my hand. “Your friends’ deaths shouldn’t be your burden to handle. I know you want to be the one who kills that thing and do right by them, but that’s not what they would want. They’d want you to remember them and continue living. They know you didn’t do it, so stop blaming yourself and stop acting like you’re the one who has to make it up to them. I will put an end to this die trying, but you need to go home and be with people who are happy you still get to live.”
Kate looked down at her hands that I kept down on her lap before nodding weakly and letting out a broken “okay.”
“Good, now let’s get you home before-“
My words were cut off when the honk of a car barreling toward us echoed through the woods. The headlights were fast approaching and I barely had time to grab the gear shift to put us back in drive as the other vehicle hit us, forcing us back and forth in one violent motion. It took me a moment to check myself to be sure I hadn’t hit my head on anything or got whiplash from the crash before I immediately returned my full attention to Kate who was kneeling over holding her head. I gently grabbed her shoulder and pulled her up to examine her head. It didn’t appear to have been busted and bleeding, but she was holding the front side of her forehead.
“Are you okay?” I asked her, prying her hand away from the spot on her forehead, seeing that it was beginning to bruise. “Can you hear me? Blink twice if you can understand me!”
“I… I’m f-fine…” she mumbled as she looked to her hand to check if there was blood on her palm, “I… I think I just… Hit… Hit the w-window…” She then blinked twice in my direction before looking to the car that had rammed us.
I turned my attention as well to the car to see it was a police van, it’s front crushed into the left of my front. I quickly jumped out my vehicle and stormed to the van, yelling at who ever was driving the van to come out and explain what the hell they were doing.
The driver’s side of the van swung open once I was near enough and a man in an orange jumpsuit climbed out, staring familiar daggers at me. The moment realization set in, my mixed emotions of confusion, frustration, and fear turned to fury.
It was Leighton Raines.
“Jesus, you really are a shitty detective.” Was all he said to me before reaching into the can and retrieving a rifle out from the passenger seat.
[END OF PART 1]
Part 6

Hello all,
​
In an effort to mitigate the amount of repetitive questions that have been asked recently, we have set up this thread as a reminder on how certain things in the game works. As of now, this reminder is planned to be posted weekly for visibility.
​
0. FAQ Wiki Page
​

• There is both a FAQ and general guide page on this subreddit, please read through those resources before asking a question as it may already be addressed there.
  • FAQ
  • General Guide

​
1. Monthly Challenges
​

• This is a system separate from the regular song challenges that require you to score 10k higher than your max score (6.2m being the cap)
• They are MONTHLY score targets you need to reach to obtain various tiers of rewards. The more you complete the more rewards you get.
  • Progress and reward tiers can be found via: Song Select > Bottom Left where WMR is > Check Challenge Success Reward
• MONTHLY challenge scores and progress will be reset MONTHLY. If you obtain 201 challenge success in the last day of February, it will be reset to 0 in the following first day of March. Your original high scores for each song will not reset.
• Rewards will be in your inbox following the completion of the first game maintenance of the month
• If you see that your monthly challenge success progress has been "reset" when it is not supposed to, restart your game as it's a visual glitch.

​
2. Artist/Group Tickets
​

• Artist Ticket - Select a group = random card from that group
  • Select miss A = one random card for either Suzy, Min, or Fei
  • Select DAY6 = one random card for either Jae, Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil or Dowoon
• Group ticket - Select a group = random card for each member in that group
  • Select miss A = random card for Suzy, Min and Fei
  • Select DAY6 = random card for Jae, Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil and Dowoon
• All Group Tickets are currently not obtainable by any means
• Only A/S/R Artist Tickets can be obtained, C and B are not obtainable by any means
  • A/S/R Artist Tickets can be obtained from monthly challenge rewards
  • R Artist Tickets can be obtained from world record rewards

​
3. Account Related Concerns
​

• ALWAYS have your account linked/bound to any of the services that are available to you -- their (Dalcomsoft) servers, Google, Facebook, etc.
  • Linking current account to a service does not erase current game data; it does the exact opposite. It ensures that your game progress will be saved at all times. If you get a new device, simply use that same login info and your account will be loaded.
• If you wish to attempt restoring your account, please do not post any account details here as no one here can assist you with it.
• Please email support.jypnation@dalcomsoft.com instead. In order to expedite the process, be as concise as possible in your initial email to them such as providing: account email (if not a guest account), in-game purchase receipts (if applicable), IGN, in-game profile picture, current league ranking/bracket, etc. You are not guaranteed to have your account recovered so in the case where they are unable to do so, your account has unfortunately been lost.

​
4. Shortest Song(s)/What song(s) to Grind/What songs are easy to FSP
​

• There is a song stats spreadsheet resource that is still updated to date which has all information on songs from their length to recommended for FSP or not. Please utilize this resource instead of making a separate post that otherwise has no basis to it.
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18_WoDnTBr1Fm1ZTFS0THn5uwzLkUJUfbwvFwwYnfcFs/edit#gid=1752333355

​
5. Powering Up/Rating Up tips
​

• There are recommendations provided in the general guide for what material cards to use at which grade. Further, there is a separate spreadsheet that lists out the % of success of your material card if used on your card of choice. Please utilize this resource instead of making a separate post.
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EMSQt56wlLKGkWnEyJaZoi2LleFj5T1RSy2JuXMD_xE/edit#gid=481517504

Hello all,
​
In an effort to mitigate the amount of repetitive questions that have been asked recently, we have set up this thread as a reminder on how certain things in the game works. As of now, this reminder is planned to be posted weekly for visibility.
​
0. FAQ Wiki Page
​

• There is both a FAQ and general guide page on this subreddit, please read through those resources before asking a question as it may already be addressed there.
  • FAQ
  • General Guide

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1. Monthly Challenges
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• This is a system separate from the regular song challenges that require you to score 10k higher than your max score (6.2m being the cap)
• They are MONTHLY score targets you need to reach to obtain various tiers of rewards. The more you complete the more rewards you get.
  • Progress and reward tiers can be found via: Song Select > Bottom Left where WMR is > Check Challenge Success Reward
• MONTHLY challenge scores and progress will be reset MONTHLY. If you obtain 201 challenge success in the last day of February, it will be reset to 0 in the following first day of March. Your original high scores for each song will not reset.
• Rewards will be in your inbox following the completion of the first game maintenance of the month
• If you see that your monthly challenge success progress has been "reset" when it is not supposed to, restart your game as it's a visual glitch.

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2. Artist/Group Tickets
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• Artist Ticket - Select a group = random card from that group
  • Select EXO-M = one random card for either Xiumin, Lay or Chen
  • Select Red Velvet = one random card for either Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy or Yeri
• Group ticket - Select a group = random card for each member in that group
  • Select EXO-M = random card for Xiumin, Lay and Chen
  • Select Red Velvet = random card for Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy or Yeri
• All Group Tickets are currently not obtainable by any means
• Only A/S/R Artist Tickets can be obtained, C and B are not obtainable by any means
  • A/S/R Artist Tickets can be obtained from monthly challenge rewards
  • R Artist Tickets can be obtained from world record rewards
• The exchange rate of ticket:cards is not 1:1. 20/10/5/3/1 tickets are required for each S/A/B/C card, respectively.

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3. Account Related Concerns
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• ALWAYS have your account linked/bound to any of the services that are available to you -- Dalcom ID, Google, Facebook, etc.
  • Linking current account to a service does not erase current game data; it does the exact opposite. It ensures that your game progress will be saved at all times. If you get a new device, simply use that same login info and your account will be loaded.
• If you wish to attempt restoring your account, please do not post any account details here as no one here can assist you with it.
• If you have issues with Dalcom ID, please try reading through this thread
• Please email support.superstar@dalcomsoft.com instead. In order to expedite the process, be as concise as possible in your initial email to them such as providing: account email (if not a guest account), in-game purchase receipts (if applicable), IGN, in-game profile picture, current league ranking/bracket, etc. You are not guaranteed to have your account recovered so in the case where they are unable to do so, your account has unfortunately been lost.

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4. Coupon Codes
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• There is a wiki page for all existing coupon codes and it is updated ASAP when the codes show up. Please do not ask for coupon codes.
• https://www.reddit.com/superstarsmtown/wiki/couponcodes

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5. Shortest Song(s)/What song(s) to Grind/What songs are easy to FSP
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• There is a 4 year old song stats spreadsheet resource that is still updated to date which has all information on songs from their length to recommended for FSP or not. Please utilize this resource instead of making a separate post that otherwise has no basis to it.
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HW3AzrqYZs7orEnPNhfbd1N1k1dQ0iEGoqd1tRcrui0/edit#gid=803692104

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6. Powering Up/Rating Up tips
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• There are recommendations provided in the general guide for what material cards to use at which grade. Further, there is a separate spreadsheet that lists out the % of success of your material card if used on your card of choice. Please utilize this resource instead of making a separate post.
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EMSQt56wlLKGkWnEyJaZoi2LleFj5T1RSy2JuXMD_xE/edit#gid=481517504

When I was in junior high a transfer student arrived in the middle of the semester; a kid that was different from everyone else. Right away he had caught my eye, in fact he caught everyone's attention because he had a very unique disability; he couldn’t speak. I guess you could say he was deaf, though it was clear to me after getting to know him that he could in fact hear; every word spoken to him was understood with simple nods or gestures; facial expressions contorting into understood language; so I guess he was mute; yeah, that would describe him best. He was an oddity to most but to me he was a unicorn, something that sparkled in our dim monotonous lives and it wasn’t until he revealed who he was did I become terrified of him and his shine.
I was in 7th grade maneuvering my way through the jungle of middle school, avoiding trouble and premature violence. I was an undersized boy for my age, no more than 5ft tall; puberty had yet to visit me leaving me left out of the herd; the other students or the ‘sheep’ as I called them that infested my school. They were all the same, kids that were driven by hormones constantly talking about boys or girls, their deep voices riding on the coattails of the wind that breezed in and out of our hallways. I was a mere shadow, always walking a few paces behind the others not wanting to be seen or acknowledged; I saw what others that looked like me went through, they were tortured and abused for simply existing.
Once Bryce Ellis and his friends stuck Timmy Easton’s face in the shitter for over 10 flushes, I was in a stall over, hiding and waiting for the torment to be over. I slithered my feet up on to the stall caressing them to my chest as I sat in a fetal position horrified of how one human could treat another. Eventually the bullies had gotten bored, their short attention span driven minds directed them to another endeavor leaving Timmy to fester in his tears and possible filth.
He sobbed for minutes that felt like hours as I remained silent in the stall over, I placed my hand cautiously on the barrier wall trying to absorb a bit of his pain, my heart ached for him in that moment and I wanted to lend him a compassionate hand if only I had the courage to do so. So yeah, I did my best to stay hidden, unseen to all the dwellers that mindlessly walked in and out of our school on a daily basis, the boys that believed themselves to be men or the girls that pontificated to anyone that listened. I was lost into an enteral sea of vindictive young adults that searched for any reason to lash out at anyone that stood in their way.
So when ‘Tape boy’ — as they would eventually call him — came to my little middle school that stood still in the secluded hills of our small town I was enthralled almost immediately with his existence. He was introduced to my home room class, I sat in the back burying my head into my arms, occasionally lifting my head to listen on the days lecture. My day dreams entertaining me as the clock slowly ticked away at our lives and it wasn’t until my teacher promptly stopped talking did it trigger a primal emotion in me to sit up and pay attention. I postured myself up straight, pausing the internal movie that played in my mind to see what the interruption was about.
There he was, a new boy that no one had ever seen before, by middle school everyone knew each other; we had went to the same elementary school, the same holiday events and grocery stores. So getting a new student was like getting a new flavor at Baskin Robbins; a mystery taste simmering on the tip of your tongue as you digested every drop, his presence was intriguing. He wasn’t small like me, I would say average height for a 12 year old; about 5'4, slender body with unkempt dark black hair. He looked timid, his head tilted towards the ground not wanting to accidentally lock eyes with any of us as the teacher introduced him, my mind wandering with such intrigue because to all of our astonishment he was wearing a surgical face mask — mind you this was in the 90’s; eons before the Covid pandemic breached the windows of our thoughts.
Right away I could hear the murmurs, the questions erupting throughout the classroom as everyone pondered of why this boy sheltered his face. I stared on for what must of been minutes as the shy boy kept his gaze down, I could see him slightly squeezing the arm straps to his backpack nervously the longer he stood there on full display for all.
I had my fill and I relaxed my postured sinking back into my chair directing my stare out the window but then Billy Sherman asked the question we all had on our minds,
“Uhm, why is he wearing that mask?”.
Our teacher explained to us that it was because of some weaken immune system, something about how his ticker didn’t click like the rest of ours, she then also told us about him being mute. This drew my eyes right back to him, I think it did for all of us and for a moment the quiet kid raised his head and locked eyes with me. His dark black eyes glistened with despair, the deep purple bags that sagged under his eyes were more indicative of someone that hadn’t slept in days. I felt something for him in that moment, our third eye conversing in some cosmic dialogue and as quickly as he rose his head did it drop once again towards the ground. I could still hear all the the other kids snickering, questioning and some even giggling; it made me sick, if I was a braver boy I would of stood on top of my desk and verbally lashed out to all the sheep, instead I rose my hand asking something Mrs. Willis never said, what was the timid boys name?
“Oh I’m sorry, how rude of me, this is Gabriel”.
She sat Gabriel upfront next to her desk, wanting him close in case he needed to write or sign something to her and just like that everyone went back to their simple lives; including myself.
The next few weeks I saw little of Gabriel other than the back of his head during class, once the bell rang everyone that my eyes glimpsed at for the day disappeared or just maybe it was me who dissolved into the ambience of our school. Either way I saw little of the boy who wore a mask, the one that sheltered his true identity and my curiosity with the new flavor of the week gradually faded into the abyss of non-existence; well, that was until the day I saw the mask slip.
It was end of the day, I spent most of the time turning corners anytime Bryce Ellis approached; evading the wrath of him and his band of merry men who were the pinnacle of human torture; finding any opportunity to demean those who crossed their path. I remember leaving Chemistry class, my mind all to occupied with leaving the hell hole of every kids dread and that’s when I saw Gabriel walking down the hall towards the cafeteria; his head still tilted down; his gaze tracking every step he took; face mask still tightly fitted around his face.
This time I saw someone was following him, it was Tom Ingram one of Bryce’s guys, a kid that tried to be the “alpha male” of the group numerous times, doing his best to dethrone the reign of Bryce. He was a big boy for his age, probably about 5'9 and easily weighed 200 pounds, he was a wild card alright; he got caught pouring sugar down Mr. Whitakers old Pontiac gas tank for giving him a poor grade. So when I saw him berating poor Gabriel; taunting him as grotesque laughter followed every insult, I felt like I had to do something and my consistent stealth veneer of camouflage morphed into into a full on sprint towards the two. I saw Tom was closing in on him, other kids looking on with bewilderment on their faces — not knowing if they should laugh out of fear or grimace from disgust. For the first time in a long while did a burning sensation of courage ignite in my soul, I was tired of seeing monsters preying on the sheep and I was going to stop it somehow.
Finally Gabriel had stopped walking and stood still, his head hanging even lower than before, the strands of his long hair covered the remainder of his face. Tom began slapping the top side of the poor kids head, yelling out obscenities, angered that he didn’t stop sooner. I was close, I was gonna stop this since all anyone else could do is cower in fear while looking on and then it happened causing me to stop dead in my tracks, my eyes widening with befuddlement. Tom had torn away the mask from Gabriel's face, awes with groans came from everyone then silence blanketed the entire school and for those few seconds our existence had been swallowed up by the earth itself.
“What the hell” Tom yelped out breaking the still but heavy disquietude.
I wanted to say something, but no words could be manifested only gurgles as I choked on my own disbelief. The timid boy under the mask of intrigue had a strip of black duct tape covering his mouth, it stretching from the side of his face to the other almost resembling what would be some hideous smile. The timid boy then collapsed his hands over his face as faint muffles of sobbing protruded from him, he ran into the nearest restroom only for Tom to pursue. Finally my thoughts had been gathered while my body came back to life, I brushed off the bizarre occurrence of that grizzly smile and I reminded myself of what was about to happen. Tom was going to punish Gabriel for simply existing as he and his gang have been doing for years and like some old factory machine the cogs of my body set into motion as I ran towards the restroom.
Before I could open the door the most horrid scream exploded outwards into the hallway, the sound sending a cold shiver down my spine and Tom came running out of the restroom gripping at his face crying. He was hysterical running and bumping into the walls until finally crumbling onto the floor only to continue sobbing. My mind was clouded with a whirl wind of confusion, I no longer knew what to do, I mean I was going to run in there and stop the assault but now the assaulter was on the floor destroyed. Then Gabriel calmly came out of the restroom, his mask firmly back on and he turned to look at me, his dark eyes burning an image of anguish into my mind. I asked if he was okay of course he said nothing though, he didn’t need to I could just sense his response and it was one of gratitude. I almost could see him smiling at me from underneath the mask and I reminded myself of what was under it; that abysmal duct tape that looked like a sinister grin.
From that day on most of the kids were afraid of Gabriel, I could see the look of terror in their eyes anytime he passed by them even though his headed was still shifted downwards but that’s the day whenever someone mentioned him they referred to him as “Tape boy”. I had heard through the whispers of our school that Tom had suffered some mental breakdown, that the doctors couldn’t find anything psychically wrong with him, it was as if his mind had shattered. He remained in some mental hospital, memories of him gradually fading and the sheep went on with living their mundane lives. Bryce even slowed his bullying, I think he knew that their were now more eyes watching everyone after the altercation and he didn’t want to get caught in some bad situation, though I could see he was itching to get at Gabriel. I went back to being a shadow, avoiding all the others still not too confident that the days of torture were over.
Even though Gabriel was regarded as some magical or perhaps malevolent being by most; not sure which one; he still appeared to be sad; lonely, his head always dragging with despondency. I made an effort in getting to know him, I wasn’t afraid like the rest of them something about the day we locked eyes gave me the resolve to understand he wouldn’t hurt me. I approached him during lunch break, he was outside sitting underneath a tree, the shade showering him a gloom of haze. I think I surprised him or maybe it was just my stealth nature but I saw him jump when I sat next to him. I began talking about the origins of Darth Vader, of how he was originally a hero using his force power for good only to eventually turn to the dark side.
Gabriel just looked at me confounded of why I was even talking to him, his stare looking on with indifference. I told him that he was like a super hero, doing whatever he did to Tom was just like a super power, that I was thankful. His gazed then returned back to the floor almost out of shame, I guess whatever he did that day he didn’t see it as something special, or something to praise. I then told him that I still envied his ability to defend himself, that having such an ability was better than winning the school lottery — which was a week supply of free cafeteria food. I kept blabbering on for the remainder of the break while he still postured his stare towards the floor until the bell had finally rung. Before getting up I told him that if I could have a super power mine would be invisibility that’s when he turned to me pulling out a small spiral from his back pack writing something down, he then showed me.
“Why?” it read.
I told him that I didn’t like being seen, that if I could I would melt away into the noise, then life would be better he just stared at me with what I could assume was disbelief. He didn’t write anything back, he just remain seated while I stood to my feet. I asked if he was coming back to class but he ignored me and just stared out into space presumably lost in his own thoughts.
For the next several months I would catch Gabriel in the hallways, talk to him about the latest edition of whatever comic I was reading, Superman being my favorite and I would go on and on about how his true super power wasn’t strength but hope. I think he became more comfortable with me, pulling out his spiral notebook to write down his thoughts; his questions and answers — a new gateway of communication had formed between us. Most times I could tell what he was going to write by looking at his eyes, those dark haunting eyes, he was a mysterious book slowly being revealed to me and I was completely beguiled by his friendship. Bryce and his little posse slowly went back to bullying the sheep, though they kept their distance from Gabriel and me.
I guess I had a new protector one that wouldn’t be crossed and something about that protection left me feeling proud. I knew in my heart that the timid kid that now went by “Tape boy” wouldn’t hurt a fly that maybe the day of Tom going crazy was all by chance, perhaps his rage snapped his mind. I tried asking him about that day numerous times but he never explained what happened he would redirect the conversation back to super hero’s. I would walk home with him on certain days, well, more like he would walk me home I never got to see where he lived, he was too reserved to give up that kind of information but the days we would walk together was always fun. I finally felt like I belonged, the longing emotion of needing acceptance was found by his friendship.
One day when I was walking home by myself I decided to stop in at the gas station to pick up a drink and scour the latest edition of comic books in the small rack of magazines. Before entering the store I could hear arguing voices engaging in combative dialogue and it became vividly clear that it was more of a yelling match than conversation. It was coming from the side of the building, most times I would just ignore it but one of the voices sounded all too familiar and I crept slowly to the edge of the building poking my head out to get a glimpse of the disturbance. It was Bryce, his back was up against the wall while someone who I presumed was his father berated him with such a vicious snarl on his face. The angry man kept slapping Bryce across the face anytime he tried to say something and soon tears began drizzling off the face of the mighty bully only for the man to laugh.
I didn’t know why the older man was treating Bryce the way he was, information cut out of my understanding, for all I know it could of been because of something the bully did at school. I found it to be poetic justice that the boy that caused so much heart ache suffered the same amount only at home. It felt like a cliche, the angry kid was angry because of the angry father; a cruel loop of never ending proportions. Eventually the man or father walked away getting back into his car leaving the bully to brush away the tears from his face. I cautiously retreated my head away deciding to ditch the store completely when that same broken voice only minutes ago shouted out to me with a hefty dominance.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Bryce howled out.
I didn’t bother turning around, I just ran home, dodging into alley ways trying my best to not been seen. It didn’t appear as if he was following, but seeing him in such a vulnerable state was bemusing. We were a small town how could I not know who the man was, we all knew each other since we were small and then it hit me; Bryce’s dad had left when he was little. This man must of been his step dad or perhaps mom’s boyfriend, it didn’t matter I was going to mind my own business, I was going to slither back into the shadows; but my attempts would only fall on defeated shoulders.
I didn’t want to tell anyone of what I saw, I hoped that keeping my mouth shut would of been enough for the bully to leave me be. Unfortunately there is no reasoning when it comes to human beings, we base our actions on emotions, our anger and Bryce confronted me the next morning in front of Gabriel.
“Hey fairy, did you enjoy the show?” the angry kid spouted out at me.
I tried explaining to him that I wasn’t trying to intrude, that the arguing concerned me, that I didn’t like seeing him being mistreated and then he punched me right in the gut. I fell to the floor gripping at my stomach, the pain slicing through every fiber of my body. I tried catching my breath but inhaling was too painful and I sheltered my face expecting another punch but the bully walked off leaving me to sweat. Gabriel kneel down to me taking out his spiral notebook writing the obvious question, I gestured to him to give me a moment and I honestly felt like crying. I had spent years doing my best to blend into the background, the invisibility power I was so desperate to have amongst the sheep was now gone; I was on Bryce’s radar.
For the remainder of the school year I tried avoiding the bullies, the monsters that preyed on the sheep but their leader would actively search for me, he was no longer intimidated by Gabriel; his once menacing allure had dwindled and now we both were sitting ducks. Luckily there was only a few weeks left until summer break and I only had hoped that the time off would be enough for the monster of monsters to cool off.
Entering summer was a relief much needed for my sanity, I took a few thrashings but it was over, me and Gabriel had big plans on spending time together. He wasn’t an out door kind of kid, he usually would just come over my place and we would read my comic books. He quickly grew enchanted with the idea of super hero's, their powers restoring balance to the nature of our world. I enjoyed every minute of it, my parents on the other hand looked less jovial to our friendship, they didn’t like the mask; it worried them. They thought that whatever illness he had could be passed on to me, but they didn’t do anything to stop us from seeing each other, they only silently protested.
So after awhile we decided to meet somewhere outdoors, away from my parents judgmental stares, there was a creek close to my house, the trees giving us enough shade to stay cool on those long summer days. The small stream that flowed through the trenches of the creek enriched our view as we would find the perfect rock to perch on while reading our comics. We didn’t see much of any of the other classmates that summer, the sheep kept their distance or maybe it was just us, but the days seem to pass quickly and before we knew it summer was coming to an end. I couldn’t remember how many volumes we must of read but Gabriel was now a fan of almost every super hero. He tend to raise out his arms while walking, mimicking the premise of flying like Superman; his ponderous eyes cutting through the brush as we escaped our secluded summer spot.
It was on the final day of our summer break did I pressure the shy timid boy to explain to me what had happen that day, the day Tom lost his marbles, I needed to know. Gabriel as always tried redirecting the conversation, holding up a comic of Batman, pointing at some dialogue. I got upset, I raised my voice telling him that if we were friends then he should tell me, that there wasn’t secrets between us. His heavy eyes collapsing to the ground, shifting his posture on the rock that we both sat on.
“Look, I just need to know, you’re my best friend” I told him with genuine longing.
The school year was about to start up again and I could already envision a future of slithering through the hallways how I have always done, but with Gabriel maybe that could change. I needed to know and I was done guessing, fantasizing that he was some super hero or at least my hero; my protector. I stood up off the rock walking over to the stream, the sound of water colliding unto the small stones that infested the trench triggered something awful in my gut. I took a deep breath and made my final stand with my best friend.
“If you don’t want to tell me then I’m going home, see ya” I said with impatience dripping off of my words.
Gabriel ignored my warning and continued pointing at the comic book, that’s when I noticed what he was pointing at, it wasn’t dialogue it was one of Batman's villains — he was pointing at Clayface. This made me stop, my minding halting after speeding at 100 miles per hour; it crashing my thoughts.
“Yeah, what about Clayface?” I curiously asked with a withered and tired voice.
That’s when his pointer finger was no longer on the page but rather it was pointed towards his mouth; the mouth that was hidden behind his mask. He could see my face drop with sadness, whatever disfigurement he had underneath that horrid black duct tape must of been something like the villain from the comic and my heart broke for him. Gabriel’s eyes gleaming with absolute sorrow, the boy that only wanted to be left alone, the person all the others feared just wanted solitude and here I was badgering him to no end about something so insignificant. We stared at each other for several seconds, our eyes meeting in some altered state and I reached my hand up to his face tenderly taking off his mask. There it was, the black duct tape that resembled a grin, a nightmarish one that could only been seen in some horror movie. I then placed my fingers on the edge of the tape, my cold grip causing him to shiver and I slowly began to remove it.
“What the hell are you fairy’s doing?” a voice called out from the brush, one that sank my heart into my stomach.
I turned trying to locate the voice and sure enough there he was, the bully that had tortured so many for so many years — it was Bryce. His body slowly revealing itself from the brush like some despicable ooze frothing from the depths of hell. Though, something about him was different, his cold stare no longer fictitious but more intimidating and as his body fully emerged did I see the blood trickling down his soaked stain shirt. He was covered in the crimson fluid, there was even some on his cheeks almost as he had some open wound and smeared the remnants of it on his face. The devilish grin that bestowed his bruised and beaten face quickly led me to a conclusion; one that I wish I didn’t conclude. A purplish black infested the out layer of his left eye, it practically closed shut and his nose had been bent to a unsightly angle. I started to whimper as my lips trembled from fright because this Bryce was not the same one that had given us wedgies or swirlies this one was a true monster, a beast that devoured souls. His gaze was enough to display a vacancy of any humanity and my eyes crawled down his arm into his hand to see the black pistol that he firmly gripped.
“Uh, Bryce what happened? Are you okay?” I groaned out while sniffling.
He didn’t answer, he just kept grinning at me, the ghastly smile that stretched ear from ear plagued my vision and I knew that he had done it, that he had hurt someone badly. I was terrified and in the moment I had completely forgotten about Gabriel, my tunnel vision only focused on that firearm.
“Where the hell did the other one go?” the monster asked, I turned and realized Gabriel in fact had run away leaving me behind.
I wanted to run, I wanted to flee while screaming but horror kept me in place and I felt like some dear trapped in headlights contemplating my entire life in mere seconds.
“Everyone always messes with me!” Bryce yelled out with such ferociousness.
There was no talking my way out of this one, no pleading, I knew in that moment he was going to kill me; his rage over flowing to the point of lunacy. He quickly pounced dropping me to the floor, screaming with madness and he repeatedly hit me over the head with the but of the gun causing me to see stars. His words became incoherent sounding like muffled tones that slushed it’s way into my hearing, I shook my head trying to collect myself, just maybe I could figure a way out of this but as soon as my vision corrected itself Bryce would strike me another time causing it to blur once again. I fell into a darkness, my world collapsing into an eternal void of loneliness as my body began to float effortlessly but as soon as I thought this was my final moments flashes of Gabriel flooded into my mind awakening me out of whatever slumber I found myself in. That’s when I realized Bryce was no longer hitting me, instead he was talking to someone and as I grabbed at my head trying to steady my balance I saw it was Gabriel standing still head as always tilted downwards.
Bryce confronted him pointing his 9mm directly at his head yelling, screaming at the top of his lungs but my best friend remained unmoved, just quiet and then he slowly removed his mask. This caused Bryce to pause, his tone weaken and I think for the first time he digested if he should proceed doing what he was doing.
“What are you doing freak?” the bully yelped out.
Gabriel remained quiet, eyes still directed towards the floor, his breathing escalating; I could see his chest pump more vigorously with each passing second. With the mask off me and Bryce could see the bewildering black duct tape strapped to his face, Gabriel’s face began to tremble violently as if he was trying to yell through the bondage. He then finally began to peel of the thick layer of black duct tape and it came off with a wicked screech as I could see my friends eyes squint with pain.
Bryce was no longer pointing the gun at Gabriel, no longer was he even saying a word his arm lowered to his side and both him and I stared on with amazement. What was under the tape was layers of skin, twisting and binding to each other like some thriving organism living it’s own life on Gabriel's face. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t say anything I was in shock and my head still throb from pain. Then Gabriel's mouth — if you want to call it that — began to stretch open, he tilted his head backwards while the mountain of dead flesh started to drip down his face allowing some endless void to open up inside of him. I could hear the cracking of bones breaking, his jaw shifting to accommodate the massive hole that was now his mouth and then horrid dwindling fingers began to protrude from the darkness.
My mouth gaped open with trepidation and if I had the ability to adjust my head I would think Bryce had the same facial expression. Then a grotesque head forced it’s way out of my friends mouth revealing a face that could only exist in the realms of the dead, this new creature having two large almond shape eyes; eyes that looked very similar to the ones that were attached to my friend. This ‘thing’ then stared at Bryce, that’s all it did, no words were spoken no violence was created it just stared at him and soon the bully grasped at his face and began to yell. He ran frantically in different directions, his gun firing out into the tree line, I jumped for cover; falling to the floor sheltering my head with my arms. Bryce’s terrified screams caused my stomach to turn and soon those dire cries stopped along with the gunshots.
I must of stayed on the floor for what felt like hours, too scared to rise to my feet and through my peripheral did I see the sun begin to set plunging the small creak into darkness. I eventually mustered up enough courage to get up and I looked around, Bryce was mere feet away from me, he lay still on the floor blood spewing out of his head; it appeared as if had shot himself. I walked over to his body befuddled of what to do I then remembered Gabriel, I turned to look for him but he was gone it was only me and Bryce's dead corpse. I ran home telling my parents about everything, of the encounter I experienced, at first it seemed as if they didn’t believe me but they still phoned for the police.
I led them to the creek to the bullies dead body, I initially thought perhaps they would blame me, connect me to his death but the police believed me; well the believed me about Bryce but not about Gabriel. They told me that Bryce had killed his step father, apparently they had gotten into some altercation and afterwards he went into his mothers bedroom and shot her to death. They told me that the once bully was a disturbed individual, suffering abuse for many years; that I was lucky to escape from his wrath. I told them that they needed to find my friend I wanted to know if he was okay, but all the officers could do was pat my back with sympathy trying to relax me.
It has almost been 30 years since the event, I still have nightmares of what had happened, I see the dead stare Bryce had while pointing his pistol at me, I see him repeatedly hitting me over the head again and again. Though, what still haunts me more is Gabriel's mouth contorting into that horrid shape revealing the creature that lived inside of him. He was never found, I’m pretty sure he moved on to another city, another place where bullies like Bryce tormented their schools and I could only imagine Gabriel was there to balance the wrongs of the world. I am scared of my best friend, but I know at the same time he is my protector; my super hero, he is out there doing good, I can feel it and I hope he can sense my love for him. Maybe we will never meet again, perhaps it’s not written in the stars for us to reunite but one thing is for sure, I get comic books mailed to me randomly every month; most are of Superman and I know exactly who they are from.

It was half past nine when my shift at the diner ended. It’s not any place specifically you’d know, though you’d be forgiven for confusing it for a Waffle House given the abundance of cheap, greasy food and drunk clientele. The only thing distinguishing our location was that our doors closed at ten.
It was a cold night in October. The winds felt out of place for the fall season with the sharp way they bit into my skin. Usually, the low temperatures in Grant tended to hover around the mid-fifties. Tonight felt particularly frigid even bundled up in the warm confines of my jacket.
I hurried through the lot outside the diner, passing by several vehicles. When I made it to my car at the far end, I was quick to put the key in the ignition.
My car was a special edition Subaru Legacy. The only thing special about it was that it was only by the grace of God that my radiator and engine were still operational given the car was a little over two decades old.
When you turn the key, the engine would knock. My father said it was indicative of worn-out bearings. Could be an engine getting ready to declare sayonara before it crapped out one final time and departed for car heaven or perhaps car hell given its rough condition.
I knew little about that though; all I knew was that as a poor college student I was having a difficult enough time as is scrambling to make ends meet with a part time job at a diner. Regardless, whatever the solution, the answer involved money. Money I, notably, didn’t have.
The smart thing to do would be to purchase another used car; though in this economy that sort of thing is far easier said than done.
An even harder task than figuring out the financing for a replacement vehicle was getting this stubborn thing to turn. The engine threatened to exhibit life but would stop short of properly starting.
It was about the fifth round when my engine found the energy to fight the good fight on this frigid night. The engine knocked fiercely, reverberating inside the hood for a few seconds before the noise steadied itself.
I sighed in relief and backed out of my parking spot in the back of the lot.
As I left, I couldn’t help but notice something out of the corner of my eye. A man, a very rugged specimen of the male sex adorning a blue baseball cap and a grizzly beard, was approaching my vehicle at a brisk pace. Where I was the only one stationed at the back of the lot, it seemed odd he was coming my way.
I turned my head to acknowledge him. That’s when he began to break out into a full-on run.
My heart raced almost as fast as my car. I slammed the pedal down and sped out of the lot, the tires screeched loudly along the pavement as I veered to a sharp right.
​
I was lucky the road didn’t carry heavy traffic around this time of night. Where my eyes were focused on him, I was damn near lucky I hadn’t plowed directly into someone.
I sped along the highway and tried to rationalize why this lumberjack looking fellow had charged me. News reports of human trafficking came to mind, but it wasn’t really anything you heard much about in a place as remote as Grant Alabama.
For crying out loud, we physically were so remote one of the miniature cities within Grant was called Bucksnort. We were about as far from the Big Apple, or any real semblance of civilization, one could get.
After a minute of driving, I slowed down, especially when I heard something in the engine rattle. This car wasn’t designed for no races or wild chases. Not with the amount of age it carried.
Besides, I was alone. Safe.
At least that’s what I thought before I heard the blaring of a truck horn. An eighteen-wheeler was coming up behind me. Given I was the only other soul visible on this lonely two lane stretch of highway, it was clear they were honking at me.
I prayed to God and kept moving.
The big rig followed closely. We went down the road for two miles when suddenly my vision was obscured in a bright light.
The trucker was flashing his high beams. I could barely see when he hit me with them. I nearly swerved off the road when he did it.
After a few seconds the mounted flood lights on his vehicle relented and the blinding rays ceased their assault on my eyes.
I moved my car to the right lane to let him pass. He had no intention of doing so. His signal made that clear when he merged behind me.
Drops of rain began to pour from the sky lightly tapping my windshield.
Plop…plop, plop…plop.
My car didn’t handle well with slick roads. Fortunately, I wasn’t too far from home. Maybe another seven miles.
The fiery orange glow flooded the cabin of my car and I yelped.
I fumbled in my purse. One hand on the wheel, one digging desperately for my phone. With my visibility being periodically robbed, I was already a hazard on the road. Might as well risk compounding the issue if it meant I could get in contact with the police.
When the high beams vanished, I managed to pull out my phone and dial 911.
​
The operator answered after two rings. “911, what’s your emergency?” The man that answered the call sounded bored out of his mind, like he’d rather be anywhere else on a Saturday night.
I didn’t care if he was bored, entertained, playing with himself. As long as he could send someone out that’s all I cared about in the end.
“There’s a maniac tailgating me,” I said.
The operator’s voice clipped. Though from what I could understand of the roboticized sound coming out from his end of the line, I could tell from his tone he remained unenthused. “Ma’am, you’ve called an emergency line.”
​
“Y-you don’t understand! I was leaving work and this man started chasing me. I-I think he’s trying to hurt me.”
The operator fell silent for a few seconds. For a moment, between the rainy weather and the flaky signal, I thought I’d lost him. His voice reemerged seconds later. “Where are you?”
I rattled off the highway number I was driving on and told him my home address.
“I’ll get an officer dispatched in the area. ETA should be around ten minutes.”
Ten minutes. Six hundred seconds. Toss whatever metric you wanted to use to measure it out, with that big rig riding close behind me and the driver intermittently blinding me when they felt like getting their rocks off, it might as well have spanned an eternity. I was going to be lucky I didn’t crash into a guardrail or land myself in a ditch.
“Make that around fifteen minutes,” the operator clarified, his crackled voice twisting the knife deeper into me with his update.
I made the turn off the two-lane highway. I didn’t signal when I did it. I was hoping the sudden movement would have had my unwanted friend in the big rig blow past me.
“Ma’am?”
For a moment, I believed it worked. No more blinding lights. The only sound was the operator fishing for a response and the pitter patter of rain on my windshield.
My sigh of relief became a choking noise lodged inside my throat as I saw the eighteen-wheeler backing up. It didn’t turn on a dime, but he was moving fast enough.
The road up ahead winded with hairpin curves. I didn’t know how long I’d have until those lights were upon me. Till he was upon me.
The phone clicked and the call abruptly ended.
I cursed under my breath while my engine knocked like an irate person trying to beat down a door. My Subaru was rapidly approaching its limit. I had to think fast.
These were my options: I could risk speeding and hoped the engine would hold out till I made it to the house, or I could continue driving at a steady pace. If the first option proved successful, he might not see where my vehicle would vanish. If it didn’t, my car might leave me stranded. That’s assuming I didn’t wreck myself taking a turn too fast.
The other option would be safer, but I’d be visible to him. Though with some of these curves I feared if he hit me with the high beams again, I’d be at risk of crashing. Where the area of road ascended, one wrong turn would mean a long journey down.
It would mean certain death.
Taking a sharp intake of breath, I pulled out my phone and called my husband. The only answer I got was his voicemail urging me to leave a message at the tone.
“Billy, there’s a lunatic after me. I’ve called the cops. Please…please be ready. I’m only two minutes away.”
It wasn’t the most inspiring call to action. My husband wasn’t Billy Badass. He was more like Billy the Stamp Collector. Benign hobbies. Soft spoken. Wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Still, I was counting on his presence to deter Mr. High Beams behind me. It was a desperate ploy, but it was all I could think of on such short notice.
I made the turn into the dirt trail that led to my driveway. As I was pulling in the porch light flickered to life. Maybe. It might have been those high beams. They illuminated my cab in a flood of light once more obscuring my vision.
The door to the house opened and a figure ran out of the entryway. My husband from what I could discern of the silhouette. Our dog Jasper, a black schnauzer with more bark than bite, darted out the door. I couldn’t see the little guy, but I heard him.
I stopped the car and shoved open the door. I bolted out of the seat, nearly tripping over my own feet with my frantic departure.
Jasper started barking up a storm, even before the big rig came to a standstill.
The door of it opened and the bearded man stepped out of the vehicle.
Strangely, my dog paid the trucker little mind. Jasper’s eyes remained fixated on my Subaru. He began to snarl.
“Get away from the car,” the man bellowed. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at an angle, almost like he was aiming at my vehicle.
Was this how my life was going to end? Shot dead when I was at the finish line, where I was supposed to be safe?
My husband Billy babbled. “S-sir, please. You don’t have to do this.”
The trucker shook his head. As he did, the sound of sirens began to blare in the distance. He didn’t answer us. Instead, he lowered his gun into his holster and stood still as a statue all while my dog continued snarling and barking at our vehicle.
When the police came, guns drawn, he remained calm.
“I’m not the one you want,” he said. “The car. Search the car.”
Even to this day, I still remember in vivid detail what happened. When the police opened the rear driver door, there was a gaunt looking man back there crouched in the floorboard with a knife clenched in his hand. The wide, manic look lingering in his eyes remained far colder than the frigid winds blowing around us.
The trucker explained later that he saw the man inside my vehicle wielding the blade. He must’ve snuck inside before my shift ended. Once the driver realized what was going on, he’d tried to intervene.
Every time the person in the backseat had attempted to overpower me, to harm me, the trucker turned on his high beams. It scared my unknown passenger. The sight of the light made him hide.
The police hadn’t offered much in the way of details concerning who my stowaway was; given the six inches worth of blade he held, not much imagination was needed to map out what the strange man planned to do to me.
I learned on that cold, lonely October night to never judge a situation wholly by appearances. I was grateful to that truck driver. If it weren’t for his persistence, I would probably not be alive today to share my story.

National University of Singapore Architecture 2024 AMA Thread
Heya! Welcome to NUS Architecture AMA thread, we are students from the Department of Architecture hosting an Ask-Me-Anything session in hopes of sharing what life is like at NUS DOA! Whoever you are, whether a prospective student, Freshman, Final year student, Exchange Student or just curious, pop your questions down below!
Academic Programme
NUS Architecture is offered within the College of Design and Engineering, BA Arch core modules curriculum comprises 5 main pillars.
*For more information, refer to BA Arch & MArch Programme Handbook AY2023-24
* *For more information, refer to https://cde.nus.edu.sg/arch/programmes/master-of-architecture/
Facilities
Ever wondered, "How do I print my boards?", "Where can I snag the best deals on materials?", or "How do I access school facilities and use the machinery?" 🤔 Well, you're in luck because we've got 41 new machines this year! The details of which are right here for you to dive into:

• Zund Digital Cutter (x1) Form 3L SLA Printer (x6) Adventure 4 FDM 3D Printer (x20) Bigrep Studio, FFF 3D Printer (x1) Markforged Mark Two, Carbon Fiber 3D Printer (x1) Versatil 2500 CNC Milling (x1) Epilog Laser Engraver (x10) CNC Foam Cutter (x1) Spray Painting Booth (Lvl 2 & 3) Material Library [New!]
• Online User Manuals

How do I access the school facilities? DOWNLOAD nVPN to access Fabrication Lab Booking.
Nearest printing services: SDE 3 Level 2 - Just beside our studio!
[For Exchange Students / Freshmen] Don’t forget to sign up for a Fabrication Lab Training session with the Senior Lab Officer, Mr. Muji ([akimbh@nus.edu.sg](mailto:akimbh@nus.edu.sg)) before operating on the machines.
Student Life @ NUS Aki
You must be asking, do Architecture students have a life, much less student life? We do in fact have a life, and it’s here - Build lifelong friendships with us! 🌟Join us in celebrating entrepreneurship and student-led initiatives! Get ready for exciting events like our fresh orientation camp, where you can meet new friends and dive into unforgettable experiences. 🚀

• The Architecture Society One-stop Resource Channels and Updates
• NUS Makers Market Live your entrepreneurial life and set up a store at Utown!
• CDE Rag & Flag
• AkiVAL Join our Annual Architecture Exhibition as an entrepreneur u/SDE3
• AkiLA Architecture & Landscape Architecture Freshman Orientation Programme
• NUS CDE Club

Student Support
Are you new to NUS DOA and unsure where to begin? No need to worry—we're here to help! 🌟 Below, we'll provide guidance on course registration, joining Telegram chatrooms to connect with peers, reaching out to seniors and alumni for advice, and accessing mental health services if needed. Check it out! 📚

• What is CourseReg (Mod Reg)?
  • An exercise that occurs before the start of each semester where students can bid on their modules and tutorials.
  • A process over a Schedule/Timeline that consists of 4 key COURSE SELECTION Rounds (Rd 0, Rd 1, Rd 2, Rd 3) and 2 key TUTORIAL SELECTION Rounds (Rd 1. Rd 2). Appeal and Swap requests are also available.
  • Edurec is the website which student access to do their Official Course Registration Exercise [Academics>Select Modules]
  • NUSMod is another website which students access to research on available modules and plan their time table.
  • Upon admission acceptance, more information will be sent via your school email
• Telegram Chats to Join!
  • Student life :
    • u/Teletas Latest Update and Information on student-life events!
    • u/akilafop Master Freshmen Orientation Group Channel
    • u/siayalgroup Young Architects League
• Counselling Services
  • Career CFG Extremely passionate career guidance counsellors!
  • University Counselling Services u/UHC
  • 24hrs Chicken Therapist at Technoedge, 24hr Bell Curve God Shrine
• Student Enterprises; Offering 3DPrinting Services and Selling Materials at affordable prices always! #bystudentsforstudents
  • u/AkiOneStop, u/Archihighballers, u/Morningwood Materials
  • u/creo.works , u/Eltelierworks 3D Printing

Beyond NUS Architecture
Entering the architecture industry requires a realistic understanding of its realities. While the field is undeniably beautiful and creative, it's essential to recognize its challenges. The truth is, the industry is continuously adjusting to our changing lifestyles and needs, influenced by factors beyond our control. Yet, there's immense satisfaction in navigating these complexities and finding a balanced path that aligns personal interests with industry demands. Career Prospect *Emerging Trends and Prospects (AI, AR, BIM, Sustainable Design, Adaptive Reuse), SIA-YAL Mentorship [July]

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Edited by WaveOfWire
- - - - -
Two days… It had been two days that Tracy had gone to sleep while Harrison was working, only to come back in the morning to see him still in the workshop. She knew he was damn productive, sure, but that really couldn’t be healthy. Apparently, it had something to do with the weird bowl of orange… soup… that Cera gave him. No way was it just caffeine; any amount of the stuff would have been filtered out of his system by now. He mentioned a tingling feeling too…
Damn, she did not know enough about drugs to even start assuming what that massive alien had Harrison fucked up on. At least the scanner said he was ‘fine’—if you ignore the other glaring issues the machine brought up. Plus, he said he didn’t mind it. Either way, he managed to complete the weaving component and a few other electrical backbones of the fabricator last night, so the project was practically done, and after seeing the engineer work himself half to death, she was dead-set on finishing it.
She was currently tits-deep into the upper manufacturing portion of the towering machine. It took a tall step-stool—on top of the nearby desk—for her to push her small shoulders through the even smaller access panels high on the everything-printer. It was difficult to fit her torso in, but she managed, holding a flashlight between her teeth as she fiddled with a stubborn series of mechanical ‘hands.’ Nothing new. The situation reminded her of the ‘shop back on Mars; it had the same ever-present scent of copper and industrial sealant. All that was missing was her dad’s ancient tunes blasting through some shitty speakers… Hold on…
The modular component in her grip was successfully attached with a resonating thock. Tracy squirmed out of the dim wire-filled crevice, trying her best to not rip her only tank-top on any bolts or corners, and getting a face-full of the bright flood-lights illuminating the workshop. She scowled and blocked out the searing light with a hand, but she was a bit too late to avoid going half-blind.
“Are the mechanical manipulators in?” Harrison grunted, poking his head out underneath the printer’s floor-adjacent maintenance hatch. She looked down at him as she tried to blink off the spots in her vision. His hair was messy, barely kept in line by his habit of combing through it with his fingers. The areas around his eyes were dark and sunken… Guess that’s what two all-nighters did to a man. He’d be seeing the hat man or start hallucinating if he didn’t get any sleep soon… but then again, the two of them were so close to finishing the fabricator…
“You bet.” She gave him a thumbs up, slamming the panel cover closed. “Feel free to test it.”
He nodded and slid back underneath the machine. “Gotcha”
She gently stepped off the stool and slid off the side of the desk, stretching herself out. If her piss-poor sitting posture or her tank-top puppies hadn’t already fucked her spine up, bending over backward to build this fabricator sure as hell would. She sat down next to the panel where Harrison resided, resting her back against the fabrication tower. Her excited voice broke the muffled noises of the engineer’s work. “So… Harrison?”
“Hmm—”
“—Mind if I play some music?”
The sounds from the hatch stopped, followed by his muffled, shocked tone echoing from beneath the fabricator. “You have music!?”
She smirked at seeing the expression on his face when his head popped out again. “I sure do… Did you seriously not download any to your data pad?”
He slipped out from beneath the fabricator fully, huffing as he took a knee beside her. The scent of melded rubber, wire, and his liquid labor reached her nose not-so-unpleasantly. “You would not believe how much of a pain it is to repair an entire barracks without it… So, yeah, I didn’t.”
“Sooooooooo, whatcha wanna listen to? I’ve got almost everything on here—besides the super niche, of course.” She pulled her data pad out, swiping to the massive music folder
“You wouldn’t like the kinda music I listen to; It’s ancient.”
She gave him a lighthearted, annoyed glare. “Welcome to the club… Now what’ll it be?”
“It’s Old Earth kind of ancient… but alright” He looked up at the ceiling in thought, lips pursed. “Do you have anything from Styx or Sweet?”
She stared at him incredulously, her smirk turning into a fully-fledged smile. “Oh my God. You are an absolute dork! You actually listen to Golden Age music?”
His brows raised, accusatory. “And you somehow know exactly who those bands were and what age of Old Earth music they came from?”
She smugly leaned in closer. “That’s because I’m just as much of a nerd with that kinda music as you apparently are.” She quickly looked upward, addressing the workshop AI. “Sebas, connect nearby speakers to my data pad’s audio.” Tracy elbowed the engineer lightly as the PA system chirped its affirmation. “Now, Mr. Golden Age music, which albums do ya want me to queue up?”
- - - - -
The two of them listened to music for hours, tossing on songs they liked as they came to mind while they worked. Harrison had a ton of recommendations that spanned all over the Golden Ages and some twenty-first century classics. She didn’t even know half of them, but she was vibing either way, adding on her own taste by intermingling some older rock tracks and newer electronic beats. The playlist was steadily built up as the day went on. Thank God her dad showed her a vast array of tunes; she might not have been able to keep up with the engineer if her old man hadn't.
It made the work go by so fast, their conversations blurring as they jumped from topic to topic. They discussed whatever came to mind—old hobbies, old jobs, and old interests. A lot was left behind in Sol… At least she knew that the only other human on the planet was more interesting than a soulless workaholic. It turned out that he was a pretty big history buff, and he apparently read a lot about the colonization of the Sol system and the various wars of independence thereafter. Curious, she asked where the interest stemmed from, and he explained that his grandfather was an admiral in the Slavic-Europan deep-ice submarine fleet, which explained how Harrison’s mother was able to afford to immigrate to Mars from Europa.
He could also play an acoustic guitar, and, unfortunately for Tracy, he wasn’t even the slightest bit interested in printing one out, citing that it was a waste of time and material that would be better used elsewhere. That didn’t stop her from writing a note on her data pad to do so later, though. She hadn’t seen someone play one of those in years—the last time was probably in some old music video from the early twenty-second century. What a shame. She would have liked to hear some of the Europan songs his grandmother taught him.
On the bright side, the man seemed to take an interest in her odd hobbies. He brought up the folder of 3D models that she accidentally uploaded to the inter-module system and asked where she got the inspiration for what was in it. Boy, was he not ready for her ‘WarHalberd40k’ lore dump. Props to the guy for not standing up and leaving the workshop throughout her rambling. He even asked questions about the different factions and their weapons, which she was more than happy to talk about.
She also ended up going over the other franchises and hobbies she was interested in, such as robotics and the like. The only interruptions to their chat were the occasional Akula or Craftsman asking for insight regarding the various tasks he had allotted to them, or Shar coming in to check up on Harrison between guard shifts.
The new dynamic of the group was pretty interesting, to say the least. Tracy hadn’t been out to interact with the whole lot of Malkrin, but she definitely noticed how they treated the engineer. They’d started to look up to him in a way ever since he started showing off technology. In a little over two days, the man had shown them that he could provide the materials for a brick house, fine clothing—especially by the alien’s standards—armor, and delicious food. That wasn’t even mentioning the other benefits the technician heard a few of the ‘banished’ talking about over their meals: heating, electric lights, and other assorted machines.
She’d be feeling pretty happy about herself if she was in his position, having so many look up to him and be grateful at the same time. He seemed to view it a lot more robotically, however, only striving to get the basics done. Luckily for him, his basics were their luxury.
That wasn’t all there was to the topic; the engineer lamented about how the colony was going through food just as quickly as materials. The meals weren’t the direct issue he had, more that he had to start focusing on long-term resource harvesting rather than directly preparing for a literal horde of monsters—which wasn’t exactly ideal. It was a good thing that they just so happened to take on an influx of Malkrin then…
Either way, they finally finished the ‘totally legal modification’ for the fabricator, meaning they could at least partially address the latter half of his worries. The whole process of ripping out an old printer and replacing the parts for a new one felt a lot easier than she imagined… even if it took her at least forty-eight hours to complete it… with help from Harrison. Maybe that was why it felt so easy… She supposed the colony overseers didn’t choose the man for no reason, so his skills made sense.
“So… what do we want to print out first?” Tracy questioned, having finished testing the last major component.
The engineer stretched his arms up into the air and rotated his shoulders, then pulled back the desk’s chair and took a seat. “I’ve had just one thing in mind since the start of this whole project.”
Her brows raised in a mix of excitement and curiosity. She leaned forward, looking at the computer monitor from over his shoulder. “Oh? What’s that, then?”
A smirk formed along his cheek, the computer mouse rapidly clicking through the blueprint folder. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about what kind of firearm we need since I started dabbling in belt-fed weapon systems.” He opened one final file, a short loading bar preceding the exploded assembly view of… “An M2 Browning machine gun. It’s more than powerful enough to kill in one shot, while also being capable of fully-automatic fire, with a capacity of however many rounds we want in a belt-box.”
“Uh…huh…” She gave a skeptical nod and took a step back, not exactly sold on the idea. “It looks ancient. It’s kinetic, right? Why aren’t we using energy-based weapons? Don’t we have a gunpowder shortage coming up?”
He moved his chair off to the side to look back at her. “We just can’t; Simple as. We’ll need who knows how many more AI cores before we can get started on that level of equipment, Trace,” he huffed, returning his gaze to the specifications of the firearm. “This isn’t the most ‘modern’ weapon we can make, but its twenty-first century counterpart helps with an improved design… somewhat. And, as I said before, it should be more than capable of killing a bug in one shot, so Shar can just tap-fire it to save ammunition.”
Her head tilted quizzically. “Shar?”
“Yup,” he returned confidently. “It’s the perfect weapon for her.”
She raised a brow. “How so?”
He held his hand up, counting his reasons on his fingers. “She’s always on the front line with a shield, she can absolutely handle the weight and recoil, her four arms make reloading it simple, plus she’ll need something with range and power that isn’t a spear. So, why not? And, if for some reason, she doesn’t want to use it, we can just convert it into a turret—which is something I was planning on doing anyways with however more M2s we print out later.”
“I doubt she’ll say no to any gun you give her,” Tracy chuckled while shaking her head, inadvertently causing her bangs to cover her eyes.
“Fair enough,” he conceded with a bob of his head. “What do you think, then? What kinda weapons do you have in mind?”
She reapplied her goggles into an impromptu hairband, feeling a smirk cross her face. “Thought you’d never ask. What purpose do we need these guns to fulfill? Hordes I’m guessing?”
“That’s the idea, yeah. That doesn’t mean they all need to be machine guns, though.” He tapped the belt-fed shotgun beside him.
“Well, lemme see what we’re working with first.” She suddenly stepped forward, leaning over Harrison’s seat to access the keyboard and mouse. Her arms briefly rubbed against him, forcing him to roll his chair backward. She suppressed a giggle at seeing his incredulous frown.
Her eyes quickly traced the hundreds of individual files, clicking through all sorts of folders, each arranged from pre-twenty-first century ‘antiques,’ to more modern iterations of kinetics and particle weaponry. There was… a lot on there—almost too much to reasonably comb through. Why? Did the colony overseers just say ‘fuck it’ and put whatever they could find on here? Were they expecting the pioneers to make a museum of everything?
She sighed, standing up straight and facing Harrison. “Y’know, I’m actually impressed you managed to find that M2-whatever in there…”
He shifted in his seat, resting an elbow on the desk. “Yup, there’s a lot. I’m almost tempted to just make several of those machine guns and just call it a day, but I feel like that’d be too much of a strain on resources, no?”
“I don’t really know enough about how you fight those spider-crab things, or how to get more gunpowder, so… maybe?” She shrugged, biting her cheek in contemplation. “You might just wanna make a few smaller caliber weapons… like, uh… those old kinetic service rifles. If your pump-action shotgun works fine, I’m sure some normal guns would work just fine for now, right?”
He hardily gripped his firearm, hauling it up to his lap. “Depends on what you mean by ‘smaller caliber.’ The whole reason why the KS-23 here works—” he pulled out a massive shell from the ammo belt, displaying it on his palm. “—is because the twenty-three-millimeter round has enough energy transfer to mess up any bug's shell and insides. I’d say the smallest rounds we could use would be point-two-forty-three caliber to get any similar results.”
Brief flickers of grungy orange shells and gnashing teeth marred Tracy’s sight. She forcibly suppressed them, distracting herself with dry humor and a strained laugh. “Guess those fuckers can really take a punch, huh?”
He shook his head somberly. “I couldn’t imagine going up against them without a gun… Anyway, I like your idea of a standard rifle for now. Then, when we have some product lines up, we can go a little more in depth into personal weapons.”
“So are you gonna take one?” She hopped up on the desk, letting her legs swing off the side.
“Don’t think so, no. I’ll stick with my shotty.” The internals of the heavily modified weapon rattled as he held it up and inspected it. “Doesn’t mean I’ll keep it as is. I’m thinking of printing a laser aiming module so I can point-fire it accurately, and maybe a melee-oriented muzzle brake or a lighter chassis to reduce weight… Not sure though.”
She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, her cheeks in her palms. “Melee-oriented? Oooooh, like a chain-sword or something?”
His short chuckle coerced a smirk to her face. “No, not like that. More something to use as a bludgeoning tool. Right before the blood-moon, I ended up getting just as much use out of this shotgun as a hammer than as a… well, a shotgun.”
“That’s pretty fuckin’ metal. So are you just gonna make the barrel into a giant bayonet?”
He nodded. “Not exactly a bayonet, but something more like a door-breaching break.”
A short silence settled on their conversation, the faint sounds of the fabricator’s hum and distant woodwork coming to light. Right, there was an outside world… She’d been too caught up talking to Harrison for however many hours it had been. She wondered how successful the fisherwomen were in collecting, and how things had been for the others working on the wood storage shack. Maybe it was already completed? The sun peered through the cargo bay door, proving that it was only about midday. What else would they work on today?
“Hey,” she ventured.
“Hm?” the engineer hummed, his eyes focused on the monitor beside the technician.
She scooted closer to his keyboard. “What’re we doing after this?”
“What do you mean?”
She leaned backward, propping herself up on two hands. “Project wise; what’s the next big thing?”
“Uhmmm…” he muttered, interacting with the computer for a few more seconds before finally meeting her gaze. “Well, I’ve just allocated the fabricator to print out the M2, three FALs—wood furniture, of course—then there’s the magazines and ammunition, so we’ve got a lot of time to kill. The next big thing is definitely going to be metal procurement, and— Oh, right!” Harrison stopped mid-sentence, reaching into his backpack and pulling out several finger-sized metallic cubes, a sudden fire in his eyes. “Okay, so a while ago, during an encounter with three colossi, Shar and Akula found a cave with some ‘surface’ metal deposits. I took a piece off to analyze, but never got the chance to until last night. Anyway, we don’t have any machines to examine the ore, so I made use of the recycler and broke it down to its baser components.”
She nodded along, seeing where he was going with his explanation. “I’m guessing those shiny cubes are the metals from the ore?”
“Sure is. So, as it turns out, we have a pretty damn close supply of not only iron, but also, zinc, sulfur, and a small amount of cadmium. I talked with Sebas about it and did a little research. We believe it’s something akin to sphalerite, given its composition and looks, which implies it’s a sedimentary exhalative deposit. That means there must have been some volcanic…”
Harrison continued talking about underwater deposits and ancient rock formations, bringing up some theories brought forward by the now 4-AI-core-powered Sebas, delving into the current land mass’ history and possible ore output. A lot of it went over the tradewoman’s head, but she still listened intently… Honestly, she could have listened to the man talk about finding metals for hours. It was sort of like the podcasts she used to listen to while completing colonist training, but even more personal and somehow easier to get lost in…
“…find some other minerals further down like silver, but it also might be an active lava zone. Again, these are all theories and this world could just throw the fundamentals of geology away as it does for physics. Anyway, sorry for going on for so long about that, just thought it’d be important for getting some metals in the future.”
“No, no,” Tracy assured, alleviating him of concern with a wave of her hand. “If there’s anything the colony overseers emphasized, it was farming and mineral acquisition. Don’t worry.” She smiled, pointing a thumb to herself. “I just wanna know how I can help.”
“Actually, I’ve a few things only you can do. I’d like to make use of your impressive drone-making expertise for a few applications, if you don’t mind.”
The task of keeping eye contact slipped into an impossible feat in the span of a singular second, planting a pang of embarrassment on her reddened face, forcing her to inspect her fidgeting hands. “I-I wouldn’t say ‘impressive’… b-but what do you have in mind?”
She could see him raise a brow out of the corner of her vision. “Well, after what you’ve shown me with the reconnaissance flyers, I’d like your help in setting up a more permanent ‘net’ of them to scour the meadow and parts of the nearby forest to look out for any approaching hordes. I don’t want to be snuck up on… again…”
‘Again.’
She noted his small frown and sunken eyes, both a little more exaggerated than they already were. It wasn’t like she’d deny his request, but the pangs of empathy over their shared situation all but solidified her resolve. It was the least she could do. She could help him. She would help him.
The technician exhaled slowly, taking on a more serious and understanding tone than before. “I… can do that. For sure. What else?”
“I appreciate it.” He gave a wane smile. “I’ll help you with whatever you need for the project. For the other drones, I’m thinking about a small exploration vehicle to map out caves around us and mark any minerals, as well as a submersible to look for potassium deposits in the ocean.”
“So… search bots?” She crossed her arms, confidence growing; those were her specialty. “Depending on how long the fabricators take and what kind of base drones are in the blueprint folders, I should be able to get those done in no time. All I need to know are the search cues for potassium and how many drones you want.”
He quickly shuffled a few folders on the computer, turning the monitor for her to see some scientific documents with various images and walls upon walls of text. “There’re plenty of resources for that on here for what to look for, and there’s always Sebas, so feel free to ask him since he can just sort through the data for you anyway. If you can, I’d like it if you could focus on the submersible after the reconnaissance drones.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll be right on it, then.” She gave him a thumbs up, slipping off his desk and toward her own.
“I’ll bring you lunch in a bit. Imma go check on the others,” he called.
Her stomach grumbled at the mention, her head turning to give him an appreciative smile. “Oh! Thanks!”
\= = = = =
Avian creatures chirped from their perches in the trees nearby. The wind softly rustled red leaves as grass gently gave way to calculated footfalls. A warm sun laid its light on Shar’khee’s neck. It was surprisingly pleasant, were one to take the time to notice. The mainland was a confusing place for the paladin, with its disparate representations of nature contrasting so heavily. Some days were filled with blood and ravenous beasts, while others were left within the domain of simplicity and beauty. She was content to have the latter, yet it felt like a facade veiling the former—a soft exterior covering the maliciously spiked interior. Never could she leave herself to carelessness, no matter how welcoming it might be.
Hence why she worked to ensure the safety of the star-sent’s castles and their inhabitants, her days largely spent patrolling for any roaming swarms that may wish to cause them harm. She typically used the routine to think, but today offered little in the way of solitude. This time, she was accompanied by the previously banished guardswoman, and was tasked with instructing the new one, though the specifics of what such lessons should entail were vague. Still, Shar’khee did all that she could so as not to disappoint Harrison, so she could only attempt to meet his expectations of her.
She told the yellow-skinned female of the threats that the settlement faced, how one was to defeat them, and what to expect from the beasts. The guardswoman was directed to practice her form with the spear in both thrusts and throwing for some time afterward, proving herself to be well-built. Such was expected of her profession after all.
It was pleasing to have another capable of patrolling the settlement’s outskirts for swarms, as it would greatly impact how effectively the colony could react to such a threat. If her routine was to suffer for the colony’s well-being, she was happy to show the new one her patrol route and note what to look out for.
The guardswoman was not a perfect student, however. Shar’khee never addressed it directly, but the yellow-skinned female obviously discredited the danger posed by the abhorrent, not-so-subtly shrugging off any warnings.
…That was until they stumbled upon the ‘hyena-boars,’ as Harrison called them.
The beasts resided in a clearing not too far from the castles, carelessly meandering across the sea of tall grass. Shar’khee quickly crouched, dragging the guardswoman down with her. Once she assessed that the creatures were not an imminent danger, she decided it would be an excellent opportunity to show the new one how to properly engage a threat. She was about to propose the idea, yet her speech was silenced just as swiftly.
Orange flashes darted through the trees around the glade. Taloned feet and gnashing teeth tore across the ground toward the unsuspecting beasts at the center. It was much too late for them. They were slow. Surrounded. Unaware. It was as quick as it was vicious, the forest’s reds turning a deeper crimson hue in a moment's notice underneath the abhorrent’s brutality.
Gangly monstrosities gnawed and ripped at the dead creatures, brief glimpses of raw flesh and white bone protruding from the small spaces between the clumped-up beasts. Repulsive wet splatters of blood and gore overlapped the calm noises of the forest, the grisly scene serenaded by the softest of nature’s symphonies. It was a sickening juxtaposition.
Shar’khee bit back the unease and steeled herself. They were within twenty paces—close enough to smell the abhorrent’s vile stench of rot and bile, yet far enough so as not to be noticed. She briefly considered backing away and retreating, her focus bouncing between the different avenues of escape, or how to cover her footst—
Crack.
Several sets of feral, eyeless maws snapped in their direction, the blood dripping off freshly dampened teeth. The guardswoman gasped, Shar’khee’s gaze following to see the mistake: a singular broken branch crinkled as a yellow-colored foot raised off the splintering twig.
The paladin exhaled sharply and smoothly stood up, brandishing two spears and her shield. Her glare settled on the still crouching guardswoman. “You are to stay behind my shield and let them appr—ch. Rem—ber what I have told you. Aim for their maws when you thrust y—r lance.”
The other female nodded, shakily pulling out her own weapons with unsteady placement hampering her grip. There was an obvious nervousness to her gaze. Hesitance. That would not do.
Shar’khee faced the prowling abhorrent her knuckles shifting hue as she prepared for their advance, for there was no chance that they wouldn’t. True to her experience, the stalking turned to a gallop with several clicks of grotesque tongues, the swarm bolting toward her as one. She snarled and slammed her bulwark into the ground, letting the approaching beasts skewer themselves amongst its spikes.
There were only ten—a paltry amount. She had defended against magnitudes more, and yet she still stood. What is more, they were mindless. Uncoordinated. They would be but stains in the cloth she used to clean her armor. Perhaps, if they were fortunate, they might leave a furrow in her shield to remember them by. Her arms tensed as the first leapt.
One by one, the abhorrent fell, their repulsive green blood splattering under her thrusts. Each awaiting corpse tore across the grove’s grass, lunging to their deaths with gaping maws and unfeeling hunger, yet she did not yield. Their shells were crushed by her shield and impaled by her Goddess-blessed spears, becoming but one more smear across their surface. Ten motionless lumps lay before her, seeping their ichor into the soil, none having passed the barrier she became. Dead, just as the Creator intended. She remained vigilant for a few moments longer, watching for any more of the disgusting creatures.
None showed themselves, finally allowing blood to flow to her fingers once again. The shield’s heavy presence weighed down her back, the blood flicked off of her spears before she returned them to their place.
“Are y–u well?” Shar’khee addressed the frozen Malkrin, wiping away the splatter on her bracers. The guardswoman stared at the small pile of deceased creatures, her heavy breaths and widened eyes moving from the spear from her singular kill. The paladin huffed. “We are fort—ate that there were so few.”
“F-Few? God help us…” Her horrified, stunned gaze slowly met the paladin’s. “Y-You said there were hundreds on the crimson nights? H-How do you… They were s-so fast.”*
”As I h–ve warned,” Shar’khee affirmed.
“You are a paladin! You all exaggerate your feats… I thought it was just a facade!”
“I have no r—son to lie,” she returned tersely, shrugging off the insult to her station and shaking her head. “The mainl—d is far more dangerous than ten gnash—g beasts; more so than that of your island hamlet. Pick yourself up. We m—t inform the others of this incursion.”
The yellow-skinned female snarled, furrowing her brows at the ground in frustration. At whom…? Shar’khee? Herself? Regardless, the female promptly gathered her composure, pushing air through clenched jaws. A step forward had her feet splash in the small pool of blood, the Malkrin nodding toward the paladin to continue back to the castles.
“…for the village.”
Shar’khee paused in her stride and faced her, frowning at the determination and anger leaking through the intent. “W—t was that?”
Her question was returned with honesty, a huffed voice marred by vexation. “Paladin, how am I to defend my village-mates as I am now?”
“‘As you are now?’ What do you m—n?”
The guardswoman stared down at her spear, wood creaking under her grip. “I have faltered before what you deem a paltry threat, and the thought of an even greater one sows dread deep within my bones. I wish… I wish to be better prepared to defend those of my village. I cannot help but see their faces on those of the furred creature in the clearing, and yet, even if I am so close, I am just as unable to protect them.”
Shar’khee stared down the yellow female, a long gaze taking in a rare showing of sincerity. “Y—r fears are one we all share, new one. Do not be ashamed of them. All t—t matters is that you do not let them rem—n mere fear, but make them your strength. So tell me, do you wish to impr—e? To ensure they do not fall while you are support—g them?”
The yellow-skinned female released a shuddering breath that bled off the worst of her indecision, a newly invoked flame flaring within her visage. “I do, paladin. I seek to protect and to be of use.”
“Then, if you wish to make y—rself resilient in the face of all that opposes us, it would be my undertak—g to forge you anew. Fortunately, Harrison has ordered such already, and his guidance shall prove ever useful, should you pursue it.”
The guardswoman shuffled in place at the star-sent’s mention, her eyes slipping downwards. “He is of a great many resources, but I would rather receive your teachings than those of a craftsman… or that of a male, deity-sent he might be.”
She placed a palm on the female’s shoulder. “He is far more than you might ever k—w. Regardless of if you ac—pt his guidance, I commend your conviction. However—” Her hand gripped tighter, though not enough to instill hostility. “—understand that you are protecting more than just your vi—age-mates.”
The new one nodded, staring up at the paladin with stallwart resolve. “Of course. I shall be in your tutelage, then.”
Shar’khee smiled. “T—n let us begin.”
\= = = = =
Akula was becoming increasingly certain that she knew how her parents once felt. The green-skinned fisherwoman was currently rotating between the many tasks placed upon her, guiding the newcomers through the minutia of their tasks so they might live up to the potential Harrison saw within them. She was gratified to have her own talents recognized by the Creator, but it also placed a great many responsibilities in her talons. Of course, she handled each new addition with finesse befitting her heritage, never once balking from the increasing demands. If anything, she felt validated; it was required of her as a female anyway, was it not? The more feminine-appropriate labor and management one undertakes, the higher authority they were granted.
It began with a simple assignment to oversee the chef’s introduction to the star-sent’s provided cooking appliances. As fascinating and convenient as utilities were, she held no interest in preparing any more food than she already had, but teaching another to operate the machines would alleviate such requirements of her. She reluctantly accepted the task when it was proposed, especially considering the fact that Harrison was much too busy with his other projects to bother with something as benign as cooking. His work was more valuable elsewhere.
The task itself went well, and the pink-skinned chef was quick to pick up on the use of the various kitchen devices, as well as the smoker. A grin had grown when she considered the possibility of all males understanding such domestic things readily, yet her mirth at removing the masculine job required of her was short-lived. Despite the newly initiated Malkrin’s success, Harrison had Akula frequently return to oversee the numerous cooking operations being conducted. That was in tandem with the back-to-back fishing trips made by both herself and the newly acquired females.
…Which was something else the green-skinned cycle-worshipper was ordered to oversee.
She had left the chef to his devices after producing another batch of partially seasoned meals, returning to the Creator with hopes of a break. He applauded her efforts with a nod and tersely spoken appreciation, then quickly pushed two spearguns into her hand and directed her to the ocean, where the twins were ‘working with jack shit,’ as the busy male said. She was to give the fisherwomen the tools and make sure they were used properly, and offer additional assistance in acquiring ‘enough fish to have us fed for a little bit.’
So, she left to complete the given task, feeling somewhat appreciative that her speargun was of superior quality to those she would be delivering—the newcomers were only afforded the lesser, roped-bolt version. It was only natural that she was in possession of their greatest assets, of course; the star-sent saw her as the only one capable of wielding such fantastic ammunition, showing trust that was rightfully placed in her. That did not mean the gray-skinned females were unsatisfied with their own gifts, however. The twins were swiftly caught up on the ‘manual of arms’ and sent to work, somehow managing to keep up with Akula in spite of their land-based origins. The two were fast enough to outpace the cycle-worshipper in sheer speed, but their lack of numerous winters spent traversing deeper waters meant they required frequent rests, breaking the ocean’s surface after every third captured fish or so.
Still, she had to appreciate their dedication to their task. They never complained about Akula pushing them further to reach the star-sent’s vague objective. Such a task was entrusted to her—and by proxy, the other two—and thus it would be completed, no matter how much her comfortable bed… couch called her tiring muscles.
The group of three hauled net after full net of fresh meat to the chef—and sewist, who later joined him—forcing him to relegate much of the catch to long-term storage as the kitchen simply could not deal with the surplus. At least three-quarters of the fish were put to slow cook in the now Malkrin-sized smoker. The craftsman had upgraded it with a kit provided by Harrison, who had recycled much of the dining room and workshop furniture to accommodate it. The Creator’s showcased urgency to gather materials was clearly not unfounded… It was admirable how he used what little he had left to ensure food would not be scarce. Additionally, the apparatus exuded an excellent scent for all the survivors to enjoy, the earthy aroma drawing in some of the other Malkrin for their breaks or meals.
Those were not the end of the cycle-worshiper’s tasks, however. She was also required to report on Shar’khee’s progress in training the guardswoman—helping to recycle the small swarm of abhorrent they cleared earlier—as well as the wood storage building’s progress. Indeed, she was advising and assisting however and wherever applicable. To say she was seen all around the settlement would be an understatement.
Nevertheless, she was appreciative to see her efforts bearing fruit by sundown. The processing of their meals from sea to plate was quite efficient, and those that Akula taught were now well-practiced in their duties. The twin fisherwomen dove from wave to wave, bringing fish back to the barracks, where the cook and sewist swiftly worked to transfer the meat to pans and smoker hooks alike. Then, the remnants of the Sea Goddess’ aquatic gifts would be subsequently recycled and given purpose anew as biofuel or perhaps future fertilizer.
The endless onslaught of duties and responsibilities had enlightened her, in a way. She could see where Harrison came from now; having a working project go from one point to another without input nor difficulty was a sight to behold, and it made her swell with pride. It was a surmountable feat to teach the barbaric ground-worshippers to do something properly.
…Well, they were not horrible Malkrin, so perhaps simply calling them ‘uninitiated’ was a more apt descriptor…
No matter the tribulations faced, and no matter how draining her new authority might be, her rest at the end of the day would be one that was well-earned, and it would be had with a sense of satisfaction. She deserved it, and perhaps that extended to the rest of the settlement as well.
- - - - -
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Next time on Total Drama Anomaly Island - Mine! Mine! Mine!

So the CN livestream ended. Here is what they showed us. Pre-download starts at 21/5 at 18:00 (EST). The official release is at 23/5 (GMT+8).

• New stories (and chapters), bounty mission, map, zone bosses etc. beyond the CBT2 people played. Things we havent seen before. FPS support is 120.
  
• During Overworld exploration stamina will not deplete when you sprint in certain areas. Also there are more hook points for a better exploration experience.
  
• Echoes improvement: Reduced stamina consumption for improvement of echoes. We can use Echoes to fly or ride (duration unknown). Faster zone refresh. Reduced animations to save time during farming echoes. You can salvage 5 echoes you dont want to obtain 2 random echoes. If you fodder an upgraded echo to raise another echo you get materials back. Increased the number of mobs making it easier to farm for more echoes. You can also get echoes from events. If you get a shiny echo you get a skin, that way you can use that skin to any echo you want.
  

-New player benefits and experiences: On DAY 1 via mail we get 10 materials. 80k gold. 200 premium currency. New avatar icon. 20 standard banner summons. Free 4star weapon selector.(all that thanks to 30m pre-registrations) The 5star pity is 80 summons (classic 50-50). The 5star weapon banner has no 50-50. It has 100% guarantee. We also have a standard weapon banner that guarantees you the specific weapon you want (weapon selector) there is no 50-50 there as well. We get a 5star standard selector after using 80 pulls. Special currency that you can use to trade "constellations"(up to 2) and other items. Daily login that gives you 4 limited summons 4 standards and a 4star character. World Level up rewards gives 40 standard summons, 5star weapon selector and 6 stamina fuel. We also get as a thank you from Devs 10 standards summons as well 10 limited summons

I still play every chance I get but everytime I login and see my maxed samples, maxed medals and max requisitions slips /sigh 😔
The player has no incentive to pick up said items besides for teammates. There needs to be some possible way to start dumping your maxed supplies.
I don't believe increasing the levels will change anything but eventually put the player back where it started.
Idea:
The module has to be unlocked to gain access to the weapons customization (Spending x amount of samples , RS , Medals).
Once the module is bought, it'll have it own station on your ship where you can customize your weapon skins.
Similar to how deep rock galactic works and say call of duty golden era days (mw4 , BOps1 etc). You have to kill x amount with x weapon to unlock/buy your skin with your supplies.
Skins will not be neon fornite colors, basic colors and camo colors but once you reach the max color you can restart going into a prestige mode where a small golden Helldiver skull will be added onto your weapon thus starting the process over.

What if, here me out, unit skin changed the units stats? Stupid I know. But this has been bugging me for 4 days know and I really wanted to share my ideas so, here you go.
(This was originally posted on the DA:ZW discord by me but I also wanted to share it here)

Bombardier - Explosive resistance: 0% → 90% - Base critical damage: 10% → 30% - Speed: 5 → 4 Special Ability: Gains invincibility for 2 seconds once health reaches 10%
Bulldozer - Shield health: equal to 50% of units health → equal to 60% of units health - Critical attacks now deal base damage to barricade Special Ability: Stuns enemies with critical attack
Court Jester - Valor: 600 → 9999 - Charisma: 500 → -300 - instills fear debuff to all enemy units upon exiting the bus Special Ability: Drops 5 rage for every enemy killed in critical attack
Tactical Ranger - Reloading period: 2.0 seconds → 1.4 seconds - Speed: 11 → 12 - Agility: 80 → 60 Special Ability: Dodge distance is equal to units agility
TMF Ranger - Poison resistance: 0% → 100% - Doesn't turn into a zombie upon death - Performs melee attack with knockback whenever enemy is in front of unit Special Ability: Bullets will occasionally set enemies on fire
Surgeon Lt. Special Ability: Medkits will now give units shield equal to 50% of their max health
Nurse Hirsch Special Ability: Medkits will now remove units negative effects
Rodriguez Special Ability: For every Rodriguez killed in the battlefield, every other Rodriguez will receive a 2% damage buff
Rebel - Bullet resistance: 0% → 90% - Speed: 6 → 8 - Cost: 20 → 25 Special ability: Deals double damage to enemies set on fire ( by Mr. Cheese #1 Lionheart Fan )
Desperado - Speed: 6 → 8 - Agility: 90 → 80 - Reloading period: 2.5 seconds → 2.0 seconds - Melee resistance: 50% → 25% Special ability: Only needs to load one bullet to fill entire shotgun with ammo
Mechanic Diaz - Heals 10% of bus health whenever exiting the bus (only works when 2/2 mechanics power is activated) - 30% chance to spawn turret whenever exiting the bus (only works when 3/3 mechanics power is activated) Special Ability: Gains double ammo capacity
Sonya Parker - Melee critical chance: 40% → 60% - Agility: 60 → 70 Special Ability: Knockback distance is now equal to units Agility
Waterboy Special Ability: For every waterboy thats present in the battlefield, all units will gain a 50% valor and charisma buff
Coach Special Ability: Will now buff all units with max agility and aggression
Mountie - Speed: 7 → 8 - Melee resistance: 0% → 25% - Healing cool down: 60 seconds → 45 seconds Special Ability: Gains shield equal to 30% of his health (Can stack with 5/5 police power)
Clown Chopper - Valor: 300 → 9999 - Charisma: 600 → -300 - Clown Chopper's laugh will now instill fear onto a random enemy unit on the battlefield Special Ability: Enemy will pause for 2 seconds before attacking chopper

This are some of the ideas I have right now but I'll add more later.
Also, feel free to give your own Ideas!