She grabbed a rock from the ground and hurled it straight ahead. Burrowfang had its back turned—exactly the opportunity she'd been waiting for.
"Haaa!"
Emiko screamed, charging forward with the knife, slashing wildly at the creature. Its thick skin barely flinched. The monster's low growl rattled her bones.
A moment later, Emiko was tossed aside. The beast pinned her down. Even taking a breath could cost her life. She lay there, sweat dripping, praying the monster would get off her.
She reached for another stone and threw it—hard.
Click.
System: Its weakest point is the nape. You may not get another chance.
Without wasting a second, she grabbed the knife and threw it at Burrowfang's neck.
"Direct hit ♤"
A perfect strike. The creature collapsed instantly.
She smirked, a flicker of pride crossing her face. "What did you take me for ;)"
Right then, a door creaked open from across the street.
Emiko didn't hesitate. She rushed inside.
There it was the "End Game" button.
She hit it without thinking.
The game was over.
But nothing ended.
Two choices flashed in front of her:
"Be Executed" or "Select 5 Sacrificial Players."
"No! Can anyone hear me? What the hell is this?! The game's over!"
No reply.
System: Emiko, we're out of time. When the countdown hits zero, the game deletes itself. Stay logical.
Phone contacts are visible.
You can pick from them.
This connection will now terminate.
Final 15 seconds.
You piece of...
5 Sacrificial Players Selected:
Hiroshi Sato (24)
Ayumi Ishida (21)
Yuta Fujiwara (20)
Jin Arata (26)
Ryuji Kaito (27)
Female Employee: "Excuse me? Can you open the door?"
Click "door unlocks."
Female Employee: "Wait, why are you in the men's bathroom, miss?"
Emiko blinked in confusion.
"Did we... come back?"
Female Employee: "Come back? What do you mean, miss?"
Emiko scanned the mirror and realized—someone was standing right behind her.
Female Employee: "It's 1:38 AM. The store closed at 10:30. How did you get in here?"
Emiko (thinking): "1:38...? Only eight minutes passed?"
"The door was open. I just came in for a snack. Waited, but you weren't here. Someone else came in and left quietly."
Female Employee: "You must've had a bit too much to drink. Maybe you passed out in here. No one was seen on the cameras. Motion sensors triggered the alarm, so I came straight from home. The door was locked. You probably snuck in before it shut."
Emiko nodded silently, hoping the woman wouldn't call the police. She left the store without further explanation.
On the way out, she called her brother. The store had been closed, so he said he'd gone to a further one.
She finally reached home. Took a shower. Lay in bed, eyes wide open.
"I was in there for hours... but only eight minutes passed?"
She grabbed her phone.
There it was—a countdown in the top right corner.
Time left until the next game.
She couldn't understand how something like this existed outside real time.
Then she remembered the creatures. The ones she fought.
She powered on her laptop and started digging.
Were they... just toys?
Apparently, they were horror-themed collectibles from the '80s, now part of an exhibit in a Tokyo museum.
There was an address printed on the box.
Across from the Little Apple Market, pink building, Tokyo.
That was it.
She spent the entire night researching.
Beep beep — her morning alarm.
Ryuji: "Morning."
Emiko: "Morning, bro."
Ryuji: "Why are you dressed? It's the weekend, no school today."
Emiko: "Yeah, I know. Just have some errands. Need to stop by the market."
Ryuji: "Alright, if you say so. Want breakfast?"
Emiko: "You enjoy, I'm heading out."
She got on the first bus and made her way to the address.
Ryuji couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
For two days now, he kept thinking, "What's up with this girl?"
After breakfast, he went into her room.
He scanned quickly.
Laptop was there. He sat down and opened it.
Ryuji (to himself): "Let's see, Emiko… What's all this rushing about? Meeting someone?"
He opened the browser.
Ryuji: "Why is your search history such a mess?"
"Burrowfang? Jinkui Kumo? What even are these?"
(Images appeared.)
No. No way.
They were monsters—from the game.
What could Emiko possibly have to do with them?
Unless... she was part of it too?
Had the system reached her as well?
Wait. If she was researching these monsters...
He leaned closer, hands trembling.
Opened the Warrealm registration page. Found Emiko's user data.
(Shocked.)
"You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, sis."
He scrolled and found the address.
Across from the Little Apple Market, pink building, Tokyo.
He had to get there. Fast.
Emiko (inner voice): "So this is the museum... Let's see what's waiting inside."
The door opens with a gentle "trinck."