Laras stepped out of her chamber, her legs trembling slightly, the cold metal door sliding shut behind her with a mechanical hiss. Two Game Agents in their black uniforms stood waiting. Without a word, they gestured for her to move. She followed obediently through a dim corridor lit by flickering white lights.
When they reached the main hall, Laras froze. The wide metallic chamber that once echoed with hundreds of voices now felt hauntingly empty. What had once been a crowd of desperate participants was now reduced to a few dozen survivors. Most of the ones remaining were either hardened criminals or members of the underworld — Darian, Riley, and fragments of their gangs. Even among them, many familiar faces were missing.
The silence was thick, interrupted only by the faint hum of the neon-blue ceiling lights. The surviving players stood apart from one another — wary, observing, calculating. Each one looked like a different breed of survivor: some were trembling, others stone-faced, and a few — like Ryota — acted as if nothing in the world had happened.
Ryota leaned casually against a pillar, whistling softly, his fingers tapping the rhythm against his thigh. His carefree tone drew glares from several players nearby.
Gyumin turned sharply toward him, his voice edged with irritation."Ryota… what the hell is wrong with you?"
Ryota turned, still whistling mid-note, and smirked."What? I'm not that good at whistling. Just practicing."
Gyumin blinked, his expression turning into a frown."Here? After this?"
Ryota shrugged. "Well, of course. You know, I might die soon — my partner, Vayunesh Athishay, already did. Didn't expect him to be that weak. Though, to be fair, I won my round mostly on luck too."
A few nearby gang members muttered under their breath, visibly annoyed by Ryota's tone. He noticed and smirked wider.
Gyumin exhaled sharply. "Can you stop yapping for a moment?"
Areumseo placed a gentle hand on Gyumin's arm, whispering, "Let it go. He's just trying to lighten the mood."
Before Ryota could retort, the heavy metallic doors on the far end of the hall creaked open. A slow, echoing sound filled the silence as the players turned toward the entrance. From the dark corridor where the Speechlock chambers were located, a figure appeared — hands in his pockets, steps calm, expression unreadable.
It was Vayunesh Athishay.
The room fell silent.
For a few seconds, even the Game Agents at the corners turned their heads. His expression carried no sign of exhaustion or fear — only composure, and something deeper… confidence.
Ryota's whistling stopped abruptly. He blinked once and then grinned."Well, look who's alive."
Vayunesh smirked faintly as he walked closer, his voice calm yet heavy."Well, Ryota… glad to see you're alive too."
Ryota chuckled. "So you actually made it through, huh? Damn, I was already planning a small eulogy."
Vayunesh gave a subtle nod. "Guess you'll have to postpone it."
As the two met eyes across the silent hall, an unspoken tension passed between them — one of understanding and rivalry both. Around them, the others remained quiet, sensing that the next game was about to begin… and that the ones standing here now were no longer the same people who had entered.