As the darkness receded, the group slowly regained consciousness. Anya's gaze fluttered open, and she found herself back in the ominous hall where their nightmare had begun.
"Where are we? What happened?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion and fear.
Gyeon Wo's eyes were wild with desperation.
"Are we going to play another game to survive?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Mr. Han Daon's groans filled the air as he struggled to sit up, his injuries still fresh. Mrs. Han Daon's expression turned stern. "Take him to the medical room. I'll examine him," she ordered, her voice firm and commanding.
As Sangwon and Gyeon Wo rushed Mr. Han Daon to the medical room, Mrs. Han Daon began her examination.
The eerie voice boomed through the hall once more, its tone dripping with malevolence. "Did you all enjoy your little break? How's it going back to this place? Don't worry, you can venture back into that beautiful, yet treacherous, magical realm. And yes, this hall, this entire atmosphere, is infused with magic – a magic that binds you, tests you, and pushes you to the limits of survival."
Hanjuk's voice dripped with sarcasm. "What about that man, whose wife is a doctor? How's he supposed to play?" He chuckled darkly.
The mysterious voice boomed, its tone eerily amused. "Hahaha, for now, all of you must follow the red light once more. It will guide you to your designated rooms, where you'll find temporary respite after each grueling survival challenge. Your team number will be your room number."
Wendy's voice trembled with desperation. "Are we ever going back to our world? Are we trapped here for an eternity? Or are we forced to survive until the bitter end, where death is the only alternative?"
As the group followed the red light, Sangwon and Gyeon Wo supported Mr. Han Daon, their faces etched with concern.As the group followed the red light, Sangwon and Gyeon Wo supported Mr. Han Daon, their faces etched with concern.
As they navigated the dimly lit corridors, the group stumbled upon rows of rooms with numbers etched ominously on the doors. The air was heavy with an unsettling chill, and the entire place resembled a twisted jigsaw puzzle.
"Each room has a partition," Emma whispered to Anya. "We'll be sharing the space with another team, separated only by a thin divide."
Anya's eyes widened in unease. "What does that mean for us?"
The mysterious voice echoed through the hallway, its tone dripping with malevolence. "The partition is more than just a divider. It's a reminder that you're not alone, but not quite together either."
In another room, a heated argument erupted between Malsook and Hanjuk. "I don't want to be paired with you," Malsook spat. "You're disgusting." Hanjuk's response was laced with a sinister calmness. "Survival is about doing whatever it takes. Get used to it."
Meanwhile, Sangwon and Gyeon Wo helped Mr. Han Daon to his room.
Anya's thoughts drifted into the darkness, her mind racing with questions. "What is this twisted world? Is it a realm of nightmares?" she wondered, detached from the others' hushed discussions about the rooms and the next survival challenge.
As she pondered, her gaze fell upon the rooms, each adorned with a green or red light. Green signified occupancy, while red indicated emptiness. Suddenly, Hanjuk loomed before her, his eyes gleaming with sinister intent.
"You're alone, and alone is vulnerable," he whispered, his voice dripping with malice. "You're beautiful. Would you like to be with me?" He reached out, his hand grasping for hers.
Anya's reaction was instantaneous. "Stay away from me, you monster!" she spat, her voice firm and resolute. "We all saw what you did to that team. You're not human; you're a beast."
Hanjuk's smile twisted, his eyes flashing with amusement. "Ah, you're not as fragile as you seem. I like that," he said, his voice low and menacing.
Just as Sangwon was about to intervene, Anya's words had already defused the situation, leaving Hanjuk to revel in his own twisted fascination. Sangwon's eyes lingered on Anya, a hint of pride and admiration flickering across his face.
As the room plunged into darkness, Gyeon Wo and Emma settled into their beds, their breathing slow and steady. Sangwon and Anya lay nearby, their beds separated by a narrow gap.
Sangwon's eyes closed, and he drifted off to sleep. Anya, however, remained awake, her gaze fixed on his peaceful face. She felt drawn to him, her heart filled with emotion.
As she looked at Sangwon, Anya's thoughts turned inward. "I'll protect you, Sangwon, no matter what," she silently vowed. "If I'm the reason you're here, I'll keep you safe. You're my everything, my first love."
As the morning light crept in, Sangwon's eyes fluttered open, and he gazed at Anya's peaceful face. She stirred, waking up to Emma's gentle inquiry, "Is everyone awake?"
The mysterious voice boomed, its tone dripping with malevolence, "After you devour your breakfast, the real challenge begins. Another day of survival... for those who are worthy." The voice's laughter sent shivers down their spines. "You still haven't figured out why you're here? How quaint. This game is about pushing your limits, testing your will to survive... and I'll be watching."
The ominous red light guided them to a cavernous room, where a long, ominous dining table awaited. The eerie silence was palpable as they sat down to eat, their wonder slowly giving way to unease.
"It's like feeding animals, not humans," Leena, a girl[1] around Anya's age, whispered, her voice laced with desperation. "They don't see us as people, just pawns to be used and discarded."
As they finished their meager breakfast, the voice boomed, "Let's begin the real game now."
The group was herded into a vast, dimly lit hall, the air thick with malevolent energy.
"Survival is not about compassion or kindness," the voice taunted, echoing off the walls. "It's about ruthlessness. Be merciless, or be eliminated. "
"[Protocol Initiated: 'Survival Mode'] Every team is now a target, thrust into a deadly game of survival.
Your mission: eliminate at least two rival teams while maintaining covert status.
[Termination Protocol Engaged]. The 'Termination Device' [TD-01] will be your instrument of destruction. Apply it to your target, and they'll be eliminated. As you claim their Power Markers [PM-01], you'll unlock enhanced abilities, amplifying your strength and cunning.
"Exceeding the minimum elimination quota will grant you access to 'Advantage Protocol' [AP-01], astrategic edge that will give you a decisive advantage over your opponents.
But beware: detection will trigger 'Protocol Omega' [PO-01], and you'll be the one who's terminated. The stakes are high, and the game is unforgiving. 'The game has begun,' the voice announces, 'and only the strongest will prevail.'"
"[Game Protocol: 'Survival Mode' Initiated].
You have access to the entire facility as your playground, but be warned: rooms marked with red lights are restricted [High-Risk Zones: Do Not Enter]. The game commences in 5 minutes. Prepare for initiation."
As the ominous voice faded into an unsettling silence, the room seemed to hold its breath. Heavy breathing filled the air, punctuated by the soft rustle of fabric and the creaking of tense muscles. Eyes darted around, locking onto potential threats, as suspicion, terror, and desperation to survive wrestled for dominance.
The countdown ticked away, each second stretching into an eternity. Then, suddenly, the alarm blared: "Game Start: [Survival Mode Engaged]."
Pandemonium erupted as players scrambled to find hiding spots, their frantic footsteps echoing through the facility like a chorus of chaos.
"We need a vantage point to survey the surroundings and eliminate our targets with ease!" Sangwon exclaimed, his voice low and urgent as they sprinted through the corridors.
He grasped Anya's hand, and they ducked into a medical room, its strategic location offering a clear view of the hallway. "Perfect spot, let's move in!"
The ominous voice echoed through the facility: "All players, be warned: you must relocate at least three times and change your hiding spot. Each spot can be occupied for only 15 minutes. Good luck, survivors... you'll need it!"
"We're running out of time!" Anya breathed, her eyes darting around the room. "We need to take out at least one team while we're here. This spot is too valuable to abandon – it's a death trap if we don't make the most of it!"
Just then, a sinister couple emerged from the shadows, their whispers hushed but menacing.
"Hah, let's eliminate more than two teams," the man sneered, his grin twisted and grotesque. "We'll slaughter them all and claim the advantage. Then, we'll escape this hellhole and return to our world!" His wife's smile mirrored his malevolence as they began stalking their prey.
"God, we have to take them out – now!" Anya whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "Should I go and find a chance to eliminate them? You can cover me then," she asked Sangwon, her eyes locked on the couple. "I'll take them out quietly, and you can watch our backs."
"It's too risky to go alone," Sangwon replied. "We'll take them down together, but first, let's watch their moves."
Anya thought, "I'd rather face the danger alone than put you in harm's way."
The couple outside seemed to sense their presence, their eyes fixed on the medical room. "Someone's hiding in there," the woman said to her partner, her voice cold.
As they were about to enter, they paused, listening to a voice. "There's a team nearby, let's get them first," the woman said. Sangwon pulled Anya closer, his arms wrapping around her as if to shield her from harm.
The sound of screams and pleas from a fallen team echoed through the facility, making Sangwon and Anya's anxiety grow. "They'll come back," Anya whispered. "We need a plan to take them down."
"They'll become nearly invincible after absorbing that team's powers," Anya said to Sangwon. "We need a strategy to counter them. I think our tattoos can be the key."
Sangwon's eyes narrowed. "How?"
"When the voice warned us not to underestimate the gifts of this magical world, I realized our tattoos have a unique property," Anya explained. "Each tattoo can temporarily neutralize another user's abilities for about two minutes. I've tested this myself – I used my butterfly tattoo[2] to disrupt my other tattoo's power, and it was effective."
Sangwon's expression turned thoughtful. "That could be our advantage. What's the plan?"
"I'll deploy my butterfly tattoo to incapacitate them momentarily, and during that window, we can strike decisively," Anya said. "This will give us the upper hand."
The couple's footsteps echoed outside the room, and Anya's gaze met Sangwon's. "Let's prepare to take them down."
As Anya's butterfly tattoo took effect, the couple's powers were disabled, leaving them stunned. Sangwon quickly took advantage of the opportunity and struck them down.
The couple cried out in shock, "What's happening? Why aren't our tattoos working? We have double powers – we should be unstoppable!"
A beep sounded, signaling their demise: "Beep... Team 40 is eliminated."
Anya and Sangwon absorbed the couple's tattoos, doubling their own powers.
With their newfound strength, they had only 1 minute to reach the next hiding spot. "Move now, or face elimination," the voice warned.
Just as they were about to move, the woman suddenly stabbed Anya's hand with a knife she had hidden during breakfast. "If we can't survive, neither will you," she hissed. "You'll die with us."
The countdown continued, "30 seconds left. Move, or be eliminated." The voice's urgency was clear – time was running out.
[1] Leena
[2] After combining the tattoos earlier, a full butterfly tattoo now marked Anya's wrist