The air was thick with blood and fear. Everyone's breathing was ragged, their bodies trembling from the chaos of the second trial.
Martin wiped the sweat from his brow, gripping his sword tightly. His voice was hoarse, yet steady.
"We somehow managed to pass the second trial. Now, wha—"
"JUN!!! WATCH OUT!"
Mira's scream cut through his words like a blade.
—SWOOSH!
A massive shadow loomed behind Jun. One of the twelve statues had moved again, its colossal stone sword cleaving down with terrifying speed.
Jun spun around instinctively, eyes wide. "Tch—!"
—BOOOM!
The sword struck the ground, stone shattering like glass. Dust exploded into the air. Jun barely rolled aside, but his body wasn't fast enough to completely escape.
CRACK!
"A-ahhhh!!"
Agonizing pain tore through him as the blade grazed across his legs, splitting flesh and bone. His body collapsed to the cold ground, blood pooling instantly beneath him.
"JUN!!!" Mira cried, rushing toward him.
Jun's lips trembled, his face twisted in pain, but he forced himself not to scream. His legs… they were gone.
Before anyone could even react—
—GRRRRRRMM!!
Every single statue in the room began to tremble. One by one, their colossal bodies lurched forward, stone joints grinding like thunder. Twelve sets of glowing eyes locked onto the hunters.
The ground quaked as their massive feet pounded forward.
Martin's face turned pale. "No… no way. They're all moving now?!"
And then—
[THE THIRD TRIAL OF THE STATUE GOD'S TEMPLE HAS BEGUN.]
[PROVE YOUR LOYALTY.]
The mechanical voice echoed throughout the chamber, cold and merciless.
The hunters froze, hearts pounding in terror, as the statues closed in.
—RUMMMBLE!
Another statue raised its stone blade high, its shadow swallowing Jun's broken body whole.
"JUN!!!" Mira screamed again, tears blurring her vision.
The sword came down like judgment itself.
—CLAAAAAANG!!
Steel met stone. Sparks burst in every direction.
"Ghhh—!!" Martin gritted his teeth as his arms shook under the crushing weight of the statue's strike. His sword vibrated, threatening to snap in half, but somehow he held on.
"Old man…" Jun coughed blood, voice weak.
Martin roared, pushing the statue's weapon back with all his strength. "Don't you dare die on us, Jun!"
The colossal statue stumbled back a single step, its glowing eyes narrowing like a predator denied its prey.
And then—
—RUMMMMBBBLLLEEEEE!!!
The ground beneath them began to quake. At the center of the chamber, the stone floor split open. Dust rose as cracks spread outward in jagged lines.
From the darkness below, something massive began to emerge.
A circular platform of stone rose slowly, carved with intricate patterns glowing faintly with golden light. Its surface resembled an altar, yet colder, heavier—as though it was never meant for prayer but for something far darker.
The hunters instinctively stepped back, eyes wide as the platform finally locked into place with a heavy BOOM.
And then the voice came again, merciless and mechanical.
[ MOVE TO THE CENTER. ]
The statues all froze at once, weapons raised, their glowing eyes fixed on the hunters as if daring them to disobey.
Martin tightened his grip on Jun, lifting the blood-soaked youth onto his back. "Everyone, move. Now!"
The hunters exchanged fearful glances, but none dared to resist. Slowly, step by step, they gathered onto the newly risen platform. The sound of their boots echoed against the cold stone, each step heavier than the last.
Jun's blood dripped across Martin's armor, leaving a crimson trail behind them. Mira clung close, her hands shaking, lips moving in silent prayer.
The air grew colder. The statues' eyes flared brighter.
And then the voice spoke once more.
[ THE THIRD TRIAL IS— ]
A pause.
The hunters' breaths caught in their throats.
[ SACRIFICE ONE PERSON TO THE STATUE GOD. ]
Silence.
No one moved. No one breathed.
And then the weight of those words crashed upon them like a guillotine.
—KUUUUUUUUUUNG!
The voice reverberated once again, cold and merciless.
[ THE ONE THAT WILL BE SACRIFICED SHOULD BE DECIDED IN 2 MINUTES. ]
[ THE OTHERS CAN GO OUT. ]
With a grinding rumble, the colossal stone door of the chamber creaked open, spilling faint light from the outside corridor.
No one moved.
Every hunter's face turned pale as they realized the meaning of the voice.
"…Sacrifice?" Mira whispered, trembling.
Finn's body shook. He suddenly dropped his sword. "N-No… I can't. My wife… my wife is pregnant. I have a family to protect!" His eyes darted to the open door, wild with desperation. "I-I'm sorry!"
And before anyone could stop him, Finn bolted, his footsteps echoing as he disappeared beyond the door.
"Finn!" Martin roared, but his voice was swallowed by silence.
Jun exhaled slowly, sweat mixing with the blood running down his legs. He turned to Martin, voice steady despite his trembling body. "Captain… take Mira. Leave this place."
Mira's eyes widened. "No! I won't leave you, Jun! Don't you dare say that!"
Jun gave her a faint smile, even as his body shook with weakness. "There's no time. Look at me—I've already lost my legs. I can't walk. I should be the one to stay."
Mira shook her head violently, tears falling. "I don't care! I don't care about that! I'm not leaving you!"
"Mira…"
Suddenly— THUD!
Her eyes rolled back as Martin struck her gently on the neck, catching her before she collapsed. He laid her down carefully, his expression grim.
"…I'm sorry, Jun." Martin's voice cracked. "As the captain, I should be the one to—"
Jun cut him off with a smile. "…Don't. I became the captain later, didn't I? That means… this is my duty."
Martin froze, fists trembling. Then, after a long silence, he nodded. "…Thank you, Jun." His voice was hoarse as he lifted Mira into his arms and stepped toward the light of the open door.
Jun watched him leave, the chamber echoing with the fading sound of Martin's footsteps.
And then—
—GRRRRRRNNNHHH!!!
The statues began to move again.
Jun lowered his head, blood dripping onto the cold stone floor. So this is it…
The first strike came—a stone boot slammed into his chest.
—BOOOM!!
"Guaghhh!!" He coughed blood as he was kicked across the floor.
Another blow followed, a massive stone fist crashing into his ribs.
—CRACK!!
"Arghhh—!!"
The statues didn't kill him immediately. They toyed with him, beating him mercilessly, swords slicing shallow wounds into his flesh, kicks sending him sprawling, fists smashing into his body until every breath burned.
Jun's vision blurred, his mind screaming in agony. This is hell. It's really… like hell.
Blood dripped from his lips as despair clawed at his heart. Why… why did it have to be me? Just because they had families? I also… I also have family. I have to take care of her.
Tears mixed with blood on his face. What will my sister do… if I die here? I don't want to die. Not like this… why is it always me?!
—DOOM!
One of the statues grabbed him and hurled him onto the circular stone platform at the center of the chamber. His broken body slammed against its surface.
The statues raised their massive swords, shadows looming over him like death itself.
Jun lay there, his eyes half-closed, whispering in his heart. So… this is the end.
The blades came down.
—SHUUUUUK!!!
Darkness swallowed him whole.
…
But then—
—BZZZZZT!!
A faint, glitching light flickered before his fading consciousness.
A translucent panel appeared, blurry and unstable, static lines crawling across it.
[ ERROR. ]
[ ERROR. ]
[ SYSTEM MALFUNCTION DETECTED. ]
Jun's dying breath froze as his soul trembled.
The broken panel stabilized.
And then the final words appeared:
[ YOU HAVE DIED. ]
[ YOU HAVE MET THE CONDITION TO BECOME A PLAYER. ]
—TOOOOOONNNNNG!!!
The chamber went dark.