Seven minutes had passed.
The number of survivors: 15
Impostors left: 5
…
Kevin was nervous—naturally.
He walked through the darkness with only the faint glow from his sword guiding the way. The blade gave off a soft light, just enough to see the ground and avoid bumping into pillars or walls.
Earlier, they had all been informed that a limited amount of illumination was allowed. That was why Kevin risked activating the weak glow—he needed something, anything, to move without stumbling around blind.
Beside him, Natalie kept pace with steady steps.
They had been together from the very beginning of this contest, sticking close without needing to discuss it. Something about pairing up had felt right.
Maybe it was habit, maybe instinct, or maybe simple fear of the unknown. Step after careful step, they moved toward where they hoped the entrance would be. The hall was huge, the darkness almost alive, and each sound echoed in a way that made it impossible to guess distances.
