Chapter 15: Betrayal's Sting
The Beach arena was a desolate husk, lit only by a lurid 8♥ neon that cast a sickly glow over the ash-swirled sand. The air was heavy with despair, not from the game—a simple capture-the-flag variant—but from the faces around them. They'd chosen to play one last minor game to extend their visas before escaping, bringing two new allies. Taku, a wiry man with nervous eyes, fidgeted constantly, his fingers twitching at his sides, his sweat gleaming under the neon. The other ally, a quiet woman named Hana, stood still, her calm a stark contrast to Taku's unease. Kirito's sweat stung his eyes, his intuition screaming danger.
"Something's off. Taku's twitchier than a cornered rat," he thought, his hand brushing his phone.
[SYSTEM: HOST STATUS.]
[STRENGTH: 5. AGILITY: 7. STAMINA: 6. SYSTEM POINTS (SP): 550.]
He tried to ease the tension with a flirtatious glance at Hana, a pretext to test the waters.
[SYSTEM: FLIRTATION PROTOCOL ENGAGED. SUCCESS CHANCE: LOW.]
[SYSTEM: DEBUFF TRIGGER: FLIRTY FUMBLE. MANDATORY 15-SECOND NON-LETHAL FAILURE. PUNISH: DRAMATIC WINK.]
His face seized, his eye clamping shut in an exaggerated, slow-motion wink, his head tilting theatrically. Taku's nervous laugh cracked the silence, high-pitched and brittle, betraying his guilt.
"Got you," Kirito thought, seizing the moment.
[SYSTEM: QUERY: INITIATE 'LIE DETECTOR' (COST: 50 SP)? TARGET: TAKU. SKILL: TRAITOR STATUS.]
"Confirm it. Fast," he commanded.
[SYSTEM: LIE DETECTOR ACTIVE. TRAITOR STATUS: YES. MOTIVATION: FEAR/CULT BRIBE. TOTAL SP: 500.]
"Taku, that laugh was a bit much for a bad wink. What's so funny?" Kirito asked, his voice sharp, cutting through the ash-heavy air.
Taku's eyes darted, his sly grin collapsing into grimy sweat as he pulled a wicked knife, its glint a brutal slash in the neon light. "It's Kuina!" he shrieked, pointing the blade at her. "She's the mole! She sold us out! Kill her!"
The accusation hit like a physical blow, despair ripping through the team. Kuina's cigarette trembled, her grin gone, her eyes narrowing. Arisu spoke first, her voice cold and logical. "That's nonsense. Kuina's our anchor. Your knife's on our strongest player. You're the traitor."
Usagi moved in a blur, her boots kicking ash as she shoved Taku with brutal force, sending him sprawling, the knife skittering away. Hana stepped back, her calm unbroken, her nod confirming her loyalty. Kirito's heart pounded, but their unity sparked defiance.
"The team holds!" he shouted. "Ignore him! Grab the flag!"
They finished the game in a furious sprint, rage fueling their moves. Taku lay whimpering in the ash, forgotten as the neon 8♥ dimmed, their visas extended by eight hours.
[SYSTEM: 8♥ VICTORY REGISTERED. SP GAIN: +80 SP. TOTAL: 580.]
They fled to the shore, the midnight sky heavy with ash, the stars faint above. Kuina's cigarette glowed red, her voice flat but fierce. "I hate traitors."
[SYSTEM: PUZZLE INITIATED. COST: 0 SP. OBJECTIVE: FINALIZE BEACH ESCAPE ROUTE.]
Arisu leaned against a rock, her body trembling slightly. "Hatter's wrath is next. We broke his system. He'll send the whole cult after us."
Usagi's eyes scanned the dark perimeter, her voice tight. "They'll hunt us into the wasteland."
Kuina's warmth cut through the fear, her grin returning. "Hatter's just a crybaby with too much power. We beat their mind game and their sneak attack. We're tougher."
Kirito's quip sealed their resolve, his grin defiant. "Kuina's right. We'll ditch this party with style, leave them with ash and a broken poker chip."
The dawn's glow warmed their faces in the hotel room, the escape plan simple: run. Kirito's phone projected a glowing path through the ruins, its 99% viability a fragile hope.
[SYSTEM: PUZZLE CHECK. COST: 0 SP. ESCAPE PATH VIABILITY: 99%.]
Usagi's fear lingered, her voice low. "They'll follow us out there."
Arisu nodded, but her eyes were on the map, her fear tempered by strategy.
[SYSTEM: 8♥ VICTORY CONFIRMED. SP GAIN: +80 SP. TOTAL: 660.]
Kirito's voice was firm, his quip a final spark. "Let them chase. We've got a head start, a plan, and no more traitors."
Their footsteps echoed, crunching through the ash as they moved toward the wasteland, the Beach's neon fading behind them, Hatter's wrath a looming shadow they were ready to outrun.
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