Then the screen flickered.Another number appeared.
And it was...
...17.
Everyone started looking at their blocks—not at others', just their own.Because right now, only one thing mattered: their life.
That's when a light glowed on one of the blocks.All eyes turned to it.Three people stood on it:A middle-aged man, a girl, and an intimidating muscular man.
Yes... it was the block whereJohn, Emily, andKylewere standing.
"This can't be!"John said, eyes wide with shock.Even Kyle couldn't keep his emotions in check—fear appeared on his face.
Alas, even emotionless people become fanatics in front of death.So what is a special unit member?
Meanwhile, Emily stood completely still.Her face was blank.There was no movement in her body—as if she had already accepted her death.And a horrible one at that.
John turned to her, stunned by her expression.Then he looked back at the light.
And in that moment,he made a decision.
Either way… they would die.So why not try it?
John swung toward Emily, grabbed her hand—and jumped onto the next block.
Everyone was frozen. Even Kyle.But realizing he was moments away from death, Kyle also jumped.
"At least I'll know I tried,"he thought, mid-air.
Just like the previous block, the glowing one dropped—fast and violently.
A second later, the scene appeared on the screen.Beneath it: a pit ofmetal spikes, sharp and gleaming.
One hit would've meant death.
Then a red light appeared on the screen:
"Missing people from block.Security mode activating…Security mode activated and footage recovered.Players moved from original positions.Punishment will be applied.Calling the guide...Call connected."
After a short pause, an eerie voice came through the hidden speakers:
"Ahh... I see you changed blocks!Nice! I wanted to see someone die so badly!NOW YOU WILL BE GIVEN PUNISHMENT!!!HAHAHAHA!!"
...…
After a full minute of laughing and intimidating the players, the voice returned:
"You will be given the punishment to—"
Suddenly, the voicecut off.
And after a moment...
"Ahem… Players, this round has been cancelled.You will now be passed to the next floor."
DAMMIT!A voice of rage echoed from the other side of the speaker.
What just happened?
How did the floor get cancelled?And why—right at the moment when those three were about to be punished?
Are they one of them?
All of these questions lingered in the minds of the players.
John, Emily, and Kyle looked just as surprised.Their faces didn't carry the expression of someone"in on it."
Since the round ended without more casualties, the others were relieved.The door to the resting room opened.
This time, however, the mood had changed.No one smiled.
Now, theystared—at John, Emily, and Kyle.
The three sat on their beds, exactly like before.
"Ahhh, this is messed up,"Kyle muttered.
"Yeah,"John replied."I'm also wondering how we even survived."
"It's likely someone superior to that guide interrupted the game,"Kyle said."Maybe the Special Unit has found this place."
He smiled with a glimmer of hope.
"If that's true,"John added,"this hellish game might end soon."
"I bet it will!"Kyle replied, still smiling.
Just then, adoor openedinside the room.
The same guard from the previous floor entered.Everyone stared.
Another floor?Are we going to die again?It's because of those three!
These thoughts echoed in everyone's mind.
The guard walked over to John.
"Players Kyle, John, and Emily…The Guide is calling for you."
"Us?!"they all reacted in surprise.
Why was the Guide calling them?Was this their punishment?
But it's not like they had a choice.
The three stood up and followed the guard into the unknown—a roomno other player had entered before.
Everyone watched with quiet tension.
One voice broke the silence:
"It's them! They're with these people!" a player shouted.
And with that—the monsters inside the others awakened.
Guilt.Fear.Anger.Vengeance.
It filled their eyes.
But before anyone could move—
BANG!
A bullet pierced the shouter's skull.He dropped instantly.
The guard had pulled the trigger.
But that act… onlyconfirmedtheir worst fears.The others now believed:
"Those three… are with the murderers."
The guard continued escorting them.
On the way, they passed through what looked like aluxurious office tower—bigger and more decorated than anything they'd seen inside the Tower so far.
So… how is this place shifting floors like that?
Before they could wonder more, the guard stopped.
"This is it. I can't go inside.You three—go in."
There was no room for debate.It wasn't a request.It was a command.
John, Emily, and Kyle stepped forward.
John opened the door—
And what they saw… was not what they expected.
Ahuge eyefloated in the air.Unmoving. Unblinking. Watching.
"Is this some modern effect?"they all thought.
They were frozen—not by choice, but bypressure.
Trying to stay upright, John looked around and spotted a figure sitting on a chair.
The figure was watching multiplemassive screens—each playing footage from various floors.
Some were their own.Some showed people dying.Some showed people killing themselves.Some showed rebels getting executed by guards.And some… showed people who looked dead—but were still moving.
John watched in disbelief and whispered,"This... is a nightmare."
The figure finally turned.His voice echoed through the cold air:
"This is reality, John."
He rose, faced them, and said—
"Welcome, players…"