If it was anyone else that person would have cursed utz for the miserable state they were in. But unlike the others Verona was kind and virtuous. She could never me utz let alone be angry at him.


    "I was the one who had got unconscious in the middle of the wilderness. What choice did he have other than bringing me to his safe zone?" Verona was always able to put herself in the other''s shoes.


    If at all anything Verona felt happy. His presence was like a pool of water in the vast desert. She could only assure herself that at least someone who she knew was here amongst a world of strangers. Ever since she lost all of her friends at the Trial of Control all she had felt was extreme loneliness.


    She watched as utz gantly fought the beast.


    "Good luck, Shiny." She sped her hands. She couldn''t help but wish for utz''s victory.


    She watched as utz taunted the beast and made it run after himself. Her eyelids refuses to blink as she bit her lips in worry.


    As utz ran away from the beast, the beast after his life, she could feel a strange sort of connection with him. There was a lot of simrity between the two.


    While others were fighting in groups and teams, there he was drawing the beast towards his trap all alone with no one to support him and the same way here she was standing away from everyone. And just like him, she was all alone too.


    *Thud*


    *crash*


    The rocks copsed on top of the beast making Verona gasp. The others too couldn''t help but freak out as they watched the beast''s demise. Never had they expected the beast would die under boulders. They thought it was some sort of coincidence. Little did they knew that utz hadid out that trap.


    *Crack* *crack*


    The earth shook and the ground cracked open. A strange lc circr tform rose and emerged from it. It had concentric circles over its top added with its strange colour that gave it an ominous appearance.


    "Finally ends," utz whispered.


    [You who have faced several difficulties toe so far. Satan is pleased by your tenacity.]


    [Tutorial ends here]


    [Congrattions!]


    [You can leave the tutorial area from the portal in front of you.]


    With the appearance of the system message the tform shone and shot out a beam of mauve light towards the heavens. But the light wasn''t translucent. Even if it shone brightly it waspletely opaque.


    "Some kind of exit portal," one of them whispered unconsciously. The other turned their focus to the man that spoke and then back to the portal. They had never seen something like this and had no idea what to call it.


    But one thing was clear, it would take them out of this hell.


    Everyone rejoiced, what they had been waiting for, what they had been craving for had finally transpired. They hugged each other as they jumped in the air.


    utz clicked his tongue. But no one was around him to notice unlike the man before.


    "What''s there to rejoice? Didn''t the system message tell them that this was just the tutorial area?" But it seemed that most people had failed to notice that.


    They didn''t care about the variables, just being able to get out of here was enough for them. The system message alone was enough to make them drunk on happiness. After all, how many people have they lost toe this far? Definitely many.


    But the next message that popped up on their screen made them look at each other with nk faces.


    [Satan likes those who dare.]


    [Everyone who stays back will be able to participate in the bonus stage.]


    utz smirked.


    ''As to be expected''


    Everyone broke into whispers. That message came out of nowhere and waspletely outside of their expectations. They were doing a coborative group effort to figure out whether they should participate or not as the contents of the bonus stage weren''t made clear yet.


    "Guys, I think that we shouldn''t get overconfident with this and just let it rest. It''s just a bonus stage and it doesn''t sound good to me. We can proceed without participating in it." Bill said. Being a central figure of the group and being the strongest if one were to rule out utz and Steve who were antisocial, to begin with, his words had quite the weight to it. But there will always be naysayers.


    "But isn''t it just a bonus stage? Shouldn''t these make you stronger?" A man said as he ran his hands through his hair.


    Bill shook his head.


    "We don''t know what it would entail. And always remember that we have our lives on the line here. Not to mention that we have almost run out of drinkable water. Better not be greedy if we don''t want to wash our hands off our lives." he said as he looked at the man with a probing gaze. There was always a responsible feel around Bill that made him nod.


    There was a fundamental difference between Dant and Bill as leaders. While the former was willing to take risks as he had done in the Trial of Control, thetter would not proceed unless he had analyzed most of the variables. Bill feels responsible for both his and his team mate''s life. So he chooses not to make rash decisions.


    The group members also nodded. There was some sort of truth to his words.


    "Nice decision," utz followed. At least he knew that whatever was about toe, it wasn''t easy. Bill might survive but the same cannot be said about the others.


    "Okay then, let''s leave everyone"


    Everyone followed Bill, as he marched towards the portal.


    *Swish*


    *Swish*


    As soon as they stepped on the pedestal they disappeared into thin air as the air made a rattling sound.


    ***


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