《Pendulum [Corp Interdimensional Diver LITRPG]》 Prologue Dim lights revealed a massive computer in the middle of the crowded room. Its screen, black as the abyss, and stretched along the whole wall, flickered. The thin blue wires connected to its side and the menagerie of lumpy, old-fashioned looking terminals, started to change its color to one warmer. A sudden bell-like noise pointed out the moment that everything came crashing down. The screen, the wires, the lights on the terminals came into life without mercy. Numbers ¨Ca long strip of shiny numbers- appeared on the center of the screen, only to start drooping like birds being shot. And dropped. And dropped.
Warning!
Minimum Point threshold breached. Emergency Protocol imminent. Restore Points to acceptable levels or initiate system override.
Warning!
The red alerts buried the numbers under its cascade of warnings. A single door burst open and man ran inside, passing through the aisles of terminals as a white flash. As he stopped in front of the screen, the red light cast over him illuminated its pair of vertical slit eyes of the color of the molted sun, now frowned in worry. Pressing a spot on the screen, a keyboard of light spread out of thin air in front of him. His fingers danced across it with practiced precision, despite his thick, dark, curved nails¡ªas if performing a tango he had mastered from the first to the last step. Soon, the windows disappeared as if swept away by a breeze, revealing the strip of numbers again. It had frozen at a figure¡ªless than half of the original. ¡°Merde,¡± he muttered, letting out a sigh. Decades of work had faded away. Soft footsteps echoed behind him. ¡°That¡¯s all I can do, mon cher,¡± he said softly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re on borrowed time. Perhaps less than three months.¡± For a moment, she didn¡¯t respond, but the smell of smoke and ash grew stronger in the narrow space. ¡°Esto no es suficiente¡± she murmured with obvious frustration, beginning to pace the room. He could hear the low, faint growl rising in her throat and made a face. ¡°How could this happen? Right under our noses! Where were the guards?! If it were not for the latest protocol that we were able to install, we would have a Disaster code parading outside right now!¡± ¡°It¡¯s something recent,¡± he said, raising his hands as he tried to placate her. ¡°Don¡¯t be too harsh¡ª¡± His words faltered as he caught the fire in her eyes. For a moment, they simply looked at each other. ¡°We need more Points, and fast,¡± she muttered, scowling as she continued pacing. ¡°I¡¯ve got no choice but to start recruitment earlier than planned. And we¡¯ll need additional guards here.¡± ¡°Nas won¡¯t like it,¡± he said finally. She stopped, crossing her arms over her chest. Her voice dropped to a growl. ¡°Do you see him worrying about this mess? Because I don¡¯t. I haven¡¯t seen a single hair of him since October, Levi.¡± She flashed him a sharp-toothed smile. ¡°So forgive me if I don¡¯t give a damn about his opinion.¡± Levi didn¡¯t press further, not keen on testing his regeneration. Instead, he offered, ¡°I¡¯ll put some pressure on the Alpha and Beta teams. There''s a new five-star world that might help. But Mel¡ªthis will stir up rumors.¡± He gave him a pointed look. ¡°Put the gossips to work, then. Send the damn Leaders with their people if you have to,¡± she snapped, before taking a deep breath. ¡°We can¡¯t let this situation spiral. The last thing we need is another August 1992. Or worse.¡± They finished their conversation after this and left the room, locking the door behind them. It was a useless gesture as the shadow that emerged from a corner, as if materializing out of the darkness, pointed out. The figure approached the computer, weaving between the terminals as if this were their own house, and paused in front of the screen. The yellowish lights revealed delicate fingernails as he taped the screen, but the speed of them over the keyboard belied it. As they ceased their little activity, the numbers started to change again. Way slower than before¡ªbut they did. However, no one noticed. Not until later.
¡°How come we¡¯re in last place again?!¡± Minerva swiveled her chair toward her coworker, a scowl on her face. ¡°We had Morgana!¡± Michael didn¡¯t look up, his cheek pressed against the cold surface of the table. He looked pale and strained, and to her surprise, his ¡®old-money¡¯ sunglasses were lying next to him. In any other situation, Minerva might have teased him¡ªcalled him dramatic or something¡ªbut now wasn¡¯t the time. ¡°We had Morgana,¡± he corrected with a sigh. ¡°The last mission didn¡¯t go well.¡± His words came sluggishly. Minerva wondered if they cost coins or something. Michael let out a long, weary sigh. What a guy. If not for the two years they¡¯d worked together¡ª This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°You expected something different?¡± she snapped. Forget it. She still wanted to punch him. Her scowl deepened. ¡°You¡¯re joking. She was the best of the batch. We recruited her¡ªwhat, three weeks ago?¡± Her eyes flicked to the calendar on the wall, the dates circled in red screaming back at her. ¡°What could¡­?¡± After a moment, her expression darkened as the pieces clicked into place. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ the dino psycho job?¡± Michael hummed. His eyes drifted shut as if he could sleep off the conversation. Minerva took that as a ''yes, go ahead and cry.'' She dragged a hand down her face, her fingers trembling slightly. For a brief, blissful moment, she imagined what it would be like not to care about any of this¡ªto walk away and leave the mess behind. The cafeteria had a killer strawberry latte and chocolate cake combo she could treat herself to. Maybe she could even check out the new arrivals at the store. Today was Tuesday. Sora should¡¯ve stocked something fresh, right? A cute dress, a lovely cashmere sweater, perhaps even new boots without those damn heels Lacerta had convinced her to buy last time. She let out a long sigh. Sadly, it was only whimsical thinking. She was paid to take care of this, and although her job didn¡¯t include ¡°caring,¡± Minerva was still too human. (Perhaps it was time to choose a branch and take care of that pesky matter, right?) What a damn shame. ¡°The best of the batch¡­¡± she muttered under her breath, the words bitter on her tongue. Silence fell between them. ¡°What happened?¡± she finally asked, half-expecting Michael to have fallen asleep. ¡°Same old story,¡± Michael said, his voice flat. ¡°She pulled the short straw. Last tour guide.¡± He yawned, barely bothering to cover it. ¡°Poor lass.¡± Her jaw tightened. ¡°Let me guess. The bus got stuck in front of one of the kings?¡± Michael gave a slow, almost imperceptible nod. ¡°Yeah. Lorenzo said she couldn¡¯t get the shield in time. The report confirmed it.¡± His voice dropped to a near whisper, as if speaking too loudly might summon the memory of what happened. ¡°At least it was quick.¡± Minerva stared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it¡­¡± Michael said, his mouth half-covered by his hand. ¡°Accidents happen, Min.¡± Yes. They did happen, didn¡¯t they? She loosened her knuckles, then asked, ¡°Who else?¡± ¡°The newest rookie from Delta-N. Got eaten at midnight, I think. But Lorenzo¡¯s minion got the pictures and even survived, so¡­¡± He shrugged. ¡°Did you notice? We¡¯ve lost most of the new recruits in the last three months. The others aren¡¯t better, but we have no one right now. I thought Morgana¡ª¡± She pressed her lips together, then shook her head. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll write to Santa about getting some quality material.¡± Minerva closed her eyes as she leaned back in her chair. Soft cushions, but not an ounce of comfort for her poor, ancient bones. ¡°Delta-L gets priority this time,¡± Michael pointed out, the joy-killing man. When she let out a not-so-polite word, he added, ¡°At least the recruitments have been moved up. Never thought I¡¯d see the day.¡± ¡°Mimir mentioned the rush is because something happened at the Core¡ªbut Krino¡¯s keeping his mouth shut. Not even Lacerta could pry anything out of him, and you know how he is about her.¡± She didn¡¯t bother hiding her disgust. The man was three decades her senior, and his infatuation was anything but subtle, that creep. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± ¡°¡­ That it could be worse.¡± Minerva snorted. ¡°Yeah? You realize we¡¯ll be pulling overtime until we get another newbie, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± he grumbled, still avoiding her gaze. He sighed, a faint, dry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. ¡°At least the pay¡¯s decent.¡± Her eyes met his, and she mirrored his smirk. ¡°At least we get paid.¡± Even as she left and returned to the rest of the paperwork, the thorn in her heart persisted. Perhaps there could be a way to get some good recruits this time too. She hadn¡¯t wanted to cash in that favor so soon¡ªbut it was for Delta-M¡¯s good. ¡­ Still dampened her mood, anyway. That Four-Eyes could be such a bitch despite being on the same team.
¡°The harsh light from purple torches glued to the walls was the only source of light around this zone of the cave. Morrigan glanced at the desolate tunnels that stretched far beyond her view and hesitated. Her mission flickered on the corner of her eyes, urging her to move forward, but she hadn¡¯t survived up to that point without knowing when to take a risk and when to wait for someone other to give the first step.¡± ¡°So she did wait for Lorenzo,¡± muttered the annoyed voice from under the blanket. ¡°I knew it.¡± Luca¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Well, what would you have done in her place? Boldly confront the darkness?¡± ¡°No,¡± came the answer without hesitation. A dark mop popped up and a pair of blue eyes squinted at him. ¡°I¡¯d have taken one of the torches and used my claws on whatever thing was there.¡± ¡°Mmm, so boldly confront the darkness,¡± he ended, ignoring the squirm when he rubbed the hair. ¡°Ufff! I told you not-!¡± The lights in the room flickered as a tremor shook the building. Luca held his little brother, eyes darting around. When nothing happened, he cleared his throat, and gently tucking Shawn against him -for once, the little guy don''t fake complaining- he continued reading, "The cave walls surrounding Morgan seemed to narrow each time she glanced away. There was something watching her, she knew. The strange smell that had followed their group since they spawned near the entrance of The Hole reached her nostrils as her claws stretched out-¡± A shrill noise dragged him out of the realm of dreams without mercy. Luca blinked, half of his mind still hanging on the dream. His sleepy eyes found the numbers of red light hovering less than half a meter away from him and all the drowsiness was gone at once as if he had been slapped. He was running late! Rolling out of his bed, he ran through the small apartment as if the same thing from Pendulum¡¯s stories was hunting him. As he brushed his teeth, he looked outside, where a monolith stretched toward the sky. Yeah. No way he was still thinking in that. Right? It wasn¡¯t as if it were the opportunity of a lifetime¡ªor anything close. The dream¡­ well, the dream was just his subconscious reminding him of the facts: everything tied to Pendulum was a terrible idea. He didn¡¯t want to end up like Morrigan or those countless named and unnamed souls who¡¯d sacrificed their lives for a little (or rather, a lot) of gold. I¡¯ll visit Shawn today, he thought. That is, if he didn¡¯t have to scramble for another part-time job. As he headed toward the greenhouse, silently hoping Mr. Howard wouldn¡¯t be in one of his infamous moods that morning (a rare occurrence, but ¡°hope is the last thing to die,¡± as they say), the medallion around his neck vibrated. The smooth surface lit up with a message: ''(1) Message from Pendulum.RRHH.'' It felt as though his own heart had been pierced. This was the third message they¡¯d sent him this week. The third invitation for their Interview. Perhaps, after this, they would no longer contact him. His fingers trembled as he fumbled with the medallion. Chapter 1 - Nowadays, its called an Interview A soft piano melody filled the space as the elevator began to ascend. Luca glanced at the wall for a brief moment, and caught his reflection in the mirrored wall. He couldn''t avoid the quick examination that followed. There was a slight frown on his face, and wrinkles on his tie. At least his blue jacket was alright. Decent. Loosening his expression, he pressed his tie down, tryting to fix it. Seconds later, he was already giving up on this. Making sure it everything was right ¡ªor as good as possible, considering this was the same suit he had wore on his graduation before getting those last few centimeters¡ª he looked out. Pendulum''s national headquarters had around seventy-nine floors, and was build in middle of the highest part of the city. The glass elevator offered a privileged view of the surrounding districts ¡ªespecially District 1, but with spots of District 4 and 7. This particular area was considered Downtown for many of the citizens of New Rod. As the elevator went up, the glass greenhouses looked smaller and smaller, especially in comparison to the white and blue skyscrapers that rose next to them. If he squinted his eyes, he could see the drones flying under the railroad tracks that spread through the air over most of the city. Perhaps he could even spot someone from the ''ants'' milling around the park and the Central Library. The beauty of the city still managed to surprise him. Of course, the most impressive sight was the monolith that rose among the skyscrapers, easily surpassing them. A mighty building black as the night sky. Some claimed they -because this was just one of nine- were made of pure obsidian. A shame he couldn''t see the rest of them from there. Luca clenched his fists, trying to focus on those details. He didn''t want to sink into doubt. Again. He was already here. Against his better judgment, he had accepted the interview. Even if a part of him whispered that he could leave ¡ªpress the button, return to the first floor, and slip away. He could go back to working in the greenhouse, in the two grocery stores, as a drone monitor on weekends.... The reality was¡­ he couldn¡¯t. Even if... if Shawn woke up or not ¡ªhe would, he would¡ª Luca still had to pay the creditors. Victor had already shown great restraint over the past few months. But if he didn¡¯t hurry, he¡¯d end up in the ocean with cement shoes. However, a million dollars wouldn¡¯t be paid off with the kind of jobs he was able to find. He¡¯d already turned down illegal work, and never had luck with lotteries either¡­ So yes, only one option was still on the table. One that he didn''t even believe could appear in front of him. Luca straightened his shoulders, his reflection staring back at him. If he tried hard enough, he could still see traces of Shawn in his own face. Of his mother. All three of them had the same eyes¡ªsame shade of blue, same shape. There was one pair he¡¯d never see again. He couldn¡¯t give up without making sure he¡¯d done everything he could for the sake of the one he still could do something about. This was even more truer now that he had this opportunity. It was a dangerous chance, of course ¡ªbut among the others, Luca was the only one who knew full well he was stepping into the beast¡¯s mouth. The one with the best odds of coming out with all of his limbs intact and enough sanity. Pendulum... was even more dangerous than working for the dark world. For a very good reason, he¡¯d tried to ignore it since waking up on this side. However, there was no denying that the reward was exceptional. Their conditions were unbeatable, especially the salary. It had to be said, for someone with a resume full of temporary jobs across various sectors and zero specializations, this was more than a first-class opportunity. This would be more than enough to pay off the family''s debts, to keep his brother in the hospital... even if Luca didn¡¯t make it out alive. He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. Sixty-three seconds had passed. The elevator chimed softly, and a cheerful voice announced: ¡°Sixty-third floor. Thank you for visiting us.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Luca murmured as he stepped out. It wouldn¡¯t be wrong to be polite, especially to Pendulum¡¯s AI. Although it didn¡¯t look like that, it was more advanced than anything else out there, including secret military centers and Pentagon 3.6. Calling it a ¡®machine¡¯ was like calling his new job ¡®a bit risky¡¯... a gross understatement bordering on absurd. A long hallway stretched before him. It had walls paneled in warm red wood with paintings of different cities from the continent, each one featuring their monoliths. He only had seen them in holograms but this version was prettier. At the end of the hallway was a single door, its polished wood gleamed under soft white lights. The gold letters engraved on its surface read: Office 010. Luca¡¯s mind flashed back to an online post he¡¯d seen: ¡°At Pendulum, if it looks like gold, it is.¡± The company spared no expense, and the door seemed to confirm that. But then, being number one in almost every sector, they had a few extra zeros in their bank accounts to spend on the little details. As he approached, he couldn¡¯t help but calculate some costs. How could he not? The door alone probably could pay more than a year of his brother¡¯s hospital bills. Hell, if he died on the island, his empty coffin might be worth enough to keep his little brother alive for two years. He had to make sure to check all the boxes for that Life insurance alone. He knocked once, softly, then pushed the door open without waiting for a response. It swung open without a sound, revealing a breathtaking skyline that stretched endlessly beyond floor-to-ceiling windows. A massive desk dominated the room; its red wood surface, so smooth that it had to be polished each day, with faint gold accents made Luca give it a second glance. Why wasn¡¯t this in some old-money family¡¯s mansion instead of a corporate office? Pendulum¡¯s decor team had a particular taste, didn¡¯t they? The office wasn¡¯t empty. Around the table were ten people: five women and five men, all elegantly dressed. Unlike Luca, their suits fitted them like a lady''s glove. And they looked quite focused, sharp. Their eyes landed on him as he entered -their expressions revealing flashes of curiosity soon replaced with indifference. Or, in some cases, a subtle hint of hostility. Or both at the same time. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. So you''re my competition, Luca thought, closing the door as carefully as he''d opened it. Some of them were his future coworkers too. Even so, as walked in, he chose a seat in the corner, away from the others. The table was large enough to seat sixteen, which made him a bit a curious about what this might have been like decades earlier. No one was sitting at the head of the table... the main character would came in any moment to take that spot. His eyes wandered, taking in the room. The office was sparsely decorated, but the table was a work of art: solid, thick, and undoubtedly expensive. He kept his hands in his lap, resisting the urge to scratch it. But despite this statement there was nothing else of interest in the room. Not even a painting adorning the white walls. It was not a surprise. The interview would be a more ''personal'' experience than a couple of questions. He glanced subtly at the others. A familiar face caught his attention. Him? It was impossible not to recognize one of the most celebrated athletes of the last decade, even for someone like Luca, who barely followed sports. The gym near his house had a poster of the man ¡ªwell, it had, until the last scandal ended his career last year. Then his face had been plastered in the news for weeks. The memory of his former coworker, who had gone to the press conference to throw rotten tomatoes at the man, come to his mind. He had to repress his smile. Ha. Mr. Howard had even allowed her to take them without a fuss. Of course, these were just interesting details and nothing more as Luca had known his name long before that. And that seeing him there wasn''t a good thing. Something to keep in mind, he thought, his expression unchanged. Pendulum had all kinds of people, and although he respected personal choices... becoming a meat shield wasn¡¯t on his wish list for this year. Or the next. The other applicants were less recognizable, except for the curly-haired woman. How could a shadow be seen if not for the presence of a bright light? However, she didn''t look so bright right now. She was barely holding her nerves -apparently her fingernails had taken the brunt of it. Well. At least she was in good shape to run for her life. Everyone there looked like that. Even himself. But then, juggling four or sometimes five jobs didn''t leave a lot of extra calories. Not to mention the one in the gym, which was probably responsible of half of his state. Luckily, humans had already evolved to need less sleep than on his old world. The door opened again and all heads turned toward it. A woman entered, and her presence immediately captured his attention. Their attention. Tall and stylish, she wore purple butterfly-shaped glasses with gold accents, her eyes hidden but her smile serene and well-practiced. Luca knew her, or at least knew her information. Her was Roxana Santos. But that was her ¡®corporate identity.¡¯ At Pendulum¡¯s real headquarters, she¡¯d be known as ¡°Mariposa¡±¡ªher designation. She had quite the reputation even after jumping to the ''administrative'' part of the company. ¡°Good morning, everyone,¡± she said, her voice soft over the sharp click of her heels. ¡°Thank you for accepting Pendulum''s invitation. You may call me Miss Santos. I¡¯ll be conducting your interview today.¡± A murmur of polite greetings followed. Luca joined in, though his stomach tightened, twisting with nervous anticipation. How could he not feel anything? Miss Santos was the spitting image of her forum photo. The ''good one''. More importantly, she was the one who would push them to their first ''Mystery'' ¡ªeven if it was a simulation, it was harsh. And beyond that, she was one of Them. Don¡¯t think about that. The good thing was, she wouldn¡¯t think anything odd if she heard his racing heart. Who wouldn¡¯t be nervous right now? With the elegance of her namesake, she placed a thick red folder on the table and pulled out a stack of thinner folders from it. ¡°Before we proceed, there¡¯s a formal requirement. Due to the nature of this position, you¡¯ll need to sign a confidentiality agreement.¡± She began distributing the documents. ¡°This is standard procedure, as the role involves access to sensitive company information.¡± Like a stone thrown into a pond, a wave of unease spread through the room. Luca glanced a the red folder in front of him. It had been some time since he had signed anything on paper. ¡°A confidentiality agreement? Already?¡± someone murmured, a tone of confusion and suspicion in their voice. ¡°But we¡¯re not even employees yet,¡± a man pointed out. Miss Santos remained impassive. ¡°That¡¯s correct. However, participation in this interview process requires compliance with company protocols. Signing is completely voluntary, but those who choose not to will not be able to continue.¡± She adjusted her glasses with a gentle push of her fingers. ¡°As I¡¯m sure you understand, Pendulum can¡¯t risk exposing vulnerable information about its processes. The competition is cutthroat.¡± Silence settled in the room, but only for a moment. While some hesitated, others opened their folders without a second thought. Among them were the boxer, a young man who looked like he¡¯d just graduated high school, and the curly-haired woman, who began reading with intense concentration. The rustle of pages filled the air. Luca flipped it ipen and after a quick glance, finding nothing unusual, he signed on the last page. Now, there were only two ways out of this. ¡°Thank you all for your cooperation and interest." With a last smile, Miss Santos pressed something on the table, and with a soft mechanical sound, wooden panels slid in front of each applicant. A pair of glasses emerged, their blue metallic frames gleaming under the light. Murmurs of awe spread through the room. The glasses were sleek and glassy, with Pendulum¡¯s logo in the bridge. They looked so expensive that anyone would feel a pang of anxiety Not even selling their organs on the black market would cover the cost if someone broke a single temples. Ha. The irony alone would kill him. ¡°Go ahead, don¡¯t be shy. Try them on,¡± Miss Santos encouraged. ¡°These are the latest version of our virtual reality gear, the same model used by the gaming company we collaborate with. Number one, if I may say so.¡± Luca picked up the pair in front of him. Despite their size, they were surprisingly light, probably made from Pendulum¡¯s own metal. After all, they¡¯d been in the metal business for centuries. They had like -ten? a dozen? different alloys they¡¯d created. As he put them on, his vision was instantly enveloped in white. A simple message appeared in black, bold letters, floating around the endless white: Welcome to Pendulum, Mr. Olsen. Judging by the murmurs around him, he wasn¡¯t the only one with a personalized greeting. Maybe he wasn¡¯t the only one who thought the voice was quite special. Soft and fresh, like running a hand over velvet sheets. ¡°Excuse me... this job... could it be about...?¡± a woman¡¯s voice asked. Though she seemed to struggle to articulate her words, the excitement in her tone was palpable. Luca felt a pang of pity for her. ¡°I¡¯ll explain your responsibilities later,¡± Miss Santos said, her tone firm but not unkind. ¡°However, you should know that this job isn¡¯t for the faint of heart. You¡¯ll be walking a thin line, balancing over the open mouth of a shark at midnight.¡± Her words weren¡¯t empty. In fact, Luca thought they didn¡¯t go far enough. But then again, no one would believe him about the depth of the abyss unless they were pushed into it, right? ¡°You¡¯ll learn for yourselves in the Technical Test.¡± Ha. Even though he knew it, a sense of foreboding gripped him. But there was no time to dwell on that. Miss Santos¡¯ voice cut through the tension. ¡°Don¡¯t lose your focus and give your all. Good luck.¡± Then, her voice changed. "It begins now.¡± A sound, vaguely resembling a bell, echoed through the room, and then everything went black. Chapter 2 - And this is obviously a Technical Test (1) Something was dripping, dripping, driping... Luca woke up with a gasp, eyes frenzied. His head pounded, a dull ache spreading through his skull. Fuck. I wasn¡¯t expecting this, he thought. Around him, the world came into focus in fragments¡ªblurred and disorienting¡ªaccompanied by a faint smell of combustible material and solid ground beneath him.
Welcome to Pendulum, Mr. Olsen.
The message materialized out of thin air before him, a dark stripe with white letters, before fading away. It was the same message he had seen only an instant ago, but now, to say things were different was an understatement. Dull pain and unpleasant memories lingered as he tried to adjust to his new situation under this ''warm welcome''. Luckly, the headache began to fade after an instant. Raising a hand to his face, he noticed the goggles he¡¯d worn before were missing. It was almost like this wasn¡¯t a simulation. Almost. As his hand went to his neck, he noticed he also didn¡¯t have his medallion. His fingers trembled slightly as he left his hand fall, scanning his surroundings to locate his current position and the dangers that could already awaiting for him. There was a white van next to him, its bulk useful for cover. Beyond it, the street stretched out under the glow of old-fashioned streetlights. Rust and dirt clung to it, giving the only source of light a quite ugly look. Well, everything here was ugly. As he continued looking around, he found that there were three houses standing on both sides of the street. Its wooden doors were cracked and their unglazed windows stood barred, resembling a scene of Misery at first glance. Narrow alleys twisted between the properties, with a few cars parked on the street. The area was surrounded by worn-out trees and distant mountains. There was no escape that way. No. Unless you could pass through the thick, impenetrable fog that sealed off both ends of the street and everything beyond. But, if this Interview was built like a Mystery, then it was useless to even try. This place was an isolated area, a small pocket of space. The chill of the floor spread through his body as he stayed there, his eyes wandering across the setting. Although he expected something like this, living it himself was a whole different level. His eyes grew sharper. He was lucky, in a way. The view of the area was clear from there, and most importantly, he had some cover to work with. Others weren¡¯t so fortunate. A man lay face down in the middle of the street, still, his body sprawled in front of the house on the other corner, before a red car. Nearby, a woman stood frozen under a streetlight, her face pale and her eyes wide with fear. She sat there as still as a statue. The excitement she had shown before this moment had evaporated. There was no hint of the remaining eight. Maybe they had been luckier and had spawned inside the houses or between the alleys. Even as Luca tried to remain calm, his heartbeat pounded in his ears, his breathing growing uncomfortably noisy. What a headache. This damned ¡®Technical Test¡¯ was too similar to some old experiences, years ago. Before¡ªbefore this life. But well, he at least had some experience about how to move slowly, quietly. No sudden movements. No standing up. No running. No screaming. He had one goal in mind, the same one etched that flickered in front of him before fading to the corner of his eyes, waiting for him to recognize it.
Main Task Survive for 45 minutes.
Yeah. That. The meaning was obvious, even to those slow. If Pendulum was asking them to survive, it meant something was coming for them. As if in cue to his thoughts, a mechanical snarl pierced the false calm of the night. Luca¡¯s eyes snapped to the corner of the street. Slowly, something revealed itself. First it was the tip of a chainsaw, the metal glinting under the yellow streetlight. Thick, dark liquid dripped from its jagged teeth, pooling on the asphalt below. The killer''s weapon was gripped by a leather-gloved hand. It belonged to a tall figure¡ªa thing that might, might have once been human. Once. But the same could not be said now. A dirty brown jacket hung from its broad shoulders, the fabric saturated with dark stains that looked wet under the light. Around its neck hung a makeshift necklace: lumpy, meaty orbs strung together. But¡ªon closer inspection, they weren¡¯t just lumps¡ªthey were human ears. Trophies. No one with a single shred of common sense would dare to fight that. So, hiding is the only way, then, thought Luca, as if he hadn¡¯t been prepared for this the instant he saw where he was. This setting was familiar to him, after all. And that killer¡ªLuca knew about him, even if it had been only on the pages of a book. He still wasn¡¯t sure if he should refer to him as a ''him'' or as an ''it.'' Chainsaw Man stepped into the street, his heavy boots crunching against the gravel. He paused under the streetlight, his head tilting languidly, like a predator catching the scent of its next meal. His face¡ªpartially obscured by a rusted, reddish plastic mask¡ªturned toward the darkness, scanning the street. No, Mr. Chainsaw knew exactly what he was doing. The hunt had begun. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. From his hiding spot, Luca¡¯s eyes grew sharper as his mind raced. Chainsaw Man hadn¡¯t seen him yet¡ªand wouldn¡¯t if he wasn¡¯t careless. But¡ªhe glanced at the others: the man still lying motionless in the street, the woman frozen under the streetlight. In truth, now was when what Pendulum needed from the applicants shone. M-level. Even an additional 0.1 could mean the difference between those who could adapt, those who would understand what needed to be done, and those who weren¡¯t even awake. The former would be taken; the latter, well¡­ they weren¡¯t enough. Luca pressed his lips together, his mind racing. Chainsaw Man¡¯s footsteps grew strident, each one heavy and deliberate, shaking the ground beneath him as if he were a giant from the old stories. The harsh sound of the chainsaw being dragged against the ground accompanied him. For now, he was still around twenty meters ahead, and most luckily, he wasn¡¯t looking in Luca¡¯s direction¡ªbut¡­ Staying put wasn¡¯t an option. Slowly, carefully, Luca backed up to the space between the van and the house¡¯s wall. There was a door near it¡ªbut before he could even try to reach and open it, a faint sound reached his ears. Someone had locked it. Fuck. But he didn¡¯t dwell on it ¡ªthere was no time for that¡ª so he hid himself better, watching the scene ¡ªas the massive figure became more and more defined. The necklace of ears swayed with each step. This moster seemed to be really focused on the easier prey. A movement caught Luca''s attention. The frozen woman finally stirred, her body shuddering as if waking from a trance. But it was too late. Chainsaw Man was already closing in, his chainsaw roaring to life with a deafening crackle. The woman¡¯s eyes widened, her mouth opening in a silent scream as the blade came down on her. She raised her hands to cover her face, not even attempting to flee, but it was totally useless. Luca looked away as the sound of tearing flesh and a spine-chilling scream echoed through the street. Pendulum¡¯s report would surely mark her as ''lacking.'' They were like that. Their judgment held little sympathy or care for ''excuses'': waking up too slowly was the same as not waking up at all. But then, ¡®dying¡¯ now was better than really losing their lives later. And even if it was a traumatic event, they wouldn¡¯t remember it afterward. It was a bit too sad to suffer such agony for free. But what could Luca say? This was something no one could help. A genetic factor, so to speak. Better to use the brief distraction to find a better place to hide.
Ten Applicants remain.
The message flickered in Luca¡¯s mind, pointing out the end of that poor woman. At least there was one small mercy: this was just a tutorial. No one would die. No losing limbs, nor pieces of their soul. A ripping sound echoed through the night. Luca¡¯s mouth twitched. That¡ªwell. The killer did like his trophies, didn¡¯t he? Make sure you don¡¯t end like that. Keeping his body low, Luca crept toward his next goal, making his best attempt to melt into the shadows. Chainsaw Man¡¯s back was still turned¡ªfocused on one of his crafting time of the day. Good. On his part, Luca focused on the black sedan parked in front of the corner house. It wasn¡¯t ideal cover¡ªsmaller and less concealing than the van¡ªbut it would have to do. He reached the end of the van, still crouched behind it, and peered around the edge. Meters past the other extreme of the van, Chainsaw Man was occupied, his heavy footsteps echoing as he closed in on the next victim¡ªthe man still lying unconscious in the street. The low roar of the chainsaw, idling but ready to act, echoed quietly. Chainsaw Man loomed over the unconscious man, slowly raising the chainsaw. For a moment, it seemed like the end was inevitable. But then, in a burst of surprising action, the man twisted violently, rolling aside just as the chainsaw bit into the ground where he had been. With a scream, the man scrambled to his feet and leapt into the street, passing by the red car at the other corner of the street. Although his prey was running away, the killer didn¡¯t chase. Instead, Chainsaw Man let out a laugh¡ªa sound so harsh, so unnatural that made Luca¡¯s skin crawl. He would love to say he had never heard something like this but settled with not wanting to repeat the experience. Because¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a laugh born from a human throat; it was the sound of something shattered, too sharp and drowned in blood and hunger to be anything else. It reverberated through the air, slicing through the silence and slithering into the corners like it was its own home. Luca felt it in his bones, a cold, primal fear that made his throat tighten for a split second. To provoke such a reaction in him after so many clashes with shadows. Well, he thought, breathing in, so that¡¯s your skill. After reaching the thick mist, the man turned back and tried to reach the nearest house. But Chainsaw Man wasn¡¯t done. With a sickening whirr, he yanked the cord of his weapon, and the chainsaw roared to life, its metallic teeth gleaming like freshly spilled blood under the streetlight. Swinging the blade in a wide arc, this motion was all the monster needed. The man had no time to scream. Death came too sudden for him. The chainsaw tore into his back with a wet, visceral crunch, slicing through flesh and bone as if they were napkins. Blood erupted in a cherry spray, painting the street and the blade. The man¡¯s body convulsed, his limbs twitching uncontrollably as if his nerves were still trying to flee, before he crumpled to the ground like a discarded puppet.
Nine Applicants remain.
Chainsaw Man approached the mangled corpse and stood there, his shadow stretching long across the blood-soaked pavement. The chainsaw¡¯s engine idled, its low growl filling the night as he yanked the blade free from the remains and shook it, scattering blood and flesh as though it were a tablecloth with leftovers from the previous meal. Then, he crouched and took his prize. Luca looked away for a moment, his stomach twisting with discomfort¡ªsome time had passed since he had faced such carnage. But he couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on it. Two had already fallen, and there was still at least three-quarters of the time left. As the killer occupied himself, Luca was able to walk to the door of the house. Slipping inside, Luca didn''t lock it ¡ªeven though a big part of him wanted to. Technically, it could buy him enough time to flee from the back door¡ªbut it would bring the killer¡¯s attention to that place. With a quick glance, he found the house was poorly lit, with the only source of light being the streetlamps outside. The big wardrobe at the end, just in plain sight, and had drew his attention the moment he slipped in looked like a tempting place to hide. But he kept looking at the rest of the place. Near him, to the right of the entrance stood a sink and a big cabinet tucked into the corner. Beyond that, a dining table for two. A wooden door stood at the end, less than two meters from the wardrobe. Instead of hiding, Luca took a few cautious steps toward the window and peered out into the street. The yellowish streetlights illuminated Chainsaw Man¡¯s hulking form as he turned, his head tilting slowly, like a predator sniffing the air for its next round of food. His gaze lingered on three different points¡ªthree houses: that one, that next one, and¡ª For a split second, it felt like those dead-like eyes looked toward his direction. Then, with a low, guttural chuckle, Chainsaw Man made his decision and began to move. His heavy boots thundered against the pavement as he resumed his hunt. Each step was deliberate, coldly calculated, and in his gloved hand, the damned weapon purred. Luca¡¯s eyes sharpened, feeling his body growing tense. Is he coming to¡­? Chapter 3 - And this is obviously a Technical Test (2) Is he coming to¡­? The thought barely formed in Luca¡¯s mind before it was answered. No. Not towards him. Chainsaw Man turned, his heavy boots scraping against the asphalt as he walked toward the house where Luca had first ¡®woken up.¡¯ Ah. The locked house. The killer raised his weapon against the blocked entrance. With a roar, its row of sharp teeth tore through the door like it was nothing. Wood splintered and exploded inward, the sound echoing through the night. Chainsaw Man stepped inside, his massive frame silhouetted against the dim light spilling from the street, crushing the fragments under his boots. Luca stayed crouched by the window, his body pressed against the wall. Then¡ªsomething happened. The door at the back of the house opened, and someone came inside. The person¡ªa woman, apparently¡ªdidn¡¯t even glance around but stumbled straight to the wardrobe, yanking it open and climbing inside. At the same time, the noises of destruction came from the house next to them. Was ¡®she¡¯ hiding in the hallway and then came inside due to the killer? Could be. However¡ªthat person hadn¡¯t assessed the room, hadn¡¯t looked for better hiding spots or potential threats. Hadn¡¯t even noticed him when he moved from crouching to standing against the door. In their line of work, that kind of oversight was a death sentence. Chainsaw Man wouldn¡¯t be fooled for long. And when he realized the house was empty, he¡¯d come back. Luca¡¯s eyes flicked to the wardrobe, then to the door. Well. He couldn¡¯t stay there and wait for death like her. But running away so carelessly wasn¡¯t an option either. Options, options, options... A scream resonated outside. Luca¡¯s eyes widened when the back door opened again, this time without any consideration. It was slammed shut. This new person was quite scrawny but had some hidden muscles as he yanked open the wardrobe doors. When he noticed it was occupied, he clenched his teeth and closed it again. Luca raised his eyebrows. The man¡¯s eyes widened when he saw him next to the door, and a thousand thoughts seemed to cross his face. With a gesture of his hand, Luca pointed to the kitchen cabinet. The message seemed to get across¡ªbut it was soon clear that he didn¡¯t trust him. What an expressive fellow. No insisting. Luca peered out the window. The street looked empty. Thud, thud, thud. The footsteps¡­ seemed to come from the other side of the wall. The alley. Out of the corner of his eyes, Luca caught the movement of the baby-faced man, who moved quickly toward the front¡ªstraight to the kitchen cabinet. Ah. So, he took the risk. Good for him. It was less obvious than the giant wardrobe just in plain sight of both doors. As the man closed the cabinet door, Luca¡¯s mind raced. He cracked the door open just the tiniest bit, and the instant he heard the chainsaw roar to life, he slipped out, closing it softly behind him a split second before the back door exploded, shattered. When the chainsaw decelerated and the sound of wood being crushed under a boot reached his ears, Luca finally moved from beyond the entrance. Out of sight of the killer, Luca sneaked toward the recently abandoned house. The front door was in splinters, the wood scattered across the entrance like the remains of an explosion. He had to step carefully, avoiding the debris, without sacrificing too much speed. As he stood inside, the first clear thing was the wardrobe. Open wide but untouched. The back door, however, had been shattered. So, that was the noise. Not the wardrobe but the door. How interesting. Something was slammed open¡ªand a scream followed it. Luca¡¯s eyes grew sharp, and he reached the kitchen cabinet an instant later. The space was cramped, the stench of dampness wasn¡¯t quite faint, but it was better than being in the open in a house without doors. To make it easier to hear the noises outside, he didn¡¯t close the door completely. The rising pitch as the chainsaw accelerated, followed by a buzzing, high-pitched whir when it sliced through something, and someone shouting and screaming in between¡­ Well. It was quite clear what was happening.
Eight Applicants remain.
There you go. As the seconds passed, another door shattered in the distance, the sound unmistakable. It should be the front door. Luca stayed quiet and silent, listening. The thud, thud, thud became louder as the killer passed near¡ªand for a moment, it stopped. He had the feeling it was looking inside this house. But then, the noise grew lower, distant. Chainsaw Man had left toward another direction¡ªprobably attracted by another locked door. Seconds later, Luca emerged from the cabinet, careful not to make a sound. He peered out from the window above the cabinet, cautiously. The van occupied a big portion of the view, which was both good and bad. However, he still could see Chainsaw Man if he moved and spied from the corner, looking through the window of the house and the window of the van. So Mr. Chainsaw was walking toward the house directly across the street. Luca¡¯s mind flashed back to earlier, when the killer had paused, his head tilting as he surveyed the area. Mmm. He¡¯d looked at that house before choosing this one, where he stood right now. The chances were someone had blocked the door.
30 minutes left.
As the message flashed in Luca¡¯s mind, more welcome than the other kind, the thought about how there was also the small matter of the end appeared in his mind. Although he knew more or less what would happen, he had to find the clues¡ªor it wouldn¡¯t count. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. While Chainsaw Man busied himself again, demolishing another door, Luca seized the opportunity. Slipping toward the back door¡ªor what was left of it; that guy could make a killing in the demolition business if he ever got tired of, well, actual killing¡ªLuca suddenly stopped before leaving. His eyes caught something on the floor. A ring handle, barely visible in the light that reached the back. A scream pierced the air, sharp and fleeting.
Seven Applicants remain.
Mr. Chainsaw would be still occupied for a bit more time. Crouching, Luca grabbed the handle and pulled. The floor groaned as a hidden panel shifted, revealing a small, dark space below. The sound of rusty mechanisms grated against his ears, but he didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it. The space was too dark to see clearly, except for a faint glint just within arm¡¯s reach. Mmm. It looked like another hiding spot, although he wasn¡¯t so sure he could really fit in there. But that thing¡­ If this were any other situation¡ªany other place¡ªLuca might have hesitated more. But this was the Tutorial. ¡®Risks¡¯ were part of the game. He stretched his hand into the darkness, his fingers brushing against something warm but foggy. It felt like reaching into the heat of an open oven, but there was nothing solid to grasp.
You¡¯ve found a Gem.
Luca¡¯s eyes widened. He knew what it meant. Such a precious opportunity was rare, especially in the Tutorial¡ªthe ¡®Interview,¡¯ as they called it. He would find out what it was later¡ªhe hoped it was what he was thinking, please let it be that one¡ªbut for now, he let the spark of satisfaction in his chest spread through his body. Everyone loved advantages. A scream echoed in the night. Luca¡¯s eyes grew sharper as he glanced back toward the shattered door. The heavy, predatory footsteps were growing louder again. The movement came beyond the door¡ªat the front of the house. His pulse quickened as he carefully closed the trapdoor, trying to muffle the sound. But the rusty hinges betrayed him, letting out a low, grating screech that seemed to scream ¡®I¡¯m here¡¯ in the now-quiet night. He kept his breathing under control as heavy footsteps reached his ears. Chainsaw Man was nearby. Too close. He could hide in the trapdoor¡ªmake more noise, take some risks, right?¡ªbut he didn¡¯t. Luca slipped out through the shattered back door, stepping into the alley. Half of it was swallowed by darkness, and the faint glow of the streetlights spilled onto the pavement, casting a game of shadows over the other half. The silhouette of the killer loomed near the entrance of the house Luca had just left. Crouching low, Luca pressed himself against the wall and walked slowly toward the end as the killer moved inside the house. The heavy footsteps grew louder, accompanied by the noise of a mix of smaller fragments and larger chunks shifting around and breaking underfoot with sharper sounds. There were no windows from which none of them could look outside from the house or inside from the alley. Reaching the end, Luca circled and crouched down, glued to the house, making sure his shadow wouldn¡¯t betray his position. Then, he waited. Finally, Chainsaw Man appeared at the back door¡ªit was obvious due to the noise of the wood shards under his boots. The shadow stretched to the end of the house. Luca could touch it if he wanted. He settled for simply looking at it, quiet. Very quietly. The chainsaw¡¯s idle growl echoed in the alley, but the killer didn¡¯t step out. Luca soon heard him inside the house. Taking his chances, he slipped into the alley again, taking the way toward the back door. But he stayed out until he heard Mr. Chainsaw getting out of the house, and peering in, saw a hint of the tainted jacket as the killer left. He seemed to be heading toward the other end, and Luca had the feeling it was the house at the far corner¡ªone of the spots he¡¯d fixated on earlier. After going to the front to look out for the killer confirmed this notion. Now he had some time, Luca turned around and fixed his attention on the table. There was a piece of newspaper left there, as a random detail. But in an empty place like this, it drew certain attention when you could afford to look over the place. Picking it up, he turned the paper toward the light. ¡®Brutal Murders Shock Neighborhood: Five Families Slaughtered in One Night,¡¯ said the title. The picture underneath it showed a familiar street of dirty little houses with two cars parked. No more information could be acquired as the rest of the article was blurred. There must be more in another house, he thought. He left the newspaper in the same spot it had been and turned around, listening. Mr. Chainsaw was still in the other ¡®zone.¡¯ Reaching the window, he saw the killer on the other side of the red car, its figure impossible to conceal with such a low vehicle. Where to go? His eyes flicked to the house next door. The man was still hiding there, wasn¡¯t he? He hadn¡¯t heard anything that contradicted this. Even if not, going there wasn¡¯t an option. Instead, he crossed through the messy entrance and snuck to the white van, using its bulk as cover. The familiar hum of the chainsaw filled the air, followed by the sickening crunch of wood being torn apart. Breaking down another door¡ªthat guy had his theme. Luca breathed in, carefully. As Chainsaw Man disappeared into the house, he seized the moment. Darting across the street, quick and silent, he slipped into the house. The entrance was a minefield of splintered wood, but he navigated it quite beautifully, avoiding stepping on the fragments. Well. Almost. But even if he stepped on one, the sound wasn¡¯t as strong as he expected. As he stepped inside, a mix of blood and urine hit his throat like a punch. His stomach lurched, and he clamped a hand over his mouth, fighting back the bile rising in his throat. No corpse was immediately visible, but at the far end, where the wardrobe should have been, there was only a mess left of shattered wood, torn fabric, and dark stains pooling on the floor. Fuck. He couldn¡¯t say that this was what he expected. Well, not his own reaction, at least. Pressing his nose into the crook of his sleeve, Luca picked up another newspaper from the table and moved toward the back door¡ªopposite to the ruined wardrobe. There was nothing better than building heat resistance than basking in the sun, right? He crouched low, his eyes scanning the room as he waited, every muscle tense. Ready to sprint off if necessary. But, nothing happened. No screams came from where Chainsaw Man was right now. No struggle or the roar of the chainsaw. He opened the newspaper and laid it on the floor, squinting his eyes. It was the same one as in the other house, but the picture was blurred and the title only had ¡®Brutal Murders¡¯ left. Despite this, there was some information among the rest of the article: 22:30 PM and 23:10 PM. The heavy footsteps outside shifted, the crunch of boots on asphalt growing louder. Luca tilted his head, listening quietly. It seemed that the killer was coming toward this side of the street¡ªbut not toward him. Good. He left the newspaper on the floor and pried open the back door. It slid a tiny bit open under the sound of the low rumble of the chainsaw, so he didn¡¯t fear about this. Peering out, without coming out, he saw Chainsaw Man walking across the street. The killer was heading toward the house at the other corner of the street, the one in front of the red car. Like a bulldozer, he stepped on the bodies in his way without hesitation, but the sickening noise was barely audible over the low rumble of the engine. At least it wasn''t coming toward him. Small mercies. Chapter 4 - And this is obviously a Technical Test (3) Well. It looked like a perfect opportunity to leave. Luca slipped out, moving quickly but carefully toward the adjacent house. This wasn¡¯t like the other cases¡ªthere was no direct connection between the two buildings. The other two houses should be ones with the same alley. Well. It didn¡¯t matter. He reached the end and peered out in the direction where he had seen the killer going. So, breaking through another door, preoccupied with his own grim business¡ªnot here, thankfully. The way Luca preferred it. Slipping into the next house through the front door¡ªstill intact, its hinges groaning softly as he pushed it open and closed it behind him¡ªhe took a moment to scan the room. As his back pulsed, he took the moment to stretch, feeling the stiffness in his bones. Even in a younger body, the strain of constant tension and crouching was taking its toll. He wasn¡¯t made to bend down. The room was quiet. A newspaper lay sprawled on the table, its edges curled and yellowed. The wardrobe in the corner and the door across the room were untouched. No signs of forced entry, no bloodstains, no chaos. It didn¡¯t seem like the killer had visited this house. Luca moved toward the newspaper and picked it up, but before he could do more than take a look at the picture, the footsteps outside in the alley made him stall. The sound was too faint to be from the killer. Another applicant, then. When he looked back at the newspaper, he didn¡¯t find anything important beyond the image. He left the newspaper where it was and slid toward the window, crouching low. The low hum of an engine still rumbled from the house diagonal to this one, but the street itself was unnervingly quiet. No movement. No shadows. It made him wonder¡ªif seven people were still alive, where were they? Luca turned away from the window, considering hiding in the wardrobe for a while. But a sudden shout cut through the night, sharp and furious. ¡°Asshole!¡± a woman¡¯s voice snarled, loud enough to carry across the street and into the houses. Luca¡¯s head snapped toward the sound. Through the window, he found the culprit¡ªa woman sprawled on the ground, half on the sidewalk, half in the alley. The killer loomed over her, his silhouette frightening against the dim yellow glow of the streetlights. The chainsaw roared to life, its guttural, ominous growl drowning out the frantic footsteps pounding against the asphalt. Someone was running, crossing through the alley next to this house. The glint of the chainsaw as it rose coincided with the sound of the back door creaking open. As Luca turned his head, he saw him. A husky, familiar figure slipped inside and bolted straight for the wardrobe. The man barely had time to hide before a high-pitched scream tore through the air¡ªonly to be cut off abruptly, leaving a tense, suffocating silence in its wake.
Six Applicants remain.
How surprising. The boxer had used her as a distraction, sacrificing her to buy himself time. Of course, he did it. This man¡ªManed Wolf¡ªwas a parasite. He clung to others, using them as meat shields, sacrificial pawns to extend his own survival. The kind of person who would do anything to stay alive, no matter the cost. The sheer number of lives lost because of him had cemented Maned Wolf as one of Luca¡¯s least favorite characters, and now, it was someone he didn¡¯t want to deal with. Luca¡¯s eyes grew colder. Who would¡¯ve thought this man would hand himself over on a silver platter? No time to waste. He opened the back door and stepped outside, closing it softly behind him¡ªand locking it. As he slipped back into the house next door, tucked into the corner of the street, the low growl of the chainsaw reached his ears. Faint. Distant. Not close enough to worry about¡ªyet. Instead, he took a moment to survey the room. And then he saw it. Under the table, half-hidden in the shadows, a familiar face stared back at him, framed by a mane of wild curls. Ah. It was her. There was no reason to exchange words. Luca gave the heroine a curt nod and moved toward the table, picking up the newspaper. This one was different from the others; it had some clear fragments of the article. Investigators suggest a ¡®blurred¡¯ device could have been used... the hour should be past 23 PM, reaching 23:20 before the killer ¡®blurred¡¯¡­ and nothing more. Well. This has to be the core of all the ¡®clues,¡¯ right?
15 minutes left.
Only a third of the time was left. So, it should already be 11 P.M. Luca set the newspaper back on the table and slipped toward the back door, his ears tuned to the sounds coming from the house next door. Soon enough, the unmistakable crash of a door being broken echoed through the night, followed by a heavy impact. Then came the rougher sound of footsteps on the pavement¡ªlighter than the killer¡¯s¡ªbefore the heavier, deliberate tread of the chainsaw-wielding maniac followed. Stolen story; please report. Luca cracked open the door just enough to peer outside. The boxer was sprinting toward the van, with Mr. Chainsaw trailing behind, though not as close as Luca would¡¯ve expected. The killer¡¯s pace was slower, almost methodical. It reminded him of his old cat. The boxer disappeared behind the van, and the killer followed suit, vanishing from view. Frowning, Luca considered the scene for a moment before closing the door softly. His eyes flicked to the curly-haired woman, who was now slipping into the kitchen cabinet. A good choice¡ªfor now. Rising to his feet, Luca stretched his back, feeling the tension in his muscles. He moved to the back door again, opened it silently, and stepped outside, closing it behind him with barely a sound. The cool air, dragging the smell of blood, brushed against his skin as he crouched low and made his way toward the red car parked nearby. Circling the hood, he positioned himself at the corner, his gaze fixed on the van and the house beyond. The boxer burst out from the alley, his eyes wide and his mouth open as he bolted toward the van again. This time, the killer was still hot on his heels, chainsaw raised and gleaming under the faint light. Even though the killer was slower, the fact that he hadn¡¯t thrown the chainsaw was curious. Was he enjoying the chase so much? The boxer circled the van, his movements desperate, and then sprinted toward the house at the front¡ªthe one adjacent to where the heroine was hiding. If, by some absurd twist of fate, he managed to reach that house and the heroine tried to save him, Luca would probably break into a fit of laughter. And maybe lose half his hair from the sheer ridiculousness of it all. The chainsaw¡¯s roar split the air, its mechanical growl drowning out everything else. A scream followed¡ªsharp, piercing, and abruptly cut short.
Five Applicants remain.
Wait. The back door had been locked from the outside. This fucking weird door. Luca pursed his lips, carefully circling the car until he reached the side of the street. The moment he heard the tearing sound that signaled another ¡°victory,¡± he slipped toward the house at the front. Someone seemed to have just left the building, closing the door behind them. They hadn¡¯t noticed him as he crouched next to the kitchen cabinet, his movements silent and deliberate. While the entrance had been torn to shreds, the wardrobe and the back door were untouched. More importantly, something glinted on the floor under the streaming faint light¡ªa handle the size of his palm. This was a good sign. It meant he wouldn¡¯t have to go far in the final minutes. Clang! The sudden noise echoed through the air, closer than before. Someone had crashed into a trash can. Luca¡¯s eyes darted in that direction just as a young man stumbled into the room from the black door. It was the same guy from earlier. This time, the baby-faced man noticed him, his expression shifting from recognition to caution as his eyes flicked behind Luca¡ªtoward the kitchen cabinet. He glanced at the wardrobe for a moment but seemed to avoid it. So, this one was smarter. Luca gave him a curt nod and stepped aside, pressing himself against the wall. There was no reason to fight him, not when he had a perfect spot to hide. The young man hesitated, shooting him a wary glance before slipping into the kitchen cabinet. Meanwhile, Luca moved toward the back door, next to the trapdoor. The noise outside indicated that Mr. Chainsaw had returned to the street and was heading this way. Without wasting a second, Luca pulled open the trapdoor, feeling a flicker of regret when he found nothing inside. Still, he slipped in, closing it softly above him. Was hoping for a second reward too greedy? Thud, thud, thud. The footsteps grew louder, drowning out the low rumble of the chainsaw. Luca held his breath as the wood above him creaked under the killer¡¯s weight. The sound was suffocating, and the space felt too small, too constricted; his heartbeat spiked as the bear-like man walked directly above him, the wood trembling with every step. You¡¯ve grown too soft, he chided himself. His fingers clenched the fabric of his jacket, knuckles turning white. He counted the seconds with the vibrations ringing in his ears. Then, the chainsaw¡¯s engine roared to life, its mechanical buzz slicing through the air as the blade cut through something. It felt so close. So, so close, like it was cutting through him. A low, guttural noise escaped the killer¡ªsomething that might have been disappointment if Luca¡¯s Monsterish could be believed. The chainsaw hit the floor with a heavy thump as the killer let it fall, dragging it behind him as he made his way to the front door. Crunch... snap¨Ccrackle... scrape¡­ The sound grew fainter as the killer moved away, his presence receding slowly. Only when the noise was distant enough did Luca let out a faint sigh of relief. Gently, he pushed the trapdoor open and peered out. His eyes landed on the wardrobe. Well. Its remains. It hadn¡¯t put up much of a fight, judging by its splintered state. Truly, Luca didn¡¯t know how the chainsaw hadn¡¯t cut through the wooden door¡ªor the trapdoor, for that matter. But the gods he didn¡¯t believe in knew he wasn¡¯t about to complain. Emerging from the hidden space, he closed the trapdoor softly behind him. His back ached, perhaps feeling the age of his soul. Slowly, he approached the wall, pressing himself against it as he rose to his full height. He stretched his arms over his head, letting his poor back rest for a moment. A fleeting, but welcome relief. Just then, the kitchen cabinet opened. The young man whose name he didn¡¯t know stepped out, his expression one of surprise as he saw Luca there. His eyes darted around and then to the floor. It was obvious when he saw the trapdoor. They widened¡ªlike a child seeing Santa Claus for the first time. It was such a familiar look that it sent a pang of pain through Luca¡¯s chest. Not the time for melancholy and regret now, buddy. Shoving the ache into the back of his mind with the easiness of practice, he made his way toward the window. Outside, the dim light of the streetlamps revealed nothing¡ªno hulking figure, no glint of a chainsaw. The killer was nowhere to be seen. Luca frowned, his ears straining to pick up the familiar growl of the chainsaw. But the night was eerily quiet, save for the faint sound of footsteps behind him. He turned just in time to see the young man opening the trapdoor, his movements quick and deliberate. For a moment, Luca felt a flicker of surprise, though it didn¡¯t last long. There goes my plan A, he thought, and then glanced back at the street, squinting. Where was Chainsaw Man? Chapter 5 -And this is obviously a Technical Test (4) Where was Chainsaw Man? The answer came almost immediately. The killer emerged from the house next door, his massive frame silhouetted against the dim light. He tilted his head, scanning the area like a predator searching for prey. Luca dropped to the floor, his body tense, his mind racing like a comet streaking through the night. He only relaxed when the heavy footsteps began to move away. Risking another glance, he saw Chainsaw Man approaching the last house on that side of the street¡ªthe only one left with an intact front door. But not for long. With a single swing of his chainsaw, the killer tore the door apart, the sound a deafening roar that could¡¯ve woken the dead bodies scattered across the street. And¡ªmost importantly¡ªthe action was quicker than before. Far quicker.
6 minutes left.
Ah. Right. Now that his Plan A was out the window, it was time to leave the house. Luca glanced toward the other houses he knew had trapdoors, but he hesitated. Time was running out, and it wouldn¡¯t work if someone else was already inside. He did want to pass¡ªwould pass¡ªbut not through such means. It seemed there was no other option but to go with Plan D. The noise of destruction from the corner told him the killer was occupied for now. Seizing the moment, Luca slipped out of the house, careful not to attract attention at that last moment, and crossed the street. The dead body of the betrayed woman lay less than two meters from the entrance¡ªbut it was nothing compared to how close the man¡¯s corpse was to his goal. Even though they weren¡¯t really dead¡ªthis was all a simulation, after all¡ªLuca felt a pang of unease as he stepped next to the bodies. He crouched next to the hood of the red car, then dragged himself underneath it. The stench was overwhelming, a mix of oil, rust, and something far worse. The shadow cast by the car¡¯s bulk provided some cover, and the ¡®barrier¡¯ at the side worked. The smell was a minor price to pay, right? He stayed quiet, his breathing shallow, as Chainsaw Man emerged from the house. From there, he could only see a fragment of his body¡ªbut it was better than nothing. Luca frowned when the streetlamps on his side flickered. Soon, the remaining five followed suit, their light sputtering and dying one by one. The killer didn¡¯t pause. Luca watched as he reached the van, yanked open the barn door, and then¡ª The streetlamps exploded.
5 minutes left.
As the message ran through his mind, someone screamed under the engulfing darkness. Surprised. Surely terrified. Most importantly¡ªa bit too fucking close to him. The killer didn¡¯t stop hunting. Of course not. How would he? If this was a situation of his design. The chainsaw¡¯s blade dragged across the ground, its low rumble cutting through the silence. The heavy footsteps, the growl of the engine¡ªthey were the only ways to track the man now. The lack of vision seemed to heighten Luca¡¯s other senses, sharpening his hearing and amplifying the stench that clung to the air. It was almost unbearable, but he forced himself to stay still. Silent. Counting the seconds inwardly, Luca waited. And waited. Mr. Chainsaw didn¡¯t come straight here, where the scream had sounded. The killer toured the houses. The noises of his destruction grew distant and then closer as he approached the direction of Luca¡¯s hiding spot. The killer stomped on wood shards, crushing them under his heavy boots, and trashed something in his path. But amidst the echoes of destruction, there was something different. A faint, lighter sound reached Luca¡¯s ears. He tilted his head, straining to listen. It came from the alley¡ªright next to the car. There was the person who had screamed before. And¡ªhis eyes widened as it became clear that they were crawling on the ground toward him. No, wait. Toward the car. Luca pressed his lips together in displeasure. Come on. The person circled the vehicle and stopped at the level of the hood. Were they really thinking the killer wouldn¡¯t see them there? Wood crunched under the killer¡¯s boots, and the chainsaw scraped against the concrete as it was dragged along the sidewalk. The noise grew louder. Closer. Someone swallowed audibly, their fear palpable, almost visible in the darkness. As the killer reached the end of the alley, it became clear that the applicant wasn¡¯t going to move anywhere. At any other time, in any other situation, their persistence might have led to survival. But not here. Not now. Luca pressed his forehead against his sleeve, covering one ear with the fabric to muffle the inevitable blast of the chainsaw¡¯s engine. Fuck. He ended up covering his other ear out of pure instinct, encircling his head with his arms, and pressing them against his jacket and skin. If Pendulum didn¡¯t cover ear damage, he¡¯d resort to becoming a pyromaniac and dancing on the ashes of their damned island. The sharp rumble of the engine didn¡¯t last long. Neither did the scream. It barely had time to escape the person¡¯s throat before they were silenced. Luca couldn¡¯t see how it happened, but he could hear it¡ªthe sickening sound of the blade cutting through something soft, then something harder. A crackle. A thud.
Four Applicants remain.
The body slumped to the ground. For a moment, the only sound was the echo of the message and the thud ringing in Luca¡¯s ears. Then Chainsaw Man stepped onto the street, passing over his recent victim without a second glance. Was he following a pattern? It seemed so, as he moved toward the front house, passing by the car without stopping. Which was great for him. Really. Even if it meant he was now surrounded by two corpses. Looking on the bright side, it meant double protection. Yay. Now would be the perfect time to lose his sense of smell. As Mr. Chainsaw stomped into the house, faint footsteps reached Luca¡¯s ears from the direction the killer had just left. Someone must have read the newspapers besides the heroine, right? Someone had to know that the darkness wasn¡¯t an opportunity for them. Right? Right. Something crashed in the distance, accompanied by a scream. The alley on the right side¡ªthe same one where the killer had been lurking. But with such chaos, how could nothing happen? Thud, thud, thud. The heavy footsteps returned, followed by the crunch of wood shards and the sound of something¡ªor someone¡ªbeing crushed. Then, the chainsaw roared to life again. Lady Luck made her capricious appearance¡ªand nothing happened. No death notice.
30 seconds left.
Time had fled in those last minutes. Luca was sure that wasn¡¯t normal, but he wasn¡¯t about to complain. Someone else, however, clearly was. The killer let out a guttural roar that pierced the night sharper than his own blade. The chainsaw¡¯s engine revved violently, and then the heavy footsteps stomped away¡ªtoward the other side of the street. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Glass shattered. Once. Twice. Then three times. Four. If the lights were lit, the scene would surely be a show of wreckage and limitless violence. He recalled the picture he¡¯d seen earlier. The cars had looked trashed, their windows all broken. When he¡¯d thought about hiding under one, the only thing that mattered was that they were present in that image. Now, as the killer¡¯s rampage continued, he stretched himself flat under the car, pressing as close to the ground as possible. The footsteps grew louder, someone crunched under the killer¡¯s boots, and the chainsaw¡¯s engine roared like a beast. It happened quickly, without pause. Glass shattered above his head, shards raining down onto the pavement next to the sidewalk. Luca counted the last seconds, tense as a string glued to a wall. Five. Glass shards clinked against the ground, scattering like shards. Four. The killer stomped on the body to Luca¡¯s right, the sickening crunch of bone and flesh muffled by the sound of more windows breaking. Three. Chainsaw Man turned, his heavy boots scraping against the asphalt as he moved toward the van. Two. There was a loud impact¡ªlike something massive crashing against metal¡ªfollowed by the slam of a door. One. Light flashed in the middle of the street, blinding and sudden. The van¡¯s engine roared to life, tires screeching as it accelerated into the darkness.
Main Task ¡°Survive 45 minutes¡± has finished.
Fucking hell.
Congratulations, you¡¯ve survived.
The words flashed in Luca¡¯s mind before all his senses blurred together, twisting and pulling him into unconsciousness. For an unknown stretch of time, the world was nothing but white¡ªan endless void that stretched in every direction he could look at. It was as if Luca was suspended in nothingness, frozen in a stupor after the last overwhelming second he could remember. Then, just as he began to regain his mental clarity, a blue screen materialized in front of him. Black letters started to appear¡ªin plain English, at first sight. But anyone would think otherwise.
Congratulations, Mr. Olson.
You¡¯ve fulfilled the E¨Crank mission ¡®Survive for 45 Minutes¡¯ inside the 1¨Cstar world ¡®Red Night.¡¯
PERFORMANCE: Excellent MULTIPLIER: 5
REWARD: 7 Points. TOTAL: 35
You¡¯ve fulfilled the F¨Crank Hidden Task ¡®The Killer Design¡¯ inside the 1¨Cstar world ¡®Red Night.¡¯
PERFORMANCE: Good MULTIPLIER: 3
REWARD: 2 Points. TOTAL: 6
TOTAL POINTS: 41
TOTAL EXPERIENCE: 500
ACHIEVEMENT(S): UNSEEN, SURVIVOR
TRAIT: STEALTHY
You¡¯ve obtained a [GEM]:
PERK ''NIGHT VISION'' has been obtained.
MYSTERY LEVEL 0.9 SCORE: 97%
His attention focused on the middle of the screen. [Unseen] meant that no enemy had seen him throughout the entire round¡ªcrouching had given him good results, thank you, my poor back¡ªso it wasn¡¯t a surprise to get ¡®Stealthy.¡¯ It was a good starting trait, especially when it was impossible to confront or defeat your opponents in a fight, especially when you were¡ªwell, a noob. A noodle. That Perk, on the other hand¡­ Night Vision wasn¡¯t so rare as Self-Healing or Fire Breath, but the fact that it had emerged in the Tutorial was. Besides, the combination of Stealth and Night Vision pointed him toward an obvious path¡ªone that didn¡¯t bother him too much, that¡¯s right, but even so. He didn¡¯t want to be the design of anyone, be it an alien AI¡¯s or a cosmic horror god lurking in the shadows. This job was like a visit to the park, uh? Sadly, even if he wanted to leave, it would be impossible to send a resignation letter. Just thinking about it sent a wave of chills through his soul. Why had he signed that contract? Ah, right. The rewards¡­ that was what mattered. That was what made it worth it. Like the 41 Mission Points! If Pendulum followed their little routine of ¡®throw them money so they are willing to throw their lives,¡¯ then they would give him around 40 bucks in real-world currency. This amount equaled a whole year of salary, scraped together from three part-time jobs and weekend gigs. And this was just the Interview! And all he¡¯d had to do was crouch for forty-three and a half minutes, spend the last five next to a couple of corpses, nearly going deaf, and wishing he¡¯d been born without a sense of smell. For 41k? Sign me up for the next war. Chapter 6 - Results (most importantly, rewards) Luca barely had time to blink¡ªcould he blink? Wasn¡¯t he just slumped with his eyes closed, floating unconscious?¡ªbefore an explosion of white light engulfed him, leaving him disoriented and far from fine. As he found himself coming back to his body, colors began to bleed into his vision, undefined shapes at first. His eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden shift, and at the same time, he became aware of the itch in them¡ªan irritating sensation that made him rub them. Only when he finally lowered his hands, relieved that he didn¡¯t feel like clawing his eyes out anymore, did he take in his surroundings. He was in the same place they¡¯d been before¡ªthe white walls, the large table in the center. But now, only three other people were slumped over the table, their faces pressed against the polished surface. The curly-haired woman, a Black man, and the baby-faced man. Applicants. No¡ªsurvivors, like him. Luca¡¯s gaze lingered on the woman. At least I¡¯m sure one of my coworkers won¡¯t be a problem. That was rarer than one might think. As he glanced around, his mind worked through the information he¡¯d seen before waking up, now with a clearer sense of focus. Most of it aligned with his expectations¡ªexcept for the Mystery Level. He¡¯d anticipated something higher, given some personal circumstances, but 0.9 wasn¡¯t bad. Fewer questions, fewer complications. Except for the 97%. Let her have a 97.1%, he thought. His gaze lingered briefly at the mop of curly hair before drifting to the door. It was closed, likely locked from the outside if he had to guess. But the wall to his left was floor-to-ceiling glass, offering a breathtaking view of a cloudless blue sky. They couldn¡¯t have lost the entire morning, then. At least, he hadn¡¯t. The others, however, looked like they were still deep in whatever dream¡ªor nightmare¡ªstill held them. How curious. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Olson.¡± The voice came from a speaker in the corner of the room, crisp and professional. Luca turned his head toward it and gave a curt nod. ¡°Please wait for Lady Boss. She¡¯ll give you an explanation about the Interview,¡± the voice continued, a hint of amusement creeping into her tone. ¡°It¡¯s been a lot, hasn¡¯t it?¡± Luca¡¯s mouth twitched, the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips. He raised his hand and made a so-so gesture. ¡°Oh? That¡¯s great, then,¡± the voice replied, softer now. Almost conspiratorial. ¡°You¡¯ll do well in this job.¡± Before Luca could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, growing louder as they approached the door. The conversation was over. ¡°Hello again,¡± Miss Santos greeted as she stepped into the room, her professional smile polished to a blinding sheen, and a tray with glasses, a bottle of juice, and a couple of bars in one of her hands. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re already awake. The others should be stirring soon, so let me get the presentation ready. In the meantime, feel free to test our latest products.¡± Luca nodded at her, his expression unreadable. He did notice the slightly out-of-place locks in her golden hair and the faint lack of breath in her greeting¡ªbut there was no reason to point that out, of course. Instead, he glanced at the tray, conveniently left near him, and served himself a glass. The apple juice shone like real gold in the glass. Pretty. He was sure they produced the fruits on Distrit 18. When he took a sip, it was as if a warm blanket had been dropped over his shoulders. Picking up a bar¡ªchocolate with white berries¡ªand testing it, Luca was surprised by the wave of flavor that hit him. And how full he felt after finishing it. The faint noise of a grumble made him look at the ¡®sleepy beauties.¡¯ Finally, they were starting to show signs of life. Their eyes fluttered open¡ªonly to snap shut again as they groaned and shielded their faces from the light. It seemed Luca wasn¡¯t the only one who had felt the lingering effects of that blinding explosion. Which, truth be told, was it really necessary? ¡°Welcome back,¡± Miss Santos called out, her voice flying over the groggy murmurs. She stood at the head of the table, tall and glamorous. With a gentle push of her glasses, a screen illuminated the wall behind her. ¡°Congratulations, everyone. You¡¯ve all done exceptionally well. I¡¯m sure you have questions¡ª¡± ¡°What kind of job is this?¡± The youngest-looking of the group interrupted, his voice sharp with frustration. He was still slumped in his chair, his brow furrowed. ¡°There was nothing about this in the message. Nothing about¡ªabout whatever the hell we just went through.¡± Miss Santos smiled, unflappable. ¡°No, I suppose it was rather light on details,¡± she conceded smoothly. ¡°But don¡¯t worry. Everything will become clear shortly. Oh¡ªdon¡¯t forget to take a glass of juice; it will help you feel better.¡± Luca pushed the tray closer to them and finished his own glass. As they followed Miss Santos¡¯ recommendation, she waited until they had served themselves to start the presentation. The word MYSTERIES appeared at the top of the screen in bold, imposing letters. Below it, a question followed: ¡®What are they?¡¯ ¡°In our line of work,¡± Miss Santos began, her tone measured, ¡°we refer to ¡®Mysteries¡¯ as fragments of self-contained worlds. Realities not unlike the one you experienced over the past few hours. The founders of Pendulum have been dealing with these phenomena since the company¡¯s inception, though it was only about a century ago that they formalized their efforts. That¡¯s when they began to see these Mysteries not as anomalies, but as opportunities.¡± She gestured to the screen, where a series of images flashed into view. ¡°You¡¯ll likely recognize some of these products: Milky Way, our emblematic magnetic train transportation network, the safest and most complete in existence; Ambrosia, our revolutionary beauty treatment that transforms you at the cellular level; and, of course, Panacea, our medical marvel capable of restoring a body from 95% damage to full health.¡± She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. ¡°By now, you¡¯ve likely connected the dots. Pendulum¡¯s unparalleled success¡ªour dominance across every industry¡ªstems from our access to worlds no one else can reach. These Mysteries are the foundation of everything we do.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. There you are, Luca thought. You only missed the thousands of deaths that made it possible. The screen shifted again, revealing a new question: ¡®What are we meant to do about this?¡¯ ¡°In short,¡± Miss Santos continued, her smile widening, ¡°this is about your job.¡± The title ¡®COLLECTORS¡¯ appeared in bold, stark letters. ¡°Pendulum is built on three pillars: Collectors, Scientists, and Engineers. Collectors are the first link in the chain¡ªthe ones who venture into these Mysteries to gather data, while Scientists analyze that data, and Engineers turn it into groundbreaking products. It¡¯s a seamless collaboration.¡± She then pressed on, ¡°Your role as Collectors is the most hazardous. And if you rise through the ranks, the challenges will only increase. Death will be a kind end at the time when even your soul is at risk.¡± Her voice softened. ¡°But you¡¯ll also experience realities no one else can imagine. Are they dangerous? Absolutely. Are they horrifying? Often. Are they beyond human comprehension? Sometimes. But aren¡¯t they extraordinary? Will your heart race and your breath catch as if you¡¯re on the most thrilling roller coaster of your life? Without a doubt. And if you¡¯ve paid attention during your evaluation, you¡¯ll see there¡¯s a lot to find about the system. Who knows? One day, you may even trespass the barrier of humanity.¡± She then smiled. ¡°And let¡¯s not overlook the current benefits. Collectors enjoy a payment system that rewards even average performance with a three-digit monthly salary. That¡¯s not to mention the medical coverage, gourmet meals, and recreational perks. You¡¯ll risk your lives inside nightmares, that¡¯s true¡ªbut you¡¯ll enjoy a dream the rest of the time.¡± The screen went dark. ¡°That¡¯s enough information for now, don¡¯t you think?¡± Miss Santos said, her smile unwavering. ¡°The rest will be explained during your flight to our Core HQ¡ªIsland G¨Czilla. You¡¯ll have three days to settle your affairs and gather your belongings. Pendulum¡¯s Legal Department will be at your disposal should you need assistance.¡± For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Then, the Black man at the table leaned forward, his expression a mix of disbelief and incredulity. ¡°Excuse me, Miss Santos,¡± he began, his voice tinged with skepticism, ¡°but are you for real? This¡ªthis whole thing? It¡¯s not some elaborate prank, is it? Because this sounds¡­ insane.¡± Miss Santos remained silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on the man. Her expression was unreadable. Finally, she tilted her head slightly and said, ¡°How strange.¡± She turned toward the camera mounted in the corner of the room. ¡°Control, analyze Applicant 023042¡¯s results. What¡¯s his mark?¡± The man blinked, his incredulity deepening. ¡°Hey, come on, you can¡¯t seriously be buying into all this¡ª¡± He turned to the others, his expression screaming ¡®Are you kidding me?¡¯ as if expecting someone would back him up. Miss Santos ignored him, her focus unwavering. The woman who had spoken earlier¡ªthe one who had seemed so shaken¡ªfrowned, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Do you¡­ really have doubts?¡± she asked, her worry palpable. ¡°I mean, I¡ªI know it¡¯s all strange, but¡ª¡± She bit her lip, her hands fidgeting in her lap. ¡°This is real,¡± Luca said, his voice calm but firm, cutting through the tension like a knife. The woman nodded emphatically, the line of her shoulders straightened. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s real.¡± The youngest-looking of the group leaned back in his chair, a sneer curling his lips. ¡°You don¡¯t actually think Pendulum has so much money and so little to do that they¡¯d waste time pulling pranks on people, do you?¡± His tone was dripping with condescension. Luca¡¯s eyes flickered to him for an instant, hiding his surprise. Don¡¯t tell me this guy is¡­ Ah. He should have been noticed the moment he saw his face. He had been described as ''baby-faced'' many, many times, generally in sentences like ''despite his baby face'', ''even if he looked harmless,'' etc. Luckily, there¡¯s still you, he thought, barely suppressing the instinct to glance at the curly-haired woman for an instant. He didn¡¯t ask for much. Only coworkers that didn¡¯t put their feet next to his and send him stumbling into a monster¡¯s mouth. The rest didn¡¯t matter. Much. Not against the weight of the sweet promise of zero debt (which meant no black plastic bag and cement shoes in his future). After a couple of seconds of silence, the man¡ªWebb¡ªlet out a long, exasperated sigh, his shoulders slumping. ¡°You¡¯re all fucking nuts,¡± he muttered, running a hand over his face. ¡°I should¡¯ve gone to that interview in Mosko like my grandma told me.¡± At that moment, the same voice that had spoken to Luca earlier crackled through the room. ¡°Sorry, Mari¡ªMiss Santos,¡± the voice said, hesitating. ¡°Applicant 023042¡¯s mark is 61%, but his M¨Cvalue is¡­ 0.1. He¡ªhe shouldn¡¯t have passed. I don¡¯t understand how this happened.¡± Miss Santos sighed, her expression softening into one of mild disappointment. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Accidents happen.¡± She turned back to Mr. Webb, her tone polite but firm. ¡°Well, this is a bit awkward for us, Mr. Webb, but it seems there¡¯s been a mistake. You don¡¯t meet the necessary requirements for this position. But don¡¯t worry¡ªyou won¡¯t have any trouble forgetting this little matter.¡± Her words were delivered with a smile, but the underlying implication was anything but reassuring. Mr. Webb¡¯s eyes widened, his hands rising defensively. ¡°Wait, hold on¡ªI don¡¯t want any trouble, alright? I know how to keep my mouth shut. You don¡¯t have to¡ª¡± Luca suppressed his amusement and half-empathy at the man¡¯s obvious panic. If Webb didn¡¯t know about the ''side effects'' of the contract they¡¯d all signed earlier, his reaction was understandable. Poor man. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Webb,¡± Miss Santos said, her voice smooth but firm. ¡°You won¡¯t be harmed. In fact, we have other opportunities that might suit you. Shamaila?¡± As if on cue, a woman appeared at the door, her face framed by a colorful headscarf. She had a gentle, approachable demeanor, and her smile was warm as she stepped into the room. ¡°Yes, Miss Santos?¡± ¡°Please accompany Mr. Webb to your office and discuss the other offers we have available.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Shamaila said, turning to Mr. Webb with a kind smile. ¡°Please, come with me.¡± Mr. Webb hesitated, his eyes darting between Shamaila and the others in the room. For a moment, it seemed like he might argue, but then he exhaled sharply and stood. ¡°Fine. Whatever.¡± As the other man followed the woman out of the room, Miss Santos turned back to the remaining three. ¡°Well, now that that¡¯s been resolved,¡± she said, her tone businesslike, ¡°I¡¯ll let you go. You¡¯ll receive your performance results from the Technical Test. And, of course, your payment.¡± She smiled pleasantly. ¡°It will depend on your results, so I hope you did well.¡± It seemed like she hadn¡¯t thrown a big enough hook, so she added, ¡°As an Intern, you may calculate 1k for each mission point.¡± ¡°1k?! For each point?¡± The young man leaned forward in his chair, his emotional outburst betraying his excitement. His eyes were wide, his voice tinged with disbelief. Then, realizing his reaction, he cleared his throat and pretended it hadn¡¯t happened, his shoulders tense. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Miss Santos replied, her smile widening just enough to be polite but not enough to show her teeth. She gently pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. ¡°While you remain at Rank 1, or Intern, you¡¯ll receive that equivalent amount. Once you become an Agent, it will increase by 20%-25%.¡± She let the words settle for a moment before finishing. ¡°We''ll be sending the final contract at the end of the day, with further details.¡± Glancing around, even after catching the slightest hint of hesitation, Luca knew no one had thought to run for the hills. Money. A trap more dangerous than simple honey. Chapter 7 - Good news (mostly) It was still 5 p.m. when the meeting ended, and each one left for separate ways, so instead of heading back to his apartment, Luca took another path. Pendulum Tower was closer to the hospital than his own place at the 24th District, so the trip would take less time than usual. He had to take advantage of this and visit his little brother before he couldn¡¯t. They had a one-way ticket, after all. As he left Pendulum¡¯s building and stepped onto the street, the buzzing city enveloped him. Skyscrapers loomed overhead, their glass facades reflecting the golden light of the setting sun. The holographic image of a woman in a lab coat moved through the air, several floors above the ground. Delivery drones were buzzing, and the railroad tracks bustled with activity above them. It was no calmer at ground level. Some people still chose to drive themselves, and there wasn¡¯t a single day that something didn¡¯t happen on the streets. Luca navigated the chaos with practiced ease, making his way toward the public elevator. He would take the maglev this time. As he entered with the last group of people and the elevator started to go up, his medallion vibrated. He took it out and made a face at the name on the surface. The space was quite cramped to answer at that moment, so he rejected the call and sent a quick message for Robert to wait for him a tiny bit. Coming out of the elevator seconds later, Luca moved to the corner of the stop and called the man. He had good news to share. ¡°Oi, bastard,¡± the voice crackled through the phone, ¡°have you seen what day it is?¡± ¡°Hello, Robert, how are you? I¡¯m well, quite happy, thanks for asking¨C¡± ¡°Don¡¯t start,¡± the other man hissed. Luca could easily picture the shaggy, lanky man pinching the bridge of his nose, his expression a mix of frustration and exhaustion. If there was a boss lackey who deserved a raise, it was probably him. ¡°Do. You. Have. The. Money?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hear me out, I don¡¯t care if your brother¨C¡± ¡°I told you,¡± Luca cut him off, his voice cold. The old woman closer to him gave him a wary glance, and he softened his expression, stepping aside to give her more space. ¡°I have the money.¡± ¡°¡­You have the money,¡± Robert repeated slowly, as if he couldn¡¯t quite believe it. ¡°Yes,¡± Luca sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll send it to you when they pay me. In a couple of hours, tomorrow morning at the latest.¡± ¡°¡­What the fuck do you do?¡± Robert asked, his tone not curious but tired. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s about that cartel¨C¡± Luca snorted. ¡°I¡¯m not insane.¡± Well, not insane enough to get involved in something illegal, at least. He had no one who could bail him out, and the police were still prickly with people from the twentieth district and up. ¡°Tell Victor I¡¯ll call him later. The money will be in your account the moment I get it from my new job,¡± he repeated. ¡°I¡¯ll give you until tomorrow. If not, the boss is dragging your ass to the Arena.¡± The call ended. Holding the pendant in his hand for a moment, perhaps tighter than necessary, Luca looked up at the sky, his thoughts drifting. Luckily, the train arrived before he could dwell too long. The fare was more expensive than the bus at ground level¡ªbut it was worth it. He¡¯d be at the hospital in a matter of minutes. Luca found a seat near the back and closed his eyes for a moment. Only minutes later, he left his seat for an elderly woman and stood near the back door, gripping the overhead rail as the bus lurched forward. Through the window, the city stretched far and wide, the blue of the sky and the blue of the sea meeting on the horizon. But it was hard to focus on such beauty when the holographic ads jumped out of the towering buildings. Genetic engineering seemed to be the newest pink. Luca shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside as his stop approached. He stepped off the train and into the bustling street, the giant hospital looming ahead. It was a hexagonal structure of dark glass walls with the top health tech and lavender pots around the entire building, including the entrance. The delicate, sweet smell of the flowers followed him as he walked through the automatic doors, the flowery scent turning into the sterile smell of antiseptic already so familiar to him. The nurse at the front desk looked up as he approached, her face breaking into a warm smile. She could recognize him at first glance, having grown accustomed to seeing him almost every day. Although, perhaps it was the first time she had seen him dressed so properly¡ªand without dirt under his fingertips. ¡°Good evening, Luca,¡± she said, her tone kind. ¡°Go on ahead. He¡¯s waiting for you.¡± Luca nodded, offering a small smile in return, and made his way down the familiar hallways without another word. Two years already, he thought, his footsteps echoing softly as he reached the last and emptiest area of the hospital. Only a few nurses walked around, busy with their work, and an old woman who entered before him. He knew her. Melissa Thompson. She had one of her sisters interned here¡ªa stroke, sadly. The last treatment hadn¡¯t been so kind to her. Meters from Melissa¡¯s sister¡¯s room was his own destination. Pausing outside the familiar door, Luca took a deep breath and stepped inside. A black-haired youth lay still in the hospital bed, his face pale but peaceful. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the room. Yes. His little brown Shawn was still here, still fighting. As expected from that brat. ¡°Hey, Shawn,¡± Luca said softly, pulling up a chair and sitting beside the bed. He reached for his brother¡¯s hand, his fingers brushing against the cool skin. The nurse had told him too many times that even if they didn¡¯t look like it, the patients could hear and feel everything around them. And Shawn had been a small limpet that grew up into a tactile guy. He didn¡¯t think that the little brother in front of him could be so different. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. He swallowed. ¡°I¡¯ve got some great news. I landed a new job¡ªfull-time, at the number one company in the world. Gonna make a load of money with my skin on the line.¡± His mouth twitched. ¡°Not bad for a guy without great education, huh?¡± Shawn didn¡¯t respond, but Luca hadn¡¯t expected him to. ¡°It¡¯s going to be tough for me to visit as often as I used to,¡± he continued. ¡°But you¡¯re in good hands here. You just focus on waking up, buddy. We¡¯ll have so much to catch up on when you wake up...¡± He squeezed Shawn¡¯s hand gently, his eyes drifting to the heart monitor and then to the small bouquet of flowers on the windowsill. They were quite messy, with only one of ten still intact, as if they had passed through a hurricane. Luca¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Your friends came by again,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯re still counting on you to win the championship. Don¡¯t let them grow old and grumpy.¡± He stayed a while longer, filling the silence with stories and updates. When it was time to leave, he stood slowly, letting his hand go little by little. Shaking his head, he let out a small sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later,¡± he said, though the words felt heavy on his tongue. He didn¡¯t know when he¡¯d be back. (He didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d ever be back.) On his way out, he stopped by the nurse¡¯s station. Miss Linda, a kind middle-aged woman who had been with Shawn since the beginning, looked up from her paperwork and smiled. ¡°Please keep taking good care of him.¡± ¡°Of course, Luca,¡± she replied, her tone warm and reassuring. ¡°You take care of yourself too, alright?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± The words didn¡¯t taste like a lie as they left his mouth¡ªhe would take good care of himself, after all. It was already evening when he left, straight to his small apartment on the other side of the city. There was packing to do, after all. And another call to make.
¡°Did you figure out what happened¡­?¡± Teresa asked, flipping through the folders scattered across the desk. She liked working with papers, especially since the last security breach. It hadn¡¯t been funny. And the smell of the ink was delicious. Barbara sighed, leaning back in her chair. ¡°A stroke of luck, that¡¯s what. The guy spawned in the alley and woke up just as the killer was in one of the houses next to him¡ªbefore the ten-minute mark. I think Miss Mariposa¡¯s going to push for changing the time limits to avoid these kinds of flukes.¡± ¡°Even so, a 0.1 Mystery rating is painfully low,¡± Teresa murmured, her brow furrowing. Then her expression brightened as she pulled out another file. ¡°Oh, look¡ªa really good one. 94%. Applicant 023452, Samantha Jill. Ohh¡ª0.84 M-level. Delta-L is going to be thrilled.¡± ¡°Did they already sort it out¡­?¡± Barbara asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I thought they¡ª¡± ¡°Shh. You didn¡¯t hear this from me, but Lady Boss got a call from HQ¨Czilla. Last night.¡± Teresa whispered, giving her a look. ¡°So, yes, it¡¯s already sorted out. Delta-L gets her.¡± ¡°¡­Let¡¯s hope she lasts.¡± Teresa hummed in agreement, though her mind filled in the unspoken words. With a bit of luck, she¡¯ll make it through the week. ¡°Oh? 78%? And 0.81 M-Level? Not bad,¡± Teresa continued, scanning another file. ¡°Timothy Reeds. Only 21 years old. Pretty young.¡± ¡°The oldest one was from the last batch,¡± Barbara remarked, tapping her pen against the desk. ¡°What was he, 49? If I remember correctly.¡± Teresa nodded absently. ¡°We need more talent,¡± she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice. ¡°And still, so few people pass¡­ Genetics are tough.¡± She paused, her eyes widening as she picked up another folder. Her mouth curled up into a smile. ¡°Ha. Look at this,¡± she passed the paper toward Barbara, and saw the moment Barbara caught the number. ¡°Yes, I know, this is like a fucking pink unicorn. It¡¯s the guy who woke up first.¡± ¡°Sorted out?¡± ¡°Yes. Delta-M.¡± She set the folder down with a smile. ¡°What do you have from the other branches?¡± Barbara scanned her notes. ¡°A 0.59, a 0.54, and¡­ I think there¡¯s a 0.62 in there somewhere. Could be worse.¡± ¡°Last time was worse. We got only one good one¡ªand well, you know what happened,¡± she made a face. ¡°Initial scores don¡¯t mean much in the long run,¡± Barbara pointed out, frowning. ¡°How many of them fail their first mission?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t start,¡± Teresa groaned, waving a hand dismissively. ¡°Let me have a little hope this time.¡± Barbara snorted, muttering something about ¡°the last thing she lost.¡± Teresa didn¡¯t take it personally. She was right, anyway. How many of those shining unicorns had turned into dead horses the first time their lives were on the line? Too many to count. Perhaps this time will be different, Teresa thought, though she kept the sentiment to herself. The door swung open, and Williams strode in, closing it behind him with a sharp click. ¡°Alright, spill it¡ªwhat¡¯s got Lady Boss in such a foul mood?¡± The two women exchanged a glance. ¡°One of the participants with a 0.1 rating got lucky and ¡®passed,¡¯¡± Teresa explained. ¡°Didn¡¯t believe a word of it. Thought it was all a joke¡ªyou know, like back in the old days.¡± ¡°Oh, man,¡± Williams muttered, his face twisting in sympathy. ¡°What a mess. But that can¡¯t be enough to have her brooding in her office. She even took off her glasses. She hasn¡¯t done that since¡­ what, a month ago? After the whole¡­¡± He mimed a beast devouring someone with his hands. Teresa shrugged. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know anything more than that. Barbs?¡± Barbara shook her head, then frowned, as if remembering something. ¡°Wait¡ªI think I overheard something while grabbing coffee. Something about the latest product in the red branch. They¡¯re missing something¡­?¡± Teresa¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me they need more data¡­?¡± ¡°They¡¯re using the Mystery about¡ª¡± Williams started, then abruptly cut himself off, sighing heavily. ¡°Damn it. The new recruits are going to be thrown into the dino pit as soon as they arrive, aren¡¯t they?¡± Teresa slumped back in her chair. ¡°Maybe¡­ they¡¯ll be okay,¡± Barbara offered, though her voice wavered with doubt. Teresa stared blankly into the distance, her expression hollow. ¡°My poor shinnys¡­¡± she murmured. ¡°What a shame.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get your socks twisted,¡± Williams said, trying to sound encouraging. ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll take care of them. The specialists can step in if the situation gets bad enough.¡± Yeah, they can, Teresa thought, closing her eyes. But when was the last time they actually did that? They were so few that they were put on satin pillows until it was time to throw them into the pits. Which were not 1-star worlds¡ªeven in Delta. She sighed, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the desk. ¡°We need to prioritize finding more ¡®promises,¡¯¡± she said, her tone firm despite her weariness. ¡°We haven¡¯t put enough effort into looking beyond our borders. Maybe we¡¯ll get lucky and reel in a good catch.¡± Barbara raised an eyebrow. ¡°A 0.8 catch?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t expect more miracles,¡± Teresa admitted, rubbing her temples. ¡°But a dozen 0.6 recruits might be enough to balance things out.¡± Williams, who had lingered by the door, suddenly piped up. ¡°Before I forget¡ªhave you heard about that 1-star Mystery about cooking? It¡¯s driving the guys from the yellow branch up the wall¡ª¡± Chapter 8 - Catch a flight (no, isnt holidays) Late at night, Luca sat at his desk, which was clean like never before, the glow of his netbox reflecting on his tired eyes. The pictures changed on the middle screen, while the left one showed a fixed view of the flight information. Slurping the instant noodles straight from the container, he raised his hand and changed the right screen to show him a map of the city. He had never been to the airport before. It should be interesting to know another place. It¡¯s already the third night, he thought, glancing at the date on the corner of the left screen for a moment. I can¡¯t believe tomorrow is the trip. The fruit of his work¡ªaka his money¡ªhad already faded from two digits to zero two days ago. But thanks to that, he had no trouble convincing Victor that the rest would come through in the coming weeks. That man knew there was no way in hell he would leave and run to another country, leaving his little brother behind. He wouldn¡¯t have reached him otherwise. Swallowing another handful of warm noodles, his thoughts drifted toward his evaluation, and he found himself opening it on the right screen. He skimmed past the formalities and corporate jargon, already read before, and focused on the details that mattered. Accommodations were part of the benefits, considering they would live on the island under Pendulum¡¯s jurisdiction. Meals were covered through an internal currency system, so that was taken care of. Health insurance was provided by them, and considering they were the company leader in medicine, it wasn¡¯t anything shady. It would be great if he could put Shawn in one of their facilities¡ªbut the only way of getting one of the spots, most carefully guarded and managed than a presidency seat, was to get a higher rank. The benefits depended heavily on them, after all. If he wanted to get such a good thing, then he had to climb from ¡®Intern¡¯¡ªthe bottom rung of the Collector Department ladder¡ªall the way up to Specialist. Even being a Delta specialist would work. Luca sighed. The hierarchy in Pendulum was a bit intense. It could feel strict and not clear enough for new employees, because although there were defined positions¡ªInterns, Agents, Specialists¡ªat the case of the Delta Squadron, this was only the first step of the Collector Department. Gamma, Beta, Alpha followed suit¡ªexcept without the ¡®Intern¡¯ position. All this was settled according to the M-level. And the level. His wasn¡¯t bad. 0.9 was at the high extreme¡ªalthough he knew that the heroine should be around 0.94. The other guy, well, trusting a word from his mouth was akin to believing a cheater who said, ¡°This is the only and last time.¡± Yeah. He preferred to think his wasn¡¯t beyond that mark and leave it at that. Regarding levels¡ª Well. Everyone started at 0, him included. He needed to complete the missions to earn EXP and level up. A classic, right? There was even a small sheet with his STATS¡ªan evaluation according to Pendulum AI¡¯s parameters.
STATS
STRENGHT: 5 AGILITY: 6
ENDURANCE: 5 CHARISMA: 5
INTELLIGENCE: 8 PERCEPTION: 7
Five was the baseline, so Luca was essentially an average human with a bit of perception, agility, and intelligence¡ªor slightly better than one, almost a finger better, if he averaged his stats. Perhaps he shouldn¡¯t have stretched so much, or should have tried to speak to others. But no. It was better like this. A monster was good in theory, but would be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner by the researchers the instant he set foot on the island. It was enough having knowledge that they didn¡¯t come into until years later. With a sigh, Luca finished his meal and, setting the empty noodle container aside, leaned back in his chair. His eyes were fixed on the information in front of him.
TRAITS Stealthy Enhances ability to move quietly and remain undetected. (¨C20% presence while moving, ¨C25% presence while still.)
PERKS Night Vision Ability to see in the dark. Note: There must be a certain minimum of ambient light.
Two gifts from the Tutorial¡ªaka Interview. (Or was it the other way around?) The first one was a big cheat¡ªbut it was the second one that made him smile. A Perk! And so early. Generally, rookies got one after leveling up for the first time. It was one option between three, and depending on the one chosen, the branch of a tree would spread while others would be locked. Night Vision was not one of the first three options. I should decide what path I¡¯ll take, thought Luca. This ¡®gift¡¯ was a double-edged sword because it became useless if paired with the wrong additional perks. On the other hand, he had to be careful from now on. Traits were capricious. Perhaps, if he hadn¡¯t let that guy get the places in the cabinet, he would have gotten ¡®Ruthless¡¯ due to the thing about the boxer. That¡ªwouldn¡¯t have been good. On paper, Pendulum didn¡¯t like it when their precious resources ended up wasted. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Luca tapped the table gently as he thought. Now that Maned Wolf wouldn¡¯t be a problem, he would have to be careful with the seniors in the company. Especially the ones from the other squadrons. Not everyone. But that woman, and that man with Greek names¡ª Ah. I should make sure my own senior doesn¡¯t die. To keep the peace for a while longer. Stretching his arms above his head, he let out a long, tired sigh. ¡°What a day awaits.¡± Days. Weeks. Months. His eyes flickered at the picture of two boys, one older and one younger, dressed in matching baseball jackets, on the wall. A grin stretched the mouth of the older as one of his hands was ruffling the black hair of the younger, whose scowl was betrayed by the curl of his lips and the shine in his eyes. It was a ''retro'' thing, now in the 2050s, but one well-loved. Luca smiled. It didn¡¯t matter. There were worse things than being alive and having hope.
The airport buzzed with restless energy¡ªpeople shuffled past one another, followed by neon floating suitcases across the ground level as announcements crackled through the speakers. On an unrelated note, they really needed to improve their communication system. The static was killing him. Avoiding the temptation to cover his ears, Luca scanned the signs overhead, his suitcase in one hand and his loyal thermos of lukewarm coffee in the other. Bored. He¡¯d been given specific instructions: this spot, this time, no deviations if he wanted to keep the job. Someone would find him. When, exactly? The gods he didn¡¯t believe in knew. This looks nostalgic, he thought, glancing around the crowd, like my old place. His eyes caught a cascade of unruly curls before he could dwell on those things. Ah. Samantha, one of his favorite characters¡ªinside the pages of the story, obviously. In real life, it was enough to know she wasn¡¯t the kind of person he needed to worry about. Not in the way he was thinking, anyway. She was staring into something. An old-fashioned bakery bag dangled from her fingers, and her magenta suitcase leaned precariously, as if ready to topple at any moment. But she didn¡¯t seem to notice, too lost in thought. Her nerves must be through the roof, Luca thought. Still, he wasn¡¯t ready to approach her just yet. His attention shifted instead to the younger man in the far corner. The dark-haired guy¡ªwith good taste, judging by his Primeval t-shirt¡ªwas clutching a crinkled plastic bag and fiddling with his own medallion. A small black backpack slumped against his legs, as if he¡¯d packed only a couple of outfits at most. These two strangers he had read about before¡­ They were coworkers now. A flicker of movement caught Luca¡¯s peripheral vision. At first glance, it seemed ordinary¡ªa middle-aged man weaving smoothly through the chaos of the airport as Peter through his house¡ªbut there was something uncanny about the way people parted for him without looking up. It was as if they were repelled by him on an unconscious level. Pendulum¡¯s people, Luca thought, relaxing his grip on his luggage. They always carried themselves like low-key spies. Or Mafiosi. Life would be really difficult for them if they had to hide from normal people, huh? The man wore dark sunglasses despite the interior lighting, his posture relaxed yet rigid like a trained guy. If Luca hadn¡¯t known better, he might¡¯ve been tempted to call security. Or text Robert about missing one of his guys. As the man approached Samantha, Luca noticed how her shoulders tensed, how her grip tightened on the bakery bag until the paper crinkled. She didn¡¯t seem to notice her own reaction, offering the agent a smile that looked like a picture held together with tape. But the man did. He smiled back, extending a hand and shaking hers briskly before gesturing toward a corridor that hadn¡¯t existed moments ago. Great. An asshole in charge of orientation. What could possibly go wrong? Luca focused on the corridor entrance. There it was¡ªa pitch-dark passageway in the wall, its edges glistening faintly as if it might disappear at any moment. Samantha hesitated for half a heartbeat before stepping forward, her magenta suitcase the last visible hint of her before she vanished into the unnatural space. Then the agent turned, his face obscured by his sunglasses, and approached Luca. A faint tension prickled under Luca¡¯s skin, but it wasn¡¯t worse than he¡¯d expected. He drew on his experience dealing with live alligators and the few awkward teas with Victor and his spouse, steadying himself. ¡°How are you doing, Mr. Olson?¡± The man¡¯s voice was deep and smooth. Pleasant. If a crocodile could speak, it would sound like him. ¡°Call me Michael.¡± Luca extended his hand, genuinely surprised by the icy grip that met his own. It felt like touching metal left out in winter for too long, draining the warmth from his bones. Michael, huh? The name didn¡¯t ring any bells. ¡°I¡¯m good, Michael,¡± Luca replied, keeping his voice steady. He didn¡¯t offer his name¡ªthat would¡¯ve been foolish. ¡°And you?¡± The man¡¯s smile was all teeth, sharp and practiced. ¡°Great. We¡¯ll chat later. Take that corridor you already saw and don¡¯t look back. They¡¯re waiting.¡± With a curt nod, Luca followed the same path as Samantha, stepping into the darkness. Narrow walls surrounded him, illuminated by scattered light whose source couldn¡¯t be pinpointed. As he walked, his footsteps echoed as he moved forward¡ªnot just his. Multiple footsteps. But he didn¡¯t dwell on it. Like a dutiful Orpheus, he walked through the twisted corridors, ignoring the way the space seemed to stretch and distort with every turn. When Luca finally emerged, blinking under a surprisingly harsh white sky, he found himself facing a long runway. At the far end loomed a pristine white airplane that looked more like a military plane than a commercial one. Of course, Pendulum¡¯s logo was etched onto its tail¡ªa golden design, of course, with a particular-styled ''P''. A group of people stood clustered near the boarding ramp, their faces pale and drawn. As Luca approached, he noticed that only two of the eight seemed remotely normal: the curly-haired woman, who was inspecting her luggage with a furrowed brow, and a red-haired figure who greeted him with unsettling cheerfulness. ¡°Hello there, Mr. Olson,¡± she said, her voice bright and almost too lively for the tension hanging in the air. If this were a painting, she¡¯d be the only one rendered in vibrant, clashing colors. ¡°Call me Lacerta.¡± Luca gave a curt nod and extended his hand. Her grip matched Michael¡¯s¡ªfirm and cold. A chill crept up his spine. This time, he recognized the name. She was one of the ¡®Greeks.¡¯ Luckily, she wouldn¡¯t be his problem. ¡°There¡¯s only one left,¡± Lacerta said, her smile widening as she glanced toward the door. ¡°Here he is. We¡¯re complete. That¡¯s all of us.¡± Luca turned to the curly-haired woman, offering a polite smile when he noticed her looking at him. ¡°Olson,¡± he introduced himself, shaking her hand and expecting her to follow suit. Please don¡¯t tell me you¡ª ¡°Samantha Green, but call me Sam, please.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he said, offering a brief smile before stepping back. It couldn¡¯t be helped. But she would be alright. ¡°Mr. Reeds, hello to you,¡± the agent called out as the final member of their group appeared. ¡°Tim is fine,¡± the man muttered, shuffling past Luca to stand beside Sam. His demeanor was guarded, his eyes darting around as if he expected someone to jump out from a hidden corner at any moment. Luca recognized the look. That guy was from District 29, right? The agent didn¡¯t seem bothered by Tim¡¯s curt response and instead smiled at his coworker. The two of them stepped aside, putting some distance between themselves and the group. They conferred quietly, their hushed words barely audible over the hum of anticipation. Then the casually dressed agent stepped forward, commanding silence with a single raised hand. ¡°Let¡¯s begin boarding,¡± he announced, his voice calm, like an authority figure accustomed to giving orders. ¡°Pay attention to your assigned seats.¡± Chapter 9 - Orientation for Noobs (1) The group moved quickly, apparently having recovered their will to live. Not wanting to be hurried, Luca lingered at the back of the line, handing his suitcase to the employee before climbing aboard. According to the mail, his seat number was ¡®02.¡¯ He passed rows of occupied chairs¡ªblack, simple commercial seats, some occupied by the other rookies¡ªuntil he crossed through a red velvet curtain and reached a new ¡®zone.¡¯ Here, everything looked quite comfortable: plush cushions, nature paintings, and neatly arranged refreshments on a small, long table to one side. A bakery bag sat on this table alongside a large orange juice bottle. So, this was the premium section. How kind of Pendulum to make such a difference for them. Both Sam and Tim were already seated. Judging by their awkward, rigid posture and their wide eyes, it seemed that they were quite nervous. Not a surprise. It was likely their first time flying¡ªand to an uncertain destination. Without paying them more than a sweeping glance, Luca took the last empty seat next to the window, leaving the thermos on the handle. It would be nice to have something warm to drink later on. Seconds after he settled in, a mechanical voice crackled through the cabin speakers. ¡°Welcome to Flight 244 from Pendulum Airlines. Please fasten your seat belts. We will be departing in just a few seconds.¡± Flight 244. Luca couldn¡¯t put his finger on the feeling he was currently experiencing. As everyone followed the simple instruction, the plane hadn¡¯t even started its engines outside the window. The world began to blur, colors smearing together like paint on a wet canvas. The horizon tilted, and the hum of the aircraft grew louder. No one else seemed alarmed. Their faces remained blank, staring straight ahead as though hypnotized. Even Sam and Tim sat perfectly still, their hands resting lightly on the armrests. Luca felt compelled to stay like that. This feeling¡­ The unnatural grip on him, like a hand pressing him into the seat. Glancing out the window, Luca watched as dark and washed-out gray clouds swirled past. Beyond them, lightning split through the sky in erratic zig-zags, creating a beautiful yet ominous image. The storm seemed violent and not far off¡ªyet no turbulence bothered the plane. It was as if they were flying alongside a vivid painting or picture. The sharp clicks of heels against the floor snapped his attention inward. The red-haired woman¡ªLacerta¡ªemerged from the entrance area. She strode to stand beside the screen at the front. With her there, it felt like the grasp over him had faded a handful of levels in intensity. ¡°I didn¡¯t introduce myself properly earlier,¡± Lacerta began, her voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of something sharp. ¡°I¡¯m Lacerta from Delta-01¡ªor ¡®Delta-L¡¯ if you prefer. We¡¯re one of the three squadrons dedicated to the starting levels.¡± Her gaze lingered on Sam for a moment, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a rundown of how we operate before we arrive. Unfortunately, due to¡­ circumstances, you¡¯ll be starting today.¡± Ah, yes. This. New recruits usually had three days to acclimate before being thrown into the field. Starting immediately felt wrong¡ªdangerously so. Because it was. It meant something had happened on Pendulum¡¯s end, something fallen, and they had to rush to solve it. An anomaly? Sure, you could call it that. ¡°But don¡¯t worry,¡± Lacerta continued, her tone light and dismissive, as though discussing nothing more serious than a last-minute schedule change. ¡°The first time is always the easiest. We only lose a few of you each time. Consider this a good warm-up.¡± Without missing a beat, she gestured to the air, and a single word appeared floating in the middle of the room. In bold, blood-red letters: COLLECTORS . ¡°So,¡± she said, her smile widening just enough to show teeth, ¡°let¡¯s talk about what you¡¯ll be doing. Your primary objective is simple: collect data. You¡¯ll use this.¡± She rolled up one sleeve, revealing a thin silver bracelet encircling her wrist. Its surface gleamed, reflecting the dim light of the cabin like liquid mercury. ¡°It has a camera function, activated by pressing a button. Simple, right?¡± She adjusted her sleeve back into place, the movement smooth and practiced. Then, images spread around them, dancing in front of their eyes. Bioluminescent plants of strange shapes, a misshapen creature opening its maw, a futuristic box floating amidst swirling blue threads, a purple jalape?o farm tended by a long-haired, genderless figure, and a horned man holding a pitch-black trophy. They were chaotic and seemed unrelated to each other. ¡°... Taking pictures?¡± Tim asked, skepticism clear in his voice. He leaned forward slightly, frowning. ¡°That can¡¯t be all there is to it. Right?¡± Lacerta tilted her head, her expression unreadable. ¡°Each image captures the essence of whatever you photograph¡ªthe raw data that defines it. You won¡¯t be snapping selfies or documenting your morning coffee. Unauthorized uses will result in penalties. And trust me, you do not want to lose points. Each one is earned with your blood, sweat, fear, and pain.¡± She made another gesture with her hand, and the images faded away, replaced by people. ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the system. Specifically, the Role System. Ever been to a costume party or acted in a play? It¡¯s like that. Each time you enter a Mystery, you¡¯ll be assigned a random fictional identity that integrates you into the world. Your missions will depend on the role you¡¯re given.¡± She paused, as if recalling something, then added, ¡°While you¡¯ll always have a primary objective, secondary missions are common. These are intrinsically tied to your role. And yes, they matter¡ªand they pay.¡± Her gaze swept across the room, sharp and assessing. ¡°Sometimes, you¡¯ll have to choose between them. Don¡¯t be stupid. Take the one that keeps you alive, alright? Negative points are better than having your soul sucked dry. Or worse, enslaved.¡± ¡°... Enslavement?¡± Tim repeated under his breath. Sam frowned. Or worse, Luca thought. ¡°Now, before you get too worked up, let¡¯s jump into a topic everyone loves.¡± She changed the slide again, and numbers filled the screen, neatly organized into rows and columns. ¡°I¡¯m sure some of you are already familiar with this, thanks to the Tutorial. Someone even managed to rack up a tidy 40k as a starter, hmm?¡± She didn¡¯t elaborate or glance at anyone in particular, but Luca felt her gaze brush over him. He kept his expression neutral, refusing to react. It wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d enjoyed a single dime of that money¡ªit had gone straight to paying off his debts. And then, as the images disappeared like smoke, a table appeared:
WORLD / MISSION ¡î ¡î¡î ¡î¡î¡î ¡î¡î¡î¡î ¡î¡î¡î¡î¡î
F 002 003 004 005 006
E 007 008 009 011 017
D 025 027 029 033 040
C 045 048 051 055 065
B 070 074 078 084 095
A 100 105 110 120 150
¡°As you can see,¡± Lacerta began, her tone shifting to a more instructive one, ¡°the number of points you earn for a task depends not only on its rank but also on the difficulty of the world it takes place in. Just keep in mind the stakes increase accordingly. So, you''ll getting more -and risking your lives even more.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Before they could even think too much about the numbers, the table changed, and a solitary word floated in the middle of them: PERFOMANCE ¡°Before you start dreaming big about yates, and a manor your own casino, let''s get into something critical,¡± Lacerta began, her voice sharp and no-nonsense, cutting through the room like a knife. ¡°This is what trips up most rookies: Performance. It¡¯s not just about completing the mission¡ªit¡¯s about how you complete it." No job in any world could be saved from metrics. "Let me give you an example. During the Tutorial, two of you figured out the clues for the ¡®hidden mission¡¯ and reached the right conclusion. But one of you got a ¡®good¡¯ rating, and the other got ¡®excellent.¡¯ Same with the main mission¡ªthree of you survived, but only one walked away with ¡®excellent.¡¯ The other two? ¡®Good.¡¯¡± She paused, letting that sink in, her gaze sweeping across the room like she was sizing them up. ¡°So, what do you think made the difference?¡± Samantha raised her hand slightly, speaking carefully. ¡°I¡¯d guess it¡¯s about the number of clues you find¡ªat least for the hidden mission. If you got all the newspapers, you¡¯d score higher, right?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Lacerta said, nodding. ¡°Now, the main mission sounds straightforward, doesn¡¯t it? You have to survive¡ªdon¡¯t die. But how do you score survival? Truth is, we don¡¯t know. Only Pendulum¡¯s System does. We¡¯ve got some theories, though. The big one? Don¡¯t break the rules. The cleaner your run, the higher your score.¡± Great. Mystery metrics. Who could have guessed it? ¡°Rules?¡± Tim interjected, leaning forward. ¡°What kind of rules?¡± ¡°Death Rules, Omen Rules, Split Rules,¡± Lacerta listed, ticking them off on her fingers. ¡°You¡¯ll find more about it once we hit the island. You heard me telling you before, right? Mysteries are self-contained worlds. They¡¯ve got their own logic, their own laws. We¡¯ve mapped some of them¡ªDeath Rules, mostly. Break one of those, and you¡¯re done. But we¡¯re still figuring out others. For all we know, you could be breaking three Omen Rules just by walking into a room.¡± She shrugged, her tone matter-of-fact. ¡°Point is, tread carefully.¡± ¡°So we¡¯ll know the Death Rules before we go in, right?¡± Tim asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. ¡°Some of them, yeah,¡± Lacerta said, her tone firm. ¡°Unless you end up as a Scout down the line¡ªthen you¡¯ll be the one figuring them out. But for now, don¡¯t sweat it too much. You¡¯ll be working one-star worlds. They¡¯re about 70% mapped, and the rules are minimal. Stick to the manual, keep your head on straight, and you¡¯ll be fine.¡± She paused, her expression hardening. ¡°But don¡¯t get complacent. We¡¯ve lost too many rookies who thought they were greater than bread and died in the first ten minutes out of sheer stupidity.¡± ¡°Take a quick look at this.¡±
PERFORMANCE MULTIPLIER
Excellent 5
Good 3
Average 1
Non-good -3
Abysmal -5
¡°Here¡¯s the thing: you want to hit at least Average if you¡¯re looking to make a decent paycheck. In one-star worlds, that¡¯s doable¡ªhappens about 80% of the time. But if you slip into ¡®non-good¡¯ territory? That¡¯s where things get dicey. Surviving¡¯s great, but it¡¯s not always enough.¡± She gave them a hard look, her tone turning stern. ¡°And if you rack up three ¡®non-good¡¯ marks¡ªor God forbid, an ¡®abysmal¡¯¡ªyou¡¯re in deep trouble. Don¡¯t let the benefits fool you.¡± She made a gesture, and the information changed again. EXPERIENCE ¡°Another thing you¡¯ll earn for each mission you complete is ¡®Experience¡¯¡ªor simply ¡®EXP.¡¯ You might already be familiar with this concept from games. It works the same way. You get a fixed amount of EXP based on the rank of the missions you complete and the world you¡¯re in. As you level up, you¡¯ll grow stronger, smarter, faster¡ªwhatever your stats lean toward. But most importantly, your M-Level goes up.¡± This time, Mystery Level appeared in bold letters. ¡°This is what you want to focus on. The M-Level is a mysterious indicator¡ªexcuse the wordplay. But we know it influences the level of worlds you may be able to enter, which means your rank won¡¯t go up if your M-Level isn¡¯t high enough, no matter how strong your stats are.¡± She frowned, a flash of anger crossing her face for a moment. ¡°Now, you¡¯re probably wondering how to level up your M-Level. The answer¡¯s straightforward: participate in Mysteries, fulfill missions. That¡¯s the premise. But everyone progresses at a different pace.¡± She paused, considering her words. ¡°Each of you has an M-Level higher than average, so you¡¯ll climb faster than most. So, don¡¯t worry too much.¡± She reached for the orange bottle on the table, pouring herself a glass of water in a fluid motion despite the still present turbulences. ¡°I¡¯ve been talking for a while now. Any questions?¡± Chapter 10 - Orientation for Noobs (2) For a moment, no one spoke. Outside, the storm raged on, lightning illuminating the cabin in brief, blinding bursts. The plane hummed steadily beneath them. ¡°About the levels,¡± Tim began, a frown creasing his forehead. ¡°I didn¡¯t see mine on my evaluation.¡± Lacerta took a sip from her drink before answering. ¡°You¡¯re obviously at Level 0 now, but if you¡¯re curious, you¡¯ll be able to see all your information after entering the capsule.¡± ¡°The capsule?¡± Samantha asked, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. ¡°Yeah, that¨C¡± Lacerta took another sip, her tone casual, almost dismissive. ¡°You¡¯ll use the capsule to enter the Mysteries. Much easier than the old method.¡± Right. Luca recalled reading in Pendulum¡¯s Extras that before the invention of the capsules, the only method was to ¡®go to sleep in the Crypt and see where you end up.¡¯ No wonder she couldn¡¯t avoid mentioning it. However, he doubted there would be an explanation about this. No. There were no more words regarding the matter. In truth, there were no words. Luca pondered for a bit and then decided to ask, ¡°I¡¯ve got a question. How do we leave the Mysteries? Do we leave after fulfilling the main mission like in the Interview?¡± He knew it wasn¡¯t so simple, but the other two didn¡¯t, and they didn¡¯t seem interested in such a critical thing. Both Sam and Tim perked up. ¡°That¡¯s a good question, Mr. Olson,¡± Lamia set her glass on the table. ¡°Every time you enter, you¡¯ll have to wait a certain amount of time before the security mechanism pulls you out. It¡¯s important for you to know that this will only happen if you¡¯ve completed your primary mission.¡± ¡°But what happens if we don¡¯t complete it?¡± Tim asked immediately, frowning. Sam gave a nervous look. ¡°The company won¡¯t just leave us there. That¡¯s illegal.¡± ¡°I see someone hasn¡¯t read the contract,¡± Lamia sighed. ¡°The company isn¡¯t responsible for you once you¡¯re inside the Mystery. And yes, it should be illegal, but who¡¯s going to say anything? The very nature of this job is completely outside the realm of what¡¯s known.¡± Sam seemed to have a lot to say about this but only frowned even more. Tim didn¡¯t even look surprised. ¡°Anything else, rookies?¡± ¡°Could you tell us more about the different kinds of Rules?¡± Luca asked after a moment. It was a good idea to start planting the seed. ¡°If we¡¯re starting soon, we might not have enough time to familiarize ourselves with them.¡± It wasn¡¯t an excuse. He knew they wouldn¡¯t be getting the time to peruse ¡®little details¡¯ like this one. Lacerta hummed thoughtfully. ¡°Alright. Death Rules are instant death for the one who breaks it. Omen Rules are like a special kind of Death Rule, but they¡¯re not instantaneous¡ªthey act on a broader level, so if you break one, you¡¯ll end up affecting everyone else for the worse. Split Rules¡ªthese are the ''if you do this, now you can do that'' type, offering new opportunities that often unlock Hidden Missions.¡± ¡°Hidden Missions?¡± Tim piped up. ¡°Don¡¯t start dreaming so early. They¡¯re more common in two-star worlds and above. And, you must know that experienced recruits die seven out of ten times trying to find Splits, so don¡¯t go looking for trouble.¡± Luca¡¯s gaze flicked briefly to Sam, his mind flashing to the description of her death. Yes, even the top could die due to this kind of thing. But his thoughts lingered on another detail¡ªhis own plans to complete missions in the best way possible. It seemed he¡¯d have to ignore this important piece of advice. Tim pressed further. ¡°But what if I find another rule? Will I get a bonus or something?¡± Lacerta¡¯s smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed sharper than before. ¡°Opportunist, right? What an interesting, dangerous Trait.¡± Her words made Tim¡¯s eyes widen before he frowned. ¡°The quick answer is yes. If any of you discover a new rule¡ªand survive¡ªyou¡¯ll receive a bonus. A substantial one, even. But if you don¡¯t come back, which is most usual, then you¡¯ll get an honorable mention at the end of the manual. I¡¯m sure future recruits will be thankful for your collaboration.¡± Tim didn¡¯t look happy with her words. ¡°Or, if you really like the idea of exploring mysteries and uncovering new rules, you can become a Scout. There are plenty of growth opportunities for those who manage to survive and acquire the necessary skills along the way.¡± ¡°Any other questions?¡± Lacerta asked lightly, her tone almost casual as she glanced toward Samantha with an encouraging smile. Samantha hesitated, then spoke up. ¡°About the Traits,¡± she began, licking her lips nervously. ¡°Can they be removed or replaced?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lacerta answered, her voice firm and final, even as her tone remained deceptively soft. ¡°It surprises me none of you mentioned them before. This part of the System always catches the attention of recruits¡ªfor better or worse.¡± She paused. ¡°Now, while Traits can¡¯t be changed, don¡¯t let them define you. Learn to work with them. And, before anyone asks, you¡¯ll get more of them as you participate in missions and level up.¡± Luca¡¯s mind flickered to Samantha¡¯s Trait, and he understood why she¡¯d asked. Compassionate sounded good on paper, but it was a bit too people-oriented. While a Charisma bonus had its benefits, it also came with disadvantages. It wasn¡¯t surprising she¡¯d already discovered hers, which was the same as Luca¡¯s. Neither of them would be front-line fighters anytime soon. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Oh, right, before I forget,¡± Lacerta said, her tone shifting to businesslike. ¡°You¡¯ll be working under one of three Delta Squadrons.¡± A flicker of something crossed her face before she addressed each of them individually. ¡°Mr. Reeds, you¡¯ve been assigned to Delta-03 or Delta-N. A representative couldn¡¯t join us, but don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll meet them on the island. Mr. Olson, you¡¯re with Delta-02, also known as Delta-M. You¡¯ll be with Michael. And Miss Green¡­¡± Her smile softened ever so slightly. ¡°You¡¯re with me in Delta-01 or Delta-L. Welcome.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss Lacerta,¡± Samantha replied, offering a polite smile. Lacerta nodded and then continued, ¡°Part of your contract requires you to select a designation. It must be a name starting with the same letter as your team.¡± ¡°Delta-N,¡± Tim muttered, rolling the syllables around in his mouth like they tasted rare. ¡°Can I choose any name that starts with N?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Lacerta confirmed, her grin turning sly. ¡°Feel free to pick whatever suits you¡ªeven traditionally feminine names, a rock band, or a dessert name if that¡¯s your preference. Go wild.¡± Tim scoffed but looked thoughtful, his fingers tapping absently against his knee. Sam, for her part, was glancing through the window, pursing her lips. Meanwhile, Lacerta returned to the front of the cabin, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. The presentation had already faded, leaving the cabin quite empty. What should I choose? Luca pondered, glancing at his hands, closing and opening his fingers. There was a name on the tip of his tongue, but he felt some resistance. It was from the other life and represented a big part of him... but what if it ended up being more of a handicap than a help? The sharp sound of the curtain being pulled back startled Luca from his musings. Michael emerged, stepping into the cabin with an ease that felt almost predatory. His presence filled the space¡ªand Luca was sure he wasn¡¯t simply imagining a crocodile slipping out of the water to spread on the rocks. ¡°Have you finished briefing the rookies?¡± he asked Lacerta, his voice smooth and low. Lacerta nodded, her cheerfulness replaced by something colder, more formal. ¡°They should be ready. I told them to choose a designation in the meantime.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Michael said, nodding approvingly at her before turning his gaze toward the group. His eyes swept over them slowly, lingering on each face as though sizing them up. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of someone who knew, was confident because of this. ¡°Don¡¯t rush your decision. You won¡¯t be changing your designation anytime soon. Don¡¯t pick something frivolous. Don¡¯t use your real name or the name of someone you loved.¡± Luca raised an eyebrow, sensing a story or five there. His lips curled into a faint smirk. ¡°Trust me, it gets messy when you have to see and answer to that name in reports¡ªor personally.¡± He paused, his gaze sharpening. ¡°Don¡¯t be the one with their ex¡¯s name, please.¡± It was good advice. And yes, there were stories there. He should ask later, in some occasion. ¡°Right. Some names are already taken,¡± Lacerta added, her tone practical. ¡°So I¡¯d recommend picking at least three options.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t we use our own names?¡± Tim asked then. Lacerta and Michael shared a look before she answered. ¡°I told you about the Roles, right? There are consequences if you don¡¯t keep a certain barrier between yourself and those identities.¡± You go crazy, Luca summarized silently. A sudden, piercing noise cut through the cabin¡ªa high-pitched whine that set everyone''s teeth on edge. For a split second, the agents¡¯ faces betrayed genuine surprise, sharing a frown and an unreadable look. On their part, the recruits exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether the sound meant anything significant. Lacerta recovered first, smoothing her expression with practiced ease. ¡°Alright,¡± she said briskly, clapping her hands together once. ¡°You¡¯ll have a couple of hours to think about your designations. But now¡­¡± Her smile returned. ¡°It¡¯s time to see your new home.¡± As both agents sat down on two empty chairs in a corner and tightened their belts, the plane descended rapidly, jolting violently as it hit the runway. The turbulence rocked the airplane, as if the aircraft itself resisted landing. Outside, the world blurred past the windows¡ªgrey asphalt and trees under an overcast sky. Lightning flickered sporadically, casting a game of shadows inside the cabin. For a split second, the idea that they all would die crossed his mind. The plane¡¯s engines whirred to a halt, and the cabin fell into silence. ¡°Thank you all for joining us on flight 772. You may now unfasten your seatbelts and begin disembarking.¡± Luca unbuckled his seatbelt, looking around him. The rest of his coworkers stood, their faces unreadable, with the same air as at the start of the trip. It was strange because Luca didn¡¯t feel the same impulse as before but simply a faint tug to leave. A Pendulum operative dressed in a warm orange sweater appeared at the front of the cabin, gesturing for them to hurry up. Logistic Corps. They were a bunch of fearless people, perhaps even more than the Security Corps of the island. And had a hand in almost everything happening there. It wasn¡¯t a good idea to make them angry. Without a word, Luca followed the line of people down the boarding ramp, his suitcase in one hand and his thermos in the other. The cold wind hit him immediately, sharp and biting, carrying the faint, salty scent of the sea. The air felt heavier here, charged with a kind of tension. Ahead, the road stretched out like a gray desert, leading to a cluster of low, utilitarian buildings not so far from there. Michael stood waiting at the bottom of the ramp, his back straight and sunglasses perfectly in place. ¡°This way,¡± Michael said. He turned and began walking, not bothering to check if they were following. But then, what more could you do in this situation? Running for the hills? It was already too late for that. Luca moved forward, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The island felt¡­ off. It was beautiful, of course. Lush green open spaces stretched out around the paved road, behind short fences. A hint of civilization could be found on the horizon. But the ground beneath his feet wasn¡¯t stable. He could feel subtle vibrations traveling up through his legs with each step. A small detail, but one that set his nerves on edge. In front of him, Tim muttered something under his breath, frowning at everything around him. Samantha kept glancing over her shoulder, her eyes darting toward the line of trees that bordered the path¡ªor perhaps she was looking at the tall fences standing a few meters away. They were lovely in an odd way. A black bus with tinted windows waited at the end of the path, just beyond the barriers. The model was quite old, and it looked more like something from where Luca had come from than from that side. Perhaps this was the reason many glanced at it with bewilderment and seemed to hesitate as they went inside. Luca slipped inside, noticing it was bigger than it looked at first sight, with rows of multiple and individual seats spread along the walls. He took an individual seat in the middle and leaned against it. It was pretty comfortable. Once everyone was inside and the bus started to move, Michael stood at the front, visible to everyone. ¡°I won¡¯t make this long,¡± Michael began, pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. ¡°You¡¯ve heard what¡¯s ahead, and you¡¯ve experienced the Interview firsthand. However, the jump is longer than you may believe.¡± He paused, letting the words sink in, his gaze sweeping over the group. Even hidden behind his sunglasses, the intensity of his eyes could be felt with an intensity that burned. ¡°The faster you understand that G-zilla is its own world, has its own rules, the better off you''ll be.¡± He leaned back slightly. ¡°Adapt or die trying.¡± ¡­Well. That guy sure was something. Chapter 11 – A tiny bit of faith goes a long way If someone gave Luca a coin for each time a silence like this happened, he¡¯d already have his pockets filled. Well, in this case, it seemed likely that Michael¡¯s intention was to leave them hanging there¡ªconfused, bewildered, with please-come-back-and-explain-what-the-heck-are-you-talking-about faces¡ªas he turned and walked to the driver¡¯s cabin. Outside, fog rolled in slowly, curling around the bus and brushing against the windows. Luca stretched his hands over his head and leaned back more comfortably, looking outside. The road twisted and curled, which was a bit annoying, but beyond that, he felt quite calm. He had known what swamp he was stepping into from the beginning, so such talks didn¡¯t move him. His thoughts were focused on his surroundings, particularly the long path ahead. It doesn¡¯t feel like a place you want to be at night. Faint light, fog, and nothing but vegetation at first glance¡ªbut beyond that, a hint of buildings could be spotted in the distance. ¡­It didn¡¯t seem like it had been designed for people who fought for their lives in similar settings. Pendulum was quite cruel to add such an ¡®outer side¡¯ to the populated area. Who would dare to run away? Minutes passed. Humans, resilient as they were, began to return to a semblance of normality. ¡°¨Conly three. I heard it¡¯s because their M-levels are higher than average¨C¡± ¡°If you get paired with one of them, your chances of surviving go way up¨C¡± Of course, they started to gossip. A noise of exasperation came from the next row. Ah, there was his coworker Tim. Luca glanced around the bus, catching a glimpse of brown curls near the front. Unlike the rest of them, the heroine was already ¡®making friends¡¯ with the others. It was clear who had the most charisma. Sighing softly, he turned his attention back to the window, feeling his eyes grow heavy. But he didn¡¯t dare to fall asleep. He wanted to see it. G-Zilla¡¯s entrance. And he didn¡¯t regret it. Two black pillars, built like obelisks, flanked the sides of a white-marbled bridge. Even from a distance, he could see faint lines across the dark material, glinting under the natural light in unknown patterns. G-Zilla was older than Pendulum''s. In truth, G-Zilla had existed even before it was called that. When one of the others finally noticed it, they gasped¡ªthough not exactly in awe. ¡°Look!¡± someone shouted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have a deck!¡± ¡°Are we going to fall?!¡± Had they already forgotten about the airplane traveling through a storm? Or that landing? If none of them had died then, it was unlikely to happen now. Of course, Luca could afford to think whatever he wanted, considering his knowledge¡ªbut even so, it wasn¡¯t a ''big jump'' to make, right? ¡°Stay calm, please,¡± Samantha¡¯s voice cut through the rising panic. She popped up from the head of her seat, raising her hands in an appeasing gesture. When she noticed the others listening, her face flushed red, but she pressed on. ¡°Even though the journey here was strange and even seemed dangerous, we arrived without any issues, didn¡¯t we?¡± Murmurs of agreement spread through the bus. ¡°And,¡± she added, more confident now, ¡°we¡¯ve got one of the seniors with us. They¡¯re tasked with bringing us to work, and they¡¯ve been reliable so far. Please trust Michael.¡± How sweet, Luca thought, turning his gaze back to the window. She had no idea that not all the seniors had their best interests at heart. But she¡¯d learn, like anyone who stayed on the island long enough. Luca squinted his eyes, recognizing hints of the Doric style on the columns. And now, as they approached, the symbols marking the surface became clearer¡ªbut the mystery was lost to them as the lack of a deck became unmistakable. Squinting, Luca noticed a faint shimmer in the air. He relaxed further, folding his hands over his lap. As the bus suddenly accelerated, a wave of screams pierced the air, and many voices called out to the ¡®reliable senior¡¯ and the unknown driver. No one appeared. The bus kept going, crossing between the black columns¡ªand, to almost everyone''s horror¡ªit seemed to leap into the cliff. Screams reverberated in the air¡ªbut they didn¡¯t fall. The bus landed on something solid yet translucent, which, under the weight of the vehicle, solidified into an iridescent road. It was beautiful. ¡°What is this?¡± someone asked, their voice trembling. "Are they playing with us?" ¡°I almost had a heart attack,¡± another muttered, clutching their chest. ¡°Did they tell you about this, Sam?¡± a red-haired woman across the aisle asked. ¡°No, no,¡± Samantha replied, her voice steady but tinged with wonder. ¡°But it¡¯s incredible. I thought the bus would fly or something¨C¡± ¡°I thought the same!¡± another woman chimed in from behind her. ¡°I almost wish it had. But an invisible bridge is pretty cool too. Do you think it¡¯s a new material?¡± As their chatter continued, Luca¡¯s thoughts were occupied with something more. Though the road had become visible, the image of what lay beneath the cliff was etched in his mind: a dense forest, a river streaming through the middle, and a peculiar formation of rocks. This must be the old crypts, he thought. ¡°Look! Civilization!¡± someone shouted, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to the windows. Two snow-white obelisks marked the end of the bridge, and beyond them, a line of buildings emerged from the horizon, half-obscured by a faint haze. Finally, the trip was coming to an end. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. As the bus passed between the columns, something happened. A faint sensation, like static electricity, brushed Luca¡¯s skin, and a tingling spread through his body. It lasted only a split second, and when he glanced at his other coworkers, none showed more than amazement. But the goosebumps along his arms were proof enough that it hadn¡¯t been his imagination. The asphalt road stretched ahead in a straight line, flanked by auburn trees. The fog had lifted, revealing a continuous line of marble columns with lights¡ªstreetlamps¡ªon either side. Soon, a colossal building rose into view on the right, its gray walls and giant windows visible through the red leaves and black branches. ¡°The Main Hall is on your right,¡± Michael¡¯s voice announced through a speaker. The sound quality was better than the airport¡¯s but still carried a faint static. ¡°And downtown is on your left.¡± Luca turned to the other window, catching a glimpse of small buildings and a fountain through the glass. From what he knew, the area housed everything from cafeterias and clothing stores to a cinema, flower gardens, and a park. It was its own town. ¡°Now, we¡¯re reaching the Delta Quarters¡ª" On the right, a five-story concrete building came into view, a bold red ¡®D¡¯ painted on its side. Wide glass windows and an entrance lined with pots of yellow flowers led to a dark wooden double door. As the bus stopped, it became clear that this wasn¡¯t the only building but the first of five. Michael reappeared, his hair slightly disheveled and his sunglasses crooked. ¡°Start getting off,¡± he instructed, his tone brisk, while fixing his sunglasses. Luca wondered if anyone had seen the hint of golden. As they stepped off the bus, their luggage was already waiting in front of the building. The moment the last person stepped onto the ground, the doors closed on their own, and the bus drove away. Quick and efficient, Luca noted. ¡°This will be your home for the foreseeable future,¡± Michael announced, his voice flat. ¡°It''s already adapted your fingerprints, so go ahead. You''ve already got your housing number on the last message, right?¡± Luca tightened his grip on his suitcase and tucked his empty thermos under his arm before walking to the building. He passed by Michael, to whom he nodded but was stopped by him. ¡°Be at Office D33 in the Main Hall at 4 PM,¡± he instructed. ¡°Don¡¯t make us wait.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As Michael repeated the same to Tim and Sam behind him, Luca headed inside. Passing by the line of pots, he couldn¡¯t identify the flowers, but their fresh, sweet scent lingered in the air. As he approached, the double doors swung inward, revealing a modest reception area. Well, ''modest''. It had a long soft sofa, a bookcase, and a hanging silver flower-shaped lamp casting a soft glow. A silver-wood staircase spiraled upward in one corner, while an elevator stood silently against the opposite wall, and a corridor stretched next to it. Although Delta was at the ''bottom'' of the Collectors, the space was still pretty decent. Luca''s place was 1B. First floor of the first building¡ªwhat a privilege. For a split second, he wondered who had been living there before him, but soon pushed the thought aside. It didn¡¯t matter anymore. Those who died in the Mysteries didn¡¯t haunt this world anyway. Opting for the stairs, the climb was brief but tiring. Each step echoed louder than it should, and the suitcase felt heavier. By the time he reached his floor, fatigue had settled in his body, leaving only a wish for warm water and a comfortable bed. The hallway stretched out before him, lined with identical doors, and then turned to his right. The walls were a dull beige, the floor covered in thin, pale orange carpeting that muffled his footsteps as he made his way toward the other end. On his way, he passed by another pair of double doors but didn¡¯t pay attention to them. As he reached his door, he saw a square screen next to it. Pressing his hand on it, a faint flash of light was all that was needed for the door to slide open. Luca stepped inside¡ªand stared. The first thing he saw was a large window on the opposite wall that showed part of the gray sky. A simple wooden desk and chair sat beneath it. A meter away, a white paneled screen divided the space, offering privacy to the ¡®bedroom zone,¡¯ while a compact bathroom was tucked behind a sliding glass door, diagonal to the window. Everything gleamed under the artificial white light¡ªclean, new, spacious. And when he breathed in, an oddly familiar scent filled his nostrils. Osmanthus tea. Luca placed his suitcase by the door and set the thermos on the counter before approaching the covered side. A bed with neatly ironed blue sheets stood in the corner, topped with a long shelf and a bedside table holding a wooden lamp. Feeling a bit strange, he picked it up, squinting at the osmanthus flowers carved into the base. Not knowing whether to feel honored or worried about the level of detail, Luca stood there for a moment, taking in the room. So, this is home, sweet home. It would take him some time to get used to this. His gaze drifted toward the bed. There, resting atop the pristine duvet, was a small black box embossed with a golden P. A gift. Or better said, his mail working tool. He picked it up and opened the lid. As he expected, the same silver bracelet Lacerta had shown them earlier was there. Its surface reflected the light like it had been polished into a mirror, with a barely perceptible rectangle carved in. The size should be good enough to encircle his wrist. Luca hesitated, staring at the bracelet for a moment before closing the box, putting it aside. Forget it, then. He wouldn¡¯t put it on just yet. Instead, he decided to take a bath, hoping the warmth of the water might ease the tension coiling in his muscles. It felt like a lifetime had passed since he took the flight. The bathroom could only be described as immaculate. It was even bigger than the one in his old place, with pristine walls and light-blue tiles. The fixtures¡ªhe didn¡¯t want to know if they were real silver or whatever. And it didn¡¯t end there¡ªthe dark wooden medicine cabinet above the sink was adorned with intricate carvings of tiny flowers and curling lines. The only thing missing was a ceramic or marble bathtub in the corner. He supposed the silver, flowery shower faucet would have to do. Washing his hands and then his face felt like a surreal experience. Was this his life now? A rags-to-riches arc compressed into three days? Glancing at the mirror¡ªwhat, more osmanthus flowers?¡ªLuca couldn¡¯t help but think that Shawn would¡¯ve found this place¡­ well, boring as hell. He¡¯d have wanted to buy an aquarium and fill it with goldfish, turtles, and a little crab. A vibrant curtain for the window¡ªblue or red¡ªand another air freshener that ¡°didn¡¯t remind him of their grandparents¡¯ house.¡± And, of course, a SpongeBob SquarePants poster just for laughs. Luca closed his eyes. It hurt to think about it. It hurt even more that he didn¡¯t know if this Shawn would be the same. Turning away, he pushed the thought aside and decided to take a bath. As the water ran hot, steam filled the small space, fogging up the mirrors and muffling the silence of the apartment. The warmth spread through his body, flushing his skin and loosening the tension. Afterward, wrapped in a blue bathrobe that fit him perfectly and feeling more comfortable than he had in days, Luca returned to the bedroom area. The black box still sat where he¡¯d left it¡ªlike it was waiting for him. Reluctantly, he picked it up again, opening the lid once more. The bracelet lay there. With a deep breath, he picked it up and slid it onto his wrist. The moment the ends connected, the edges seemed to melt together, sending a cold shiver through him. And then it burned. His vision blurred, and when it cleared, the room seemed¡­ different. The blood coursing through his veins grew hot, hot, hot¡ª
Welcome to Pendulum.
He cooled down as the message popped up in the corner of his vision, the letters white and clear while the rest became diffused.
Please, enter your designation.
Chapter 12 - You’ve got a ‘new’ name now (he says)
Please, enter your designation.
Luca touched the bracelet with his fingers, tapping softly on the metal as he pretended to think. A name had jumped into his mind the moment he learned which squadron he belonged to. It was familiar. He didn¡¯t know if that was a good thing, but he knew he needed the confidence that came with it¡ªeven if the situation wasn¡¯t exactly the same. Even if it could be a bad idea in the long run. ¡°Mithras,¡± he murmured, feeling a shiver run down his spine.
Greetings, Mithras.
This could be considered his second step on the road toward a very dark place. But for a long moment, Luca stared at the bracelet, pondering why he didn¡¯t feel any different. Well. The thing didn¡¯t look any different. It had accepted his designation on the first attempt¡ªa record, considering how many people had come before him. (How many designations had been lost forever?) On the other hand, if he focused, he could swear there was a faint vibration pulsing against his skin. He tapped the space between the carved lines gently, and a message popped up.
Profile is available.
Additional services are locked until further progress.
The last line wasn¡¯t a surprise. The ¡®camera¡¯ that Lacerta had talked about would only appear during missions, and as a Level 0, he didn¡¯t even have access to the inventory yet. ¡°Open profile.¡±
MITHRAS PROFILE
LEVEL 0 EXP 500/1000
CURRENT POSITION: Intern (Delta-M Squadron)
POINTS 3 SKILL POINTS 0
STATS
STAT POINTS: 0
Strength: 5 Agility: 6
Endurance 5 Charisma: 5
Intelligence: 8 Perception: 7
TRAITS: PERKS:
Stealthy Night Vision
It was exactly as he expected¡ªand as he already knew. Relaxing his shoulders with a long sigh, he rolled down his sleeve as he had seen Lacerta do earlier. With a simple thought, the text faded from his view. Covering his sleeve with his hand, feeling the pulse better than before, he stared into the air for a moment. Now, there was really no turning back. A brief smile stretched his lips upward. As if I didn¡¯t already know it¡­ Shaking off the thought, he went to his luggage and dragged it to the bedroom. There was a closet half-hidden at the end of the bed, but he had no interest in organizing anything now. After rummaging through his suitcase, he finally unearthed the medallion. The screen flickered to life, and he pressed the interface. There was something new in the top corner of the screen, next to the hour¡ªa small ''P''. All the technology had already been intervened by Pendulum. Luckily, Luca had nothing to hide there. He had always preferred the old-fashioned way to store his thoughts. Letting it aside, there were a couple of hours before he had to be at Office D33. Setting an alarm, Luca put the medallion around his neck and sank onto the bed. The mattress was firm yet surprisingly comfortable, cradling him. Fuck. He was so tired. And this bed was the best one he had ever laid on. He didn¡¯t think he would fall asleep so quickly, so easily¡ªbut the tiredness pulled him toward sleep. But a good rest didn¡¯t come so easily. The sound of dripping water began from the start¡ªa faint plink echoing from somewhere within the walls. At first, it didn¡¯t matter. The lights flickered on the other side of the windows as the car moved ahead, and the radio came online with an unclear song filled with static. But soon, the dripping became more noticeable. It wasn¡¯t loud, but it gnawed at the edges of his awareness, refusing to fade into the background. And then there was the heartbeat. Not his own¡ªno, this one thudded slower, heavier, resonating deep in his chest. It felt so cold. Rain poured outside, sliding down across the windows. The song changed, but Luca still couldn¡¯t understand the lyrics or even the rhythm. Someone¡ªsomeone familiar¡ªwas there, on the corner of his eyes. He didn¡¯t know who it was. No, not anymore. Didn¡¯t remember. But he was almost sure that¡ª Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. What? What...? Beneath it all, the relentless drip, drip, drip followed him. When the alarm blared, dragging him to the present, Luca bolted upright with a gasp. His heart raced, adrenaline surging through his veins. Was he still dreaming? Was he alive? Was he there? (Where was there?) For a moment, he simply sat there, disoriented, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling while the remnants of his dream clung to him. Was this a nightmare? Not exactly. But calling it a simple dream¡­ Luca rubbed his face, letting out a deep sigh. The only silver lining was that, despite the unease lingering in his gut, he felt¡­ rested. Physically, at least. Mentally¡ªwell, he could be better. Grasping the bracelet on his wrist, he felt it humming softly, almost imperceptibly, under his fingers, and his mouth twitched. It was good enough for now, considering where he was. What his life was now. Shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. Two hours had passed, and it was time to start his first day. To face the music, as some people would say. His stomach rumbled then. Alright. Whatever awaited him at Office D33 was still an hour away¡ªhe could make time for a snack. Luca pulled on a simple blue jersey from his luggage and swapped his bathrobe for something more professional but comfortable. With a final glance at the place where the bracelet still clung to his wrist, he picked up a couple of things more from his luggage¡ªa bag of sweets, a plain notebook, and a pencil¡ªbefore tearing a piece of paper to write a quick message. There had been a lot of black clouds for those who didn¡¯t act properly with the ¡®favor¡¯ received. It cost him practically nothing to cover his back against any possible problems that might arise from this front. He could, of course, act like a real rookie¡ªbut frankly, no one would be paying attention to this except for the ones involved. So he left the bag of gummies on the desk with the ¡®thank you note¡¯ and then left his department with more ease. Now, it was unlikely he would come back to messy sheets, a clogged toilet, or worms in his refrigerator. As he stepped into the hallway, he noticed movement from the opposite door¡ªa figure slipping in just as quietly. A coworker. A senior, surely. Luca took the stairs again, descending into the lobby below. There was a sign pointing the path toward downtown in front of the building. A breeze caressed his cheeks as he followed that lead toward the commercial area, thinking about what he should eat... G-Zilla had its own gastronomy, so he should choose some of the options he had only been able to read about before. After a few minutes, Luca found a small store in the first block¡ªalthough the streets here seemed more open, with small green spaces between buildings¡ªwhere a modest line formed outside its glass doors. He knew they were no rookies at first glance; their expressions were somehow unreadable, and their postures relaxed yet somehow guarded. As Luca hesitated, weighing whether to join the queue or explore further for another option (There should be a cafeteria nearby, right?), a cheerful voice broke through the white noise of the murmurs. ¡°Hey, new face! Are you looking for lunch?¡± Luca turned to find a man standing beside him, grinning broadly. He was of average height, with ruffled black hair and an easygoing demeanor that might have seemed friendly in another context. An agent, at least. ¡°Yes,¡± Luca replied, meeting the man¡¯s gaze without flinching. ¡°Then let me give you a hand,¡± the stranger said, extending his own. ¡°You may call me Mars.¡± The designation sent a pang of recognition through Luca¡¯s mind, but he kept his expression carefully neutral. Still, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled as he shook the offered hand. Mars¡¯s grip was icy, colder than any human skin had a right to be. However, it was better than the other agents he had met before. Schooling his features into polite indifference wasn¡¯t difficult. His level should be lower than Michael or Lacerta. ¡°Mithras,¡± Luca replied simply, offering his chosen designation. Mars tilted his head slightly, studying him with a certain intensity. ¡°Oh? What a choice.¡± His grin widened further, revealing teeth that looked just a fraction too sharp. Before Luca could respond, the man gestured toward the store with a flourish. ¡°Shall we?¡± Luca gave a curt nod and followed Mars toward the growing line. As they joined the queue, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was being evaluated¡ªnot by Mars alone, but by almost everyone around them. It wasn''t paranoia. He could see the others glancing at him briefly, their eyes lingering just long enough to make him uncomfortable before returning to their hushed conversations as if nothing had happened. Someone weaker might have grown tense under such scrutiny. Perhaps even annoyed. Or worse, they might have let themselves be pushed away entirely. But Luca wasn¡¯t weak, and he had quite a long experience. He kept his expression neutral and his body relaxed, refusing to give anything away. ¡°So, what brings you to Pendulum?¡± Mars asked casually, walking next to him with an ease that felt almost like they were already friends. Another one with a good level of charisma, huh? ¡°Needed a change,¡± Luca replied, his voice calm and his response deliberately vague. Then he gave Mars a brief smile. ¡°Heard the pay¡¯s good.¡± Mars chuckled, a rumbling sound with its own peculiar cadence. ¡°Oh, you won¡¯t be disappointed with any of that. It¡¯s¡­ different, sure. Maybe even overwhelming, especially at first. But the numbers at the end of the month? They can make it all worthwhile.¡± His grin widened, a flash of blinding white teeth. ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough.¡± If you survive, it seemed to linger. Luca didn¡¯t reply beyond a simple nod, focusing instead on the menu board above the counter. ¡°Do you have some recommendations? I''ll have my first mission in two hours, at most.¡± Mars tilted his head pensively. ¡°You should ask for the Surprise Box.¡± Luca nodded at him and followed with it. That had been one of his initial ideas. But¡ªnow he knew Mars wasn¡¯t trying to mess with him. At least not now. He added three sweets to his order, only one for himself. At the front of the line, Luca swiped his wrist over the sleek scanner embedded in the counter. A soft beep confirmed the transaction, deducting 0.1 points, and he moved to collect his order. ¡°We can find a place around the corner,¡± Mars suggested. Luca didn¡¯t respond, simply following Mars to the back of the store where a small seating area had been set up. Tables were scattered haphazardly, some occupied by tiny groups of people chatting amongst themselves in low voices, others left conspicuously empty. The air was thick with the mingling scents of food and something faintly unfamiliar. Yet, the warm red leaves swayed in the breeze, and laughter broke out from time to time, softening the otherwise off atmosphere. As they sat down, Luca handed the second sweet to Mars without ceremony with a calm expression. Surprise flickered across the man¡¯s face for just a moment before his grin softened, becoming less predatory and more genuine¡ªor at least, as close to genuine as someone like a veteran could manage. ¡°Well,¡± Mars said, accepting the treat with a slight nod, ¡°I won¡¯t say no to free sugar.¡± Tearing open the box, Luca studied Mars with a quick glance, noting the way the man¡¯s fingers curled possessively around the sweet. He must be stronger than I assumed, Luca thought, turning his attention to the food¡ªa sandwich and fries. Well. It looked like this at least. He picked up the sandwich and took his first bite. Flavor and freshness exploded on his tongue, and he had to resist the urge to moan. This was, without a doubt, the best sandwich of his life. Unable to help himself, he picked up a fry and felt as though he¡¯d discovered a second reason to live right then and there. They ate in silence. ¡°You¡¯ve got a good head,¡± Mars finally said, glancing at him. ¡°Sharing goes a long way around here. Not everyone figures that out so early.¡± Luca met his gaze evenly, refusing to flinch or look away. ¡°Being thankful is proper manners, isn''t it?" Mars laughed again, louder this time. But it was a shark laugh. It felt like that. ¡°You¡¯re going to need that mindset here.¡± He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice further, ensuring their conversation remained private despite the hum of chatter around them. ¡°Delta isn¡¯t so bad¡ªat least, not compared to Gamma or Beta. We''re lucky." His grin faltered for a split second, something colder and darker flickering in his expression. "But that doesn''t mean there are no troubles lurking around. Keeping yourself out of the spotlight is the best option." Luca nodded at his words. It was a shame that he couldn''t follow them¡ªgoing up quicker than possible was the only way to keep his little brother with him, after all. ¡°You¡¯ve got a new name now,¡± Mars said abruptly, breaking the silence again. ¡°Make sure to use it.¡± Luca hummed in agreement, his mouth still full of fries. Mars'' mouth twitched, and he didn''t say anything more. Luckily for Luca, because he had no extra sweets to give to him. He was saving the last one for the next hour. When Luca finished eating, he stood without a word, gathering the box, and looked at the man. Mars watched him intently, the sweet now completely consumed, its wrapper crumpled carelessly in his hand. ¡°See you around, Mithras.¡± It was the island¡¯s version of ''good luck.'' After all, the dead, the bound, and the enslaved didn¡¯t come back. How could he not understand it? Luca smiled. ¡°See you around, Mars.¡± Chapter 13 - Preparations (Can I throw this manual away?) Luca stepped out of the store area, emerging into the gray afternoon. The strangeness of hearing the words he had read again and again years before lingered for a moment, but when he pulled out his phone and checked the time, the nostalgia died under the weight of reality. Fifteen minutes until the meeting at Office D33. His gaze drifted across the landscape, searching for the Main Hall. It wasn¡¯t hard to find¡ªthe monolith of dark glass rising from the other side of the road was quite visible. From this distance, it looked impressive and mysterious. Well, it had to be said that it has its own kind of beauty. Luca took a deep breath, steeling himself, and began walking along the paved path that led toward it. The closer he got, the more imposing the structure became, its sheer size dwarfing everything around it. Shadows clung to its edges, pooling in the corners between arched panels of glass. The entrance, an archway large enough for five people to enter side by side with their arms intertwined, stood open. Only as he approached did Luca notice details he hadn¡¯t seen from afar: faint cracks spiderwebbing across the white concrete, barely visible until closer inspection. The patterns reminded him of the storm he had seen from the airplane. But it was only for a moment. In a blink, everything smoothed out, like it had been only his imagination. Luca pursed his lips. A cold breeze swept through the area, carrying with it an unfamiliar, faint scent. Somewhere nearby, a bird cried out¡ªa harsh sound that sent a shiver running down his spine. When he glanced up, he caught sight of it perched atop a window, black feathers and small unnaturally smart eyes. It stared directly at him, tilting its head as if studying him. Then, with a sudden flutter of wings, it vanished into the gray clouds. Well, this isn''t suspicious at all... Luca quickened his pace, finally passing under the arched entrance. The reception area beyond was unexpectedly opulent and modern, its red wooden counters gleaming under warm lighting that seemed almost too bright against the dreary whiteness outside. Behind one of the counters stood a woman¡ªher skin unnervingly pale, almost translucent, and her crimson lips stretched into a smile. ¡°Hello,¡± she said, her voice surprisingly deep for someone who looked so delicate. ¡°Where do you need to go?¡± Luca returned the greeting, keeping his expression neutral, before answering, ¡°Office D33.¡± She tapped something on her computer, the sound of her keystrokes unnaturally loud in the otherwise quiet space. Then she nodded, gesturing toward a corridor behind her with a graceful wave of her hand. ¡°Follow that corridor and turn right at the end. Sixth door on your left.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Luca said, offering a brief, grateful nod before following her instructions. As he stepped away from the counter, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that her gaze lingered on him. For some reason, it felt like turning around would be a mistake, so he pressed on. The corridor she directed him to was starkly different from the lavish reception area. Narrow and sterile, with empty walls and only a faint hum of noise. The doors lining the hallway were plain, marked with golden signs¡ªsome displaying numbers, others letters, and a few with titles. It was a long corridor. Longer than he had expected. According to what he knew, the Main Hall had around a thousand floors, split between those above ground and those buried deep beneath it. Yet only a fraction was actively occupied. Delta claimed the first three; Gamma took the next three; Beta and Alpha occupied progressively higher levels. But the laboratories ¡ªwhere most of the activity truly resided, took dozens of subterranean floors. Not a surprise. Experiments required space. And secrecy. Particularly this kind of experiment. Despite the corridor¡¯s length, it didn¡¯t take Luca long to reach the end and make the turn. The little trip was uneventful ¡ªno one crossed his path, which struck him as odd. There were many sounds echoing through the corridors ¡ªmuffled voices, the clatter of footsteps, the occasional ring of different melodies. Yet not a single soul appeared in front of him. Well, I won¡¯t complain. As he found the sixth door, Luca paused briefly, studying it. Like the others, it was unremarkable¡ªplain wood with a small brass plaque reading D33. Yes, there was no need to check further. Taking a steadying breath, he knocked gently, the sound reverberating softly against the polished surface. ¡°Come in,¡± came the reply. It was a recognizable voice. Luca turned the handle and pushed the door open. Inside the office sat Michael. The man was seated behind a cluttered desk, in a chair large enough for two people. His glasses were perched neatly on his nose, reflecting the dim light of the muted white lamp, and his hair looked freshly styled, as if he¡¯d visited a professional on his way to work. For some reason, he was dressed in a black leather jacket. ¡°You¡¯ve arrived just in time,¡± Michael said, his smile sharp as he spoke. Perhaps Luca hadn¡¯t been stealthy enough to hide his glance ¡ªor the slight judgment in it. He felt a flicker of guilt, but black leather always reminded him of his little brother trying too hard to appear older. Michael gestured toward the seat in front of the desk. ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared what you need. Take a seat and look at this.¡± Luca obeyed, lowering himself into the chair. Michael slid a tablet across the desk. The weight of it felt lighter than it should have as Luca picked it up. ¡°You¡¯ll find your manual there,¡± Michael explained, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Make use of the time. The available information about your new mission is already inside, updated to the last round.¡± Luca nodded curtly but hesitated. ¡°May I ask you a question?¡± When Michael gestured for him to continue, he said, ¡°Is there any special way to activate Traits and Perks?¡± The man looked at him, the weight of his gaze heavy even behind the sunglasses. ¡°No. They work automatically. You can ¡®cancel¡¯ them temporarily through the system, though.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Ah, so it¡¯s like that,¡± Luca murmured to himself. ¡°If I may ask you a question now,¡± Michael began, slightly pushing his sunglasses up. ¡°Did you obtain¡ª?¡± He didn¡¯t finish the sentence, but Luca knew exactly what he was referring to. ¡°Yes,¡± Luca replied, pausing for a moment to consider how much to reveal. ¡°It¡¯s paired with my Trait. I got pretty lucky.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The Traits of employees were available in the database, accessible to all agents and beyond. Michael, who was obviously the senior assigned to him, would already know what Luca¡¯s Trait was. And while it was subtle, there were few Traits that paired as well with Stealthy as Night Vision. But why was him asking about it as if he didn''t know? Are you testing me...? Really? "It''s alright to be careful when speaking about this with others," Michael said, almost bored. "Now, if you have nothing more to ask, then you may continue reviewing the mission." Luca nodded and pulled a sweet from his pocket, leaving it on the corner of the table. ¡°Thank you, Michael.¡± Then, without waiting for a response, he turned his attention to the tablet. Once he unlocked the screen and settled into the seat for comfort, a simple interface appeared. It was quite old, to be honest, even for his own parameters. And the design wasn''t quite good ¡ªthe screen was divided in two sides, with the left, narrower one containing the tabs, now only one: Primal Dream.
PRIMAL DREAM (¡î) STATUS: In Progress
SETTING: carnivorous dinosaur zoo.
ROLES: Visitor(F), Food Seller Assistant(F+), Tour Guide(E).
RULES
As Luca distractedly noted how familiar it seemed, the sound of crinkling plastic and then tearing reached his ears. Suppressing a smile, he focused on the page. He recognized this¡ªnot only by name, but by reputation. One of the named characters had met a tragic end there, devoured alive in a scenario that could only be described as a nightmarish, crueler version of Jurassic Park. Because here, this John Hammond hadn¡¯t intended for his creations to stay inside their cells. A sharp knock echoed through the room, startling Luca from his thoughts. ¡°Who?¡± Michael asked, as he moved around his desk, tossing something into the trash can. ¡°Nagato,¡± came the reply, hesitant. ¡°And Liona.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The door creaked open, revealing Tim and Samantha¡ªor rather, Nagato and Liona. They stepped inside, their expressions guarded but tinged with apprehension. Both looked distinctly uncomfortable. Tim¡¯s usual confidence seemed muted, replaced by a wary stiffness, while Samantha¡¯s wide eyes darted around the room, avoiding both Michael and Luca. Michael gestured for them to sit, his movements precise and smooth. He pointed to the clock on the wall. ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± he remarked coolly, though there was no real accusation in his voice. To anyone else, it might have sounded like he was bored. Nagato cleared his throat awkwardly as he took a seat beside Luca. ¡°Sorry. We got lost on the way here.¡± Luca almost snorted. He didn''t know there were still respect for the classics at that side. Behind Nagato, Liona nodded silently, her demeanor far shyer than Luca recalled from the bus. ¡°Here. Study the material for the mission,¡± Michael said, handing out the tablets. ¡°Try to understand the rules. Your lives will depend on it.¡± After that, silence fell over the group. Like the others, Luca focused on the tablet, skimming through the information. Under the summary, there was a section labeled Rules. He pressed it.
PRIMAL DREAM''S RULES
VISITORS You cannot escape the park before closing time. DEATH
FOOD SELLERS You must receive the message ''your shift has ended'' before being able to leave the work area. DEATH
Once Satisfaction falls, the shift will be extended. OMEN
TOUR GUIDE You must finish the tour before leaving the vehicle. DEATH
You must kept the Satisfaction high. DEATH
Failure to report to work will attract the attention of the guards. OMEN
ADVICE: Don''t lose your time trying to escape. Fulfill the main mission and survive the night after the power outage. Once it happens, Roles won''t matter anymore.
MISSIONS In Progress
It was so obvious which role was the most problematic and what one was the ''easiest''. In summary, everyone had to stay in their roles until the disaster began but once everything went sideways, they could do whatever it took to survive without worrying about their assigned roles. Alright. Until here it was good and all. But ¡ªwhy was the last section empty? He asked this aloud to Michael. "Due the sudden urgence, it wasn''t possible to finish updating the manual on time," the man answered. Something cold was settled on his voice. "You¡¯re going to have to make do with what you already have." Luca felt his respect for whoever had written that plummeting below zero. Tim cleared his throat. ¡°Sorry¡ªbut¡ªyou¡¯re going to give us some equipment, right? There are carnivorous dinosaurs. And they¡¯ll be roaming free alongside us? For hours?¡± His tone was skeptical, almost disbelieving. ¡°How are we supposed to survive this?¡± He frowned, his voice rising slightly. "And for how long?" Michael smirked. ¡°Well, to answer that, you¡¯ll be inside for twelve hours before the security mechanism kick you off.¡± He paused, his gaze sweeping over them. ¡°And equipment? At Level 0? You don¡¯t even have the inventory unlocked. Quit dreaming.¡± His tone was bored, almost dismissive. Liona clutched her tablet tightly, her knuckles white against the screen. ¡°Then¡ªwe¡¯ll have to survive on our own, without even a weapon?¡± Michael raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why did you think the salary is so good? Kindness?¡± He shook his head. Luca glanced around at the pale, nervous, and even slightly angry faces. He chose to speak up, his voice calm but firm. ¡°If you¡¯re all amenable, we can brainstorm about the Roles and the possible missions. We¡¯ve still got some time.¡± He glanced at Michael with a questioning look. ¡°Yeah, feel free to use your neurons,¡± Michael said, waving his hand dismissively. ¡°You¡¯ve got 20 minutes.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea,¡± Liona said, her voice steady but tinged with relief. Tim sighed, running a hand through his hair. ¡°I¡¯m a simple guy who just wanted a gun, but alright, I¡¯m in.¡± Since it had been his idea, Luca took the lead. ¡°I¡¯ll go first, then. I think if someone gets the Tour Guide Role the missions wil probably be about¡­¡± Chapter 14 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (1) Twenty minutes passed in a blur. Michael leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the desk. ¡°Alright, time¡¯s up.¡± ¡°But what about¡ª?¡± Tim¡¯s words were cut off by a sharp knock at the door. ¡°Time to go,¡± came a voice from outside, muffled but firm. Michael gestured casually with his hands, looking as though he might slump over the table at any second. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your tablets here. Go and follow Lacerta.¡± Liona and Nagato were the first to rise, their movements tense. Luca lingered for a moment, meeting Michael¡¯s gaze one last time. The man offered him a brief smile¡ªsharp, yet strangely encouraging. ¡°I expect a report after this,¡± Michael said. His tone was ligh... but there was a veiled implication. Luca nodded. A reminder that returning alive wasn¡¯t optional, uh? Almost against his will, a small, grim smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Understood,¡± he replied calmly, closing the door firmly behind him as he stepped out into the corridor. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve quite a trip ahead,¡± Lacerta said, smiling at them. She looked the same as she had hours ago, before disappearing when they landed. They followed her through narrow hallways, her heels clicking sharply against the floors. The sound bounced off the walls, cutting through what would have been a silent walk otherwise. No one dared to speak, immersed in their own thoughts. Perhaps they had just started to realize that their lives would be on the line very soon. Through the clatter of footsteps and the occasional hum of fluorescent lights overhead, they finally reached an elevator. Sleek, with three thick red lines painted on the doors, it had enough space for three people at most. They were forced to crowd inside¡ªLuca almost ate a handful of curls and barely avoided an elbow¡ªunder the amused gaze of Lacerta, whose personal space remained quite empty. There were no buttons inside, with no visible controls to indicate which floor they might ascend or descend to. Instead, their senior simply stated, ¡°Floor U100.¡± The elevator responded immediately, chiming softly before the doors slid shut with a soft hiss, and sealed them in. For a moment, the silence was deafening, broken only by the faint whirring of machinery as the elevator began its descent. Luca felt the pressure change in his ears. ¡°Nervous?¡± Lacerta asked suddenly, her tone almost playful. Though if the others could see her eyes like Luca could, they¡¯d find they remained as calm as a still lake. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We can chat a bit. Why don¡¯t you tell me about your designations?¡± ¡°I chose Liona,¡± the young woman answered, a flicker of pride in her voice. ¡°A bold name,¡± Lacerta said, her smile widening with satisfaction. ¡°What about you both?¡± ¡°Nagato,¡± Tim said after a pause. ¡°Long-lasting gate. Really striving forward, huh?¡± Lacerta remarked, her voice tinged with amusement. Luca offered his next. ¡°Mithras.¡± ¡°You¡¯re all little poets, aren¡¯t you?¡± she said, raising a hand to brush a lock of hair out of her face. ¡°Now, one last question?¡± ¡°Will we be the only ones entering this Mystery?¡± Liona asked, pursing her lips. ¡°Well, yes,¡± Lacerta confirmed, tilting her head slightly. ¡°We have other situations besides this. You¡¯re lucky, you know? The other one requires twelve people.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°Half of them, give or take, won¡¯t come back.¡± Luca¡¯s thoughts raced as he considered her words. There were Mysteries where death struck instantly, without warning or escape¡ªa random lottery of fate that left no room for strategy or skill. In Primal Dream, at least, if they weren¡¯t saddled with the worst Role, their chances of survival would be¡­ better than in others. Relatively speaking. For a carnivorous dinosaur zoo, anyway. Liona managed to speak, her voice tinged with horror. ¡°But then¡ªwhy would anyone want to enter?¡± ¡°The same reason we¡¯re sending you into a pit of dinosaurs and you¡¯re jumping in,¡± Lacerta said, her lips curling into a faint smirk. ¡°Money. Now, don¡¯t fret too much about this. Even if the worst comes to pass, if you keep a cool head, you can find a way to survive.¡± Liona sent him a glance, for some reason, so Luca only nodded at her. It was empty encouragement. She would survive the night thanks to her charisma, so there was no need to worry. He had already given them some clues, not only for the Tour Guide, so everyone should be alright. The elevator continued its descent, the numbers flashing silently in the corner of the display. No one said anything more. And then, finally, the elevator slowed, coming to a stop with a soft ding that echoed through the cramped space. The doors slid open, revealing a dimly lit corridor bathed in pulsating red light. The air was colder here, tinged with an acrid metallic scent that made his nostrils flare. ¡°Welcome to the Restricted Zone,¡± said Lacerta, stepping out without hesitation, confident as if the place belonged to her. ¡°One of twenty-five, but you didn¡¯t hear that from me. This way,¡± she instructed, gesturing for them to follow without looking back. The corridor led them to a set of double metal doors emblazoned with a swirling spiral that seemed to twist and writhe when glanced at indirectly. Lacerta pushed the doors open, revealing an expansive room lined with capsules on either side. They gleamed faintly in the low light, a mix of electric blue and silver. Each one was large enough to accommodate a person, and their shape almost made Luca believe he was preparing himself for space travel. If only. Amid noises of wonder, Lacerta turned around, standing in the center of the room. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°They are some beauties, right?¡± she said with a cocky smile and a hand on her waist, almost as if she had designed them herself. ¡°You¡¯ll use these to enter the Mystery. Ah, before I forget¡ªtime flows differently inside. Twelve hours for you, two for me.¡± She then pointed to three capsules clustered together in the corner. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t dawdle. You can¡¯t lose your ticket.¡± Luca approached the last capsule, his fingers brushing against its cold, smooth surface. With a faint click, the upper part of the capsule opened, sliding aside to reveal a padded interior that looked almost inviting. Almost. He hesitated for a moment, tempted to remove his shoes before climbing in, but dismissed the thought as unnecessary. Instead, he settled himself inside, lying back cautiously. The padding conformed to his body, cradling him in a way that felt both comfortable and unsettling. As the lid began to close, Lacerta¡¯s voice drifted toward him. ¡°Good luck, rookies.¡± And then, darkness swallowed him whole. It wasn¡¯t just the absence of light. No. it was the complete loss of his senses. Sound faded first, leaving only a silence so thick it pressed against his eardrums like earplugs. Then came the sensation of falling¡ªnot physically, but mentally, as though his consciousness were being torn from his body and hurled into an infinite void. Every part of him, every nerve screamed in protest as the world around him dissolved. For a split second, Luca wondered if this was it¡ªif this would be his end. Would his brother wake up one day, wondering where he was? Would they cut down the line before Shawn could open his eyes? Then a new sensation emerged: a faint vibration coursing through his body, resonating with the bracelet still wrapped tightly around his wrist. It pulsed in time with the rhythm of his heartbeat. It grounded him. It grounded him even as everything else slipped away. When the darkness finally receded, he found himself somewhere else. A really, really different place. A towering skeleton¡ªa Therizinosaurus, its massive claws curved like scythes, frozen mid-strike loomed in front of him. The construction of white bones cast an ominous shadow over the floor. The illustration behind it ¡ªquite realistic, with bold colors¡ª was both impressive and quite unsettling. It felt as the black bean-like eyes were watching him from the image. A faint, icy sensation prickled at his wrist. Before he could move, a translucent but so solid-looking message blinked into existence directly in his field of vision:
MAIN TASK PICTURES (0/6)
Capture the data of the Attractions.
The words hung there for a moment before they faded, leaving an afterimage burned into his mind. It wasn¡¯t just text; it felt as if it had been etched directly onto his thoughts. Forget about forgetting the task. It would be impossible. How generous of them. ¡°Mithras, are you already up?¡± a cheerful voice chimed beside him, snapping him out of his contemplation. Luca turned to see a woman dressed in a green park uniform. Her jacket looked slightly too tight, and her khaki pants were adorned with the logo of the dinosaur zoo. She looked ordinary enough and acted as though she were familiar with him, using his designation despite the fact that even his coworkers didn¡¯t know it. (To think they hadn¡¯t even asked told a lot about their current nerves.) ¡°Yes,¡± Luca replied evenly, keeping his tone casual. ¡°I wanted to take a look around before my turn.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ve got around an hour and a half,¡± she said, glancing down at the watch strapped to her wrist. Her expression shifted briefly, almost imperceptibly, as though recalling something unpleasant. ¡°Did you eat lunch already?¡± ¡°I ate something,¡± Luca answered evasively. She snorted, shaking her head. ¡°Don¡¯t wait until the last hour. Everyone who makes that mistake ends up throwing up during the trip. Don¡¯t give the poor visitors a scare they don¡¯t like¡ªor your salary will get docked like Gaston¡¯s.¡± Luca nodded, feigning agreement. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± With a sigh, the woman adjusted her cap and gave him a dismissive wave. ¡°I¡¯m heading out then. Hope there aren¡¯t too many kids again. They always start crying or screaming when we get to one of the kings¡¯ exhibits.¡± She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her smile faltering ever so slightly. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing around the corner. ¡°See you soon,¡± Luca murmured under his breath. As soon as she was gone, he pretended to continue examining the Therizinosaurus skeleton, but his attention was no longer on the bones. Another message had popped up during their conversation, and lingered ominously in the corner of his vision:
ROLE: TOUR GUIDE
TASK: COMPLETE TOUR (0/6)
So, this was a Role Task, wasn¡¯t it? Lacerta¡¯s earlier warning echoed in his mind like a funeral bell tolling in the distance: Prioritize whatever means your survival. In this case, if he didn¡¯t complete it, he¡¯d end up triggering the Death Rule. What rotten luck. It seemed like he¡¯d drawn the worst possible mission¡ªthe same one that had ended with that named character¡¯s life. With a sigh, Luca turned away from the towering skeletons and walked toward the balcony overlooking the ground floor. The museum was quite spacious. The square floor was ample enough to host six realistically sized displays of the attractions ¡ªvivid, lifelike depictions of the predators in action, their teeth bared, claws extended. There was enough people to hold a concert. Three doors, made for giants, stretched across each of the walls. Beyond the buzzing white noise of the voices, he heard a deep growl coming from outside. From above, he observed the joy and laughter of the people, and wondered for a moment if this is what the creator of this park felt. Probably not. Luca didn''t feel the same temptation to use them as dinosaur food, after all. What he did feel was... well. A bit of excitement. It couldn''t be helped ¡ªeven knowing well what would happen later. Pushing off the railing, Luca descended the stairs. With each step, the magnitude of the museum dwarfed him, and his eyes jumped from display to display. Two occupied the corners, and the remaining four stood proudly in the middle of the ground floor¡ªthe four kings. His lips twitched. Dinosaurs. Really. In front of them were replicas of bone and glue, good enough to make holographic show directors hide their heads in shame. And this was at the very bottom of the Most Exciting Things from this Mystery List. The real thing was waiting for him outside. Chapter 15 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (2) The ¡°first floor¡± from which Luca had descended was, in truth, a mezzanine. Below it, on the ground floor, were bathroom doors, wooden benches, informational stands, and posters plastered across the walls. The high ceiling created an ample sense of space, even though the actual roof loomed about 30 meters above. An hour and a half, huh? Luca glanced around, wondering where he could check the time¡ªand spotted a screen conveniently hanging on the wall nearby. Besides displaying the time (tucked neatly into a corner), it showcased commercials for the park¡¯s promotions and, more importantly, an explanation of the layout. According to the map, the museum stood at the very center of the park, while his assigned workplace was located to the south. His shift started at 6 p.m., leaving him just an hour to gather information and make his way to the tour starting point before security came looking for him. Though tempted to head straight outside through one of the nearby exits¡ªhe only had to turn left and walk out¡ªLuca chose to visit the nearest exhibit instead. A concrete wall, slightly lower than the mezzanine, separated the display from the entrance. It was a clever design, supposedly enhancing the displays, but he couldn¡¯t help but think it might come in handy later that night. The first exhibit he reached was the Giganotosaurus. To the south was the T-Rex¡¯s exhibit, and to the west, the Spinosaurus¡¯s. The Yutyrannus exhibit stood to the north, directly across from the area covered by the mezzanine. Luca took his time walking around, pausing briefly to read the displayed information. It was a mix of historical data and anecdotes¡ªthough, from what he could see, no one else seemed particularly interested in reading it. Probably because the format was ugly. And, to be fair, they had the real thing outside. As he moved toward the next exhibit, he found an interesting tidbit about the king of kings: according to research, the T-Rex¡¯s eyesight wasn¡¯t great¡ªit was colorblind and depended on the movement of its prey. As a result, it relied on an incredible sense of smell and acute hearing to hunt. What a classic, Luca thought wryly before continuing at a steady pace. After exploring the T-Rex exhibit and the remaining two ¡°kings,¡± he checked out the displays in the corners¡ªand finally noticed that thirty-five minutes had already passed. It wasn¡¯t that he¡¯d lost focus while checking the details; it was just that the displays were spaced far apart. Each of the kings¡¯ enclosures was at least ten meters from the next, and the corner exhibits were more than twenty meters apart. Yes. This place was easily the size of a city block. Finally, the entrance welcomed him. Beyond the gargantuan open doors, the world stretched out under a deep blue sky, the sun shining brightly like a summer day. Green spaces sprawled below, with bushes and trees forming small gardens flanking a crystal-clear lake. The path branched east and west, with two asphalt strips running south, leaving the open space in the middle. To the southwest was a food court, and to the southeast, a shop area. People strolled along the paths, some of them surrounding the lake, which ran parallel to the path Luca was on. Beyond the lake, massive¡ªreally massive¡ªsteel bars marked the enclosures where the real displays roamed. After a moment¡¯s thought, Luca took the southwest path, heading toward the food court and the Orkoraptors¡¯ enclosure, according to the sign in the middle of the path. Tourists walked by, oblivious, approaching the enclosures with wide eyes, excitement written on their faces. They craned their necks and snapped photos, desperate to catch a single glimpse of the animals lurking within. Seeing them, Luca felt they would jump inside or stretch their heads through the bars to the other side if they could. What did they think they were looking at¡­? Cute baby pandas? After a few minutes, Luca reached the closed enclosure, glancing at the wooden poster near the ¡°entrance¡±¡ªwhich, if you thought about it, was wide enough to let a row of buses pass through simultaneously. No, it wasn¡¯t suspicious at all. According to the information provided, the Orkoraptors were swift, cunning hunters with great teamwork, able to take down prey four times their size. Which was almost the same as what the museum had said, except here it added the number of raptors currently living in the enclosure and omitted some details about the group leader and members. Well, it was quite important to know that seven of them were lurking among the shadows of the trees. (For now.) As Luca weaved through clusters of excited tourists chattering animatedly, a sharp sound cut through the air¡ªa high-pitched chirp followed by a series of similar calls. Instantly, the crowd surged forward, phones flashing as everyone scrambled to capture the moment without caring for the others. Excited murmurs rippled through the group. If they could, they¡¯d probably jump inside the enclosure, huh? It was pure luck that Luca saw it¡ªa pair of yellow eyes with vertical pupils, glinting from the shadows of the tall grass and dense foliage. They blinked once, slowly, as though sizing up the crowd beyond the bars. The creature remained hidden, its body obscured by the vegetation, but those eyes¡­ those piercing eyes¡­ locked onto Luca with an intensity that made his heartbeat skip. An animal with the reputation of a monster in some circles. Its gaze seemed¡­ hungry. A familiar gaze. Luca knew hunger very well, and he knew beasts like the one in front of him¡ªnot only from years ago, which was somewhat closer than the experience from months ago, working with Freddy the Alligator, or the couple of days as the feeder at the zoo. Beyond that, there was only one thing he could think about: If Shawn could see this, he¡¯d never let me live it down. He¡¯d go crazy. On some days, Luca still didn¡¯t know if he hadn¡¯t gone nuts already. This is horrible, he thought with a smile. But in another life, I guess I wouldn¡¯t care about dying here. Luca¡¯s fingers twitched at his side, but just as quickly as it had appeared, the creature vanished back into the underbrush, leaving only the faint rustle of leaves in its wake. Exhaling sharply, Luca realized belatedly that he¡¯d been holding his breath. Why? It shouldn¡¯t have that much effect on him, should it? The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Forget it, he thought, listening to the noise of the people around him. The tourists continued to chatter excitedly, still apparently oblivious to the predator¡¯s silent scrutiny. They stood there, cameras raised and shining faces, waiting for the raptor to appear¡ªperhaps to perform some trick or make a dramatic leap into view. To them, this was entertainment, wasn¡¯t it? A thrilling (and perhaps the only, surely the last) chance to witness nightmare-shaped animals in what they believed was a controlled, secure space. And Luca couldn¡¯t blame them too much, because if this weren¡¯t his job, then he would gladly be one of them, snapping pictures of each rustling leaf with the hope of capturing something. Shawn would love¡ª Luca shook his head, his attention shifting to the message that had flickered into existence when the Orkoraptor revealed itself:
Target ¨C Orkoraptor located.
Well, I won¡¯t be ¡°capturing¡± plants, apparently. With a last glance, he turned away from the Orkoraptor¡¯s enclosure and walked forward, following the asphalted path. The end of the enclosure coincided with the start of the food court on the opposite side of the road. Luca made his way across, glancing south toward the Spinosaurus¡¯ enclosure, knowing he¡¯d be seeing it from a much closer distance than he¡¯d like very soon. To his mild surprise, he spotted someone familiar at one of the food stalls, in a hotdog truck. Among the dino-shaped sauce jars, Lione looked quite in her element, working fast and nimble, a smile on her face as she handed a visitor their order. Liona¡¯s eyes widened as she noticed him standing near the long line of hungry visitors. Luca waved at her, then pointed toward the enclosures and back to himself. He wasn¡¯t sure if she understood, but he didn¡¯t want to distract her from her work, so he turned and left. So, if Liona¡¯s a Food Seller, then Nagato is the Visitor. What a lucky guy. He might not have guns, but at least his Role will make the next few hours easier for him. Glancing at the enclosure to the west, which held the Spinosaurus, and then to the east, where the T-Rex was surely taking a nap in some corner, Luca turned toward the latter. The road that would take him to the starting point of the tour was in the middle, a couple of meters from there. As he made his way, he thought about the places he should go after finishing the tour¡ªbecause he would finish it, no doubt. One of the levers must be in that garden, he mused, looking ahead. Between the T-Rex¡¯s enclosure and the next one, just in the southeast corner, was one of the three sites he would have to visit. Why? Because this was the only way to leave the Mystery early. It required that he act a bit crazy during the tour, but the rewards were worth it. But the other thing could be a problem, he thought. His strength was average, different from the guy who had originally discovered this hidden ending. But he would find a way¡ªhe knew. Perhaps¡­ Before starting, Luca had toyed with the idea of choosing a meeting place and sharing the ¡°sudden, out-of-the-blue hidden mission,¡± but he¡¯d ended up saying nothing. Although they¡¯d shared some ideas during those twenty minutes, they hadn¡¯t discussed cooperation beyond that. Not even Liona had proposed something like that, so¡­ no. Going alone suited him just fine, he knew. Less complications. ¡­ But adaptatibility was the mother of survival. Something more about what to think. Nothing bad for his first mission, huh? It took him a couple of minutes to reach the path toward the base, noticing the presence of men in uniforms¡ªthe park¡¯s security. They glanced in his direction but didn¡¯t say anything, so he took it as a sign that they knew he was the tour guide. They were probably glad they wouldn¡¯t have to run after him to drag his ass to the nearest enclosure. After minutes of walking at a slow pace, Luca finally saw the outline of the base. In truth, it was a cluster of three simple, utilitarian structures arranged in an ''L'' shape. The buses for the guided tours began and ended their circuits here. Its exterior was unremarkable¡ªplain concrete walls, minimal and narrow windows¡ªbut something about it felt¡­ off. Perhaps it was the quietness that enveloped the place when there were people within. When Luca reached the entrance, a pair of men in black uniforms stood guard. They nodded curtly at him as he approached, stepping aside without a word or any additional gesture. It wasn¡¯t permission exactly but acquiescence, as if they already knew exactly who he was and why he was there. ¡°You¡¯re here!¡± An older man greeted him with exuberance the moment he stepped inside, his voice booming through the otherwise quiet space. Deep lines of exhaustion marred his face, and his smile was stretched too wide. Fake, fake, fake. ¡°Did you learn your speech?¡± Ha. That little excuse of a ¡°manual¡± didn¡¯t say anything about giving some sort of discourse. A tiny detail that marked the difference between surviving or not. Fortunately, he had been acquiring some interesting snippets around the corner, hadn¡¯t he? He nodded at the old man. Surely, pretending to be a chatterbox as a guide couldn¡¯t be harder than dressing as a goofy mascot for a children¡¯s festival, nor as stressful as literally putting his head inside an alligator. Or meeting a mafia boss as a scrawny 20-year-old with nothing to give and everything to lose. ¡°Great!¡± the man exclaimed, clapping his hands together once before leaning in closer, his enthusiasm faltering just a hint. ¡°We don¡¯t control what you tell them¡ªbut it¡¯s important for visitor satisfaction, you know?¡± His frown deepened. ¡°You don¡¯t look like an orator, but put some effort into it.¡± Luca offered a curt nod, his gaze flickering briefly over the man¡¯s shoulder and then returning to him. Don¡¯t let the satisfaction drop. ¡°I won¡¯t keep you any longer,¡± the man continued, waving dismissively as he turned to lead Luca toward the ''back'' area. ¡°Come on, let me show you where you¡¯ll be starting.¡± As they moved deeper into the facility, Luca caught sight of the line of buses stationed neatly along the far wall, ready to roll out for their evening tours. Most looked standard enough¡ªclean, well-maintained vehicles designed to carry groups of eager tourists through the park to the adventure of their lives, the logo of the park painted across the sides. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it¡ªa disfigured bus being dragged away by a crane. A twisted, crushed metal frame was all that was left, with visible streaks that revealed raw steel beneath. Luca forced himself not to react, pretending not to notice as the remains of the vehicle disappeared around the corner. Even if he was sure it had been dripping blood on the ground. Instead, he focused on the newer-looking bus ahead. It gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights. ¡°This will be yours for tonight,¡± the older man said cheerfully, gesturing toward the bus with an exaggerated flourish. ¡°It will stick to the route¡ªwe¡¯ve got everything mapped and prepared for you. Just keep the visitors entertained, and try not to¡­ well, you know.¡± He trailed off, his smile faltering again, replaced by a fleeting look of discomfort. Then, he patted Luca¡¯s back with more strength than was needed. ¡°Anyway, good luck out there!¡± With that, he turned and walked briskly away, leaving Luca standing alone beside the bus. That old man¡¯s hand had been almost as cold as Michael¡¯s or Lacerta¡¯s. With no other option, Luca climbed aboard the bus, taking the seat in the front after sweeping a quick glance around. The interior was clean and quite modern, equipped with plush seating and large windows that offered panoramic views. To the tourists, it would seem thrilling in its ¡°insecurity.¡± But of course, it was ''safe.'' Ha. Fastening his seatbelt, his eyes caught the glint of metal inside a compartment beneath the front window. A small microphone was nestled among a handful of candies and a bottle of water. It looked normal in comparison to the setup¡ªno steering wheel, no pedals. Instead, the dashboard was dominated by a control panel. In the center of the screen, a single red button shone. It showed the word START in bold, unyielding letters. Chapter 16 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (3) ''START'' So, it seemed like he only had to press it¡ª Before Luca could move, the old man reappeared. Behind them, a group of men in park vests, wearing black pants and boots, stood next to the walls, watching at his direction. Their faces wore curiosity and expectation. But for what? The old man, either ignorant or indifferent to their eyes, leaned on the frame of bus, peering at Luca with unreadable eyes. ¡°Ready?¡± he asked, as if it were truly a question. His gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary before he added, almost casually, ¡°You¡¯re young, so you should know that nowadays people love a good show, and have little patience.¡± He tapped the side of his temple knowingly and gave him a look. Yeah. Years of experience in customer service had taught that lesson particularly well. Despite this, Luca nodded at him ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Go, go,¡± the man said with a dismissive wave of his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be late, or there¡¯ll be trouble for all of us.¡± With that, he turned and walked toward the handful of employees gathered nearby. As Luca glanced around the bus at the empty seats, he knew the ''visitors'' wouldn¡¯t be the same as the ones he¡¯d seen earlier. But it didn¡¯t matter. A job was a job. He pressed the button, a faint sense of electricity tingling under his fingers. With a low hum, the bus came to life. The door and the windows left out a soft click before the vehicle started moving on its own. It eased out of its spot and slowly glided along a half-hidden road leading westward. The automatic system looked quite thorough, so Luca sat back and took the opportunity to study his surroundings more carefully. The front of the bus was quite normal, except for the control screen. Now, two vivid words had appeared: STOP and, most interestingly, SHIELD. The latter had an icon of a white bar beneath it, seemingly halted midway through charging. The manual, of course, had mentioned nothing about this or what it could mean. Luca didn¡¯t know who had been responsible for filling in the details, but he hoped never to meet them ¡ªor he wouldn''t resist the temptation of saying something. At their face. With a chair. Amidst his thoughts, the murmurs began. At first, they were faint, barely audible over the soft background noise of the bus. But soon, they grew louder¡ªa cacophony of voices and laughter that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Luca caught movement out of the corner of his eyes and turned his head, only to stare. People. People were materializing in the seats. Out of thin air. They appeared slowly, their forms flickering like static on an old television screen before solidifying into translucent shapes. Men, women, children¡ªall dressed in casual tourist attire, their faces frozen in expressions of excitement or mild boredom. They chatted amongst themselves, oblivious to Luca¡¯s presence¡ªor simply choosing not to acknowledge him. Sadly, he couldn¡¯t do the same. Something was wrong with them. Not only was the feeling stronger¡ªa dissonance sharper than those he¡¯d encountered before, wandering the park¡ªbut they looked different too. Perhaps it was the way their forms flickered, torn between two states¡ª a clean, almost naive one, and a stained kind of ''I died and was horrible'' one. As he watched them, two messages blinked into existence.
Survive the Tour: 0:59:59
Satisfaction In Progress
An hour. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, and at night, the predators that had been resting during the day would wake up. Hungry, surely. And which of them would appreciate the intrusion into their territories? The T. Rex would love it. The Carnotaurus? It would throw a party. The rest would probably follow suit. What a fucked up job. As the bus rolled forward, Luca sighed, noticing they were approaching the fences of the first enclosure¡ªthe Spinosaurus¡¯s. Tall bars, surrounded by dense foliage at both sides stood first, clear under the still-present daylight. He couldn¡¯t hear the rustle of leaves or the chirps of birds from his current place, but he knew that somewhere within that cage, its inhabitant wasn''t hibernating. It would heard them coming. Everything would undoubtedly be easier if he could simply use the shield for the whole trip. But no, that would take away all the diversion, right? Those adrenaline-addict wannabes (those dead adrenaline-addict wannabes) preferred to take their chances with the thrill of being eaten. Thus, the Mystery had decided that this shield was part of the performance¡ªone he had to master, at least partially¡ªif he wanted not only to come back in one piece but also to leave early. The things one did for money and less work, huh? On the (almost) good, shiny side of the coin, although this job felt like a visit to Jurassic Park¡ªha!¡ªit had its perks. He couldn¡¯t recall the last time he¡¯d had the chance to work fewer hours without getting his pay docked (and fired). In truth, this might be the only job where working less would increase his salary. They should advertise it as part of the job¡¯s highlight. A deep growl cut through the vegetation, easily reaching him as they approached the enclosure. It was followed by an excited cheer from the ''audience.'' But as nothing more happened and the bus continued moving slowly forward, something began to stir. It was a faint, insidious energy that slithered through the bus like wispy smoke, pressing against his skin. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the ''visitors'' seemed caught in their second ''form,'' and their vacant eyes had started to focus on him. If that wasn¡¯t enough, the heavy silence was also a sign that something needed to be done.
Satisfaction: Diminishing.
Ha. They were getting bored, weren¡¯t they? As the massive doors of the enclosure creaked open, barely wide enough for the bus to pass through, Luca reached for a small microphone from the glove box and tested it, pressing the small button. When it emitted a faint ''bip,'' he began to speak. ¡°Testing, testing¡ªdo you hear me? If you can hear me, please say ¡®yes.¡¯¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The ghosty-like figures, who had been silent moments ago, responded in a chorus of enthusiastic affirmations. ¡°Yes!¡± they chimed, as if nothing unusual were happening around them. But their appearance had started to shift back to their ''cleaner'' version, which was all he needed to confirm he was on the right path. Good. That old man was right. They wanted a show. ¡°Perfect! A pleasure to have all of you here today. I¡¯m your guide, Mithras, and I¡¯ll be taking you on a journey you won¡¯t soon forget.¡± He paused, breathing carefully, letting the words hang in the air. His tone was the same one he¡¯d used during his seven months as Chummy, the Magician¡¯s assistant. ¡°Now, you¡¯ve probably heard about our first friend we¡¯ll be visiting¡ªone of the four kings. He¡¯s a bit spiky, but everyone loves him!¡± The sound of rushing water grew louder as the bus emerged beside a riverbank. The scene might have made a great postcard¡ªa peaceful expanse of translucent water framed by lush vegetation. But this wasn¡¯t tranquility; it was the calm of a predator¡¯s territory. One hand hovered over the STOP option while the other rested firmly on the silver bracelet wrapped around his wrist. Luca waited, gazing at the water, and continued speaking, sharing a snippet he¡¯d picked up from the museum. ¡°Our friend here is the fruit of years of research and some creative license. Because Primal Dream¡¯s founder, Dr. Johnson, wished to offer only the best to his visitors, he recovered fragments of DNA from three different specimens discovered in the last five years.¡± The bus reached the halfway point along the river, and he pressed the button, halting the bus. ¡°However, this fusion ended up bringing unexpected results.¡± As if on cue, a colossal figure erupted from the river, less than fifty meters from the bus. Water cascaded off its imposing crest, slipping through its sleek scarlet and black scales, revealing a gaping maw filled with rows of crocodile-like teeth. The sheer size of the creature was more than imposing¡ªbut the audience, this ghostly audience, standing only a couple of meters away from the predator, didn¡¯t scream in fear. No. They were ecstatic, their faces glowing with morbid fascination. It was a crazed look that made them seem so alive. Beyond nuts, but alive. Luca had no reason to celebrate as he pressed the button to capture the image.
Target ''Spinosaurus'' hasn¡¯t been captured.
And then:
Satisfaction: Increasing!
Ups and downs. Luca frowned, pondering whether the distance between him and his target could be the problem. His eyes darted around, a dangerous idea already forming in his mind, and then focused on the rear of the bus. The Spinosaurus wasn¡¯t done with its demonstration. With earth-shaking steps, it stomped toward the bus, its golden eyes locking onto the vehicle with predatory intensity. The ground trembled beneath its weight, each step reverberating through the chassis like a small earthquake, and Luca could imagine it crushing the bus with one of its massive claws. ¡°As you can see, our friend is really big and strong,¡± Luca continued, his finger hovering over the SHIELD button, now glowing green, the bar beneath it fully charged. But damn, it was slow! Alright, he thought, and stretched his other hand toward the small button next to the windows. With a hiss, the glass slid open.
Satisfaction: Increasing!
As the Spinosaurus appeared at the back of the bus and opened its mouth, revealing yellowish, conical teeth in high detail, a wave of stinking breath poured into the bus. Luca pressed his bracelet at the same time the dinosaur reached the bus, and then the other crucial button¡ªSHIELD. Two things happened simultaneously: first, the messages¡ª
Target ''Spinosaurus'' captured.
Main Mission Upgraded: 1/6
¡ªand the shield. An electric teal dome materialized out of thin air, crackling with energy as it repelled the dinosaur¡¯s advance. The Spinosaurus halted, its massive head snapping at the barrier with a ferocity that hinted at ancient grievances. A counter appeared on the screen: 7 Seconds. Ah? Luca frowned. What a joke. A new button blinked in the screen: CONTINUE. The Spinosaurus roared again, its deafening cry shaking the very air around them. Luca didn¡¯t hesitate and pressed down on the button, propelling the bus forward just as the creature lunged. The Spinosaurus stopped itself before it could clash against the shield, but its ferocious mouth remained wide open, its eyes glowing red. ¡°Oh, it seems like our friend is a bit cranky today,¡± he continued, counting the seconds. Slower than a snail, Luca thought as the bus began to move. It felt as though it had been designed intentionally to prolong the encounter rather than escape it. Which left him with only one thought: To hell with that psycho! If they didn¡¯t hurry up, the shield would¡ª With a flicker, the teal translucent cover faded away, leaving the bus at the mercy of whatever fate awaited them. Which wasn¡¯t a comforting metaphor, considering the only god he believed in was the one that didn¡¯t exist. Behind them, the Spinosaurus let out another guttural roar. The visitors, at least, seemed quite content. Even if their Satisfaction hadn¡¯t been directly tied to the shield in this enclosure, it was nice to see they appreciated his efforts to end the tour early. How kind. The Spinosaurus didn¡¯t seem interested enough to pursue them further. Turning around, it slipped back into the water, leaving only the top of its crest visible. The sunlight made its black scales glint like silver, and well¡ªit couldn¡¯t be denied that it had its own kind of beauty. A dangerous, primal kind of beauty. As the bus moved steadily onward, leaving the riverbank¡ªand the predator¡ªbehind, Luca let out a soft sigh. But it wasn¡¯t over yet. ¡°Well, it¡¯s been a quick visit to our friend. Why don¡¯t we say goodbye to him?¡± He paused for an instant. ¡°Goodbye, Malik!¡± The entire audience burst into a manic chorus: ¡°Malik! Malik! Malik!¡± There you go, thought Luca, a hint of satisfaction crossing his face as he leaned back in his seat. The exit stood ahead, and it slid open without hesitation, leaving them back on the road. As the bus pulled onto the pavement, messages popped up.
SATISFACTION: 4/5
Continue working hard!
NOTE: For a better score, use the shield sparingly. Visitors are tough¨Cthey can handle some minor damage in exchange for an unforgettable adventure!
Luca¡¯s lips twitched involuntarily at the absurdity of it all. Tough? Sure, they could survive a little dino kiss. But it was like a typical breakup scenario, only reversed: the problem was him¡ªhe was still flesh and bone, unlike them. And there was no way he would change that fact, thank you very much. How did that poem go¡­? I had tasks to complete and thousands to pay before I slept¡­ Something like that, right? As the text faded, his eyes turned to his surroundings¡ªthe road stretched ahead, the outline of the next enclosure not far from there. Orkoraptors, right? Chapter 17 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (4) Luca pressed his lips together, deep in thought. The information about the group was sparse¡ªthere was supposed to be a display about them somewhere in the park, like a mini-presentation, if he recalled correctly. But like an hour ago, or less. The main mission for those with the ''Visitor'' Role seemed somehow tied to this. So... Nagato should have completed his, right? Focusing on what mattered right now, what he knew was that there were seven of them, led by an adult female known as ''Talia,'' along with three other females and three males, each with their own fairy-tale-inspired names. There had been an eighth raptor¡ªTalia¡¯s partner¡ªuntil the lovely queen killed it, leaving her to rule alone. On the other hand, each of them was supposedly sterile, so there was no need to worry about baby dinos. And¡­ he know some other details too. But would that be enough for the audience? Looking ahead, he saw the silhouette of the next enclosure growing larger and clearer. It was interesting to note that the bus was following a secondary, almost hidden path at the back of the park¡ªone not marked on the map. Perhaps because not just anyone had access to this ''special tour''. Ha. Rich people and their penchant for courting death. How shocking. They had gotten their wish, at least. Swiveling his chair, he turned his attention back to the audience, noticing that their demeanor was already starting to shift. Zero patience, this group. Luca straightened his shoulders and continued with the show. "I hope you enjoyed our first stop," he began, injecting some enthusiasm into his tone. "Now we¡¯ll take a look at one of our special families¡ªI think you already know them." He paused briefly, letting the anticipation build. "Their leader is one of the park¡¯s most beloved members. You might have heard of her¡ªour queen, Talia!" The moment her name left his lips, the visitors erupted into cheers, chanting in unison: "Talia! Talia! Talia!" Their voices overlapped in a grating cacophony¡ªa layer of something almost inhuman lurking beneath the supposed joy¡ªbut Luca ignored the throbbing in his temple. It was better that they were happy than starting to complain and lose satisfaction. The last thing he wanted was for the damn bus to open its doors and throw him to the predators. Not with the two-and-a-half-meter-tall raptors and their maws full of sharp, serrated teeth. Their one weakness wasn¡¯t enough to save him from that. "That¡¯s right," he smiled. "And we¡¯re almost there¡ª" Sure enough, the entrance to the enclosure appeared just a few meters ahead. The atmosphere shifted instantly. The cheerful chatter faded, replaced by sudden silence as the sounds of the raptors reached their ears: low growls, high-pitched screeches, and the rustle of movement¡ªscales and feathers brushing against leaves¡ªcoming from the other side of the bus walls. The visitors leaned forward in their seats, captivated, almost obsessed one might say¡ªthey held their breath (which Luca was fairly sure they didn¡¯t need to do), their glassy eyes fixed intently on the shadows among the trees and giant ferns. Luca tensed but didn¡¯t lose his composure. The lack of glass in the windows made the situation more stressful, so no one would blame him for keeping a hand on the shield button¡ªeven if it wasn¡¯t fully charged yet. If they actually attacked the bus, it would charge completely and activate¡­ right? Probably. It wasn¡¯t like he had another option, he thought. The button to release the glass had disappeared after he pressed it, so his only defense was the shield. Through the large, feather-like leaves, dark shapes moved swiftly, keeping pace with the bus as it rolled along the designated path. Moving like water, they revealed pairs of glowing yellow or orange eyes, or flashes of iridescent feathers every now and then. Beyond that¡ªthey seemed to simply be watching. It was good for his blood pressure, but¡ª
Satisfaction: Decreasing
¡­Being dead must be boring, right? Alright, then. "Looks like they¡¯re a little shy today," he said, his tone light, almost playful. The audience laughed, their excitement buzzing like static in the air, and their clean appearance still prevailed over the "I-died-horribly-and-now-it¡¯s-your-problem" look. But Luca only glanced at them briefly before focusing back on the forest. Among the leaves, something moved¡ªa flash of blue and black amidst the vibrant green¡ªscales, feathers in the small spots where light filtered through. The sound of a trill, but deeper and more guttural than one would expect from a bird, echoed through the trees, followed by sharp, brief chirps. Then it happened. Something massive slammed into the side of the bus, creating a deafening crash that shattered the intense but quiet atmosphere. The vehicle shuddered, swaying slightly, throwing Luca off balance. However, he managed to steady himself, a frown etched on his face as he looked toward the spot where the impact had occurred. Meanwhile, the audience screamed¡ªnot in fear, but in excitement. So damn happy.
Satisfaction: Increasing!
Luca forced a smile, even as he cursed them in the three languages he knew. "Look who¡¯s come to say hello!" he exclaimed, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. His hand flew to the SHIELD button, pressing it firmly just as another impact shook the bus. And, of course, he didn¡¯t forget the most important thing right at that moment.
Target ''Orkoraptor'' Captured.
Main Mission Updated: 2/6
Done! The turquoise barrier materialized in a crackling burst of energy, enveloping the bus in a protective dome. A faint smell reached his nose¡ªozone. Outside, the Orkoraptor that had struck the bus retreated, its dark scales glinting under the fading light. Blue feathers rippled along its back and arms, deceptively beautiful, especially those covering part of its black, razor-sharp claws. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The creature¡¯s golden eyes locked onto Luca¡¯s. It was strange. Its size was obviously smaller than the Spinosaurus, but it still sent a chill down his spine. Maybe it was even scarier than Chainsaw Man. Was it because of this that time seemed to slow down for a moment? For an instant, he could see every detail: the way its feathers bristled, the faint gleam of saliva on its yellowish teeth, the tense muscles beneath its scaly skin from head to its feathered tail. Until the predator let out a low, rumbling growl, a sound that vibrated through the air, breaking the "moment." Luca blinked. The Orkoraptor¡ªwho Luca was sure was Talia¡ªturned and disappeared into the foliage, fading like a shadow. The display showed he still had seven seconds left on the shield¡ªso it was obvious the time had increased. Would it be enough to reach the exit without further issues¡­? He swallowed, forcing himself to focus. "You¡¯ve seen that our friends have beautiful plumage along their bodies, like birds," he said, his voice echoing through the bus. He glanced at the audience for a split second and then at the Orkoraptor pacing outside the SHIELD. "What might surprise you to know is that, at the time of their, uh¡ª" Luca searched for the right word, "¡ªrecreation, researchers didn¡¯t have enough material and ¡®patched¡¯ it using DNA from Milvus cyanoptera , a blue bird that shouldn¡¯t be confused with its cousin. This blue milvus is a bird of prey¡ªexclusively carnivorous." Some poor biologist was probably dying in the ''real world'' because of his words, but there was no warning about the level of satisfaction, so Luca assumed it was a success. If his charisma were higher, this fucking trip would¡¯ve been much easier, of course, but with his ¡®normal¡¯ stat, it was more than enough to keep satisfaction from dropping. Luca turned his attention forward. Ahead, a narrow gap between reinforced steel bars marked the massive exit of the predator¡¯s habitat. Though the bus was steadily moving toward it, the pace was excruciatingly slow. So damn slow. The SHIELD timer ticked down in the corner of his vision. An Orkoraptor dashed past one side, missing the dome by barely half an inch. It turned its head as it passed, its intense orange eyes locking onto Luca. He knew it. He recognized that look. From before. They had marked him as prey. Luca pressed his lips together as the Orkoraptor turned, slipping between two ferns and disappearing from view. Only three seconds remained. It should be enough time¡ªno. Forget it. It wasn¡¯t enough. The bus had barely begun to reach the edge of the vegetation, still about twenty meters away from the exit. At this pace, it was no surprise when the shield flickered before they reached ¡®safety¡¯¡ªand then shut off, the blue fading away. Luca forced himself to focus on his surroundings, unsure if they wouldn¡¯t try to leap at the obvious gap in their defenses¡ªwhich basically surrounded him on almost all sides. The chair, at least, could swivel, giving him some range of movement, but it wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d call a great advantage. A shadow leaped into the air, and the impact came from above. The Orkoraptor had jumped onto the roof, its claws screeching against the metal. It was like nails on a chalkboard, but worse. Luca grimaced, his hands tightening on his pants, wishing he could have brought something¡ªanything¡ªto protect himself. A stick, even. He was the only one feeling the pressure. The ghosts¡ªmaterialized memories, whatever they were¡ªerupted in cheers, the noise echoing through the bus. At the peak of the moment, the shadow leaped off, landing on the ground, and screeched in his direction, its feathers bristling. Luca took note of this. The bus lurched forward, finally crossing the "threshold"¡ªonly about ten meters left to the exit. "We should say goodbye to our friends!" he said, more confidently than he felt. He didn¡¯t know if it would work, but why not try? "Together! One, two, three, goodbye!" "Goodbye! Goodbye! Goodbye!" With the audience following his lead, the noise level shot up like an arrow. In response, the Orkoraptors finally retreated into the shadows of the vegetation. As the exit opened, a low, guttural trill echoed behind him in more than one voice. Luca turned and saw the yellow and orange eyes watching him from among the leaves¡ªsmall but intense lanterns burning with hunger. Did no one feed them or something? The moment they finally faded, the messages appeared, and Luca leaned back in his chair.
ENCLOSURE: 2/6
SATISFACTION: 4/5
Well done!
NOTE:
Sometimes, the shield may fail.
Luca didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. What was that saying? ¡®El que avisa, no traiciona,¡¯ his grandmother used to say. He didn¡¯t remember Spanish anymore, except for those bits.
Satisfaction: Decreasing
So demanding, he complained in his mind. He couldn¡¯t let satisfaction drop, not when he was thinking about cutting their ¡®fun¡¯ short. He wasn¡¯t stopping the bus anymore. "Night is starting to fall," he announced, injecting false enthusiasm into his tone, "but don¡¯t worry. Our next friend doesn¡¯t go to bed early." At the end of the short path¡ªless than three blocks between each enclosure, really, how did that work with so little space between each territorial carnivore?¡ªthe entrance appeared before them, marked by tall steel bars reinforced with thick cables and red lines with universal (multidimensional? understandable for ''natives'' and ''foreigners''?) symbols of ''warning'' and ''caution.'' Hmm. This enclosure belonged to the cannibal. Joy. "They call him ''Gladiator''¡ª" Luca began, letting the name hang temptingly in the air like a piece of bacon. "Gladiator! Gladiator! Gladiator!" they chanted, more hysterical than the fans at the rock concerts Luca had seen. The moment the bus crossed the entrance, something moved in the shadows of the dense foliage¡ªwas it him, or were there more flowers in this enclosure?¡ªsomething much larger than an Orkoraptor. The path opened into a clearing bathed in artificial light, casting long shadows across the landscape¡ªand yes, there was something moving beyond. "Did you know¡­?" he continued, leaning slightly toward the microphone as if sharing a secret. "A while back, Gladiator wasn¡¯t alone. He had a pair of brothers who lived with him, hunted with him, and even slept under the stars with him. But sometimes, nature changes its mind." His voice softened, adopting a somber tone as he recounted one of the fragments of information he¡¯d gathered from the museum. The audience fell silent, the ''mysterious'' stains fading from their clothes in favor of the cleaner version of themselves. "Accidents happen, they said. Now, Gladiator enjoys his solitude." Luca added a smile to his speech. "But don¡¯t follow his example. Fratricide is pretty frowned upon these days."
Satisfaction: Increasing!
It wasn¡¯t his story that caused this but the slight tremor of the bus¡ªhow? Well, the ground must have been shaking too. The deep, rumbling sound that accompanied it also helped. Thanks to the few lights already on, Luca could see the massive figure approaching from one side in the now-dark, starless night. Two small, bean-like orange eyes glowed faintly in the darkness as it tilted its head, fixing him with a hungry intensity. Moving slowly forward, closer to the light, the predator fully revealed itself¡ªand wow, the name fit its owner perfectly. So... you¡¯re Gladiator. Chapter 18 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (5) So you¡¯re Gladiator. Gladiator was a spectacle, no doubt. Scales as red as dried blood covered its body, and it was more than twice the size of an Orkoraptor, with triple the muscle mass. Two short but sharp horns protruded menacingly from the top of its head, each as thick as Luca¡¯s arm. But the most remarkable detail was undoubtedly the mantle of black feathers framing its neck like an oddly fashionable cloak. Of course, its mouth¡ªfilled with long, thin, razor-sharp teeth stained red, designed to tear through flesh and crush bone to pieces¡ªwas what truly captivated the audience. They "ohhh-ed" over it as if it were an iguana showing off its self-severing tail, not a predator threatening them. Him. It shouldn¡¯t be this big, Luca thought, swallowing hard as his hand hovered over the control screen. But honestly, none of the animals in the park should have been this massive. His knowledge of dinosaurs or genetics was limited, but he was sure there was something off about these creatures¡ªbeyond the obvious. The bus, on its automatic control mechanism, didn¡¯t stop and instead passed dangerously close to where the Carnotaurus was emerging. Especially considering this dinosaur¡¯s speed was much higher than the Spinosaurus¡¯s. Luca glanced at the bar on the screen and saw it still wasn¡¯t fully charged. So, even if the creature rushed to attack the bus, there was nothing he could do but survive. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t take the opportunity. Without hesitation, he pressed the band on his wrist as soon as the animal came into full view. It ws hard to pretend his fingers weren¡¯t trembling so hard that it was a fight against his own body to do so. At that moment, his only advantage was that his presence diminished even more when he wasn¡¯t moving. He was staying as still as possible.
Target ''Carnotaurus'' Captured.
Mission ''Pictures'' Updated: 3/6
Halfway there, he thought, suppressing a sigh of relief. He couldn¡¯t say he felt completely safe when the pair of orange eyes seemed to narrow, focusing around the front of the bus. Gladiator sniffed the air, tilting its head slightly from side to side, exhaling through its nostrils. But it didn¡¯t seem curious enough to move¡ªyet. It even stayed behind as the bus left the clearing.
Satisfaction: Decreasing
Of course, this wasn¡¯t appreciated by the group. They wanted to see death up close¡ªagain. Though his thoughts about his audience weren¡¯t exactly pleasant, Luca said with feigned enthusiasm, ¡°Oh, it seems our friend is still a bit sleepy. Why don¡¯t we call him? Gladiator¡ª!¡± The chants of ¡°Gladiator! Gladiator! Gladiator!¡± in response were so loud that even the other dinosaurs must have heard them. As if it had received a signal, the Carnotaurus emerged from the foliage, still moving somewhat slowly, and then let out a sound like a bellow¡ªironically reminding Luca of some kind of bull¡ªand charged directly toward them with terrifying speed. But¡ªto Luca, it felt like time had slowed down, and his eyes darted to the screen, where the bar still wasn¡¯t fully charged. His heart rate spiked, and he felt as if someone had injected boiling water or electricity into his veins. An idea flashed through his mind. ¡°Gladiator!¡± he shouted, and the audience joined in, the noise so sudden and piercing that the predator paused for an instant¡ªand then, of course, raised its head and bellowed, or whatever that sound was that came from its throat, which only made the ghosts cheer even louder. The loud noise only enraged it further, and soon it charged forward, toward the back of the bus. Before it could reach them, Luca managed to activate the shield, and it came to life just as Gladiator was about to collide with it. The impact against the energy barrier didn¡¯t sit well with the Carnotaurus¡ªit bellowed in pain as electricity crackled across its scaly skin, making all its feathers bristle. Laughter echoed in the air. The visitors clapped and cheered, and satisfaction increased even more. Glad to learn they simply wanted to see the world burning down. Fifteen seconds of protection, Luca almost sighed, almost fell into the temptation of hitting his head against the screen. While Gladiator didn¡¯t move forward, its attention fixed on the bus, and that amount of time felt like this round would end without mishaps. Ha. That was the exact moment he jinxed himself. They had barely advanced a mere couple of seconds, the predator still within sight, but the shield flickered and disappeared. The only good thing about the situation was that they were already on the threshold¡ªconsidering Gladiator didn¡¯t seem to have given up¡ªand thus the distance left wasn¡¯t much. Stomping the ground, the Carnotaurus made a loud, threatening noise at them¡ªand lunged at the bus. It hit the back near the roof, denting the metal with its horns, and ironically gave them a push at the same time. Like a shove that made the bus lurch forward, reaching the entrance sooner than expected. The metal door barely opened wide enough to let the bus through. Loosening his grip on the chair, Luca looked back over the audience, at the back window. Gladiator didn¡¯t pursue them further, baring its impressive sharp teeth from its position before turning and disappearing back into the foliage. Its stiff tail vanishing among the leaves was the last thing he saw before the door closed.
ENCLOSURE: 3/6
Luca exhaled sharply, slumping slightly in his seat. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
SATISFACTION: 5/5
You''re doing great!
NOTE:
Research has discovered that dinosaurs¡­ hold grudges. Isn¡¯t that neat?
Wow. Front-line information. The one who designed this knew how to make someone felt great about the fruits of their work. The good thing was that this was another successful result. It seemed they wouldn¡¯t throw him off the bus and feed him to a T-Rex¡­ for now. On an unrelated note, there were still three enclosures left. Luca glanced outside, feeling like the bus''s dim lights were now a neon sign in the darkness of night. But there was no button to turn them off¡ªoh, wait, there was one. He was sure it hadn¡¯t been there a moment ago, but he wasn¡¯t going to complain. He hesitated for a moment, thinking about how this was clearly something irreversible¡ªlike the windows. Would his Night Vision work well? Up until now, he¡¯d only used it in brief flashes over the last few minutes. Trusting himself and the perk, Luca pressed the button. The lights turned off, plunging the bus into darkness¡ªbut this wasn¡¯t a problem for him, even if the grayish corners looked a bit odd. More importantly, it seemed the others didn¡¯t mind either.
Satisfaction: Increasing
He almost rolled his eyes. Of course, something like this would make them happy. ¡°Now we¡¯re going to see one of the park¡¯s oldest residents,¡± he began, adopting his ''Chummy'' voice. He never thought his odd jobs would save his skin like this, but you learn something new every day. ¡°However, this doesn¡¯t mean his cunning has dulled with age. Two years ago, someone made that mistake¡ªdid you know?¡± He lowered his voice conspiratorially, leaning toward the microphone as if sharing a secret. The entrance to the next enclosure glowed under pale lights, a ''small'' double gate in the ''impenetrable'' walls. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone I¡¯m sharing this with you,¡± he continued, injecting a playful tone into his words, ¡°but one of our researchers thought it would be a good idea to replace the beloved grandpa-dino with his son. Imagine being in that situation¡ªrelaxing on your couch, maybe watching a movie after a long day¡ªand suddenly, a ''son'' you¡¯ve never met bursts into your home and tries to kick you out. Bites included.¡± The spectral visitors responded with sounds of indignation. Setting aside how inhuman they sounded, it was as if they felt personally offended by the scenario. How cooperative of them. Had Luca grown on them or something during the trip? ¡°If you visited the museum, then you¡¯ve seen his ''son'' in the exhibit,¡± he said with a smile. This time, there were no manic cheers, even as the static in the air spiked. The audience leaned forward in their seats, their eyes fixed intently outside¡ªdirectly at the giant looming not so far as to avoid being described as ¡®beside the bus¡¯. Only its long, narrow head was visible through the dense foliage, deep red scales marked by scars and a pair of yellow-brown eyes. Luca murmured softly, ¡°It seems our friend was waiting for us.¡± His fingers didn¡¯t leave the SHIELD button. He knew that if he stopped the vehicle now, the satisfaction level would skyrocket¡ªbut his tiny, insignificant life mattered more to him. His instinct (or plain common sense) didn¡¯t lie. The Giganotosaurus opened its maw wide, revealing a trap of large razor-sharp teeth, just moments after the bus casually passed by the space near it. Its ''growl''¡ªor whatever the noise that came from its throat and through its massive jaws was called¡ªreverberated through the enclosure like a powerful drum; sadly, Luca wasn¡¯t far enough away to avoid the wave of foul odor the breeze carried, nor could use his hands currently covering his ears. Still, the instant the noise stopped, he instinctively took a photo, the bracelet on his wrist vibrating slightly as two messages appeared in the corner of his vision:
Target ''Giganotosaurus'' Captured.
Mission ''Pictures'' Updated: 4/6
A flicker of relief rose in his chest, but it lasted less than a blink. The predator¡¯s noise grew angrier, as the dinosaur rose, leaning on its short arms¡ªthree fingers with curved, sharp claws at the end of them, and unlike others, they seemed functional, useful¡ªstanding tall. It rose over some trees, living up to its name, dwarfing every dinosaur Luca had seen so far. His contemplation of the dangerous, titanic beauty lasted only an instant¡ªthe ''audience'' immediately ruined the silence with their cheers. Luca¡¯s heart jumped to his throat, the sound of his heartbeat drowning out the visitors¡¯ excitement. For a fraction of a second, he felt as if he¡¯d been cursed, and it wasn¡¯t the first time he thought there should be an option to leave that group of adrenaline-seeking ghosts in the enclosure forever. Even one of its steps made the ground tremble, shaking the bus. Hello, Rory, Luca greeted in his mind, watching as the predator crushed a poor fern into nothing. Unlike the Carnotaurus, this dinosaur didn¡¯t charge at them in a run. It also didn¡¯t retreat into the foliage, moving its head as if sniffing something in the air. Then it turned its head to the side, as if hesitating to leave its current place. Luca glanced at the control panel and pressed his lips together. Seriously? Even with the Giganotosaurus advancing toward the bus, so close for a titanic creature like this, the bar wasn¡¯t fully charged. It would be best if the predator left, but he doubted it wouldn¡¯t attack at all during this short trip through its territory. It would be better if he had the shield and could use it against Rory. Feeling again like he was waving a red cape in front of a bull, he said, ¡°Looks like our friend wants to leave us. Why don¡¯t we do something? Let¡¯s call¡ªRory!¡± The crowd chanted, ¡°Rory! Rory! Rory!¡± The cursed glee in their voices could have woken the dead.
Satisfaction: Increasing!
¡ªand of course, the giant turned its head in his direction, a deep, beastly sound rumbling from its throat. Luca felt the urge to smile, which wasn¡¯t exactly the nicest or the sanest. The good news was that he had successfully gotten its attention. The bad news was that he had gotten its attention. And the worst news was that the shield wasn¡¯t fully charged when the beast started advancing toward the bus. Fucking great. Chapter 19 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (6) For a long, intense moment, it seemed ¡ªand was felt¡ª like the Giganotosaurus was going to catch up to the bus¡ªand Luca was already fearing he¡¯d lose part of the vehicle (hopefully not the wheels, considering the real problem would be if the bus got stuck since he couldn¡¯t leave it). The bar just needed a little push, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. He kept one hand on the ''SHIELD'' and said, "Our friend seems a bit shy. Why don¡¯t we give him some encouragement with a round of applause?" The wave of noise echoed from inside the bus, causing the dinosaur to stop in its tracks, jaws opening with a threatening growl rising from the depths of its throat. The reaction triggered a spike in satisfaction, and Luca didn¡¯t hesitate to activate the shield the depredator took up coming to the bus again. The blue dome covered the entire bus in less than a blink, but Luca frowned when he saw the timer. Only 10 seconds? The Giganotosaurus, for its part, stopped dead in its tracks and let out a new sound, something like a hiss but deeper. Any living creature hearing that would probably turn tail and run as fast and far as possible. Luca only had the slow, steady pace of the bus. But at least the exit was close! He refused to think about anything else, not wanting to jinx himself, and kept his attention on the biggest danger. The seconds were flying by faster than he wanted, like grains of sand in a windstorm, and the Giganotosaurus was still in plain sight¡ªwhich meant it had a clear view of the bus. Just as he feared, the shield faded as soon as they crossed the threshold. And as if that weren¡¯t enough¡ª
Satisfaction: Decreasing!
"We¡¯re almost at the exit, and our host has been kind enough to escort us out," Luca said with false, sweet cheerfulness. "Let¡¯s give him one last round of applause: goodbye, Rory!" "Goodbye, Rory!" The Giganotosaurus let out a challenging sound, its jaws open, saliva dripping from its sharp teeth, and took a few steps forward toward the bus.
Satisfaction: Increasing!
Luca thought about it for only a moment before covering his ears and shouting into the microphone, "Goodbye!" The noise sounded like his own roar, and the Giganotosaurus stopped only to give them an even more disturbing sound in response. He even got replies from other enclosures¡ªwhich told him it might not have been such a great idea. But at least the bus managed to reach the exit and cross it, the metal gate closing behind them.
SATISFACTION: 5/5
How amazing!
NOTE:
There are no shelters around the park. You know, just in case.
ENCLOSURE: 4/6
With a sigh, Luca leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes for a brief moment. This one felt faster than the others¡­ and he¡¯d gotten a 5! Which was really great. He needed a good rating, or his plan to leave early would go down the drain. Now, only two kings remain. That doesn¡¯t sound so bad, right? Opening his eyes again, Luca looked up at the night sky while running a hand over his arm. His skin had just prickled despite the oppressive heat, which was totally not ominous at all. Although the only thing that would make him happy would be to run far away from all of this, there was still a job to do. "Are you ready for our next friend?" "Yes!" So eager. He¡¯d gotten colder reactions from a frenzied mob of kids while working as Chummy¡ªbut then again, those brats hadn¡¯t been a group of adrenaline junkies seeking a second death. Putting on a smile, he spoke: "Then let¡¯s talk a little about Long Ning, our Asian friend," Luca continued, using a warm tone as if introducing an old acquaintance. "Long Ning! Long Ning! Long Ning!" Luca let them chant the name before continuing with his narrative. "He¡¯s come from very far away¡ªan entire ocean and 125 million years, to be precise," he began, using the distance between enclosures to maintain the current satisfaction. "By pure coincidence, our friend is a¡ªlet me say¡ª''primitive cousin'' of the last one we¡¯ll see shortly. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll spot the differences at a glance." The spectral figures leaned forward in anticipation, their excitement palpable as the bus approached the entrance. But when they entered the enclosure, a silence fell over the vehicle. Luca scanned the path ahead, looking for any sign of movement. The foliage stood dense and impenetrable, ferns and other plants with feather-like or long, curved leaves casting long shadows that danced eerily in the dim light. Nothing moved, and sound was strangely absent¡ªno breaking branches, no chirps, not even the faintest rustle of leaves. "It seems," Luca murmured softly into the microphone, his voice barely a whisper, "he¡¯s already asleep."
Satisfaction: Decreasing
What a surprise. "...Let¡¯s call him," Luca suggested, feeling tired. The things he did for the shield, seriously. "Long Ning! Long Ning! Long Ning!" the visitors shouted, their voices echoing through the stillness of the enclosure like a stampede of elephants. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen. Then, without warning, the ground¡ªand the bus¡ªshook violently under the weight of something massive moving just out of sight¡ªfrom above. The spectral visitors screamed, their voices filled with excitement mixed with the strange parody of a whistle that emerged from the darkness. The bus creaked and groaned under the force of the impact as Luca¡¯s hand trembled over the SHIELD button, but instead of activating, nothing happened. The bar wasn¡¯t full yet. Are you kidding me? Luca thought, fear seeping from the edges of his mind. His heart pounded in his chest as he listened to the cheerful voices celebrating the fact that something was on the roof. How exciting for dead people! If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Blood dripped down one side, and a limb hung from what might have once been a cow. The smell of meat hit Luca full force, making him wrinkle his nose, a slight wave of nausea rolling over him from the stench of blood. For some reason, this smelled worse than the carnage caused by Chainsaw Man. Slowly, very slowly, the sound of something wet sliding across the roof echoed before it hit the ground. For a moment, there was only silence. A massive head emerged from the foliage, right by the windows. A yellow eye with a slit, reptilian and cold, surrounded by brown feathers, fixed on Luca as it lowered itself to the level of the front window, jaws open and dripping red. Almost breathless and mindless, Luca instinctively pressed the bracelet on his wrist, capturing the image.
Target ''Yutyrannus'' Captured.
Mission ''Pictures'' Updated: 5/6
The slit eye followed Luca¡¯s movement¡ªand opened its mouth, jagged teeth stained red. As the audience went wild, Luca pressed the button with his entire palm¡ªand this time, the turquoise barrier crackled to life, enveloping the bus in a bright dome of electricity. The Yutyrannus let out a screech¡ªa deep, rusty sound that reverberated through the air like a nightmare made of flesh and teeth, its eye narrowing. Its feathers rippled slightly in the night breeze, adding an almost surreal beauty to the monstrous creature. It was so close that Luca could see dried bloodstains on its plumage. The bus kept moving, slowly. Luca didn¡¯t think it was just his sense of time being warped, making the pace seem slower than it had been before. As the visitors moved to the side of the dinosaur, watching it with manic faces that flickered like afterimages, he could only focus on the fact that there was now blood running down the roof of the bus. Damn. There was no way the bus would stay intact after this. Finally, it stopped, gradually fading from view as the bus took a turn. "Our friend seems to have enjoyed a good meal today," Luca said before the audience¡¯s satisfaction could drop. "Why don¡¯t we offer him a farewell applause so he can enjoy his meal?" It didn¡¯t even make sense, but by this point, Luca felt too tired to think about what the hell to say to the group of ghosts. Fortunately, it worked. The applause echoed in the air as the shield faded¡ªbut the important thing, of course, was that they were already crossing the threshold. Curiously, although the sound of movement in the dense foliage and the play of shadows made his heart rate spike, the bus reached and crossed the exit without incident.
ENCLOSURE: 5/6
SATISFACTION: 4/5
Very well done!
NOTE:
Some depredators are more violent than others.
Luca rubbed his temples. Only one last exposure remained¡ªthe most iconic, the king of kings, the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Satisfaction: Decreasing
Worse than children. It was maddening. The temptation to just tell them to screw off crossed his mind, but he held it back with years of customer service experience. Forcing a calm into his voice that hid the typhoon raging inside him, he began: "Ladies, gentlemen, and everything in between," he started, "we¡¯re approaching our last friend. You¡¯ve probably been waiting for this moment all night. Am I right?" "Yes!" You¡¯d think they were being asked if they wanted a billion dollars. "I¡¯m glad you¡¯re so happy," Luca continued, his lips curving into a smile as fake as a three-dollar bill. "Now, before we enter, let me point out a small difference between the King of Kings and his friends." The entrance appeared ahead, illuminated by bright spotlights. As the bus approached, the air seemed heavier here, charged with an electric anticipation that made Luca¡¯s skin prickle. He didn¡¯t use the dinosaur¡¯s name like with the others¡ªit was better not to try the same technique here, especially not at the foot of the gates. "Our dear king has a bit of poor eyesight, so don¡¯t feel bad if he doesn¡¯t look directly at you¡ªbut don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s listening to us right now." He paused. "He smelled us from afar." Great, he thought with some irony, I¡¯m scaring myself more. "For our king¡¯s sake, I hope you all showered before coming." The audience laughed ¡ªthat strange background static coming eerily from ''behind the curtain'' even now. Luca kept his mind calm through a breathing exercise as the bus moved through the entrance, trees with sturdy trunks and sprawling branches, ferns, and fan-shaped plants closing in around them like a vegetative trap. "And¡ªyou probably already know," he continued, his voice rising slightly to compete with the growing tremors under his feet, "but our friend is a titan¡ª" The ground shook violently, far worse than during any previous encounter. The trees swayed ominously, their branches scraping the sky like skeletal fingers. Somewhere deep in the enclosure, wood cracked under massive weight, but the sound echoed through the air with clarity, as if it were close. The breeze probably carried the scent of blood¡ªof prey¡ªfrom the roof. "You can blame our researchers," Luca added, his tone shifting to playful sarcasm despite the knot in his stomach, "and Primal Dream¡¯s intention to give you the best of the best." Slowly, agonizingly, a massive head emerged above the trees, perhaps¡ªjust perhaps¡ªat the same height the Giganotosaurus had, its colossal size dwarfing everything around it. There you are, Luca thought, beads of sweat sliding down his back. Its small, gleaming eyes scanned the area with predatory precision, staring intently at the bus from beyond. The audience went wild¡ªscreaming as if they were seeing their idols, eager to get its attention, even if just for a moment. Luca kept his hand over the shield¡¯s button, feeling more and more like jumping off the bus, away from the group of idiots. The noise wasn¡¯t well received by the predator¡ªwhat a surprise¡ªand in return, the Tyrannosaurus Rex opened its imposing jaws, rows of serrated teeth terribly sharp, and let out a ferocious roar like a storm. Luca had to cover his ears, and even then, he felt as if everything was shaking. Beyond the ghosts¡¯ enthusiasm, beyond this enclosure, other predators responded. And, of course, this didn¡¯t make it any happier than the deranged screams inside the bus. The ground shook with each thunderous step it took, wood and plants crunching under its feet, its direction as clear as it was obvious. Luca¡¯s hand hovered over the SHIELD button, his heart pounding so hard it threatened to drown out all other sounds, and as if that weren¡¯t enough, he didn¡¯t feel well at all. He opened his eyes, only realizing he had closed them, just in time to see the supreme predator of an era looming less than a breath away from the bus, its enormous figure casting an oppressive shadow that seemed to swallow the vehicle whole. Under the pale light, the T. Rex stood like a titan, and its appearance was etched into his mind: its scales a mix of green and brown, with its stomach lighter, and only a few dark feathers decorating its back and short arms, the muscles beneath this deceptively beautiful covering. And, of course, the teeth in those jaws capable of devouring a cow in one bite. And a human even easier. Really, really easy. Luca turned his eyes to the screen once more, but the view wasn¡¯t much different than seconds ago. Damn. Chapter 20 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (7) Without a second thought, Luca snapped the photo, barely a slight pressure on his badge and stayed perfectly, perfectly still.
Target ''Tyrannosaurus Rex'' Captured.
Mission ''Pictures'' Updated: 6/6
Main Mission Completed.
His task, the reason he¡¯d been thrown into this mess, was now complete¡ªand yet he felt neither happy nor relieved. Not when the bar was incomplete. Not when¡ª The T. Rex¡¯s snout appeared at the side window, its warm, foul breath hitting Luca¡¯s face, its yellowish eye fixed on the interior of the bus. It swept over the ghosts without paying them the slightest attention, as if they were nonexistent, before turning to the front where Luca sat. He, on the other hand, noticed from the corner of his eye that the visitors were watching the scene with an intensity that could have put natural disasters to shame. At least the damn things had gone quiet. Ha. They were waiting for him to get eaten, weren¡¯t they? The bus didn¡¯t stop moving at an agonizingly slow pace¡ªbut as Luca remained silent like a statue, it passed by the T. Rex, like a turtle walking past a lion. Slow, slow, slow. But¡ªsomehow, there was no attack. Yet, when he finally was able take a look at the bar, he swallowed a curse. It was barely increasing! How was this not enough? Did they expect him to reach out and pat the damn T. Rex on the snout? Or lean out and give it a kiss? Fine. "It seems we¡¯ve caught his attention," Luca murmured into the microphone, his voice barely a whisper but somehow perfectly audible in the bus. "According to research, our mighty king ¡ªdear friend¡ª" He paused, letting the words sink in as the bus inched forward, leaving said dinosaur behind bit by bit. "is a patient hunter. Once it locks onto its prey, it will follow until it catches it. " As he spoke, his eyes darted nervously to the back of the bus, following the movements of the ghosts, and beyond that, the T. Rex they were leaving behind. Until it started moving, of course, because life couldn''t be so easy. "However..." Luca swallowed, forcing himself to continue despite the lump in his throat. "as magnificent as they are as predators, their weakness can holds them down." The tremors beneath the bus didn¡¯t bother the audience; they were vibrating in their seats, staring in the direction of the T. Rex, busy drinking in every detail of the magnificent predator. Some of the ghosts even had cameras and were snapping photos. Luca turned his gaze forward, toward the walls coming into view¡ªwhere the exit would be¡ªkeeping his nerves in check. They weren¡¯t safe yet¡ªnot until they crossed that threshold; no, not just the threshold, the exit¡ªbut they were closer than before. The sweat was clinging to his back and he only wanted to sigh, and perhaps hide under the chair for a moment.
Satisfaction: Decreasing
Seriously?! Clenching his teeth, he forced himself to relax enough to say in a pleasant voice, "Did you know that months ago, someone stole some eggs from the lab...?" He made a vague gesture toward the back. Kaiser was there, sniffing the air, not far from the bus. "So, if you see on the news about some creature suddenly rampaging through cities, don¡¯t worry. Remember what I told you earlier." The murmurs among the ghosts grew, their excitement palpable as they looked between the windows and Luca himself. Some laughed nervously, others clapped enthusiastically, completely unfazed by the implications of his story, or too excited by the clear view of the king of kings. Finally, mercifully, the exit emerged from the shadows ahead. "Well," Luca said, his voice rising slightly to compete with the growing tension in the air. "It seems the round is coming to an end. Why don¡¯t we say goodbye to our dear friend?" "Kaiser! Kaiser! Kaiser!" chanted the ghostly visitors, a hint of something dark and twisted in their excited voices, like a volcano about to erupt. It was a damn mistake for Luca¡ªbut the visitors¡¯ enthusiasm reached a peak when the T. Rex suddenly charged at the bus, its massive body moving with terrifying speed. Without hesitation, Luca slammed the SHIELD button¡ªbut instead of the usual 10 or 15 seconds, a chilling message appeared before his eyes: SHIELD Duration: 3 seconds. What the hell?! Frozen in his seat, Luca¡¯s wide eyes locked onto the titan just inches from the turquoise barrier.
Satisfaction: Increasing!
It had stopped. And¡ªit wasn¡¯t retreating. Luca swallowed hard. As the bus crawled toward the exit, having already passed the threshold but moving so slowly that Luca¡¯s heart threatened to burst, the predator followed. It was quieter than one would expect from something so gigantic, but then again, it was using the open path just like they were. The tremors made the bus shake.
Satisfaction: Increasing!
At least someone was enjoying this. The entrance slid open, and the bus began to pass through¡ªbut then, in a split second, the T. Rex broke into a sprint toward them, mouth wide open. Its teeth pierced the roof with a horrible metallic crunch, the lower part of its jaw entering the bus and passing through a couple of visitors before it jerked its head to the side with a screech, tearing off a section of the roof. No. Most of the roof. Above them, the sky was dark and stormy, and yet it seemed like the best view in centuries for the frenzied ghosts. Their burst of excitement was so vibrant and heavy that Luca felt as if the air was charged with electricity. Even the T. Rex, spitting out the chunk of metal, took a step back, giving them enough time for the bus to fully cross the exit. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
ENCLOSURE: 6/6
Finally, the damn tour was over.
SATISFACTION: 5/5
Amazing! You''ve outdone yourself!
NOTE:
Certain researchers suggest that the lack of direct contact with other predators has caused some of the park¡¯s occupants to not fully develop properly.
TASK ''SURVIVE THE TOUR'' has been completed.
He let out a long sigh, then cleared his throat and addressed his audience: "It¡¯s time to say goodbye to all of you. I hope you enjoyed our attractions. Don¡¯t forget to visit the shops¡ªsouvenirs aren¡¯t complete without a little material token, right?" he said cheerfully. His words echoed in silence in the bus¡ªand then, the audience erupted in cheers: "Mithras! Mithras! Mithras!" A shiver ran down Luca''s back, his eyes darkening for a split second. At the same time, a precious message appeared before him.
You have completed your task with a score above 4. As a reward, you will receive the a bonus.
REWARD: Red Button, Blue Button.
Yes! His expression loosened as two thin, pill-like metal capsules appeared in his hand. It was as beautiful as watching the ghosts flicker, their forms wavering like static on a broken TV. Their appearances were almost normal now¡ªtoo normal, given their ghostly nature¡ªand their voices blended into an incomprehensible murmur. One by one, they began to fade, dissolving into nothing until the bus was completely empty. Just him, inside a bus missing most of its roof, with barely dried bloodstains on the floor. It was the most peaceful moment of the entire tour. With a long, deep exhale, Luca slumped back in his chair and allowed himself a moment of rest. All the photos had been taken, and he had gotten what he needed to survive, even if there was a small detail to fix beyond finding the three levers to unlock the door. He fiddled with his rewards, looking toward the building at the end of the path¡ªthe base where the tour had started. He had to get to the center of the park as soon as possible, before the kings and knights started prowling. Luca looked at the sky. This was just the beginning of the night.
¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me,¡± Tim muttered, frowning in the direction of the woman still at the hotdog stand. His role was the simplest of all, requiring almost nothing more than wandering around without causing trouble, but that didn¡¯t mean he¡¯d spent the last hour smelling the flowers. Besides completing his mission¡ªit had been somewhat difficult to avoid being caught while sneaking into the ''private'' exposition at the museum, no mentioning he had to offer himself to get the pictures¡ªhe¡¯d managed to get a good idea of the park¡¯s layout and a flashlight. By seven in the evening, he found himself in the food court, looking for some provisions. But only that. This was the place he considered the worst of all to spend the night. It didn¡¯t take a genius to realize that the first thing to attract those beasts would be the smell of food, and the whole damn place sold meat¡ªhotdogs, hamburgers, there was even a kebab stand. Not to mention the concentration of idiots there. But seeing that one of his teammates was there¡ªthe only one he¡¯d seen so far, and he assumed the only one still alive¡ªhe¡¯d decided to approach. He should have left the moment he saw Liona there¡ªbut how could he have imagined the blackout would happen so early? He hated surprises, especially the kind that put his life at risk. And now he was trapped inside a metal box that reeked of hotdogs with a damn suicidal woman. ¡°Come on, come over here!¡± Liona called to a group of visitors with obvious concern, as if they didn¡¯t already have enough families with children inside¡ªone woman even had a baby¡ªand less oxygen than recommended for a group of fifteen in a damn space barely suitable for three (at most). How could she not realize that the moment the crying sirens started, they¡¯d attract the first damn dinosaur that happened to be nearby? He supposed he couldn¡¯t say it like that. ¡°Liona, we can¡¯t stay here,¡± he tried to tell her after she closed the door, praying she wouldn¡¯t hear another idiot screaming for help outside. ¡°It¡¯s too small to survive the night with so many people.¡± There were already about fifteen, and they were packed in like sardines. She turned to him, ¡°But it¡¯s safe, Nagato.¡± To prove her point, Liona knocked on the metal wall. It rang less than expected. ¡°It¡¯s thick. Thick enough to serve as insulation.¡± Good point¡ª¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a better idea to go to the museum?¡± One of the children started crying louder at that moment, the noise reverberating in the small space. ¡°If we all go out, we¡¯ll end up drawing too much attention,¡± Liona murmured. So she really thought of the people around her as part of the mission¡ªdid she really not notice anything unusual about them? ¡°We can¡¯t stay here,¡± he insisted, leaning toward her. ¡°These people are already dead, Liona.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Her eyes widening, Liona glanced around with a conflicted expression and shook her head. ¡°No, Nagato. They¡¯ll die if we leave them to their fate,¡± she bit her lip. ¡°You¡ªdo you really not want to stay?¡± Tim pressed his lips together. If he said no, would she open the door and let him out into the open? It didn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s not like he could really escape at that moment. He¡¯d seen the enclosure gates opening when most of the lights went out, leaving much of the park like a wolf¡¯s den. He didn¡¯t want to die like this, on his first damn mission, because he had the bad luck of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Well¡ªat least he was sure he wasn¡¯t the unluckiest in their little group. ¡°Let¡¯s try to keep quiet,¡± he finally said, sending a clear look to the woman with the crying baby. ¡°I don¡¯t think those things won¡¯t hear that.¡± Liona shot him a fiercer look than he deserved for telling the truth. ¡°Please try to be kinder. The situation ¡ªit¡¯s already complicated. Everyone is feeling down enough.¡± Feeling down? Tim took a look at the group and made a face inward. It was not that. Even before the power outage, the rest of the people had been so... He had seen less people with more brains, sprawled and unconscious in the alleys of their old neighborhood and that was saying a lot. But considering who seemed to have taken the role of ''leader'' and had a stronger claim over the place, then he would ''play nice''. Let it be known that he knew how to¡ªbut there were even fewer things he hated than being forced to do this. Especially with dead morons. Chapter 21 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (8) The good news was that he had managed to reach the base without any issues. The bad news was that the moment the bus¡ªor what was left of it¡ªstopped and the doors opened, all the lights went out. His vision shifted, the world around him tinted in shades of gray. Shadows became sharper, edges more defined. He could see the outlines of people struggling in the darkness, their movements frantic and uncoordinated. The faint glow of communicators flickered like fireflies as voices crackled through the static. "Everyone inside!" a voice roared from the shadows, raw and desperate. "Lock the doors!" Stepping off the bus, he watched as the last employees disappeared inside, their figures fading like ghosts into the darkness. The door hissed shut, followed by the unmistakable sound of bolts sliding into place. Now, he was alone and outside, at the mercy of the predators'' will¡ªthough, of course, that was only if he stood there like an idiot waiting for death. The silence was oppressive¡ªnot even the whisper of leaves in the wind could be heard. As he walked, the sound of his boots on the pavement¡ªa plastic squeak¡ªmade him want to take them off. If this was ''Stealthy,'' then he didn¡¯t want to know what the normal version was like. His gaze swept around, thoughtful. The world now completely tinted gray felt strange, but it was far better than he could have expected. Hmm. The situation would have been truly desperate if he didn¡¯t have his Perk. A new message flashed in the corner of his eye at that moment:
Main Mission: Survive the Night 07:59:58
Ah. So this had replaced the other main mission¡ªhow interesting. Luca reached one of the building''s doors. He pressed his hand against the cold metal, pushing experimentally, but it didn¡¯t budge. They had really locked it. His mind raced, weighing his options. The base wasn¡¯t that big, just three simple buildings full of buses. If he wanted to get out, he¡¯d have to go around the corner and take the path he¡¯d used earlier to reach the base. Somewhere in the distance, a low, deep sound rumbled through the night¡ªsoon followed by a flash of light among the dark clouds and a thunderclap that drowned out all other sounds for a moment. Small drops of water began to hit the asphalt and what remained of the bus roof, soon marking a steady rhythm. There was no time to waste. To reach the other zone, the only way was to take the path between the T. Rex and Spinosaurus enclosures. But first¡ª He looked over one of the rewards he¡¯d received, the red capsule, and separated the two halves. A beam of crimson light burst from it, expanding in front of him into the shape of a map of the park. Three points glowed like tiny stars in three different locations¡ªin a garden between the T. Rex and Giganotosaurus enclosures; in the museum; and in the administration building.
New Mission Unlocked:
Leave the Park (0/3)
Pull the levers to unlock the Exit Door.
His mouth stretched into a small, satisfied smile. This was what he¡¯d been waiting for. He then pocketed the capsule in his jacket and held the other one¡ªblue like the shield¡ªin his hand before slipping toward the path along the outskirts of the building. He ignored the faces he could see appearing now and then inside the building¡ªthe ghosts had made their choice long ago, hadn¡¯t they? As he turned the corner and walked a few more meters, cautious of the play of shadows the tree leaves made with the lightning in the sky, he found the path stretched out before him¡ªflanked by the immense fences of the enclosures. But the most interesting thing was the trees and plants growing on both sides of them, especially the outer side. He didn¡¯t hesitate to slip under the cover of the vegetation, feeling extremely uncomfortable in the open space despite knowing he¡¯d hear the predators approaching¡ªhunters, sure, but the ground shook like a ship in a storm, especially with the larger ones. The rain fell in a steady drizzle, not yet heavy enough to soak him quickly but persistent enough to cling to his clothes, making his movements harder. Each step sounded too loud to his ears, the squeak of his boots mixing with the splashing of wet mud and the crunch of branches under his feet. Even the stickiness of the wet fabric felt too intense. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. All he wished for at that moment was a "mute" button for himself. But he¡¯d settle for a change of shoes. Luca tightened his fingers around the small blue metal capsule in his right hand. It was cold to the touch, and at that moment, when he could swear he heard the Spinosaurus on the other side of the fence, moving in one of the water ''branches,'' he couldn¡¯t help but glance over his shoulder now and then, almost expecting to see glowing eyes or the flash of sharp teeth emerging from the path. But there was nothing, just the endless curtain of rain and the oppressive feeling of gray-tinted darkness. Speaking of rain, it soon intensified, the steady rhythm of it hitting the pavement masking the sound of his footsteps. It was a small mercy, but one that came with its own cost. He wasn¡¯t the only one benefiting from this. A blind spot for him. It wasn¡¯t surprising that he felt so tense when something could suddenly approach him¡ªparticularly the Orcoraptors. They were the only ones short enough to slip through that vegetation and appear behind him. But that won¡¯t happen, he calmed himself. The ''front'' gate of the Orcoraptor enclosure led straight to the food court¡ªa much more tempting destination. Seconds passed as he walked among the trees, pushing aside the fern-like leaves or fan-shaped leaves, trying not to step on too many small twigs. Minutes. One, two, three¡­ It felt like he¡¯d been walking for hours when he finally spotted the silhouette of the museum on the horizon more clearly. It was still far, but it was unmistakable evidence that he was making progress. Little by little, the view improved. The park¡¯s lights¡ªperhaps emergency lights¡ªwere still on in some areas: the corners, particularly, where the shops, food zone, and administration building were. The gardens, even those with the lakes, were quite dark, and the museum seemed to have only one light on inside. Luca stopped at the edge of the Spinosaurus enclosure, still hidden behind the vegetation. His eyes scanned the area, looking for movement, signs of life¡ªanything. But everything was quiet. Too quiet. Where were the people? Where were the dinosaurs? As he stood there, the only sounds he could detect were the faint hum of the lights and the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze, muffled by the constant fall of rain. But then, out of nowhere, the breeze brought a distant, high-pitched screech, followed by screams. He frowned. Although the Orcoraptor enclosure was right there to his left, the noise seemed to come from farther away¡ªfrom the north corner of the park. Are they already out? How long had it taken him to get here? The timer appeared in the corner of his eye for a brief moment, giving him all the answer he needed. 40 minutes? He was sure it had felt like twice that. But it was no surprise. It had to be over half a kilometer of path, and he¡¯d been quite slow. Hesitating whether to run toward the garden across the asphalt road, he heard even more screams from the north. He couldn¡¯t stay there forever. The longer he waited, the greater the danger. Luca took one last look around before moving forward. His face tensed during those brief seconds as the echo of his footsteps on the pavement resonated in the air. Still, he didn¡¯t stop. He headed toward the garden¡ªone of the green spaces with the lake in the middle, right in front of one of the museum¡¯s main entrances. Not only could he reach the inside of it if he crossed the garden, but the lines of neatly trimmed bushes in square shapes and a handful of trees offered some cover. Halfway there, still on the road, he glanced over his shoulder toward the T. Rex enclosure. There was no movement there. Just the same stillness of a rainy night¡ªbut, of course, he didn¡¯t lower his guard. Nor did he with regard to the landscape ahead, knowing he wasn¡¯t the only one who might think to use them. As soon as he reached the first line of bushes, he crouched against them, using them as a barrier between himself and the road, and listened. The rain dripped from the leaves of the bushes and the single tree beside him, sliding over his skin, but he barely noticed. His ears strained to catch any sound, any sign that he wasn¡¯t alone. At first, there was nothing. So Luca began to crawl forward, following the line of neatly trimmed bushes. His movements were as silent as possible, every muscle tense and one of his hands gripping the blue capsule firmly. The mud beneath him was slippery, clinging to his hands and knees, and an idea popped into his mind. Several of the predators had a keen sense of smell, after all. He was still thinking about the possibilities of better masking his scent when he felt it. A slight tremor in the ground, subtle at first but growing stronger with each passing second. His eyes widened, his body freezing mid-''step.'' He looked down. The ripples in the puddles¡¯ surfaces said it all. Luca swallowed. Great. Just great. Pressing himself as close to the ground as possible, his heart pounded in his chest. The mud beneath him was cold, seeping through his clothes, but he accepted it. Carefully, he rubbed against it, spreading it over himself as best he could in his current situation. He didn¡¯t care about anything else but hiding his scent. If things got worse, he¡¯d use the shield. Then he¡¯d run toward the museum as if his life depended on it¡ªbecause it did. A Champion¡¯s plan, right? He thought with irony. No, of course not. The T. Rex would catch him before he made it halfway¡ªor the moment the shield ran out. But that¡¯s why it was his second option. The tremors grew stronger, vibrating through the ground and into his bones. Something massive was approaching. Each step sent a jolt of alarm through his body. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to breathe as softly as possible. Slowly, very slowly, he moved. The bushes were too thick to see through, but they weren¡¯t infinite. Reaching the end of the line, he peeked out just enough to catch a glimpse of what was happening on the other side. A lightning bolt lit up the sky, illuminating the area with a blinding, harsh light. For a fraction of a second, Luca saw it in color: the T. Rex, Kaiser. The predator was free, its massive body now fully emerged from the enclosure. Its head moved slightly from side to side, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air. Behind it, the entrance to its enclosure was wide open. For a moment, Luca simply watched. The movement of its muscles under its scaly skin, the flash of its teeth as it slightly opened its mouth, as if savoring the rain. Its eyes moved rapidly, searching for any sign of movement. Frozen, Luca fervently wished he had run earlier. Chapter 22 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (9) For a brief moment, the T. Rex simply stood there¡ªimposing, terrifyingly dangerous, just... existing. Until a human scream came from the food court. Luca clenched his jaw. It was a woman. But it was probably already too late for her ¡ªeven if it was Liona. The T. Rex tilted its head toward the sound, its tail swinging as it turned, its foot slamming into the pavement with enough force to shake the ground. Without making any particular noise, the predator began to move away, heading west¡ªtoward the source of the noise. Of course, the animal didn¡¯t follow the road but instead took the garden as a shortcut¡ªand Luca was very fortunate not to have taken refuge in the bushes on that side. Otherwise, he would have been crushed ¡ªor discovered and eaten, maybe. Luca waited, counting the seconds, until the tremors faded and the giant figure moved away, looming over the food trunks in the food court. He didn¡¯t stay to watch what happened when the screams kept going, echoing on the air, but instead quickly slipped¡ªmore like crawled through the mud, but who was going to call him out?¡ªthrough the bushes, using the tree trunks as cover. The T. Rex wasn¡¯t the only danger of the night, after all. For a brief moment as he tried to reach the museum, everything seemed to have ¡®calmed down¡¯¡ªa deceptive calm that Luca knew wouldn¡¯t last. And indeed, it didn¡¯t. The unmistakable sounds of the Orkoraptors shattered the quiet like a piece of cheap glass. Their high-pitched, angry screeches echoed through the night, piercing the air. Luca tilted his head, frowning. Those noises were coming from¡ª He peeked out from the bushes, his night vision cutting through the darkness of the night, aided by the sparse, weak lights in that area. Four Orkoraptors moved swiftly, sliding like shadows between the food trucks at the opposite where the T. Rex was standing. Judging by the amount of noise¡ªthey were communicating with bursts of sounds, clicks, and screeches¡ªit seemed they were coordinating an attack. His thoughts briefly flew to his coworkers, but a powerful roar from the T. Rex snapped him out of his musings. It vibrated through the air and into his bones. An obvious warning and, at the same time, a challenge. The Orkoraptors reacted instantly. They split into pairs: two of them disappeared among the food trucks, while the rest turned and ran back north. Luca¡¯s mind raced. There were seven Orkoraptors in total, which meant three hadn¡¯t shown up yet. Were those two going for reinforcements? He didn¡¯t know, and he didn¡¯t have time to find out. As much as part of him wanted to witness the inevitable clash between the T. Rex and the Orkoraptors, he valued his life more than a front-row seat to ancient nature¡¯s brutality. Besides, if they were as smart as the posters ¡ªand general culture¡ª said, the Orkoraptors wouldn¡¯t dare confront the T. Rex. With one last glance toward the food court, Luca turned and slipped through the garden, moving as quietly as he could. Supposedly, his stealth skill was active, reducing his presence by 20%, but that didn¡¯t mean he could throw caution to the wind. He emerged near the lake¡ªits surface rippling under the downpour. Beyond it, the museum entrance loomed, its doors wide open and a faint glow coming from the upper level. The wall separating the T. Rex exhibit from the entrance stretched along the doorway, blocking his view of what might be inside. The open space between the entrance and his current position was cut by an asphalt path. Luca hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. Running across it without looking back would be reckless, but going too slow wasn¡¯t an option either. Once he stepped onto the path, there would be no cover until he reached the museum. No time to waste, he thought, bracing himself. He grimaced as soon as he took the first step forward, the squeak of his boots echoing in the air. And idea crossed his mind then, and his eyes went down at his feet. Was he doing what he was thinking? Yes. The answer was ¡®yes¡¯. He crouched for a moment and took them off, leaving them by the bushes. The ground was wet and cold, not to mention muddy, but it made less noise that way ¡ªand was less slippery than he had originally expected. The splashing of his steps was muffled by the storm, which had turned into a full-blown tempest. Relentless, the rain pounded the ground, drowning out all sounds except the loudest. The echoes of thunders still resonated through the night¡ªboth in the sky and on the ground. Somehow, he made it to the entrance without incident, slipping inside and following the wall along one side of the exhibit. He kept his breathing under control, scanning his surroundings with sharp eyes and his ears finely tuned. The faint light came from the upper floor¡ªthe mezzanine¡ªso even without his night vision, he could have seen something. However, there was no doubt that the imposing, very real models of the exhibits would have frayed all his nerves. Peeking toward the stairs and into the center of the exhibit, he scanned the area but saw nothing there, so he darted toward the area under the mezzanine. Although it seemed quiet, there was no way he¡¯d leave his back exposed, so he pressed himself against the wall immediately, tilting his head just enough to see the doors¡ªone of which was the one he was looking for. He pulled out the red capsule and separated it, activating the map again. Only this time, it no longer reflected the entire park but the museum. How convenient. The closest point of interest was marked with a glowing dot, hidden in a corner. Luca looked in that direction, spotting a discreet door blending into the wall on the opposite side. Turning off the map, he began heading toward the door, his steps silent against the polished floor, except for the dripping sound caused by his wet clothes and footprints. Halfway there, a loud crash echoed through the museum, the sound reverberating off the walls. Luca froze, his heart leaping into his throat. The noise had come from... above? Maybe. It was impossible to tell exactly where. Not good, he thought, tightening his grip on the capsule. Before he could run toward his destination, another door opened, and a familiar baby-face framed by dark hair appeared. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Come on," Nagato whispered, gesturing with his hand. Luca hesitated for a fraction of a second before following him inside. It was a messy office, dimly lit by the glow of a flashlight and filled with papers and equipment scattered everywhere. The air smelled of dust and old electronics, a strange comfort amid the storm. As Luca quickly glanced around, Nagato closed the door behind them with a soft click, the sound barely audible over the distant rumble of thunder, and then walked past him. Looking at the younger man leaning against the wall opposite the door, Luca noticed that he looked exhausted, his boyish features shadowed by the faint light. He approached, and did the same, supporting his weight against the wall. "Thanks." Nagato waved a hand dismissively, his tone casual but his eyes sharp ¡ªnot so tired as it looked at first glance. "Consider it payment for the Interview." Luca¡¯s mouth twisted slightly, a faint smile tugging at the corners. "Fair enough." The room fell into a brief silence but the tension was palpable. Nagato broke it first, whispering. "You got the Guide, right? How did you survive?" He looked Luca over, scanning him as if searching for something. "You don¡¯t seem to be missing a limb or two, just like you rolled in a pigsty." Luca offered him a small, ironic smile. "Got lucky." Then, his expression turned more serious. "Did you see Liona?" A flash of irritation crossed Nagato¡¯s face before he answered. "Saw her earlier. She was working as a food vendor." He shrugged, his tone indifferent but his eyes betraying a hint of something. "Don¡¯t know where she is now. Probably still in that area?" Luca grimaced. "The T. Rex and the Orkoraptors were there." Nagato¡¯s eyes widened, then narrowed. "You¡ªyou¡¯re not thinking of going after her, are you?" Luca blinked, surprised by the question. "No. Why should I?" A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Nagato¡¯s lips. "Well, I saw you throwing her some looks earlier. Not thinking of playing the white knight?" Of course not. Luca¡¯s response, though not the first thing he thought of, was immediate. "She doesn¡¯t need that. Besides, I¡¯m busy right now." His fingers brushed the red capsule in his pocket, thoughtful. Could he solve the small hitch in his plan with this...? He didn¡¯t know Nagato well enough, but there weren¡¯t many options. If he didn¡¯t meet Liona then it was none, really. Nagato raised an eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? With what?" Luca hesitated for a moment, weighing how much to reveal. And how to explain it. "Remember the Splint Rules?" "Yeah..." "I got lucky,¡± he repeated his previous words. ¡°And triggered a Hidden Mission. It¡¯s called ''Leave the Park.''" Nagato¡¯s eyes narrowed, confusion and not so little skepticism written on his face. "But the manual said you can¡¯t leave. We have to wait for the security mechanism to pull us out." "It wasn¡¯t a rule, per se. More of a recommendation," Luca pointed out, his tone matter-of-fact. "Understandable, since you have to unlock the door before attempting it. Which, apparently, no one did." And that¡¯s why they got eaten, he added in his mind. Nagato leaned slightly forward, his interest clearly piqued. "What do you have to do?" "Pull three levers," Luca said simply. Nagato stared at him with a mix of disbelief and curiosity. For a moment, he seemed to be deciding whether Luca was pulling his leg or something. Seeing the doubt in the other man¡¯s eyes, Luca reached into his pocket and pulled out the red capsule. Without a word, he pressed it. The holographic map sprang to life, its lines and glowing red markers spreading out in front of both of them. It was still centered on the museum interior, but the other two points of interest were represented by arrows pointing out of the park. Nagato¡¯s eyes widened as he watched the projection, his initial skepticism melting into reluctant acceptance. He let out a long sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Alright. I believe you." Then, his eyes fixed on Luca. "So, what¡¯s the plan? I assume you have one that doesn¡¯t involve just throwing ourselves out there and hoping for the best." Luca suppressed a smile. He could, if he were more desperate and reckless, do something like that. The blue capsule was safely tucked in his pocket, after all. But he didn¡¯t mention it. Instead, he kept his tone firm and focused. "One of the levers is here, but the other two are outside. One¡¯s in the Administration building to the north, and the other¡¯s in the garden between the T. Rex and Yutyrannus enclosures." Nagato¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t good. "Ah." He frowned, his brow furrowing as he processed the information. "You want us to split up?" "It¡¯d be faster," Luca admitted, his voice low. "But it¡¯s too dangerous to go out like that." The corner of his lips curved slightly. "Didn¡¯t you say earlier you wanted a weapon?" Nagato¡¯s eyes sharpened, a flicker of interest breaking through his grim expression. "You have one?" Luca shook his head. "No, but we¡¯ll find weapons if we follow the path to the first lever." "Which way?" Nagato asked, gesturing with his hand as if to say, You first. Well. It seemed like Luca had convinced him so he didn¡¯t waste any more words. If Nagato was willing to follow, he wasn¡¯t going to argue. He rose up and moved to the door, pressing his ear against it for a moment to listen. The occasional distant rumble of thunder were the only sounds ¡ªperhaps some other deep, resonant sounds more at the level of the ground. Nagato took his flashlight. Luca opened the door cautiously, the hinges creaking softly. He extended his hand toward the opposite side of the hallway, pointing. "That door." It was only then that he remembered: technically, he shouldn¡¯t be able to see it in the dark. His night vision skill was active, but Nagato didn¡¯t know that. Nagato stepped closer, peering into the gloom. "I don¡¯t see anything," he whispered, squinting. He raised the flashlight, its beam cutting through the darkness. "Ah, there." He didn¡¯t ask further questions, surprisingly. Maybe he hadn¡¯t noticed the oddity of Luca¡¯s ability to see in the dark. Or maybe he was too focused on the task to care. "Wait. Should I give it to you?" Luca weighed the pros and cons for half a second before declining the offer. "It¡¯s fine." Before Nagato could say more, a loud crash echoed from the other side of the wall separating the Yutyrannus exhibit from the area under the mezzanine. The sound was like something heavy being thrown, or something large moving aggressively. Something told him they weren¡¯t alone. "Quick," Luca insisted, and both of them moved toward the door without looking back. Chapter 23 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (10) As they ran down the hallway, the sharp screeches of the Orkoraptors echoed through the space, reverberating in the stillness ¡ªand by virtue of the high ceiling. It was a horrible sound that made Luca''s skin crawl, but he didn¡¯t stop. Neither did Nagato. They reached the door in seconds, slipping inside and firmly closing it behind them. "I hope those things don¡¯t know how to open this," Nagato muttered, his voice barely a whisper. Picturing the image inside his mind, Luca almost snorted. "They¡¯re too big to fit in here anyway." He glanced around the room: a short hallway leading to what looked like an office. Papers were scattered across the floor, some still fluttering in the draft from the open doors. A desk was overturned, chairs thrown to the side, and even a potted plant had been knocked over, its small cactus lying sadly on the ground. "Looks like they left in a hurry." "Oh, really?" Nagato murmured, his tone grim. "I think they faded away. They¡¯re probably dead.¡± Luca paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "When did you realize?" He asked but continued looking at his surroundings. The only door in the room had an ¡®Authorized Personnel Only¡¯ sign and seemed to have been accidentally blocked by the fallen desk. He barely noticed the pause before Nagato spoke. "You too?" Nagato¡¯s voice was sharp. He cleared his throat, his tone shifting to something more cautious. "Half the Visitors disappeared, so I thought something was off. But Liona didn¡¯t believe me¡ª" He cut himself off abruptly. Luca turned around, raising an eyebrow. Got you. But he didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he pointed to the desk. "Come on, help me lift this." The two of them lifted the desk back into place in silence, the only sound the scraping of wood against the floor. Once it was in position, Nagato broke the silence, his voice low and tinged with frustration. "I saw her after the blackout. It was a mess." He spoke the words with palpable irritation. "The raptors came, and the ¡ªghosts? Whatever they are ¡ªhid with us in her truck. But the noises brought them. One of the raptors came in from above." He pressed his lips together. "I came to the museum, and Liona ran off somewhere else with the others." Luca nodded, his expression neutral. "It''s alright. Cooperating is good, but it isn''t an obligation. Surviving is hard enough." He murmured under his breath the last part, before returning to a normal tone. "Now, we should always take the right door. Grab a marker ¡ªwe¡¯ll mark the direction so we don¡¯t get lost on the way back." With that, he opened the door. The room beyond was a messy mix of a break area and workspace. Two doors were on opposite sides of the room, one slightly ajar. They shared a look when the distant sound of footsteps with an odd echo quality came from beyond the ajar door. Luca shook his head and pointed to the door on the right. Without a word, they both headed that way. On the other side awaited a narrow, unlit hallway that ended in a second perpendicular hallway. The flashlight illuminated the sign on the only door they found at the end¡ª ¡®Proceed with Caution.¡¯ "Are you sure this is the way?" Nagato asked behind him. For this tone, it seemed like he really, really didn''t want it to be. Sorry, buddy. Luca nodded at him and gently turned the knob. He grimaced as the door creaked shut, the noise echoing in the small space¡ªand beyond. There was a metal staircase leading downward. As they descended, Nagato pointed his flashlight around, but Luca didn¡¯t need it to see the glass walls and what lay beyond them. "What the hell is this...?" Nagato whispered, his voice tense and full of disbelief. He quickly aimed the flashlight at the suspended walkway, revealing the silhouettes of trees, ferns and more plants that Luca had already seen before beyond the mesh. "Shh," Luca hissed, gesturing for him to be quiet and then to follow him across the walkway. The floor was made of glass, making it easy to see below. He caught the swaying of vegetation as he moved forward and the glint of a pair of eyes told him it wasn¡¯t just the breeze. Both of them hurried to the end, followed by the screech of something in the darkness, and passed through the second metal door¡ªignoring the warning signs. Only once he was sure the door was closed did Luca announce, "They¡¯re not the same as the ones outside. These seem smaller." Nagato frowned, his expression a mix of anger and disbelief. "You didn¡¯t say anything about dinosaurs in the basement.¡± He then mumbled under his breath, ¡°Who has fucking raptors on the basement?" Luca shrugged, his tone casual despite the tension in the air. "I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d be here. But it makes sense why they¡¯d have weapons stored down here. Let¡¯s go. We don¡¯t have time to waste." The younger man had no choice but to follow, though his expression made it clear he wasn¡¯t happy about it. His grip on the flashlight tightened as they continued down the hallway. "...Labs?" Luca murmured his agreement as he casually observed through the glass walls without stopping. Many of the rooms they passed seemed to have been abandoned in due time, unlike the offices upstairs. All the doors were on the left side, so they had to go all the way to the end to finally find the one they needed. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. It was red and had a sign with a fairly easy-to-understand symbol. The skull was quite well-made. "Are you sure this is the way?" Nagato asked again, stressing the first word. Luca sighed. "I wish it weren¡¯t." Still, he opened it¡ªthe sound of metal sliding with a menacing creak¡ªand peeked inside, beyond the lights. A second hallway, narrow and with certain decorations on the walls¡ªif they could even be called that. Nagato swallowed hard. "These marks..." The streaks looked like scratches ¡ªbut it was unlikely a cat could have made marks that deep. But the problem was that they were too small to belong to an Orkoraptor and too large to be from the smaller ones they¡¯d seen in the habitat. "Let¡¯s hurry," Luca murmured, trying to remember if there had been any mention of this on the website¡¯s pages. But no. He was almost certain there wasn¡¯t. Another door was at the end of the hallway, marked like the walls. Luca stretched out his hand and turned the knob after a moment of silence, revealing a glimpse of what looked like a larger room than they¡¯d seen so far. Seeing no danger, he opened the door just enough to enter. The space was indeed twice the size of the laboratories, with counters and machinery distributed against the walls and along the length. "How long has it been since anyone¡¯s been here?" Nagato murmured, running a hand over a nearby counter and making a face at the dust. "Decades?" Luca didn''t believe it but didn''t say anything, glancing at the corners. "There are no more doors; it has to be here," he said, more to himself than to his coworker. Besides the small fragment of ''always choose the doors at the right,'' he was sure the lever was at the end of the ¡®path.¡¯ A sound of abrupt surprise drew Luca¡¯s attention. "What the hell?" Nagato hissed, his voice barely a whisper. His eyes were wide, the flashlight trembling in his hand as he swept the room before stopping again on the creature suspended in a large glass tank at the end of the room. Luca¡¯s gaze followed the light instinctively, and his body froze at the sight. The creature inside was a grotesque fusion of human and¡ªand dinosaur, floating in a fetal position within the murky liquid. Its long reptilian tail curled around its body, and its clawed hands¡ªsharp and deadly¡ªrested against its chest. Patches of dark scales spread across its body, mixed with human skin. He couldn¡¯t stop staring at it, feeling a mix of revulsion and fascination at the same time. It looked like a twisted parody of Mewtwo. Something out of a nightmare¡ªor the dream of a deranged person with a lot, a lot of cash. More importantly... The claws, Luca swallowed hard, don¡¯t tell me... The thought sent a shiver down his spine. "...You didn¡¯t know about this either," Nagato said, not as a question, and he sounded slightly more exhausted than annoyed. "No," Luca said, completely serious this time, grimacing. He felt a little offended, to be honest. It was clear from the start that he didn¡¯t know everything about the mystery, just what was necessary. Or what he¡¯d had access to on the pages. He hadn¡¯t read anything about this anywhere¡ªwhich was a bit confusing. Morrigan had come this far. How had she not mentioned anything about the hybrid in the tank? He examined it more closely, noticing a label at the bottom¡ªit read R-sapiens 02. And there were other, more interesting details. "...The park ¡ªthey didn¡¯t make it, then¡­?" Luca wondered, his voice low. There was a symbol engraved on the base of the tank, different from the ones they¡¯d seen in the laboratories that bore the park¡¯s logo but in different colors. His mind began working on conjectures. So they were studying this? Trying to create their own hybrids? The implications were horrifying. Even more so the idea that¡ªwhat if they¡¯d succeeded? (Where was 01?) ¡­ It seemed the depth of the Mystery was deeper than he¡¯d been given credit for. Nagato¡¯s face was pale. "I don¡¯t care which mad scientist made this," he hissed, his voice tense with panic. "I want to get out of here." "Let¡¯s split up to search," Luca suggested, and he turned to do just that. Nagato didn¡¯t ask questions, taking the other half of the room. For a moment, all that was heard was the echo of their footsteps, the room thick with tension. ¡®I want to leave¡¯ seemed to be glowing in neon in the air. "Here!" Nagato¡¯s voice rose slightly in excitement, and he immediately covered his mouth, his face paling as he looked around nervously. Nothing happened, but he hurried to pull the lever, causing a mechanical sound that resonated in the room.
[Mission ''Leave the Park'' Updated: 1/3.]
"There really is a mission," Nagato murmured with some surprise. Luca turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Didn''t you believe before? No, forget it, did it appear to you...?" "Yeah, just after I pulled it." Nagato swallowed. "Now for the other two, right?" "To the arsenal," Luca corrected, deciding not to say more on the matter. His eyes turned for a moment to the tank and then to Nagato. "Let¡¯s go." The sooner they got out of there, the sooner he¡¯d be free of the sensation scratching at the edges of his mind. It wasn¡¯t a good sign at all, considering he¡¯d stood in front of a T. Rex and hadn¡¯t felt like this. They quickly exited into the hallway, closing the metal door with a click. But they hadn¡¯t gone far when the sound of glass breaking, followed by a heavy thud, echoed from inside. The noise made both of them freeze for a moment before reacting, running down the hallway until they reached the last door. The horrible, terrible screech of nails scratching metal reached their ears before they closed the second door. Luca swore he could hear his own heartbeat as they stepped into the hallway. Fuck. What were they supposed to do with this? Run for the hills, surely. Chapter 24 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (11) "Arsenal," Luca murmured, giving Nagato a look before scanning the rest of the hallway. All the rooms were exactly the same, with doors on the ''left'' side of the hallway, but one of them had something different. Moving to take a quick look, he gestured toward the middle door; the noise from the other side of the metal door diminished as they moved away. It shouldn¡¯t be used to moving yet, Luca thought, wanting to hold onto some hope. We still have a chance. A guttural screech, not made by a human throat but also not by any of the dinosaurs he¡¯d already heard, echoed through the air, sending a shiver down his spine. Luca grimaced as they slipped into the room, closing the door softly. He only heard a distant echo now; apparently, the walls here had soundproofing. It wasn¡¯t the best, but it meant the creature wouldn¡¯t hear them very well either¡ªor so he wanted to think. At the end of the room, practically empty, they found a wooden door leading to a utility room with three doors, one on each wall. Identical. This time, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure which one to take. "Mark that one, please," he whispered to his companion, pointing to the one they¡¯d just come through. It was for a simple reason¡ªthe entire layout there made it almost impossible to tell which door led back to where they¡¯d come from. It was a deliberately confusing design. While Nagato scribbled on the wood, Luca approached the door on the right and peeked inside. It was another similar room¡ªvery similar¡ªbut less empty than the one they¡¯d passed through, with a glass door at the end. He closed it and went to the next one, finding something similar. Nagato approached the last one and gestured to him, moving his flashlight up and down. It was what they were looking for¡ªthe armory, with metal shelves covered by glass. The joy vanished instantly. Only two lonely revolvers remained in different spots, with a box of ammunition forgotten near one of them. "Is this all...?" Nagato frowned. "Seems like it," Luca murmured, stepping closer to the first shelf to grab the ammunition box and then the revolver. It was lighter than it looked, and when he opened it, he noticed the chamber was empty. There was only room for six bullets, which wasn¡¯t much either. The box had exactly that amount. As he loaded the revolver, Nagato approached, the beam of his flashlight nearly blinding Luca. "Here¡¯s the other one," Nagato said, his voice low but lacking enthusiasm. "But it only has three bullets." Luca looked up, his expression calm but focused. "How¡¯s your aim?" "Did two years of shooting," Nagato replied, with some pride. "Then we¡¯ll swap," Luca said, extending the revolver he¡¯d just loaded. "This one has six." Nagato hesitated for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if trying to decipher Luca¡¯s intentions. "That¡¯s oddly generous of you." Luca exhaled softly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I¡¯ve got twelve years of shooting practice. I can do more with three bullets than you could with twelve." Nagato¡¯s eyes widened, a flicker of surprise breaking through his grim expression. "How old are you again?" he asked, taking the revolver and handing his over to Luca, giving him a look that said he wasn¡¯t entirely sure Luca was telling the truth. This guy, Luca thought, suppressing a sigh and a smile. Not only was he a chatterbox, but he was also distrustful. Feeling somewhat confident now that they could defend themselves¡ªNagato especially¡ªthey left the armory and stepped back into the room, taking the marked door (why was there a doodle of a cat? Everyone knew dogs were better) and cautiously returning to the empty room. They even kept the flashlight pointed downward. They didn¡¯t hear anything, so they approached the exit, and Luca pushed the door slightly. As he did, a guttural, alien noise reached their ears, a sound that was almost human but twisted, forced, as if whatever was making it was struggling to mimic something it didn¡¯t understand. It was horrible. Luca wanted to rip his ears off. But more importantly, it was coming from one of the rooms further ahead. Peering into the darkness, he spotted shards of glass a few meters away and knew that if they didn¡¯t move, they¡¯d be next. He gestured to Nagato, and the guy slipped out, quickly heading to the other side of the hallway. Luca closed the door softly and followed, hearing footsteps accompanied by the drag of a tail against the floor. Judging by the noise, its steps were uneven, unstable, backing up Luca¡¯s theory that it was still learning to use its body. Nagato reached the hallway exit before Luca, who was forced to abandon all caution when he heard the crunch of glass underfoot and the guttural sound of the creature. He twisted his body as he ran, pressing the band on his arm, and reached the open door, slipping through before closing it as quickly as possible.
New Mission Unlocked:
Hidden Pieces (0/3)
Target ''R-Sapiens'' Captured.
Mission ''Hidden Pieces'' Updated: 1/3
A mission he¡¯d never read about. Joy. The creature slammed into the metal door, and the screech of its claws against the surface made Luca shudder as he backed away, noticing that Nagato was already halfway across the walkway. However, his eyes caught something below among the leaves¡ªan animal looking up, tracking the guy¡¯s movements. Nagato hadn¡¯t reached the end when something leaped toward one of the sides, crashing into the metal mesh. "Shit!" Nagato fired two shots at the animal¡ªbut they bounced harmlessly off its skin. Luca hurried over to stop him from wasting more ammunition and was attacked¡ªor rather, attempted to be attacked¡ªfrom the other side of the mesh. He pressed his band instantly, being rewarded with a second notification. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Target ''R-Nemea'' Captured.
Mission ''Hidden Pieces'' Updated: 2/3
What the hell, Luca thought as they both sprinted across the walkway, leaving behind the noises of the creatures as they reached the last metal door, not even bothering to close it carefully this time. The slam echoed in the air. And soon, the impact of the creatures against the glass followed, desperately trying to reach them. There were three or more. As they climbed the stairs, Luca heard the sound of metal breaking, but it all disappeared when they reached the top and closed the door. Literally. All noise was extinguished, leaving only the sound of their panting breaths. He could swear he could hear his own heart pounding in his chest, eager to leave that place. "What the hell was all that?" Nagato, pale, questioned as they moved toward the office at the start. "Aren¡¯t the damn ones outside enough?" he hissed, his frown hiding the fear in his trembling grip on the flashlight. Luca sighed, regaining control of his breathing. "We need to leave." They didn¡¯t know if any of the creatures would manage to climb up and escape, but he didn¡¯t want to be there to find out. "The sooner we finish, the sooner we can go." "That damn manual didn¡¯t say anything about this¡ªit didn¡¯t say anything about the exhibits either¡ª" "The exhibits?" Luca asked to distract him, glancing around. They were already in the office, and it looked the same as they¡¯d left it. "The main mission," the other man grumbled reluctantly, "I had to take pictures of each of the seven giant raptors, but the only way was to participate in the damn exhibit," he shuddered, rubbing his arms without letting go of the flashlight or the revolver. "Sounds terrible." He leaned against the wall, resting for a moment. "Did you manage to get them all?" "Of course. It was one by one, but I did it." Luca let out a murmur of congratulations, feeling tired. But it wasn¡¯t a good time for a nap. "You should go to the garden," he advised, his voice barely a whisper. "I¡¯ll go to the Administration Building." "...What¡¯s the difference?" "The building is like a maze, and there are probably more creatures like these. The garden¡ªI¡¯m sure the lever is at the fountain statue." Nagato didn¡¯t say anything for a moment. Luca rubbed his eyes before opening them. "Will the bullets work on the others¡ªthe normal ones?" Nagato asked, a slight tremor in his voice. "Yes," Luca held his own revolver, thoughtful. "But I doubt they¡¯ll do much against the bigger ones unless you aim for the brain." "When I¡¯m about to be eaten, you mean?" He smiled. "What other time than then?" Nagato snorted. "Shall we?" Luca pushed off the wall, turning toward the exit. "We can¡¯t stay here much longer." Not very happy but knowing it was true, Nagato followed him outside. Everything was dark and quiet, with only the distant echo of the storm. Luca took the lead, keeping his revolver ready, his eyes scanning the shadows as they moved cautiously along the wall toward the nearest exit. Just as they were about to leave the mezzanine, a series of high-pitched screeches echoed from the exhibit side. The sound was unmistakable: Orkoraptors. Apparently, they were about to confirm whether the bullets worked on these or not. He gestured to Nagato in the direction of the sound, pressing his back against the wall and moving even more cautiously. The sound of their footsteps was fainter than he¡¯d thought¡ªmaybe because he was barefoot. A second later, a figure larger than a human peeked around the corner of the wall, its vertical orange eyes glowing in the dim light. Nagato made a small choking sound. The Orkoraptor opened its mouth to let out a screech, but Luca was faster. He fired, the bullet piercing its skull. The creature collapsed to the ground without a sound. Nagato gasped, his eyes wide. "Holy shit, are you SWAT or something?" "No," Luca replied dryly, his brow furrowing. The Orkoraptor¡¯s body lay motionless on the ground, but the danger was far from over. He could already hear the faint screeches of others in the distance, their calls growing more insistent. If the group surrounded them, they¡¯d be more than dead. "We need to hurry." But Nagato hesitated, his expression conflicted. "What if¡ªwhat if we don¡¯t split up?" he proposed after a moment. His voice was reluctant, but when Luca turned to him, there was a flicker of desperation in his eyes. "I¡¯ll give you the gun back. There¡¯s no way I can make a shot like that." Luca felt a surge of irritation that he fiercely pushed down. They weren¡¯t empty words¡ªthe gun would be more useful in his hands. And if Nagato died along the way, Luca would have to handle the lever anyway¡ªand he¡¯d have his name on the long list of people who didn¡¯t survive. "Fine," he said after a brief pause. He extended his hand, and Nagato handed over the revolver without argument. "We¡¯ll go to the building together. If we run into the big ones, the T. Rex only sees movement, the Spino is slow, and¡ª" he pressed his lips together, thinking about the weaknesses of the others. They weren¡¯t exactly weaknesses. "Maybe you should roll in the mud," he murmured. Nagato¡¯s footsteps faltered. "...You¡¯re joking... right?" Luca didn¡¯t respond, making a sharp gesture with his head for him to follow, and continued moving toward the exit. He had six bullets in total, so there was only one for each Orkoraptor¡ªnot the best-case scenario, even with his aim. But it could save them. Besides, in the worst case, he still had his ace. Finally, they reached the exit and peeked outside. It was raining¡ªlight but persistent¡ªand Luca was sure there were fewer lights than he remembered. But the Administration Building was still visible since they just had to follow the asphalt path there. If he squinted, he could make out the doors. But they couldn¡¯t go straight through the open space. Luca pointed to the garden across the way¡ªone of the four with its own lake, and Nagato nodded. Both of them crossed the street quickly, enveloped in the murmur of the rain. He didn¡¯t lower his guard for a single moment. The stillness felt deceptive, like the calm before the storm. While they were still crossing, Luca¡¯s sharp eyes caught movement ahead¡ªa giant shadow moving near the side of the building. He reacted instantly, grabbing Nagato¡¯s arm and pulling him into the bushes. They crouched just as the ground began to tremble slightly, an unmistakable sign that what he¡¯d seen wasn¡¯t a trick of his mind. Seconds later, a long bellow echoed through the humid air. Fantastic. Something told him that even emptying both revolvers wouldn¡¯t be enough. The predator revealed itself moments later, its massive form gleaming under the faint lights. It was the Carnotaurus¡ªGladiator. Its scales shimmered in the rain, and its bull-like horns gave it an almost mythical appearance. But there was nothing mythical about the danger it posed. No, Luca thought, six bullets aren¡¯t enough. Chapter 25 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (12) The good news was that the Carnotaurus hadn¡¯t detected them¡ªand the chances of it doing so unless they acted stupidly or impulsively outweighed the possibility that it would. The bad news was that the predator was too close to where they needed to enter, like some unpaid guard. Luca¡¯s eyes sharpened as a plan formed in his mind. Rory was known for its aggressive nature. If it saw them, it would attack without hesitation. Unless, of course, there was something bigger to distract it. A shame it seemed the coast was clear¡ªincluding the entrance to the habitat on the other side of the predator. They needed to circle the building¡ªand the predator lurking on that side. Maybe, with a bit of luck, they could¡ªah, why not¡­? Yes, that could work. Luca gestured with his head for Nagato to start moving, using the cover of the trees. It wasn¡¯t exactly fun crawling through the bushes, but at least the mud would mask both their scents¡ªespecially Nagato¡¯s. Poor guy, thinking hiding his smell was a joke. They moved carefully, their movements slow and deliberate, hidden under the persistent rhythm of the rain and the occasional thunder. When they reached the last bush, Luca paused, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. The Carnotaurus was no longer in sight, but that didn¡¯t mean they were safe. He looked toward the front of the Administration Building, where the outline of the enclosure loomed in the darkness, and then at the building itself, particularly the windows. They didn¡¯t have bars¡ªand one of them was open. He turned back to Nagato. "We need to get to the building. There¡¯s a window we can use." The other guy¡¯s expression was a flawless presentation of the phrase ¡®a picture is worth a thousand words.¡¯ "How do we get out if that thing comes here¡­?" He frowned then. "What if it tries to attack the building?" Luca shook his head. "Don¡¯t worry about that. Let¡¯s go." He stood up, peeking through the bushes, and took one last look at the enclosure before crossing the street. He felt slower than he would have liked and wasn¡¯t sure whether to blame it entirely on the rain¡ªand being soaked to the bone¡ªbut he finally managed to reach the window. Nagato followed closely behind. Shining his flashlight inside, Nagato revealed an empty office, left in disarray. "Get in," Luca murmured, knowing the other man didn¡¯t have any buff to hide his presence. It felt like standing next to a neon sign. Nagato grimaced but leaned on the window and climbed inside. The moment he crossed, the window slid shut and locked with a soft click, leaving Luca on the other side with a frozen expression. Nagato turned and tried to open it from the inside, but it was impossible. Luca gestured toward where the main entrance was and mouthed, "Main entrance." ''Good luck,'' the other man mouthed back with a grimace, holding the flashlight with a trembling hand. The sound of the Carnotaurus made Luca press himself against the wall and move cautiously toward the "front" of the building, feeling like he was playing a dangerous game. He rounded the end of the building, still with his back against the wall, looking toward the enclosure¡ªthe open entrance looked like a wolf¡¯s den¡ªand continued walking, searching for an open window¡ªno luck¡ªor another entrance. He found a door, but any sense of relief vanished when he noticed it was locked. Letting go of the knob, he listened carefully to the noises and decided to try his luck with the main entrance as he¡¯d told Nagato, reaching the end of the building. According to what he heard, the Carnotaurus was now on the other corner of the building, and when he peeked, he noticed a faint shadow of the animal around the corner from where he was trying to go. Fortunately, the building was large enough that it couldn¡¯t see from above¡ªnot even the Giganotosaurus or the T. Rex could. Luca breathed carefully and began to move forward, making sure to be as quiet as possible. The drops blurred his vision a bit, so he had to rub his eyes, but he still didn¡¯t stop, wanting to get there as soon as he could, before¡ª A massive head appeared less than ten meters away, first the snout, then the teeth, and then a reptilian eye¡ª Luca pressed himself against the door, flattening himself, only his hand moving gently to open the door. He was fully aware that the predator could notice his presence at any moment, but he trusted his advantage and moved his hand cautiously, slow, slow, to grab the knob. He could hear the Carnotaurus sniffing the wet air. Its footsteps. 0/0, not recommended. A blinding flash of light behind him made him take the risk, and he timed the thunderclap to hide the sound of the door opening. He slipped inside in one fluid motion, almost throwing himself in, and closed the door behind him. The noise was worse than he wanted, but he didn¡¯t care. He was inside. He was inside. And alone? Luca glanced at the reception area¡ªthere were three doors he could take. Nagato should be in the one on the left, right? He approached it, grimacing as he heard the predator¡¯s movement outside. The Carnotaurus was at the same spot where he¡¯d been a moment ago. But fortunately, they seemed to have been "trained" not to break buildings. It feels like a game, Luca thought, with monsters lurking and safe zones. Shawn had liked these kinds of games, he remembered. And so had he¡ªthough he hadn¡¯t had much time in years to dedicate to it. Maybe when he got out of this mission¡­ Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. But first things first. There was no one in the hallway on the other side¡ªeverything was quiet and dark. Luca closed the door gently. The sound of familiar footsteps reached his ears then. Another door opened, revealing Nagato. His black hair was a mess¡ªas if it had been crushed by the rain and then shaken by a hand¡ªand he had more mud on him than Luca himself, which was really a surprise. The flashlight¡¯s light almost blinded him, but Luca put a finger to his lips with his eyes closed, pointing toward the outside. When he opened them, he was met with Nagato¡¯s unimpressed gaze. "Let¡¯s go," Luca said, blinking, and gestured with his hand toward the door on the other side of the room, "the other lever should be there." For a moment, it seemed like Nagato was going to say something, but he held back and nodded, still with the expression of someone who had eaten sour yogurt for the first time. Nagato¡¯s shoulders grew tenser and tenser as they approached the door¡ªperhaps not because of the idea that there was something similar to the creatures they¡¯d encountered before, but because of the noise coming from outside. The walls didn¡¯t seem that thick, or at least they didn¡¯t have good soundproofing. It felt like they were walking alongside the predator, to be honest. "We shouldn¡¯t take long here," Luca murmured, distractedly, opening the door (he¡¯d been doing that a lot lately, hadn¡¯t he? At this rate, it seemed like he was being paid as a Door Opener) and peeking inside. Nagato just snorted. "All clear." The break room seemed to have been abandoned without a second thought. Luca turned his gaze to his companion when he heard the sound of plastic. His eyebrow rose as he saw him open a pack of cookies he¡¯d taken from the counter and waited for him to take a bite before saying, "You know everything here is dead, right? Not just the people." To be honest, he was impressed the other man could eat in this situation. Nagato paused for a moment before swallowing. "You¡¯re making shit up," he said finally, frowning. "Are you going to tell me everything here is made of¡ªdinosaur bone dust or something?" Luca shrugged. Both of them continued their way¡ªfrom that room, they found a hallway full of doors leading to other offices and a staircase at the end, which they took to go three floors down. "When did you memorize the map?" Nagato asked in a whisper as they stepped into another hallway, this one with only a few doors scattered around. "Don¡¯t you need to¡­ look at it again or something?" Luca felt like it was about time he asked that. "I had some time after finishing the tour," he replied simply, and it wasn¡¯t exactly a lie. "This way," he murmured, and both of them took one of the doors to pass through a simple office connected to another hallway¡­ with more doors, all identical. "I hope we don¡¯t get lost¡­" "Did you lose the Sharpie?" Nagato didn¡¯t respond. They took one last door that led them to a narrow, dark hallway¡ªthis time, it didn¡¯t have any marks, nor were there any ominous metal doors waiting for them. This one was made of carved wood with a golden sign that read ¡®Dr. Johnson.¡¯ ¡ªbut this door led them to a special office. If it could even be called that when the first thing they saw upon entering was a paperweight in the shape of a deformed T. Rex. Its features seemed to have a demonic tint, with exaggerated ugliness. The rest of the decorations shared the same style¡ªnot even the carpet was spared, and Nagato stepped on the image of the creature almost without thinking. "What a monstrosity," Nagato muttered. "Whose place is this?" "The park owner¡¯s¡ªDoctor or Director H. Johnson." "Really? I wouldn¡¯t have guessed." Ignoring the sarcastic murmur, Luca looked at the painting on the other side of the desk. Although it occupied a "place of honor," it was especially horrible: it was a version of the park seen from above, with all the dinosaurs looking up with monstrous faces. Luca moved it aside, revealing a safe with a digital panel, and before Nagato could complain about the lack of a code, he crouched and opened the drawers, searching. "The code might be in the painting," Nagato suggested, and he grabbed the painting and laid it on the desk. Luca found the key in the third drawer. The lever was inside the safe¡ªand something else. Luca glanced at Nagato and noticed he was absorbed in the painting, so he stretched out both hands. With one, he grabbed the lever, and with the other, he took the syringe.
Mission ''Leave the Park'' Updated 2/3
Good! Relaxing his shoulders, he let out a sigh of relief as he turned around, sliding the syringe into his back pocket. Two out of three¡ªhe could already feel the freedom. And see the numbers in his account (at least for a couple of minutes before sending it to Victor, but that didn¡¯t count). "Hey," the other man said suddenly, his voice strangely restrained. "Did you see this¡­?" Nagato was staring at the painting with a blank expression, and when he noticed Luca was paying attention, he pointed at the Administration Building¡ªright where they were at that moment¡ªdirectly at the deformed face painted there. It was human and yet not. It was pale as a corpse, with small, pupil-less yellowish eyes, while the holes of its nose were too big for the size of its face. Its mouth, without lips, was stretched from one end to the other in a "smile" full of sharp teeth. The visible part of its neck was just rolls with a pattern of dark scales. So this is the third piece, Luca thought. "Let¡¯s get out of here," Nagato hissed, "before we run into 1rst Place for Most Hideous Freak Show." Who would argue with that? Chapter 26 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (13) The moment they left the office, the tension was so thick it could almost be cut with a spoon. Every step they took echoed in the silence¡ªa silence so heavy it felt suffocating. Or maybe it was the tension, which didn¡¯t lessen; on the contrary, it grew with every second that passed without anything happening. There were no strange noises, no suspicious machinery, not even the slightest hint of that "inner courtyard that served as a habitat" or the "tank with a floating creature." Nothing. Just the void of an unsettling silence. The hallway stretched before them like a dark mouth, swallowing the flashlight¡¯s light. "I don¡¯t like this," Nagato murmured, his voice a faint thread of sound in the darkness. His fingers gripped the flashlight so tightly his knuckles were white. Luca shared the sentiment. His eyes scanned their surroundings for something, anything that would indicate they weren¡¯t alone. But he found nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that explained the knot of unease tightening in his stomach. They knew something was there¡ªthe danger was in when it would appear. In how it would catch them. He much preferred it happening while he was alert and had the revolver in his hand (and the blue pill easily accessible). And then, just as they reached the hallway with the stairs they needed to take to return to the ground floor, they heard it. An echo. A vaguely familiar sound¡ªthe crunch of wood breaking into pieces. But it wasn¡¯t the same. Luca knew it instantly. Chainsaw Man had used a machine, and the resulting noise had been mechanical and shrill. This was¡ªas if¡ªas if whoever was doing it only needed one strike. Nagato froze in place, his body stiff as a statue, and the flashlight slipped from his hand, hitting the floor with a dull thud. Luca quickly crouched, picking it up and turning it off just as the noise became clear, too clear. Without hesitation, he grabbed Nagato¡¯s arm firmly, dragging him back, toward the corner, just a moment before one of the nearby doors was pulverized outward. The wood fragments flew like projectiles, crunching and splintering in all directions, reaching close to them. Both of them stood still, holding their breath, as a mass of muscle and scales emerged in the hallway¡ªbarely visible to Luca but easy for Nagato to imagine. The floor creaked under its feet, as if protesting under the creature¡¯s weight, and he could almost swear he saw cracks. Luca felt his pulse quicken, but he didn¡¯t hesitate, pressing the bracelet on his arm almost instinctively. He immediately received the expected messages.
Target ''R-Titan'' Captured.
Mission ''Hides Pieces'' Updated: 3/3
Mission ''Hidden Pieces'' Completed.
R-Titan. The name couldn¡¯t be more fitting. The figure looming before them was a humanoid silhouette that brushed the ceiling with its nose. Its bulging muscles rippled with every step, indicating that what it had in height, it also had in brute strength¡ªas if its actions weren¡¯t enough to showcase this. It was great the mission had already finished. He didnt'' know if his heart could take another new thing. Nagato was completely rigid in his grip, his breathing shallow. Luca didn¡¯t blame him, but he tried to keep him as quiet as possible. The last thing they wanted was to attract that thing¡¯s attention. The creature advanced, each of its steps resonating like thunder, until it hit the wall. Then, with an almost casual movement, it raised an arm¡ªa grotesque limb, a mix of scales and human skin¡ªand struck. The wall crumbled like paper, causing a rain of debris and dust. But this seemed to matter little to the creature¡ªit simply continued forward, stepping through the hole it had created. Luca gently pulled Nagato, dragging him forward, his mind focused on the sound of destruction echoing from where the hybrid had gone. For a brief moment, they passed by the hole, and he couldn¡¯t help but glance inside, but all he saw was a massive figure, slightly less dark than the darkness itself, moving further ahead. He didn¡¯t stop to scrutinize the details. They reached the door, and Nagato slipped, blindly, toward the stairs, his body trembling like a leaf in the wind. Luca closed the door with utmost care, hearing the soft ''click'' of the lock. Only then did he turn on the flashlight and hand it to Nagato, whose face was terribly pale, his temple glistening with a thin layer of cold sweat. Nagato took the flashlight as if it were a lifeline, his trembling fingers gripping it tightly. "Let¡¯s go," Luca whispered, his voice firm but low. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. They left the creature of darkness behind, the sound of destruction gradually fading as they moved away, replaced by an unsettling silence that seemed to envelop the hallway like a heavy blanket. Both of them moved in silence, their footsteps softly echoing on the cold floor, until they reached the reception area. The atmosphere was so still they could hear the echo of their own breathing. "Wait," Luca said, breaking the silence with a calm voice. He approached the counter and opened one of the fridges, pulling out two water bottles. He handed one to Nagato, who accepted it with trembling hands. Luca opened his and drank avidly, the cold liquid soothing his dry throat as if he hadn¡¯t had a drop of water in days. "...Wasn¡¯t it full of dead people?" Nagato finally asked, a touch of sarcasm in his muffled voice. Luca finished the last sip and admitted easily, "I was messing with you." "I knew it was bullshit," Nagato muttered, sending him a look. Luca flashed a fleeting smile, and for a moment, they stayed like that, in silence, drinking water. Then he turned serious. "We have to go back the way we came. Pass through the museum to reach the shops and cross to the front." He paused, considering the options. "It¡¯ll be better to go through the garden. More cover." Nagato shuddered, his gaze lost for a moment before nodding. "...I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this, but I prefer the bugs outside to the ones inside," he murmured, squeezing the water bottle so hard it seemed like it might break at any moment. "Damn, who the hell thought of...?" Luca didn¡¯t say anything. There were worse things than hybrids between dinosaurs and humans, but that was something Nagato would understand on his own in the future¡ªif he survived, of course. For now, his state didn¡¯t seem to be the best. But that was to be expected, he supposed. Not everyone was used to compartmentalizing trauma so quickly. "Here," Luca said, pulling out one of the two revolvers and handing it to Nagato. "It has two bullets, so use them well." "...Thanks," Nagato replied, his tone reluctant, but his hand firm as he accepted it. Now it was just a matter of getting out of there. "The windows are locked," Nagato confirmed after peeking into one of the offices facing the street. "But at least there¡¯s nothing." Luca nodded, having checked another office himself. "The door it is, then." Before opening it, Luca stopped and listened carefully to the noises outside, his body tense and alert. However, he heard nothing beyond the occasional thunder rumbling in the distance. Carefully, he turned the knob and cracked the door open, taking a quick look outside. Everything seemed still in all directions: the museum, the garden, the enclosures. Only the rain fell heavily, hitting the ground with a constant, heavy sound. "It¡¯s clear." The drops hit them hard as soon as they left the building¡¯s protection, soaking them again within seconds. But despite this, they didn¡¯t spare any effort to reach the garden, using the rain as an advantage to cover their movements. To be honest, soaked as he had been before, Luca felt like he couldn¡¯t be any wetter even if he took off all his clothes and jumped into one of the lakes. So he ignored his state more easily and focused on scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. Whatever Nagato said, there were still twelve predators roaming freely around the park. And although the place was big, it wasn¡¯t so big as to feel safe from running into any of them¡ªespecially when one of the enclosures was across the street. They reached the end of the building and from there crossed the asphalt road to reach the garden. They used the cover of the bushes and trees again, moving stealthily. For a moment, everything seemed to be going well. They managed to reach the lake without any issues, at least. Luca wiped his face with a soaked sleeve and frowned toward the enclosure he was sure belonged to the Yutyrannus. Nagato pushed him slightly from behind to keep moving, apparently being the one most eager to get this over with. Newbies. Patience was a virtue for very good reasons. A movement caught almost by accident made Luca stop the impatient younger man, his attention focusing on the enclosure across the lake. Fortunately, the bushes in front of them and the distance were enough to not worry about being easily spotted. But that didn¡¯t mean he felt like moving stupidly when a predator could see them. Nagato turned off his flashlight just a moment before the Yutyrannus emerged from the vegetation of its habitat. The predator crossed the huge gate, now an open passage, and peeked out into the street. The rain hit its feathers, sliding to the ground almost like streams, and its small eyes scanned its surroundings. But¡ªcuriously, the rain, perhaps, seemed to be too much for Long Ning, as it turned around and vanished back into its enclosure. One less to worry about, Luca thought, waiting a few seconds before nodding to Nagato to continue. They ran past the side of the lake facing the Yutyrannus¡ªLuca felt it was safer than going the other way toward the museum simply because they had just seen the enclosure¡¯s resident go back inside. The museum... well, any of the dinos could be there. Soon they reached the other side where there was more garden, and they slipped through as best they could until they reached the shop area. They were simple square spaces with glass walls¡ªsome transparent, others darker¡ªand only a few scattered lights around. But the lighting was more than enough for Luca to notice the presence of people inside, hiding. He could even see some expressions. They were scared. Men, women. Even children. Perhaps it was because they got close enough, or it could have been another reason, but a breeze brought the sound of crying, not completely buried by the rain. It was a sound capable of breaking anyone¡¯s heart with even a little bit of one. Luca turned to Nagato, serious, "We have to get out of here." A brief flash of relief crossed the other man¡¯s face, and he nodded. But before they could leave, the door of the nearest shop opened, and a familiar figure appeared in the doorway. Liona gestured for them to come inside. Her face, illuminated by the faint light of one of the few spotlights, was marked by concern, her dark eyes anxious. Luca shared a look with Nagato and, slipping the revolvers into his clothes, without wasting a second, they ran the few meters separating them from the shop. Chapter 27 - Did someone say dinosaurs? (14) Liona quickly closed the door behind them before turning to face them. ¡°I thought¡ªI thought you¡¯d be dead by now.¡± Her gaze settled on Luca, scrutinizing him as if she needed to confirm he was really there, before shifting to Nagato. ¡°The museum¡ªthe T. Rex is there now¡­¡± Luca grimaced inwardly. So, he¡¯d been right to avoid that area at all costs. ¡°Yeah,¡± Nagato replied with a wince, his voice tense. ¡°You¡ªare you still looking after them?¡± Liona sighed. ¡°We¡¯re taking shelter here for now,¡± she said, her gaze distant for a moment before she looked toward the other shops. ¡°Only a few of us managed to escape. The Orkoraptors¡ª¡± She suddenly fell silent, as if the words had caught in her throat. Then, changing the subject, she added, ¡°I¡¯m glad you made it,¡± she said to Luca, her voice trembling. ¡°I couldn¡¯t say anything to you earlier¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Luca smiled at her, a small but comforting gesture. ¡°I got lucky and finished before the power went out.¡± Liona nodded absently, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her soaked jacket. Outside, the rain seemed to ease again, only flashes of light crossing the sky and continuous rumbles of thunder. ¡°Are you planning to stay here¡­?¡± Luca asked, breaking the awkward silence, gesturing vaguely to their surroundings. ¡°I was thinking of heading up,¡± Liona admitted, pointing south with a sharp motion of her hand. ¡°To the base?¡± When she nodded, Luca shook his head gently. ¡°The gates are blocked. The people there locked me out after I finished the tour,¡± he explained, noticing how Liona¡¯s expression darkened. She pressed her lips together, a thin line of frustration and fear. ¡°You could come with us,¡± Luca suggested, lowering his voice even further. ¡°We have an active side mission to leave the park early.¡± Liona¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of hope lighting up her face. ¡°Really?¡± Her expression then calmed, though the tension didn¡¯t fully disappear. ¡°What do we need to do?¡± ¡°Pull three levers,¡± Luca replied, his tone serious. Liona scrutinized him, as if searching for a sign that this was a joke, a lie to calm her down. But there was no trace of humor in Luca¡¯s eyes, only determination. Nagato snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. ¡°It¡¯s true. We¡¯ve been working on the mission, and we only have one step left.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to leave¡­¡± Liona murmured, turning toward the shop across the way, her expression conflicted. Her eyes settled on the shadowy figures moving behind the glass. It wasn¡¯t a pretty sight. They were pale, with desperation etched into the lines of their faces, and it didn¡¯t help that they kept staring in this direction. ¡°You realize they¡¯re ghosts, right?¡± Luca asked softly, noticing how she shuddered at his words. ¡°Liona, the three of us are the only ones who can get out of here. The rest¡ªthe rest are trapped in this cycle. They¡¯re part of the Mystery.¡± This was a reality that many characters¡ªpeople, especially those like Liona, took a long time to understand. Many only realized it when it was too late. Liona clenched her hands, her knuckles whitening from the force. ¡°I¡ª¡± she began but was interrupted. Just then, a sharp screech pierced the air, tearing through the false calm like cotton. Something moved outside the shop, a shadow sliding just a few meters from the glass. Luca¡¯s hand slid toward his revolver, his sharp eyes taking in every possible detail. For a moment, nothing happened. He saw nothing. And then he locked eyes with a pair of yellow eyes on the other side of the glass¡ªmoving slowly, curiously toward them. An Orkoraptor. Tension flooded the space, stealing the air. The predator moved with an unsettling slowness, tilting its head from side to side. Sniffing. It approached the glass, as if studying what it was. Luca kept his hand near the revolver but didn¡¯t draw it yet. He remembered they hadn¡¯t seen Liona inside the shop, so technically, the dinosaur shouldn¡¯t be able to see them. He glanced at the other two¡ªNagato stood frozen, his breathing shallow, his hand tightly gripping his weapon, while Liona held her breath, her eyes locked on the predator on the other side of the glass, her hand slowly reaching for¡ªa knife? Returning his attention to the Orkoraptor, which didn¡¯t seem willing to leave. It took another step closer, dragging one of its claws across the glass, as if testing the barrier¡¯s strength. The screech made Luca fight the urge to cover his ears, his face wrinkling in discomfort. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Liona take a step back, seemingly unconsciously, while Nagato tensed even more, raising the arm holding his weapon. The Orkoraptor tilted its head, its dark feathers soaked by the rain, and let out a series of chirps that sounded nothing like any bird Luca knew. Not from here or from ¡®there.¡¯ Luca thought for a moment. If he moved to the door, if he dealt with the creature¡ªwould the Orkoraptors stay away? Would fear be enough to keep them at bay for the time they needed? But in the end, he couldn¡¯t act. With a sudden movement, the Orkoraptor turned its head to the side, as if it had heard something in the distance. A second later, the creature moved away, disappearing into the darkness with surprising speed. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. After a moment, Liona let out a sigh of relief, leaning against a nearby counter. ¡°God¡­ I thought¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re not safe yet,¡± Luca said. ¡°We need to move before it comes back or other predators show up. This place isn¡¯t safe,¡± he sighed. Nagato nodded, though his expression remained tense. He looked at Liona, pursing his lips. ¡°What will you do?¡± he asked, nodding toward the other shops. Luca looked at Liona, who seemed to be wrestling with herself. ¡°If you stay with them, you might survive until morning,¡± he said, surprising both of them. He gave her a small smile, ¡°or maybe not. Can you really take that risk?¡± He knew the answer to that. She closed her eyes for a moment, clenching her hands tightly. When she opened them again, her expression had changed. ¡°Where do we need to go?¡± Luca nodded, feeling a momentary relief. ¡°The last lever is over there.¡± He pointed toward the garden across the street. ¡°What about the Orkoraptors?¡± she bit her lip, gripping the knife. Nagato snorted, raising the weapon in front of the woman¡¯s surprised eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them. This guy¡ª¡± he pointed at Luca ¡°¡ªtook one down with a single shot. And my aim isn¡¯t bad either.¡± ¡°Guns?¡± Liona seemed thoughtful for a moment, her eyes scanning the revolver Nagato held and then Luca¡¯s. She sighed and nodded, as if accepting there was no other choice. ¡°Sure, why not? To the garden, then?¡± She grabbed a flashlight from the counter and tested it, the light shining briefly before she turned it off again. Luca made a sound of agreement, sliding toward the entrance. Peering more closely through the glass to the other side, he checked for any visible danger or suspicious noises before slightly opening the door. The smell of petrichor hit him with the breeze, and he couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath. ¡°Wait,¡± Liona murmured behind him, ¡°I think you¡¯ll need this more than me,¡± she said, trying to hand him the flashlight. Luca glanced over his shoulder. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go, it looks clear.¡± He gestured to his two companions before stepping out, slightly amused by Liona¡¯s expression. Nagato¡¯s muttered ¡°don¡¯t overthink it¡± almost made him smile. Raindrops hit him straight in the face, and he wiped them away with his sleeve without a second thought. He circled the shop to the east, his steps careful on the wet ground. He heard a noise behind him and turned to see Liona, who gave him an apologetic look for some reason before pointing at his feet. Ah. Right. He was still barefoot. He¡¯d gotten used to it¡ªand frankly, forgotten about it. Luca shrugged to signal it wasn¡¯t a problem and turned back to the path. They had to pass two more shops, which turned out to be harder than it seemed when the ghosts pressed their faces against the glass, staring at them with a deep sadness that seemed to pierce through, trying to cling to them. This didn¡¯t faze him, as he only glanced at them once, immediately noticing the blurriness at the edges of their silhouettes, as if they were already beginning to fade. Liona tried not to look at them, her eyes fixed elsewhere, but when she started to turn her head in their direction, she was gently nudged by Nagato, who was staring straight ahead. Good. He could leave it to them to keep each other in check. ¡°The museum,¡± Nagato whispered suddenly. Luca turned his gaze in that direction and frowned. Something large was looming near one of the entrances, a massive shadow that¡ªno, it wasn¡¯t still, but moving with an unsettling slowness. Hadn¡¯t Liona said the T. Rex was there¡­? ¡°Let¡¯s hurry,¡± he murmured in turn. Liona swallowed hard but bravely continued. They soon reached the end of the shopping area and slipped into the strip of garden surrounding the zone. There were only a handful of neatly trimmed rectangular bushes and tall, slender pines arranged in small groups of scattered rows¡ªbut it was enough for them to cross, sticking to the relative safety of the cover these ¡®decorations¡¯ provided. A deep, rough roar echoed from the north, a sound that had nothing to do with the weather. Luca stopped by a pine tree, squinting in the direction of the noise, his body tense. He could see the shadow moving around the museum. It was already outside. But it didn¡¯t seem to be coming this way. He nodded to his companions, and they continued until they reached the street. It was an open space, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that none of them really wanted to cross. But they had no choice. Luca checked that no dinosaurs were in plain sight, trusting that the T. Rex wouldn¡¯t return to its enclosure for now¡ªthe entrance was over fifty meters away anyway¡ªand that the Yutyrannus was still in its own enclosure. As for the others¡ªwell, he couldn¡¯t see them. They hurried across the street in a straight line toward the garden on the other side, the fountain clearly visible amid the arrangement of shrub fences and resting benches. It was impossible to avoid the puddles, but Luca tried¡ªand made a mental note to talk to his companions about the importance of not panicking. Not when they weren¡¯t even being chased (and yes, he hated the voice in his head that added ¡®yet¡¯). ¡°Is this the statue?¡± Liona observed the fountain with an unreadable expression, her eyes scrutinizing the grotesque figure rising from the center. Then, almost immediately, she began scanning their surroundings, positioning herself right in front of Luca, as if determined to protect him. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen anything,¡± Nagato muttered beside her, frowning. ¡°That lunatic¡¯s office is much worse.¡± After a moment of examining the statue, standing on the edge of the fountain and stretching toward it, Luca found the lever in the mouth of the monstrous parody of a human statue¡ªa grotesque version, not unlike the ¡®R-Titan¡¯ and bearing only vague similarities to the official image of the park¡¯s creator that Luca had seen hours earlier on the museum screen. ¡°Liona, come and pull it,¡± Luca murmured, pointing to where the lever was. ¡°It¡¯s the only way for you to get the mission.¡± The woman blinked, surprised, but took Luca¡¯s place, who ignored the look Nagato gave him. Brat.
Mission ¡®Leave the Park¡¯ Updated: 3/3
Mission ¡®Leave the Park¡¯ completed. [Timer: 09:59]
¡°What the heck!¡± Nagato hissed, frowning at the air. Luca grimaced. The exit was straight west ¡ªbetween the Spinosaurus and Raptor enclosures, past the shops, past the food court. It was a lot to cover in such little time. Liona quickly stepped away from the fountain, and the three shared a look. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Luca murmured, ¡°before it¡¯s too late.¡± Chapter 28 – Did someone say dinosaurs? (15) The seconds slipped through his fingers like raindrops sliding between his grasp. The three of them left the garden, crossing the street toward the shops. Luca immediately noticed the absence of faces in the windows¡ªand was grateful that Liona had agreed to leave them behind¡ªand more importantly, he caught a glimpse of something near the corner of the museum. He led his two companions to the other side of the shops, trying to keep this barrier between them and the T. Rex¡ªapparently resting in the rain¡ªwhile they practically sprinted toward the exit. It didn¡¯t help his nerves that he could hear the footsteps so clearly¡ªnot just his own, but the others¡¯, louder in their case. Not even the storm could save them, huh? Luca pushed that last thought aside and focused on reaching the end of the shops, alert to strange sounds and movements in the shadows. There was more light here¡ªa faint, pale glow from a few scattered lights¡ªbut both Liona and Nagato were using flashlights. Unlike him, they had to worry about tripping and falling due to poor visibility. The distant echo of a roar made the three of them pick up the pace even more¡ªbut it was the screech from across the lake, as they reached the garden, that made them break into a full sprint. They ran along the edge of the street, right past the Spinosaurus enclosure. But the Spinosaurus had to still be inside; it was too fond of its watery environment to come out. For now. More screeches were carried by a gust of damp wind, and a head peeked out from behind one of the pines up ahead¡ªsharp claws glinting faintly in the dim light. There was no time to think. Luca raised his arm, squinted, and fired. The bullet tore through the air and embedded itself in the right side of the Orkoraptor¡¯s skull, causing it to collapse without a sound. ¡°Stay close,¡± Luca said, frowning as he slowed down, scanning the area for more threats. ¡°Shit,¡± Nagato whispered, moving closer to Luca from the other side. ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me twice.¡± Whatever Liona muttered was lost in the rumble that came from the north¡ªa sound that didn¡¯t come from the sky but from something much more earthly, closer, and dangerous. No words were needed; there was only one option: run, and run fast. They soon reached the food court¡ªhalf-destroyed from the looks of it. Many of the food trucks were still stained red, as if even the heavy rain hadn¡¯t been enough to wash away the traces of the massacre. They didn¡¯t stop to look, though, trying to cross the area as quickly as possible. The Orkoraptor enclosure was up ahead, but they already knew its occupants weren¡¯t inside. From what Liona had mentioned, they were the main culprits behind what had happened in that area. Though, Luca couldn¡¯t help but notice the claw marks on one of the vehicles¡ªtoo large to belong to a regular Orkoraptor. ¡°Left, Luca!¡± Liona warned from behind. Luca turned in that direction and fired, hitting the chest of an Orkoraptor that died with a squawk. ¡°Good catch,¡± he said to the woman with a nod. ¡°There are four of them left, including Talia. Be careful.¡± Nagato raised both eyebrows before sighing. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m not even gonna ask.¡± ¡°We¡¯re close,¡± Liona murmured, her voice tense but determined. ¡°Come on, come on¡­¡± They left the food court and crossed the street, their boots splashing through the puddles covering the asphalt. Luca glanced over his shoulder and frowned. The silhouettes of more Orkoraptors were slipping between the food trucks like stealthy shadows. This wasn¡¯t over. But the exit wasn¡¯t far. Looking ahead, he saw the giant metal structure rising at the end of the path. ¡°Hey!¡± Nagato was already panting. ¡°I don¡¯t see¡ªI don¡¯t see it opening.¡± ¡°We have one more step,¡± Luca whispered before turning around immediately and firing his last two bullets. The good news was that both Orkoraptors dropped instantly, giving them a window of time. The bad news was that he could hear more screeches¡ªand beneath that, another rumble. ¡°Another step?¡± Liona asked, in better shape than the two of them, flanking him on one side with Nagato on the other. Luca nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not hard.¡± And they weren¡¯t running out of time¡ªwith three minutes left. They could open the gate in that time. ¡°Shit!¡± Nagato hissed, losing all color. ¡°Two bullets aren¡¯t enough to deal with that.¡± The T. Rex¡ªKaiser¡ªhad arrived at the food court, and its massive head was tilted in their direction. Considering the three of them were running, it was obvious it had seen them. But they weren¡¯t the only ones moving¡ªthe last Orkoraptors were in the same area, closer to the giant than they were. ¡°More levers?¡± Just as Nagato complained, there were three more of them at the base of the enormous gate. ¡°Give me the gun,¡± Luca said as soon as they arrived. ¡°I¡¯ll cover you while you pull the levers. You need two,¡± he added as an afterthought. Nagato handed over the gun with a slight grimace, but his eyes said he understood, and he set to work pushing the levers with Liona¡ªafter trying on his own with no success. Luca resisted the urge to say ¡°I told you so¡± and focused on guarding the scene, wincing as he saw the T. Rex was no longer occupied with the other dinosaurs but was¡­ heading straight for them. Judging by its pace, it would reach them before the other two could finish. There was no other choice. He pulled out the syringe he¡¯d found in the park owner¡¯s vault and injected it into his arm without hesitation. Liquid fire devoured his skin and spread through his veins, making him gasp. He dropped the revolver without realizing it, consumed by the wave of pain. Fuck. He had no idea it would hurt this much. The ground began to tremble¡ªand both Liona and Nagato froze as they saw the enormous figure approaching. ¡°Keep going¡ª¡± Luca muttered, gasping, as he clutched his arm. Out of the corner of his eye, a notification appeared.
Temporary Boost obtained: +2 to Strength and Agility.
Note: Possible side effects.
¡°I¡¯ll handle him,¡± he assured them, giving them a quick glance before picking up the gun and running toward the T. Rex. Not directly, but in a wide arc. ¡°Kaiser!¡± he shouted, and the giant¡¯s head turned toward him, its small eyes focusing on him. Luca smiled. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant smile, and for a moment, he was Mithras again. He could feel the strength under his skin, how easy it was to move twice as fast as before¡ªand the pain in his joints, as if they were being stretched beyond their limits. He grimaced, barely holding back a groan of pain, but didn¡¯t stop. He raised his hand, focused, and in a moment of relative calm, fired straight into one of the T. Rex¡¯s eyes¡ªone of the few vulnerable spots on the giant. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. It was a shame he couldn¡¯t shoot through its brain or chest directly. The roar that erupted from the animal¡¯s mouth was deafening, a bellow that resonated through the air like thunder. Luca felt the vibration in his temples, as if someone had struck a drum inside his head. But one shot wasn¡¯t enough to take down the king of kings. Though now blind in one eye, the T. Rex still had its keen sense of smell and hearing, and it didn¡¯t take long for it to charge at Luca with blind fury. Liona and Nagato shouted something, but their voices were lost in the chaos of rain and teeth. Luca dove to the side, dodging the sharp teeth that sought to tear him apart. He rolled on the ground, feeling the mud cling to him even more and the rain pounding his face, and quickly got back on his feet. Without hesitation, he aimed the revolver at the dinosaur¡¯s other eye and fired. A second roar erupted from the T. Rex¡¯s throat, now completely blind. Luca looked toward his companions, noticing they still had one lever left to open the gate. Time was running out, and the pain in his body grew with every passing second. He pulled the pill from his pocket, but a wave of nausea hit him so hard he gagged. It wasn¡¯t the best time; the noise he made was enough to give away his location to the furious, wounded predator. The T. Rex lunged at him, and Luca barely had time to throw himself forward, narrowly avoiding being devoured. He rolled across the ground, putting distance between himself and the giant, and took refuge among the few trees lining the path. A few meters away, the T. Rex rose like a fierce embodiment of nature, opening its jaws and releasing another earth-shaking roar. For a moment, it seemed unharmed, as if its blindness was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. But the blood streaming from its two eyes told a different story. If their lives weren¡¯t in danger, Luca might have felt genuinely sorry for the predator. A small voice inside him, sounding suspiciously like a younger, more compassionate version of Shawn, whispered that this was cruel. If the Mystery didn¡¯t operate on a cycle, it was almost certain the animal wouldn¡¯t survive. ¡°Kaiser!¡± Luca called, still standing by one of the trees. The dinosaur turned its head toward the sound of his voice but didn¡¯t move, its jaws still open threateningly. ¡°Kaiser!¡± Beyond, near the gate, Liona raised her hands and waved them, while Nagato watched with a mix of terror and fascination. The gate had begun to glow, a faint but noticeable light indicating it had worked. Nodding toward them, Luca rolled around the tree and lunged forward, feeling a new wave of nausea that he did his best to ignore. He knew he had to reach the gate at all costs. The number in the corner of his eye was dropping dangerously. Time was running out. His body burst into flames just as he was within arm¡¯s reach of Liona and Nagato. Luca stumbled dangerously to one side, but before he could fall, someone grabbed his arm and dragged him. He didn¡¯t see who it was, only aware of the searing heat under his skin and the liquid dripping from his nose¡ªwas it rain or blood? The last thing he heard was the horrific roar of Kaiser, a sound filled with rage and pain. Sorry, buddy, he thought, and let himself be dragged into the darkness. He was enveloped in whiteness when he regained consciousness. A notification glowed before his eyes.
Congratulations, Mithras.
You¡¯ve fulfilled the E+¨Crank Main Mission ¡®Pictures¡¯ inside the 1¨Cstar world ¡®Primal Dream.¡¯
PERFORMANCE: Excellent MULTIPLIER: 5
REWARD: 9 Points. TOTAL: 45 Points.
[You¡¯ve fulfilled the E+¨Crank Secondary Mission ¡®Survive the Tour¡¯ inside the 1¨Cstar world ¡®Primal Dream.¡¯
PERFORMANCE: Excellent MULTIPLIER: 5
REWARD: 9 Points. TOTAL: 45 Points.
You¡¯ve fulfilled the E¨Crank Secondary Mission ¡®Hidden Pieces¡¯ inside the 1¨Cstar world ¡®Primal Dream.
PERFORMANCE: Good MULTIPLIER: 3
REWARD: 7 Points. TOTAL: 21 Points.
You¡¯ve fulfilled the F¨Crank Secondary Mission ¡®Leave the Park¡¯ inside the 1¨Cstar world ¡®Primal Dream.¡¯
PERFORMANCE: Good MULTIPLIER: 3
REWARD: 5 Points. TOTAL: 15 Points.
TOTAL POINTS: 132
TOTAL EXPERIENCE: 1500
ACHIEVEMENT(S): PRIMAL WHISPERER, ADRENALINE ADDICT
You¡¯ve reached Level 1. You now have 1 Stat Point to distribute.
You¡¯ve unlocked: Inventory
You¡¯ve obtained an [Item]. You will be able to access it from your Inventory.
MYSTERY LEVEL 1.1
The feeling of a smile ¡ªa bloom of color among the white¡ª spread across his consciousness. 132 points. That¡ªthat was what he was talking about! This was a tenth of what he owed Victor¡ªa tenth! And only his first official mission, in a 1-star world. Sooner ¡ªway sooner¡ª than later he could pay off the entire debt and make sure his brother kept recovering safely, out of the life Luca had made on the last years. On the other hand, his growth wasn¡¯t bad at all. Level 1 already. Yes, everything was fine¡­ Everything would be fine. Slowly, the world blurred, and Luca felt himself being pulled back into the darkness. Chapter 29 – Waking up from Primal Dream The capsule hissed as it opened, releasing a cloud of cold that quickly dissipated in the dim light of the room. Luca blinked. His vision adjusted to thecold glow of the lights above him. He sat up slowly, propping himself on his elbows, and looked around. The other capsules where Liona and Nagato had been were still closed. Beyond them, near the entrance, stood a person watching him. Luca nodded in their direction, leaning on the edge of the capsule to pull himself out. It took him a moment to realize he was wearing the same clothes he¡¯d entered in¡ªand that he had shoes on. However, the soles of his feet were sore. His stomach didn¡¯t feel great either. All he wanted at that moment was to faceplant into a bed and sleep for three days. At least he wasn¡¯t coughing up blood. Small mercies. When he finally managed to stand¡ªhis legs only trembling slightly¡ªhe turned toward the ¡®stranger¡¯ there. Dressed like a professional, in a fitted blue jacket and pants, with a relaxed yet attentive posture¡ªhis most unusual feature was his heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one brown. It was because of this that Luca instantly knew who he was. Nors¡ªa Specialist from Delta Group, soon to be a member of Beta 1. At least for a while. "Welcome, rookie. You woke up early," Nors said, a hint of interest mixed into his velvety voice. "The mission wasn¡¯t supposed to be over yet. It was quite a surprise when Control received the alert." "It was a surprise," Luca lied without hesitation. "But we managed to find the exit by working together," he turned toward the other capsules. "Do you know when they¡¯ll wake up?" "That depends on each one. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll see them later. For now, you¡¯d better report to your supervisor." "Understood," Luca turned and headed for the door, but before he could leave, he heard: "I forgot to ask¡ªwhat¡¯s your designation, rookie?" "Mithras. May I know yours?" "Nors. The elevator is at the end of the hall, go straight and don¡¯t look back. We¡¯ll be in touch¡­ Mithras." The ghostly hiss of a snake intertwined with the last word¡ªand if it had been anyone else, Luca might have thought it was a hallucination. "Thank you," he replied, and stepped through the door, closing it softly behind him. The hallway was empty, illuminated by a cold, artificial light that stretched all the way to the elevator. As he walked, he thought he heard a faint whisper coming from behind him. But he kept going, ignoring it, just as Nors had instructed. "Mithras..." Someone called him just as he reached the end of the hallway with an odd intensity. The voice was familiar¡ªthe same one he¡¯d been hearing in those final moments. The elevator doors opened as he thought about the points he¡¯d earned and how he could send Victor the money soon. When he stepped inside, he said: "To floor 0, please." The doors closed silently behind him, but not before letting through one last attempt¡ª "Mithras..." It was Victor¡¯s voice this time. Luca sighed, leaning against one of the walls, closing his eyes for a moment. The mission had been more than he¡¯d initially imagined. But it hadn¡¯t gone too badly. His plans had worked out fairly well, after all. He¡¯d gotten out early, and the reward was more than three times what he¡¯d earned during the Introduction. His debt would shrink. He¡¯d even managed to change the ¡®story¡¯¡ªpreventing Liona from spending the whole night there, saving her from the trauma of being betrayed by the ghosts and nearly devoured by Talia and her pack, and from becoming an unwilling witness to the death match between Kaiser and Rory. Though the latter might not have been so bad. Then there was Nagato¡ªTim. He still didn¡¯t know what to think of his other companion¡ªbut he seemed better than Luca had initially thought. A liar was better than a backstabbing bastard, in most cases, but he¡¯d hold off on judgment for now. His thoughts drifted to the conversation awaiting him, and his mouth curved into a slight smile. Sooner than expected, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened with another soft chime, accompanied by the AI¡¯s voice. Luca muttered a ¡®thank you¡¯ under his breath as he stepped out, making his way to Michael¡¯s office. Minutes later, he was inside, waiting for his ¡®supervisor¡¯ to finish his current task. It gave him more time to observe the details of the office¡ªlike the single photograph of Michael, a younger version of him standing proudly in front of a military helicopter, and a small wooden figurine of a three-headed dog sitting on the desk, used as a paperweight. At least his tastes are better than the old lunatic from the park, Luca thought, turning his gaze back to the man in question. Michael seemed absorbed in his screen, even with the glasses covering his eyes. They didn¡¯t even reflect what he was looking at or the light from the ceiling. A new specialized pair or something? Finally, Michael seemed to grow bored of making him wait or tired of his stare and leaned back in his chair, tilting his chin up to look at him. The man was certainly intimidating. "The report from Control seems quite interesting," he began. "It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve had an early ending that didn¡¯t mean everyone died. Why don¡¯t you tell me what happened from your side?" Luca nodded and began explaining, trying to keep it as concise as possible, only mentioning the most important details¡ªhis initial encounter with the NPC, his trip to the museum, the base, the tour, the reward for his good score. His visit to the museum, his meeting with Nagato, the discovery of the lab in the ¡®basement.¡¯ The creature¡ªthe first of its kind¡ªthe escape, the second creature. The administration building. The final creature. Liona. The garden and the last lever. The end¡ªhow it took two people to unlock the exit gate. Michael didn¡¯t interrupt him at any point, his expression serious and attentive¡ªat least, what was visible of it. When Luca finished, his throat felt dry¡ªbut he felt he¡¯d given a good explanation. And most importantly¡ª If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "The manual wasn¡¯t much help," he said bluntly. "Can I ask if it was on purpose? Some kind of trial by fire?" Luca inquired, making sure to sound calm but firm. It was already a lot that he didn¡¯t curse the idiot who made that ¡®manual¡¯. What a joke. Michael¡¯s mouth twitched. "Is that what it seems like?" He pushed his glasses up slightly. "Don¡¯t overthink it. In the end, it¡¯s good news for you¡ªdiscovering two hidden missions will force them to update the manual. I¡¯m sure Control will love the number of points they¡¯ll have to give you for all the new information, including what someone conveniently left out." On one hand, more points weren¡¯t a bad thing at all. On the other hand¡ª "The people in charge of these manuals¡ªwho are they? Is it a specific position? Lacerta mentioned something about Scouts during orientation¡­" "It¡¯s part of the Registrars¡¯ responsibilities ¨Cisn¡¯t a field job. In theory, each team has a group assigned to them¡ª" Michael sighed, tired. "I¡¯m not going to sugarcoat it. Delta only has three of them, even though we have ten times more Mysteries than the others. It¡¯s because, being ¡®low-priority¡¯ worlds, the information we gather isn¡¯t a priority. Until researchers need ¡®basic¡¯ material¡ªand in large quantities." It sounded all too familiar to Luca. How many times had he had to run a marathon to fix ¡®urgent¡¯ issues for things that supposedly hadn¡¯t mattered until ten minutes before? Too many. Apparently, not even the leading company in this world was immune to human inefficiency. Michael clasped his hands on the desk, resting his chin on them. "It¡¯s hard to believe. You three are the first case since we discovered Primal Dream where the incursion ended without incidents. Not only that. The additional information is valuable. An exit that doesn¡¯t require the safety mechanism and the hybrid creatures¡­" his tone turned thoughtful at the end. No one said anything for a moment. Luca struggled to keep his eyes open, feeling like he could fall asleep there at any moment. "You must be exhausted," Michael suddenly remarked. "Why don¡¯t you go and rest? We¡¯ll talk about your next assignment after your three days off." "Understood." "Your reward will be ready by the end of the week." Luca nodded, grateful, and after saying his goodbyes, he headed for the door. An idea crossed his mind at that moment, and he turned back to the other man, "When the mission ended, a message appeared saying I¡¯d get a bonus, but the next part was crossed out. Can you tell me at what level I¡¯ll have access to this benefit?" "You must be talking about¡ª" he paused and then smiled. "You¡¯ll have to wait until at least level 3. Congratulations on reaching level 1. You¡¯ve got a long road ahead, rookie, but you¡¯re off to a good start." "Thank you, Michael." The walk to his apartment was a blur¡ªbut when he arrived, Luca found his bed neatly made, a bottle of apple water, and a chocolate bar on his nightstand. He managed to shower without any issues, using a good portion of his hot water supply, and it was on autopilot that he munched the bar and drank the water as an improvised dinenr before fulfilling his desire to collapse onto the clean sheets. The rain followed him into his dreams.
A knock echoed through the office, interrupting the silence Michael had been enjoying until that moment. He looked up just as the door swung open, revealing Minerva on the threshold. Her expression was a mix of excitement and urgency, as if she¡¯d just discovered a secret she couldn¡¯t wait to share. Michael knew immediately what this was about and began regretting staying there after working hours. "Michael, is it true¡­?" Minerva began, striding toward his desk with quick steps. "Tell me it¡¯s true¡ª" "It¡¯s true," he replied flatly, his voice as emotionless as his expression. Minerva needed no more. She closed the door behind her with a sharp motion and headed straight for the chair in front of his desk. She dropped into it with a mix of grace and carelessness, looking at him with the intensity of a four-year-old waiting for their Christmas gift. Her aura burned a bright red. Michael sighed, feeling a headache beginning to form in his temples. "None of that sighing, spit out the details," Minerva said, making a hand gesture to hurry him up. "I¡¯m going to assume you¡¯re referring to the latest mission completed by the rookie trio," Michael began, speaking with deliberate slowness, as if each word were an effort. "By our rookie," Minerva interrupted impatiently. Michael continued, ignoring her, "I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve heard, but yes, our rookie discovered two hidden missions¡ªincluding an alternate exit and new specimens¡ª" "That idiot Kartos is foaming at the mouth, maybe now he¡¯ll actually start working¡ª" Michael cleared his throat, cutting her off sharply. "Go on, go on¡ª" Minerva insisted, ignoring his tacit warning. "As I was saying," Michael continued, "he discovered two hidden missions. The total points exceeded 100, which means we¡¯re now in¡ªsecond place, just behind N-Delta." "I knew it," she whispered, a victorious smile on her face. "It was worth talking to that bitch." Michael barely avoided rolling his eyes. "What else?" It was safest to give her something, or she¡¯d keep pestering him. "He reached level 1. His Growth will likely be interesting, considering he¡¯s already acquired Night Vision." Minerva leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with interest. "When? This is his first mission, right?" "During the Interview. Along with ¡®Stealthy¡¯." Minerva rubbed her hands together with a smile she couldn¡¯t hide, and Michael swore he could see dollar signs reflecting in her eyes. "This sounds very promising. Very promising." "Don¡¯t get too excited," he warned, resting his face on the desk and closing his eyes, as if trying to block out Minerva¡¯s overwhelming energy. "Team White is having trouble with their latest project, and someone suggested the mine mission." Minerva frowned, her enthusiasm waning slightly. "But that doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll send them. L-Delta has more than four rookies, and N has three. We¡¯re the only team with just one left." "And?" Michael retorted, lifting his head to look at her with a tired expression. "You¡¯re talking about the one who discovered those missions. They¡¯ll drag him in for sure." Minerva sighed, leaning back in her chair and staring at the ceiling with a mix of frustration and resignation. "Damn Krino." "Don¡¯t insult our Manager," he murmured, without much enthusiasm. "Not during work hours." She snorted. ¡°Our shift is already over.¡± ¡°Then felt free to say everything you want.¡± ¡°We should give him access to the Junky Box.¡± ¡°Don''t take my words so literally.¡± Minerva hummed, ignoring him completely. ¡°You know what? I¡¯ll take care of it. Go to bed, Michy.¡± A shiver ran down his spine, and he popped up his head. ¡°Don¡¯t-¡± But Minerva was already at the door. She left without another word, the door closing behind her with a thud. He should have left as soon as his shift was over. Chapter 30 - Crash lesson on Crashed Spacecraft Luca woke to the sound of rain gently tapping against the window and the ghostly sensation of a hand gripping his shoulder. He opened his eyes slowly, rubbing them as he noticed the room¡¯s light was dim, almost absent. He reached over to the side of the bed, picked up his pendant, and activated the interface. It was 7 a.m. Still early. He let the pendant drop back onto his chest and lay there, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. Rather than reliving the fragments of his dreams¡ªblurry images of shadows and screams¡ªLuca chose to focus on the present. This was his third day on the island. The day before, he¡¯d spent almost entirely in his room, except for a brief outing in the afternoon to grab some food. He didn¡¯t remember much, to be honest. ''Exhausted'' was too small a word to describe how he¡¯d felt. But today, he was better. He sat up in bed and stretched, feeling his muscles protest slightly. His stomach chose that moment to remind him that he¡¯d been skipping too many meals to stay in good health, so he decided to fix that right away. It only took him a few minutes to shower, throw on something decent, and leave his room. The sky was clear, a blue almost identical to the sea, and the breeze carried the fresh scent of wet leaves and a hint of something else¡ªsomething salty and familiar. It was a nice day. Until he sat down to enjoy his Surprise Box and his pendant started vibrating just as he brought the cup of Blue Orange Water to his lips. It was a Pendulum specialty, available only to employees, and Luca was sure it was designed to slightly boost mental stability. He pulled the pendant out from under his shirt and frowned when he saw it was a call from the hospital. He accepted it immediately, and a small holographic image of Dr. Parker appeared in front of his eyes. After a brief greeting, the man got straight to the point, his face serious and solemn. ¡°Mr. Olson, first of all, I assure you that your brother is in a stable condition at this moment.¡± At this moment. Luca swallowed, feeling a knot form in his throat. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I must inform you that your brother had a relapse yesterday. We did everything we could to restart his heart, and we succeeded. We avoided the worst, but¡­¡± Luca felt the world suddenly pull away, as if he were floating in a cold, silent void. He took a deep breath, focusing on staying present. He¡¯s okay, he repeated to himself, clenching his jaw tightly. ¡°But?¡± ¡°I regret that I have to tell you this, but your brother has been in the same condition for nearly two years now, and despite all our care, we¡¯ve seen no improvement. It doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯ll give up, but, Mr. Olson, you must accept the possibility that¡­ there may not be a next rescue,¡± the doctor said, looking at him steadily. ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Luca said, struggling to hold back the sudden wave of anger threatening to consume him. ¡°Just¡­ please, don¡¯t give up. I know Shawn is fighting to recover.¡± Dr. Parker sighed, and for a moment, his expression softened. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll continue to do everything we can for Mr. Shawn.¡± The conversation didn¡¯t last much longer than that. When it ended, Luca felt it was impossible to continue with his breakfast. He buried his face in his hands, taking deep breaths as tears threatened to fall. Helplessness washed over him, a familiar and gut-wrenching feeling that made him feel like the same sixteen-year-old boy who couldn¡¯t save his mother from the Others. Like the same useless older brother, unable to protect his little brother. This was supposed to be a new chance. In another world, yes, but similar enough for him to fool himself into thinking it was a fresh opportunity to hold onto what he¡¯d lost. His brother Shawn¡­ he couldn¡¯t lose him. No. He wouldn¡¯t allow it. He rubbed his face hard, letting out a slow breath. This wasn¡¯t the time to give up. He grabbed the box of flavored water and downed it in one go, feeling a surge of energy¡ªor maybe just determination¡ªrush through him as he finished. He needed a chance to talk to¡­ His bracelet vibrated suddenly, interrupting his thoughts. [Mithras, please report to office D33 as soon as possible.] Well, look at that. A ¡°divine¡± coincidence? Ha. He was willing to take it.
Luca ran into Tim right at the office door. Literally, he saw him as soon as he turned the corner of the hallway: the other man was standing by the door, arms crossed, with an expression that hovered between boredom and curiosity. It took Luca a moment to realize Tim wasn¡¯t trying to go in. Why? The answer came when he was less than a meter away. ¡°¡ªI told you this would happen¡ª¡± That was Michael¡¯s voice, but it sounded strange. Luca couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint what was off about it, but he knew he didn¡¯t like it one bit. Tim glanced at him and made a subtle eye gesture toward the door, as if warning him about something. Luca grimaced, but neither of them moved. ¡°¡ªit wasn¡¯t specified anywhere. My decision was based on the information I already knew¡ª¡± Luca frowned. That was another voice, female, unfamiliar to him, but laced with a fury that colored every word. ¡°A wrong decision, as Myra and Lono can attest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair, Michael. Both of them messed up before I did¡ª¡± Her words turned into a literal hiss, cut off abruptly by the sound of the door slamming open. A woman with wavy, wine-red hair stormed out of the office with firm steps. Her face¡ªwhich could be described as strikingly beautiful in an intimidating way¡ªwas contorted with anger. Luca and Tim immediately stepped aside, and the woman brushed past them without even a glance, blind in her rage. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Luca was sure he wasn¡¯t imagining the pair of appendages peeking out from her hair. ¡°Come in,¡± Michael called from inside, his voice as flat as ever. Feeling like he¡¯d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Luca muttered a ¡°pardon me¡± before entering. The first thing he noticed was the smell of burnt wood, followed by the marks on Michael¡¯s desk. He winced, imagining the scene that had just unfolded on the other side of the door. On the other hand, he was now almost certain about what that woman must have been. There were few characters who had taken that ¡®path,¡¯ so the possibilities were limited. Tim muttered, ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± under his breath, taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. ¡°I thought you¡¯d take a little longer,¡± Michael said, leaning back in his chair and crossing one leg over the other. ¡°And I¡¯m still missing people.¡± At that moment, someone else knocked on the door. With a gesture from Michael, three people entered: Sam, aka Liona, looking as normal as ever; a woman with short brown hair and an electric blue jacket, chewing gum nonchalantly; and a tall, stick-thin man who kept rubbing his hands against his clothes as if he were nervous. ¡°Nadeene, Liona, Ladon¡ªright on time. Here¡¯s Nagato and Mithras,¡± Michael introduced them briefly. As the newcomers took their seats¡ªsomeone had had the foresight to set up enough chairs, or maybe Michael just liked collecting them¡ªthe man pressed his ring against the edge of his chair. Luca was sure he hadn¡¯t seen him wear that ring before, but he didn¡¯t have time to wonder about it. A hologram spread over the desk, projecting toward them. It was a map of a forest¡ªor at least it seemed so, given the abundance of deep green trees¡ªwith a pair of brown mountains in the center. A long, blurry red figure stretched between the forest and the mountains, roughly the size of one of them. ¡°This is your next mission,¡± Michael began. ¡°I¡¯ve taken the liberty of gathering more information on this, as it¡¯s a two-star world. Normally, none of you should be sent to one of these so soon, but we¡¯ve had a slight hiccup.¡± Two stars. Luca frowned, but rather than feeling worried, he was intrigued. He didn¡¯t mind the higher difficulty. In fact, it suited him. If he performed well, the chances of getting noticed would increase. ¡°The red zone you see there is an alien spacecraft. The company requires you to retrieve data from the energy core located at the heart of the ship or the fuel processing equipment inside the orange zone. You¡¯ll have only two possible Roles: miners or rangers.¡± Michael paused, thoughtful, before continuing. ¡°The rules are simple. Don¡¯t touch anything that looks alien, don¡¯t let them find you, and do your best to complete the mission within the first four hours.¡± Silence fell over the room after his words. ¡°Sorry, but¡­ why is it a two-star world?¡± Sam asked, leaning forward. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem harder than our first mission.¡± Michael didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Nadeene, the woman in the electric blue jacket. ¡°Want to do the honors, Nadeene?¡± ¡°Two-star worlds always end in destruction,¡± she replied, her voice slightly hoarse, as if she were recovering from a cold. ¡°Finishing within the first four hours isn¡¯t a suggestion.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Michael confirmed, adjusting his sunglasses with a gesture that seemed almost theatrical. ¡°The safety mechanism won¡¯t have time to extract you if you don¡¯t.¡± His gaze swept over the group, and Luca could feel the intensity of that stare, even behind the dark lenses. ¡°Don¡¯t get complacent. Six out of the ten people we sent didn¡¯t come back.¡± The numbers weren¡¯t encouraging. Less than fifty percent had returned alive. Luca had a feeling about what kind of Mystery this was. And if his intuition was correct, they were in serious trouble. ¡°Has the safety mechanism ever failed?¡± Luca asked cautiously. Maybe it wasn¡¯t the best question to ask at that moment, but he knew what could happen on this mission. He wasn¡¯t sure if the others were aware, but it was better they knew. Michael didn¡¯t say anything for a moment. The silence in the room was so thick you could¡¯ve heard a pin drop and bounce on the floor. ¡°Of course not, man,¡± Ladon said with a nervous chuckle, breaking the tension momentarily. ¡°Otherwise, no one would dare participate.¡± ¡°Since this is a mission you¡¯re not prepared for,¡± Michael continued, completely ignoring Luca¡¯s question, ¡°you¡¯ll have the chance to try one of the Collectors¡¯ favorites. Everyone here is already at level one, so you¡¯ll have access to the Junkie Box once you¡¯re inside the Mystery.¡± Each of them processed the information in their own way. Luca hoped his teammates were smart enough to harbor at least a little suspicion. Blind trust had never helped anyone. ¡°Junkie Box?¡± Tim asked, his skepticism palpable. ...Well, at least he could count on that guy to have reservations. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Michael dismissed him with a wave of his hand. ¡°Ah. Some of you have just reached level one. Don¡¯t forget to assign your stat points. Don¡¯t do it randomly. One point can make all the difference between surviving and not.¡± Luca had completely forgotten about that. ¡°You can do it now. Or you can familiarize yourselves more with the map,¡± Michael said, gesturing toward the hologram floating over his desk. ¡°You have thirty minutes before they come to get you. Make the most of it.¡± Without much thought, Luca opened his profile from his bracelet, knowing only he could see his stats.
STATS
STRENGHT: 5 AGILITY: 6
ENDURANCE: 5 CHARISMA: 5
INTELLIGENCE: 8 PERCEPTION: 7
Considering his Trait and Perk, he had two options: on one hand, increasing his agility would improve his reaction speed, which was no small thing, and it also contributed to his stealth capabilities. But boosting his endurance¡ªessentially his physical resilience and the stat most tied to his overall health¡ªwhen he was about to enter a world where the chances of being chased by aliens were high didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea either. It wasn¡¯t like he could sit down and rest when there was a time limit, right? After some thought, he decided to put his point into Agility. Luca had his own plans, after all. With that done, he turned his attention back to the map. He wasn¡¯t the only one scrutinizing it¡ªeveryone was. ¡°Sorry, but what about getting the manual?¡± Sam asked. ¡°I think it¡¯d be better to have all the information possible.¡± Michael sighed. ¡°It would indeed be the smartest move¡­ but there¡¯s a slight problem. The manual isn¡¯t finished yet. Why do you think I went through the trouble of explaining everything to you?¡± Well. That was¡­ sadly expected. Luca turned his attention back to the map. It would be best to memorize as much as he could. Chapter 31 - Theres something there, you know? (1) Luca opened his eyes slowly. A dull ache spreaded across the sides of his forehead, irritating him. Above him, a canopy of green leaves stretched in all directions, filtering only a few golden rays of light that slipped through the branches. The air smelled of damp earth and fresh vegetation. Ah. The forest. A bright, pulsing message appeared in front of his eyes, interrupting his thoughts.
MAIN TASK PICTURE (0/1)
Capture the image of Energy Core.
Luca sighed and sat up, leaning his back against the rough bark of a nearby tree. He murmured to himself, "should I be surprised that this is the worse of the two possibilities?" At the mines, he would have his Night Vision on his favour ¡ªand not much to fear. Here... He ran a hand over his face, sighing. Alright. There was nothing to do but to adapt his plans. Glancing around, his eyes captured the details of his surroundings. The forest was dense, with wide, twisted tree trunks and branches laden with dark, thin leaves that. A dirt path slithered in both directions, disappearing into the thick foliage. To one side, there were mountains; to the other, nothing but forest. There was no sign of anyone else¡ªjust him. For now. The map Michael showed them had been extense. It felt almost like a bad joke that they were given only four hours to fulfill the mission ¡ªor resign themselves to death. Luca, of course, had no interest in the last option. If something went wrong... no, better not to jinxe himself so soon. Pushing aside those thoughts, Luca checked himself over. He was wearing a khaki vest, practical but uninspiring, with several pockets. Could there be something useful in them? He found the answer as he felt through each one¡ªno. It was like he had spawned out of thin air on the forest. Another message appeared in front of his eyes, this time more interesting:
You can open JUNKY BOX.
OPEN
Luca pressed the only available option, feeling a bit optimist. The Junky Box had a prophetic quality to it - what it gave was always something necessary for the person who opened it. A series of messages followed quickly:
Opening JUNKY BOX...
You have obtained: MULTI-TOOL.
MULTI-TOOL has been stored in INVENTORY.
"Inventory," Luca muttered. He kept an ear on his surroundings as the screen flickered and changed. The new interface was a grid with nine slots, two of them occupied. One by a blue capsule he recognized from his previous mission, and the other by the newly obtained silver multi-tool. Both would led him to sucess, he knew. With a quick motion, he reached for the capsule and tucked it into one of his pants pockets. Then he did the same with the multi-tool, making sure both items were within easy reach. Being well prepared was key. With a minimal sense of security restored, Luca set out to decide his next move. However, before he could fully stand, another message appeared, this time with a more formal tone:
ROLE: RANGER
TASK: SURVIVE THE FOREST (0/1)
"No surprises here," Luca murmured, wiping his hands on his pants. This wasn¡¯t exactly what he considered fun, but he supposed there could have been worse assignments... In other Mysteries. Standing up, he brushed the dust off his pants and take another look around. From his new perspective, he could see a rusted wire fence stretching beyond, along the path to his right¡ªwhere the mountains loomed. He was still on the ''outer border'' of the map so he needed to cross that fence and then move forward. ''Survive the Forest'', it said the mission. Luca took a deep breath, adjusted his vest, and started walking to the right, with the multi-tool ready in case he needed it ¡ªand the capsule not far from his fingers. The songs of birds and the scattered sounds of other animals filled the air, creating a natural white noise that drowned out his footsteps. He didn¡¯t have to walk far to reach the fence. It was tall and imposing, at least three meters high, topped with a tangle of barbed wire. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed the wire itself was thin, almost fragile to the touch. It cut easily with the multi-tool; only a few precise movements were necessary. It was surprisingly easy, so easy that for a moment he wondered if he¡¯d even needed the tool. His nails might have been enough. Once on the other side, he encountered a barrier of thorny bushes blocking his path like a second fence. There was no way around them, so he had no choice but to crawl through the dirt, avoiding the sharp thorns as best he could. The last thing he wanted was to leave a trail of fresh blood that could attract something. Despite his best efforts, he felt the thorns scrape his back and the backs of his arms. However, he managed to make it to the other side with only a few superficial scratches. It wasn''t the best but not the worst. The clearing he found himself in didn¡¯t offer a clear path, but it didn¡¯t matter. The mountains were impossible to miss. However, his expression darkened as he noticed marks in the dirt not far from where he stood. They were hoofprints, vaguely shaped like inverted hearts¡ªand they looked fresh. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. This isn¡¯t good, he thought, frowning. A bird chirped overhead, briefly breaking the tension. Luca looked up and caught a glimpse of long brown feathers before the bird flew off into the sky. That sight of life was a reminder that, at least for now, the danger wasn''t over him. Still, he couldn¡¯t afford to let his guard down. With the capsule in one hand, he continued forward, keeping his full attention on his surroundings. The birdsong and the sound of small animals became more sporadic. The trees became thicker, older. The soil darkened. The further he went, the more the environment changed. Luca stopped at the edge of another clearing. This time, he couldn¡¯t ignore the sense of unease that had grow like vines on his heart. Something was wrong. The trees seemed darker, their leaves almost black, stiff and unmoving despite the light breeze that stirred the rest of the forest. The air was different too; the smell of damp, fresh earth had been replaced by something more metallic. If he focused, he could smell a hint of... burnt. It was faint for now but he knew as he moved forward, it would grew stronger. But he couldn''t stay there, waiting for something to happen. Crinkling his nose, Luca took a step forward and accidentally stepped on a small twig. The snap echoed in his ears, amplified by the silence around him. And then he understood. Ah. That was what was wrong. The silence. How could a forest like this be so quiet? Just minutes ago, the air had been full of life: birds, insects, the rustle of leaves. Now there was nothing. Not a single sound. Luca squinted, scanning his surroundings more carefully. There were no birds in the trees, no movement in the canopy. On the ground, there was no trace of life either. Not even the usual small forest creatures, like squirrels or rabbits. Not even ants. Pressing his back against a trunk, Luca stayed still, half-hidden, his senses on high alert. Seconds passed without anything happening¡ªseconds that dragged on heavily, as if time itself had slowed down. Luca wasn¡¯t worried about the four-hour rule right now; his priorities were different. At that moment, the main one was to get out of this forest as soon as possible. The only problem was that there was something here¡ªsomething crucial for his plan to prove valuable to the company and, in turn, secure his brother¡¯s admission to Pendulum¡¯s hospital care. A Gem. This little ¡®surprise¡¯ was hidden somewhere in the forest, in the territory before reaching the mines: an offensive, rare Perk¡ªAcid. (The best defense was a strong offense nine and a half times out of ten.) The sound of a bird¡¯s chirp interrupted his thoughts. It was somehow stranger than the ones he had grown accustomed to. Frowning, he scanned the branches for the source of the sound, but he saw no flash of feathers. The leaves were still. The forest was¡­ still unnervingly quiet. Luca didn¡¯t move, even as the urge to flee surged within him. His eyes never stopped scanning his surroundings. Waiting. He was waiting for the Thing to move away. A vague hope. A soft breeze broke the heavy silence, brushing the leaves, but it offered no relief. It carried with it a horribly familiar coppery smell -fresh, so fresh. He was sure he could hear something dripping, dripping, dripping. A futile hope. His expression cooled. He knew he couldn¡¯t stay there. Moving forward was the only option. He gripped the capsule tightly, squeezing whatever reassurance he could from the small item. It wouldn¡¯t be entirely useful here¡ªbut it was better than nothing. Moving carefully, traying to avoid making noise, Luca persisted forward. It was difficult, considering the branches and dry leaves that covered the forest floor, and it was probably useless at this point ¡ªbut it never hurt to try. He had only covered a few meters when a sharp scream cut through the air¡ªfeminine and piercing. A shiver ran down his spine. The sound seemed to have come from behind him, not far away. It was horrible. And Luca was almost certain he¡¯d heard it before. Still, he didn¡¯t turn around, continuing in the same direction. His mind, however, prickled¡ªWhere had he heard it? Who could it be? Why not take a look? Luca did his best to suppress those thoughts, not stopping. He wouldn¡¯t stop. But¡ªa few minutes later, when it almost seemed like everything had settled¡ªanother scream made his pulse quicken. It was a child. A small child, scared and hurt. Luca recognized the voice instantly and hated the way his body betrayed him, freezing in place. Yet he didn¡¯t give in, refusing to turn around. He needed to go. His feet stayed stubbornly still. Taking a deep breath, Luca opened one hand as wide as he could and pinched his other arm hard. The sudden pain unlocked his legs. Move, move, move, he chanted in his mind, his heart pounding wildly. He managed to take a step forward, then another, and another. The child was left behind. (The child had been left behind years ago.) His eyes caught something beyond the bushes and the few trees there¡ªthe river. A strip of dark water, its depth only guessable, flowing fast, fast, fast. He felt a glimmer of hope amidst the panic and forced himself to move toward it. He couldn¡¯t stay there. He stumbled forward as best he could, leaning against a tree trunk. He had to get away, as far as possible from that place before¡ª A piercing scream cut through the air, shattering all his thoughts. A nauseating cotton-like cloud seemed to settle in his head. His entire body froze. No, he thought, it can¡¯t be¡­ His breathing became ragged, uneven. It can¡¯t be¡­ A second scream found him clinging to the tree trunk, pressing his face against the rough bark. Tears pricked at his eyes, and his entire body fought against itself, wanting to rebel, to run, to find Shawn. He needed to leave. He needed to find him. He just had to turn around¡ª Shawn would be there. Behind him. He just had to¡ª With a superhuman effort, Luca managed to stop himself and closed his eyes. Without hesitation, he slammed his forehead against the trunk. Hard. The pain was enough to stun him, to break the confusion that had wrapped around him like a heavy, malicious sentence. The despair he¡¯d been feeling gave way to rage. "Fuck you," he breathed through clenched teeth, grinding them so hard it was a miracle they didn¡¯t shatter. If he ever got his hands on that creature, he¡¯d make sure to skin it alive. How dare it use his brother¡ª! The temptation to turn around and end the creature seized him¡ªrage flowing through his veins. He was already turning when a flash of clarity broke through the red cloud in his head, and he only caught a glimpse of long, brown tendrils peeking out from one of the nearby bushes before he forced himself to close his eyes again and repeat the same strategy. The impact reverberated in his forehead, and he hissed in pain. He really had to get out of there. Taking a deep breath, Luca shook his head and then staggered toward the river. He had only one goal at that moment¡ªto reach the river. Taking a deep breath, Luca shook his head and staggered toward the river. He had only one goal at that moment¡ªto reach the river. Getting to the mountain, to the mines, was all he could think about. (Everything he could afford to focus on.) Chapter 32 – There’s something there, you know? (2) Luca managed to reach the edge of the river, but not only was its depth questionable, it was also wide enough that he didn¡¯t dare try to jump across. Even if his agility was technically better than the average person¡¯s, the chances of falling in¡ªand not coming out¡ªwere high. It was hard to imagine anything could survive in such murky water. He glanced to both sides, looking for a way to cross. But there was nothing in sight. That creature was still likely nearby, so he didn¡¯t waste much time. He followed the riverbank, moving forward with irritation and no small amount of wariness. The current was fast, the murmur of the water echoing in his ears. It was the only sound there¡ªaside from the distant echo of a bird¡¯s chirp. Luca looked up at the trees on the other side, hoping to catch a glimpse of something. But no luck. There wasn¡¯t even a breeze to brush the leaves at that moment. He was tempted to hum to break the damn silence, but he held back. Finally, after a few exhausting minutes of walking while hoping not to hear that noise again, he stumbled upon a surprise. A canoe had been abandoned on the riverbank, overturned, apparently for decades. Despite the almost ridiculous sight, a wave of relief washed over him. Finally, some good news, he thought. Approaching quickly, he bent down in front of it, grimacing at the smell of rotten wood. But this wasn¡¯t even a setback compared to what he¡¯d been expecting to find. As he inspected it, he noticed something among the pieces of decayed wood. Something shiny and familiar, even though he¡¯d only seen it once before. But there was one problem¡ªa metal mesh covered the glowing orb, with thick spikes extending in all directions. Rust had stained them a dark black, but they didn¡¯t look any less sharp than a knife. Luca frowned and pulled the multi-tool from his pocket, reaching his hand between the wooden planks and trying to push the tetanus-risk contraption aside. There was resistance¡ªthe cluster of spikes was firmly fixed, and the wire wasn¡¯t as thin as the one he¡¯d cut earlier. He couldn¡¯t believe how hard it was to reach the damn Gem. You¡¯d better be Acid, he thought, pulling out the useless multi-tool and reaching in with just his hand. Very, very carefully, he slid his fingers between the spikes and the wire. He winced as he felt the cuts, and hissed when one was particularly sharp, but victory came to his fingers.
You''ve found a GEM.
Luca let out a sigh of relief and was about to pull his hand back when he heard a faint creak. It came from the remains. He barely had time to throw himself backward as the wood suddenly gave way. A hiss of pain escaped his lips as he felt the spikes rake his skin. Drops of blood slid down his fingers. Luca grimaced. The water carried away the remains, vanishing them from sight, but their mark remained. At least the damage they sustained in Mysteries could be healed without side effects¡ªdeath being the only exception. Footsteps reached his ears then. A shiver rand down his spine. A twig snapped. Behind him, in the foliage. Of course, the blood, he thought, jumping to his feet while pressing his injured hand against his clothes. He moved along the riverbank, quickening his pace. ¡°Please¡ª¡± a horrible, terrible voice reached his ears. Desperate, scared. Small, harmless. Luca¡¯s breathing quickened as he clenched his hand, accidentally squeezing his wounds. The sharp pain was enough to send a signal to his feet. He ran. His legs burned as he ran without looking back, following the riverbank. Hoping¡ªhoping to find another piece of good news. Birds chirped from the trees on this side. Someone cried. Someone familiar. Luca forced himself to keep going, desperate for¡ª There. Just a few meters ahead stood what remained of a bridge. A handful of half-rotted planks, barely enough to cross. Distrust crept into Luca as he stopped in front of it, his muscles burning, his breathing more than ragged. The dirty river crashed against the remaining planks¡ªthe last one wobbled, threatening to break off. The piece of platform didn¡¯t offer much security. But then again, staying here wasn¡¯t the best option either. ¡°Please¡ª¡± Luca placed one foot on the first plank, a determined (perhaps desperate) expression on his face. The creak of the wood sounded over the murmur of the water, but it held his weight without breaking or sinking. The second plank wobbled dangerously as he stepped onto it, and he didn¡¯t have an extra second to hesitate before he was launching himself through the air, straight to the other side. LHe landed on the damp ground ungracefully, the sound of crying mixing with the current. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Taking a deep breath, he slowly got to his feet.
Mission ''Survive the Forest'' Updated: 1/1
Mission has been completed.
Relief flowed through his body. On the other side, the bird chirped again, echoing multiple voices. But this time, the sound didn¡¯t affect him as it had moments before. He was safe¡ªfrom that creature, at least. Luca stood up and examined his hand with a grimace. Pulling out the multi-tool, he cut a piece of fabric from his vest and wrapped it around his hand. It wouldn¡¯t be a good idea to leave the wound exposed, after all. The makeshift bandage didn¡¯t turn out too bad, so he continued toward the mountain. Multiple sounds reached his ears¡ªbirds, yes, but also squirrels, insects, the rustle of the wind through the leaves. Colors flowed into what had previously been a black-and-white image. It was as if a switch had been flipped. The closer he got to the mountain, the more a smell filled the air¡ªa mix, really. Metal, burnt wood. Luca wrinkled his nose. This ¡®perfume¡¯ only grew stronger. But at least Luca could tell where it was coming from¡ªan entrance in the mountain, carved into the rock. It was about a meter high, and though it seemed dark at first glance, Luca easily noticed a faint light coming from further inside. A torch? If it was lit, that meant this side was being used. This was both good and bad news. On one hand, torches were a sign of human presence. On the other, it was best to avoid both humans and non-humans since neither was good for his survival. Luca left the cover of the trees and crawled into the mountain. As soon as he started moving, the smell of burnt wood and metal mixed with another odor that reminded him of the damp concrete of a basement. The combination made him wrinkle his nose. His eyes adjusted quickly, and the darkness became less dense, revealing more details of the walls. His expression cooled as he saw the wooden beams supporting the tunnel. There were marks on them. Lines carved by something sharp. Made by humans. The best thing, he thought, is to get through this area as quickly as possible. The ceiling rose high enough for him to stand almost at the height of the torch. He wrinkled his nose at the stench clinging to it, not caused by the flame. Further ahead, the passage split into two directions. The carvings on the top glowed faintly in the torchlight. A red ¡®sun,¡¯ a simple white circle. The smell of burnt wood coming from the first path was overwhelming. But this time, Luca could clearly see its origin. The wooden beams supporting the tunnel had charred patches. But these glowed faintly, providing enough ambient light for him to move forward without any issues if he wanted to. In comparison, the other tunnel was dark, with no more torches along the way. Luca took the first path, knowing that was the only way he¡¯d find the Energy Core. He moved slowly, cautiously. He avoided stepping on what looked like mysterious luminescent puddles, damp in appearance, while trying to make as little noise as possible. But despite his best efforts, the ground crunched with each step¡ªan uneven mix of compacted dirt and stone. He was lucky he heard them before they heard him. The whispers were unintelligible¡ªnot because of their volume¡ªbut because they didn¡¯t seem to form words. The tunnel ended in a kind of chamber, slightly wider, with traces of both human and non-human activity. The carvings on the walls showed mini-suns at the top, with circles at the bottom. In the middle, a solitary circle lay on or inside a rectangle. Something dark and dry stained this small area. If the other smells weren¡¯t so overwhelming, Luca thought he might have caught a coppery scent. With a grimace, Luca turned toward the entrance of the other tunnel. There was no mark at the top¡ªwhich was either a good thing or a bad thing. Considering the friendly carvings, he suspected it was the latter. The whispers, still distant but present, didn¡¯t help. There were no other options, however. Luca approached the tunnel and noticed the differences from the previous ones. It was just high enough for a person to walk through, but very, very narrow. And, judging by the lines in the rocks, it seemed to have been created by stacking stones. It was also as dark as a wolf¡¯s mouth. With a sigh, he turned sideways and began to slide through. It was tight. And the feeling that he was about to be crushed began to weigh on him. He inhaled slowly. The air was still enough. Moving through the blackness, the lack of vision sharpened his other senses. The burnt wood was the main smell in the air, but there was something else now. Something repugnant. Though he didn¡¯t want to, Luca recognized what it was and confirmed he was heading into the ¡®bad¡¯ side of the mines. The whispers grew louder as a flickering light appeared at the end of the tunnel. He hadn¡¯t even reached the halfway point when he heard the sound of his own breathing. The echo was¡­ irritating. He swallowed hard, feeling his mouth go dry, and tried to breathe more quietly. It was a task with mixed results. On one hand, he succeeded. On the other, it was impossible not to notice that there didn¡¯t seem to be much air there. Great. The lack of oxygen would kill him before any of the aliens if he kept this up. Luca grimaced, pushing the thought aside, and focused on the scene ahead. The light¡ªa torch?¡ªrevealed a wide cavernous chamber. The whispers intensified as he approached. But it was a sharp scream that greeted him. ¡°Please¡ª¡± a voice gasped, a person. His body froze, and his eyes widened at the sight outside the tunnel. A group of hooded figures knelt in front of a stone block. One of them lay on it, the sound of something dripping echoing in his ears over the whispers. A damn sacrifice. Luca turned his gaze, very slowly, toward the other side. A tunnel marked with a ¡®sun¡¯ stood beyond the fanatics. He just had to¡­ pass behind the group. Without being seen. And slip through. Before they finished. Yeah. Just have to do that. The dripping echoed in his ears as he slid toward the tunnel, pressed against the stone, clinging to the shadows. The sounds of gasps and murmurs, terribly understandable, mixed with the background whispers. Luca wasn¡¯t sure how none of them could hear the beating of his heart when it seemed to want to leap out of his chest, but he didn¡¯t complain. The torch illuminated the entrance to the tunnel he wanted to reach, so he had to leave the shadows. Luca glanced at the figures. They were motionless, kneeling toward the stone block. Detaching himself from the wall, Luca slipped toward the tunnel entrance, chanting in his mind ¡®Stealthy, stealthy, stealthy¡¯ as if that would boost his Perk. He had nothing to lose by trying. As Luca left the chamber, the sound of one last breath reached his ears before the level of whispers exploded. He ran. Chapter 33 – There’s something there, you know? (3) Glowing marks stretched along the tunnel, as if sharp fingers had left their imprint on the walls, lines that pulsed with a sickly green light. Luca only noticed them when he stopped. When he could no longer hear the whispers that seemed to crawl along the walls or the dripping. The damn dripping. He gripped his knees, bending over as his labored breathing echoed in the confined space. It¡¯s okay, he told himself, though each inhale still felt like he was sucking air through a dust-filled filter. It¡¯s okay. Recovering slowly, he straightened up and looked around. He was at a ¡®T¡¯ intersection. Another tunnel continued to the left, marked by a mini-sun carved at the top¡ªa design he¡¯d seen before¡ªwhile a large black puddle lay on the other side, still but damp. The sight of it was enough to make his nose react, bringing earthy, damp notes to his brain, overlaid by a sharp tang. The smell calmed him, to some extent. Even if it meant he was in more danger than before, the mud pools were certainly an indication that he was on the right path. He was closer to completing his mission. He was sure the four-hour mark hadn¡¯t passed¡ªmaybe two? Two and a half?¡ªbut he preferred not to think about it too much. Trying not to curse himself was harder than it seemed. Luca continued down the tunnel, part of him relieved by the absolute silence that now enveloped him. Only his footsteps sounded faintly, a hollow tapping that echoed as if he were walking inside an empty wooden box, while the glowing marks on the walls helped him move without stumbling. The space was now wider, easily three times the width of the first tunnel, as if it had been made to let something of that size through, or several at once. What a thrill. At least he didn¡¯t feel claustrophobic anymore. Not as much. When he reached the next tunnel, marked by a familiar red-tinted carving, he was met with a surprise. The amount of light¡ªno, the amount of what emitted light¡ªwas greater. Much greater. It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of phosphorescent paint everywhere. The glow reverberated off every wet surface. The smell, as expected, was unbearable, a direct assault on his poor nose. Resigning himself to losing his sense of smell for that Mystery, Luca paid close attention to the ground. It was harder to avoid stepping in the puddles due to their sheer number, but this time he had no intention of losing his shoes. The echo of voices reached his ears, breaking the silence. ¡°¡ªOver there.¡± It was familiar. ¡°Wait, I hear something.¡± If they were trying to be stealthy, he hoped that wasn¡¯t their best attempt. They sounded like amateurs playing spies. The voices came from his right, but there was nothing obvious there, and the path continued straight ahead. He scanned the walls, finally noticing an opening that was only visible from a certain angle, camouflaged among shadows and natural textures. There was a torch further inside, flickering with an amber light that fought against the gloom, and next to it, two familiar figures¡ªone more than the other. Luca peeked in, meeting Nagato¡¯s eyes, whose tired and distrustful gaze greeted him before he could say anything. ¡°Look,¡± Nagato hissed at Nadeene, gesturing toward him with a sharp nod of his head. She returned his wave with a raised eyebrow, the mud covering her right cheek shining under the torchlight. Uh. Mud covered most of their hair, clothes, and skin, and both looked exhausted, as if they¡¯d run a marathon in the middle of a mudstorm. Guessing what had happened, he gave them a sympathetic grimace. ¡°What the hell, dude?¡± Nagato blurted out, staring¡ªah, his arm. His hand. ¡°An accident,¡± Luca offered, then smiled. ¡°Did you decide to follow my advice from the last mission?¡± he referred to their current appearance, which was similar to what he had looked after crawling through the dirt under the rain. Nadeene explained, ¡°It¡¯s the only way to avoid the abominations. If they found you, they kill you.¡± ¡°And it keeps the lunatics away too,¡± Nagato muttered, frowning as he absentmindedly pushed a strand of hair stuck to his forehead. Luca nodded, already knowing that. ¡°I found the forest¡¯s death rule,¡± he offered. ¡°The creature mimics sounds and voices, but it only attacks if you look back.¡± He thought of the sparse traces and the more psychological than physical presence, not to mention its cunning use of loved ones. His frown deepened. ¡°Have you seen the others?¡± ¡°The mines are big,¡± Nadeene murmured after a moment. ¡°The forest too. They could be anywhere. But they probably spawned together, so they should be fine.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Nagato said, rolling his eyes and giving him the Look. Brat. Luca sighed. ¡°Are you going to keep insisting on that?¡± He turned to Nadeene. ¡°Where were you heading?¡± ¡°Toward the crystal. But there are some complications.¡± She didn¡¯t seem happy to admit it. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Luca pointed toward the path he¡¯d come from. ¡°The Chambers should be that way, I think. We should hurry before time runs out.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only an hour left,¡± Nadeene confirmed, wiping a mud stain from her arm with quick movements, revealing a watch that glowed faintly under the torchlight. ¡°That¡¯s enough time,¡± Nagato assured, though his tone didn¡¯t sound as confident as his words tried to convey. At that exact moment, a noise sent a shiver down their spines. It was like the sound of something sharp scraping against something hard, an intermittent screech that echoed like nails on a giant chalkboard. The whispers returned. Insistent. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Nagato demanded immediately, his eyes wide. Luca didn¡¯t need any further explanation. The three of them bolted down the same path he¡¯d taken, reappearing in the wide, well-lit tunnel. ¡°What the hell¡­?¡± ¡°Activity seems higher here,¡± Nadeene whispered, scanning their surroundings with a scrutinizing expression. Nagato pulled out a flashlight and turned it on, shining it on the walls. When he noticed Luca¡¯s gaze, he shook the flashlight. ¡°This is my curse. What did you get?¡± Luca snorted and pulled the multi-tool from his pocket, showing it off with a casual gesture. ¡°Not bad,¡± Nagato murmured, turning his attention back to the walls. ¡°Here¡¯s the same figure we saw before.¡± ¡°The abominations leave these marks on the walls,¡± Nadeene explained, pointing at the spirals carved¡ªor scratched? What was the right term here?¡ªwith a dirty finger. ¡°We¡¯ve been following them for a while, but we haven¡¯t found anywhere like this¡ª¡± The echo of a long moan not only sent a sudden jolt through his head but also froze all three of them. ¡°Mud,¡± Nadeene hissed, looking around. Luca pointed in the direction where he knew there was a pool, and the three of them quickly slid toward it, the noise nipping at their heels. When they reached the still pool in record time, the two experienced ones immediately submerged without hesitation, sinking like stones. In less than a blink, he couldn¡¯t see either of them. Luca stopped at the edge with a grimace. He¡­ didn¡¯t know how to swim. He didn¡¯t even know how to float. Not in water, and certainly not in what looked like a denser, dirtier version of it. The moan echoed again, louder, closer. This time, it was accompanied by a wet crunch, like the sound of something large dragging itself toward them. His skin prickled, but his expression grew determined despite the pain. The sound wasn¡¯t coming from the direction they¡¯d run from, but the opposite. He gave one last look at the two, then turned on his heel and retraced his steps. He crossed through the passage where he¡¯d found Nagato and Nadeene and reached the end of the wide tunnel, taking the turn. The space was narrower, and it was almost impossible to walk without stepping on the ¡®acid¡¯ on the ground. As if that weren¡¯t enough, there was more of it on the ceiling, dripping onto the floor. But Luca didn¡¯t have time to think about the risks of being burn. And he had no other options. He pushed forward, tiptoeing between the puddles, shoulders pressed together to make himself as thin as possible. Luca didn¡¯t know how he made it to the end, but he did. There was a new tunnel, though something about it told him that it was different than the previous ones. The glowing marks that had once seemed like messy scribbles were now arranged more orderly, in straight lines parallel to the ground, as if someone had carefully traced them with an invisible ruler. Their glow was more constant, casting a greenish light that bathed everything. It looked like a ghostly place. At the end, illuminated by that strange clarity, was a rusted but intact metal door, with thick rivets that seemed designed to withstand anything¡ªand a thick, twisted chain hanging, half already consumed by the acidic substance. Traces of the old mine were also present: an overturned mining cart, half-melted, tucked into an abandoned corner, with twisted pieces of a haulage track scattered around. Luca could barely smell anything anymore, considering his nose had numbed from the strong odor of burnt wood and metal that had followed him the entire way. But here¡ªhere he could smell something new. Something he couldn¡¯t explain. Approaching the door with caution, he pulled the multi-tool from his pocket. The tool glinted faintly under the greenish light of the walls as he began to work. Having already some experience with this, it didn¡¯t take long for him to analyze the mechanism and mentally figure out how to open it. The good news was that it wouldn¡¯t take much effort; the bad news was that he had less time than he thought, judging by the terrifying sound bouncing through the tunnels, coming toward him like a painful cacophony. His sweaty hands struggled to open the door as quickly as possible, acutely aware¡ªvery aware¡ªthat they could be there at any moment. The ¡®abominations,¡¯ as Nadeene called them. A fitting name. His mind conjured blurry images of twisted forms and sharp claws that he tried to push away. There was no way he¡¯d fall for those cheap tricks. There was no time for that. With a click, the door finally unlocked, creaking loudly enough to attract every nearby creature. Cursing inwardly, Luca abandoned all pretense of stealth and lunged to the other side, slamming it shut behind him with a sharp thud that echoed harshly in the momentary silence. Immediately, a message appeared in front of him, floating as if projected in the air:
New Mission Obtained: Deadly Exploration (0/1).
How lovely. It didn¡¯t say ¡°survive,¡± but it practically meant the same thing. This must be part of the ship now, he thought, observing his surroundings with a mix of awe and caution. The side he¡¯d ended up on was different from what he¡¯d expected. A hallway stretched in both directions, perfectly straight and symmetrical. The walls were square panels of whitish metal, crisscrossed by thick, glowing red lines that seemed to pulse softly, like bloody veins. The floor was made of the same material, with fainter scarlet lines. The sound of the door being scraped from the other side set him in motion. He picked a direction at random, aware that he¡¯d end up in the same place anyway. The most important thing right now was to find the Core¡ªand for that, reaching the Energy Chamber was crucial. His thoughts went to his coworkers for a moment, but ¡ªhe believed they would be fine. Anyone who could not save themselves had no place delving in the Mysteries. Chapter 34 – There’s something there, you know? (4) There was an unnerving silence on that side. Luca scrutinized his surroundings as he walked, keeping both ears sharp for any environmental noise¡ªwhich was nonexistent. He still wasn¡¯t sure if this was a good thing or not. An intersection appeared at the end of the corridor, both sides identical. He chose left, grimacing at the sound of his footsteps against the metallic floor. As he moved forward, the sterile air began to change. It grew colder, drier. A faint coppery tang clung to the back of his throat. If the tunnels had been oppressive, this place felt¡­ consuming. A quietness that threatened to swallow him whole. He wanted to leave even more than when he had been in the mines, whispers echoing in his ears. Luca frowned, pushing those useless thoughts aside, and focused on the small details he could glean from the walls. Amidst the flickering red veins, there were thin coppery-silver wires that faded and then reappeared. From time to time, symbols would appear on the wall¡ªdisappearing like mirages after a split second. Minutes passed without him finding anything more than corridors. Until it branched suddenly, opening into a larger chamber with black panels instead of the ¡®normal¡¯ white ones and a circular yellow panel on both sides. Luca paused at the threshold, absentmindedly making sure he still had the capsule in his hands. The room was strange. Vast, with a ceiling lost in shadow. But the feeling it gave him was like stepping into a tomb in the middle of the night. Not that he had experience with that, of course. But¡ªit was like that. He really didn¡¯t like being there. He walked to one of the sides and observed the yellow panel. There was a faint row of symbols, faintly etched on the edges. Luca recognized the ¡®mini-sun¡¯ one and the spiral one. Thinking about it, he pressed the last one. Immediately, an orange glow flickered across the panel before the space next to it faded as if it had never been there, revealing a new room. It was filled with machinery¡ªor what looked like it. Towers of silvery metal rose from the floor, and strange-shaped devices between them were connected through the same ¡®wires¡¯ he had seen on the walls. Glowing green lines, similar to the marks in the tunnels, crossed through all and each of those things. Same with the red veins. Stepping inside, he grimaced. The air here was thicker. It felt charged with an energy that made the hairs on his arms stand on end. A low hum seemed to vibrate through the floor and into his body. He was sure it was something he had felt before. But where? As he took a look around, seeking some clue of the Energy Core, a sound froze him in place¡ªa sharp, skittering noise. He was sure it wasn¡¯t a rat. Turning slowly, his heart pounding quicker than he would have liked, he saw¡­ nothing. Not to his right, not to his left. The room seemed empty. Yet the sound came again, closer this time. Luca moved quickly and ducked behind one of the looming machines, sticking to the wall. There was pressure in the air, trying to press him down. He breathed slowly, eyes darting around from his hiding position. The skittering grew louder, accompanied by a low, hoarse sound that sent a chill down his spine. He didn¡¯t dare peek out. He didn¡¯t need to. He could feel it¡ªwhatever it was¡ªmoving closer. Like a malicious ghost creeping over him. He kept quiet. And didn¡¯t move. Even when the temptation to flee seemed to overwhelm him. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the sound stopped. The pressure lifted, and the room fell silent once more. Luca waited, counting the seconds, before finally risking a glance. The chamber was empty. Whatever had been there was gone. Just like that. Slowly letting out the air he had been holding in, Luca knew he couldn¡¯t stay here. Fuck. Where was the Energy Core? He needed to take the picture and get the security mechanism to pull him out of there. And quick. Skirting the edge of the room, he tried to keep to the shadows. His eyes didn¡¯t stop for a second. He scanned and scrutinized. And when he was already beginning to think that maybe this wasn''t the place, something at the far end, partially obscured by a device, caught his attention. He couldn¡¯t explain it. He simply¡­ knew it was the one. It was like a square metal bathtub, with four thick rolls of wire connected to it from the sides. A blue orb ¡®floated¡¯ in the middle, amidst a dark reddish liquid. The smell on that side, even from a couple of meters away, was intensely coppery. A ¡®red vein¡¯ seemed to be feeding it. Luca approached cautiously, not really wanting to think about what that liquid was. When he was close enough, he pressed the badge on his arm.
Mission ¡®Picture'' Updated: 1/1
Main Mission Finished.
Great. It was really that thing. With minutes still left, he glanced at the rest of the machinery surrounding it. There was an unassuming empty space at its left, with a small yellow panel. He didn¡¯t recognize the symbol there¡ªhalf of a circle, attached to a full circle, with a t sticking out of it. Luca pressed the panel. With a low, mechanical whirring, and a soft click, the panel slid open, revealing a narrow passage. Luca hesitated, his instincts fighting with his curiosity. The passage was lined with the same glowing green lines as the mines. It seemed to lead deeper into the nave. Pushing aside any thoughts that might jinx it, Luca stepped inside¡ªand of course, the panel slid shut behind him with a soft hiss. The passage was narrower than it had looked from outside, so he was forced to brush his shoulders against the walls. At least the coppery smell was fainter, almost completely faded here. Instead, another smell dominated the air. The passage opened suddenly into another room, smaller than the last but no less strange. At the center of the room was something new¡ªa large, cylindrical device, its surface transparent and filled with a swirling, crystalline substance. Small round glowing yellow orbs were floating in an empty transparent device next to it. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Ah. The Processing Center. Or whatever it was called where the Energy Cores were grown. Luca approached the device, curious, and then snapped a picture. As he did, a new message appeared in front of him:
New Mission Unlocked:
Energy Technology (0/3)
Target ¡®Incubation Chamber¡¯ Captured.
Mission ¡®Energy Technology¡¯ Updated: 1/3
He stared at it for a moment, his mind racing. Energy Technology. That had not been in the books. Like the ¡®hidden pieces¡¯. What the fuck. It was a shame that an incomplete mission didn¡¯t give him a single point. As Luca wondered if he could find the other two pieces before he was dragged out, the sound of footsteps reached his ears. He frowned and glanced in the direction of its origin. It was behind the main device. His mind raced as he looked around, before he ducked behind a machine in the corner. The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by a low hum that made his blood run cold. It was as if his stomach dropped and cold spread through his body. He couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t even think about running away. The presence grew heavier, suffocating. It was close. Too close. Luca¡ª Luca couldn¡¯t breathe. Then, a scream tore through the air¡ªsharp, piercing, and unmistakably human. For a terrible second, as the presence wavered, Luca wondered if it had been him¡ªbut as the sound repeated, he realized it came from somewhere far from there. And then, for a moment, there was only silence. Slowly, very slowly, the presence receded. The pressure dissipated. Luca gasped, desperate for air. His body almost collapsed due to the wave of relief that hit him. Supporting himself against the device, he closed his eyes briefly and listened. Only for a few seconds. The instant he was almost sure there was really nothing more there, he emerged from his hiding spot and made a beeline for the corridor he had come from. It was, almost coincidentally, the opposite direction from where the scream had come. The last thing he needed was to run into whatever had caused it¡ªor worse, whatever had been drawn to it. As he came into the passage, he noticed something was different. The space now had a turn, the glowing green lines disappearing from his eyes to reappear a meter later. He moved quickly, trying to reach the end in a straight line. But there was no exit there. Well. It seemed like he had no other option than to take the turn. After pressing the yellow panel he had found at the end of that passage, he reached another room. This one was smaller but had different devices lining the walls. Their shapes changed¡ªtheir size, their color. But the thick white tube that crossed through them stayed the same. It was marked with a mini-sun, like the device at the corner, and like the top of the tunnels in the mines. Luca approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. When he was certain it was safe, he raised his bracelet and pressed the button, capturing an image of the machine. As the picture registered, messages appeared in front of him:
Target ¡®Processing Chamber¡¯ Captured.
Mission ¡®Energy Technology¡¯ Updated: 2/3
Look at that. Two out of three. He was getting closer, but he still had no idea what the final piece would be¡ªor where to find it. He also didn¡¯t know how much time he had left. But it had to be less than ten minutes, right? Sure, that is, if Nadeene had given him the right amount of time. He wouldn¡¯t blame her if she gave them less to add some pressure. As he glanced around, he heard a different noise. Footsteps, yes, but multiple ones. And heavier than he had been hearing around that place. The noise was coming from the other corner of where he was standing. However, he saw no yellow panel. Which ended up not mattering as the wall slid open and four figures burst into the room. Familiar people. They were breathing heavily, their faces pale and streaked with sweat and grime. Nagato¡¯s usual smirk was gone, replaced by a look of sheer desperation, while Nadeene¡¯s sharp eyes darted around the room, scanning for threats. Liona and Ladon looked equally shaken, their movements frantic as they stumbled inside. ¡°Luca!¡± Nadeene hissed, her voice low but urgent. ¡°We need to move. Now.¡± From behind them, a loud skittering noise followed. No need to tell me twice. Gesturing for them to follow, he led them to the corridor he had just come from and then to the Incubation Chamber. As they ran toward it, Luca felt a weight wash over him¡ªand heard a scream that let him know he wasn¡¯t the only one. ¡°Fuck, man!¡± Nagato cursed. ¡°Help me!¡± Ladon screamed. When Luca glanced behind, he saw the man had clutched onto Nagato as if he were his own walking stick, and the position of his own feet ¡ªuh. Luca didn''t like the conclusion he came. ¡°Ladon,¡± Nadeene hissed, and clutching his arm, dragged him forward. Liona watched them with wide eyes. "Don''t fall behind!" As they managed to reach the chamber, Luca went straight to the yellow panel and slid it open. Ladon was the first one to throw himself across it. It turned out to be another corridor, and Luca ushered the rest of them inside, his heart pounding as he glanced back the way they¡¯d come. The sound was growing louder¡ªcloser. The door slid shut behind them with a final, echoing clang, cutting off the noise. They walked quickly through it and took the first room they found. It was a giant chamber with similar machinery to the one found in the Energy Room, providing them enough cover to recover their breath. ¡°Fuck,¡± Nagato muttered, letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°I thought we were done for.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Ladon hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. ¡°Sorry about earlier, man. My legs just gave out on me like jelly.¡± Nagato let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, real helpful.¡± Liona exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. ¡°We need to find the Energy Core. How much time do we have left?¡± ¡°Fifteen minutes,¡± Nadeene replied flatly, glancing at her watch. Nagato groaned, leaning against the wall. ¡°We¡¯re so screwed.¡± Luca glanced around. This place was really familiar. Then he smiled. ¡°Perhaps not,¡± he said, and pointed to the corner. The Energy Core device was there. Chapter 35 – There’s something there, you know? (5) ¡°This is a lucky shot,¡± muttered Nagato under his breath. ¡°Now we can get the fuck of there like in ten minutes.¡± So, they have already fulfilled the main mission, Luca thought, relieved for them. But the feeling lasted less than a second. A shiver rand down his spine, and cold spread through his blood. His widened eyes found the pale faces of his coworkers, and knew he wasn¡¯t the only one being affected. A soft hum reached his ears, and for a moment, his mind crashed. The first thought he was able to formulate was that if taking a picture of the aliens would mean another mission. The second was that he needed to get the fuck out there at that instant. Ladon hissed out of nowhere, and seemed to broke out the ¡®spell¡¯. He stumbled forward, toward the yellow panel at the corner of the room. Out of the corner of his eyes, Luca found Nadeene¡¯s face growing even paler, eyes filled with incredulity. ¡°You,¡± Nagato hissed under his breath, body still frozen, but anger on his eyes. As Ladon pressed the yellow panel, Luca managed to move his fingers ¨Cand pressed in the closest injury on his hand. The sudden pain allowed him to recover control of his body, and he didn¡¯t hesitate to stretch his hand and pinch Nadeene¡¯s and Nagato¡¯s hand, who in turn did the same for Liona. In that split second, Ladon screamed. Blood exploded ¨Cand bathed the floor and the closest devices. Luca moved without thinking, and pressed the capsule on. Blue energy flickered around them, as Luca dragged the three towards the corner. The hum pressed on, growing louder. But Luca didn¡¯t felt the pressure. ¡°To the door,¡± he hissed, and the three of them ran towards the same direction they had come. They managed to cross to the corridor, and from there took the first turn they found. It led them to another yellow panel, and it to another room. It was a larger chamber, with strange shaped-devices that Luca couldn¡¯t understand. At the far end of the room was a ramp, sloping downward into darkness. ¡°Down there,¡± he said, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s our only way.¡± No one argued. They moved as one, descending the ramp into the unknown. The shield died down, leaving a simple message behind:
RESTART TIME: 2:59:59
Pocketing it, Luca scrutinized the area as Nagato illuminated forward with his flashlight. As they reached the bottom, they found themselves in a vast chamber barely lit. It was like the red veins had almost died down there. Looming towers were scattered around the space, together with square and rectangular smaller devices. As they took cover in a corner, the silence that followed left them in a tense atmosphere. ¡°I cannot believe it,¡± Liona murmured softly, her voice shaken. ¡°Ladon ¨Cwhy?¡± ¡°He thought he found a chance and took it,¡± Nagato said. The anger was palpable on his voice. ¡°I know thousands of men like him. Would happen sooner than later. Karma¡¯s a bitch.¡± ¡°We ¨Cwe don¡¯t know if he was really to left us,¡± Liona said quickly. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t speak ill of the dead.¡± Nagato sneered. ¡°You wanted a monologue or something?¡± Liona¡¯s face grew determined. ¡°He saved me on the forest. With its item. If it weren¡¯t for the shock, I¡¯d have been already dead. Perhaps ¨Cperhaps he was scared, and couldn¡¯t think well. But that doesn¡¯t mean we should judge him for a last mistake.¡± Well. Things were starting to get philosophical. What a joy. It was exactly how he wanted to pass the next minutes. Nadeene sighed, and then looked at Luca. ¡°You got something good there. If it weren¡¯t for it, we would have been dead already.¡± And with that, the attention was focused on him. Thank you, he thought. At least she didn¡¯t mention that he had technically ¡®abandon¡¯ them before. Although, it wasn¡¯t like they owned others their lives. Cooperating was good and all, but Luca would prioritize his life in any given moment. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± he said, simply, and ignored the looks from the others. ¡°How much time is left?¡± Nadeene frowned, and glanced at her watch. ¡°Three minutes.¡± ¡°Not much,¡± Luca murmured, and glanced around. His eyes caught something at the opposite corner ¨Ca mighty device. One with a weird egg-shape but translucent, with dark liquid moving inside. Two tube were connected to it across the floor ¨Cone red, barely glowing, and one that looked like water.
Target ¡®Purifying Chamber¡¯ Captured
Mission ¡®Energy Technology¡¯ Updated 3/3
You¡¯ve completed Mission ¡®Energy Technology¡¯.
This was what I was talking about. Luca¡¯s mouth curled up in a faint smile. Less than a minute was left. ¡°¡­ This place is so weird.¡± Nadeene chuckled. ¡°Wait for more missions before saying that. My last one was in a giant landfill of a god.¡± There was a moment of silence. ¡°God exist?¡± ¡°Gods exist. In some places.¡± ¡°Wait¡ª¡± Before they could delve in that kind of talk, something happened. The time ended.
Security Mechanism Failure. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Evacuation Protocol Disabled.
But they didn¡¯t go out. ¡°¡­ You¡¯ve got to be fucking kidding me.¡± ¡°What¡ª?¡± Liona shook her head. ¡°This ¡ªthis cannot be happening. Right?¡± She looked around, lost. Nadeene¡¯s face was so pale it looked like she had died and turned into a ghost in that second. Luca didn¡¯t blame them. This wasn¡¯t something that should happen¡­ not until later, at least. He closed his eyes, letting out a deep sight as he rubbed his face. Really. That shouldn¡¯t be happening to them right now. Was this what they called the butterfly effect? If it was so, he wanted to complain to the fucker that had invented that. When he opened his eyes again, everyone looked like they had already died. ¡°We can get out through the hidden exit,¡± Luca said firmly. At that moment, a failing pin could have been heard. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Nagato turned to him, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. ¡°A Split Rule, like last mission.¡± Nadeene frowned, crossing her arms. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about those. But¡ªyou do realize how rare that was, don¡¯t you? The chances of pulling off something like that now¡­¡± She trailed off, shaking her head. Liona pressed her lips together tightly. ¡°But we¡¯re dead if we stay here. Trying something is better than just waiting around to die.¡± Luca raised his hands, trying to calm them down. ¡°Hear me out. We got a couple of hours before the ''destruction'' of this place. We don''t even know how this will happen. So, we could find a way to leave." ¡°But what if it¡¯s a Death Rule?¡± Nagato muttered, scowling. ¡°Last mission, there was nothing we could do to avoid completing our tasks like we were supposed to do. Going against our ''role'' and whatever the guidelines are can get us killed.¡± ¡°True,¡± Luca admitted. ¡°But was I know from last experience, a Split Rule goes through activating a Hidden Mission. And, I got mine through fulfilling another ¡®normal¡¯ mission. I still have one I haven¡¯t completed yet¡ª¡®Deadly Exploration.¡¯ It struck me as odd because it wasn¡¯t called something like ¡®Survive the Spacecraft.¡¯ Exploration... implies finding something at the end of all this, don''t you think?¡± Silence fell over the group. "I''ve that one too," muttered Nagato, and Liona nodded, a bit of life returning to her face. ¡°Me too,¡± Nadeene murmured finally. ¡°But it¡¯s not uncommon to pick up secondary objectives you end up not meeting.¡± ¡°But what if this isn¡¯t something we¡¯re meant to ignore?¡± Luca pressed gently. Liona let out a shaky breath. ¡°¡­ We don¡¯t exactly have a lot of other options.¡± ¡°So, we¡¯re just supposed to explore this place?¡± Nagato asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically. ¡°Run around blindly and hope the mission completes itself before we get caught?¡± Luca rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°We¡¯ve only seen machinery so far. Everything seems tied to the Energy Core. But what¡¯s its actual purpose?¡± ¡°Crashed Spacecraft,¡± Liona murmured, recalling Lacerta¡¯s words. ¡°That¡¯s what she called it.¡± Nagato glanced around, piecing things together. ¡°If they crashed, maybe their goal is to leave. They¡¯d need something like a Control Room, right?¡± Eureka! Luca had to fight the urge to hug Nagato right then and there. Instead, he kept his tone measured. ¡°That sounds plausible. If we can find a way out of this zone, we might be onto something.¡± ¡°There¡¯s another panel over here,¡± Nadeene said, pointing at the wall. Her voice carried a note of caution. ¡°But¡ªwe should be really careful.¡± Luca nodded, his mind racing. Unfortunately, his trump card was useless for the next few hours. ¡°Alright,¡± Nagato muttered, clenching his fists. ¡°Time to figure out how the hell we¡¯re getting out of here.¡± They took the path, and came into a narrow corridor. A turn led them to another corridor, and that to the next one. Red veins pulsed around them. Luca soon noticed that none of them seemed to be looking at the walls. It was understandable. Ladon¡¯s death had been too sudden. And probably, their first contact with the death of a someone they were familiar. The world outside Pendulum¡¯s was quite amicable, uh? As they reached a new chamber ¡ªhigh ceiling, a series of coppery devices glued to each other in three rows, and a ramp going upwards¡ª the fact that they had been lucky until then fall over them, courtesy of the ¡®hum¡¯. Thankfully, it was distant enough for them to duck behind one of the rows. The soft hiss of a panel sliding open reached Luca¡¯s ears as he glued himself against the wall, aware that every one of them could die in any moment. Fuck. If only he could access to his new Gem¡­ The hum echoed on the chamber, bouncing off the walls. Luca could felt the coldness spreading through his body and sweat sliding down his back. He met Nadeene¡¯s grim eyes, at the other row. Beyond her, Liona had ducked behind the last row with Nagato. His mind drifted ¡ªwho knew for how long it was? Then, abruptly, he was back, blinking rapidly as something wet slid down his cheeks. But they weren¡¯t tears¡ªNadeene wouldn¡¯t be staring at him with such horror if they were. A choked gasp broke the silence, sharp and strangled. Something shifted in Nadeene¡¯s expression, a flicker of resolve cutting through the fear. Before Luca could react, she lunged forward from her crouched position. Her hand struck his cheek with a resounding crack, the force snapping his head to the side. Luca staggered, his hand instinctively rising to his stinging face. But as he touched his skin, he felt it¡ªsomething insidious, something that had been creeping into him, suddenly wavered and loosened its grip. He met Nadeene¡¯s gaze and nodded, a silent thank you. If she hadn¡¯t acted so quickly, who knows how far he might have fallen? There was reliable people. Even if they were depending on him to take them out there. As Nadeene pressed herself back against the wall, Luca¡¯s eyes darted to where his two other coworkers were hiding. Nagato had a firm grip on Liona¡¯s arm, his face taut with tension. Even through the mud caking their clothes, Luca could see the dark streaks of blood. They were so dirty. A thought nagged at him: was this the reason why they had been found? The trail of mud they must have left behind would have been obvious for the masters of that place. Of course it would. Perhaps¡­ perhaps¡­ Luca¡¯s jaw tightened. He should have gone alone. He didn¡¯t need more people complicating things, did he? His eyes flicked toward the nearest exit, calculating. Maybe he had been in something when he left them behind. Hadn''t he already learned enough about this? Slowly, as thoughts crawled through his mind as little spiders, weaving malicious webs, Luca pressed his fingers against his hands. The sudden bolt of pain shocked him, and gave him a bit of clarity. He knew they couldn¡¯t stay there or they would end doing something. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, in a slow, cautious way to Nadeene. Her eyes darted to him, a haunted look on her face. ¡°At the count of three, we¡¯ll going to them, and then getting out there.¡± ¡°... And that thing?¡± Luca pressed his lips. What was she so slow? Should she simply be listening to him? He then shook his head. ¡°Mental. This thing is toying with our mind.¡± ¡°How do you know it¡¯s not waiting for us to move?¡± she hissed, her voice trembling. ¡°Aren¡¯t we already taking too many risks with this plan of yours?¡± Fuck. Great. She was being affected too. He really should get the fuck out from there for himself and let them to die, those fuckers idiots. Relax, he thought, breathing in slowly. ¡°We¡¯ll be dead anyway,¡± he said. ¡°Better to die trying than crying in the dark.¡± With that, he quickly counted, ¡°One, two, three,¡± and darted to his two coworkers. Liona and Nagato stared at him as if he¡¯d lost his mind, but he didn¡¯t have time to care. Crouching in front of them, he grabbed one of their arms and hissed, ¡°We need to get the hell out of here before we end up killing each other.¡± Then, without another word, he yanked them to their feet and pulled them toward the exit.The hum grew louder. Nagato fought against his grasp. ¡°Fuck you. I won¡¯t listen to a guy that left us behind.¡± Liona¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Hypocrites!¡± She cried. He should leave them there, see if he cared. Coming back to his brother was ten times more important than this bunch of idiots anyway. He should leave. Chapter 36 – There’s something there, you know? (6) He should leave them. Temptation overwhelmed him. It would be so easy. And practical. Luca could do what he needed without complications, without having to play useless guessing games with them. Being able to work directly would save you not only time, but worry. It would give him more confidence in getting what he wanted: confidence in being able to return to Shawn, to his little brother. Yeah. It would be so easy. Pain shock him as he closed his hands, and he shook his head. ¡°No. I won¡¯t fail,¡± he muttered for himself. Clinging to the last remaining of his clarity like a burning nail, he spoke to Nagato through clenched teeth--. ¡°I can''t float or swim, brat. If I didn¡¯t care I wouldn¡¯t have approached you all. That would have been smarter than ¡ªfuck, no, fuck you,¡± he hissed, at their surroundings, and then pulled them with more effort. ¡°Let''s go! We must leave now.¡± ¡°You could have said something,¡± Nagato insisted, scowling. ¡°And attract all the things on the mines?¡± Luca smiled at him. It wasn¡¯t nice. ¡°I could, I guess. But I don¡¯t hate you enough. Yet.¡± Nadeene appeared behind them as a comet, and pushed them all next to the yellow panel. Luca, who had been flattened against the wall for them three, made a pained sound. But it was enough to make him came back to himself even better than before, and stretching his hand, he pressed the panel. The wall slid open. ¡°Asshole,¡± said Nagato, ¡°I¡¯ll leave you behind.¡± And then he ran across the entrance, like a fucking preschooler. Feeling the urge to said something he¡¯d ¨Cprobably- felt bad for later, Luca followed behind him biting his tongue. I would be so easy. He was really regretting not getting the fuck out of there without that bunch of parasites clinging to his bare veins. As they crossed to the corridor, the echo of the hum still haunting them, the malicious whispers started to fade. Almost as if by agreement, they did not stop there, but continued moving forward until they reached the next room, and then the next corridor, and another room. Only when they couldn¡¯t hear the humming anymore did they stop. Now his mind wasn¡¯t so focused in no jumping to his coworkers¡¯ throat -or really abandoning them to their luck- Luca was able to take notice of his surroundings. ¡°This is new,¡± he muttered. Black hexagonal panels interlaced with glowing red veins formed the walls, with a smaller version on the floor. The machinery here was quite different to anything from the other areas, in a sense he couldn¡¯t explain. Except that everything there was ten times dangerous. He wouldn¡¯t be touching anything of it. At least they looked dormant. Or was only his hope speaking? Nagato cleared his throat. ¡°So ¨Cwhere from here?¡± He wasn¡¯t looking at him but the rest did. How awkward. ¡°Left?¡± Luca offered. They had two options ¨Ctwo yellow panels. There was no opposition, so he followed first that direction. The next corridor branched off to the left, and after some doubts, they took this. They were really quiet. More than before. The tension clung to the air like a fog. But they kept moving. There was no one there that didn¡¯t want to live another day. ¡­ Then, footsteps. They froze. Luca felt his skin bristle. The sound was faint at first, a soft tapping that echoed through the corridor as they moved forward. And it didn¡¯t stop when they slipped inside a room. And then again into another corridor. It was obvious something was following them. ¡°What should we do?¡± asked Liona, biting her lips. She had a hunted look, even when she tried to kept her composure. ¡°Should ¨Cshould we split?¡± ¡°No!¡± Nagato raised his voice accidently. Clearing his throat, he insisted, ¡°no. If we split, we¡¯ll making their job easier.¡± ¡°We could cover more space,¡± offered Nadeene, earning a frown from Nagato. Luca listened at the sound, and then his face went blank. ¡°I don¡¯t think is a good idea,¡± he said, slowly, no looking at them. The image of Ladon¡¯s, standing up at the end of the corridor, flickered like a mirage. ¡°It isn¡¯t the best idea, but we have no a lot of good ones,¡± Liona pointed out. Luca didn¡¯t answer, eyeing the shadows. ¡°There¡¯s something here,¡± he murmured. ¡°Don¡¯t fall¨C¡± ¡°Liona? Nadeene? Is that you?¡± The voice was familiar. Too familiar. Liona¡¯s eyes widened, her face paling. ¡°Ladon?¡± she whispered, her voice trembling. ¡°No,¡± Luca said sharply, grabbing her arm as she took a step forward. ¡°It¡¯s not him.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Ladon¡¯s dead,¡± Nagato interrupted, his voice low and tense. His eyes were wide and he was clutching Liona¡¯s other arm. ¡°We saw what happened. That¡¯s not him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s another trick,¡± Nadeene pressed in, her face strangely blank. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± Liona hesitated, her eyes darting toward the sound of the voice. For a moment, it looked like she would dart pass them. But then she nodded, her jaw tightening as she forced herself to turn away. They quickened their pace but it didn¡¯t really help. The footsteps kept with them, growing even louder. Ladon¡¯s voice called out again, pleading, desperate. ¡°Please, wait! I¡¯m here! Don¡¯t leave me!¡± Luca clenched his teeth, forcing himself to ignore the voice. He knew what this was. A trap. Like the one they had suffered from the hum. Each one of them knew. But knowing didn¡¯t make it any easier when the voice felt real and glimpses of the Ladon¡¯s continued hunting them from the corner of their eyes. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Fuck you,¡± Nagato hissed under his breath. ¡°I didn¡¯t even like that guy.¡± Liona made a sound of outrage. ¡°Get in line,¡± said Nadeene, to their surprise. ¡°What? He clung to me, didn¡¯t do shit, and made my skin crawl.¡± So Ladon was a crept. Great. Couldn¡¯t happen to a better guy, then. ¡°I knew it!¡± Nagato raised his fist. ¡°My gut doesn¡¯t lie.¡± ¡°How could you-?¡± Liona started, a mix of emotions on her voice. Then Luca saw it ¨Cat the end of the corridor. Ladon¡¯s image flickered there, blood oozing from his eyes, nose and mouth, dripping on the floor. Dripping. Luca halted on his tracks. ¡°Man, don¡¯t do it!¡± Nagato hissed, spinning around to face Luca. His hand shot out, gripping Luca¡¯s arm tightly. ¡°You didn¡¯t like him either.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Luca confirmed, blinking slowly. Perhaps it was the slap of emotional damage that loosened his words.Perhaps it was the ¡°He tried to trip you up before. Guys like him use others just to survive¡ªI can¡¯t stand that.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Nadeene gasped, pushing them into the nearest room. She leaned against the wall, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Last mission, a woman from Delta-M fell when that giant centipede was chasing us. He was right behind her at first¡­ I thought¡ªI thought maybe I¡¯d seen it wrong.¡± Liona¡¯s expression fell down. Nagato scowled deeply. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the report have mentioned something like that? Or is all this talk just empty threats they throw at us?¡± ¡°The reports they pull from the system only gives them basic info,¡± Luca said, regaining some composure as he gently freed his arm from Nagato¡¯s grip. ¡°And anyone can fill in the blanks however they want.¡± Or leave things out entirely, he added silently. ¡°It''s not worth a shit then.¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Luca¡¯s eyes darted around as the talk died down. And then almost smiled. ¡°Look at that.¡± Panels of white light were spread across the walls, displaying strange symbols and what appeared to be graphics. But most importantly, at the middle of this, there was a red panel, familiar numbers reflected on this. He pressed his arm without hesitation.
Target ¡®#%&#¡± Mechanism¡¯ Captured
Mission ¡®Deadly Exploration¡¯ Updated: 1/1
Mission ¡®Deadly Exploration finished.
¡°What is this supposed to be?¡± Nagato asked, his tone tinged with frustration as he gestured at the screen. ¡°Take a picture,¡± Luca said absently, already leaning closer to examine it. His eyes darted across the display, searching for something specific. Where would it even be? The vague descriptions he vaguely remembered weren¡¯t doing him any favors right now. ¡°Why are you doing there without me?¡± Ladon¡¯s anxious voice came from outside. ¡°Aren''t we a team?¡± They ignored the thing, trying to focus on their current situation. ¡°The mission is completed,¡± Nadeene murmured, her voice heavy with unease. ¡°But there¡¯s no follow-up mission,¡± Nagato shot back, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Fuck. What are we supposed to do now?¡± Luca found what he was looking for ¡ªa small, pulsing light on the wall, and pressed it. The panels disappeared, leaving only a grid of symbols on the wall. They were carved on the metal and glowed red. ¡°Alright. Someone knows ¡®alien¡¯?¡± The only familiar ones where those he had seen on the mines. They had seen on the mines. ¡°That symbol was on a mural,¡± murmured Liona, pointing out the one in the top corner. ¡°I think ¨CI think it was about the crash. Perhaps we should¡­?¡± ¡°Some of these were in the rooms, in those ''machines''. Shouldn¡¯t we choose the one of the Energy Core?¡± Nadeene offered. ¡°We could press all them,¡± Nagato pipped on. ¡°What? I was only an idea,¡± he defended himself when he saw the look everyone gave him. ¡°Perhaps no only one,¡± Luca mumbled. ¡°The people in the mines are sacrificing others to the aliens. I saw the spiral and the altar on the mural. Three symbols?¡± Ladon¡¯s mirage flickered in front of them. ¡°It isn¡¯t nice to ignore your friends!¡± His voice erupted like a cacophony of wails. It almost sent Luca stumbling back due the piercing headache. The pain let his anger to bloom, and he rushed ahead, straight to the wall. Ladon¡¯s image disappeared as Luca passed by ¨Cbut let him a last gift. A last wail almost exploded his ears, swallowing all the sounds of the room, and let him dazed for a splint second. However, it wasn¡¯t enough to stop him. The three symbols were pressed ¨Cfirst the altar, then the spiral, then the inverted triangle. The instant he hit the last one, the red glow become green, and oozed a viscous liquid of the same color. When it reached the ground, smoke arose, just a few inches from where Luca was standing. Luca moved backward by instinct.
New Mission Unlocked: LEAVE THE ZONE
19:59:59
¡°You''re shitting me!¡± Nagato jolted, pain left aside for the outrage. ¡°Twenty minutes?!¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± Luca ran towards the wall with the yellow panel. ¡°We must find the exit.¡± The instant the wall slid open, Ladon¡¯s monster appeared there, eyes completely black, green lines bursting open on its skin. ¡°You¡¯ll die!¡± It screamed, blood coming out its mouth, splashing the floor. More smoke rose where it touched. But it was the pain that the otherworldly sound behind its voice that made them wince and grab their heads. ¡°You¡¯ll die like me!¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± Nagato screamed and threw its flashlight at it. The item flew into the air and passed through the image, making it disappear. They took advantage of this to cross, and ran ahead. Nagato picked up the flashlight on his way, while Liona took out ¨Ca water bottle? Luca took out his multi-tool. He had a lot of sharp ends. ¡°Keep moving,¡± Nadeene said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. She was the only that didn¡¯t have anything to protect herself with. ¡°We can¡¯t let it get to us.¡± They pressed on, moving through a new room and into another corridor. But the voice followed them, growing more insistent, and the pain kept emerging. Throbbing pain behind his eyes, at both sides of his head. The rest wasn¡¯t better. ¡°You should just die here! Just like me!¡± Luca¡¯s hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. He focused on the corridor ahead, on the faint pain on his hand. Anything to drown the voice, the effects of it. ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Nadeene said, her voice cutting through the haze. ¡°Just keep moving.¡± A metal door appeared at the end of the hallway, almost as an afterthought. A bastion of hope. Or a fucking trap. But they didn''t have many options. Not good options, only desperate ideas. Chapter 37 – There’s something there, you know? (7) There was only a problem. The door was locked. Luca crouched in front of it, and began working, putting his multi-tool and experience on the task. The rest spread around him, trying to kept the thing at bay. ¡°Just die!¡± His fingers moved with practiced precision but betrayed him with tiny tremors as another wave of headache crashed over him¡ªit felt like being struck by a hammer. He sucked in a breath through gritted teeth and forced himself to focus on the alien lock mechanism before him. It looked like a strange alien-human mix, with sharp small pieces and circular smoothed ones. If it were no such an occasion like this one, Luca would have loved to pick it up piece by piece. Perhaps use it for his own door. ¡°Die!¡± Ladon¡¯s cries echoed down the corridor, sending painful waves through his skull. Despite everything, Nagato cracked a joke with hoarse voice, ¡°it ran out of ideas.¡± ¡°How could we make it go away?¡± Liona whispered, her words barely audible over the cacophony Ladon¡¯s cries continued. ¡°Hurry,¡± Nadeene urged, through clenched teeth. ¡°Or this thing will be the last of us worries.¡± Luca graciously forgave her ¡ªhe was making everything he could and more to get the fuck out there. His mind raced faster than his trembling fingers could work, sweat trickling down his temple despite the cold biting at his skin. Then, finally¡ªfinally¡ªa soft ping rang out, clear and triumphant amidst the chaos. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Luca said, straightening up so quickly his knees protested. ¡°We need to go. Now.¡± They bolted for the door without any other word. The heavy metal slab slammed shut behind them with a resounding clang, momentarily drowning out Ladon¡¯s enraged howls. For half a second, they all froze, chests heaving, ears ringing. Surprised faces. ¡°Six minutes left!¡± Nadeene shouted, breaking the brief reprieve. Bolting again, they rushed through the tunnel, green glowing lines lighting their path. A long wailing sound bounced off the walls. It wasn¡¯t Ladon¡¯s ¡ªthat thing. But another one they had left on the mines ¡ªthe same place they were right now. And it wasn¡¯t alone, as the noise of murmurs followed after it. ¡°We can''t stop.¡± They couldn¡¯t take a swim on the mud pool, even if they knew how to float, and had tested the technique before. It wouldn¡¯t work on the humans. Probably. And there was no time to hide and stay quietly until they left anyway. The green marks in the walls flickering like a sickly heartbeat, and the smell ¡ªLuca had not missed it¡ª enveloped them from all directions. They were running like chickens without heads. And they would got caught if they kept like that. And then, abruptly, they skidded to a halt. ¡°Fuck!¡± The man who Luca had seen being ¡®offered¡¯ was now nothing but a rotting carcass on the floor. A woman lay atop the crude stone altar, her vacant eyes staring accusingly at the ceiling. Nagato¡¯s flashlight beam swept over thin red wires snaking across the floor, connecting to a thick scarlet vein embedded deep within the rock face. It pulsed rhythmically, feeding¡­ something. How many of them were they sacrificing to keep all those hallways, the rooms, the machinery running? ¡°This way!¡± Luca hissed, gesturing down a narrower tunnel. The others followed without question, their breaths ragged. ¡°We can get out there!¡± If he could recall the right path from hours before. They hadn¡¯t gone far when a low, guttural growl reverberated through the tunnels. Luca¡¯s eyes widened, his heart almost jumping out of his throat as massive shape moved through the shadows. Writhing tendrils spread towards them, glistening with a green liquid that hissed as it hit the ground. ¡°Move!¡± Nadeene shouted, shoving Luca and then Liona forward. ¡°Move, move, move¡ª¡± They broke into a sprint, the alien¡¯s screech echoing behind them. The creature lunged, its tendrils lashing out, spraying acid that sizzled against the walls. Luca ducked, feeling the heat of a near-miss as a droplet splattered too close for comfort. The tunnel twisted sharply, and they rounded the corner just as the sound of it hitting the wall resonated behind them. ¡°Keep going!¡± Luca yelled, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of deep wails and hissing acid. Luca¡¯s lungs burned, his legs aching, but he didn¡¯t dare slow down. The others were close. A group of figures emerged from the last part of the path. Humans. Or something like that. Their clothes were tattered, their eyes wild and unfocused. Blood and dirt clung to them like parasites. And they didn¡¯t speak ¨Cnot with understandable words. Their murmur slithering on his mind, like another form of tendrils, oozing acid inside. It hurt. It ached on his bones. Luca didn¡¯t think. They had no other way, time was running out, and their only ace had already been used. There was no time. He didn¡¯t stop. Stretching out both arms, he shoved the man at the front with everything he had. The figure stumbled backward, crashing into the others like dominoes, and Luca darted past, his heart hammering so hard it felt like it might burst free from his chest. The others followed suit, shoving the decrepit obstacles aside as though they were nothing more than oversized puppets. They couldn¡¯t afford otherwise. ¡°Don¡¯t stop!¡± Luca shouted, his voice hoarse, the muscles in his legs screaming for relief even as adrenaline pushed him forward. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The exit! It was too close! Relief surged through him for a fleeting moment before reality slammed back in: they would have to crawl to get out. ¡°It¡¯s too risky!¡± Nadeene shouted as she noticed it. ¡°They will catch us!¡± ¡°Who goes first?¡± ¡°We cannot lose time figthing¡ª¡±began Liona. Luca had no time for that. ¡°Go on!¡± He shoved them toward the low opening, no listening to their words. They had no time for that. ¡°I¡¯ll go last! Come on!¡± As they wriggled under the jagged stone lip, Luca went next, and did his best to move quickly. But they were closing in, crawling behind them. Their murmurs grew louder, more insistent as if they could stretch its projection. He wanted nothing more than to leave that fucked place. Sadly, he couldn¡¯t hurry more. His legs were already threatening with leaving him to his luck. Only the survival instinct gathered by hundreds of generations allowed him to continue. A hand suddenly clamped around his ankle, nails digging deep enough to draw blood. Luca hissed, kicking wildly, panic surging through him like electricity. Shawn¡¯s face flashed in his mind¡ªhis brother, his little brother. Nagato, closest to him, turned back and stretched out a hand, gripping Luca¡¯s arm with bruising force. ¡°Pull!¡± he roared, voice cracking with effort. ¡°Pull!¡± Luca tried to kick the madman off. He wouldn¡¯t die there. He wouldn¡¯t. Shawn needed his older brother to return. He couldn¡¯t fail him again. Couldn¡¯t fail this Shawn. No here. If he died here, what was the point? What was the fucking point? It would be better to have remained dead, his body left to rot and to be eaten by the wild animals. With one final surge of strength, Luca kicked violently, feeling the grip loosen just enough for him to wrench free. Then he was out, gasping for air as cool wind ruffled his hair. Freedom¡ªor something close to it¡ªgreeted him. ¡°Can you stand?¡± Nagato hauled him upright without waiting for an answer. ¡°We need to get the fuck out there.¡± ¡°One-minute left,¡± Nadeene whispered, her voice trembling with barely contained dread. ¡°To the river,¡± Luca said, forcing the words out before doubt could paralyze him. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Ignoring the fiery protest in his legs, they bolted away from the mountain, putting as much distance between themselves and the mines as possible. Soon the dirty stream appeared in front of them. Nadeene made a sound of incredulity. ¡°You got to be kidding me.¡± Liona¡¯s face fell down. ¡°Oh no¡ª¡± But she wasn¡¯t talking about the death trap that looked like a river ¡ªor was it the other way round?¡ª but beyond that. ¡°Help!¡± Ladon¡¯s voice came from the other side, among the trees. ¡°Please¡ª!¡± ¡°Get in!¡± Without hesitation, Luca threw himself into the water, cold enveloping him instantly like a blanked of piercing needles. The current seized him immediately, dragging him downstream with merciless force. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t know how to float?!¡± Nagato screamed from the bank, panic sharpening his tone. Luca didn¡¯t have the breath¡ªor the focus¡ªto respond. Water rushed into his mouth, nose, eyes, pulling at him from all sides. He flailed desperately, shaking his head clear long enough to catch glimpses of the blurry world above. Kicking hard, he fought against the pull, trying to keep his head above water just enough to breathe. The good news? They were moving faster than they ever could on land. The bad news? He wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d make it out alive. What a fucking joke. He lifted his chin stubbornly, coughing and sputtering as he struggled to stay afloat. Through the haze of exhaustion and terror, numbers flickered in the corner of his vision. Eight seconds left. ¡°Come on!¡± Nadeene¡¯s voice reached him faintly, distorted by the roaring water. Suddenly, her hand grasped his arm, yanking him closer. ¡°We¡¯re close!¡± Luca¡¯s eyes opened without his permission. The messy lines of threes seemed to have an end ¡ªthey were closer, and closer! Closer¡ª Closer¡ª Closer¡ª A scream pierced his ears. It was the last thing he heard before everything went black.
¡°It cannot be,¡± the man spat, shaking his head with fervent denial. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for this to happen! I won¡¯t hear another word about it!¡± ¡°The security mechanism failed,¡± Michael repeated, his tone deliberate and slow, each word landing like a hammer strike. ¡°It failed again.¡± ¡°Technically, last time there were only rumors,¡± piped up a woman lounging back in her chair, her posture casual but her eyes sharp beneath half-lidded eyelids. ¡°Yes, yes, rumors¡ªnothing more than that!¡± The blond man seized on the lifeline she¡¯d thrown him, clutching at it like a drowning sailor grasping driftwood. He spun toward the others, his face flushed, eyes blazing with defiance. ¡°I don¡¯t want any of you repeating a single word of this to anyone outside this room. There is nothing wrong¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, but there is,¡± interrupted a new voice, smooth as silk and twice as cutting. A figure stepped into the room, exuding an air of calculated menace. ¡°And it won¡¯t vanish just because you bury your head in the sand, Krito.¡± ¡°Tiberius,¡± Krito snapped, his jaw tightening until the muscles stood out like cords. ¡°What are you doing here? You have no authority here.¡± ¡°The esteemed Delta supervisor doesn¡¯t know?¡± Tiberius smiled¡ªa predator baring its teeth¡ªand leaned forward slightly, red lips parting to reveal unnervingly sharp teeth. ¡°When it comes to system failures, the security team automatically has jurisdiction to intervene. And yes, this is an intervention.¡± His gaze swept over the room before settling on Michael. ¡°Gentlemen¡ªcould you do me the honors?¡± From seemingly nowhere, men dressed in sleek, dark-blue suits materialized, moving with precision and purpose. They fanned out silently, their presence suffocating yet eerily calm. ¡°You cannot do this!¡± Krito sputtered, backing away instinctively, though his bravado wavered under Tiberius¡¯ icy stare. ¡°Please, accompany me,¡± Tiberius said smoothly, turning his attention to Michael. His expression softened ever so slightly, though his voice remained firm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss, but I need to ask some questions.¡± Before Michael could respond, the door burst open, and a woman stumbled in, breathless. She froze mid-step when she took in the scene: Tiberius standing center stage, flanked by his silent entourage; Krito looking pale and cornered; the rest of the group tense and uneasy. ¡°¡­ Did I come at a bad time?¡± she asked hesitantly, glancing between them. ¡°What happened?¡± Michael demanded, stepping forward. His voice cut through the tension like a blade. She straightened, regaining her composure, and offered a small, tight smile. ¡°The four from the Mines got out.¡± ¡°I told you all!¡± Krito exploded, jabbing a finger in the air triumphantly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing as a failure¡ªthis proves it! Everything is fine!¡± ¡°They managed to find a hidden exit,¡± the woman continued, speaking over him as if he weren¡¯t there. Her smile faded, replaced by something colder, harder. ¡°Oh, everyone knows the security mechanism didn¡¯t work. We¡¯ve lost one of the two teams from Delta, and one from Gamma. Beta¡¯s two teams¡­¡± She paused, her voice dropping lower, heavier. ¡°¡­are in a very complicated situation right now.¡± ¡°For this reason, it is imperative to obtain all available information,¡± Tiberius said. ¡°Seeing that you are quite knowledgeable on the subject, I will ask you to join me as well. After you, ladies, gentlemen¡ª¡°he turned to the woman on the chair. ¡°¡ªand Lamia.¡± ¡°Always so gentleman,¡± she dragged the words, looking at her nails. There was nothing do but to follow him. Chapter 38 - First Promotion (everything will be okay) Luca¡¯s consciousness returned slowly, like surfacing from deep water. It was a surprise¡ªa miracle, even¡ªto come back at all. For a moment, he had believed¡ª It didn''t matter. It wasn''t the end. The endless so, so white void greeted him. A single message flickered into existence before his eyes, happy words for the end of the trip.
Congratulations, Mithras.
And it topped a fucking will. Ah. No, thank you. He scrolled down quickly, skipping straight to what mattered the most right now: the results.
TOTAL POINTS: 200
TOTAL EXPERIENCE: 3580
There you are. He felt as if he could breathe after a long moment of suffocation ¡ªeven if technically he wasn''t even sure if he was breathing at that right moment but, meh semantics. The next messages under it came into view, and only made such a wonderful feeling to inflate like a balloon.
You¡¯ve obtained a [GEM]:
PERK ''ACID'' has been obtained.
You¡¯ve reached Level 3. You now have 2 Stat Point to distribute.
You¡¯ve unlocked: Inner Market.
You¡¯ve obtained an [Item]. You will be able to access it from your Inventory.
MYSTERY LEVEL 1.8
Level 3. With this Rank 2 was so close he could almost touch it. He only needed his supervisor''s confirmation. Only that. Would it be enough? He didn¡¯t know for sure. But it had to be. It had to be. The thoughts stirred in his mind as exhaustion began to pull him under once more. Clinging to the numbers, to the letters, to the hope they represented, Luca let himself drift away, the edges of the white, white, white space blurring into darkness. It must be enough. It must. It could have been minutes or years before Luca opened his eyes, returning to the world of the living like he had been only sleeping until now. The faint hum of machinery was the first thing that he heard, followed by a mostly human sound ¨Ca calm breathing. He blinked, his vision blurry at first. A black lump became a person as his eyes sharpened in the light of the room. The capsule lid was already open, so he sat slowly, looking at his surroundings and then at the stranger. The man stood nearby. He was dressed in a sleek black suit that contrasted sharply with his red tie, and sat straight, with should spread on confidence. His eyes ¨Csilver, like silver coins¨C studied him. Luca had never felt as much under scrutiny as he did at that instant. And then the man smiled and the heaviness faded away as if it had been only his imagination. Yeah. Sure. ¡°Welcome back, Mithras,¡± the man finally said, his voice smooth and polished like a mirror bronze, the kind of voice that belonged in boardrooms and high-stakes negotiations. Mr. Howard¡¯s uncle could learn a thing or three from him. ¡°I¡¯m Tiberius. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± Tiberius. ... That Tiberius? Luca rubbed his temples, his mind still foggy but not enough to avoid the sudden urgency to get back into the Mystery. ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, his voice rough. ¡°I guess¡­¡± Tiberius chuckled, a low sound that carried just the right mix of warmth and condescension. Luca bet it was practiced in front a mirror, perhaps even through holographic filming. It was the kind of shit a man like him would do. ¡°I understand that you¡¯re not at your best right now, but I couldn¡¯t help myself. Escaping a 2-star Mystery¡ªno, any Mystery after the security mechanism failed¡ªis no small feat.¡± He interlaced his fingers, resting them on his knees with deliberate calm. ¡°You and the others¡­ well, let¡¯s just say you defied all odds.¡± There was awe in his voice, but something else too¡ªsomething Luca didn¡¯t want to dwell on. Not now, not tomorrow. No. Forcing himself to act, Luca shrugged, leaning back against the edge of the capsule. ¡°We got lucky. Our hunch paid off, and we triggered the hidden mission. That¡¯s¡­¡± He smacked his lips, searching for words that weren¡¯t ¡®could you leave?¡¯ or ¡®fuck you¡¯, ¡°¡­that¡¯s the only reason we made it out.¡± ¡°Luck, you say?¡± Tiberius raised an eyebrow. ¡°Modesty doesn¡¯t suit you, Mithras. Are you, perhaps, familiar with the discovery rate for hidden missions in 2-star worlds? Two percent. When the mechanism failed, most of us wrote your obituaries. Logistics had already drafted your exit packages.¡± His delivery was matter-of-fact. Luca could picture the scene perfectly on his mind. ¡°But you proved us wrong. That¡¯s not luck.¡± He dragged out the last word like it was something dirt under his shoes. Luca didn¡¯t like the intensity of his gaze one bit. Even though he understood the weight behind those piercing eyes¡ªthe story about his wife¡ªit didn¡¯t mean he wanted to keep talking with the guy who had whiped half of the name characters for a hunch. So, he changed the subject. ¡°Do you know -do you know why the security mechanism failed?¡± Tiberius¡¯s expression shifted subtly, his gaze drifting for a moment before settling into a frown. It only made him look a promising politician in the middle of his campaign. ¡°We¡¯re mobilizing every resource available to find the truth. I assure you is our top priority.¡± Of course it was. These systems were supposed to be failproof. Like the sun. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Rest assured, we¡¯ll get to the bottom of it," he finished. Luca nodded, too tired to press further for something he knew no one would find until later ¡ªlate¡ª, and already satisfied with the change of topic. ¡°We¡¯ll continue our conversation later,¡± Tiberius said then, his tone shifting back to its polished ease. ¡°Part of the current protocol.¡± Protocol? Right. Because Pendulum definitely had contingency plans for when the impossible happened. Sure, whatever. As long as Luca could postpone this chat until he felt less like a soggy, half-crushed mushroom at the bottom of the trash can, he was fine with it. As if on cue, the door at the end of the room slid open, and two figures stepped inside. Michael, Luca¡¯s supervisor and new saviour, dressed in a white leather jacket (really? he did deserve his second and third look), his dark sunglasses hiding his eyes (was there some kind of bet for how much time the noobs took to find the truth or something? could he join?) ¡ªand someone more. A woman Luca didn¡¯t recognize at first, with dark hair and brown eyes, dressed in a professional attire. And pink sandals. Beach pink sandals. They squashed with each one of her steps. ¡°Mithras,¡± Michael said, nodding in greeting. ¡°Good to see you back in one piece.¡± The woman stepped forward, her eyes lighting up as she extended a hand. ¡°Minerva. Specialist, Delta-M. I¡¯ve been following your case.¡± Luca shook her hand, her grip firm and enthusiastic and cold like the undead''s mother. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± he said. He sounded half-not-there but she only smiled even more. ¡°Golden rookie looks like he just crawled outta bed after a week-long bender. Don¡¯t sweat it, though¡ªyou¡¯ll bounce back faster than ya think.¡± ... From where came the accent? ¡°Minerva, let him breathe before giving him more work.¡± Tiberius, who had been observing the exchange without being recognized with more than a nod, stepped forward. ¡°As I already said, we¡¯ll continue our conversation later, Mithras. For now, rest.¡± With that, he gave a final curt goodbye at the others and left the room, his shoes clicking against the floor. Was this a chanclas competition? When the door closed behind him, Minerva turned to Luca, eyes shining like they had small candles in them. Only for an instant, of course. ¡°Two hundred points on your second mission?! You kidding me? Do you even realize how long it took me to hit those numbers? Six missions! SIX! You¡¯re making the rest of us look like amateurs, golden boy.¡± "Thanks." Luca managed a tired smile as he climbed out of the capsule. ¡°You really need to rest. Don''t worry. We''ll let you go. But you¡¯ll come by later at my office.¡± Michael pushed his sunglasses. ¡°To discuss your promotion.¡± A bit slow but still mindful, Luca blinked, pretending to be confused. ¡°Promotion?¡± ¡°You¡¯re Level 3,¡± Michael explained. ¡°Everyone who reaches it becomes an Agent.¡± ¡°Like us!¡± Minerva chimed in. ¡°Though honestly, even if you¡¯d stayed Level 2, after this kinda splash, a raise woulda been inevitable.¡± Michael sighed. ¡°It isn¡¯t a good moment but it¡¯s better if you sleep in it. From onwards, you¡¯ll getting into deeper waters. Being an Agent isn¡¯t so good as they say.¡± He shared a look with his coworker. Forget about later. Luca felt he was listening to them from underwater right now. When would they let him go? ¡°But the money is greater! Each point is worth 1.2K now. So congrats¡ªyou¡¯ve just earned almost a quarter mil. And you didn¡¯t die! What¡¯s better than that? Plus, you¡¯ll get your Agent badge, access to the Junky Box, extra meal points, and¡ªoh!¡ªthe Inner Market. Trust me, kid, you¡¯re gonna love it.¡± Luca nodded slowly, his mind still catching up. Plus, bonuses. ¡°What about the health insurance? For family?¡± ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t worry about that right now,¡± Michael said. ¡°We¡¯ll talk later. Get some rest first.¡± Luca wanted to push, to get answers, but his body felt like it was made of mushy, moldy bread or melted butter. He nodded again, too tired to argue, and barely stiffed a yawn against his palm. His eyes briefly swept over the other capsules. ¡°What about them?¡± he asked, making a small gesture of his hand on their direction. ¡°They¡¯ve already left,¡± said Michael, to his surprise. ¡°Dragged by security the instant they came out. I think Nors rescued their ducks but that other lad-¡± Minerva shook her head. Ah. So Lamia wasn¡¯t the kind of supervisor that cared. ¡°But enough about that,¡± Minerva declared, clapping Luca on the shoulder with enough force to nearly knock him off balance. ¡°Let¡¯s go, golden boy. Big things await!¡± Her enthusiasm was infectious¡ªbut also overwhelming. ¡°Welcome to Rank 2, Mithras,¡± Michael said, smirking as he opened the door. Luca smiled at him. Please give me my fucking medical coverance and my raise. The way to the elevator was blissfully quiet.
The office was quiet, save for the low buzz of the air filtration system and the occasional distant sound of open and closed doors. Nagato leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, his expression a mix of irritation and exhaustion. It made him look older, like a young adult. Siting across from him, Nadeene kept her eyes barely open, rubbing them time from time, and stiffing a yawn against the palm of her hand, about to drop there. ¡°I swear,¡± Nagato muttered, breaking the silence, ¡°if I never see another mud pool in my life, it¡¯ll be too soon.¡± Nadeene raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a smirk. ¡°You know,¡± she drawled, leaning back in her chair, ¡°I don¡¯t think it was mud.¡± He shot her a glare, though there wasn¡¯t much bite behind it. ¡°Very funny. Let me remind you that I wasn''t the only that got no-mud on their throat.¡± ¡°I didnt'' get it on my throat." She squinted her eyes at him. "What were you doing there, mmm?" Nagato opened his mouth to retort, but the door slid open before he could get a word out. Nors stepped inside, balancing a tray of coffee cups and a plate of brown cookies in one hand. As always, he was impeccably dressed, his calm gaze sharp even beneath the warmth of his smile. His dark hair fell until to his shoulders, and no one, no even the other seniors, could even heard him coming. The guy was a legend. ¡°Evening,¡± he said, setting the tray down on the desk. ¡°Help yourselves. I figured you could use it after¡­ these last hours.¡± That was one way to put it. But Nagato didn¡¯t need to be told twice. He grabbed a cup of coffee and a cookie, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver, Nors.¡± Chuckling softly, Nors took a seat behind his desk. ¡°Glad to hear it. Now, let¡¯s make this quick. I¡¯ve already read the reports from control, so we don¡¯t need to go over every detail. But I¡¯d love to hear what you think matters most.¡± Nagato¡¯s expression grew serious, though the effect was somewhat undermined by his round cheeks. Swallowing hastily, he asked quietly, ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°The information I received suggests something happened during the mission¡ªeven before the mechanism failed.¡± Nors paused, glancing between Nagato and Nadeene. Their faces were quite blank, and tension hung thick in the air. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m talking about Ladon¡¯s death.¡± Both of them shared a quick look. ¡°First and foremost, let me clarify: this isn¡¯t something that falls on your shoulders. While teamwork is crucial, each individual ultimately remains responsible for themselves. However¡­¡± He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. ¡°¡­because it may weigh heavily on your minds¡ªand hearts¡ªI felt obligated to address it.¡± ¡°Yeah, about that¡ª¡± Nagato began, fumbling for words. ¡°What happens,¡± Nadeene interjected suddenly, fixing Nors with a piercing stare, ¡°when one of us is directly responsible for the death of another? Like pushing someone aside to escape. Or switching places. Things like that.¡± Nors leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. ¡°To be honest¡ªwhich, admittedly, isn¡¯t ideal for his kind of situation¡ªwe have no tools to detect foul play within a Mystery unless you report it yourselves. Without evidence, it¡¯s difficult to act. Even if someone comes forward, unless multiple reports corroborate the event, it typically goes unresolved.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying someone can do whatever they want, and nothing happens?!¡± Nagato snapped, his voice rising sharply, as Nadeene scowled. ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± Nors replied firmly, his brow furrowing. After a moment, he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ¡°Legally speaking, holding someone accountable for their actions is complicated without concrete proof. But¡ªas I mentioned earlier¡ªwe lack the means to determine exactly what transpired inside the Mystery.¡± He gave them both a pointed look. ¡°All we can do is trust that you¡¯ll conduct yourselves as decent human beings¡ªor at least behave in a civilized manner.¡± A tense silence settled over the room. ¡°So,¡± Nors continued after taking a sip of his coffee, his tone deliberately casual, ¡°is there anything you¡¯d like to share? What about the hidden exit?¡± Nagato and Nadeene exchanged a glance. ¡°About that¡­¡± Chapter 39 - Walls have had ears since ancient times The lab looked quite alive and entertaining with the holograms floating in the air, showing streams of data, while the machines filled the room with a low, constant buzz. Dr. Abbadon stood at the center, fidgeting with his last research. His white hair was tied back, his skin pale under the light. Red eyes were squinted, focused on the small orb of light that didn¡¯t want to grow. He wasn¡¯t alone on his job this time, so his attention was divided. Across from him, Lamia leaned on a console. Her red hair stood out against the cold lab, falling down over her crossed arms. ¡°I don¡¯t get why everyone¡¯s making such a big fuss about this,¡± Lamia said, her voice tinted with frustration. ¡°We¡¯ve all been putting our lives on the line since day one. Security mechanism or not, this job has always been a fucking gamble.¡± Dr. Abbadon hummed softly a he managed the orb, finally managing that it shifted its color to a vivid orange¡­ which wasn¡¯t what he was looking for. ¡°And yet,¡± he replied, his voice smooth, ¡°the psychological impact of this failure cannot be underestimated. It¡¯s not merely about the amount of person who won¡¯t come back¡ªit¡¯s about trust in the system.¡± Lamia snorted, rolling her eyes so hard it was almost audible. ¡°Trust in the system? Please. We¡¯re dealing with interdimensional anomalies, Doc, not some corporate flowchart. People knew what they signed up for when they walked through that door.¡± She frowned. ¡°Besides, this isn¡¯t the first time. You know that. I hate everyone is acting like it is some one-time thing.¡± ¡°You know we cannot make mention of that,¡± the man murmured softly, a hint of reprimand on his voice. Lamia scowled, looking at her nails. ¡°Now, speaking of people¡­ Have we received many resignation letters?¡± ¡°A few. Nothing HR can¡¯t handle.¡± She tapper her nails against the console. ¡°They¡¯ll recruit more rookies in two weeks.¡± Abbadon nodded absently, his gaze drifting to a holographic display next to him. With a gesture of his hand, the stream changed from numbers to a graphic. ¡°I understand that it will put additional strain on you all. Fewer personnel for an overwhelming number of missions. I hope the recruitment goes well.¡± ¡°You and me, doc.¡± There was a moment of silence before he asked, ¡°What about the teams? Any updates?¡± ¡°The Gamma team didn¡¯t return from the Hotel mission. No survivors. And Beta¡¯s still stuck in their mission¡ªearly phase, no word yet. But there¡¯s a chance they¡¯ll make it out. The alternative exit¡¯s tricky, but they¡¯re good enough to pull it off. We¡¯ll know in a week.¡± Abbadon paused, his brow furrowing slightly. ¡°Ah, yes. Time equivalence varies so drastically between Mystery levels. It¡¯s easy to lose track.¡± Then, after a moment, he added, ¡°The Beta Team¡ªisn¡¯t that the one with the recruit Lorenzo seems so enamored with? Lanlong, I believe?¡± ¡°Exactly. If anyone can drag them out of there alive, it¡¯s that girl.¡± ¡°What about the new five-star?¡± he asked quietly, his tone betraying a hint of concern beneath his usual calm. ¡°I heard there have been¡­ complications.¡± ¡°Hell,¡± Lamia spat, her voice flat and bitter. ¡°Absolute hell. We¡¯ve lost three teams already, and the fourth is barely hanging on. Whatever¡¯s in there, it doesn¡¯t play by the rules.¡± She gave a grim, humorless smile. ¡°Big surprise for a fucking five-star world. I swear, sometimes I think the higher-ups are completely delusional.¡± She muttered under her breath, ¡°Probably drunk when they approved this shit.¡± Abbadon¡¯s expression remained impassive, but his fingers tightened slightly around the orb, betraying a flicker of tension. ¡°I see. I suppose they haven¡¯t learned much from the other two attempts. How many tries did it take to complete the Garden of Eden?¡± ¡°Nine,¡± Lamia answered briskly, pressing her lips together. Then, abruptly changing the subject, she continued, ¡°Speaking of troublesome worlds, there¡¯s one that¡¯s embarrassing our Delta teams right now. Supposed to be a one-star¡ªa cooking show. You¡¯d think people who run from giant insects or dinosaurs, survive yeti attacks, and sleep in cursed catacombs wouldn¡¯t break a sweat here. You¡¯d think. But we¡¯ve sent four Agents already, and none of them came back.¡± Abbadon turned at her, raising a delicate white eyebrow. ¡°A cooking show, you say? How¡­ quaint. What makes it so deadly for our poor agents?¡± Lamia sighed, pushing off the console and pacing the room. ¡°It¡¯s not just about cooking, alright? Everyone except the first one knew their way around the kitchen. But the ingredients are straight-up monstrous¡ªthe kitchen¡¯s basically Australia condensed into a death trap. And the judges? Jesus Christ. If you don¡¯t impress them, you¡¯re dead. If you do impress them, you¡¯re probably still gonna die in the next round.¡± She then continued, ¡°but the White Team wants that damn Youth Fountain at the end, so we won¡¯t stop until someone wins first prize.¡± Abbadon smiled. ¡°How delightfully macabre. And how unexpected of the White Team to obsess with this. Dr. Cylles must be so eager.¡± Lamia stopped mid-pace and shot him a glare. ¡°Yeah, real funny. Sounds like something you¡¯d come up with.¡± She sighed. ¡°But seriously, Doc, we need to do something. It¡¯s a goddamn one-star world! It shouldn¡¯t be this hard. Something that Dr. Cylles concurs, considering the missive she sent to the Manager.¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Abbadon set the orb down on the console, where it floated gently, spinning slowly and displaying patterns that made him frown. ¡°Ah. Of course. How expected of her.¡± He then stopped. ¡°But your Manager¡­?¡± ¡°He¡¯s under surveillance. You know what Tiberius is like. So Mimir is who has control now. He¡¯ll probably take care of this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret. I¡¯m sure someone will solve it eventually. In the meantime, keep me updated on the five-star. And¡­¡± He paused, giving her a pointed look. ¡°¡­do try to keep morale up. We need every hand we can get.¡± Lamia smirked, though it lacked any real humor or warm. ¡°Morale¡¯s not my alley, you know. But I¡¯ll try. For you.¡± Abbadon let out a small sigh, amused, and watched her strode out of the lab. Once she was gone, he turned back to the hologram, his fingers dancing across the holograms until they faded, leaving a single one floating in front of him. When he touched it, the orb increased its size and spun, spreading a tendril that seemed to want to connect with something. ¡°A cooking show,¡± he murmured to himself. ¡°How¡­ unexpected.¡± He figured he would have more answers in the following days. There was someone who had made quite the rictus as a miracle worker. It should be enough for Mimir, then.
Luca woke with a gasp, his heart jumping against his ribs. It felt as though he¡¯d been fighting the current again¡ªkicking, hitting the water, so useless; drowning, desperate for air¡ªand had only just managed to break free of its greedy grip. His clothes clung to him, soaked through with sweat, and the sheets were no better. He had better mornings, so to speak. His eyes closed, and he let out a long sigh. The nightmare lingered¡ªa cacophony of sounds, blurred images flashing too fast to make sense of. Smells. Smells that clung to him. But it wasn¡¯t the scent of burning wood or scorched metal that haunted him. Not even the metal. The coppery scent. No. It was the water. The fucking water. Dragging himself out of bed, Luca refused to let his mind linger on the fragments still clinging to him. He stumbled into the bathroom, turning the faucet until steam began to rise in white curls of mist. Stepping into the shower, he let the heat wash over him, but it did little more than dull the ache. His thoughts kept circling back to that last moment¡ªthe suffocating weight of water filling his lungs¡ªand suddenly, he couldn¡¯t stay under there any longer. It was shameful. A grown-ass man fleeing the shower because of nightmares. A man who had lived through worse. Survived worse. Rubbing his skin raw with the towel, Luca dressed in fresh clothes and glanced around the apartment. His eyes drifted to the window. Outside, the sky hung gray ¡ªhow unusual¡ªbut clear enough to see that the sun must have rose up already. Picking up the medallion from the bedside table, he noticed the time: nine in the morning. No new messages blinked on the screen. He sighed. Relief seeped into his shoulders as he hung the medallion around his neck, tucking it gently under his t-shirt. Checking his bracelet, he found there was a message. From Michael. ¡°Promotion talk. My office. 1100. Don¡¯t be late.¡± Luca snorted. How nice of him to wait until to middle morning. He recalled his ¨Cand Minerva¡¯s- presence after leaving the capsule and smiled a bit. He had not been unlucky when it came to direct superiors, at least. There was still time before the meeting, but the apartment felt too small, too quiet. Too suffocating. After stripping the bed and tossing the sheets into a pile, Luca left a small note along with a handful of coins¡ªuseless trinkets now, but pretty ones nonetheless. Then he left, the door hissing shut behind him with a faint echo. As he made his way to the staircase, his gaze flickered briefly toward the kitchen. So far, he hadn¡¯t touched a single pan or bothered buying anything beyond ready-to-eat meals. Maybe later, he thought vaguely, he could take a look at the market in town. And he had still to explore the ¡®inner market¡¯. But later. Stepping outside, the cool morning air greeted him. He hadn¡¯t taken more than a few steps onto the road when a familiar voice called out. ¡°Mithras! Over here.¡± Luca turned, spotting Mars leaning casually against the wall near the entrance. His dark hair was tousled, his grin sharp and knowing¡ªbut there was something else in his eyes today, something that made him recall the creatures from his first mission. Pushing off the wall, Mars approached, hands stuffed lazily into the pockets of his jacket. ¡°Heard you made it back in one piece,¡± he said, his tone light, though his gaze swept over Luca. Evaluating. Then he smiled. ¡°Congrats, Agent. Two missions under your belt and a shiny new promotion. Not bad for a rookie.¡± Of course Mars already knew. Pendulum¡¯s rumor mill moved faster than lightning while everyone else was still stumbling or even crawling. ¡°Alive is good enough for me,¡± Luca replied dryly. Mars snorted, shaking his head. ¡°So humble. But that¡¯s alright¡ªyou¡¯ll have plenty of time to get cocky by the end of the month. The celebrations will be something else. You¡¯ll meet all sorts of people.¡± He paused, his grin sharpening further. ¡°And speaking of people¡­ They¡¯re talking.¡± He gave Luca a pointed look. ¡°People talk too much,¡± Luca shot back, his tone dismissive. He didn¡¯t like being the center of attention¡ªit wasn¡¯t safe, especially not here. But what choice did he have? Shawn was his priority, and if breaking records and stepping into the eye of the storm was what it took, then so be it. Mars chuckled, clapping Luca on the shoulder with just enough force to make him stumble without causing him pain. ¡°Maybe. Just watch your back¡ªthere¡¯s a lot of piranhas circling. They don¡¯t like it when someone new makes waves. And those who do like it¡­¡± He trailed off. ¡°¡­well, they¡¯re usually the worst kind.¡± Luca nodded, his expression sobering. ¡°Thanks for the heads-up.¡± After a beat, he added, ¡°Breakfast?¡± Mars tilted his head, a playful gleam flashing across his eyes. ¡°If my junior asks me so nicely, how could I possibly disappoint him?¡± As they headed toward the dining hall, Luca caught a flicker of movement at the edge of his vision¡ªa flutter of wings, a flash of black feathers. But when he turned to look, it was gone. Probably just a trick of the light. Probably. Chapter 40 - No pressure Breakfast wasn¡¯t bad. Yes, Luca had paid for both meals ¡ª but his ''food points'' weren¡¯t sparse, and the conversation made up for it. Mars knew a lot. It wasn¡¯t just about people ¡ª other recruits, agents, specialists from Delta-M, L, and N ¡ª but also about missions, Mysteries. He spoke of his own supervisor, Minerva, whom Luca had recently met, and two of his coworkers at the same level (though he didn¡¯t give their names), about a ''prick'' called Lorenzo (whom Luca knew of but had never met), and advised him to ignore any message from ''Norseway''... and then sprinkled some wisdom about a cruise ship filled with zombies, an underwater temple, and what Luca was almost sure was a joke about a car and an endless route. The talk stretched across almost all the free time Luca still had before the meeting, but he couldn¡¯t cut Mars off when many of the things the man said were about Mysteries Luca had never heard of before. Besides, something soon became clear: this man wasn¡¯t a simple Agent. Luca was sure that Mars was stronger than he had appeared at first contact, and perhaps even beyond a Specialist. Sitting across from him, Luca felt as though he¡¯d tripped over a rock only to discover something akin to a Tom Bombadil hiding behind it. Except this version came with sharper teeth, and rather than being under a rock, he had been perched atop a tree, watching below for something Luca couldn¡¯t quite pin down. He didn¡¯t know anything about Mars beyond what the man chose to reveal ¡ª which wasn¡¯t much. Or perhaps nothing at all. Mars spoke of everyone and their mother, yet never of himself. ¡­ But then, this said something about him, didn¡¯t it? So, at his current moment, it was better for Luca to have a good relationship with his senior. ¡°See you around, Mars,¡± Luca said as they parted ways, still gripping the substance of their talk. ¡°See you around, Mithras,¡± Mars replied, flashing one last smirk before disappearing into the crowd like smoke let loose on the wind. The path to Michael¡¯s office had become familiar to him, even though he had been in Pendulum for less than ten days. Reaching the Main Building, he nodded at the receptionist ¡ª absently noticing that her fingernails were black that day; he didn¡¯t know if they were painted or not, but considering the current atmosphere, the color could be taken as a statement. Mars had (almost) carelessly mentioned that more than twenty-two people had not returned through all the levels, and ten were still ¡®pending.¡¯ Pendulum had not suffered such a loss since decades ago ¡ª something about 1982? ¡ª but beyond that, many of the dead had been known to their coworkers, their supervisors. Perhaps it was this grieving air that made the corridors empty, the normal volume of noise faded to a distant whisper. Only his footsteps echoed between the walls. He felt like a living being crossing through a dead place. As the door finally came into view, Luca hurried, reaching it with a slight shortness of breath. Perhaps he should allocate his two points straight to Endurance. Michael was seated behind his desk, his black leather jacket hanging from his chair but his sunglasses on. He had his sleeves rolled up, revealing a series of dark ink tattoos swirling over his wrist. For some reason, Luca felt they looked¡­ angry. Which wasn¡¯t something he thought simple patterns could show. ¡°Sit,¡± Michael said, gesturing to the chair across from him. His voice sounded quite tired ¡ª as if he hadn¡¯t been able to sleep for the last few weeks instead of just a day. Luca obeyed, settling into the chair and folding his hands in his lap. He didn¡¯t speak, waiting for Michael to begin, and used that time to take a closer look at the office. It couldn¡¯t be helped. Even though he hadn¡¯t come there many times, he was sure there hadn¡¯t been a puppy wooden collection on the table before. They had unpolished lines and scratch marks, but there was a good amount of care put into them. Were they Michael¡¯s or¡­? After a moment, the man leaned back and reached into a drawer, searching for something. He pulled out papers, a stress ball, and even a strange-looking puzzle before taking out a small wooden box. It was like the dogs, having a rustic finish, but when he set it on the desk, closer to Luca¡¯s side than his, and opened it, the interior was padded with red velvet. Curiosity gnawed at Luca as he saw a disc, no larger than a fingernail, with a single ¡®P¡¯ etched on its surface, lying inside. His fingers twitched. ¡°Your Agent badge. And one of your privileges from now on,¡± Michael said, pushing the box toward Luca. ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± he said with a nod. The golden mark glinted under the light as Luca picked it up, wondering what he was supposed to do with it. Michael¡¯s lips twitched faintly ¡ª not quite a smirk, but close enough. ¡°Touch it with your bracelet,¡± he instructed. Luca did as he was told, bringing the disc against the silver band on his wrist. To his surprise, it disappeared with a flicker of light, and the bracelet grew warmer, its surface undulating. But this lasted only a second. Soon it settled back, and the only evidence that something had happened was the new message: [DELTA-M TRAINING ROOM HAS BEEN UNLOCKED.] ¡®Surprised¡¯ didn¡¯t begin to cover how he felt at that moment. He swallowed hard, playing along as expected. ¡°¡­We have a training room?¡± he murmured, fascinated. To think he would get this upgrade so soon. Morrigan had gotten it, of course, but after getting the claws. ¡°I imagined you would need it for your latest Perk,¡± Michael gave him a smirk. ¡°¡®Acid,¡¯ huh? Offensive perks like this one are rare. The last time someone got something similar was a Delta-L agent ¡ªit was Fire Breath, I think.¡± His eyes drifted for a moment. ¡°Now, you¡¯ll figure out the details about it later. For now, we have more pressing matters to discuss. We haven¡¯t talked about the report, after all.¡± Even behind his sunglasses, it seemed like he was raising an eyebrow. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The report, right. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t submit it,¡± he admitted, embarrassment creeping into his voice. After getting out of the Mystery, his state had been so bad that he didn¡¯t even remember how he managed to reach the building, or even his bed. Hopefully, he had managed to arrive on his own feet, without making any scene that could bite his ass later. ¡°Should I¡­?¡± He glanced around, realizing belatedly that he hadn¡¯t brought the tablet either, so technically there was no way to give it to him without returning to the apartment. ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± Michael waved his hand as if it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°We can talk now.¡± Luca barely avoided frowning. It made sense to go straight to that, but¡­ He¡¯d been hoping to bring up the health insurance for his brother. Perhaps after this. Michael had said that, after all. There was no need to grow impatient, right? ¡°Let me be clear. You found a hidden exit ¡ª no, don¡¯t say anything. I¡¯ve got three similar testimonies that said that without your input, no one would have thought about that, let alone achieved it. And you did it without triggering any Death Rules nor Omen Rules, in a situation that would¡¯ve left even seasoned Agents, even Specialists, struggling to think straight.¡± For a moment, Luca felt the weight of Michael¡¯s gaze on him ¡ª an almost tangible cold that threatened to swallow him whole. Sometimes he forgot. The people in front of him ¡ª they weren¡¯t what they seemed anymore. ¡°This is no small feat, Mithras.¡± A shiver ran down his spine. ¡°Some are calling it beginner¡¯s luck.¡± It was obvious from the tone of his voice what the man thought about this. ¡°Others of us are not so blind nor arrogant against the fact that you led three others, including a more experienced rookie, out of their graves. With no manual, almost zero experience, and without offensive skills.¡± Alright. Now he was feeling embarrassed besides a bit fearful. ¡°I ¨C I followed what I gained from my last mission, your advice, and what I learned around here.¡± He swallowed, repressing the urge to back off. ¡°Surely ¨C surely it wasn¡¯t that impressive?¡± Downplaying his efforts might seem counterproductive when he needed to stand out for his brother¡¯s sake. But the last thing he wanted was to become someone who attracted the scrutiny that warranted an in-depth (under-skin) analysis. Michael¡¯s lips thinned, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. ¡°You¡¯d think that.¡± He said, slowly, the pressure still there. ¡°But I¡¯m sure you have already heard about how many we lost just yesterday. Six of the ten from Delta were from our squadron.¡± Luca¡¯s heart throbbed. ¡°So many?¡± ¡°There has been talk of a curse,¡± he muttered, gesturing as if saying ¡®what can you do?¡¯ but there was nothing casual in his voice. ¡°Now, let¡¯s agree to have a disagreement about your skills. Facts speak for themselves. This, however, isn¡¯t something I¡¯m telling you to get cocky and then killed for reckless behavior.¡± He pushed his sunglasses up slightly. ¡°It¡¯s a warning.¡± The words from Mars came to his mind at that moment, and he straightened his shoulders, nodding. ¡°As an Agent, you¡¯ll start receiving individual tasks. Given your performance and personal record, your level won¡¯t offer you much protection. Those missions must be approved by the Manager and the senior agent in charge of you ¡ª me.¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°I won¡¯t babysit you. My approach may come off as hands-off, but I¡¯m sure you understand that Pendulum isn¡¯t the place to be coddled. However, I¡¯ll offer advice on occasion. Things¡­ aren¡¯t as clear as I¡¯d like them to be here.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Luca nodded at him. Solo missions. They were issued directly from the research teams. High-risk, high-reward. Perfect for him. Morrigan, Lorenzo, and Nabu ¡ª the ones about whom he had read more ¡ª had gone through a lot of them, so he had a lot of knowledge that he expected would help him soar. They were a not-to-be-missed opportunity to get his debt solved quicker than ever. ¡°The details will come straight to your bracelet once approved. But you¡¯ll have the final say. Keep in mind, though, you¡¯ll still be participating in mandatory missions once per fortnight. You¡¯ll have more control in the ''Work'' section. Make sure to balance accordingly. You wouldn¡¯t be the last one to get into a frenzy and then die for something insignificant.¡± ¡°Understood. Thank you.¡± Michael studied him for a moment, letting the silence pass. And then he nodded. ¡°Good. One more thing: Tiberius has backed off for now.¡± He looked like he wanted to say something else but settled for a quiet sigh instead. For now, he said. Even so, Luca felt a knot inside him loosening. That was one less thing to worry about. ¡°Now,¡± Michael said, his tone shifting, ¡°about that health insurance matter.¡± Luca straightened his shoulders and maintained eye contact with Michael''s glasses. ¡°My brother,¡± he said quickly. ¡°I want him under Pendulum¡¯s care. Your doctors here are excellent, but I¡¯d prefer to keep him at his current hospital. His doctor and nurse know his case inside and out.¡± Michael considered this, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk. ¡°Our doctors are among the best,¡± he acknowledged finally. ¡°And your request isn¡¯t unreasonable. However¡­¡± He paused, leveling Luca with a piercing stare. ¡°If you want this resolved quickly, you¡¯ll need to shut up those bastards whispering about luck and whatnot.¡± Luca¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I¡¯ll take another mission.¡± I¡¯ll do whatever it takes. ¡°Oh?¡± The man smiled faintly. ¡°So even with the security mechanism still down, you¡¯re willing to dive back in?¡± Ah, that¡¯s right. To him, the matter wasn¡¯t so important when he knew how to get out in other ways ¡ª well, at least in those last cases. What if he got the Mystery about the zombie-infested cruise ship? He knew about the undead-infested town and even the one about the foggy island with mutants, but not that one. So yes. The lack of a security mechanism would impact him depending on what Mystery it was. But he wanted to say yes ¡ª to assure himself and Michael. He really wanted to say yes. However, until his brother¡¯s care was secured, he couldn¡¯t afford unnecessary risks. Once that was taken care of¡­ well, survival might not matter as much anymore. He¡¯d cross that bridge later, after hitting his face against the column. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Michael chuckled dryly, interrupting his thoughts. ¡°Miranda would have my head if I threw you to the pit without a rope. You still have two days left of rest. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find something to do.¡± Luca stood, his mind already racing ahead. ¡°Thank you, Michael.¡± Before leaving, he pulled a Chocolate & Almond bar from his pocket and placed it next to the wooden puppy collection on Michael¡¯s desk. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet,¡± Michael replied, his tone dry as he picked up the snack. ¡°Just don¡¯t die out there. Delta-M is counting on you to win the prize at the end of the month.¡± Then it hit him. That competition. ¡°What¡¯s the prize?¡± ¡°A three-day stay at the company¡¯s hot springs. Haven¡¯t been there in two years, so I¡¯m counting on you.¡± Michael smirked. ¡°No pressure.¡± Something told Luca that failing to secure the prize for them would make his life significantly harder. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± A day at the spa didn¡¯t sound bad after a long month. And the cash bonus shouldn¡¯t be little, right? Chapter 41 - Preparation amidst storms After what felt like hours of talking ¡ªwith Mars, then with Michael¡ª and finally approaching what he wanted, Luca slithered through the road. The faint breeze ruffled the red leaves of the trees, carrying the faint scene of a storm and the distant murmur of people. He found himself on the park, not far from the Delta¡¯s building. It was quieter there, and as he sat on a bench, he let the silence settle over him. His thoughts drifted away. He had two days of rest, but he liked to consider them as two days to prepare himself. The Training Room was a big advantage ¡ªand despite the strange format which Michael had used to give him the necessary permits, he knew it would be thrilling. Learning to use ''Acid'' would be his priority before his next mission. But¡­ there were other things he needed to do. The Inner Market, for example. And he needed to allocate the still pending points. He was deep in thought when the sound of footsteps broke the silence. Glancing at its direction, he saw someone familiar. Liona stood a few feet away, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She was ¨Cwell, she looked quite down. Metaphoric shadows covered her eyes. ¡°Hey,¡± Luca said, patting the space next to him. ¡°You okay?¡± She hesitated before sitting beside him, her gaze fixed on the ground. Her voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°No really.¡± ¡°I supposed so. The mission¡­ was quite hard.¡± Liona only murmured her accord, grasping her hands together. Luca felt a pang of sympathy for her. Of all the characters, Samantha could be said to belong to the ''good girl'' type, someone who struggled against the darkness of those around and clung bravely to her own humanity even through each loss of a piece of it. It could be said that her designation was well chosen. The silence hung down between them both while in the sky the clouds swirled, becoming darker, more threatening. It looks like it will rain soon, Luca thought, and wondered what to do. He didn¡¯t want to get wet but leaving her alone like that felt a bit wrong. Liona took the decision for him. ¡°I ¨C¡± Liona opened her mouth, hesitating as if searching for the right words. It took her several moments before she finally spoke. ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking¡­ about Ladon.¡± Her voice was soft, almost fragile. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie¡ªhe really did save my life in the forest. After ¨Cafter climbing the fence, the forest became stranger. We tried to reach the mountains as soon as possible ¡ªbut then ¡ªthen I heard the noises¡ª¡± Her voice cracked. ¡°The mimic,¡± Luca supplied gently, already having hunch about where this was headed. ¡°Yes. I guess that¡¯s a good name for it,¡± Liona murmured, a smile withering on her lips as soon as it appeared. ¡°I heard my¡ª someone screaming ¡ªand they sounded like they in pain. I wanted to turn back ¡ªto help them. But Ladon stopped me, saying it was a trap ¡ªthat he¡¯d seen similar things before, that I¡¯ll die if I fell for something like that.¡± She paused, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t believe him at first. I couldn¡¯t. The urge ¡ªit felt impossible to resist¡ª¡± She glanced at Luca, her voice quieter now. ¡°And then¡­ he shocked me.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± With a snort, she explained. ¡°It was his item from the Junky Box. Some kind of joke toy¡ªit delivered a small jolt of electricity. It snapped me out of it. If he hadn¡¯t used it¡­¡± She trailed off, shaking her head. ¡°I probably would¡¯ve died there like an idiot.¡± Her hands clenched tightly together. ¡°But¡ªbut how could he do what he did later? Try ¨Ctry to trip Nagato like that, in such a situation? And then ¡ªhe even wanted to leave us there before. I didn¡¯t even want to think about that. It¡¯s makes me feel so disappointed. On him or on myself. I don¡¯t know.¡± The feeling of frustration was clear on his voice. Luca leaned back against the bench, his gaze drifting upward to the red leaves swirling above them. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t know him for more than a moment, so I cannot say I understood his thoughts. But there¡¯s something I¡¯ve learned so far. People aren¡¯t black and white, Liona. They can be good to some, and then a complete asshole to others. It¡¯s simply as people is.¡± ¡°I suppose¡­¡± Liona murmured, though her expression suggested she wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. He hummed, thoughtful. ¡°I¡¯m not saying it¡¯s alright. Although, I¡¯m sure that if we could speak to Ladon, he¡¯d say he did what he thought was correct for himself. No one wants to die. And this job puts everyone at the edge of the knife, doesn¡¯t?¡± ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t want to life if the price is the lives of others.¡± It was a beautiful statement. Such a righteous thing. Luca smiled softly, repressing the sudden sadness. ¡°We can only try to follow our words at the last end.¡± Trying¡­ something it was the best what you could do. Liona sighed heavily, her shoulders sagging. ¡°Even so¡­ I don¡¯t know how I¡¯m supposed to feel about all this. Part of me feels like I shouldn¡¯t mourn him. Like I shouldn¡¯t care.¡± She played with her jacket as she murmured, ¡°but I¡¯m sad anyway.¡± ¡°Good news is, you don¡¯t owe anyone your feelings,¡± Luca replied honestly, meeting her gaze with steady eyes. ¡°If you want to cry for him, cry. If you want to curse him, curse him. Hell, do both. You don¡¯t have to pick sides.¡± Liona stared at him for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly before her expression softened. Then she let out a short unexpected chuckle. ¡°¡­This might sound random, but do you have siblings or something? You¡¯re surprisingly good at this.¡± ¡°¡­ A younger brother.¡± ¡°That explains it,¡± Liona said, managing a faint but genuine smile. The tension in her shoulders seemed to ease, just a little. ¡°Thanks, Mithras. I needed to hear that.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Anytime.¡± Sometimes he forgot how young they were. Young and na?ve. (How young when their ashes were lay underground.)
The storm raged ¨Cthunder reverbed among the clouds, and lighting streamed through the window. Luca sat at the desk, a bunch of white paper and a pen in use. He was making some basic calculations about how long it would take him to pay off the debt if he kept bringing in 100¨C200 points from rewards. And, to his lack of surprise, it seemed like it would end in four, maximum six missions. Which meant less than a month. Of course, this was only valid if he survived long enough. Well, what better way to begin preparations to ensure that this would happen? ¡°Profile.¡± The familiar panel emerged out of thin air, floating in front of him. He thought for a long moment about what he should do with the two pending points. Allocating one to Endurance and the other to Strength would make him a more well-rounded agent, which wasn¡¯t bad. But on the other hand, it shouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to continue specializing. Perhaps, he thought, looking at his stats with a careful eye, I should choose Intelligence and Perception. Improving his memory could help him retain his memories more easily ¡ª perhaps even ¡®unlock¡¯ some of them. And having an edge in awareness of his surroundings would never be considered a bad thing when it could mean the difference between living or not. Luca drummed his fingers on the surface of the table, thoughtful. A sudden message interrupted his concentration. The vibration came from his bracelet, which gave him some relief, and when he opened it, it turned out to be from Michael. There were some additional details that hadn¡¯t appeared before ¨Cperhap there was benefices for being an Agent, huh?
NEW TASK (Optional) One-star world
Total Agents Dispatched: 3. Time until Extraction: 72 hours.
Current survival rate: 25%. (Maximum number of hours survived/total hours until extraction.)
Current return rate: 0%. (Agents have been dispatched but no one has come alive.)
Name: Agni¡¯s Kitchen
Role: Aspirant, Participant Setting: Cooking competition in hell.
Death Rules: Omen Rules:
Don¡¯t lose Don¡¯t react to ingredients
Don¡¯t screw your dishes
Don¡¯t let them notice you are human
Known missions: Become a Participant (F+)| Win Competition (C) Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Goal: Obtain First Prize (Fountain of Youth)¡¯s Picture (C)
Accept: YES | NO
Wow. It was totally better than the excuse of manual from last mission. It didn¡¯t look bad, right? Luca¡¯s eyes stayed in the current return rate for a couple of seconds and then flickered again through the rest of the message. Agni¡¯s Kitchen was familiar to him. A favorite, you could say. But that had been before, when it hadn¡¯t been him who had to pass through the challenges, putting more than his skin in risk. However, this particular Mystery had a particular detail that could give shorter the time he needed to pay his debts. The bonus ¨Cyes. That would be incredible. ¡°Yes,¡± he said. [TASK ACCEPTED | START: 38:39:48] That meant he would be diving in the day after tomorrow at 10 a.m. Not bad. Being able to wake up around 9 a.m. should be part of the benefits package presented by the company ¡ª to compensate a little for the thing about the ¡®high probability of a horrible death.¡¯ A last message came. [Security Mechanism still broken. News coming soon.] Luca murmured a ¡®thank you¡¯ at the air, and opened his profile again. Already knowing his task, he put a point in Perception, and the second one in Endurance. ¡®Hell¡¯ looked like the kind of place that warranted that. If he could, he would allocate one in Strength ¨Cbut he trusted that his Perk would be enough to cover that part. He would go to the Training Room tomorrow morning, after having breakfast. Perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be bad idea to buy some ingredients and refresh his techniques, fruit of years jumping there and here in the food industry. But that would be tomorrow. Now, there was something more to do. ¡°Inner Market.¡±
MARKET
PRODUCTS (RANK 2) DESCRIPTION EFFECTS / DURATION
Candied Fruit Stick 5P Your mouth will be so irresistibly sweet that people will totally tolerate your nonsense. What more can you ask? Charisma Bonus (Single-use; 30 minutes)
Lavender Oil 20P Stressed? In pain? Just douse yourself in our magical elixir, and voil¨¤¡ªyou¡¯ll feel almost as functional as a real human being. (Side effects may include misplaced optimism.) Tranquilizer, Reduces Pain (Three-uses; 30 minutes)
Antiseptic Gauze 60P Blood? Yuck. Infection? Gross, gross! Slap this bad boy on your wound, and congratulations¡ªyou¡¯ve officially downgraded your death risk from ''imminent'' to ''meh, maybe later.'' Stops bleeding, Prevents Infection, Accelerates Healing (Single-use)
Tears of Discernment 50P Ever wish you knew everything? Too bad¡ªthis isn¡¯t that good. But one drop will make you realize just how much you don¡¯t know. (Recommended by Socrates, our trusted philosopher and ostalmologist.) Reveals information (Four drops per bottle; 1 hour per drop)
Lighter 10P Darkness? Cold? Existential dread? Fear not! Our little sun-in-a-stick ensures you¡¯ll at least see your problems coming before they consume you. Illuminates; can start fire (30 minutes)
Only five items. Well, according to the title in the corner, he was only Rank 2, so it was limited. But those things weren¡¯t bad. His eyes caught the fourth product, and he immediately knew it should be his path to victory. But ¡ª that price. It hurt his heart seeing such a number, knowing it would be taken from his poor savings (fated to pay the debt but savings anyway). ¡­ However, a C-rank mission was around¡­ 40, 45 points, if his memory was correct So, achieving a ¡®good¡¯ performance would be enough to surpass the 100-point mark. But if he really wanted to squeeze every possible ounce of value out of the task, he had to do exceptionally well. 200 points per mission, 400 points for two missions. These numbers ¡ª yes, Luca could take the risk of spending his last earnings on this item. Besides, there were more missions, so the final amount would be even greater. Already dreaming of becoming a millionaire ¡ªeven for a moment¡ª Luca pressed the item and confirmed his purchase. [You¡¯ve obtained ¡®Tears of Discernment.¡¯ The item has been added to your inventory.] Now, two more. He had to make sure to get everything before starting the Mystery. Once inside, he wouldn¡¯t be able to access the Market. 150 points disappeared just like that. It felt as though part of his soul had been consumed. Oh, well. Dying because he got his meat overcooked or confused salt with sugar would be worse. Chapter 42 – Of Demons, Humans and Piranhas (1) "Bonsoir, mon ami," Levi said with a smile, though it wasn¡¯t evening yet. ¡°What brings you to my humble abode?¡± "The problem has been solved,¡± the man said, taking off his hat as he approached the window behind Levi. ¡°Hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Oui.¡± The man tsked. ¡°It seems our earlier assessment was right. It shouldn¡¯t have happened again so soon.¡± Both of them knew what he was referring to¡ªthe bigger elephant in the room. Levi sighed softly, leaning back on his chair, and tucked a lock of his blonde hair behind his ear with relaxed expression. The line of his shoulders, however, betrayed his tension. The man took the ensuing silence as a sign to continue. ¡°There¡¯s something else. Reports indicate unusual activity in the South China Sea. A typhoon is forming.¡± ¡°Not uncommon,¡± Levi said, frowning slightly, drumming his claws against the desk. ¡°But I suppose you wouldn¡¯t be telling me if it were as ordinary as it seems.¡± ¡°Do I look like someone with that much time?¡± the man snorted. ¡°According to the data, it could reach Category 4¡ªand if it moves toward the shores¡­ And that¡¯s not the only issue. The Yellowstone Supervolcano¡ª¡± ¡°Quoi?!¡± ¡°The activity is slightly higher. Not something to worry about today, but if the situation worsens¡ªwell, I don¡¯t need to explain the consequences, do I?¡± Levi''s eyes sharpened, the gold overpowering the green in them. ¡°We still have time to mitigate this before the worst happens. Our people are already stretched thin. They¡¯re doing everything they can to soften the impact.¡± The man turned sharply, his tone turning sharp. ¡°Then perhaps it¡¯s time to consider another option.¡± He looked Levi dead in the eye. ¡°We both know what needs to be done.¡± But the answer was immediate and vehement. ¡°Non. That is not an option. Not truly. Les cons¨¦quences¡­¡± He trailed off, shaking his head firmly. ¡°But if we don¡¯t act now,¡± the man shot back, his voice rising slightly, ¡°everything will go the same way as previous times. Worse, even. The company¡¯s current power isn¡¯t sufficient anymore. Even if we send every one of the Agents, every one of the Specialists, we¡¯ll never get the number of points we need.¡± Levi didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he stood and went to the window, standing next to the man. ¡°I understand what you¡¯re saying. But I still believe there¡¯s more we can do than give up.¡± ¡°Gi¡ªgive up?¡± The man spluttered. ¡°Are you serious?! If we force a Reset¡ª¡± ¡°We would be giving them free rein. Do you think that¡¯s a choice we should make? For the world?¡± ¡°We¡¯re only buying time right now! Sending people to their deaths for a lost cause! Do you feel noble¡ª?¡± The man¡¯s anger flared, and his eyes shone red. Then, through clenched teeth, he said, ¡°It¡¯s clear you¡¯ve made up your mind. I won¡¯t waste my time any longer.¡± Putting his hat back on, he turned and strode toward the door. As the man reached for the handle, Levi spoke again, his voice softer now. ¡°You won¡¯t stay to see Mel, Nas?¡± He snorted derisively, not bothering to look back. ¡°No. She¡¯s worse than you, anyway.¡± With that, he stepped out, leaving Levi alone in the office. ¡°H¨¦las,¡± Levi sighed, returning to his seat and leaning back. ¡°What a shame¡­¡±
¡°...Michael?¡± Dressed in his familiar leather jacket, Luca¡¯s supervisor stood inside the capsule room, leaning against the wall. ¡°You seem to be in a hurry,¡± the man said, his voice casual. ¡°So I¡¯ll keep this short. How confident are you in completing this mission?¡± Luca walked toward him, confused. ¡°High, I guess. I¡¯ve taken precautions with the available information. Thanks for that, by the way. But¡­ why? Is something wrong?¡± Michael smirked, though it didn¡¯t seem friendly. ¡°Something wrong, you ask? Well, I suppose nothing could be worse than not being able to come back, right?¡± ¡°What?¡± Luca frowned. ¡°But didn¡¯t they fix the security mechanism last night? I got the message.¡± ¡°Yes, they did. But someone forgot to include a small detail in the report I sent you,¡± Michael said, his voice sharp with anger. ¡°Something small but not quite unimportant.¡± Luca resisted the urge to point out that it clearly wasn¡¯t unimportant if Michael was here discussing it. Instead, he waited. ¡°If you die inside this Mystery, you won¡¯t die,¡± the man said slowly. ¡°You¡¯ll lose your soul.¡± ¡°My soul?¡± Luca repeated. Was this Mystery one of those? ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°Forget a quick or peaceful death. You¡¯ll be assimilated¡ªlosing all control over yourself¡ªforced to repeat the cycle like the other inhabitants.¡± Luca frowned. Then they knew that it wasn''t a one-star world. Or were their classification guidelines still without update? ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a bit extreme for an one-star world, isn¡¯t it?¡± Michael only snorted. ¡°Will you still go?¡± ¡°¡­Yes. I¡¯ve no interest in failing, anyway.¡± The man stared at him, the weight of his gaze almost oppressive. Then he sighed. ¡°Alright. Go on. But I want a report the moment you step out. Understood?¡± Luca smiled. ¡°Of course. I promise you¡¯ll have it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already 10 AM. Don¡¯t waste any more time.¡± With those words, Michael left without looking back, leaving Luca alone. As Luca slipped into the capsule, he recalled the man¡¯s words from less than three days prior¡ªsomething about a ¡®hands-off¡¯ approach. His mouth twitched. Darkness soon consumed all his senses. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The stench that greeted him as he stirred was almost enough to push him back into unconsciousness. It clung to his throat, threatening with bringing tears to his eyes. Clearing his throat, Luca blinked to push aside the blurriness that covered his vision. He found himself in a cavernous hall, crackling flames enveloping the walls as it part of the scene. Smoke rose on swirls, leaving around a strong smell of... lemon? His poor nose finally had a slight respite. Lemon was better than rotten eggs.
MAIN TASK Picture (0/1)
Capture the image of Fountain of Youth.
His main task was as he expected, so there was no reason to be surprised. For a moment, he almost expected a second message to pop up ¨Clbut it was like he had expected. There was no Junky Box this time. This was a simple one-star Mystery after all. As he glanced ahead, his eyes widened briefly before narrowing to their usual state. He wasn¡¯t alone. Just a few steps away, demons of all shapes and sizes gathered around a floating platform. There was a small, brightly colored imp perched atop the head of a towering four-armed giant, a lithe, winged figure, and another whose impressive pair of curling horns gleamed wickedly in the warm light. Scales appeared to be the dominant trait here ¨Clike having a skin of one of the colors of the rainbow. But there was no reason to be afraid. They were a lot of humanoide demons there. Looking down at himself, he noticed that his body was the same as he was used to ¡ª but the clothing... A blue top, black shorts, and a pair of black boots. Should he be happy that he had managed to ditch that khaki mess? ¡°Aspirants!¡± A shrilling voice bounced off the walls. ¡°Aspirants!¡± A cacophony of voices and sounds celebrated the calling while a message flickered on Luca¡¯s vision.
ROLE: ASPIRANT
TASK: BECOME A PARTICIPANT
There was no more time to lose after a thunderous gong echoed through the place. The silence that fell was no doubt enviable by any teacher or even a judge. Luca walked to the gathering, standing at the end of the group. They were restricted by a small flame line that surrounded the edges of the stone floor, while a pool of bubbling lava filled the remaining space of the ''cavern''. Only a couple of inches above it, a black platform floated ¨C half of it occupied by two rows of ten sectors with what looked like kitchens, while the remaining half was obscured by a fire curtain. Looking further up, Luca noticed that where the roof should have been, there was ¨C a massive eye? A shiver ran down his spine as a transparent layer swept across it, reminding him of a depredator. A giant, crocodrile-like depredator. The focus of it seemed to be on the platform, so he returned his gaze to it. At the same time, he saw small eyes floating around and wondered why he hadn¡¯t noticed them before. As the silence stretched for seconds, and tension seemed to be pooling, a deafening gong echoed through the entire place. The ground beneath his feet trembled, and dust fell from the walls, as if the entire structure was shaking. From the far end of the platform, a curtain of fire erupted, and then parted, revealing three figures. The judges. The one in the middle strode forward first, his ram-like horns almost double the size of his head, as dark as the floor. It contrasted with the crimson fur that spread across his body, shielded only by a black leather suit. He wore no shoes, exposing dark red hooves, while his tail¡ªsharp as a blade¡ªswished impatiently behind him. His face was shadowed by a strip of darkness, but what was visible was quite surprising. His face looked like the one of a man no older than Luca''s himself; one that could easily belong in fashion magazines. The next one was different yet similar at the same time. She had golden scales that shone like molten metal ¨C a play of silver and copper that seemed to draw patterns on her body, at least where it wasn¡¯t covered by a short black dress. Her wings had no feathers but more scales of a deep, dark coppery hue, and she did wear shoes ¨Ca pair of long, black combat boots. Her face was human-like, but while the first one gave him the impression of a younger-looking man, she looked like a middle-age woman. A glacial one. It was quite a contrast with the last one, whose smile spread across his face, taking up half of it. The third one was a cross between a bear and a macho man, built like a bear ¨Ca giant, brown-orange-yellow bear dressed in a pair of ripped shorts and nothing more. Showing off? Well. He was the one who looked less like a human... and more like someone who could wrestle some of the ''attractions'' from his first mission and win. Reading about them had been a thing. Looking at them right now, at the scene of them ascending a dais made of carved rock that had emerged from the lava, thrones of obsidian and gemstones and puffy cushions was another. A cascade of black fire fell from above-''tears'' from the giant eye-and created a massive banner that emblazoned the words: Agni Kitchen: Hell¡¯s Hottest Competition.¡± As the judges sat, rows of stone seats came out of the walls, packed for demons that erupted into cheers ¨Cor at least, Luca supposed that were the roars, screeches, and hisses. Some threw ¡®confetti¡¯ into the air, only that this exploded into a rain of sparkles. A few of unlucky spectator sitting rows beyond them were caught into the ¡®celebration¡¯ ¨Cand burst into flames themselves, their ashes scattering below, straight into the lava. The small eyes that Luca had seen simply floating around sprouted clusters of writhing tentacles, which they used to latch onto some of the demons in the audience, provoking muffled screams. One of them seemed to reach the judges¡¯ zone by accident and was promptly picked up by the bear-like one, who threw it into his mouth, munching on it as if it were a snack. He didn¡¯t even close his mouth ¨C much to the chagrin of his fellow judge, who was splashed with saliva. Fire burned over the head of the ''victim,'' but this seemed to be an outlet for the rage written on his face. Out of thin air, a shadowy figure ¨Ca literal shadow that resembled a lost cousin of Slender Man¨C appeared in the middle of the lower section of the platform, next to the kitchens. ¡°Hello, hello, hello to all my dear friends, enemies, and lovers of Astarte!¡± Their voice bloomed into the air, making itself heard with unnatural ease above the rest of the noises. ¡°We¡¯re starting another devilish season of your favorite show ¨C Agni Kitchen ! What terrifying dishes await us, and what terrible endings await our contestants?¡± As the audience ¨C and the demons around Luca ¨C burst into shrill cheers, the shadowy figure kept up their smooth talk. ¡°Once again, we count on the masters of our program, our favorite chefs and peerless judges! Let¡¯s give a warm welcome to Chef Tartarus¨C¡± The giant judge showed off his gaping maw of white, serrated teeth. ¡°¨CChef Harpira¨C¡± The only woman glanced at them, her silver eyes filled with lurking horrors. ¡°¨Cand Chef Tom!¡± At the sound of his name, everyone went wild ¨C and his head erupted in flames. ¡°I told you it¡¯s Dominatom!¡± Luca didn¡¯t know which was worse. As the shadowy figure tried to placate him and a blue imp hurried over with a bucket of water, Luca took advantage of the chaos to open his inventory. He found cover behind furry bodies and wings and picked up the Tears of Discernment. They were his ace to avoid the tragic end of becoming one with the lava. The tiny vial of ''tears'' had to be applied directly and would begin to take effect from the first second after contact with his iris. But the time would come soon. ¡°Now, before we start, let me refresh you all about the rewards! The reason behind these poor, desperate souls coming here to put their lives in the claws of our gracious judges¨C¡± The presenter returned to the fray once again, apparently having calmed down the furious demon. ¡°The first-place winner will receive the Infernal Trophy¨C¡± With a waving gesture, the ¡®empty¡¯ half-space from where the judges had appeared was filled with smoke, before a giant lump of gold and rubies twisted into a form vaguely¡­ phallic. Why? ¡°¨Cand, of course, don¡¯t forget the internship under one of our chefs, Dominatom¨C¡± This time, there was no ¡®mistake.¡¯ ¡°¨Cand this little cup filled with the Fountain of Youth¡¯s leftovers.¡± As the audience roared ¨Cno, it wasn¡¯t figuratively¡ª a new message popped up on Luca¡¯s vision the moment he put his eyes on the last prize ¨Ca gold cup that could have been more grandiose if it did not look like a truck had driven over it. Two times. To think he was risking his soul over that. Leftovers. Chapter 43 - Of Demons, Humans and Piranhas (2) ¡°Now, don¡¯t start crying so soon ¨C Second Place gets an invitation to the Abyss Cooking Academy, recommended by Chef Harpira herself!¡± The shadowy figure continued, big on emotion. The demoness didn¡¯t look so happy, however. More like she was already despising the poor sod who got it. ¡°And Third Place ¨C you get a medal! Look! It has even been bitten by Chef Tartarus himself!¡± The medal ¨C or what remained of it, since it lacked a big chunk ¨C sold the statement. However, the audience roared as if it was really something great. Wow. It felt like he was getting a crash course on a whole culture. The notes weren¡¯t wrong. (But then, humans did waste money in things from their ¡®target of admiration¡¯, didn¡¯t they?) ¡°But there¡¯s a long way until some of you can put your paws on them! So let¡¯s start with the really good stuff! The main event for today!¡± With a grand gesture of his hand, they pointed to the cooking stations on the platform. ¡°The Preliminary Rounds will pit you against each other from the start, since there are only 24 places for Participants. The rest of you will have a terrible end~¡± The shadow had no face, and yet, Luca could swear it was smiling. ¡°In case you can''t do the math, my dears, there are sixty of you. In each round, 20 will step here ¨C onto the mighty kitchen of Agni ¨C and solve the challenge set by the chefs. But only 8 will be able to earn this¨C¡± With a trumpet playing in the background, a flame materialized out of thin air amidst the stations and soon went out, leaving behind an ugly red mushroom-shaped hat floating. The audience ¨C no, more than them, the Aspirants surrounding Luca ¨C went crazy after seeing this. He tried to follow it, clapping his hands and smiling. ¡°That¡¯s right! The almighty Agni Hat! The sign that you¡¯re a proud Participant of Agni Kitchen!¡± With a snap of their fingers, the hat disappeared. Turning on themselves, the presenter continued, ¡°Let the first round begin!¡± The crowd erupted again, their excitement palpable, and then a handful of demons at the front were suddenly enveloped in flames. As they screamed, they floated in the air ¨C carried by the fire ¨C and landed next to a cooking station. A black box had emerged out of the counter. ¡°Aspirants! You¡¯ll have 30 minutes to prepare the best dish you can with the things inside the box. Don¡¯t forget ¨C only 8 of you will be passing! So make every drop of blood and sweat count, my dears~¡± With another snap of their fingers, black fire crept through the air, twisting and forming numbers ¨C it was a timer. ¡°Time starts now!¡± As the first round began, the aspirants opened their boxes ¨C or rather, the boxes opened for them. Even from that distance, Luca was able to see what was inside: something dark, squid-shaped ¨C and dangerous, if the sudden scream from one of the cooks after their ingredient latched onto their arm was any indication. Luca dragged his fingers against the vial. It wasn¡¯t the right moment to use it yet. Although 12 hours of effects could feel like a lot, from what he knew, this show was big on hours long challenges. He had to be careful and stretch it until the end if he wanted to survive ¨C and win. ¡­ Besides, knowing that ingredient wouldn¡¯t serve him at all. It wasn¡¯t like the next rounds would not change it. ¡°-so lucky!¡± The imp was chatting to their ¨C friend? Perch? Whatever the other demon was. ¡°I want to cook with dwarf krakens too.¡± That¡¯s the name? As Luca¡¯s eyes drifted to the platform again, the chatter followed. ¡°Last year it was about cooking with different parts of a Manticore ¨C maybe this year is like that, and we¡¯ll get another part, like the head, or its insides. Should we brainstorm¨C? I think if we use spices like Blood Tears or Broken Tongue, we can create something devil-delicious¡­¡± Those names were pretty cringy. What was left¡­? Churning Belly? ¡°Can''t you just shut up?¡± an irritated voice snapped not far away. A shadow ¨C no, a very tall, lanky winged demon ¨C scowled at the imp and its companion. His eyes were blue, and his hair was curly; but that was the only ¡®human¡¯ thing about him, considering his head was that of a bird with a long yellow beak. ¡°Why are you butting in?¡± the imp hissed. ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too fucking noisy. Think you¡¯re at home, rat?¡± ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t, birdbrain¨C¡± The imp jumped out ¨C and was promptly caught by one of the four arms, but even so, they growled at the bird-demon. Kindergarten fights in hell. He was sure that this wasn¡¯t in the report. Luca stepped back as the tension flared up like flames, sliding to the other corner to put some distance between them and himself. Other demons were doing the same, so it wasn¡¯t just him who didn¡¯t want to be involved. ¡°Silence.¡± With a single word, a single murmur, a dignified figure with a jackal¡¯s head and dressed in gold and blue cut the fight short. It seemed they had some kind of authority or reputation because no one tried to retaliate ¨C not even the four-armed demon that looked like they could crush the furry one with ease. Then, they simply turned around. No one could be blamed for the tension that Jackal Head left behind. Even Luca had felt the vibration in the air, the temptation not to speak for a while slithering inside him. Pinching his arm lightly to break free of the spell ¨C fantastic, magic ¨C Luca turned his attention to the platform where two more aspirants had fallen prey to their ingredients, avoiding looking at the culprit of the sudden calm on purpose. That demon ¨C he recognized them even if he didn¡¯t recall their name. They were one of the Participants in the cycle; someone who could be a tough competitor for him. Shouldn¡¯t it be too early to scout the competition, right? Luca toyed with the vial, thinking about it. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°For Angra! What are you doing?!¡± The enraged holler attracted the attention of both the public and the aspirants ¡ª and the ''cameramen.'' It was Chef Dominatom (it would be hard to say such a name with a straight face, wouldn¡¯t it?). Apparently, the judge had left his throne and was scowling at one of the aspirants with flames rising up from his head. Luca squinted his eyes. What was that¡­? The tiny dark bits looked like the remnants of the squid ¨C dwarf kraken ¨C but even calling them ¡®strip meats¡¯ felt too generous. Mmm. Wasn¡¯t one of the Death Rules that the ingredients had to be respected? ¡°Chef ¨C I¨C I,¡± the aspirant stammered, their antennae moving up and down. Their voice carried around the entire place ¨C an effect of the acoustics, perhaps. ¡°Screwed,¡± someone murmured gleefully. Similar whispers rippled through the air. ¡°Excuse me, Chef Dominatom¨C¡± the shadowy figure emerged next to the counter in a flash of black light. ¡°Ejem, ejem, I¡¯m afraid you must repress your temptation to ignite, curse, or feed Aspirant 7 to the piranhas until the end of the round. Those are the rules.¡± The judge snarled, causing all the relief of the aspirant to evaporate with his next words. ¡°Aspirant 7? I¡¯ll remember this well.¡± With a sneer, he turned back and jumped onto his throne, still scowling even as he sat. Anyone and their mother could see that the presenter had simply prolonged the inevitable ¨C including the aspirant. However, they bowed at the shadow before continuing to cook. ¡°Fifteen minutes left, my dears~¡± The rest of the aspirants hurried, running around their stations. Luca began analyzing some of the cooking techniques, gaining an understanding of them and the way the aspirants cooked. It wasn¡¯t different from human cuisine ¡ª except for the ingredients, maybe. He didn¡¯t know if the dwarf kraken could be handled like octopus or squid. In the book, Morrigan went in the third round and had to deal with a gnome, which was considered lamb for demons. Luca recalled it with precision because of his little brother¡¯s disgust. According to Shawn, he would never eat something ¡°so ugly¡± ¡ª which wasn¡¯t the best priority, but what did he know? His eyes scanned the stations from top to bottom. It was better to find out how the demon appliances differed, particularly regarding the dangers. The oven, for example. Its shape wasn¡¯t much different from the counter ¡ª which, in turn, resembled a human counter ¡ª but it had a burning fire beneath it, like a fireplace. At first glance, the system seemed under control. ¡­ But then, kitchen accidents were one reason why aspirants ended up busted. A boom reverberated around the entire space, provoking screams from the audience and many aspirants. Red, vivid flames spread across the station of the unfortunate demon. The culprit ¡ª a furry wolf-headed man ¡ª fell on his butt, charred but alive, while a squadron of blue imps materialized next to him with water buckets and took care of the remaining flames. ¡°No! Not the dish!¡± Jumping to his feet, the demon grabbed the plate ¨C but not before it was too late. ¡°Nemesis! I¡¯ll kill you, you fucking rat¨C¡± the aspirant growled at the imp, raising paws filled with claws. And promptly let out a shrill scream when the fire, which had been extinguished, suddenly flared up again, taking the shape of a hand and hurling him straight into the lava pool. The surface bubbled for only a second. Excitement erupted in the audience as the shadowy figure reappeared next to the station. ¡°It seems the fire hadn¡¯t been put out properly,¡± the presenter sighed, and with a snap of his fingers, the imp at the center of the scene disappeared. The rest of them had scattered the moment the wolf demon had screamed for the first time. Luca heard something small fall into the pool, feeling a bit of pity for the creature. And at the same time, it seemed as though the shadowy figure held a truly antagonistic relationship with the chef, and neither cared about dragging the rest ¨C aspirants or employees alike ¨C into their pit. Great. And they still classified this world as a one-star Mystery. ¡°Three minutes left!¡± Time flew, and the tension grew. The number of aspirants had dwindled to nineteen, but it was obvious that a quarter of them wouldn¡¯t even be able to present a complete dish. As desperation ran rampant, the environment shifted from frenetic to pure chaos. A dark-winged demon with the face of an owl ¡®lost their balance¡¯ and dropped an entire pot of ¡®something¡¯ onto another aspirant¡¯s counter ¨C and was promptly burned to a crisp. But the damage was already done. Even the bear-like judge was looking at the dish ¨C drowned in the ¡®mysterious sauce¡¯ ¨C as if it were shit. The presenter tsked. ¡°Don¡¯t start making trouble, my dears~ You don¡¯t want to end up in Chef Harpira¡¯s Pits, do you?¡± The named judge¡¯s face didn¡¯t change, but her glacial, deep-set eyes swept over them ¨C even the aspirants outside the platform. Luca felt like a wave of cold crashed against him. ¡°Ten seconds left!¡± These had to be the messiest seconds he had ever seen ¨C and he had worked in the food industry for years. The demons resorted to raw dishes, using knives, cutting their dishes with their own claws, and even teeth. Hoped they brushed them, Luca thought. Well. At least the audience seemed to enjoy it, judging by the level of noise they were making. ¡°Time¡¯s out!¡± With a snap of the shadowy figure¡¯s fingers, the stations disappeared instantly, leaving only the dishes floating precariously in the air. The judges descended as one from their thrones and made their way to the first aspirant as members of the Execution Team. Eyes flitted around the scene like flies drawn to a blood fountain. ¡°Raw,¡± there was no hesitation in Chef Harpira¡¯s voice. She didn¡¯t taste it ¨Csimply cutting the smallest piece of whatever was in the plate. ¡°Unseasoned-¡± ¡°Did you cook this in Angra¡¯s blood?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not eating that-¡± even the third, most ¡®sympathetic¡¯-looking judge was piercing dishes and hearts. It was a massacre. Literal. Chef Dominatom stayed in front of the aspirant that the presenter had ¡®protected¡¯, and dragged a claw against the counter. The screeching sound made Luca¡¯s skin crawl. ¡°Soo-¡±the demon smiled, showing pointy, sharp-teeth. ¡°This is what you will serve us?¡± The aspirant couldn¡¯t even speak, nodding like a chicken peaking rice. Slowly, very slowly, the judge picked up a thin piece of the collection and the whole word seemed to held their breath as the demon brought it to his mouth. And munched. His face changed little by little. His skin flushed dark red, and his horns trembled. He opened his mouth and let out a flame straight to the aspirant. To say that there were ashes left of the poor demon was being generous. ¡°Ugh. I fucking hate spice.¡± Noted. No Broken Tongue, Blood Tears or whatever the fuck they had available. Only salt. As the noise cascaded down in the place again, the judges kept their death march. Luca toyed with his vial, thoughful. Perhaps¡­ perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be so bad idea. Even if the demon''s ingredients had equivalents on the human side, it would be wise to start recognizing a handful of them from now. Having made his decision, he rubbed his right eye ¨Cjust in case¨C and let a drop fall directly onto it from the vial. Blinking, the world become blurry for a moment. [Tears of Discernment has been activated. Duration: 59:59] Chapter 44 - Of Demons, Humans and Piranhas (3) A ¡®casual¡¯ wave of air carried the faint tang of burnt oil and charred seafood to them, and to the audience, judging by their promptly ¡®booing¡¯. Well, the burned odor was quite overpowering, lingering enough to make Luca¡¯s nose twitch. The blurriness started to go away, leaving him then with a sudden message. [Data stream selected as target.] And then, the world become clearer and sharper again. [Charred, Undercooked Dwarf Kraken with Deepthseeds Sauce] [Charred Undercooked Squid with Garlic Sauce] Two small text bubbles floated above the dish that Chef Harpira was testing¡ªtranslucent, flickering like heat waves on asphalt before vanishing completely. The ¡®translation¡¯ was quite curious but Luca picked up the most important words before glancing at the next plate. As two new text bubble appeared out of thin air, he caught the the resounding judgment from the demoness chef ¨Cwhich was a failure, as expected. [Saut¨¦ed Dwarf Kraken with Maidenyes and Romarin] [Saut¨¦ed Squid with Olive Oil and Rosemary] With this second test, Luca noticed that some names were close between the human version and whatever this other language was. Others felt worlds apart. He frowned slightly, leaning forward. What caught him off guard wasn¡¯t just the words themselves¡ªit was how they described results. Charred could be intentional, sure; he¡¯d seen dishes labeled that way before. But Undercooked? That wasn¡¯t something you would see with good eyes. And then there was this last one, clean and simple, no adjectives at all. Chef Tartarus picked up a piece of the saut¨¦ed kraken, popping it into his mouth without ceremony. Then he chewed once, twice, then swallowed hard, his throat bobbing visibly. The silence stretched as he looked at the aspirant, a bit too much of intensity. His voice boomed through the space like thunder in a dark night. ¡°Not bad!¡± After such words, the audience erupted into cheers, clapping filling the cavern-like space. But they were the only ones. Luca noticed that the other two judges weren¡¯t so happy with such proclamation. The noise seemed like too much for Chef Tartarus after a moment. He slammed a fist onto the counter, the crack echoing sharply to shut it down. ¡°You¡¯ve got some skills!¡± he bellowed, grinning wide enough to show every one of their pointed, very-white teeth. The aspirant bounced slightly in place, grabbing their thin antennas with two of their noodle-like arms, quivering with such excitement that anyone would think they had been declared the winner. ¡°Thank you very much, Chef!¡± their deep voice, gravelly and rough, contrasted oddly with their toneless, narrow aspect. They bowed so enthusiastically they smacked their forehead on the edge of the counter. The Chef Tartarus laughed loudly, waving them off as they moved on to follow Chef Dominatom and the third judge further down the line. A sudden wave of air brought a mix of saltwater and something so faint that slipped away the moment Luca tried to put his finger in. [Salty Dwarf Kraken Steamed Surprise Cannon] [Salty Squid Steamed Aromatic Cannon] Luca tilted his head, squinting at the last set of descriptions. This one was peculiar. The adjectives could not be categorized as easily as in the first case. He couldn¡¯t even start imagining what could be the ¡®surprise cannon¡¯, excepting it should be something related to an aromatic plant. Or so he thought. Chef Dominatom separated the components of the plant with a pair of wooden sticks, a hint of dramatics on his movements. The clink of wood against ceramic reverberated as he worked in front of the applicant¡ªa demon whose horns curved back like arched branches and whose tail twitched from time to time with each movement from the judge. Seeing it was really a clear separation of the dish, Luca leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the plate, reading the annotations that flickered briefly above the portions. [Fried Romarin Evil Root | Rosemary Potato chips] [Grilled Rusty Root Churros | Grilled Carrot Tubes] [Grilled Dwarf Kraken | Grilled Squid] Is this everything...? The format was different this time¡ª in a single text. It looked cleaner that way, but why could be the reason of such change? Was it because these were "side dishes"? He wasn¡¯t sure. Maybe he¡¯d missed similar distinctions earlier, distracted by the main courses. Or perhaps the system only revealed such details when someone paid close enough attention. Either way, it made him wonder how much else he might have overlooked. As Chef Dominatom tasted each component, their expression remained unreadable. It was like his face was carved in volcanic stone. The silence stretched, heavy and poisonous for those with fragile nerves. When the chef finally spoke, their voice came out slow, strained, as if someone was pulling his teeth. ¡°Interesting.¡± That single word was everything he offered before simply moving on without another glance. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Chef Harpira stepped up next, testing and judging with cold, assertive eyes. This time, at least, there were no glaring errors in their assessment ¡ªand the simple description above the dish kept developing Luca¡¯s theory. Then came Chef Tartarus with the next dish, a disaster and half considering that the bear-like demon spat the whole portion he picked and gave at the aspirant a growl that made the smaller demon squeal. And so the cycle continued, following the ¡®pattern¡¯. Luca watched intently all of this, piecing together the bits of information from the descriptions hovering over each dish, comparing them against the judges¡¯ words and reactions. By the end of the row, he felt like he was beginning to understand the system¡ªor at least part of it. Undercooked, burn, and unseasoned were the clearest cases. And the worst ones at the same time. The rest of adjectives was a mixed bag which Luca supposed would understand better as the rounds continued. Hopefully, his dish wouldn¡¯t end with none of them or could start counting the seconds until his end at the piranhas¡¯ teeth ¨Cif the lava didn¡¯t take him out first. When the last dish was tested by Chef Dominatom, Luca¡¯s believed at first would be one of the good ones. Its description was simple, plain, which would support his theory that there weren¡¯t good adjectives. No one of the dishes had held anything like ¡®well-done¡¯, ¡®seasoned¡¯, ¡®good¡¯, or whatever. So this should be the best case. However, there was no commentary, no reaction from the chef beyond a last glance, tail twitching on the air as he turned around and left. Points for the aspirant, anyway. The demon stood tall and composed, their dark wings folded neatly against their back, betraying no hint of nerves or disappointment. It was like a perfect statue of calm. Which seemed to amuse the audience, as they cheered them from the grads ¨Cand not so much to the rest of aspirants. Judging the faces of the others whose results hadn¡¯t been favorable, they seemed to think they had got another one to their ¡®list¡¯. When the judges returned to their thrones after this, the presenter, who until now had seemed content to let the judges take center stage, suddenly remembered their role. The shadowy figure emerged on middle of the kitchen stations with an explosion of black fire, and clearing their throat dramatically, they raised their arms wide, drawing all eyes toward them. Their voice spread through the whole place even when they didn¡¯t seem to be raising its level. ¡°The evaluation has ended, my dears! It¡¯s time to find out which applicants have what it takes to move on, to win a chance to fight for the treasures¡ªand which ones will sadly leave the kitchens¡­ or better say, will stay fore-ver!¡± The last word reverberated like a sharp, mocking sing-song, sending a wave of laughs through the crowd. Whispers rippled through the aspirants around Luca, but he didn¡¯t pay attention to this. He was more occupied recalling Michael¡¯s voice talking about the hidden cost for losing. His soul. Luca¡¯s eyes drifted for an instant to one of the aspirants ¨Ca tall, sturdy demon with a fucking katana hanging from his back. It¡¯s not yet the right time, he thought, and looked at the front again. ¡°Aspirant 14 and Aspirant 17,¡± Chef Harpira said, briefly glancing at them. ¡°9 and 12!¡± The biggest chef grinned. ¡°Aspirant 10,¡± began Chef Dominatom, a thoughtful expression on his face ¨C either that or he was suffering from a mild case of constipation, who knew? ¨C and then added, like an afterthought, ¡°aspirant 19.¡± Those who had been called seemed like they were doing their bests not to show too much emotion but failing spectacularly. The audience threw sparkling confetti to them ¨Cor to their direction at least. It erupted in flames in the air, but none seemed to be worried by the tiny tongues of flame falling over them. Which made Luca¡¯s think about one of the Death Rules for a splint second. The sudden vision of scarlet mushroom hat that flickered above the heads of everyone made him come back to the present. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve ended with the good~¡± The voice changed, turning deeper and meanly. ¡°Time to kick the trash out.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s two hats left!¡± One of the aspirants bravely yelled. Luca recognized them as one who had been got a bland reaction from Chef Dominatom. Which meant that wasn¡¯t reduced to ashes or deep humiliation but was given a look that clearly said everything that had to be said. There had been a ¡®tag¡¯ of ¡®confusing¡¯ attached to their dish (a hellish variation of a burger). The audience grew silent after the outburst ¨Cand then they chanted ¡°two hats left!¡± with a cheerfulness that remained Luca¡¯s of the ghostly visitors from his first Mystery. He didn¡¯t knew knowledge from another life to felt that this wasn¡¯t good. The sudden chills, the tension that started to bubble was more than enough. The presenter spun around in a quick, graceful motion, turning toward the thrones. ¡°You heard the aspirant and our dear audience, my judges. What you do think to show some grace¡­?¡± If there was one thing that had to be acknowledged, it was that the shadowy figure knew exactly what to say ¨C but rather than a silver tongue, theirs was as black as the coal they tossed into the fire to fuel it. ¡°Grace?¡± Chef Dominatom snarled as smoke started to come out from his head. ¡°I¡¯ll give you all the grace you deserve and more!¡± With such wonderful, emotional words the demon opened his mouth and let out a wave of white fire that spread swallowed the whole platform. The intense heat and the strength of the flames made the aspirants in the frontline to threw themselves back, which in turn made the rest behind them step back. Some not quite elegantly. Stumbling and failing was a well way to describe it. Accidentally shielded by the wings of one of the applicants, Luca thought it had truly been a stroke of genius to hang back, as he doubted he would have survived that. The smell of burnt hair and skin reached his nose as he began to stand up ¡ª the rest of the applicants rising as well, all tense and highly alert. "Looks like there will be fewer contestants this season," the shadowy figure remarked casually, perfectly still and without a single dark strand singed. Surprisingly, or at least that''s how it seemed to the audience who gasped and wildly applauded, there were survivors besides the kitchen stations. Three, to be exact. One from each of those chosen by each chef. Chef Dominatom snorted at the words or perhaps at the survivors themselves, or the whole situation, before leaning back on his throne. The other two judges didn¡¯t seem surprised for such outburst. Chef Tartarus was grinning with an unholy gleam in his eyes even. Did the demon enjoy such scenes? How surprising. ¡°Very good! Congratulations for surviving the last assessment!¡± The presentation cheered. ¡°This is yours-¡±with a snap of their fingers, the hats flew to the aspirants and fell down over their heads. ¡°You may go and rest until the start of the First Challenge. Give our first Participants an applause as a short goodbye!¡± A feeling of foreboding scratched Luca¡¯s mind as he watched the three survivors left through the door that had emerged out of thin air, floating over the lava. It did not appear that any of them were afraid of falling ¨Cand they didn¡¯t fail for what he was able to see. ¡°Now the first round has come to end, it¡¯s time for the next one to start!¡± Yaay.