The atmosphere was tense as the survivors scattered throughout the maze. One of the five members of the group, a man with piercing eyes and black hair named Kazuki, ordered his teammate to stay at the entrance to the maze.
"Kenji, stay here and watch the entrance," Kazuki said in an authoritative voice. "Make sure you have control over the entire scene."
Kenji, a sturdy man with an imposing build, nodded and took up his position, his eyes scanning every movement around him. The group of five exuded an aura of confidence bordering on arrogance, as if they possessed crucial information that the others were unaware of.
Meanwhile, the survivors who had decided to follow Ono gathered to discuss the best approach. Ono, with his mastery of persuasion, spoke with unwavering confidence.
"Listen to me, everyone," he began, his voice calm but firm, immediately capturing everyone's attention. "The riddle specifies that we must use all the paths. This means that to find the exit, we must split up and explore every possible route."
The survivors listened intently, their faces marked by a mixture of determination and relief. Unlike the previous riddle, where fear and uncertainty reigned supreme, it seemed that this time they had a clear strategy.
"We will split into several groups," Ono continued. "Each group will take a different path. Stay in constant communication and, above all, remain calm. Together, we will succeed."
Ono's words instilled a sense of security among the survivors. The fear that had paralyzed them during the previous riddle seemed to fade, replaced by a collective confidence. They remembered the horrors of the past, but this time they had a plan, and that made all the difference.
The groups quickly formed, each led by a trusted individual. The survivors huddled together, some exchanging timid smiles and words of encouragement. Ono stood in the center, watching the scene with a slight smile, satisfied to see his plan taking shape.
As the groups began to venture down the different paths of the maze, hope was reborn among the survivors. Every step was taken with determination, every glance exchanged carried the promise to persevere despite the challenges.
The maze, with its imposing walls and winding paths, seemed to close in around them, but this time they were ready. The confidence inspired by Ono contrasted sharply with the anxiety of the previous puzzle, and although danger was never far away, the unity and resolve of each individual was palpable.
Kazuki and his group of five remained behind, watching silently. Their mystery remained intact, and their unshakable confidence was as intriguing as it was unsettling. They seemed to know something the others did not, and their presence added an extra layer of complexity to the ongoing puzzle.
As the survivors scattered throughout the maze, the feeling that something grand was brewing was inevitable. The maze was not only a test of their physical abilities, but also of their intelligence, insight, and ability to work together.
The exit was there, somewhere, and they were determined to find it, no matter the cost.
As the survivors following Ono continued their quest through the maze, many of them began to realize the immensity of the challenge ahead. The walls of the maze seemed to stretch on forever, and every turn revealed a new dead end or winding path that led nowhere. The initial minutes of confidence quickly crumbled, replaced by whispers of uncertainty and frustration.
"This maze is much bigger than we thought," whispered a woman, her anxious gaze resting on the stone walls surrounding them. "We're going around in circles."
"Maybe we didn't take the right path," added a man, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Ono, are you sure about your plan?"
Ono, sensing the growing unrest, tried to maintain control. "Stay calm," he said, his voice still authoritative. "We must keep moving forward. The maze must have an exit, and by using all the paths, we will find it."
But the murmurs of doubt only grew louder. The survivors began to exchange worried glances, some stopping to discuss in small groups.
"Maybe we should go back," someone suggested. "There must be another way to solve this puzzle."
"What if Ono is wrong?" said another voice, louder this time, sparking a heated debate. "We can't keep wandering around here forever."
The discussions became more heated, voices rising in a mixture of fear and anger. Ono, despite his mastery of persuasion, found himself confronted with a wave of skepticism that he struggled to contain.
"I understand your concerns," he said, trying to calm the crowd. "But we must remain united. Dividing or changing plans now would be dangerous."
However, the survivors seemed less and less convinced. Accusatory glances turned toward Ono, and the initial cohesion of his group was disintegrating under the growing pressure of the maze and lingering doubts.
"We don't have time for mistakes," said one man, his face hardened with determination. "We need to find a solution now, before it's too late."
The debate then erupted more intensely, with everyone trying to make their voices heard amid the cacophony. Hearts were beating faster, and the sense of urgency was growing by the minute.
Meanwhile, Sae and her group watched from afar, taking note of the discord that was setting in among Ono's followers.
"It was to be expected," Edano murmured. "A plan too simple for such a complex puzzle couldn't hold up for long."
As the debate raged among the survivors, a lone voice rose above the tumult, recalling Bun's words. "Wait," said a man with piercing eyes and tousled hair. "Maybe what Bun was saying wasn't so crazy after all. He mentioned something that could guide us. What if, instead of taking all the paths, we looked for that guide?"
Another survivor, more corpulent and visibly frustrated, shouted at him. "Do you really believe that nonsense? We're going around in circles here, and you want us to trust a guy who couldn't even get anyone to listen to him?"
The tension was palpable. Faces were tense, fists were clenched, and the murmurs were becoming increasingly threatening. But suddenly, a dramatic event changed everything. The sky suddenly darkened, as if a huge shadow had swallowed the daylight. The survivors looked up, incredulous and frightened.
"What's happening?" someone whispered, their voice trembling.
The yellow aura emanated from the moon, covering the entire labyrinth in a strange and disturbing glow. The stone walls seemed to be tinged with gold, casting moving shadows that danced in an almost hypnotic manner.
"Look!" cried a woman, pointing to the source of the light. "The moon... it's changing color!"
The survivors, now plunged into a yellow-tinged semi-darkness, felt a wave of fear wash over them. The once determined faces were now marked by apprehension and confusion.
Ono, despite his usual confidence, seemed unsettled. He scanned the sky, trying to understand what was happening. "Stay calm," he ordered, but his voice lacked its usual conviction.
Saé, Edano, Ishikawa, and the other members of their group stood back, watching intently. Saé turned to Edano. "That light... it's as if the labyrinth itself is trying to tell us something."
"Maybe Bun was right after all," Edano replied thoughtfully. "Maybe there really is a guide, something we missed."
Bun, who had kept a low profile after his failed attempt to convince the others, looked up at the moon. He seemed lost in thought, desperately trying to understand the message hidden in this riddle. The yellow light, though terrifying, also brought a new perspective.
"I recognize that light..." he murmured to himself. "It's not the guide I was talking about at all."
As the survivors stared at the yellow light emanating from the moon, a magical wave, sparkling with stardust, suddenly rose from the ground. It spread rapidly, engulfing everything in its path. The survivors, unable to react, were enveloped by this bright and mysterious wave.
Each person found themselves isolated, lost in a different part of the labyrinth. Darkness and silence weighed heavily on their shoulders, making them aware of their loneliness. The yellow light of the moon, now filtered through stardust, created a dreamlike and disturbing atmosphere.
Bun, sensing the urgency of the situation, used his mastery of communication to mentally reach out to his group. His clear and precise thoughts resonated in the minds of Saé, Edano, Ishikawa, and Kaisho.
{Bun: It's Ryo Kanjo}
{Ishikawa: He's the one behind all this?}
{Edano: That bastard!}
Saé, crouching against a stone wall, felt a wave of surprise mixed with frustration.
{Saé: Ryo? But why would he do that?}
Ishikawa, using his shield to ward off potential dangers, replied telepathically.
{Ishikawa: Whatever his reasons, we need to find a way to reunite and figure out what's going on. Stay alert.}
As chaos reigned in the maze, a survivor named Yanagi watched the shifting shadows around him closely. Unlike the others, he remained calm and searched for clues. Following the shadows that seemed to be moving intentionally, he eventually arrived at what appeared to be the exit of the maze. A sigh of relief escaped his lips, but his victory was short-lived.
Suddenly, a notification appeared in front of him, floating in the air like a hologram. The message was clear and precise:
[Secret Puzzle: -The Embellished Maze-
! WARNING: to validate the puzzle, the majority of survivors must agree on the same path!]