A Z-Streamer with pink hair used his sword to cut another Z-Streamer's head off. Like a frenzied animal, he lunged at the others, slicing them apart as though they weren't people, but sacks of meat.
Some retaliated, giving him nasty wounds, but he didn't care for his safety as he lunged at them.
Through his relentless rampage, he managed to take them all down without much resistance.
Then, turning to the group of Z-Streamers he was against only moments prior, he stared at them as they watched him with horror in their eyes.
He didn't think twice before raising the sword to his neck.
SLICE!
Sae-wee's eyes opened with a gasp.
She sat up as though jolted awake, panting hard, unable to catch her breath.
Looking around, she saw everyone fast asleep, with her being the only one awake.
Stumbling onto her feet, Sae-wee made for the door as her panting continued.
Once she grabbed the handle, the strange glowing writings appeared for a moment before disappearing. After which, the door groaned open and she wasted no time rushing out the small gap made.
She stumbled to the railings and leaned over it, panting and wheezing.
The images of the slaughter flooded her head, as though it was happening there and then.
She fell to the ground, leaning against the railings while holding onto her chest and trying to calm herself.
But her efforts were futile. Ten seconds passed, twenty seconds passed, a minute passed.
Her breathing and the images assaulting her mind only managed to worsen.
She gripped the railings and held her head while suppressing a scream.
The images were so ravenous she felt she would go mad. Just when she felt like she was about to burst, a voice called out.
"Sae-wee?"
She didn't need to turn to discern his voice. Upon hearing him, her breath caught, and she froze.
Min-ho sped up his pace, then knelt on the floor as he examined her.
"You're awake," he said, the tone of his voice conveying the relief he felt.
A relief which did not last long when he saw just how frenzied she was.
"Are you okay?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Just then, an image surged in her mind, making her feel like a bullet train rammed into her skull.
She yelped and crumbled onto the floor.
"Sae-wee?" Min-ho called out, fear grabbing hold of him.
Another image surged and Sae-wee cried out.
"Sae-wee," Min-ho called, pulling her upright.
Meeting her gaze, Min-ho could see through the tears covering her eyes a world of pain residing within her soul.
As the tears trickled down her cheeks, she fell her head onto his chest, crying.
Min-ho did not know what to do in this moment. He thought to call Im-hee to help, but felt that leaving her would only make things worse.
So he sat still as Sae-wee's tears fell in droplets onto his clothes.
***
Almost ten minutes had passed before Sae-wee had gotten herself together.
After which, the only thing she said was for Min-ho to help her to the roof of the temple.
As he helped her get there, she didn't utter a single word. She just walked like a ghost, with voids for eyes.
Upon reaching the hall with the levitating platform, Sae-wee broke free from Min-ho's grasp and wobbled to the center of the platform.
Min-ho almost jolted forward when she crumbled to the ground, but stood still once she waved a hand to him.
He watched her as she placed a hand on the center of the platform.
Just like before, glowing lines traced a pattern across the floor. Weaving into strange symbols just before the ground began to vibrate and groan.
Not long after, the platform began to float. Its vibrations not as intense as the last time they were here.
Sae-wee remained on the floor as the platform floated to the top.
Once it made it all the way, clicking into place, Sae-wee took in a deep breath as the night's cool air rushed into her from all sides.
Like a god breathing life into a doll, Sae-wee came alive in this moment.
Though she was still deathly pale and her demeanor was shaken, Min-ho could see a semblance of herself once again.
Taking careful steps, he walked up to her, and then asked her once again, "Are you okay?"
She turned her gaze to the sky, silent for a second.
"I guess so," she said, her voice hoarse, which made her clear her throat.
"What happened to you?" Min-ho asked, sitting beside her.
She hesitated as she peered at the beautiful purple moon.
"A Whiplash, you could say," she responded.
"Really?" Min-ho asked.
She shook her head.
"It's the Event. I... I guess it really bore into me," she explained.
Min-ho hesitated, the memory of what had happened suddenly resurfacing.
"I don't blame you," he said and began to scratch his thumb.
"You really gave everyone a fright though. We thought you'd never wake up," Min-ho said, as he produced her share of the bread from his Inventory.
It appeared from smoke in his palm.
"This is for you," he added, handing her the small piece of bread.
"Sorry we couldn't keep more. We needed to save up on Coin," he explained.
Sae-wee gently took the loaf, staring at it.
"You... were worried about me?" she asked, caressing the loaf.
Min-ho paused, glancing at her.
"We all were," he said, unsure if he had said the right thing.
"Strange," she said, then brought the loaf to her lips and bit down on it.
The bread tasted dull and dry. It wasn't hard to chew, but its texture was filling, conveying the idea that even a small piece like this could sustain a person.
She remained silent as she ate, not eager to speak on any matter.
Though Min-ho had several things he wanted to ask her, he decided not to press and just leave her be for now.
When she was almost done with the small piece, she finally spoke.
"What happened while I was unconscious?" she asked, her gaze still fixed on the bread.
Upon hearing this question, his heart thumped. Just then, he began to dread the question, as he wasn't all too excited to have another member of his team accusing him of murder.