In a dark place deep within the maze — the fiftieth floor.
"Ryo! Come here!" Yui called out, her voice tinged with excitement.
Ryo moved quietly, heading toward her.
"Alright... I'm coming."
But before he could take the next step, he suddenly froze in place.
"Ryo?" Yui's voice grew anxious. "What's wrong? Come quickly!"
But Ryo didn't respond. Something was wrong.
Yui frowned slightly, then looked at Zalarosa:
"...Zalarosa? Who is that boy? And why were you calling him?"
Zalarosa stared at her in disbelief.
"What do you mean?! That's Ryo... the boy you brought with us!"
As for Ryo, he stood there... absentminded. His body present, but his spirit lost.
"Who am I? Where am I?" he murmured softly. No name, no past, nothing. As if his memory had been stolen.
The system's voice appeared sharply inside him:
"Alert! The user has forgotten himself! You must leave this floor immediately before it worsens!"
Ryo lifted his gaze toward the void, his face showing shock.
"Who are you?! And what floor are you talking about? What is happening?"
Tension painted his expression; anxiety surged in his chest.
"Remember yourself!!" the system shouted again.
Zalarosa hurried toward him:
"Ryo! It's me, Zalarosa! Yui suddenly forgot you — what's happening?!"
But Ryo stepped back, his eyes searching her face for any hint of recognition.
"Ryo?... Who is that? Are you talking about me?"
Zalarosa said in astonishment:
"Wait a moment, what are you talking about? Are you joking — you and Yui forgot each other?!"
Ryo sat down, putting his hand on his head as if trying to hold onto his slipping thoughts.
"...Yui... Yui... No, I don't know who you are... and I don't know you either!"
Zalarosa clenched her fist, her worry deepening.
"What's going on? Yui and Ryo really forgot each other... but me? I still remember them... It has to be him. He's messing with us again! It's his game!"
She looked up at the ceiling, rage bursting inside her.
Meanwhile, Yui was lost in thought herself.
"Hmmm?... That boy? And that girl... called Zalarosa? No, I don't know either of them! But... the name Zalarosa sounds familiar somehow."
Zalarosa broke the silence with a serious voice:
"Yui! Ryo! Come here, now!"
The two approached her.
Yui asked coldly, "What's going on?"
Zalarosa said firmly:
"Stop this nonsense!"
Ryo looked at her with irritation.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Who are you even to joke around? I don't even know you!"
A new alert appeared in Ryo's mind, more urgent this time:
"Warning! User must leave the floor immediately!!!"
Ryo hit his head with his hand, trying to silence the echoing voice inside.
"...Shut up for a moment!"
Zalarosa looked at him worriedly:
"What's wrong, Ryo? What's happening?"
He said, breathing hard:
"Nothing... just... a voice in my head... screaming at me to get out of this floor... as if it wants to force me out!"
Yui stepped back, thinking:
"Really... I just want to get out of here... why am I stuck with a crazy kid... and a girl I don't know?"
Zalarosa said decisively:
"Alright, let's get out of here! Come with me!"
She grabbed Yui and Ryo, pulling them toward the pit leading to the next floor... but suddenly, the opening slammed shut!
Zalarosa screamed:
"...Are you kidding me?! It was open all along, and now it's closed? That bastard!... I swear, I'll tear you to pieces! Just wait!"
She sprinted toward the stairway leading down, but the door there... was about to close too.
"Come on! Hurry! Please, don't close now!"
She ran with all her might, dragging Ryo and Yui along, worry ripping her heart.
They neared the stairs, just steps from salvation.
"There's still a chance! It's not too late yet!"
But...
Her joy was short-lived.
The last monster of the floor appeared, standing before the stairs, towering, massive, roaring loudly as it raised its giant sword toward them.
Zalarosa screamed, her eyes blazing with fury:
"Damn it... you bastard! Get out of my way!!!"
She charged at it with all her strength, drawing her sword, leaping into the air, and shouting:
"A thousand years of blood!!! Taste death, you bastard, and get out of my way!!!"
---
To be continued...