The game began.
All 500 players stepped onto the glass panels.
Move.
At once, everyone began advancing slowly, cautiously.
No one wanted to be the first to die.
Then suddenly, two shadows dashed forward. They sprinted past everyone, rushing toward the finish line.
Freeze.
Too late. They couldn't stop in time.
Bang! Bang!
Two gunshots echoed through the room.
Player 196 and Player 322 eliminated.
Silence.
...So it's real.
If I move during freeze...I die.
Move.
He stepped forward again, carefully this time.
Freeze.
Some players froze perfectly.
Others, weren't so lucky, a few were caught mid-step, one lost balance, standing on one foot, another coughed, tiny movements, tiny vibrations.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Seven players dropped just like that.
Move!
People were shaking now, breathing uneven, panicking.
Rio felt it too, his heartbeat was loud in his ears.
He leaned slightly forward and whispered
"If you can't move, just breathe. That's what I do. I'm just a voice in the dark."
Something strange happened. The players around him calmed down. Their breathing steadied. Their bodies stopped trembling.
"Freeze."
They survived.
The Watchtower's gaze swept across the field, but passed him. Then, a voice beside him..."Stay close to the right tiles, they vibrate less."
Rio glanced sideways.
Player 228, Calm, composed, unshaken. He sounds like someone who never flinches, someone who knows they'll survive.
I want to be like that.
Then, something caught his eye, a figure ahead.
During "Freeze" that player moved. Just barely. A hand. A push. Another player stumbled
Bang!
Eliminated.
No one noticed.
Except Rio.
…I see.
Player 001.
The villain of this game.
Rio's expression hardened.
So this is that kind of world…
If I want to survive… I need to understand people like him.
…But I won't become him.
Move.
They were getting closer...closer to the end.
Then a soft voice behind him.
"I...I don't want to die..."
Rio didn't turn around.
"It's okay," he whispered."We're almost there."
One tile left.
Just one.
Victory was right in front of them.
Freeze.
Time stopped.
And then...it happened. Player 001 moved. A quick shove. The girl behind Rio stepped onto a red tile, an Echo Zone.
Rio's eyes widened.
She's going to die.
Do I save her…?
If I move, I die too.
A split second.
A choice.
Didn't I say I wanted something exciting?
.Then I'll gamble.
Rio moved.
He grabbed her wrist and pulled
He dragged her across the final tile
The Watchtower turned and locked on
And then...
Nothing.
They made it.
Rio exhaled slowly.
Alive.
"You… you saved me…" The girl's voice trembled.
For the first time, Rio turned.
Player 314.
"...Thanks."
"No problem," Rio said quietly.
"Glad you're safe."
"Tch, lucky bastard." Player 001 stepped across the finish line.
"Nice save." Player 228 arrived shortly after, calm as ever.
One by one, more players crossed, some barely, some shaking, some silent.
"Alright, you shadows." Shadow's voice echoed once more.
"Congratulations."
"Game 1… complete."
"But before we move on…"
"Let's talk about your performances."
The room fell silent.
Again.
To be continued...