Aiden stumbled as the floor reconfigured beneath him, the hexagonal panels shifting once more, dragging him into a dimly lit corridor that stretched endlessly forward.
The voice returned.
> "Zone 7 Initiated: Maze Protocol."
"Objective: Reach the center. Avoid the Beast. Elimination of others is optional, but only 20 may proceed."
"Time Limit: 30 minutes."
His pulse quickened.
From 27, down to 20.
Seven more players needed to fall. This time, it wasn't a direct kill order—but survival meant outpacing the others… or dying trying.
Walls of black stone formed around him, cutting off any sense of direction. Overhead lights flickered, casting sharp shadows. The hum of electricity buzzed through the air.
Aiden tightened his grip on the pipe and stepped forward.
His breath echoed in the silence.
Then came the first scream.
It was far away… distant… but unmistakable.
Aiden broke into a jog, heart pounding. The maze twisted and shifted with every turn. He passed flickering screens embedded into the walls, showing grainy images of other players running, hiding—or being dragged away by something huge.
Then the message appeared.
> "THE BEAST IS AWAKENED."
The lights shut off.
All at once.
Darkness consumed everything.
Aiden froze, ears straining for sound.
Then he heard it:
Thud.
Scrape.
Growl.
Something massive was moving through the maze.
He turned a corner and ran blindly, his footfalls echoing with desperation.
Suddenly—another figure.
"Back!" Aiden shouted, raising his pipe.
The other player raised both hands. "It's me—Mei!"
Relief rushed through him. Mei's clothes were torn, and she was bleeding from her arm.
"Where's Ryo?" he asked.
"He didn't make it into this zone. I don't know where they sent him. But we have to move. Now."
The maze walls suddenly shifted behind them, a massive crash shaking the floor.
ROOOAARRRR.
Aiden and Mei ran.
The sound of something heavy scraping against metal followed them. They didn't look back.
Corner after corner. Door after door.
Until finally—
They stumbled into a large circular chamber. In the center: a glowing pedestal with a symbol pulsing in red.
> "Checkpoint secured. Player(s) eligible for advancement."
Mei collapsed, gasping. Aiden turned, expecting the beast to crash in after them.
But it never did.
Instead, silence.
The lights flickered back on.
The voice returned:
> "Five players eliminated. 22 remain. 3 eliminations pending. Final results in next phase."
Mei grabbed Aiden's arm, eyes wide. "They're not waiting for the timer. They're letting the Beast choose."
Aiden's stomach dropped.
> "This game... it's not just about winning. It's about surviving horror until you break."
And it wasn't over yet.
---