The checkpoint chamber began to dissolve.
Not literally—but through metallic grinding, the walls retracted, the floor split, and the entire space transformed again. The pedestal that had secured Aiden and Mei's safety sank into the ground.
A new platform rose in its place.
A screen flickered to life above them.
> "Twenty Players Verified. Phase Complete."
"Initiating Countdown Protocol."
"Next Elimination Round begins in 60 seconds."
"What?" Mei gasped. "We just made it!"
Aiden's muscles tensed. "They're not giving us time to breathe anymore."
Panels on the wall blinked, revealing the names and symbols of all 20 players.
Some were red. Others yellow. Aiden's was green.
> Green = Safe. Yellow = Vulnerable. Red = Eliminated.
Twelve players were yellow.
"They're targeting the weak," Aiden muttered.
A door opened behind them, and more players stumbled in. Kyle. Sera. Tatsuya. All breathing heavily, bleeding, exhausted.
Tatsuya looked around. "They're rushing the game. You feel it? Like… they want it over soon."
"Or they want to see who breaks first," Sera replied, her voice hoarse.
> "Commencing Countdown Protocol."
> "Each vulnerable player has 10 minutes to complete a private challenge. Failure = Elimination."
Aiden clenched his fists. "They're forcing mental breakdowns."
Mei glanced at the screen. "Wait—where's Elian?"
Aiden's stomach sank.
Suddenly, another door burst open. Elian limped in, holding his side, soaked in blood.
He looked around wildly. "It's still here," he whispered. "The Beast… it's not done…"
Before anyone could react, the screen blinked.
> "Player Elian: Status = Disqualified. Internal injuries critical. Ejection in progress."
"No!" Mei ran to him, catching him as he collapsed.
Aiden stood still as a mechanical arm reached in from the ceiling, grabbing Elian's unconscious body and pulling him upward.
Mei sobbed as the screen updated.
> 19 Players Remaining
Aiden's name blinked again.
> "Next Phase Begins: Zone Collapse."
> "New Rule: Only 10 Players Will Advance."
Aiden's blood ran cold.
"We're being trimmed," he whispered. "Not for survival… but for entertainment."
And now?
They were down to nineteen.
And only ten could move forward.
---