The Host's Announcement
The host's voice crackled through the speakers, cutting through the tense silence like a cold breeze. "Attention, players. The gate to the next layer will be open for the next twelve hours. After that, it will close, and any player who hasn't exited will be crushed to death. This is your only chance to progress to the next level. So, I suggest you move quickly."
The announcement was met with a mix of tension and urgency among the players. Zoro, Aryan, Victor, Ryoko, Rono, Zack, John, and Leon exchanged worried glances, their minds racing with suspicions and questions. They had all witnessed Kael's remarkable victory over the layer boss without resorting to consuming the demon heart—a feat that defied the known rules of the game.
Zoro broke the silence first. "How did Kael do it? Defeating a layer boss without consuming the demon heart? That's impossible. It's like he's playing by a different set of rules."
Aryan nodded, his brow furrowed with suspicion. "He's not like the rest of us. There's something off about him. Maybe he's been in this place longer than he says. Maybe he knows a secret, something we don't."
Victor sneered. "He's dangerous, that's what he is. And now he's got the whole place talking. Who does he think he is? Some sort of king?"
Ryoko's eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and caution. "Maybe he's playing a different game altogether. Maybe he's here to take over this place. If he can defeat a warlord without a demon's heart, who knows what else he's capable of?"
Rono frowned. "He's a wild card. And that's dangerous. If he's planning something big, we need to be ready. We can't let him disrupt our plans."
Zack crossed his arms, deep in thought. "He's a mystery. I mean, who is Kael really? And why isn't he participating in the usual fights for resources and power? It's like he's playing a different game—one that doesn't require the same rules."
John's voice was low, almost a whisper. "Maybe he's a player who's figured something out—some trick, some hidden knowledge that the rest of us don't have. We need to be careful around him."
Leon shifted uncomfortably, glancing around at the others. "We can't just ignore him. He's a threat. And if he's planning to take over, we need to act before it's too late."
The host's voice interrupted their discussion, cutting through the growing tension. "Players, start moving now. The gate to the next layer opens in twelve hours. If you don't leave now, you'll be crushed to death."
The urgency in the host's voice was clear—time was running out. The players scrambled to their feet, each lost in their own thoughts about Kael and his mysterious strength. They knew that the next twelve hours would be critical. They had to move quickly, gather what they needed, and exit the layer before it was too late.
As they began to disperse, each player cast one last glance at Kael, who was standing silently at the edge of the clearing, watching them with those piercing eyes. There was something about him that didn't add up—a sense of purpose and power that seemed out of place in this brutal, dog-eat-dog world. But for now, they had bigger concerns. They needed to survive, get through the gate, and make it to the next layer.
Whispers of Kael's name continued to circulate as they moved, suspicions and rumors swirling around him. But for now, they had no choice but to keep an eye on him and move forward. The clock was ticking, and they needed to act fast if they were going to make it out alive.