3

Phil advanced toward the massive walls that seemed to touch the sky, his heavy breaths mingling with the fresh, intense scent of the green grass surrounding him. The soft, damp ground absorbed the impact of his hurried steps, but small stones hidden among the vegetation forced him to adjust his footing. The sun shone brightly, burning his skin and making every step more exhausting, but the adrenaline coursing through his body drove him forward, blocking out any discomfort.

"Hey! Where are you going? Wait!" The girl's voice sounded distant, anxious, but Phil didn't respond.

He didn't look back for even a second. All that mattered was reaching those colossal walls that seemed to challenge him. The distance between him and the girl grew rapidly, and he felt the tension building in the muscles of his legs as he neared his goal.

When he finally stopped, panting, he stood in front of the walls. They were even bigger than he had imagined. Made of grayish stone with a faint shine under the sun, the walls looked flawless, with no visible cracks. Phil tilted his head back, trying to see the top, but all he could make out was an endless void.

Running his hand over the surface, he searched for something he could use as a foothold until he found a small crevice. Without a second thought, he began climbing, pressing his feet into barely perceptible ledges and pulling himself up with effort.

"Hey!" The girl finally caught up to him, sweat dripping down her face. Her voice was trembling and full of fear. "What do you think you're doing? That's dangerous!"

"I don't care!" Phil snapped back without looking at her, continuing his ascent.

"You're not thinking straight! How do you expect to climb this without any equipment? Look at the size of this wall! It's taller than any skyscraper. Please, come down!"

Phil hesitated. His labored breathing and the sweat dripping down his neck made everything harder. He glanced down, and a wave of dizziness overtook him. The sight of the ground seemed farther away than he'd expected, and the world began to spin.

"You're right... I rushed into this."

As he tried to climb back down, he moved his feet slowly, searching for a foothold. But as he released one of his hands, his palm slipped on the smooth, cold stone. In an instant, he lost his balance. The air was ripped from his lungs as he fell, the ground rushing up to meet him.

The impact was brutal. His head hit the soft ground, but it was enough to knock him unconscious for a moment.

...

Jyin and Raye walked side by side across the soft, damp grass. The air was heavy with heat, and beads of sweat formed on their foreheads as the sun beat down on them. Their footsteps were the only sound in the otherwise silent world. The landscape around them was empty—no birds, no rustling leaves, just an eerie quiet that made every step feel amplified. The silence was almost unnerving, like they were the only two living beings in this strange, vast place.

Raye kicked a pebble with the toe of her shoe, breaking the silence. "Hey, do you think this could be some crazy experiment by, like, an advanced civilization or something?"

Jyin glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "I... suppose it's a possibility. But it seems more likely that we're in a situation similar to the great mausoleums of ancient civilizations—places designed not just to house, but to force people into deadly competition. Perhaps for the amusement of those in control."

Raye scoffed, shaking her head. "Damn, that's dark. But... yeah, I guess it could be something like that. It would explain why they'd throw us all in here, right?" She paused, then added, "Oh, and did you see the panel? It said we're team 335, which means there's a hell of a lot more teams in here. Like, what kind of messed-up game is this?"

Jyin nodded slowly, deep in thought. "Indeed. The implications are disturbing. It seems we're mere pawns in a game where the rules are still unknown to us."

Raye glanced sideways at Jyin, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "So, like, what do you think about Kalyl? I mean, you think he's really clueless, or is he just hiding something from us?"

Jyin's gaze hardened, her journalistic instincts kicking in. "I have no reason to believe that he is hiding anything. However, I trust my intuition, and it tells me there is more to his behavior than meets the eye. He is not as transparent as he may seem."

Before Raye could respond, she suddenly froze, her eyes widening. "Wait—look!" She pointed ahead.

Jyin followed her gaze, her body tensing. There, in the distance, was a man, climbing one of the massive walls. He was making his way up with determination, but in an instant, he slipped, falling through the air.

After seeing the man fall from the towering wall, Jyin and Raye locked eyes. Without a word, they both sprinted forward, their footsteps muffled by the soft ground but still audible in the heavy silence around them.

The heat seemed to intensify with every step, sweat dripping from their brows as they pushed themselves harder. The air felt thick, the tension rising as they closed the distance. Every second dragged, the weight of what they might find pulling at their nerves.

When they reached the spot where the man had fallen, they froze momentarily at the sight before them. Kneeling beside the unconscious figure was a young girl, tears streaming down her face. Her hands trembled as she murmured incoherent words, her wide, panicked eyes fixed on the man as though sheer willpower could wake him.

Jyin stepped forward cautiously, still catching her breath. "What happened here?" she asked, her tone firm but laced with concern.

The girl looked up, her tear-streaked face a picture of despair. "He fell... He tried to climb the wall, and... and now he won't wake up!" Her voice broke, and a sob escaped as she buried her face in her hands.

Raye moved closer, crouching beside the man. "Is he breathing?" she asked, her voice shaky despite her attempt to sound calm.

Jyin knelt next to Phil, examining him closely. "He's unconscious, but I don't see any severe injuries. We need to move him to a safer place and try to wake him up. Raye, help me lift him."

When Raye leaned in to help lift him, Phil's eyes fluttered open. He groaned softly, shifting slightly on the ground.

The first thing he did was complain. "Ah, my back," he muttered, his voice laced with irritation.

Raye froze, her eyes wide. "I thought you were dead!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and exasperation.

Phil blinked, his vision adjusting as he turned his head toward the girl beside him. Her face was streaked with tears, her sniffles breaking through the silence. "I thought I was dead too," he admitted, his voice softening as he met her tearful gaze.

Jyin crouched closer, her expression calm but concerned. "Are you alright?" she asked, her tone steady.

Phil winced as he shifted again, running a hand over the back of his head. "I think? Everything hurts, though. Feels like I got hit by a truck."

Raye let out a nervous laugh, shaking her head. "Dude, you fell off a wall that's, like, taller than a skyscraper. You're lucky to be alive."

Phil scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Don't be so dramatic. If I managed to climb ten meters, that's pushing it." He paused, glancing at the grass beneath him. "Besides, the ground's pretty soft. I think it cushioned the fall a little."

Raye raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Oh, sure. Because falling ten meters onto soft grass totally doesn't hurt, right?" Her sarcasm was thick, but there was a hint of relief in her tone.

Jyin, still kneeling beside him, observed him carefully. "Regardless of the height, you're lucky not to have broken any bones. You need to be more cautious. That climb was reckless."

Phil sighed, leaning back slightly as he rubbed his sore shoulder. "I wasn't exactly thinking straight, alright? I saw the wall, and... I don't know, it felt like I had to try."

Raye shook her head, her frustration clear. "Well, next time, think before you decide to go full Spider-Man on us, okay?" She looked over at the young girl, who was still sniffling quietly. "You gave her—and us—a heart attack."

Phil turned his attention back to the girl, who was wiping her face with shaky hands. "Hey," he said, his voice softer now, "I'm fine. Really. You don't need to cry anymore."

The girl sniffed, her wide eyes meeting his. "But you fell so hard... I thought you—"

"I'm tougher than I look," Phil interrupted with a weak grin, trying to lighten the mood. He winced as he shifted again. "Though I won't be doing that again anytime soon."