Chapter 26: Don’t Blink

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Charlie stepped forward. Everything was still frozen in time.

He walked toward the place where his body still lay motionless.

Sitting back into position, his body aligned once more—and then, the arm of Entity 6 began to move. The world resumed... but ever so slowly.

Charlie moved out of the way, then sprinted toward Ryan.

Everything… moved like molasses.

Ryan was mid-run when Charlie suddenly appeared beside him, causing him to flinch in disbelief.

Ryan: How the hell are you moving?

Charlie: I don't know... but everything just feels so slow to me!

Ryan: Then does that mean you can move faster than everything else?

Charlie: I think so.

Ryan: In that case, clear the path for us!

The moment the words left Ryan's mouth, a red blur zipped forward.

Above them, Aaron was just about to bring his fist down and shatter a cabinet when—

Whoosh!

The cabinet vanished!

Aaron blinked in confusion, his punch landing on empty air.

Aaron: What the hell just happened!?

All around him, obstacles began shifting aside as if swept away by invisible hands. A red streak flickered by. Charlie rocketed through space, his motion carving shrill metallic screeches into the air. Each step left scorched burn marks on the floor. Cabinets, chairs, debris—every obstacle—was swept aside like dry leaves in a storm.

The streak vanished into the distance… and ten seconds later, returned to run alongside Aaron.

Charlie: Yo! What's up, Aaron~

Aaron: Huh?! You awakened too?!

Charlie: Why not?

Charlie dashed down to Ryan's side.

Charlie: Need help?

Ryan: I don't even know anymore—just keep running! Find an exit!

Charlie: Actually, I saw a corridor that looked... different.

Ryan: You did? Then lead everyone there!

With that, Ryan leaped into Linus, pulling Aaron down with him. The entire group launched forward at high speed.

Helen, startled, clung tightly to Ryan.

Helen: What's going on?!

Ryan: Charlie awakened his power! He's helping us now!

Ryan pulled her closer in his arms.

All that remained was the sound of rushing wind, the screech of metal on tile as Linus slid forward.

Yet, between those noises… Ryan and Helen could hear only the thudding of each other's heartbeat.

Helen closed her eyes, letting herself be carried in that fleeting moment.

A red light blazed past, leaving a fading streak. Then, suddenly, that red light shifted—turning gold, then white.

"Have we reached the next level yet? God, I hope so..."

Ryan stood up. Helen reached out instinctively to hold him back—but stopped herself.

—Level: THE END—

Ryan rose to his feet, scanning the area with weariness in his eyes.

Helen observed their surroundings. Level The End resembled an endless library stretching into eternity, its centerpiece marked by a metal sign: "The End is Near."

Ryan: Everyone! Gather at the center—and absolutely NO exploring without orders!

The group moved toward the central area, where an old computer and a dusty librarian's podium stood.

They sat down. Helen settled beside Ryan.

Helen: Hey... are you okay?

Ryan: ...Yeah. Just... this level is vague. The only way out is by random noclip... Don't tell the others, alright? I just need some rest...

Helen: Mm. You've done so much already.

Ryan laid his head on Helen's lap. But he didn't sleep.

He couldn't.

From the entrance, a voice called out:

???: Ryan?

Ryan jolted up.

Ryan: Sacium?

Sacium: You left without telling me?

Ryan: Sorry, it all happened so fast...

Ryan glanced at Helen.

Ryan: Sacium, I just needed a moment to rest, that's all.

Sacium stared at Ryan, exhaustion and disappointment flickering in his gaze.

Sacium: ...Fine. Whatever. It's okay.

His eyes shifted to Helen. For a fleeting moment, they darkened—as though searching for something buried beneath her skin.

Helen lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

A chill rippled through her—she wasn't sure if it was guilt, fear, or something worse.

Sacium sat beside her. Yet his presence stirred something deeply uncomfortable in her.

Sacium: Helen... how's your arm?

Helen: I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me...

Tension grew thick among the three.

Suddenly, the ground began to ripple. Helen sprang up to run, but Ryan shouted:

Ryan: EVERYONE SIT STILL!

Helen froze.

She remembered—this Level could only be escaped through random noclip.

If they missed this chance... they could be trapped here forever.

RrRRrRRR

The group was pulled into noclip again.

Helen was falling.

She looked around, stunned by the sheer vastness around her.

A flat surface spread out below—its texture like clouds. Yet the clouds appeared three-dimensional, like a holographic illusion shimmering beneath her feet.

—Level 998—

Ryan and Linus used their old technique, cushioning everyone's fall.

But then—

Helen opened her eyes and realized she was standing in a pitch-black room.

In the center stood a glowing white figure—a creature she instinctively called an angel.

The angel radiated light, but it was a cold, piercing light.

Each beam sliced into her eyes like knives.

Its face—twisted, as if torn apart and stitched back together by someone who had never known emotion.

Its smile stretched unnaturally, grotesque, and monstrous... yet it pretended to be divine.

Angel: Hey! You know, there's a white gate here. If you walk through it, you can escape.

But only one person is allowed through!

With that declaration, the creature exploded into fragments of light.

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