the vote to 6

The scientist said, "Hello little fella, whatcha doing? I hope you made some friends till now, as this mission will be easier with that 'power of friendship!'"

The way he switched from an American accent to a more casual tone was honestly cringe. I knew he was just acting childish to get what he wanted. Still, I thought, it's good that we have an extra person in the team—it may help us.

After a pause, the scientist continued, "Today your mission is to go into the hidden dungeon and collect minerals, for which you will get points."

He paused to let his words sink in before adding, "It sure sounds like a game, doesn't it? But the game's no fun without danger. So, there are some creatures awaiting you in there, and some personal quests that will be sent to you via the smartwatch you'll receive."

His excitement was unsettling—so much that he bit his tongue and wiped away the blood with a tissue.

"I'm not a good yapper, so all the info is in the watch. Do check it out—it will help you," he said with a wide grin.

Then he shifted tone, visibly irritated. "But I'm a perfectionist, you see, and I see inequalities roaming. This is a hexagon, right? So why are there 7 and 8 people in the groups?"

His smile twisted into a scowl. "No, I can't let this happen. A hexagon has six sides—so each team will have six people only. I want each team to vote out players so that it becomes 6."

As I expected, this was what he was truly excited about—conflict within the group.

"So then, the rest will be handled by Dr. Miyagi. I hope you like my test. I'll be watching my flowers bloom..."

He paused with an evil smile.

"...or wither."

The screen shut down. A 10-minute countdown began.

I anticipated this. I would likely be one of the ones voted out.

Then, through the ceiling, smartwatches floated down—one for each of us. I wore mine and tuned out the noise of the group's arguing as I read the instructions and my personal mission.

Personal Mission: "Find out the hidden dungeon and the executioner." Reward: ———

"What?" I murmured. I thought the watch would help, but it only added more mysteries.

The general instructions:

There are two parts to the dungeon:

Entrance Dungeon and Hidden Dungeon. The hidden one contains more crystals.

The personal mission cannot be revealed. If revealed, it results in expulsion.

If you find out someone else's mission, they will be expelled and you gain their resources.

"That could've been told by the doctor too," I muttered. I guess he just wants to watch this act and not do much.

As for the vote, I already anticipated my demise.

I could feel it before they even spoke.

The way their eyes slid past me. The way Lucian's smirk lingered a little longer than it should. The silence said more than words ever could — I was the obvious choice. I just didn't expect them to be so calm about it.

Rex was the first to speak, arms crossed like he was delivering a judgment he didn't enjoy.

"No hard feelings, Kael," he said. "But this is the fairest way. You've got no mission, no alignment, no real reason to be here. If we want to survive this… we can't afford unknown variables. It's just strategy."

He called me Kael, of course. That name hanging around my neck like a noose I couldn't untie. I kept silent, jaw tight.

Lucian stepped forward next, voice smooth as ever.

"We've decided the first one. Now let's move on to the second. We need six, after all." He turned toward the corner, eyes on Elisa—the white-haired girl curled up with her knees to her chest. "My vote? Her. The ghost girl. Just sits there like she's already dead. You all saw it — she hasn't spoken a useful word since we got here. We need people who want to live."

Elisa didn't move. Her eyes flicked up at him—not scared, not angry. Just… tired.

Selene flipped her hair over her shoulder, eyes narrowing.

"Lucian's a bastard, but… he's not wrong. Elisa's been a non-factor since the beginning. If she won't even try to speak, what's the point?"

Liora hugged her arms tightly, frowning.

"She might just be scared," she said quietly. "I don't want to vote her out like this…"

But her voice didn't sound confident—more like someone trying to convince herself she wasn't part of the mob.

Marek, arms folded, his golden circuitry glowing faintly, said what I feared.

"Scared people get you killed. This isn't daycare. If someone freezes in the dungeon, they'll drag the whole team down with them."

Noah—half-asleep as always—yawned before speaking.

"I don't care who it is. Just pick. All this tension's making me want to vomit."

And that was it. Consensus. No argument. No reconsideration. Just cold, logical execution.

Rex turned to face me, voice steady.

"Kael first. Elisa second. That's the vote."

I almost laughed. Bitter, dry.

They were voting out a stranger. A ghost.

And I was the only one who knew that ghost didn't exist anymore. Because I wasn't Kael.

But no one cared. They'd already decided.

The timer on the ceiling flashed red.

00:27… 00:26… 00:25

I clenched my fists, forcing down the nausea rising in my throat. No panic. No begging. If this was going to happen, I'd meet it head on.

Still, I watched each of them as they spoke aloud. As the timer went off, someone descended from the ceiling—like a god above us. He wore a black coat, jeans, a white shirt, and a red tie. He looked East Asian, maybe Japanese or Chinese, and very lean.

He said, "Time for the vote. Say out loud the name of the one you want to vote out."

I already knew who was going to be the first target.

Rex: "Kael and Elisa."

Lucian: "Kael and Elisa."

Selene: "Kael and Elisa."

Marek: "Kael and Elisa."

Liora: "Kael… and Elisa."

Noah: "Kael and Elisa."

When Elisa's turn came, she raised her head just slightly and said, "Kael and Lucian," as if carving her revenge into stone.

Then it was my turn.

"I vote for Kael… and Dr. Miyagi."

I voted for myself because I see myself as unfit to live. I haven't killed someone I loved—yet—but I have become the cause of their demise, and deep down I know I could. Maybe I will. And that's enough of a reason for my vote. As for the doctor, I voted for him as a symbol of this corrupted system—one that plays with lives, one that took the person I cared about most. This world and I… we're both unworthy. So I voted us both out.

The doctor stared at me with a cold, unreadable expression.

"Votes concluded. Highest tallies stand: Kael and Elisa."

Tally

A holographic board tallied our choices:

Kael — 7

Elisa — 5

Lucian — 1

Dr. Miyagi — 1

Miyagi's smile returned in an instant, then he spoke:

"Then, in conclusion… the voting is done. The ones selected may come to the center," he said, as he gestured toward the large center.

Elisa rose, green threads glowing brighter, face unreadable. I joined her. Five alien corners also sent one member each—

seven souls in total.

Which were about to get killed.

Miyagi raised his wrist.

"Reallocation is not execution,"

he paused,

"But merely resource redistribution."

The platform shook. I met Elisa's eyes. It didn't show fear but acceptance.

The floor dropped. Darkness swallowed us.

I fell, thinking only one thing: If I can't live as Solin, maybe I'll die as Kael.