-lv3-
Helen blinked, taking in her surroundings.
The hallways stretched endlessly, each lined with rooms arranged in a seemingly random pattern, with no discernible structure. The entire place buzzed with an overwhelming cacophony of mechanical noise. The narrow passageways were claustrophobic, their walls made of dusty brown bricks, often obscured by copper pipes and mechanical components. The floor, covered in grimy gray tiles, was even filthier, while the ceiling was entirely metallic, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.
"This place is so loud and suffocating," Helen thought.
Ryan spoke up, his voice barely audible over the background noise.
"Everyone! As I suspected, this level is dangerous, but it also has valuable resources!"
Helen suddenly thought she heard footsteps—but was it real, or just an illusion created by the constant whirring and clanking of machinery?
"Great… Sacium has disappeared again."
She followed behind the group as they moved forward. The hallway seemed to shrink around them, growing narrower and tighter with each step. Soon, they were forced into a single-file line, navigating the increasingly confined space with difficulty.
After maneuvering through the maze-like corridors, Ryan led them into a room filled with storage lockers.
Helen suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. An invisible weight settled over her, an instinctive warning. She couldn't stop herself—her body turned involuntarily, her eyes scanning the dimly lit hallway behind them.
Panic surged through her veins.
Fear. Anxiety. Terror.
Two glowing red eyes burned in the darkness.
Helen's breath caught in her throat. She shoved the people in front of her, her voice trembling with urgency.
"Move! Move faster!"
She could see it now—the eyes were getting closer.
Her shoving turned into frantic pushing as she screamed, desperation fueling her strength.
"RUN! SOMETHING'S COMING!"
The warning sent a shockwave through the group. Chaos erupted as everyone scrambled for safety. In the frenzy, people tripped and fell, bodies crashing into each other in blind panic. But survival was the only priority.
Somehow, they all made it inside the storage room.
The moment they crossed the threshold, Ryan slammed the door shut. But the frantic escape had left them battered and bruised. Some were limping, others clutching fresh wounds from the stampede.
A deep, resonating THUD shook the door.
Ryan pressed his weight against it, but another BOOM nearly knocked him off his feet.
Frantic, he searched the room for anything that could reinforce the door.
Nothing.
Just empty lockers.
Another impact rattled the room. The door groaned under the assault.
Ryan's legs gave out. He slumped to the floor, exhausted, despair washing over him.
"Where are you, Sacium? I don't want to do this anymore. I want to rest."
"Why? Why do I keep failing over and over again? I'm so tired. I feel like I'm going to break."
"Please… someone tell me what to do next. Someone… take my place."