บท 6: Game start
The stillness around me was suffocating. I felt like I was trapped in a nightmare, suspended in a moment that felt both infinite and fleeting. The flickering window hovered in front of me, pulsing with a strange light, but no matter how hard I focused, I couldn't get a grasp on the situation.
"Maxwell?" The old man's voice cut through the silence, and I blinked, disoriented. He stared at me with a mix of concern and confusion.
"I'm… fine," I stammered, though I was anything but. What had just happened? The flickering window had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving me with more questions than answers.
"Are you sure? You looked like you were miles away." His tone softened, and I quickly averted my eyes.
"Yeah, just… thinking," I said, trying to sound casual. But the strange phenomenon gnawed at the edges of my mind, blending with the remnants of fear from my earlier encounter.
Needing to clear my head, I slipped out of the apartment again, "I"ll be back!" i said in a rush before the door clicked shut behind me as the old man's voice followed mine "W-wait!!-" and was cut off by the shutting of the door. I made my way to the nearby park, sweating and anxious about the unpredictable events that followed each other simultaneously, where the world felt more vibrant and alive. The sun cast a golden hue on the grass, and laughter from children echoed in the air, soothing my frayed nerves.
As I wandered along the path, I replayed the events of the day in my mind—the broken tap, the giant man, the inexplicable power that had surged through me. What was happening?
I found a bench under a sprawling oak tree and sank into it, closing my eyes for a moment. I breathed in the fresh air, hoping to ground myself in reality. But just as I felt a sense of calm wash over me, the air around me shifted again. The shimmering window flickered into existence before me, displaying a new challenge.
CHALLENGE: Run 10 Miles.
My heart raced at the sudden prompt. What did that mean? Was this some silly prank? and what if it wasn't? would i be trouble ?The thought of running ten miles made my legs feel weak, but an inexplicable urge surged within me, compelling me to accept more likely a premonition that could be my fate if i were to decline. Yet, the incredulous situation couldn't compel me to obey.
"No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "Why should i even do this..." i muttered to myself.
The moment the words left my lips, the ground beneath me trembled violently. Panic surged through me as darkness enveloped my vision, swallowing the park and its warmth. I gasped, struggling to breathe as I was transported to a new place—one that was eerily silent and utterly void of light."W-what the ?!"
When the darkness receded, I found myself standing in a dimly lit expanse, the air heavy with a sense of foreboding. All around me, the silhouettes of armored knights began to materialize, slowly the pixels in the air that obviously didn't exist made up the hologram like figures, their menacing figures illuminated by a ghostly light. Thousands of them, glistening swords raised, surrounded me.
"What is this?" I whispered, fear gripping my throat. My heart raced as I felt a weight in my pocket. I reached in to find a small, dull pocket knife—my only weapon against the terrifying legion.
Suddenly, a timer appeared in the flickering window hovering before me, its numbers counting down ominously.
PUNISHMENT FOR DECLINING CHALLENGE: 10 MINUTES TO SURVIVE.
I felt my stomach drop. "No! This can't be happening!" I shouted, but my voice echoed back, swallowed by the overwhelming silence. The knights began to advance, their movements synchronized, their eyes locked onto me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.
But then I remembered how, even at seven years old, my small frame had always been an advantage in tight situations. I had learned to slip through small spaces and dodge blows that others couldn't. I couldn't let fear paralyze me now.
With no choice but to fight, I steeled myself. I might not have the strength of a knight or the skill to match them, but I wouldn't go down without a fight. My legs trembled beneath me, but I planted my feet, determination surging within.
As the first knight lunged at me, I ducked and slipped to the side, using my agility to avoid his strike through mere instinct. The knight's sword cleaved the air where I had just stood. I felt the rush of air against my skin, and adrenaline coursed through me.
Using my size to my advantage, I darted through the ranks of knights, weaving and ducking as they swung their swords. I could feel their cold gazes on me, but I focused on the path ahead. I couldn't let them corner me.
"Come on, Max!" I urged myself, my breath coming in short gasps as I zigzagged through their formation. The timer loomed in my mind, and with every passing second, my resolve strengthened. If I could just keep moving, keep avoiding their strikes, I might stand a chance.
Suddenly, a knight swung at me from my left. I dropped low, the sword whooshing over my head, and sprang up again, pushing past him. The pocket knife felt awkward in my grip, but it was all I had. I could use it for distraction if I needed to.
But just as I turned to face another approaching knight, a wave of doubt crashed over me. Would my small size truly be enough? They were relentless, and time was running out. I had to survive—not just for myself, but to uncover the truth behind these bizarre challenges.
With renewed determination, I pressed forward, knowing I could navigate this terrifying arena. Each breath, each movement, brought me closer to overcoming the odds stacked against me. And as the timer ticked down, I refused to back down. I would fight, not just for survival, but for the chance to understand the extraordinary reality that had ensnared me.
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