They vanished in thin air. Did I do something stupid? I kept thinking about the reason for their disappearance. Frozen into place, it took me a minute to align my thoughts.
Did they get disqualified? No, disqualification means death in these games. And the game moderators would be ecstatic to show their viewers the deaths of both Aran and Urick.
I could think of two possibilities. The first is that somehow the system or the moderators for this stage logged them out. Their VR gear must've broke. But, I have never heard nor read anywhere about a VR gear breaking down out of nowhere and we are in the world's most advanced facility. The chance for this to happen is too low.
So the other reason which I thought of is more probable. Both Aran and Urick must've unlocked some sort of a hidden condition. Back in the gate of Diligence, the coins could somehow be categorized into a hidden quest. Since the main objective didn't say anything that pertains to it.
Lost in my thoughts, time flew by without my notice.
"Hey! You listening?"
Startled as someone pulled me out of my daze, I realized that the round is ending.
"Hey?"
It was the brownish and slim but muscular woman. She was already close to me when I noticed her. Now that I could see her face up close. Her face appeared to be as if it belongs to a doll. Looking at her hand, I noticed that she was also part of the fortunate ones who didn't receive a ball.
"Have you gone mute?"
"Oh, hmm... What is it?"
She's right that I have responded a bit late. Still, what's with that rude behavior?
"You're friends with the old man and the black guy from earlier right?"
"Yes."
After she heard my reply, she didn't speak for a while. In an attempt to continue the conversation, I broke the silence by introducing myself.
"By the way, I'm Grayson."
While I introduced myself, I stretched my hand offering a handshake. She stared at my hand and then averted her eyes.
"Siti."
Ah, how rude, I thought. How could someone brush off an offer for a handshake like that?
"Uhmm. Did you approach me to ask if I was friends with them?"
Siti stared at me, she smiled and leaned her upper body. She placed her right hand on her cheek as if trying to direct the sound that will come from her mouth.
"No. I saw them disappear," she whispered.
Ecstatic, I didn't manage to hide a stupid smile. Siti's face didn't change much, but somehow I could feel her disgusts leaking out.
I cleared my throat to hide my smile,
"So what did you see?"
"The black guy passed the ball to the old man."
Siti said that though she was at a considerable distance away from us, she saw that as soon as Urick passed the ball to Aran they vanished. She said after she blinked her eyes a single time they were gone.
"Come to think of it. That was the first time I saw someone accept another player's ball."
Siti nodded.
"Me too."
As we both realized how to pass the gate of Humility through the hidden condition, a notification appeared stating the end of the round.
"Next round starting in 60 seconds."
"The next round is my third, you?" I asked.
"It's my fifth. Why?"
I explained to Siti how the mad dog's pattern works. She believed what I said, though Siti also told me that she doesn't remember anyone at the same round as her.
"Round Start!"
With the deafening siren sound that wakes up the mad dog, the round started. I hoped to have a ball this time. And was it luck that I did? The mad dog chased after other players away from Siti and me.
Siti didn't receive a ball, which is a relief since if both of us obtained one I am clueless about what to do.
"So, I just need to get it from you. Right?"
I walked closer to Siti.
"Here I'll just pass it."
"No, toss it. It might not work if we both have contact with the ball."
Siti stretched her hands and is in the gesture of receiving the ball. What Siti said did make sense. Without questioning it, I tossed the ball to her.
"What the-"
She dodged, by moving her hand away.
The ball fell on the ground, and the moment it hits the floor it reappeared in my hand. I could feel the hairs on my neck stand.
When I looked behind, the mad dog was standing still and its glare pierced through me. Veins bulged on the mad dog's face and body. Though far away, I could hear its angry growl.
It sprinted. Faster than when it chased Aran.
Laughing out loud with a high-pitched voice, Siti found my predicament hilarious. "What a cruel bitch" is all I could think of as I panicked while thinking of a way to live.
Siti wiped off the tears in her eyes from the excessive laughter she did as she also commented how I look like someone that really needs to go to the bathroom.
"I was just joking. Come on toss it again."
This time I went closer to her, held her hand then passed the ball. With a cold sweat running down my face, I looked behind. The mad dog stopped, its protruding veins also seems to have calmed.
I sighed. Relieved, I glared at Siti.
"You!"
She laughed again. Repeated that it was all a joke and she intended to get the ball in the first place. With a few more heavy breaths I calmed myself.
"Here, take it back."
As I thought. Siti also knew that the ball Urick had initially come from Aran. She must've been watching us from the start when the mad dog chased Aran.
"Why should I?"
The mad dog continued its slaughter. As if karma doing its work, before we knew it, the beast was heading in our direction.
The tables have turned in a blink of an eye.
"Hey! Take it back already, I'm that dog's target."
"Ah, right. It's your fifth round."
I sat down and placed both of my hands on my back. The sweat running down Siti's cheeks could be seen from where I am sitting.
Siti glared at me. Her face became serious. She sat in front of me, placed the ball in her connected palms, and instigated me to get the ball.
"I'm not joking. Take it."
While having a smug on my face I replied,
"Why should I? The mad dog will pass through me, and you can't hurt me."
Panicking, Siti kept on provoking me.
"Don't act like you have balls! You greenhorn virgin bastard! Take it!"
What she said hurt, well only a bit so I smiled and stretched my legs.
"Should I lie down?"
The mad dog's drawing closer.
"Come on take it, the dog's close!"
Slightly kicking her feet, Siti kept on looking back and forth between the beast and me while still in the same gesture of passing the ball. I kind of enjoy teasing this rude woman but still realized that I am feeling pleased toying with someone else's life on the line. Something I would never think of doing before.
Did this place already change me? Can someone even change this fast?
"Say 'Sorry, please take it.' " I said.
"Huh!?"
"The dog's close! Just say it!"
The mad dog being less than five meters away, Siti gritted her teeth.
"Sorry!! Please take i-"
Since I also kept track of the mad dog, I decided to take the ball ahead since I didn't want Siti to die as well.
As I touched the ball, with a single blink everything became dark. I was in a place where nothing exists. But after a few seconds, the screen popped up and the only light came from it.
"Congratulations!"
"You have been Humbled."
"Acquire two(2) more heavenly virtues to complete this stage."
"Challenge another gate within 2 minutes or you will be disqualified and your life will be forfeited."
"Click the next gate you want to challenge."
Again, below the text are the buttons for the remaining gates. Chastity, Temperance, Charity, Kindness, and Forgiveness.
The thought of why the place is filled with darkness did visit my mind. But I just thought that maybe the makers for this substage didn't think that there would be people who would pass the ball among these vicious criminals and didn't bother designing the area.
Didn't know why, but I chose the button labeled Charity. I guess I felt that "Charity" will be easier than the rest. Soon as I clicked the button, it was the feeling of being pulled somewhere in a swift again. I have experienced it multiple times now, yet it is still dizzying.
As my visions lined. I now get a clearer picture of where I am. Outside the gate of an establishment labeled "Bad Depart Charity". What a name for a charity. Other players aside from me also appeared in the same place.
After a brief moment, the screen notification appeared.
"Charity is Love in Action"
"For you have lost love for others, you must give to those who are less fortunate."
"Objective:"
"Donate to the charity."
It was the shortest instruction so far.
After reading the task for this gate I noticed behind me a street covered with snow. Nothing alive exists in the streets. But I could see from the outside that there was not a single speck of snow inside the charity.
Everyone's attire changed. This time I wore a blackish coat and a scarf on my neck. Though some have different colors or styles, it all comes down to the same theme.
As I entered the gate of the facility and looked behind, I realized that the invisible wall is within the gate and I am now considered as playing this substage.
Inside, players formed a line in front of a booth where a nun stood greeting the players. She has a huge smile on her face as she looked the player in front of her in the eyes. It seems like they were drawing something out of a box. Most of the players I came with already got in the line.
So, I also lined up.