[All players, make your way to the main auditorium. The briefing will begin soon.]
[All players, make your way to the main auditorium. The briefing will begin soon.]
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What the system called an auditorium was actually a large dome-shaped glass and steel structure surrounded by lush trees, their trunks thick and branches heavy with leaves, covering the outside world from view.
The sky above was an unnatural shade of blue, without a single waft of cloud obstructing the sun. Light filtered through the geodesic glass, reflecting off the pure white marble floor that covered the area the size of a small football field.
Despite this, the air was pleasantly warm, and while the players wore different amounts of clothing, none of them felt a need to take off their coats or wear more layers.
A clean scent of peach blossom permeated the air as the players poured into the area en masse, making their way around the silver statue smacked middle of the dome. Tree branches curled outwards from the heavy trunk, reaching far out before drooping towards the white tiles below. Leaves of red and yellow jewels adorned only one of the branches. This branch overshadowed the rest, with a single golden peach of immortality hanging from the tip.
At the foot of the tree, copper statues of immortals in their heavy robes and flowy hair stood, fighting each other to reach the last fruit, greed rolling off their mouths that were frozen in a snarl, eyes fixated on the promise of immortality, hands reaching towards heavens but never grasping it.
The players paid little attention to the statues, too distracted by the frail-looking walls that promised freedom beyond the thin layer of glass and cluster of trees.
48 hours had passed by since they all had a need to use a toilet but once they opened the door to the cubicle or bathroom in their respective worlds, they found themselves here, in the middle of nowhere. Only a worn-down mattress on bolted-down bunk beds - without a damn toilet in sight, not even a bucket for the most desperate ones to relieve themselves.
"There is no signal." A tight voice echoed in the dome.
Most of the players had already come to this same conclusion upon entering the open area. Ever since being transported into the living quarters that resembled an abandoned prison, none of their phones could be turned back on. No matter if they had been fully loaded or even if they carried a portable charger - nothing worked.
The phones were dead.
Every single one of them.
In the dorms, only a single clock was nailed to the wall in each dorm, showing them the time of day. Not a window or a crack adorned any of the white walls. Only small palm-sized air vents ran along the rooftop. Buzzing tube lights hung low, and even as night fell, the lights stayed on, burning into their retinas.
No one had answered their screams, but now, a mechanical voice had suddenly appeared, telling them to move to the auditorium. After excruciating 48 hours, they were finally let out to the open. They had no choice but to obey. Nobody wanted to be locked up like a prisoner. They rather took their chances out here.
In such desperate times, humans were quick to adapt, promptly gravitating towards ones that held power, in hopes of finding shelter and protection from the great unknown. It took only 48 hours for the group of hundreds to split into smaller factions, with a clear center they hovered around, like files to the flame.
But no matter if they were split into small groups or stayed as lonely wolves, the same unnerving thought crossed their minds - why were they here?
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[15 minutes until briefing begins. Please assemble in the main auditorium.]
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On the east side of the dome, a young soldier was also in the middle of his own briefing.
"Sergeant Kruger! 15 minutes until briefing. Intel says people are planning to break the glass walls, sir!"
His teammates stood in a straight line, waiting for orders from the sergeant.
"Affirmative, sergeant. We have also scoured the area and there is nothing to cannibalise, sir!" Barked another soldier.
"At ease, men." A towering beast of a man stood before his team, blue eyes sharp like that of a wolf. Sergeant Kruger had gone through enough battles to stay calm even when in the direct line of fire. He considered it a blessing that their entire team had been on their way to the shared utility base when they were transported here. No man left behind. And even if his men didn't share these sentiments, they dare not show it on their faces either.
"For all we know, this could be a rehearsal in case the peace treaty of Schwarzstein is broken and a fourth world war breaks loose. We will wait for the briefing. If this is an enemy base, roll out as practised!"
"YES, SIR!" The team hollered in unison.
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What was said between the soldiers did not go unnoticed by the bystanders, with some hovering closer, hoping to be protected under the wings of the military, while others quickly scuttled back to their own groups like rats.
"C-CEO Kim!" A frightened office worker stumbled into the group of his peers that had cooped up in the western part of the dome. "Some are trying to break the glass wall while the soldiers are already planning on cannibalising everyone."
"C-cannibalise?! It's only been two days!" The group moved like a restless herd of office-attired cows with only one man to watch over them and guide them to greener pastures.
CEO Kim worked overtime to not roll his eyes. He did not only miss two days worth of important meetings but he was also stuck here with so many idiots.
"Secretary Wilson," the herd stilled before the mouth-wateringly handsome CEO Kim who looked like he had just stepped out of a manhwa. Black, slicked-back hair, the suit that was perfectly tailored for his muscular and tall build, the plump, pouty lips that balanced out the icy cool eyes of an apex predator hidden behind his gold-rimmed glasses - all of it dazzled them to submission.
"The soldiers do not want to eat you, I can assure you that." A small smile formed on CEO Kim's lips, as a slight blush crept up the secretary's droopy cheeks. He took off his glasses, amber eyes like molten gold under the sunlight.
"B-but-"
"They are speaking about finding and scavenging items to use in the future. Not to eat you, rest assured."
"A-ah, I see… A-apologies for worrying everyone…" Secretary Wilson hid behind his glasses, burning with embarrassment when another office worker pushed him aside, beady eyes wide from fear.
"What about the glass walls? Should we lend a hand-"
"Let us stay calm, Kevin. Treat this briefing as a formal business meeting. Once we know more, we can plan on necessary actions." CEO Kim was done listening to their useless blabbering.
The workers seemed calmed by their CEO's words. If a young man like him could climb the corporate ladder and become CEO at the ripe age of thirty, truly he could only be a formidable beast or just a pure psychopath. Either way, it was better to follow him than be left to fend for themselves.
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Apart from these groups orbiting around their own small gods, what was left was a herd of outsiders, who all had gathered around the statue in the middle, wondering what life choices could have possibly led them here.
"Ah~ too few formidable men, and too many rats cowering at their feet. How am I supposed to get a chance?" A hand rested on a slender waist, a black fishnet top flowing against snow-white skin. The young man craned his long, graceful neck, peering from over his designer glasses at all of the groups, trying to decide who he would try to woo as his newest protector. "Eh, Mo Yang, say, who do you think is the strongest among them?"
When there was no answer, the man stabbed his slender elbow into the other man's ribs. "Eh, you listening?"
Stormy grey eyes brushed over all the people who were present, Mo Yang's icy demeanour never warming. "None of them, senior Wu."
"What?" The model patted his long eyelashes at the taller man, dark curls bouncing with his every exasperated movement. "If they are not strong, then where am I supposed to find shelter? Here, among you C-list actors?"
His words caused a wave of annoyed murmur - but he ignored them. It was not like he was wrong.
Senior Wu had gravitated towards Mo Yang on a movie set years ago due to his uncaring phoenix eyes, elegant yet strong waist - and icy demeanour that one wanted to melt with their own body heat. But who would have known that such beauty had zero acting skills?!
So stiff and emotionless that Mo Yang could only score roles of pretty and statuesque cannon fodders that were killed the next time they appeared on the screen. It seemed that the directions loved casting him as a corpse, after all, he was as stiff as one!
Senior Wu could only cry in his heart. What a waste to give such beauty to a walking piece of cardboard.
Mo Yang's eyes fell on the model, like two dark abysses. It made the model feel antsy in a heated way, red lips pouting. "Ayah, I'm serious Mo Yang, help a senior out. I got you your latest gig, didn't I? Help your favourite senior out, YangYang."
Mo Yang blinked, but his gaze was no less unkind. "Senior Wu, in all seriousness, you would probably be safer on your own."
"Fine!" Senior Wu huffed, dropping the act and turned on his heels. "I will find a strong man by myself. Don't you come crawling for help once I'm enjoying my time here!"
"Senior-"
"I don't have a shitty junior like you! All looks, no heart!"
Mo Yang's brow twitched, but he followed his senior nonetheless. "Senior-"
The mechanical voice boomed then, silencing the low murmurs across the dome, drowning Mo Yang's words.
[The last player has arrived. Players, prepare for briefing.]
The grand doors to the dome slowly pulled close, drawing everyone's gaze over to the lone figure standing by himself, like a rabbit frozen in the headlights.
In front of the sea of players, fawn eyes dilated with fright. Fresh tears still clung to the lashes that framed the eyes so green they reminded the people of ocean waves crashing to the white sandy shore. Long limbs were clad in a simple T-shirt with a pair of washed-out jeans hugging his slim waist. Messy lavender hair and snow-white skin tinted with faint pink seemed ethereal in the scene. Like a magnolia tree growing in the desert…
Or a white lotus sprouting from a pile of bullshit.
In the dead silence, many distinctive ' ba-dump's' could be heard.