Lukman extended his hand toward Rizky, introducing himself with a friendly smile. "Hey, my name is Lukman," he said, his voice carrying a sense of camaraderie.
Rizky shook Lukman's hand and replied, "Hi, Lukman."
Meanwhile, a level 2 guest named Tia, who exuded an air of confidence, approached the trio. With a warm smile, she addressed Rizka and Rizky. "You two seem young and eager for this game. Why not join us?" Tia suggested, extending an invitation to them.
Tia had a striking presence, with long, dark hair that cascaded down her back and sharp, intelligent eyes that seemed to miss nothing. Her demeanor was both friendly and self-assured, making her an appealing choice as a teammate in this perilous game. She offered her hand to Rizka and Rizky, awaiting their response..
"Hi Tia", Rizky said
"Care to join us?"
Rizky hesitated, but his brother Rizka tugged at his sleeve and leaned in to whisper, "Brother, I'm afraid of him," as she cast a wary glance at Lukman.
Lukman, who had a penchant for flirting, couldn't help but notice Rizka's beauty and her hesitation. In fact, he fancy rizka, such a beauty and want to flirt with her.
With a charming smile, he tried to reassure them,
"Well, I might be a better option than those noblemen. You know, all noble men are the same; they take advantage of others, especially us, level 1 guests."
His words caused some level 2 and 3 guests to shoot disapproving looks in Lukman's direction, clearly offended by his generalization. However, Lukman remained unfazed and continued,
"We need to join together, Rizka and Rizky."
He had overheard their names in a previous conversation and now addressed them directly, making his intention to form a team with the twins clear.
----------
As the clock continued its relentless countdown, only 5 minutes remained for Rizky and Rizka to decide on their team members.
"Time is running out, Rizky," Suki urged, showing her concern for the twins. She had grown fond of them and wanted them to make a wise choice.
"One minute," Rizka whispered nervously, her eyes darting between her brother and the potential teammates. She was torn because Lukman's words had struck a chord with her. Nobleman could be selfish, but her brother seemed to have reservations about Alex.
Rizky led his sister to the corner of the room to have a private conversation. "Rizka, I think we should join Lukman."
Rizka hesitated, her brows furrowed in thought. "But, brother, I listened to Amelia's sister. She may be right. Our best gamble is to join Alex."
"But I don't like him," Rizky protested, his distrust for Alex evident in his voice.
"Brother, please consider," Rizka implored, her voice softening. She knew this decision was crucial for their survival, and they needed to choose wisely.
-----------------------
Rizky clenched his jaw, torn between the choices. Amelia's explanation had left a lingering doubt in his heart. He glanced at Lukman's group, seeing one man and two women, and couldn't help but think Lukman was more interested in flirting than forming a serious team.
Approaching Lukman, Rizky finally made his decision. "I'm sorry, but I will choose to join Mr. Alex's team," he declared. Rizka couldn't hide her joy at her brother's choice, and she couldn't help but steal a quick glance at the handsome level 3 guest.
Lukman was visibly frustrated. "What do you mean?" he snapped, his anger apparent. "That rich person is just a scumbag."
Alex stepped in, his voice firm. "Watch your mouth."
Lukman sighed in resignation. "Alright, Rizky. But don't regret your decision today," he warned before turning to his group. "Come on, girls."
Tia shot a mysterious glance at Alex before following Lukman, leaving a lingering sense of unease in the air. Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this girl might pose a challenge in the future.
Rizky's decision weighed heavily on his mind as he watched Lukman's group depart. Amelia's words had sowed seeds of doubt, but the thought of joining Alex's team, which included Suki and her intimidating reputation, wasn't exactly a comforting prospect either.
Lukman, on the other hand, seemed to be fuming silently as he walked away with his group. His anger at Rizky's decision was evident, but it was accompanied by an air of frustration. As he glanced back at the level 3 guest, he couldn't help but wonder if he had missed a golden opportunity, or if Lukman's words about Alex being a "scumbag" held any truth.
Alex couldn't deny the unease he felt as he watched Tia, the enigmatic girl in Lukman's group. Her gaze had lingered on Alex for a moment, and there was something about her that sent shivers down his spine. It was as if she carried a secret, one that could potentially disrupt the delicate balance of the group dynamics.
'Do you remember about her, bush?', Alex asked bush in his mind'
'I am not, he reply, but I also felt unease to look at her, I will try to remeber who is that girl
'Please'
Amelia look at Tia and furrow her brow, she also observed the unfolding drama with a slight smirk on her face, her keen intellect constantly at work. She knew that these initial decisions could set the tone for the rest of the game. The dynamics between the teams were crucial, and every choice had consequences that could ripple throughout their journey in the dark and ominous maze.
------------------------------
Rizka, finally go and spoke up, addressing Amelia.
"You're right; we can't survive alone. But what do you want in return for your help?"
Amelia met her gaze with a hint of seriousness in her eyes.
"I want your trust and cooperation. We need to work together to get through this."
Rizka nodded, reassured by Amelia's straightforward response. Rizky, although still wary, couldn't deny the logic in her words.
As Rizky cautiously agreed to join Alex's team, he couldn't help but express his concern about the terms of their agreement.
"And what about you, Mr. Alex? What do you need in return?, just to know that i will offer my sister to you" Rizky's gaze was wary, and he held an underlying fear that Alex might have ulterior motives.
He saw Alex as a potential threat, like a predator eyeing a vulnerable prey.
Alex's mouth twitched slightly at the scrutiny. He was well-aware of the dubious reputation he held, particularly from Rizky's perspective.
It was as if Rizky was looking at a villain, and in a way, he couldn't entirely blame him. After all, in this game of survival, trust was a scarce commodity.
Alex nodded slowly, acknowledging Rizky's inquiry. "I will tell you in the future," he replied cryptically, "just know that you owe me a favor."
Rizky, however, wasn't willing to accept such an open-ended arrangement without conditions. "Only if we both survive,"
he interjected firmly, making it clear that he wasn't about to be manipulated.
Alex couldn't help but respect the young man's resilience. "Fair enough,"
he conceded, understanding that trust had to be earned in this ruthless game.
Suki couldn't resist the opportunity to tease Alex a bit. "Well, congratulations, Mr. Level 3," she said playfully. "You've just acquired two adorable sidekicks."
Alex rolled his eyes but couldn't help but crack a small smile. "Let's not get carried away. We're all in this together, right?"
Amelia chimed in, her tone more serious now. "Exactly. We need to focus on getting through this game alive. There's no room for ego or rivalry here."
Rizky, still cautious but beginning to warm up to the idea of teamwork, added, "Let's just hope we can trust each other when it matters the most."
Alex nodded in acknowledgment, and Suki offered a reassuring smile. Amelia simply raised an eyebrow, as if to say, "It's about time."
---------------
Then, as the allotted time expired, the clown, accompanied by his two enchanting assistants, emerged before the assembled participants.
"Well, well, well," the clown mused, his voice dripping with mischief. "I see you've all made your choices and formed your teams."
The clown's eyes gleamed as he surveyed the apprehensive faces before him. With a flick of his fingers, a shadowy substance manifested on his hand, coalescing into an array of mysterious bracelets. Each bracelet bore an intricate design, featuring an enigmatic emblem at its center. The bands were crafted from a dark, iridescent material that seemed to shimmer and shift in the light.
The bracelets were crafted from an obsidian-like material, black as night and smooth to the touch. Etched onto their surfaces were intricate, runic symbols that seemed to shift and writhe like living creatures, adding an unsettling, otherworldly quality to the otherwise simple design. The symbols appeared to pulse with an eerie, faintly glowing energy.
"These, my dear contestants," the clown declared, holding out the bracelets for all to see, the bracelets suddenly, fly and go to each participant.
"This Bracelets may be your tickets to the grand spectacle about to unfold. Wear them proudly, for they are your keys to survival... or perhaps something more."
The participants exchanged nervous glances, their hearts pounding with anticipation, as they each reached out to claim one of the enigmatic bracelets. The game had officially begun.