The scene was surreal. The finders moved off, leaving the stalked duo behind. Mizuki and I, still in hiding, watched the scene with expressions of surprise and incomprehension.
Mizuki (in a low voice): "We've just seen the same thing, haven't we?"
Jomei (whispering): "Yes, an invisible chain links them. Is that a new rule?"
As we ventured out of our hiding place, a strange thought crossed my mind. A holographic chain had broken just as one of the cachers was caught, as if an invisible force bound them all together.
Mizuki (intrigued): "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Jomei (shrugging): "It seems so. An invisible chain links us to our partner."
Mizuki: "That complicates things a hell of a lot."
The reality of the situation dawned on us. We were now condemned to stay close to each other, on pain of mortal consequences. A new challenge, a new dimension of danger.
Jomei (with feigned innocence): "Interesting, isn't it? Looks like the game has a few hidden surprises."
Mizuki, apparently taken aback by this turn of events, nodded. Little did she know, however, that this peculiarity was one of the hidden tricks in the mod I'd created. A subtle smile spread across my face as we prepared to face the unpredictable challenges of this event turned reality.
Tension hung in the air as we digested the unexpected new rule. Mizuki, ever alert, broke the silence with a hint of wariness in her voice.
"We have to watch out for Ryu. I've dealt with this player before, he's a troublemaker."
"Ryu? It's good to know who's the weakest in your pair."
"Our objective as a hider is to survive, not to cause trouble."
Although I understood Mizuki's pragmatic approach, a subtle idea crept into my mind. If Ryu's companion was the weak link, we could exploit that to our advantage.
"But imagine if we could use that to our advantage."
"What do you mean?"
I then whispered to him a tiny part of my plan: "I have another plan in mind. Since we're obliged to stay together, let's share our strategies. I'm looking for an item that could help us win quickly."
Mizuki, though skeptical, seemed ready to consider this option. The forced alliance between us was gradually revealing complex and unpredictable dynamics in this virtual world that had become reality. The trials ahead promised to be full of unexpected twists and challenges.
The silence of the once peaceful forest was shattered by a sinister hiss, followed by a metallic clatter. Tension thickened as Mizuki and I embarked on a perilous quest in search of the mysterious item.
Suddenly, a trap hidden in the grass sprang up, ready to engulf us. Fortunately, my gamer's instincts allowed me to act in time. A quick movement was enough to stop Mizuki before she triggered the trap.
A puzzled Mizuki wondered who had laid such a cunning trap. Just then, a group emerged from the shadows, revealing their existence.
In the shadows of the forest, a duo of hide-and-seekers emerged, revealing wary faces and weapons ready for action.
Mizuki pointed his dagger in their direction, a determined gleam in his eyes. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
The duo's leader, a dark-haired young man named Ozaki, sketched a mischievous smile. "We're cachers like you, and we discovered this trap. We thought we'd use it to our advantage against the finders."
Mizuki, intrigued, crossed her arms. "So, do you have any plans for this event?"
Ozaki nodded. "Of course, we're not here to joke around. The finders won't catch us off guard."
Meanwhile, I stood back, listening intently to their exchange. However, something wasn't adding up. Ozaki, in particular, seemed to be brimming with troubled energy.
Mizuki cautiously asked, "You've already had problems with Ryu, haven't you?"
The duo exchanged wary glances. "He's... unpredictable, shall we say."
The tension in the air was palpable. Mizuki and I, though members of the same class, were beginning to understand that every interaction could be potentially lethal in this brutal game of survival.
I took the initiative to break the silence. "Have you found enough supplies for the next three days?"
The duo exchanged awkward glances. "Not really," admitted one of them, a short-haired girl named Akari.
Mizuki seemed about to reveal something, but I discreetly placed my hand on her shoulder to silence her. It was too early to reveal all our cards.
Thinking quickly, I proposed an idea. "Listen, I've spotted an old store in the northwest direction. There might be some supplies there. We could go together."
Akari and Ozaki gave each other approving looks, finally accepting our proposal.
Mizuki, despite his desire to share information, understood the importance of keeping certain things to ourselves. So we headed for the store, ignoring the menacing shadows that stretched across the labyrinth of this ordeal-turned-reality.
The store, though dilapidated, held unexpected treasures. We had managed to find enough provisions to feed us for the three fateful days.
However, it wasn't long before Mizuki took me aside, clearly annoyed. "Why did you stop me talking?" she asked accusingly.
I gave her a serious look. "They weren't to know the extent of our plans. The more information we keep to ourselves, the better."
As we discussed our strategy, a suspicious noise sounded in the store, interrupting our conversation. We exchanged worried glances, realizing that our presence had not gone unnoticed. Could the finders already be on our trail?