'Cold.'
The biting cold swaddled her, piercing into her very bones.
Two individuals, enclosed in separate cylindrical tubes, were immersed in a transparent fluid while connected to a nose mask and several narrow tubes. The wires connected the submerged humans to oxygen tanks and various functioning machines.
These cylindrical containers, positioned on a plinth, directly faced multiple monitors and technical setups. Each monitor shared a vital piece of information, either through text, images, or lines. The dreary laboratory's only illumination source was the glow of the operating monitors. Adjacent to the large cylinders, two cutting-edge guns hung on the wall.
Two of the various monitors displayed a rapidly fluctuating line. The backdrops of faint beeps from the machines and muted buzzes echoed in the still environment. Two deep hazel orbs reflected the machines' screens, peering past the transparent prison to the lines of text on the screen. Every movement was slow and torturous like the substance within the tubes was not a liquid but restrictive quicksand. A sleek, sophisticated wakizashi materialized in her right hand, layered by a pale green glow.
She flicked her wrist to the right in an abrupt burst of speed. Her agile movement generated enough force to pierce through the thick glass. A web of cracks quickly expanded, shattering because of the liquid's pressure. The liquid burst through, splashing around the raised platform in a second.
Somehow, her clothes remained completely dry, a cube-shaped emblem engraved on her shoulder. A transparent slimy substance tumbled down her hair and face. Free from the frosty liquid, Alex stripped herself of the wires and oxygen mask, then retrieved a cotton top from her storage, which she used to wipe her face clean.
Though her movements were sluggish, it was much better than when she was stuck in the tube. She descended from the stage, her boots protecting her from the shards littered across the floor. One of the heart rate monitors had gone dark, similar to half of the displays in the room. The other heart rate monitor showed a fluctuating heartbeat, representing the other person in the room. Alex walked past the heart rate monitor and to the stand behind it. Beneath a glass case, a prominent red button lay bare for any to engage. Alex flipped the lid and hit the button without an ounce of hesitation.
Following her actions, the second cylindrical tube drained of fluid and the transparent circular wall came down.
Without the support of the liquid, the male figure crashed heavily onto the ground, and a loud thud resounded in the air.
The fifth stage operated based on choice. You could choose to attempt the stage solo or in a two-person team. Choosing the two-person team would grant a double reward amount, however, a dead teammate means both members lose.
Alex, having bought the information pack for the fifth stage, had created a rough plan for this stage. The only task for this stage is to reach the gate opposite the laboratory and escape. Naturally, it would not be so simple. The distance between the laboratory and the gate was a radius of ten kilometres. Within that wide radius was an expanse of trees, snow and hungry, aggravated bear-like monsters that would attack on sight.
The fluid from the cylindrical tube acts as a scent mask, hiding human scent from bears, but lasts for only an hour and thirty minutes.
"I'll carry you to the gate." The male opposite her was short, around 168 cm and had a crown of light blonde hair and smooth fair skin. His expression was pure confusion, with various questions in his eyes.
"All you need to do is say yes." Alex knew him, one of the few survivors from the facility. It was nice that he was alive, but she hoped he would not recognize her. The silent face-off continued for a while longer with Niel barely blinking and staring straight at her, as if he was trying to uncover her secrets. Alex also maintained her silence, the more she talked, the more likely she was to give herself away.
Niel finally spoke after a few seconds of scrutiny.
"Alex, you look different." His serious expression remained, and his voice was colder than she remembered. Despite his stony expression, he still lunged at her, arms stretched for a hug. Alex had expected this action and swiftly dodged it, grabbing his collar to stabilise him and prevent further attempts.
"You're still so unfriendly and why is your hair white? Aren't you happy to see me?" He continued to speak incessantly, proving to be every bit of the nuisance Alex remembered. She ignored him and conjured the remaining ten magical items from her cube storage.
"As glad as I am to see that you are alive, we have more pressing matters than a reunion right now."
"What are we going to do?"
Niel swiftly adjusted his demeanour. After buying information on this stage, he assumed it would be breezy, yet Alex's seriousness hinted otherwise.
°°°
'I had to tweak the plan, but this should be even better.'
Alex and Niel, carrying a laser gun and a glowing wakizashi each, placed both palms on four fingerprint scanners beside the lab's door. The whirring of the doors filled the air, and the heavy lab door parted to unleash a wave of chilly air. Alex and Niel remained unaffected by the cold, their outfits providing a paranormal defence against environmental conditions. Alex had her outfit from the underground labyrinth while Niel wore one she remembered seeing in the labyrinth as well.
Alex slumped Niel over her shoulder, and she cut through the frosty winds and past towering trees to reach the metallic gate with four grotesque bears guarding it after fifteen minutes of high-speed sprinting. She released Niel, and he engaged the beasts directly. Alex panted for breath, the strain of her movement weighing heavily on her. Her weapons were low on energy, so her source of infinite stamina could not keep up with her speed, resulting in her exhaustion. Alex adjusted her posture, straightening her hunched back, ready to face the monsters. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Niel smirking beside four corpses. He tossed the wakizashi at Alex. Its green glow had strengthened and a refreshing wave washed away all traces of exhaustion.
' What did I expect? He survived that place as well.'
They walked towards the gate, which had the same handprint devices as the laboratory, and repeated their previous actions. The gate opened, revealing a wide expanse of black.
"This is where we split up. Leave the gate once you are done."