Iris ensured that Lira entered the basement before rushing towards the towering portal. He observed young adults hastily guiding the elderly and children into their homes, shielding them as best they could.
Some people collapsed, unable to withstand the strain of the situation. Yet he pressed on, knowing the portal held crucial information he needed.
Gathering enough information and preparing for the worst is the best way to survive situations like this, he thought.
Unlike those preoccupied with hiding loved ones, he noticed a few others like himself, making their way determinedly toward the portal.
As he reached the portal, Iris couldn't help but marvel at its immense size.
Although he had seen it from afar, standing this close made its scale even more astonishing. He also noticed two altars beside the portal, not as towering, but still imposing, each nearly five meters tall.
Instead of heading directly to the portal, Iris approached a group of four people who seemed to be among the first arrivals.
"Any information to share?"
He asked, startling them slightly. One of them looked at him awkwardly, while another snorted in a disgruntled manner.
The other two, however, lit up at his arrival.
The first two were Claire and her older brother, Mark. The others were his friend David and his elder sister, Emily. Unlike Lira, Emily got along well with Iris; the two shared a lighthearted camaraderie, often teaming up to tease David.
Without David, they might have simply been acquaintances, but with him, they shared a playful connection.
"I'm glad to see you've recovered, Claire."
Iris said, acknowledging her with a nod. He realized it would have been poor manners not to, given her recent ordeal.
"Thank you."
Claire replied, her discomfort easing slightly. She had felt awkward before, remembering how Iris had simply watched while she endured that nightmare.
"Damn it, Iris! You never told me your uncle was Superman."
David teased, giving Iris a playful punch.
"I thought there were no secrets between us, brother!"
Instead of responding to David, Iris raised an eyebrow at Claire, frowning.
"Wasn't that supposed to be a secret? Worried about a non-disclosure agreement?"
Mark, unable to hold back any longer, interjected with a scoff.
"Look around, idiot. The world's already gone to hell, and you're still worried about something like rules and laws?"
"Indeed, we're already in this mess."
Iris replied, his voice calm.
"But Mark, I suggest you keep your mouth shut, or I won't respond so peacefully next time."
Iris's composure only fueled Mark's irritation, making him angrily grit his teeth. Just as he was about to retort, Claire stopped him with a gentle shake.
"Alright, alright… enough of that. Let's focus on important matters."
Emily interjected, noticing the tension between Iris and Mark. She didn't want things to escalate, especially knowing what Claire was capable of, it wouldn't just affect Iris and her brother, David too.
"Well, take a look at those two altars over there. One of them has two ticking timers: the green one shows a little over ten hours, and the red one has more than twenty-nine days. The second altar just has a number displayed, 1033 along with an orange timer, that reaches almost a year from now."
David said, redirecting their focus to the altars. He wasn't keen on infighting, so he quickly shared his findings to steer them back to the matter at hand.
"Most likely the time in green is the time for the portal for us to 'Play', while the time in red should be the time that other players 'Farm' us. The second altar is a bit confusing though, the number should probably be the population of the village, but what does that timer mean?"
As Emily analyzed the two altars, the others nodded in agreement. They knew the population of their village was around a thousand.
By the time their analysis was complete, most of the people who had dared approach the altar had gathered there. The number of those brave enough to come forward barely reached a hundred, and most had come to the same conclusion as Iris's group.
"Ahem, I hope everyone has come to the same conclusion."
An old man began.
"Though it's better to discuss things now, I suggest we leave the discussion for later. After speaking with Captain Edward, we've decided to convene here early in the morning, by 7 am. We need sufficient rest from this simulation."
"I know the trouble we're in, and that's why I hope we can all stay united. Since you're brave enough to approach, I ask that you relay the message to your respective neighbors who aren't here, and make sure they know to convene by 7 am tomorrow."
Standing between the two altars, the old man addressed the group, instantly commanding their attention.
The crowd had started to grow rowdy, but upon seeing the man and the soldiers behind him, a sense of security washed over them, silencing the murmurs.
"Major Drew, have you contacted the military or government? Is there any information on what's going on?"
"Major Drew..."
"Major Drew..."
One by one, questions were raised, each more urgent than the last.
Major Drew, however, was no longer serving in the military. He had retired several years ago and settled down in his home village, Bedwyn.
Almost all the villagers held a certain respect for him, and as a result, his authority was nearly the highest in the village.
"Alright, everyone! As that 'voice' said, we are unable to contact anyone at the moment. For now, we are on our own. So please stay united, and let's find a way to connect with the rest of the world. I know that our government and military are doing their best to find a solution."
"So, I hope all of you can keep the peace in the village and be here in the morning by 7."
The old man sighed as he spoke. Even the satellite phones had stopped working. While electricity seemed to be functioning fine, mobile phones were only operational for calls within the village.
Almost everything is working fine, except that it's limited to the village range only.
Slowly, the brave crowd dispersed under the watchful eyes of the military and Major Drew.
Iris took one last look at the portal and the altars, focusing especially on the first altar, where the green timer now displayed less than ten hours remaining.
"Captain, please maintain peace in the village. If you sense any unrest, take the necessary action as you see fit."
Major Drew said quietly to the middle-aged captain beside him, not turning his head.
"I will follow your orders, Major!"
Edward responded firmly, his gaze steady on the dispersing villagers, his tone carrying clear intent.