Immersed in the cinematic epic-turned-reality that is 'The Deficient Piece', Ryo Kanjo has fashioned a team alongside an enigmatic character. A team whose existence remains unofficial, off the conventional radar.
Initially, the contours of this alliance remained vague, but as the enigma unfolded, each element took on its full meaning.
"What the hell are you doing, Bun?" Edano questioned, not understanding why I'd closed the window to create a team. "You're not Ryo Kanjo! You can't act like him!" he stressed. However, I ignored his words, determined to go my own way.
Edano, annoyed, threatened, "If you don't cooperate, I'll take Saé hostage. That'll make you think!"
However, a simple glance at Saé was enough for her to understand my strategy. She closed the window without hesitation, defying Edano's threat.
I confidently said: "You're right, Edano. I'm not Ryo Kanjo. I'm just a spectator..."
"Edano, you'll soon understand why I'm doing this," I declared, confident in my strategy.
The five minutes passed, and the others quickly formed their teams. As expected, Ryo Kanjo was alone in his corner.
A notification appeared in front of us, announcing the start of the second puzzle. Tension mounted, and I knew that my actions would soon bear fruit.
[Puzzle n°3: -The invulnerable beings-
Explanation: Survive by any means possible without losing a point of damage.
Time: 7 days
Rule: - If you lose a point of life, the riddle will be considered unsolved.
- If one of your team members loses a hit, the puzzle will be considered unsolved for the whole group.
Mystery solver: 1,200 coins won
Failure: Death]
[Tip 1:
- Find out what caused you to lose your hit points.
- New tips may be revealed, so keep an eye on your notification box].
The second puzzle statement appeared before us, challenging us to survive without losing a single hit point. It was a formidable challenge, and I was ready to implement my strategy to solve it.
As the eyes of the team intensely scanned the lines of the riddle, a palpable tension permeated the atmosphere. But as they read on, a shadow of perplexity appeared on their faces. The critical moment came when they encountered a sentence that shook their already fragile confidence.
'If any member of your team loses a life point, the puzzle will be considered unsolved for the whole group.'
A heavy silence fell, breaking the air. Glances were exchanged, and a collective grimace appeared on their faces. The impact of this unexpected rule was like a shockwave, and realization crept into their minds.
Some, overwhelmed by the suddenness of the revelation, let out exclamations of frustration and despair. "What do you mean, unsolved for the whole group?!" cried one, while another added incredulously, "It's a trap, they didn't tell us that in the first place!"
But the childlike voice remained surprisingly silent, as if understanding the chaos it had sown.
The realization that the new rule could compromise their chances of survival had sown discord among the team members. It was obvious that if people had known the true intentions behind the formation of the groups, they wouldn't have accepted so easily. The initial mistrust had been momentarily overshadowed by the hope of mutually benefiting from the situation, but the discovery of this rule changed all that. Edano seemed to have understood the reason behind my earlier decision.
"I see, it's like being on a team but not officially," he told me.
While everyone was in a state of panic, my attention was directed elsewhere. A new element had emerged: the mystery solver, undoubtedly the one who would find the key to solving the enigma.
It was then that a voice of hope pierced the ambient turmoil. It confidently proclaimed that my words were to be heeded, and that collective cooperation was the key to victory.
The murmurs of uncertainty subsided momentarily, and a surge of attention turned to him. All eyes converged on this mysterious figure, now entrusted with a crucial responsibility in solving the enigma. This voice of hope, despite the chaos, had breathed a glimmer of determination into the group, reminding them of the importance of unity in this new ordeal.
While he continued his dialogue, I set out to find Ryo, but my efforts were already in vain. A shiver of apprehension ran through me as the echo of a scream pierced the air.
We all turned our heads in the direction of the source of the scream. Someone, obviously witnessing danger, was screaming at the approach of creatures straight out of a fantasy world. We were now faced with challenges far beyond the riddle.
The voice of hope was familiar, and I recognized it instantly. It was Ishikawa Bushi, also a character from the film, manifesting himself in a way that was as unexpected as it was comforting.
He urged everyone to take refuge in Nippara's limestone cave. His call to action echoed through the air, mixing a note of urgency with the hope it offered.
However, my initial goal of stopping Ryo had come to an end. My footsteps froze as the fantastical creatures seemed to take control. Events had accelerated far beyond my ability to influence them.
Forced to join the human tide, I followed the movement alongside Edano and Saé. As I had anticipated, Edano had managed to run quickly, but the situation was far more perilous for Saé and me.
Every step we took seemed heavy with despair, as if the air itself were saturated with the palpable anguish that embraced our group. Distress was painted on our faces as cries of horror mingled with the frantic beating of our hearts.
Edano, swift and agile, disappeared from sight. The distance between Saé, me, and the apparent safety of the room widened. Our legs seemed reluctant to respond to our will, while the unseen threat of fantastical creatures hovered all around us.
The temptation to look back was unbearable, but I forced myself to resist. Leaving behind the chaos that engulfed the other participants, each step we took weighed like an anchor of guilt. The urgency of the situation pierced our minds, transforming our flight into a desperate dance with fate, while distress grew, insidious and implacable.
At this tense moment, Saé broke the silence that hung over us. His words echoed in the anguish-filled air.
"We have no choice," she murmured, her voice tinged with resignation. "It's either face them, or condemn ourselves to death."
However, cruel reality loomed before us. We both knew that our ability to face these monstrous creatures was insignificant. The very idea of confronting them plunged us into an abyss of despair.
The only hope that could have helped us overcome this ordeal was Edano, but he had already distanced himself, becoming a distant silhouette in the growing chaos. The distance between us and apparent safety seemed insurmountable, and our fate hung on a fragile thread, stretched between the need to fight and the imminent acceptance of our doomed fate.
Thoughts swirled in my head as I inwardly cursed myself. "Why the hell am I not the protagonist?"
The reality of my situation weighed heavily on my shoulders, and helplessness overwhelmed me.