Not only Brit, but even Kiwo caught sight of the strange orange monster lurking in the passage. Both of them froze, eyes wide with shock.
"Brit... it's here again..." Kiwo's trembling voice broke the silence. She had already learned the creature's nature from the chat, and an uneasy fear gripped her chest.
On the surface, the orange monster only made people laugh uncontrollably. Aside from that, it seemed harmless, lacking any other obvious anomalous effect. But appearances could be deceiving; it was powerful enough to make Vale fly. That kind of strength alone was enough to make one's blood run cold. With that terrifying power, if it ever turned hostile, the result could be easily imagined…
"Don't panic. It might not attack," Brit murmured, eyes narrowing as he peered into the dim corridor. "Besides, Vale hasn't quit the game yet, right? Things could still turn around."
Though his tone sounded calm, his heart was far from steady, beating wildly in his chest.
"If it gets worse later, remember to put on your mask and hide for a while," Brit added, voice low but firm.
Kiwo looked down at the gas mask from another world in her trembling hands, confusion clouding her face. "What about you?"
Brit shook his head and drew out a small ring, the Jade Ring, a rare item recovered from the light containment area. It had miraculous effects and could even resist the Plague Doctor's lethal touch, but its side effects were cruel, draining the wearer's mobility until they could barely move.
"I'll use this," Brit said. "It should help. And if it doesn't... well, there's nothing else I can do but try."
He swept his gaze around them once more. Shattered concrete littered the floor, and dark, sticky residue clung to the walls. The mysterious substance had long lost its power to serve as a Pocket Dimension portal.
Behind them, the way they came remained barely open. They still had a path to retreat. But the question wasn't whether they could retreat... it was whether they'd survive long enough to try.
"I'm guessing escape is impossible..." Brit muttered, frowning.
From the chat, he had learned the orange monster was blindingly fast, even while carrying Vale. It would probably move even faster without the extra weight. Unlike the Many Winged Angel from before, whose massive wings blocked every corridor, this monster's bulk didn't hinder it in the slightest. It could sprint through the passage with terrifying ease.
Because of that, Brit knew running might be useless. They could only grit their teeth and face it head-on. Still... when the moment came, he knew he'd try to run anyway. Standing still and waiting for death wasn't bravery; it was stupidity. And perhaps, with a little luck, they might still find a glimmer of hope. After all, this orange creature wasn't like that Shy Guy that killed anyone who looked upon it. Its behavior was unknown, but maybe, just maybe, escape was still possible.
"Ah... Brit, I feel awful..." Beside him, Kiwo's voice wavered on the edge of tears.
As she stepped out of the other world, she noticed the lifeless girl sprawled beside the corridor wall. The sight made her blood run cold, her face pale as snow. Thankfully, after enduring so many terrifying in-game scenarios, her courage had grown considerably. Still frightened, yes, but not broken. Even so, in this very moment, she felt dangerously close to collapsing.
"I don't want to laugh anymore... I can't stop... haha..."
Kiwo clutched the mask tightly with both hands, her whole body trembling, the air around her thick with fear.
"It hasn't moved in a while," Brit whispered. "Maybe we should try to slip away."
She nodded weakly. Neither of them wanted to confront an unknown horror any longer than necessary. Who knew what else it could do? Once their decision was made, they began to move, slowly, cautiously, backing away from the orange creature. But then, just as they retreated, the monster lurched forward! In an instant, it was upon them.
Brit and Kiwo froze, eyes wide, breath caught in their throats. Even the viewers watching the stream were overcome with panic:
"Damn! That scared the hell out of me!"
"What is that thing?! Why does it look like a pile of orange slugs?!"
"Hahaha, no way, it really does look like a giant snot monster!"
"It's over! It's over! Brit and Kiwo are doomed!"
"They'll be fine! Vale's still alive!"
"Wait, why do I think this thing's kind of cute?"
The sudden charge made Brit halt immediately. He and Kiwo realized the creature had reacted to their retreat. Now, paralyzed with tension, neither dared to move a muscle.
Up close, they could finally see the orange monster clearly. It was enormous, shapeless, its entire body a mass of translucent orange slime that glistened in the dim light. In a way, it did resemble a giant slug, just like the chat had joked. Yet that description still didn't do it justice. Its body was constantly shifting, rippling, reforming, radiating an eerie, unnatural beauty.
It stopped just before Brit, looming silently, featureless, no eyes, no mouth, no face, only slick, writhing orange tendrils sliding across its form. They couldn't even comprehend how it moved so fast. It had no legs, no structure suited for speed. But at this point, that didn't matter. This was an SCP. They had seen too many impossible things already: statues that kill if you blink, humanoids that slaughter if seen, cursed relics that defy reason.
Which one of those had ever been normal? So really, was it even strange anymore... that a slug without legs could run faster than a man?