Soon, the lights came on again. That familiar music began to play.
Jung-hyuk hadn't slept the entire night.
He just sat there, glaring at Zhen-yan.
The broadcast echoed:"Game 5 will begin shortly. All players, please follow staff instructions."
VIP 2: "I'm so looking forward to it. What kind of game will this be?"
VIP 3: "Wait and see."
As they walked toward the game site, Jung-hyuk shot Zhen-yan a deadly glare.
Zhen-yan glanced back, full of scorn.
The VIPs watched as the screen slowly opened.
VIP 4: "I'm a bit familiar with it."
The players began to enter.
VIP 2: "Here it is."
They arrived at the game area.
In front of them stood the Young-hee and Chul-soo dolls, surrounded by tiny pinwheels.
Player 100 looked down at the height, then at the square platforms ahead,"H-High up… hopscotch?" he stammered.
The broadcast boomed:"Welcome to Game 5. Today's game is Hopscotch.
After receiving a sandbag, throw it into one of the squares.You must not step on the square the bag lands in.Except for squares 3-4 and 6-7, you must hop on one foot.Both feet on the ground or stepping on lines = failure.Complete a round trip within 20 minutes to succeed.Player order is self-determined."
Masked men handed each player a sandbag.
"Game start."
The timer began.No one dared to move.
Player 225 stepped forward, trembling:"Move… I'll go first."
Everyone watched as she approached.
She tossed her sandbag.
Chul-soo doll announced:"Square 5."
225 looked at the distance, took a breath, and jumped onto square 1 with one foot. Then square 2. Then both feet onto 3-4.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
She looked ahead. She had to skip square 5 and land on 6-7 with both feet.
Her legs trembled.
She leapt — Landed on 6-7, barely balancing.
She wobbled… then tipped backward onto square 5.
"Failure," said Chul-soo.
As she panicked, Young-hee doll rolled over.Her palm extended — and launched 225 off the platform.
A blood-curdling scream.
She slammed into the ground. Her brain and intestines spilled out.
"Player 225, eliminated."
The others gasped in horror.
VIP 1: "That's really exciting."
18:21 remaining.
Yoo-hyun stepped forward:"That idiot? Can't even play hopscotch?"
He tossed his sandbag.
"Square 7."
He jumped.
With lightning speed, he reached square 9.
The crowd erupted.
VIP 4: "So impressive!"
A masked man reminded:"On the way back, retrieve your sandbag."
Yoo-hyun bent down at square 8 to pick it up.Almost slipped — but recovered.
He landed back on square 1.
He grinned proudly — Until Bei-bei shoved him hard.
Yoo-hyun grabbed her.
Yoo-hyun: "What the f*** are you doing?!"
Bei-bei wrestled with him, pulling him close.
She hugged him — and jumped.
Yoo-hyun screamed.
"Player 62, eliminated. Player 239, eliminated."
Jung-hyuk stood stunned.
Zhen-yan muttered:"Those two idiots are finally dead."
Next, Players 100 and 157 stepped up.
Player 100: "You jump first. I'll catch you."
157 nodded.
Player 370 watched.
157 threw the sandbag.
"Square 2."
She jumped across, made it back…
Bent to retrieve her sandbag— 370 kicked her off.
Scream.
"Player 157, eliminated."
Player 100 gasped: "What the hell?!"
370 didn't reply.He snatched her sandbag and tossed it.
She started to protest— 370 cut her off:"Go get it yourself."
He kicked her down.
"Player 100, eliminated."
Everyone stared.Zhi-xuan too.
370 threw his own sandbag.
"Square 9."
As he bent on square 8 to pick it up— Zhi-xuan threw his sandbag.
"Square 5."
370: "What are you doing?"
Zhi-xuan stood on squares 3-4.
370 stood on 6-7.
VIP 4: "Are they going to fight?"
VIP 3: "I think so."
They started fighting mid-air.
370 hopped onto square 5, threw a punch.
Zhi-xuan grabbed his hand, shaking him violently.
370 clung to Zhi-xuan to avoid falling.
Then, he shoved Zhi-xuan hard.
"Failure."
370 smirked.
Young-hee doll approached.Zhi-xuan lunged, hugging 370.
370 struggled:"Let go, you f***er!"
Zhi-xuan:"Let's go see Player 99 together."
370: "F*** you!"
They were launched together.
"Player 99, eliminated. Player 370, eliminated."
VIP 1: "Their story came to a perfect conclusion."
More players went.
Some landed with both feet — eliminated.Some stepped on lines — eliminated.Some were pushed — eliminated.Some lost balance — eliminated.
Only Player 81 succeeded midway.
Player 301 returned and jumped to square 1.
He wobbled.
Player 112 reached out to help — But 301 was too heavy.They both fell.
"Player 301, eliminated. Player 112, eliminated."
9:20 remaining.
Player 262 was about to go.
Zhen-yan shoved him from behind.
262 teetered on the edge — then regained balance.
He turned to confront Zhen-yan.
Zhen-yan kicked him off.
Scream.
"Player 262, eliminated."
Jung-hyuk ran forward in fury — But Zhen-yan jumped onto the platform.
He completed the course easily.
As he tried to return, Jung-hyuk stood in his way.
They stared at each other for nearly a minute.
Jung-hyuk:"Don't think I don't know… You killed Yong-jun."
Zhen-yan:"I never said you didn't."
Jung-hyuk raised his fist — Soo-mi stopped him:"Let it go. He… he didn't mean to."
Jung-hyuk looked at her, then Zhen-yan.
He stepped aside.
Zhen-yan gave Soo-mi a puzzled look.
"Player 18, success."
Next — Soo-mi.
She threw her sandbag.
"Square 1."
She jumped gracefully, reached square 9.
On the return — Player 231 stepped forward.
Jung-hyuk: "What are you doing?"
231: "Let's eliminate the girls first. They're such a hassle."
He punched Jung-hyuk and pushed him to the edge.
He kept shoving — Jung-hyuk resisted.
Suddenly — someone kicked 231 off.
Scream.
"Player 231, eliminated."
Jung-hyuk looked up — It was Zhen-yan. He helped him.
Soo-mi reached the end.
"Player 329, success."
Jung-hyuk stared, stunned.Zhen-yan said nothing — just turned and walked away.
3:29 remaining.
Last turn — Jung-hyuk.
His injured hand gripped the sandbag.
The white fabric stained red.
He threw it.
"Square 3."
He began hopping. One foot. One square at a time.
He reached square 9 — but stumbled.
VIP 5:
"Oh my god!"