Everyone on the plane was shocked and bewildered by the notification appearing before them. No one could believe what they were seeing.
"Huh? What's that?"
"First scenario? What's that supposed to mean?"
"What kind of amazing event is this now?"
"Wow, first scenario! It feels like we're about to play a game in some kind of virtual world."
The notification didn't stop there; it displayed a message that felt incredibly strange.
[Would you like to answer my question?]
["Yes"] Or ["No"]
"Wow, what an interesting choice!"
"What kind of question will it ask, I wonder?"
"I'd choose 'Yes' if it's like this."
Some people chose "Yes," while others picked "No," but I was still contemplating whether to answer the question.
"No, if I choose 'Yes,' will something happen? This is worth considering!"
As I was still undecided, Rizky and Vanessa spoke up.
"Why haven't you chosen, Noah?"
"Yeah, why haven't you picked, sir?"
I was a bit confused about choosing an answer. I responded to both of them.
"No, I'll definitely choose an answer, so don't worry."
I said with a slight smile.
After observing what was happening and seeing the percentage of "Yes" and "No" choices, I decided to choose ...
["Yes" = 50%] and ["No" = 49%]
"Wow, is there still someone who hasn't chosen?"
"It must be the pilot or co-pilot who hasn't picked yet."
"That's possible if they're thinking about our safety."
Hearing their conversation, I wondered if the people in the cockpit were given the same question.
I immediately headed toward the cockpit, but the notification displayed its first warning.
[If even one of you hasn't chosen, we will crash your plane into the massive storm currently raging!]
"No!!!"
"This is bad if that person doesn't choose!"
"Who hasn't chosen yet?!"
I continued toward the cockpit, ignoring their words. When I reached the door, I saw a notification stating that the door was locked and could not be entered during the question session.
[The door is locked!]
[Please return to your previous seat!]
"Damn it, if it's like this, I don't know if they've chosen an answer or not!"
I returned to my seat and began to solidify my decision to answer.
"Humph ... Alright, I'll choose ..."
Seeing that I was about to choose, Vanessa and Rizky looked curious about my decision.
"Wow, Mr. Noah's going to choose? But what will you pick, sir?"
"Sir, are you choosing 'Yes'? Or 'No'?"
["Yes"]
"I just want to see what kind of question they'll ask if I choose 'Yes,' and I hope it's not too much trouble."
"Sir, you're ... amazing!"
"Sir, you're so cool!"
[Choice confirmed!]
[Results determined!]
["Yes" = 51% and "No" = 49%]
"Yeah, it seems like the pilot and co-pilot have their own special question."
In the cockpit, the pilot and co-pilot were unaware of what was happening in the cabin until a notification appeared before them.
[Would you like to answer a question?]
["Yes"] ["No"]
"A question? What does that mean, Denny?"
"I don't know, Captain. What if we just choose 'Yes'?"
"Alright, then ... I'm also curious about what this question is about."
["Yes"]
["Yes"]
[Answer confirmed!]
The notification vanished instantly before their eyes.
Everyone on the plane, both passengers and crew, waited for the question they were about to receive.
"Don't tell me this is a hoax?"
"Wow, is this just a fake choice?"
"What kind of question is it, anyway?"
I observed the passengers' reactions, which began to show unease about the previous notification.
"Well, if it's a hoax, isn't that better?"
Hearing my comment, Vanessa asked,
"What do you mean, Noah?"
"N-nothing ... It's nothing."
"Does this question even matter to me? I just want to get home quickly and take care of my little sister!" I thought to myself.
While waiting for the question, I reopened the WBS website and saw the first headline titled...
[("The First Prologue")]
"'The First Prologue"? Wasn't the title different before?"
Suddenly, the notification reappeared and displayed the long-awaited question for both passengers and crew.
The notification appeared individually to each passenger and crew member.
[Name something that shines in the darkness and becomes dark in bright light?]
[...]
[Time to answer: 5 minutes!]
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Something that shines in the darkness and becomes dark in bright light? What kind of ridiculous question is that?"
"This question is way too hard for me!"
"Can't we just skip this question?"
Seeing the negative response to the question, the notification displayed another warning.
[There are no other questions! Please answer the given question!]
I felt something strange about this question, but I wasn't sure if I'd seen it before.
"This question feels familiar, like something I've read, but what was it?"
I opened my phone and checked the WBS website again.
[("There's something fascinating in this world if you pay attention to it!")]
[("What is it?")]
[("Something that can shine in the darkness and become dark in bright light is called ...")]
[Battery low!]
"Damn it! Why does the low battery notification have to pop up at a critical moment like this?!"
Vanessa asked me something.
"What's actually going on, sir?"
"N-nothing ... I don't know about this either ..."
I felt confident that the question had a specific answer, something I myself possessed. But what?
[If no one can answer this question, you will all fail!]
"Why? Why does it have to be like this?"
"What kind of notification is this? It's so pushy!"
"I really don't want to answer this!"
"Yeah, exactly, we just want to reach our destination!"
"That's right!"
Hearing the commotion in the cabin, the captain made an announcement.
"Please remain calm! We, the crew of B-377, will ensure you reach your destination safely! Ignore what's happening and focus on our goal! Thank you!"
The captain's announcement calmed the passengers, and they began to disregard the question in front of them.
I was also confident that if no one answered the question, we could all be safe. The word "pass" here had a very subjective meaning. It could mean passing to enter the first scenario.
"You can't force us that easily! Damn notification!"
But I was still curious about what was really happening and what the consequences would be if the question was answered incorrectly.
The notification then displayed a strange message.
[Answering = passing]
[Note: Even if your answer is wrong, we will still let you pass. The choice is yours. Do you want to survive or not?!]
The passengers were shocked and felt compelled to either answer or ignore the question.
"Why are you forcing us like this?!"
"Get lost, you damn thing!"
"Stupid notification!"
Suddenly, my phone displayed a strange notification.
"Ding!"
"Huh? What's this now?"
I checked the notification and found something odd.
[TDW: You will still enter the first scenario, whether as a player or a victim, because to me, you are my first target, "Emanuel Noah"!]
"They're targeting me? Damn it! Who is this TDW?!"
[TDW: You'll meet me sooner or later!]
[Starting now!]
"Now ...?"
From the back, a voice announced that someone had answered the question.
"Yes, I answered it, and I've saved you all."
Everyone turned to look and saw the notification confirming the answer.
[Answer confirmed!]
"You!"
"Why did you answer it?!"
"You useless idiot!"
The girl who answered the question was Nour Anciela, a girl from Germany.
"I just answered the question. What's wrong with you all?"
"Don't you know that your answer could make things worse?!"
"Oh ... sorry ..."
"You!!!"
I couldn't believe that a teenage girl answered a question that even adults couldn't. I asked Vanessa to bring the girl to me so I could keep an eye on her, just like I was doing with Rizky.
"Vanessa, I want you to bring that girl here."
"Why, Noah? Is something up?"
"N-nothing ... Just bring her."
"Alright, Noah."
Vanessa went to the back to get the girl while I decided to answer the question using the fragments of memory I could recall.
"Alright, I'll answer ..."
"Wow, finally answering!"
[Answer confirmed!]
"Huh? Already? What did you answer, sir?"
"You don't need to know, Rizky ..."
I smiled at him and saw Vanessa returning with the girl as I had instructed.
"Hey, little girl, what's your name?"
"Sir ... So you're the one who asked this lady to bring me to you?"
"Yeah, that's me ... Sorry about that ..."
"Why, sir? Are you going to scold me like those people over there?!"
"N-no... I just want to know your answer and why you chose to answer the question. That's all..."
The girl fell silent and gave me an uneasy look.
Meanwhile, in the cockpit, the pilot and co-pilot had decided on their answers and submitted them.
[Answer confirmed!]
[Answer confirmed!]
"What's going to happen now?"
"I don't know, but we need to get out of this massive storm as quickly as possible!"
"Alright, Captain!"
The pilot and co-pilot began lowering the plane's altitude and increasing engine speed to escape the storm faster.
In the cabin, Vanessa and Rizky had also submitted their answers.
[Answer confirmed!]
[Answer confirmed!]
I was puzzled as to why they answered the question, so I asked them all.
"Why did you answer the question? And what answers did you give?"
Vanessa, Rizky, and Anciela fell silent. Vanessa decided to respond to my question.
"I answered because you did, sir. My answer was 'shadow.'"
Hearing Vanessa's response, Rizky and Anciela chimed in with the same answer.
"Yeah, sir, I answered because you did, and I used the same answer as Aunt Vanessa."
"You... Rizky, you used my answer?"
"Yes, Aunt Vanessa."
"Oh, as for me, I answered because I was bored, and I also gave the same answer as them."
Hearing that they all gave the same answer made me wonder why they chose 'shadow' as their response.
"My goodness, so all your answers were the same."
Suddenly, the system notification reappeared, announcing that the time to answer the question had run out.
[Time's up!]
[Total participants: 6 people have answered the question.]
[Congratulations to those who have passed the "Zero" scenario. As for those who didn't, they will be...]
[Eliminated!]
Seeing the system notification, everyone immediately panicked, and chaos erupted in the cabin.
"Why does it have to be like this?!"
"If that's the case, I should've just answered earlier!"
"Damn it!"
"Stupid system!"
Everyone appeared panicked and chaotic, making the cabin atmosphere tense.
Seeing the situation, the pilot issued a warning to the passengers to stay calm and avoid causing a disturbance.
"Please remain calm! We will do our utmost to get out of this storm! Our priority is the safety and comfort of the passengers! Please stay seated and calm in this situation! Thank you."
All passengers returned to their seats as before, though many felt something was terribly wrong. They sensed that something significant was about to happen.
Meanwhile, I kept monitoring what was happening both outside and inside the plane, staying vigilant for any unfavorable events.
In front of the four of us, a system notification appeared, inviting me and the others to become players in what was called the "Player System."
"Ding!"
[Are you willing to become a player in the system?]
["Yes"] ["No"]
"Huh? What's this, Mr. Noah?"
"Sir ... what kind of invitation is this?"
"Sir, what's going on?"
I felt something very strange about this notification appearing before everyone at my seat. Fortunately, my seat was near the cockpit and shielded by other passengers' seats, so the rest of the plane didn't notice what was happening.
"I don't know, but ... there are four of us here? Where are the other two? If six people answered, the others must be in ..."
My gaze couldn't help but shift toward the cockpit. I knew the cockpit held something bigger than what was happening here.
The system notification also appeared before the pilot and co-pilot, leaving them questioning what they were truly facing—a storm, a scenario, or a threat?
"Captain, what's this?"
[Are you willing to become a player in the system?]
"I don't know, but ... since we entered the cumulonimbus cloud, strange things have been happening on the plane. The cabin has been chaotic twice already. What's really going on?"
Amid their confusion, another notification appeared. Unlike the previous blue notifications, this one was red, indicating that their warning was serious and imminent.
[It's time to eliminate the players who didn't pass the "Zero" scenario!]
[You will be eliminated in 10 minutes!]
[The first scenario has begun!]
"The first scenario, huh? Don't tell me... what was reported on WBS is happening here?"
"The "Initial Boundary of the Fall" scenario has begun!"
At the Air Traffic Control Tower, an air traffic controller noticed something strange on the radar.
The signal from a plane coded B-377 was gradually weakening.
"Wait a minute ... why is the B-377's signal fading? Are they flying through the massive storm? Or are they trying to pass through something?"
The controller checked the route the plane was taking.
"No ... impossible! Don't tell me they're trying to fly through this massive storm and not avoiding the cumulonimbus clouds around them!"
The controller tried contacting the B-377, but every connection attempt failed, as if they were completely unreachable.
Seeing no response from the plane, the controller urgently asked colleagues to track the B-377's location.
"Sir, please check the whereabouts of the B-377! Their signal is fading, and they're hard to contact!"
"Alright, I'll do my best!"
"Don't tell me the plane is trying to fly through the storm!"
"Come on, everyone, let's make sure we can still communicate with the plane before it disappears!"
"Okay!"
Everyone at the Air Traffic Control Tower worked tirelessly to locate the B-377 and maintain communication with them.
Unfortunately, the tower couldn't reach them at all, and the plane's signal on the radar grew fainter.
"No! This can't be! They're really hard to contact!"
One of the controllers shouted.
"Sir! Their plane is disappearing from the radar!"
"What? Are you serious?"
One of the crew members approached and confirmed what the controller said. The B-377 was indeed vanishing from the radar, and its presence was no longer detectable.
"No! This can't be happening!"
[(The B-377's location cannot be detected!)]
[(The B-377's location cannot be detected!)]
[(The B-377's location cannot be detected!)]
[(The B-377 has been confirmed missing over the Atlantic Ocean!)]