As Sangwon's grip on Anya's hand tightened, the macabre spectacle of floating corpses vanished, plunging the group into an unsettling silence. Emma's voice trembled slightly as she turned to Anya. 'Thank you... I'm sorry, what's your name[1]Anya's cheeks flushed with a hint of shyness. 'I'm Anya. And we were all right, somehow – none of us could have done it alone.' The air seemed to vibrate with anticipation as a crimson light materialized before them. A mysterious voice boomed, 'This light will guide you through the mystical realm, where your reward awaits. You all have played well, and now it's time for your reward. But be warned: tread carefully, for the path ahead is treacherous. Do not touch or enter forbidden zones, lest you succumb to the realm's darkest law – the unforgiving curse of limitations within limitations.'
"What's this, another twisted game designed to slaughter us all?" the girl from team 39 whispered, her voice trembling with panic.
The eerie voice responded, its tone devoid of empathy, "You all have played well, and now it's time for your reward. A magical world awaits you. Proceed, or risk incurring the wrath of this realm."
Hanjuk's gaze locked onto his partner, Malsook, as he spoke, his voice laced with a hint of madness. "We should press on. We can't afford to antagonize them. Besides, I'm eager to uncover the secrets of this mystical world."
As they ventured forth, the gaming hall's darkness gave way to a serene pathway, flanked by lush greenery and vibrant, otherworldly flowers that seemed to dance in the air. An ethereal melody floated through the atmosphere, entrancing the group. Yet, their wonder was short-lived.
Mrs. Han Daon's gaze fell upon certain paths, marked with crimson lines and ominous X's. "What do those symbols mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Gyeon Wo's eyes narrowed. "I think they're the forbidden paths the voice warned us about. We'd do well to avoid them."
"I'm still curious – how did you ace the 'Know Your Partner' game?" Emma asked Gyeon Wo, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement.
"You must have answered all the questions correctly, or we would've suffered the same fate as those other teams." Gyeon Wo shrugged modestly. "I just answered some basic questions. It wasn't that impressive."
Just then, a majestic butterfly with iridescent purple and pink wings fluttered towards Sangwon. Its size was unusually large, but its beauty was mesmerizing. The butterfly seemed to communicate with Sangwon, displaying a message: "Touch me, and I'll become your tattooed ally, a symbol of power on your wrist." Without hesitation, Sangwon reached out and touched the butterfly. As he did, the insect vanished, leaving behind a shimmering tattoo on his wrist. More butterflies appeared, each one unique and vibrant. The group followed Sangwon's lead, touching the butterflies to claim their own tattoos. Mr. Han Daon raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. A butterfly as a weapon? It seems almost... childish.
As the voice echoed through the mystical realm, its words dripped with an otherworldly authority. It seems you're underestimating the gift of this magical world. Oh, you're incurring its wrath now! The air seemed to vibrate with anticipation, and Emma's stomach growled with hunger.
"I'm famished!" she exclaimed. "Ohh, I need food, stat!"
In the blink of an eye, the lush pathway, already adorned with vibrant magical flowers that danced to an ethereal melody, transformed into a majestic garden, teeming with an array of delicacies.
Whoa!" Hanjuk breathed, his eyes wide with wonder. "This is insane!" The group's eyes widened in unison as they beheld the sumptuous feast laid out before them. "Yeah, this is what I'm talking about!" Hanjuk exclaimed, his face lit up with a radiant smile. "This is what I call a magical world! You're exceeding our expectations!
Mrs. Han Daon's expression, however, remained skeptical. "Are you always this insolent, or has this world driven you to madness?" she asked, her brow furrowed in concern. Hmmph, let's see how long this 'magical' world lasts," she muttered.
As they spoke, a crimson glow enveloped them, gently guiding them toward the garden. "Oh, wow! Let's dig in!" Emma exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. The promise of a delectable meal and the magic that lay beyond was too enticing to resist.
As they gathered in the enchanting magical garden, the group's exhaustion melted away, replaced by the promise of a sumptuous feast. "Mmm, heavenly!" Min-hyuk, a teenager with a bright smile, exclaimed, his youthful face radiant with delight. The atmosphere was electric, filled with anticipation and wonder.
Anya's thoughts turned inward, pondering the mystery of her partnership with Sangwon. "How did we end up together?" she mused. "He had no idea who I was, and yet, fate brought us together." The enigma of their pairing lingered in her mind.
Meanwhile, Emma's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Sangwon. "You're a famous idol, and I'm a huge fan! You're even more captivating in person,"we've had so much to go through earlier, so we couldn't talk much.
she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Malsook chimed in, "Yeah, you're absolutely stunning!" Emma's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "But did you two know each other before this? Every team seems to have a connection, like Gyeon-wo and I were classmates, and I had a crush on him." Mr. Han Daon and Mrs. Han Daon were husband and wife, their partnership a testament to the diverse bonds within the group.
As the conversation flowed, Emma's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "Did you two know each other before this? Every team seems to have a connection." Before Sangwon could respond, Emma stopped for a second before pointing towards Malsook. "I'm basically her stalker," Hanjuk chimed in with a mischievous grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Anya's eyes drifted toward Sangwon, her gaze lingering on his features as she thought to herself, "They're right, he's even more handsome in person – captivating." Her heart skipped a beat as she felt a flutter in her chest.
As they sat together, Emma asked Anya to move closer to make room, saying "Can you move a bit more?" Anya shifted, and in the process, their hands touched briefly. Anya's heart fluttered at the unexpected contact, and she felt a subtle spark of electricity.
The feast, a gift from the mystical realm, was abruptly interrupted by an unsettling, disembodied voice that echoed through the air. A crimson light materialized, casting an ominous glow over the gathering. "I think it's time to move on," Wendy, Min-hyuk's partner, whispered, her voice laced with trepidation. As one, the group stood up, their eyes fixed on the pulsing light.
In the forbidden zones, eerie reflections of themselves awaited. Mr. Han Daon stumbled upon a scene of carefree camaraderie with friends, but Sangwon's firm grasp on his arm halted him in his tracks. Mr. Han Daon's confusion was palpable. Meanwhile, in another zone, Emma's eyes widened as she beheld a tender moment between herself and Gyeon-wo, their faces frozen in a mixture of surprise and longing.
A young girl's eyes sparkled with wonder as she gazed upon her own reflection, lost in the creative fervor of painting. "Wow, that's me!" she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper. The forbidden zones seemed to be manifestations of their deepest desires, drawing them in with an otherworldly allure.
In a shocking, heart-wrenching moment, Hanjuk shoved the girl into the zone. Her screams were abruptly silenced as she was torn asunder, her essence dissolving into the darkness. "So, that's what happens," Hanjuk remarked, his tone detached, almost clinical. "I just wanted to test it." The group's collective gasp was a mix of terror and revulsion, their faces pale with fear.
Malsook's voice trembled with rage and disgust as she confronted Hanjuk. "Are you out of your mind? What have you done? Do you have any idea what you've unleashed?" she spat, her words laced with venom.
The eerie voice cackled maniacally, its tone dripping with malevolence. "You must proceed, poor girl... such was her fate, hahaha. I warned you not to trespass into the forbidden zones. Now, bear the consequences of your actions."
As if summoned by the voice's words, the dead bodies from earlier reappeared, their bodies drenched in blood. But something was grotesquely different – their eyes had turned a soulless black, as if possessed by an otherworldly force. The group's collective gasp was audible as they froze in terror.
The atmosphere had transformed into a living nightmare. "What's happening? Are we supposed to kill these corpses?" Wendy's voice trembled with fear.
The dead bodies lurched forward, their black eyes fixed on the group. Panic set in as everyone scrambled to flee, their frantic footsteps echoing through the air amidst the eerie contrast of magical flowers dancing in the background, their vibrant colors and gentle movements a stark juxtaposition to the horror unfolding before them.
"Butterfly tattoo – touch it!" Sangwon shouted as they fled from the undead horde.
"Oh no, it's not working! Nothing's happening!" Wendy screamed, her voice laced with fear.
Anya's gaze fell upon her tattoo, and a glimmer of hope flickered to life. "Oh yeah, mine's a half-butterfly... do you all have one too?"
Emma's nod was swift, her eyes wide with fear.
Anya's mind racing, she said, "We need to combine our wrists to form a full butterfly body. It's the only way to unlock its power."
Before she could utter another word, a corpse lunged at Anya, its cold fingers closing around her throat. "Ahhh!" Anya gasped, but Sangwon sprang into action, his wrist touching Anya's. The butterfly tattoo burst into life, and a shimmering magical knife materialized in their hands. With a swift motion, Sangwon plunged the blade into the corpse's heart.
Meanwhile, a corpse bore down on Wendy. Min-hyuk tried to fight it off, but Anya quickly came to Wendy's aid. With Sangwon's help, Anya used the magical knife to defeat the corpse attacking Wendy. Wendy breathed a sigh of relief as Anya saved her.
As the battle raged on, a corpse lunged at Mr. Han Daon with unbridled ferocity, its undead eyes fixed on its prey. Sangwon sprang into action, fighting off the corpse with desperate determination. Meanwhile, Hanjuk's true nature was revealed as he callously pushed the girl's partner in front of the undead horde, sacrificing them without hesitation. "His partner was already gone, so what does it matter?" Hanjuk sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "This one's sacrifice will ensure my survival."
The eerie voice cackled maniacally, its tone sending shivers down their spines. "You've fought valiantly, but perhaps you've overlooked the clock ticking away on your butterfly tattoos. Time's up! Teams who failed to combine their tattoos will face...elimination." Thecorpses, once dormant, now rose with an unholy hunger, devouring those who hadn't merged their tattoos.
Panic set in as the survivors realized their grim fate. Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, and everyone collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The voice continued its frantic declaration,
"This world of magic is bound by twisted limitations – survive by any means, or succumb to its merciless design."
[1] Emma thanked Anya for her suggestion to exchange their tattoos, which would make them each other's powerhouse and ensure their survival.