There is a gimmick that not many know about when it comes to the ten sections within this particular island. Zwette and her group of 55 people were no different in this regard.

While riding down the elevator along with her group members, Zwette tried to calm herself down. She was never too well-received and had to be on Yoh's side, her best friend, in order to not get pushed around. The luminosity of the elevator was decreasing minute by minute, however, and it wouldn't be long before any of the group members would call Zwette out.

"....Why is the light suddenly fading away...?"

Not a single person was looking elsewhere; that meaning---the ceiling above. Although there is still light within the elevator, it's undoubtedly coming to a swift end. However, it also wouldn't be for long until the elevator stopped its tracks, but only when the light completely faded out of existence.

The door of the elevator opened itself and in front of them, they encountered a linear path with geoglyphs on the walls. Nonetheless, that path wasn't strictly linear as there is a small dual-path to both their right and left. This was also the very same place where Ryousuke Kawahara and Hiroyoshi Sagasuga had been in a few weeks ago---the Necrohol of Canopus.

Though, to Zwette and her group who were silently grasping the very fundamental surface of this new atmosphere, they had no idea what it truly was.

"...We have to go up, I think..."

Zwette's right and the majority of the students had already concluded that the path that the dual-path would take them would be to the outside island. In other words; their aim was the exact opposite and thus, there was no other option but go towards the linear path. Aside from that, the luminosity of this linear hall was supported by the green shards in the walls that attracted the attention of every single one of Zwette's group members; herself included.

But since that's all that supported in terms of luminosity; in a place where the shards wouldn't focus their luminosity, it would be fairly easy to escape from someone's vision. Nevertheless, they had no idea of noticing something like that.

After following the linear path, they found railways on their left end and that path extended itself to the furthest of the west. But since Zwette's carrying her tablet and that tablet has the entire map of this area, she had no doubt about it---there are two split ways towards the center of this path with railways. They both lead to different ends, however.

As such, since the closest path would lead to a different end than the one on the right path, a separation would have to be made in order to spare less time. Because, even though Zwette knows the area completely just by glancing at the tablet, she and her companions do not know where the component needs to be put in.

"I think we should split ourselves in 28 since we are 56 people as a whole. Zwette and other 27 will go through the furthest path on the right side while we will take this one."

A simple idea: division. Not only is it less time-wasting, but they can communicate better this way. In the middle of the dual railways, Zwette spoke in agreement to the suggestion as she saw it as something completely beneficial.

"Ok. That sounds good and thank you for suggesting that..."

Both of the dual paths that would ultimately conduct themselves towards the south direction had the same structure as it followed the exact pattern: a linear direction to be met with two opposing directions and then, a linear path once again. Of course, it wasn't completely exact in terms of pattern if we take into account that the first path in the middle of the structure leans towards the left side while the other path on the right side leans towards the left side. They nonetheless don't clash with one another, surprisingly.

Zwette and 27 other people took the furthest path---the path to the right while 28 others took the path on the left towards south. Their goal was simple---to see whether or not there was a place where they could put the tablet in. Furthermore, the idea was also to return to the north side once they were done checking the contents of the two paths.

From Zwette's perspective and her now 27 group of people, they went through the path exactly as the tablet told them to. At the end of the path, they were met with an horizontal path that had a west dead end and an east side blocked by a passage that resembled a huge metallic cage.

"Hold on, there's a manipulator switch here."

One of the members in Zwette's group pointed towards the middle direction of the horizontal path with two railways, more on the back side, where there is a small surface that can be climbed through both sides and in it, there is in fact a manipulator switch that can be pressed.

"...That should be what lifts the cage up... Alright, we have to meet up with the others first!"

Naturally, not a single person there present disagreed. Zwette's group as a whole wasn't characterised by charisma or any sort of noticeable feature, but they knew what they had to do. In order to contribute to the cause, the goal had to be accomplished.

Likewise, they would have to go to where they were previously and meet up with the other 28 members.

But, they weren't there, in that path of railways, which made Zwette arrive at the conclusion that they must've found something crucial within their path.

"I think that they must've found something..."

"Maybe we were too fast? That would explain it..."

Truth to be told, they were barely there for more than three minutes, so it would be highly likely that they were simply more endorsed onto the sudden discovery. Thus, there weren't any doubts. The remaining 28 students were on the end of the path and it would be up to Zwette and the remaining 27 members on her side to go and meet up with them.

Aside from the shift in direction towards the left side in the middle of the structure, there weren't any changes in the pattern. Continuously, the members would wonder about the meaning of the geoglpyhs but they couldn't arrive at any conclusion.

And, in the midst of that, some members started to feel unwelcome. A feeling that would come and stay the more they walked in. The more they understood less of what they were encountering, the greater that feeling spread.

Unlike the place where they had been before, this path didn't contain railways and instead continued to be met with an irregular crooked path leaning towards the left side. The shapes of the walls started to become strange and the length of the hall gained dimension; to the point where many could scatter throughout the area. However, it was, in fact a dead end.

What would this mean? That if this is a dead end that the remaining 28 people should, without a doubt, be here. There is no counterplay to this sort of affirmation except for the fact that they could've turned their backs on Zwette and go back the moment Zwette and her 27 members went in the other path. However, that sort of thought would be absurd since they are all in this together with a single goal in mind.

It just wasn't a realistic probably possibility.

".....What? Where is..."

"Everyone...?"

Unexpectedly, in this dead-end area, with glistering green shards adjoined to the walls and a circling vast ceiling, not a single soul of the other group could be found. Nothing that indicated that they were there in the first place could be found as the group explored the vicinity that had the shape of a grand circle.

This begged the question that Zwette was profoundly thinking about----where are the rest? They couldn't just have vanished into thin air.

Therefore, there were two reasonable outcomes to this.

One: They went back to the elevator and for some reason, they exited the scene without warning Zwette and her group.

Two: They took the exit on the top of the elevator and fled into the island.

Still, these two outcomes would always beg for a simple yet controversial question.

"...Why...?"

As Zwette, in the middle of the area, entered deep thought, some of the members nearby were more nervous than usual as they didn't know what had happened. It wasn't in Zwette to take charge of other people, but she knew she had to do it.

"...Everyone, I think I am able to explain why they are not here..."

Zwette then went out of her way to explain to the remaining members the two possible outcomes. She reasoned that since they couldn't have just vanished into pure thin air that they had to exit the scene. It was unfortunate, but her reasoning was that they had been betrayed, even though she doubted that. However, at the same time, it was the only logical outcome that she could take from all this.

"No way, did they really...?"

"...There's no other way, right...?"

Maybe the other group members weren't as committed to the task as this one. Perhaps they didn't really believe in what Ryousuke Kawahara had told them. A lingering doubt was growing in the midst of Zwette's group.

For someone like Zwette who experiences doubt over and over, she knew what this would develop into. That's why she didn't hesitate in portraying her thoughts to everyone present.

"....We shouldn't follow their example... Yoh and... the other groups are trying hard, so we have to also try hard..."

Yet her words weren't the best, so she quickly closed her eyes and said some more honest words, in a hurry.

"I want to help Yoh out and we need to do our best!"

In that hollow area, her shout could be heard loud and clear. She also knew that perhaps her words didn't come across as words that would deeply resonate with others. Henceforth, Zwette decided to follow through this, even if she had to do it alone. She already knew that the manipulator switch would be the way towards the other part and since this is a dead end, it is crystal clear that this area was not relevant to the goal whatsoever.

So, Zwette nervously started to walk out as she knew not whether someone would follow her or not. It wouldn't be surprising to her if that was the case, but deep down, she wanted others to go along with her as she was scared as well.

This unknown territory deeply frightened all of them as their fear for the unknown was apparent.

"...You're not alone, wait!"

"Don't go without us!"

"I don't know why the others did that but... I'm going with you!"

"I'm the same...!"

Little by little, the remaining 27 group members started to follow Zwette on her way to the top. Zwette didn't throw an emotional speech, but instead remained serious towards the goal as she had Yoh in mind, her best friend, and she wants to finish this task fast so she can serve of assistance to him, if possible. Therefore, she settled with gratitude.

"Thank you, everyone..."

Their destination was clear this time, however. Since they all assumed that the other 28 had gone back due to their own reasons, they couldn't waste any more time fooling around. By taking the path to the north and then taking the path on the west side all the way down south again, they encountered themselves in the area with the manipulator switch.

Upon pressing it downwards, the cage elevated itself and their path was suddenly met with artificial light as the bridge remained at sight from afar.

The bridge contained a grand width of 30 meters in length. As for a ceiling, there was none as the atmosphere above is the clear cerulean sky with a midday sun shining on the top. However, there were sights of other bridges on the furthest west and east side; though very far away, showing deep connecting with other areas like this one. No doubt about it, but there is a constructive network here.

To access the other area, a password requirement was at sight. Near the right bottom side of the cage, from the outside where they now stand, Zwette introduced the right password which is: "Words".

Doing that action allowed the cage to once again be lifted and they were inside an area with green crystal and mysterious geoglyphs once again. A straight-forward path would be their current path of action as they saw nothing else for a while, until they saw a stairway that resembled the exact same entrance that they come from.

Not only was there a way to the right side that would lead to the outside island, but they were met with a path on the left side that would lead to yet another railway track.

"Isn't this the same...?"

"No, I think that it's just similar... We should encounter a few differences this time around..."

Positive that was the case, Zwette led the remaining members to path with railways on the north side. However, the unexpected occurred and there were exactly two paths and the plant on Zwette's tablet remained exactly the same as the previous one.

"...I must've been wrong... This has the exact same structure."

If such was the case, then there were two options.

One: Go through the left side and see if there is something there.

Two: Continue to the other part of the section by doing the exact same pathing as before.

This raised a question; however. If the structure was the same, then would this mean that they would have to explore the other areas connected? This is referring to the other spotted bridges from afar in the previous bridge.

If that was the case, then maybe they needed to descend towards the last remaining area that is connected with the last remaining bridge.

Zwette emphasized that thought of hers to her group and they arrived at the conclusion that they should take the path on the right to go to the other section near the bridge. As such, they began to drift down south.

Their train of thought didn't suspect that there would be anything stopping their tracks towards the south area, but as they faced the south direction, near the end of that path, they encountered a wall that was blocking their passage, unfortunately. They had not encountered this previously and so, they took a quick grasp at this.

"What is happening? We didn't encounter this previously..."

"Maybe the other path is the right one, after all?"

Already reasoning that the other path was the correct one to follow, Zwette couldn't help but notice that this was strange. Nonetheless, they all went to the other path and instead of witnessing a completely unblocked path, they encountered a wall like before.

Like that, they were blocked from making progress.

"Hold up. If it worked before, then why doesn't it work now?"

True enough, the structure was the same, but there was a very specific reason as to why it worked before and it didn't now. By taking into account one specific factor, Zwette spoke her mind.

"We had a division previously, didn't we?"

"Are you suggesting that we divide ourselves and see if there is a difference, Zwette?"

It was a wild shot, but if it didn't work out, there wouldn't be any harm.

"Maybe the dual paths require an even number in both sides for the walls to go up? We are 28, so 14 should go to the other side?"

"If that's the case, then you should go with other 13 of us to the other side, Zwette. Whatever happens, we won't run away."

"Yup, you can count on us!"

Multiple agreements came forth and Zwette, along with 13 others moved to the other side. Meanwhile the remaining 14 others stayed on the left side.

By walking through the other side, Zwette along with her group witnessed the wall go up and thus, the way to the south was now fully cler.

"Okay, let's meet up with the rest now!"

"Yeah!"

Their reasoning had worked out and it appeared that the section that they are in operates on the concept of balance. Only through division can both sides be accessed. As such, if their reasoning worked out, they should be able to meet up with the rest of the other 14 members as well.

However, in that exact same circular area with a dead end, not a single trace of their existences remained, which made the group far too unstable.

"What the hell?! They were here, weren't they?!"

"This is strange! What is going on?!"

They firstly thought that they had been betrayed, but Zwette was the first one to call them out on such assumption.

"...I don't think that they betrayed us...! Something is wrong here...! How come we are now only fourteen?!"

Zwette could barely control herself as she couldn't understand where they were gone to, so she came to a rather swift conclusion that would solve this problem in the midst of that chaos.

She summoned the attention of everyone and then spoke.

"Alright, I have a solution, I think... If this truly operates on balance, then we don't necessarily have to divide all of our numbers in the upcoming section..."

"...What do you mean, Zwette?"

"I'm saying... Since we are 14, that at least 2 or 4 people should remain here. This way, we can always backtrack and meet up with the rest."

It wasn't exactly a solution. It was just a method of making sure that other members wouldn't unnecessarily vanish mysteriously like that.

As such, a member proposed a more reasonable solution instead.

"Wait... How about we advance and have half of us stand in the bridge?! I think the area only acknowledges the numbers in the area and not on the bridge!"

The suggestion wasn't bad. It appeared as though they were already making measures to avoid this sudden vanishment in numbers. By having 7 members stand in the bridge; outside of the upcoming area, it would also create a dilemma, as the number would grow unpaired.

Zwette noticed that.

"Wait, no... Our numbers wouldn't be balanced then... Let's have six stand in the bridge, while the other six members stay inside this area. This will only leave two members... And so, one of them will be able to come to the conclusion of what is actually going on..."

Zwette's suggestion was confusing to some. She suggested that it would be more effective for the numbers to be split not in an entirely balanced way but in a way that they could be less prejudiced.

Six members would stand on the upcoming bridge----outside of the area, so the area doesn't recognize their numbers. Meanwhile six others would stay in here, this area. Ultimately, two other members would walk in.

This way, only one member could disappear at maximum, but they had to keep going.

"Come on... You can't be serious... I'm scared... I don't want to just---vanish into thin air?!"

Unstable, the member protested to Zwette, but Zwette said something that would comfort the member.

"...I will be the one who will go through the left side..."

They realized what she was implying. That she would be the notable sacrifice. However, a member amidst that small number recognized how that was counterproductive.

"We can't have that.... You have to be the one who puts the component in its place."

"...But there's no other way---"

"I will be the one. This is probably some stupid gimmick and we are all fine. Let's try the theory out then."

The member summoned all of their attention and the member therefore gave the orders accordingly.

"Me and Zwette will walk into the other area. Six of you will stay here in this area; preferably near the bridge. Meanwhile, six others will be on the other bridge."

The strategy was slightly convoluted but they had to make this work.

And so, six members remained in the area where the manipulator switch is in. Upon pressing the switch, the remaining other eight members were able to walk into the bridge, where they saw the multide of other platforms on various distances. However, something alerted Zwette deep down.

She noticed how despite this being the second area that the bridge that they were in had the exact same view as the previous bridge. In other words, from her perspective, it was clear that there was no difference. But she knew that this was a different area, so it confused her.

"We will stay here in the bridge then... Return to us, if anything bad happens..."

"Scream or something... I know that the area is wide, but we should be able to come to your rescue..."

Of course, the six members that would stay on the bridge were talking to Zwette and the member that would accompany her. They weren't familiar to the point of giving out their names, but to Zwette, who would walk in the area after inserting the password yet again, the boy started to talk to her.

"...My name is Ean. Just between you and me, what do you think is actually happening...?"

Ean has short black hair. Far too short, actually. He's not tall but not small either. A fair build and contains a respectable character to him. However, Zwette knew not his name.

As they walked in the area, they began to talk while the other six members remained on the bridge and six others remained on the area of the manipulator switch.

"Ean... I don't know... I just hope it isn't something to worry about... It's a bit frightening, honestly."

"Yeah, you said it... It's creepy how there isn't even a trace of them... But, they can't just vanish into thin-air, right?!"

Ean was determined to find out the cause behind what was happening, apparently. A burning determination lied within his blue eyes as he pumped his right fist higher.

Crossing the path to the west side, since the structure was the exact same, Zwette agreed with Ean as they walked towards the north path with railways.

"They can't... This can't be the work of someone else, right?"

"No way it can, Zwette... Ryousuke Kawahara made sure that no other criminal would stand in our way."

"You're right... I'm just being paranoid, I suppose..."

Following the map on her tablet, Zwette and Ean were now in-between the two dual-paths. As such, Ean spoke to her with a smile.

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"Hey, I'll take the left side. You take the right side, so we can have the exact even number at the exact area. Otherwise, it won't work. Meet me up as soon as you walk into the other area."

"Alright... Please be back..."

Ean was a bit taken aback, as he saw a beautiful sight, the moment Zwette started caring about him. No doubt, this was love at first sight.

He blushed a bit and felt courageous.

"Yeah, alright!"

With a bye signal, Ean waved at Zwette as he crossed the path to the left, going down in south direction.

Zwette would be the one in charge of following the path to the right as she crossed it without any sort of difficulties. The wall was not blocking her passage, but from afar, she saw something that made her blink as she knew not if what she was seeing was real.

"...That's the other remaining six, right...?!"

Still slightly far away from them, about twenty or so meters, Zwette confirmed with herself that she was glancing upon six of the members that volunteered in staying behind in the previous area. However, that was the previous area and this one are supposedly different. So, how come she was glancing at six of the members that were in fact in the last area?

Wanting to confirm with someone else, Zwette went back and took the path that Ean had taken while expressing her disbelief.

"Ean! You won't believe this, but I just saw the rest of the other six in the bottom of my path!"

Running quickly through the linear path and taking a swift turn to the left to ultimately return to a linear path, she went in the exact direction that Ean had gone into.

Yet again, she found no one in the end and that started to mentally shatter her.

"E-Ean?! Where are you?!"

No matter how much she screamed, no matter in which direction, it did not make a difference. Ean wasn't at sight and midst panicking, Zwette gained the urge to go back to her path on the right side and alert the others from afar.

As she ran in their direction, crossing that tilted to the right path, she began to alert them.

"Everyone! Ean just disappeared! And----"

Ending her sprint, the moment she saw the end of her path, not blocked by a wall, her eyes widened in terror.

"....E---Everyone...?!"

Not a single person was present like previously. The hall was entirely empty without a trace of a single existence in that atmosphere except for Zwette herself. She knew she saw them and she spoke her paranoid thoughts out loud while freaking out; grabbing the end roots of her hair.

"S-Should I have spoken to them first?! But what were they doing here?! No, this can't be right....!! They were back in the previous area! That's right! I was just seeing things! Haha!"

A portion of her sanity was slowly being stripped off as Zwette couldn't believe in this absurdly unrealistic event in front of her. She, could, however, go back to the previous area and encounter the remaining members on the bridge and then hopefully encounter the rest in the area of the manipulator switch.

In other words, her faith wasn't completely lost. She thought to herself that she was a paranoid person and that it was normal for her to be paranoid. However, this would mean that perhaps not everything was what it seemed and that gave her hope deep down as she hoped that it was just her tendency to be paranoid.

All Zwette had to do was to go back up, take the north path to the east side, then towards south and return to the way upstairs, while ultimately crossing over to the bridge from the previous area.

"This.... can't be real, right...?"

Once again, she encounter herself in the same scenario over and over. The six members that were supposed to be on the bridge were nowhere to be found.

Zwette thought to herself that perhaps everyone was conspiring against her. Just to make sure, she ran across the bridge to see where the other remaining six members that were entitled to remain inside the manipulator switch area were.

"...A-Ahaha..."

Lowly laughing at herself, her laugh echoed throughout the emptiness of the area as Zwette couldn't witness a single person present in the area.

Their strategy had failed yet Zwette knew not how. She also became aware that she had to run away from this place since it was freaking her out. Zwette isn't a brave person; she's very meek and inconsistent. For her to seek through the plausible end goal of their group, she would need the character of a person who has guts and courage.

That is not Zwette, however.

Henceforth, she had to go through the left path in the manipulator switch area that would lead to the north as fast as she could. Then, by walking in a straight line, she turned to her right at the end of the hall and saw the stairway case that would lead above; to the elevator.

Never in her whole life did she press the elevator so fast, but much to her terror, the elevator remained unresponsive.

"W-What....?! Work, work! Ah, damn it!"

Letting go of the button adjoined to the right side of elevator, Zwette placed her eyesight on the two sides of the area of the elevator and saw that there is a way into the exterior of the island. Realistically speaking, Zwette wanted to take a moment to compose herself again outside of this cryptic horrifying area.

With each step at a time, inconstently, she reached the top area and captured the area of the island outside, still a bit far away.

However, the moment she would walk in the tunnel that would permit anyone to come into contact with the exit to the exterior of the island, she was met with a wall that would block the exit.

This caused Zwette to panick like never before. Her body began to tremble, words kept getting stuck on her throat, and unexpected tears scourged from within her eyes.

"---Wha...---------What-----What is go----"

Her emotional expressure wasn't the best. A normal person would be able to express her emotions out loud, but more than often, her words would continuously get stuck in her throat and as such, people wondered often what was wrong with her.

According to Zwette's perspective, she was never someone that could be called "normal" but not abnormal either. She lacked the characteristics of how a person would normally act, but didn't, for example, have overreactions. Her reactions were often replaced with instances of reluctance.

Weakly, Zwette began to walk out of the area and went to the right side, where the bridge would remain in.

In her mind, she would have to walk to the beginning area and as such, since there wasn't a bridge entrance there, she could go back. She knew that difference would make everything change.

And since there are two other areas previous to this one, Zwette was committed to at least walk out to that area.

Tracing through all the paths that she had taken previously, she freaked out as she could not catch a single existence of from her entire group. 55 people had gone missing within that mysterious area and Zwette couldn't do anything about it.

On the first area now, she saw something unbelievable, right near the elevator, on top of the stairway.

There is a path that connects to a bridge despite the fact that at the beginning, there wasn't a bridge there at all.

"No! No! No! It wasn't there....! You can't tell me that I'm hallucinating this...!"

Over and over, she would try to access the elevator. Repetively, she would also attempt to sneak through the entrance, but the wall's reaction timing was far too high for Zwette to handle. Furthermore, it didn't matter what path she took, she would always be in the exact same place.

This route had been a route that she has repeated in the last fifteen minutes, out of despair: Zwette would either take the path to the right in the entrance and go through the bridge; to meet the opened gate to the dual-path with two railways which has two paths to the north side. She could only access the path on the left side, however, since the other path could only be accessed through the north side by then going down to the south direction. Of course, that path would be the path where everyone started to mysteriously disappear, the path with a dead end. If she ignored both of those two paths, in the north side, all she had to do was to follow the linear line and go to the right side, where she would witness the elevator and the dual-stairway that would lead to the exit towards the island.

Out of all her attempts, the results were the same and she had came to the terrifying conclusion that she was stuck in this area without a way out. In addition to that, she was the victim of an infinite loop, as there wasn't another single exit.

By the end of everything, she adjoined her back to the elevator with her head submerged in her forearms supported by her knees.

Zwette had become so accustomed to the sound of the atmosphere that deep down, she was praying to hear someone's footsteps.

Someone---just for someone to walk in and lead her to a way out. A single person to do that for her---she found it cruel how long it would take for someone to walk in her direction.

However, it eventually happened. A person, from the north side, would calmly walk in, with footsteps so light that his presence could barely be noticed.

Slowly, Zwette erupted her head as she met the figure's eyeglance from afar.

At first, she didn't know who he was. It completely didn't occur to her that she knew who she was, but the very fact that he had been mentioned a few times and seen dead in the ninth floor of the temple, totally blocked Zwette's ability to recognize who he was.

Until he calmly sat on Zwette's right side and took a deep breath, but he didn't look in her direction.

Instead, he took out earplugs from his right pocket and plugged them into his cellphone. All of this was in order to listen to some music.

As for Zwette, she had no idea how to react. Not only was the individual not paying any attention to her, but she slowly but surely came to realize who he was. She recalled from the time when Percy Phoenix was elaborating on the short-lived bounty game where he exposed his physical portrayal.

Now that the song was ready to be played, through his earplugs, Daniel closed his eyes and began to hum the song out loud as the lines went on.

"She may contain the urge to run away but hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks..."

Daniel swung his head to the right and left side like a pendulum with a balanced consistency.

Zwette thought of running away from him at that very moment, but she realized once again that she was trapped without a way out. Furthermore...

"Muscle to muscle and toe to toe... The fear has gripped me but here I go... My heart sinks as I jump out... Your hand grips hand as my eyes shut.... Ahhh.... Ahhhh... Ahhh..."

If she was trapped in here and this place is an infinite loop, then where could Daniel have come from?

As Daniel started to hum the main iconic verse of the song, she came to one terrifying conclusion.

"Please don't go, please don't go... I love you so, I love you so... Please break my heart... Please don't go, I'll eat you whole, I love you so, I love you so, I love you so..."

Somehow, Daniel Lead, a person who is emphatically humming such a song, was the one perhaps responsible for this entire event.

Although there were more songs, Daniel stopped the music as it reached the end and at last focused his attention on the unresponsive Zwette, who started to wet herself the moment she recognized the abnormality standing next to her; showing no remorse or interest as to why she was crying.

Without saying a word to her, Daniel took ahold of the tablet within Zwette's thighs and she didn't even think of resisting it.

By gaining the possession of the tablet now, Daniel sat even closer to Zwette, to the point where his pants became wet from the liquid surrounding the floor, as Zwette's breath became suddenly heavier.

"It's a good song, isn't it?"

Daniel started to fiddle with the tablet and saw the entire area exposed on the screen. He didn't comment on what he was doing, but he was specifically scrolling through the tablet towards one specific area. One specific area that Zwette knew where it all had begun.

"I think it is. Too bad I don't have someone to share with it anymore. I wonder if she would like it?"

Over and over, Daniel would zoom in and out on the area where everyone started to disappear. This didn't stop whatsoever, despite Daniel continuing to speak to the beyond-frightened Zwette.

"I think that the song represents an attempt to show love in a state of mind not quite stable. That's why, isn't it?"

Pinpointing the area, Daniel had made his point succint enough and as such, he tilted his head forward and spun it in Zwette's direction; allowing their eyes to be almost glued to one another.

"I asked you three questions but you didn't answer a single one of them... What are you doing?"

Her eyes began to close as she felt frightened beyond her comprehension. Furthermore, she submerged her head into her knees as she realized that she was not safe whatsoever.

However, Daniel didn't harm her and instead, approached her with sympathy as he distanced himself once again, by adjoining his back to the wall.

"Don't you wanna know? You surely have asked yourself numerous times questions such as: Where are they? They couldn't just have vanished into pure thin air, right? Something's wrong with this place, isn't it? How come I am back to where I started? I don't fault you. Not, one, bit."

At last, Zwette tilted her posture in Daniel's direction, as he had spoken her entire mind. But what he would say afterwards would mentally shatter her.

"I killed them all."

".......!!!!!"

"Don't act so surprised... But here is the question. Do you want to know how?"

Reluctantly and terrified, it took her five seconds to nod her head in a state of horror.

Daniel smiled in her direction as he was happy about this.

"That's good... Let's take a tour."

Erupting from his seat, Daniel didn't mind how wet he was from Zwette's body liquids and instead, offered a hand to Zwette. It was beyond horrifying how Daniel was showing a charismatic stance in that situation to Zwette, but she knew that if she didn't take this, then nothing would change.

Realistically, no matter the case, she was in Daniel's palms.

Carrying Zwette's fragile hands with his right hand only, Daniel took her down the same path that Ean had gone to; along with the other missing group members of her.

On the way to that area, Daniel spoke a piece of information.

"I think I've been here in these ten sections for more than I can imagine. It's strange because---it's as if I know exactly how they work, but that can't be true. Hyunda said that this is all property of the leader. Our leader... So to say."

While walking, he turned around to Zwette, who is looking down on the ground, avoiding all social contact with Daniel and physical contact as well, and spoke his honest thoughts.

"I don't really care about our leader, but Hyunda respects him a lot, apparently. And so, I am curious now. What sort of person do you have to be to earn Hyunda's respect? I've asked Hyunda how I could become someone worthy of seeing the leader but he said that I have to perform missions and climb in ranks and then----only then, will I be able to meet the leader. But, isn't the leader something else though? All of this island, is the leader's property. As such, I've devoted myself into discovering the many hidden gimmicks within the sections, which brings us... to this special place."

In the middle of the area where many have disappeared in, Daniel and Zwette now stood in. Daniel quickly released his hand from Zwette's and walked towards the north direction, meeting a dead-end.

Near a specific higher green crystal that is curved to the northwest side, Daniel put his right hand on it and pushed it down which made a specific noise emerge from within the surface of the middle area.

"There are a lot of hidden entrances that can be used via the green crystals----by the way, don't stand in the middle. You will fall."

Scared but able to function nonetheless, Zwette moved to Daniel's side as she witnessed what had emerged from within the depth right into the surface.

"It's freaking huge, isn't it? Plus, it occupies 90% of this area, so in order to not fall down, you have to stand still in the area where the circle doesn't capture you. In other words, the edges of the circle, like where we stand in."

Pointing towards the abysmal hole that erupted from the ground that occupies 90% of the area, Daniel explained that to Zwette. But, Daniel wasn't done with his explanation.

"Now, I'll put it back to normal. All I have to do is put the crystal in its original state."

By grasping the crystal that is now tilted towards the southwest direction, Daniel elevated it to the northwest direction. Exactly as he had said, the hole disappeared from the ground.

He continued by grasping another crystal on the right side of the previous crystal and did the exact same movements.

An entrance towards the other side emerged within the crystal as a door appeared.

"Let's test your knowledge. What's the password here?"

Daniel expected a clear answer, but Zwette fell down on her knees once she began to imagine what that huge bottomless hole was used for and so, instead of giving a clear answer, she broke down and cried.

"It's "Words". Type it."

Forcefully, Daniel grabbed Zwette's right hand through her thin forearm and directed her fingertips towards the zones in the keyboard so that the door would open itself.

"Now, on your feet. Or, I'll kick you into that hole."

Zwette didn't think twice about not obeying Daniel and thus, she meekly made a stand as Daniel dragged her onto the inside of the newly discovered area, which was an area that Daniel was deeply familiar with.

Instead of having poor illumination, this area was more illuminated. However, the hall was undoubtedly thinner and tight structure-wise. There were two paths; one to the left and another to the right. Daniel took Zwette to right, where lights above greatly illuminate the atmosphere. Furthermore, Zwette witnessed how the remaining parts of the crystals that are adjoined in the walls of the area that she was in a while ago; are in fact there.

"Have you realized how I can just have the same result as earlier by tilting the crystal from here without having no one notice that I was in fact the one who did it?"

Daniel implied that he summoned that hole through this hall of crystals and thus, he made all of them suddenly vanish into thin air, but not exactly. The hole lead them to somewhere.

As they continued to walk, Daniel eventually came across the control room with Zwette. The control room has a multitude of functional settings but more importantly, six computer screens along with two chairs.

Still holding on to Zwette's hands, he made her seat down on the right chair meanwhile Daniel sat on the left chair, in front of the computers and control pannels.

"Comfy, isn't it? Admit it, it's way better than that ground from before."

Aside from Daniel's comment, Zwette could briefly witness that the six computers were monitoring six particular areas. First of all, the computer to the furthest right side monitors the entrance. The second computer, which is a bit elevated in comparison to the first one monitors the north hall. More towards the center, in the bottom side, the third computer monitors the hall that leads to the area where they were in a while ago. Matching the second computer's height, the fourth computer monitors the other hall that leads to the switch area. Now completely on the left side, the bottom computer monitors the hall of the switch manipulator. Of course, the last computer monitors the bridge.

"For the record, this isn't through security cameras. Or, at least the cameras that you are familiar with. The crystals here operate as cameras. I like the gimmick here. When you go into a mine, for example, you don't expect the crystals or minerals in this case, to do anything, right? They are just highly valuable and rare. However, this goes against that common misconception. It's funny because I could see myself doing something like this---but the leader deserves the credit here. And...."

Noticing that the six computers were focusing on the wrong areas, Daniel quickly adjusted their footages through the control panel, and just like that, different footage was shown to Zwette, who screamed in terror as she watched what they had to offer.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

"Of course, your friends all had somewhere to meet their ends. The truth is, this is a necrohol. Necro for death in latin and hol for "hall". In other words----Hall of the dead."

Each computer showed different footage.

The first computer showed a mountain of decomposing bodies stacked on top of one another. It went without saying that some of Zwette's companions were at the very top of that mountain of corpses since the bodies on the lower half are far more decomposed than the ones on the top.

Regarding the second computer, a footage where bodies stabbed with spears in all four directions could be captured. It showed six bodies which made Zwette realize that one of the groups that had six of her members were dead with their bodies stabbed mercilessly.

Although the other four computers showed footage with deadly traps in them, the third computer would be the last one to show the remaining six members in the footage, who are still alive. Six members standing in a floating cage in the middle of pure darkness pleaded for mercy and Zwette, upon seeing them, finally spoke as she grew closer to the third computer.

"Everyone! You're alright, oh thank God....!!"

She could barely show composure but seeing her broken mental state as she desperately clinged to the computer with her two hands alongside her might, made Daniel immensely curious about her. Or rather---about one specific factor about her.

No, not her emotional state. Not how Zwette was practically begging for them to be released. Not how deeply she cares about them. None of those factors.

"...You're a foreigner too?! Hey, I'm American. Your accent is somewhat similar to a person in my class, I think. Huh, what was her name again?"

Daniel thought and thought about her name while looking up.

Meanwhile, Zwette started to lose hope slowly as she saw how uninterested he was about her situation. The fact that Daniel had reigned priority over her nationality instead of what was currently happening made Zwette realize that reasoning with Daniel could be impossible.

She thought to herself that this person was not normal and not in a good way.

"Lus? That's it. She's Ukrainian. Where are you from? I don't care about your name, just tell me where you come from."

Genuinly curious, Daniel asked her that question but much to Daniel's displease, she was too mentally shattered to compose herself, so Daniel resorted to something else.

"How about this? If you give me the correct answer, I will let you press the button that will put them back on the surface; that way, they won't die."

As Zwette heard those words and saw the chance to rescue her comrades, she didn't think twice about doing it.

For the first time, she looked at Daniel without being utterly terrified as she saw him the link to their safety.

"I'm from Slovenia! P-Please...!! I can't take this anymore...! Just tell me the button, please...!"

"Mhm, so you two are not from the same country. Got it. I just thought it would be interesting to see the difference, that's all. Ah, this one. Press it."

On the furthest northwest, a red button lied within. There are multiple red buttons in that particular vicinity and Daniel kept smiling in Zwette's direction.

The thought of being reunited with the people still alive in her group overwhelmed her.

But not as much as the feeling of shock and grief combined once she witnessed the bottom of their cage being suddenly released along with the entirety of the cage as they fell into the seemingly infinite darkness below.

"AAAHHH--- AHHH....!! N---No..... No....No, no, no...!!! Oh God...!!! What have I done?!"

Terrified at the result that Zwette had created, she couldn't even muster the strength to blame Daniel for lying at her. But, as her tears and emotions grow sadder, she looked in Daniel's direction and asked.

"...Why would you do that...?"

Daniel didn't think twice about answering this, as he was completely composed, unlike Zwette.

"Because it's fun. Humans are at their lowest when emotions have the best of them. So I will put them at their lowest and see what the result will be from it. Your ability to follow through the order once you saw a chance of saving them is incredible. In a sense, you are worthy of admiration. On the other hand---you killed them."

While ending his sentence, Daniel began to pat Zwette's head as her eyes lost all soul. In order for her to not completely lose hope, Daniel said something else to her, close to her left ear.

"It's alright. I won't kill you."

"....Huh?"

This was confusing to Zwette. She was sure that she was going to die. Why else wouldn't she die, realistically speaking? Daniel has all the necessary tools to kill her.

However, Daniel explained it to her.

"You are interesting enough for me to allow you to live. Plus, don't you have someone that you want to see?"

Daniel knows about it, but from Zwette perspective, he has no idea about it. Of course, he's referring to Yoh, Zwette's best friend. She knew that if she could reunite with Yoh or Ryousuke Kawahara that she could tell the others about Daniel Lead and avoid another tragedy.

So, she was now committed into manipulating Daniel Lead into letting her live.

"I-I do... I will do anything you say, just please..."

She was also extremely committed into doing anything as long as it meant that she could be reunited with Yoh. As such, she began to cling to Daniel, who was still keeping his smile up. She climbed onto his seat and offered her body, essentially.

But, Daniel had something different in mind.

"Anything, you say? You mean it?"

"I-I do! Please!"

"I see. I admit that I wanted to see a girl do this since I couldn't capture the sight of when she did it. Alright, go back to your seat."

"....Okay...."

Unsure of what Daniel Lead had in his mind, Zwette backed off and took a deep breath, as she thought that Daniel for sure had a sexual suggestion in his mind. She is aware that he is a criminal and that a criminal would most likely seek sex, in this situation.

No other option remained in her mind but she couldn't help but wonder if she was truly accurate as she saw Daniel pull out a small knife from the back of his belt.

He put it in front of Zwette, on the surface of the desk where all the computers and control panels alongside the buttons lie within.

"I want you to kill yourself. That's my request."

"!!!!!!!!"

Although Zwette had said that she would do anything, she thought that it wouldn't involve something that would directly put her life in mortal danger yet as she looked at Daniel's cold eyes and his stone-cold expression no longer with a charismatic smile in it, she knew that he was serious.

Daniel wants her to kill herself, for some reason.

"W-Why...?!"

"I want to understand. What exactly someone goes through once they do it. I want to possibly understand what she felt back then when she did it."

Putting his right palm on her wet face, Daniel started to palpitate her face over and over as Zwette freaked out on the inside.

"...P-Please don't make me.... kill myself.... Uaaah..."

Yet Daniel didn't care about her emotions. They are a hindrance to his goal, which is to see a girl do the exact same thing that the person in his mind did.

As such, since Daniel was blocked from accomplishing his goal, he came to the conclusion that Zwette had a reason to live.

"Who are you living for? Your comrades are all dead. This should've greatly damaged you, but you are still hoping for something miraculous to happen, aren't you? So, who?"

He knows.

But, Zwette has no idea.

Zwette delivered the answer with fear behind her words as Daniel continued to scavenge the depths of her tears near her eyes. Over and over, he would clean them as he saw her tears as elements of hindrance.

"...Yoh... He's my best-friend... That's why... I can't kill myself.... But I'll do anything...! I swear!"

Naturally, Zwette thought that Daniel had something else in mind, but the truth is that the reason as to why Daniel did all this and spared Zwette in particular was because she was a girl. He wanted someone to do this task for her and he thought to himself that if he forced Zwette to kill herself that it wouldn't be the same.

The recreation of the scenario wouldn't be there.

In other words, Daniel had nothing he wanted out of Zwette. Her life served no longer a profitable purpose to Daniel. As such, there was only one reasonable conclusion to take here, for Daniel.

Removing his right palm from her face, Daniel spoke to Zwette.

"You don't have to. I won't kill you, as I've said. With that said, I'll let you ride the elevator. I purposely locked it so you couldn't escape but now..."

By pressing one of the green buttons on the furthest west side, Daniel was able to make the elevator functional again, as this control room has control of everything that happens within the section.

"The elevator is now operational. I'll accompany you."

"...Thank... you........."

Full of fear, those were the only words that she could tell Daniel, who had just shown her mercy. Not only was she successful in manipulating Daniel, but she had managed to survive. Furthermore, with the elevator now operational, all she had to do was follow Daniel and meet up with Yoh and Ryousuke Kawahara while ultimately informing Ryousuke Kawahara that Daniel Lead is alive and is plotting to kill everyone.

She couldn't believe it but she thought to herself as someone lucky despite the fact that 55 people were killed. Perhaps deep down selfish, Zwette only cared about reuniting with Yoh. In addition to that, she was slowly plotting to expose Daniel so Ryousuke Kawahara could take immediate action.

"Right, first, we have to go and put the tablet in its place."

"...Uh? Ah, right..."

It didn't occur to Zwette, as she was leaving the secret area with Daniel Lead that there was still an area that her group was initiating searching for: the area where she could place the component in to complete the task at hand. It had escaped Zwette's mind that that was a priority.

As a matter of fact, she had no clue where that area was.

However, near the north path, on the west side, lied a dead end but Daniel revealed that there is in fact a secret room there just by pressing one of the correct crystals which unraveled the unknown territory.

"Here we go. Now with this done, you can go and ride the elevator."

The room contained nothing but darkness. Except a single spot in the center that has a slight hint of light which is the place where Daniel placed the tablet. Just like that, two sections had been successfully cleared, from Ryousuke Kawahara's perspective.

From his perspective, these accomplishments had been done in a very fast time, but the truth is that the time that Zwette had spent here went over an hour. Since Zwette is so mentally shattered, her mind can't even recognize the fact that she was, in theory, already unsuccessful with her task of placing the component in time.

No longer did she care about that as she just wanted to ride the elevator.

Taking the linear north path, they started to walk towards the path on the furthest right that would lead to the entrance, where the elevator lies within.

"....Thank you so much...."

Make no mistake, this was not a humble appreciation towards Daniel Lead. Zwette is simply too terrified to look at him in the eye and tell him those words herself. What was happening right now, is a miracle.

In the face of a criminal like Daniel, Zwette should've been dead a long time ago, but she utilized the fact that Daniel, from her perspective, had room in his heart to spare her life.

Zwette started to feel slightly confident during the moment that she saw the elevator on the deepest north, now that they are walking down the path to the elevator and she said to Daniel, with a fake smile the following words:

"Ti neumen zajebanec."

Daniel ignored her, however.

Now in front of the elevator, Daniel clicked the elevator button and right in front of Zwette's eyes, her way out was finally underway.

To further motivate Zwette, Daniel went out of his way to show more comfort.

"I'm sorry about your friends. I regret everything I have done..."

"................"

Too scared to talk back, she turned her back on Daniel and quickly ran into the elevator.

Then, faster than before, she pressed the button that would lead her up. All that had to be done was to press the button and she was free to go up and inform Ryousuke Kawahara.

A desperate smile rose from Zwette's lips, however, it quickly faded away once she realized that the button was not actually performing any sort of action.

Midst this, Zwette was too busy stressing over this that she didn't notice that she was being showered by a very specific liquid that greatly fuels a certain element.

Finally, after multiple attempts and now completely covered in gasoline, though unaware yet, Zwette spoke her stressful thoughts to Daniel Lead, who is taking out a small white box of phosphorus from his right pocket.

"I-It's not working! You said that the elevator was operational...!"

"As far as I'm concerned, it is. Not the buttons, however..."

"But---- Ah, what....!? AHHH---AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Swiftly, Daniel lighted up multiple phosphorus and began to throw them as they were lighted up; one by one at Zwette, who started to become engulfed in flames far too quickly.

After throwing ten phosphorus at Zwette collectively, Daniel went to his right pocket once again while throwing the box of phosphorus to the ground and grasped a key that had one specific purpose. That purpose being: to operate the elevator manually. On the right side of the control panel of the elevator switch, by inserting the key in its entrance, there are two buttons that will appear. The upper button will lead the elevator up while the other in the opposite direction.

Ultimately pressing the upper button, the elevator's door began to close and the elevator would therefore go up. Before Zwette, who is submerged in hell's flames right now, could go up, Daniel said the last words he would ever say to Zwette.

"Uživajte v vožnji."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Her screams echoed grandly in that hall that would have no other existence besides Daniel, as the elevator would take Zwette to the top.

However, the elevator was already pre-programmed while Daniel was allowing Zwette to discover that she was trapped here inside, so, although the elevator will reach the top; it's not designed to open the door ever again without the specific command.

No sounds can be heard throughout the inner of the elevator on the outside.

This would mean that Zwette would die in burning flames near Ryousuke Kawahara though he would have no idea about this.