CHAPTER 47

The top 20 closest to the exit appeared, and the two children found their names in the middle part.

1 OFF134 - 40 meters

2 OEM129 - 43 meters

3 OPE94 - 49 meters

4 OMA38 - 49 meters

5 OLU94 - 53 meters

6 OAR48 - 57 meters

7 OID76 - 57 meters

8 OSZ61 - 57 meters

9 OLN103 - 60 meters

10 OWS59 - 65 meters

11 ODE152 - 65 meters

'The closest player to the exit disappeared,' Hirayon momentarily thought, then continued to memorize the list like he did the first time.

After the hologram disappeared, Hirayon added the two new scrolls to his inventory, and the white spaces on their map became filled, almost completing the entire labyrinth map. Appearing more cumbersome, more walls and dead ends revealed themselves with still no exit in sight.

"I think we only need four more scrolls," Hirang assessed. Only seven white spaces remain, and one of those will have the exit to give them the spot in the winners.

Hirayon nodded in agreement and scanned the large map. Thanks to the two combining the scrolls, their progress quickened.

There were quite a few interesting images in the labyrinth. There were statues in a semblance of animals, intricate buildings, and ponds in various shapes and sizes. Although they had only seen one, six were on the map. Hirayon was checking each of them when he noticed one little red dot near the largest pond.

Hirayon's instinct kicked in, and he looked up, staring at the smooth cave wall before him. On the screen, there was a wall between the red dot and the pond. And if what he was thinking was correct, it means they have finally found their location.

Eager to confirm, Hirayon walked toward the left without removing his eyes from the screen. His eyes held a glint of excitement like a child in the middle of a treasure hunt.

"What are you doing?" Hirang asked when Hirayon walked away.

Ignoring his question, Hirayon continued to stare at the hologram while moving his feet. When, finally, the red dot moved a little bit, Hirayon stopped and looked at Hirang with delight. Though far, Hirang saw his expression and raised a brow.

"What is it?!" Hirang asked, raising his voice slightly louder to reach Hirayon, who was in the distance.

Hirayon returned and answered, "I found our location." He showed Hirang the screen, pointing at the tiny dot.

"That's too... little," Hirang noticed in a daze as the dot Hirayon was talking about could be easily mistaken as a speck of dust. If he were the one who looked at the map first, he was sure to himself that he wouldn't notice anything at all.

"You have a good eyesight."

"I have an enhanced sight," Hirayon admitted, not even thinking he was exposing one of his basic abilities. He realized it too late and thought that if Savio heard him, he would surely receive some nagging.

What he did not know was Savio heard everything, and everyone else did.

The large screen was showing the two children, and it started even before they had fought two monsters. Tedie find it intriguing that the two capable players had decided to team up. He also did not expect the two aloof ones to get along, as the only thing they had in common was their strength.

During the fights, he constantly praised the two and blatantly compared them to each other. He expertly created a ploy to make things more interesting and entertaining for all to see.

"I'm amazed how adaptable and intelligent OWS59 is. And ODE152 is such a great fighter! I never saw a child controlling the darkness element like he did. Is he a genius?!"

'He's twisted,' Savio thought after hearing Tedie.

Most of the hosts in the torneo are opportunistic, but Savio finds Tedie to be the most shrewd. Though his judgment must've been influenced by Tedie blaming him for Hirayon's lousy performance last game, he could still see that Tedie appears to be the most ambitious out of all the hosts.

"I can't wait to know which one of them is stronger," Tedie added, pouring fuel to the fiery competition that had emerged between the audience who had voted for the two players.

"OWS59 will win! He killed more monsters!"

"Are you blind?! ODE152 killed more Type 2 monsters!"

"You're the one stupid! Your player left the map to OWS59's inventory. He can flee anytime he wants!"

"Like he can escape from the darkness! He will be eaten alive!"

"Fool! Before he gets eaten, your player will drown!"

Their quarrels continued, and if the audience were split into two seating arrangements, it would surely end with a cheer battle as the two players had the most fans.

'This is fun,' Tedie thought, as it's been a while since the audience became too heated with each other.

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He continued to rile them up even though Hirayon and Hirang were just figuring out what to do next.

Despite knowing their location, they still did not know where the exit would be, so they decided to stay and wait for monsters to detect them. They sat on the ground with their back resting on the cave wall and rested to replenish their used auras.

Although they could still fight a few monsters before his aura depleted, Hirayon wanted to conserve it and prepare for the worst-case scenario. Because to him, everything was going so smoothly that it looked suspicious. Even though they were fighting monsters from time to time, he had the feeling that the supposed to be a challenging game was too easy for the audience to be thrilled and excited about.

With that thought, Hirayon rested with his awareness at high alert. All of his senses were functioning with superb concentration, and he sat there, feeling everything in his surroundings. From Hirang's even breathing, the echoes of explosions and voices, to the frequent tremors and vibrations caused by fights. Hirayon did not miss anything.

That's why he knew. Hirayon was aware that there was a presence slowly closing in their direction.

Opening his eyes, Hirayon stared at the path where incredibly light footsteps could be heard.

"There's a player."

Hirang looked at Hirayon and then at the empty path he was looking at.

"Where?"

"You'll see her in a bit."

As Hirayon had said, a child figure slowly emerged on the path where they were—eventually revealing a cute little girl with round deer eyes. Her adorable, innocent face immediately reminded the two who she was.

The little girl took her time walking, seemingly like a harmless child who just wanted to walk past, only if her white clothes weren't drenched with blood. It could be from different monsters, but no, the two couldn't tell as there were multiple colors, including the deep red of humans. It wouldn't be surprising, considering her personality, that she had challenged and fought other players along the way.

With a robotic, emotionless smile, she approached the two who remained seated and stopped in front of them. She looked down at the two boys who had declined to fight her in the first game and tilted her head.

"Do you have a complete map?" She asked.

"We don't," Hirang answered.

"Is that so... did you two team up?"

Hirayon was about to answer, but Hirang beat him to it.

"We did and were not interested in fighting any other players."

Although the two did not discuss fighting other players, Hirang knew Hirayon didn't want to resort to violence toward other children. He doesn't want to either, but he has a different reason. He finds it troublesome and unnecessary.

The little girl's smile vanished, and her cold eyes were directed to Hirang.

During the first game, she suddenly found herself back in the arena. The game had ended, and all of the eyes were on her. Some held contempt, but she didn't care at all. She felt delighted to see her name at the top.

But it was short-lived.

After the final computation of points, her name was dropped, and she felt extreme hate for the boy who stole her spot without even fighting, a complete coward in her eyes.

But what bothered her more was the boy with white hair and pitch-black eyes. She stared back at his dead eyes that intimidated her proud self.

Before losing consciousness, she remembered talking to the white-haired boy, but after that, she saw black.

On the outside, it looked like she had simply lost consciousness, but after contemplating hard in her room, she realized that her consciousness had been transferred to a different place. She remembered feeling helpless and floating like a soul wandering in the air without control. It was an unforgettable experience that made her excessively anxious and wary.

She didn't know what Hirang did, but she was sure that he was the one at fault.

Because of that, even though he hated Hirayon, her disdain toward Hirang was more. Her nerves are trembling with just the thought of facing Hirang. But because of pride, there she was, staring back at the black orbs despite her knees feeling weak.

With her usual adorable smile, she spoke, "You're jumping to conclusions. I just want to know if you have a complete map." She lied, still planning to fight the two.

"You wouldn't find us here sitting if we do," Hirang fired back.

Gritting her teeth, the little girl used all her might to conceal the raging emotions heating up inside her chest. "Right," she said, almost like a whisper.

She thought she did great hiding the hatred in her voice, but Hirayon noticed everything, even her fists that were clenched on her side.

'Why is she mad?' Hirayon thought and awkwardly moved his head to the side, looking at the empty space where the little girl came from. Thinking that something might've happened between them, he tried his best to ignore the two and act like he was not present.

He was planning on doing so, but the girl called him out.

"OWS59."

Hirayon looked at the girl, and one of his brows rose. 'Now, why is she mad at me?"

He could see the dark look the girl was giving her, almost similar to the way she looked at Hirang but more subtle.

"What is it?"

"Let's fight," she challenged; gone was the innocent sparkle in her eyes, and it was replaced with a dark desire to win.

"I don't fight other players."

"Pathetic," she taunted, not looking away from Hirayon.

She was expecting the boy to get mad, but Hirayon calmly stared back, not saying anything.

Realizing her mockery did not work, the little girl smirked, "Coward."

Hirayon frowned and gave a displeased look. OLN103 expected him to retort, but she unexpectedly received a reaction from another person.

"Leave."

Hirang spoke one word, but the little girl felt the intensity within its tone. She felt her clenched fists tremble with intimidation, but she strengthened her resolve. She looked back at the dead pitch, black orbs staring at her and glared back.

"I'm not talking to you."

"We're partners."

OLN103 crossed her arms. "What? Are you his spokesperson now?"

"No, but it's a waste of time talking to you. I'm doing him a favor," Hirang answered with a smirk, not backing down.

"Waste of time? You should be thankful I'm talking to street rats."

"Even if you're from a distinguished family before, we're all the same here in the facility. Are you calling yourself a rat as well? A queen rat, maybe?"

OLD103's round eyes shook in a fury. As a proud oddity from a wealthy family in the Lightning Clan, she can't tolerate any scum rat who sees her in equal standing. She doesn't care if she is called names; she can always smile it away, but her pride quivered with the thought of being seen as a dirty kid, one who can't even afford to eat three full-course meals.

The little girl looked at Hirang with a piercing glare, her lips no longer curved in a practiced smile. Gone was her innocent facade, and her actual character was revealed. With great determination brought by anger, hatred, and humiliation, she glared at them with seething eyes. "I will win this Torneo," she declared, looking down on Hirang and Hirayon.

Contrary to Hirayon and Hirang, who got quiet, slightly surprised at the sudden statement, the crowd watching the three went wild.

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

All of them were yelling in unison, slapping their hands on their thighs, creating a thunderous sound that shook the whole arena with their frantic fever. Their leader, who was enjoying it the most, was none other than Tedie, sporting a wide, beastly grin.

R E H I L I Y A