Lorian attempted to maintain a calm facade, 'Perhaps the SIM card is just in the wrong place or there's an issue with the holder,' he rationalized but could not help think of the other possibilities.

'If that's not the situation, then we've essentially been kidnapped. And if they are indeed real military personnel, it's likely that they're planning to subject us to some kind of unlawful experiment.' Lorian’s heart raced as a wave of fear washed over him, his hands growing clammy at the thought of being trapped by the military. His mind vividly replayed Dr. Young earlier words regarding, 'the greater good'.

He did his utmost to soothe his racing heart, with each throb resonating loudly, his hands growing clammy as time ticked by, making him feel increasingly like a bird ensnared. With a deep breath he looked around to see the rest of the preys that had fallen into this trap the same as him.

“Calista” he slowly whispered keeping an eye on the military men and Dr. Young as they walked. In silent urgency, he subtly showed her his phone, emphasizing the "No SIM card inserted" message, their movements fraught with tension.

Calista's furtive movements betrayed her fear as she quickly glanced at her phone, trying to conceal it in her pocket as she caught Lorian’s signal. Her face showed fear as she looked up at him. She composed herself and spoke softly, "I noticed that chandelier doesn't have a bulb either," gesturing towards a chandelier on the ceiling. Lorian felt his heart drop as he grasped what she was hinting at.

He repeated to himself, 'Stay calm. How could I have been so reckless? Now we're being kidnapped by the military.' They were completely surrounded, with no obvious way out. His mind raced, trying to come up with an escape plan.

Lorian swiftly calculated their options, knowing time was of the essence. The weight of the situation pressed down on his chest, but he refused to crumble under the pressure. His eyes darted around the room, searching for any glimmer of hope amidst the chaos that surrounded them.

As he observed the military personnel and Dr. Young conversing in hushed tones, an idea sparked in his mind. With a subtle nod towards Calista, he gestured towards the restroom section located at the far end of the room. It was a slim chance, but it seemed like the only shot at escaping this dire predicament.

'What am I even thinking, with all these military men here I might just be shot before I can even begin my escape' He thought 'However I must at least try, I need to escape as soon as possible, even if it's just me.'

His internal conflict raged as he weighed his responsibility to aid those he barely knew in such a dire situation. Nevertheless, he was willing to collaborate with the group if it boosted his likelihood of staying alive.

"Dr. Young, I must apologize," Lorian said, feigning stomach discomfort. "The breakfast didn't agree with me and I urgently need to use the restroom before we begin our data collection.”

Calista interjected, "I also need to use the restroom. Why don't we take a five-minute break before we continue, Professor? It will make things more efficient in the long run," she suggested with a smile, her face as charming as ever.

Some of the other victors also concurred, their motives ranging from the need to visit the restroom to desiring an opportunity to explore further sections of this magnificent palace.

Dr. Young regarded them with a scrutinizing gaze, his suspicion evident in his furrowed brow. Lorian could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him, every second ticking by like a drumbeat in his ears. He held his breath, waiting for Dr. Young's response, hoping beyond hope that their hastily concocted plan would be successful.

After a tense moment of silence, Dr. Young glanced at Lieutenant Dan, who gave a small smile and nodded. Dr. Young's expression softened, and he replied, "Very well,"

He relented, gesturing towards the hallway where the restrooms were located. "Hurry back, we have much work to do."

As Lorian and Calista made their way towards restroom taking the lead, their hearts pounded in their chests. The hallway stretched out before them like a never-ending maze, each step echoing loudly in their ears. They could practically feel the eyes of the military personnel boring into their backs as they walked. As they slowly approached the restroom through the grand hallways, Calista asked the rest whether anyone else had lost their sim cards. As they checked, everyone found that their sim cards weren't there. Nelson seemed to be fidgeting with his hands inside his right pocket, however he didn't even bother pulling out his phone like the rest.

"Weird, it's not there.." said Ares checking his old keypad phone.

Neal, looking worried, did the same. "Mine too. What’s going on?"

Ares shrugged. "Maybe they took our SIM cards for security reasons. They wouldn't want us calling out and spilling all their secrets, right?"

Lorian nodded slowly, suspicion creeping in. "Yeah, maybe. Or maybe they're just making sure we can't call for help if something goes wrong." He forced a light-hearted chuckle, trying to ease the tension.

The group exchanged wary glances, their expressions shifting as they processed Lorian’s words. Alex spoke up, her voice a whisper barely audible over the tension that gripped them all. "Let's split up and try to find a way to escape."

"How can we even escape? This is a military base, you all! And besides, it's unsure whether our conclusion is even correct," Ares rationalized. "Like I said, maybe they took the SIM cards out due to protocol."

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"Then they could have directly asked for our phones once we entered this facility. What is the point of just removing the SIM card?" Lorian countered.

"This is childish... Either way, it seems we are trapped. Rather than doing something irrational, it's better we just follow these guys, let them collect our data, and leave," Ares said, shrugging as he looked at the rest.

"It might sound childish, but I have a gut feeling things aren't that simple," Lorian insisted. "This place is kept so secretive, yet they didn't stop us from taking pictures. It's like they are sure we won't be showing these pictures to anyone."

Ares shrugged again and headed toward the male bathroom section. "This is absurd! I'm going to go take a piss."

"I agree," said Nelson, looking disdainfully at his brother and the rest. "Stop living in fantasies, Neal. These people have gone crazy from the white room." He caught up with Ares. "It’s almost time for our drop shipping. Let’s get this over with and get back to work" He added as he walked away from the group.

"Looks like you and I are the only sane ones," he said to Ares, who responded with a grunt actively showing his disinterest in engaging with Nelson. The two of them entered the male bathroom section, leaving the others in the corridor.

"Crazy or not, I would feel safer if we had an escape plan just in case, regardless of how impractical," Alex said, her eyes calm and cold. "Calista and I will search the female restroom for any vents or windows, while the two of you search this corridor as well as the male restrooms. We'll meet back here and discuss our findings."

"Well, let's hurry up... They might get suspicious," Lorian urged.

With silent nods and determined glances, they agreed to the plan, each member of the group steeling themselves for the task ahead as they dispersed into their assigned areas.

As Calista and Alex entered the female restroom, Lorian and Neal scanned the corridor for any escape routes. It was a good thing there weren't any military personnel guarding the section housing the toilets.

"I don't think there's any way out here," Lorian said to Neal.

"I'm kind of scared, Mr. Lorian," Neal responded, his voice trembling. "I wish I could be with Miss Calista in these final moments."

"What are you talking about?" Lorian replied, a bit irritated.

"Hehehe," Neal started giggling suddenly. "Because I'd rather have my little syringe penetrating her soft flesh than yours, heh."

"What..?" Lorian was taken aback, shivering with a mix of cringe and complete shock that outweighed his current fear of their predicament. He felt creeped out, unable to decern if this hormonal teen was just being a pervert or if he had actually gone crazy!

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, freezing the two men in their tracks. "Ares?" Lorian called out as he rushed towards the bathrooms, his voice laced with dread, recognizing the familiar tone.

The sharp pain in his neck jolted Lorian before he could react, a sudden sense of disorientation clouding his thoughts as he realized he lost control of his muscles.

"Too bad they won't let me slice you open," Neal laughed from behind.

Lorian’s vision blurred, darkness closing in as the needle pierced further into his skin. A twisted smile greeted him in his fading consciousness. Neal's face loomed before him, cruel and triumphant. "I'm scared, Mr. Lorian," Neal said again, his expression returning to the same timid and shy one he had worn all the while.

"...because it’s my first time causing someone pain without finishing the job ahahaha," Neal's laughter echoed in the fading recesses of Lorian’s mind as his consciousness slowly slipped away.

After a moment, Nelson walked out of the men’s room, dragging Ares's limp body behind him. His right eye was swollen and black. "The bastard had enough energy to punch me even after I emptied the syringe," he grumbled.

Neal giggled, a chilling sound. "He's a bit taller, more body weight means more time to knock out," he said, eyes gleaming. "That's why I left him to you."

The two exchanged a glance, then turned towards the female washroom.

"Girls, I tell you," Neal said with a shrug, his smile twisted. "Always late."

"Let's go check," Nelson said promptly.

"Yeah, I want to have some fun with that blonde Calista," Neal said, his voice dropping to a sinister purr. He licked his lips, his demeanor shifting to something darker.

"Sick bastard," Nelson muttered as he headed towards the female bathroom.

However, the scene that greeted them was different from their expectations.

Neal chuckled, "Smart, strong, and reckless..." His eyes glinted with a sinister anticipation. "The chase is the best part of love. I'm glad you get that, Calista." He laughed, his tongue slowly circling his lips like a predator savoring its prey.

Nelson looked inside the room, his chest heaving. Inside the female’s room, Alex lay unconscious on the ground. There was no sign of Calista.

Nelson hurriedly took out an earpiece from his right pocket. "Alex failed," he reported. "One of the winners, Calista, has escaped. It seems like she injured Alex."

"How is Alex?" Lieutenant Dan's voice crackled through the earpiece.

"Fainted," Nelson responded, trying to maintain his calm, though his brows were furrowed and his speech was hurried. He glanced up and saw an open vent.

Dan let out a frustrated sigh, tension seeping into his voice. "As if the no-tranquilizer directive wasn't enough," he muttered. "I'll send some men over. Lord Kaiser and Dr. Young can't know about this. Find her, and if she's not found in ten minutes... put Alex's body in the first collider pod."

Hearing these final words, Nelson's face turned bitter. He held the earpiece tighter, his eyes piercing through the vent with resolve.

"...Understood," he said, his voice tight as he looked down at Alex's face with a mixture of concern and guilt.

----------------------------------------

In a realm unknown,

A fallen bicycle lay in the middle of the forest, its training wheels carving deep grooves in the earth, forming the face of a woman stoically asleep.

Nearby, a green snake, battered and beaten, hissed feebly, its scales glistening with a sheen of blood, each movement labored and pained.

"It is good that you decided to follow me," a voice called from the depths of the forest, soft yet commanding. The snake lifted its head weakly, eyes flickering toward the source.

From the shadows emerged a man garbed in priestly robes, his presence serene yet unsettling. His dark, knowing eyes fixed on the snake. With deliberate steps, he approached and bent to grasp the serpent, lifting it effortlessly.

The snake writhed, its resistance futile. The priest held it firmly, inspecting it with cold detachment. 'So this is his Behemoth. The shadow has merged with a strong behemoth, how troublesome' he thought, 'His mind is in shambles tied down by a web of lies... '

"This is the first gift of power I present to you for following me," the priest intoned, his voice resonating with a strange, hypnotic cadence. "Eat this snake alive, and you will break free from your shackles."

He turned back towards the darkened forest, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Suddenly, from the shadows, a hand shot out, snatching the snake with an eager, frantic haste. The hand retreated into the darkness, leaving no trace, blending seamlessly into the shadows like a whisper of deceit. The sound of flesh tearing and the snake's final, desperate hiss echoed faintly.

The priest stood in silence, his eyes glinting with satisfaction and anticipation. Suddenly, his smile vanished, replaced by frantic coughing. He clutched his chest, his other hand covering his mouth, now stained with blood. With urgency, he retrieved a diary from his robes and began to scribble frantically.

"The Final Archetype has emerged in the Wastelands."