A low buzzing sound reverberated in Lin’s ears, growing deeper with each passing second and urging him to open his eyes. On any other day, the warm sunlight piercing through his bedroom window would have stirred him from slumber, accompanied by the birds outside chirping a melody that never grew tiresome.
Less pleasant sounds often joined in—the frantic honking of cars, the roar of engines, the rumble of large machinery—all blending into the relentless symphony of modern life. It was the price of convenience, and to Lin—and perhaps to most—the morning rush was a cruel reminder that everyone had somewhere to be, a role to play in the grand scheme of maintaining society.
As Lin’s eyes fluttered open, he knew immediately that something was wrong. At first, he ignored the subtle clues: the rough, warm surface beneath him or the fact that his body wasn’t nestled in his familiar bed. But what his eyes saw made the situation impossible to dismiss.
The usual morning clamor was gone. His "room" was strangely spacious—far too large. In fact, it was massive, comparable to the size of a shopping mall. Its uneven ceiling loomed high above, adorned with jagged spikes that jutted down like stalactites. The lack of symmetry and smooth craftsmanship made it clear: this was no man-made structure.
A cave. That was the first thought to cross his mind. He lifted himself up, finally getting a proper look at the ground beneath him. It was oddly level for a cave, almost unnaturally smooth—too uniform to be natural, yet devoid of the polish that would indicate human intervention. Like the ceiling, the floor was a dark grayish color, just shy of black, further deepening his confusion.
The smoothness doesn’t seem like a product of water erosion, but the stalactites suggest a possible water source nearby, Lin thought, his mind racing as he brushed a finger across the rough surface. Then, shaking his head, he muttered to himself, Doesn’t feel like limestone. The dark color… past volcanic activity, maybe? Where the heck am I?
He sighed in frustration, giving up on analyzing the geology of the space. Only then did he take in his surroundings—and the unfamiliar figures scattered around him. Some of them glanced at him briefly before looking away, their disinterest almost casual, as though they had seen this scene too many times before.
Why are they just standing there? Lin wondered, a frown forming on his face. It was strange. The figures were clustered in small groups—if they can even be called that—yet they maintained an unnatural distance from one another. Their stances felt cautious, as if they were all guarding against something. But strangely, it didn’t seem like the caution was directed at each other.
His gaze drifted downward. Why am I still wearing this?
He noted his clothes: the same long black pants and white shirt he had worn the day before. His blazer was gone, but the outfit still gave him his usual office look.
“Oh, you’re awake,” a soft voice interrupted his thoughts, carrying a hint of relief. Lin turned, still seated, to find a figure standing a few feet away. The person made no move to come closer, maintaining a cautious distance despite initiating the conversation.
Is that distance a rule? Lin wondered. Something they decided on themselves, or instructions from whoever brought us here?
The thought lingered as Lin took in the speaker—a boy, younger than he expected. Golden hair framed the boy’s face, and a black, cross-shaped earring with complex silver patterns dangled from his ear, giving him an otherworldly, almost devilish charm.
A high school student? Lin guessed, noting the boy’s white school uniform, which contrasted starkly with the casual clothes worn by most of the other figures in the cave.
It felt oddly out of place. Most of the others were dressed casually as if they had been snatched during a day off. Lin noticed only a handful of people in more formal attire like his own, adding another layer of mystery to the unexpected grouping.
Day off? Or maybe… a difference in time zones? Were we taken from different countries at different times? That seems more plausible, but the logistics would be a huge pain, Lin reasoned, noting everyone’s distinct appearance.
He ignored the boy’s words for the moment, rising to his feet with effort as he shook off the last remnants of grogginess. This is why I hate mornings, he thought, brushing the faint dust off his clothes. They weren’t as dirty as he’d expected, given the ground’s unnatural cleanliness.
Lin instinctively checked his pockets.
Empty.
The items he usually carried to work were all gone.
No phone. Was I really kidnapped?
Forgetting to take his work items home was one thing but losing them entirely was unthinkable. Some of those items were more valuable than his own life, so the idea of simply ‘forgetting’ them was absurd.
As Lin tried to calm his thoughts, his gaze swept across his surroundings. It was then that he noticed something highly unusual on the wall behind them. The fact that his mind hadn’t registered it when he first woke up only made it stranger.
“No one has any idea what it is, but we decided it’s best not to move around for now,” the golden-haired boy interrupted his thoughts. His tone carried a heavy tension, as though the words themselves weighed on him.
Is this some kind of joke?
Lin frowned as his eyes locked onto the wall. Covering it was something that could only be described as a bluish, transparent hologram, and while the display itself was strange, what truly unsettled him was the information it contained. Still, the hologram was a sight to behold.
He wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about cutting-edge technology—nor did he care to follow it—but he had encountered his fair share of holograms in his life. Many, particularly in his city, used spinning fans to create the illusion. This one, however, was different.
Is it real? There doesn’t seem to be anything holding it up…
The hologram hung in the air, perfectly still and eerily silent, about a meter away from the cave wall. Its vivid clarity and stability made it feel like a prop from a sci-fi movie, far removed from the noisy, imperfect holograms he was familiar with.
Finally, Lin’s eyes focused on the text displayed on the hologram. It explained the strange behavior of those around him but also sent a slight chill down his spine, heightening his unease.
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The trial will begin in the next:
35 minutes 34 seconds
Rules:
1. Do not leave your block before the timer runs out; otherwise, this will signal the trial to begin immediately.
2. You have One hour thirty minutes to reach the goal, but there will be a cost for wasting time.
3. Do not follow the rules.
PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO REACH THE GOAL: DEATH.
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Is it… them? Lin’s thoughts drifted briefly to a possibility but dismissed it almost immediately.
No, they’re not this stupid.
Glancing down at the ground, he noticed faint lines drawn across the surface, as though reading the rules had triggered their appearance. The lines were a dull brown and stretched across the cave in both horizontal and vertical directions, intersecting to form perfect squares. These lines extended all the way to the far side of the cave, where he spotted another anomaly: a hologram with the word GOAL emblazoned on it.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
His mind returned to the rules as he scrutinized the grid. They seem to be around one meter by one meter…. He began estimating the distance to the goal, noting that the blocks were just large enough to barely fit one person. There wasn’t even enough room for lying down, so he had woken up with some parts of his body lying outside his block which surprisingly wasn’t considered ‘leaving’ his block.
These rules don’t make any sense.
That was the only conclusion he could draw after briefly contemplating them. Shifting his gaze back to the original hologram, he searched for more clues, but nothing stood out.
“Um, excuse me,” a voice rang out, louder than the background chatter. The murmuring quickly ceased, and Lin, along with everyone else, turned toward the source. A man stood there, exuding an air of authority, though it seemed to come more from necessity than design.
“Thanks for your cooperation,” the man said with a small, reassuring smile. The gathered individuals nodded in silent acknowledgment.
The pseudo-leader, Lin thought, observing him with mild curiosity. His presence was almost inevitable in such situations—someone who instinctively tried to restore order amidst chaos. It explained why everyone had been obediently following the rules thus far with no attempts to recklessly do something stupid.
The man was casually dressed, wearing blue jeans and a plain black T-shirt. His long black hair was tied back into a ponytail that nearly reached his shoulders, giving him a slightly feminine appearance that teetered between handsome and beautiful.
The man raised his voice again. “I’m glad everyone managed to wake up on time, but I think this is a good moment to discuss the situation. Does anyone have any idea what’s going on?” His tone was calm and straightforward, but his question was met with silence. Eyes darted around the room, filled with lingering hope that someone might have answers.
“Um…”
Lin turned at the sound of a hesitant voice beside him. The golden-haired boy had raised his hand slightly, as though waiting for permission to speak, a gesture reminiscent of a classroom. As more eyes turned toward him, the boy seemed to take it as a sign to continue, his tone cautious.
“Well, I’m not really an expert or anything, but I’ve never seen a hologram like this,” the golden-haired boy said. Many around him nodded in agreement, though those unfamiliar with holograms likely couldn’t grasp just how bizarre the one in front of them truly was.
“I thought there would be ceiling mounts, some kind of floor unit, or even a doorway of sorts, but there’s really nothing keeping it up. This is the kind of tech governments would kill to have. So, whoever brought us here…” He trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air. Judging by the grim expressions around him, the others seemed to understand without him needing to elaborate.
He’s right. If it’s that significant, then it’s probably not easy to get access to that kind of tech, Lin thought silently. As if to confirm everyone’s fears, the feminine-looking man added.
“They’re likely very powerful,” he said simply. Hearing it spoken aloud by someone they’d been following made the weight of the situation settle even deeper. Expressions grew darker, though a few faint glimmers of optimism still lingered.
“I think we should try to escape,” a voice suggested suddenly, cutting through the tension. All eyes turned toward the speaker, whose growing confidence seemed fueled by the attention.
“There are twenty of us here. If we can get some guns or something, I’m sure we’ll manage,” he explained, his tone brimming with confidence.
He seems confident, Lin observed, his eyes scanning the man. He was tall and well-built, his physique lending credibility to his bold suggestion. His neatly cropped blue hair added to his striking appearance, its short length in the front clearly meant to keep his bangs out of his eyes. His attire, though casual like most, was oddly mismatched: a plain blue hoodie paired with shorts.
Is he stupid? The thought arose in Lin’s mind, though he kept it to himself and continued to observe the unfolding discussion. Thankfully, before the blue-haired man could continue, another voice interjected, becoming the weight of reason.
“Sorry, but I don’t think that’s a good idea,” the deep voice echoed across the cave. Turning toward him, it was easy to match the voice to the speaker—a bald man with an imposing physique. Though slightly shorter than the blue-haired man, his solid build and aura made him far more intimidating.
A physique honed to near perfection and a brown tracksuit. Can you be more obvious? Lin mused inwardly, sparing a glance toward the blue-haired man, who seemed momentarily thrown off by the sudden opposition. Perhaps he hadn’t expected the most imposing person among them to go against his plan of fighting back.
“Then what the heck should we do? Sit around and wait to become some rich bastard’s entertainment?” the blue-haired man shot back, frustration leaking into his voice as if he already had someone specific in mind for their captor.
They don’t seem to disagree, Lin noted, glancing at the others. Although most remained silent, their reluctant expressions betrayed an unspoken agreement with the blue-haired man’s sentiment.
“Sorry if I offended you,” the bald man began, his tone surprisingly calm as he offered a conciliatory smile. “But I’m an active soldier. I know what I’m talking about,” he explained, softening his voice as much as the circumstances allowed. The cave’s sheer size meant most people had to speak loudly to be heard, making quiet diplomacy nearly impossible.
The bald man’s measured words were not meant to antagonize but to persuade both the blue-haired man and the rest of the group. “Whoever brought us here likely has the manpower to handle all of us. I doubt we’ll be able to force our way out that easily—especially since most of us probably don’t even know how to use a gun,” he added, emphasizing his point.
His reasoning seemed to strike a chord. A few people wore complicated expressions, clearly uncomfortable with the bald man’s blunt assessment but unable to refute his logic.
He’s right. People in high society love hiring ex-military for their security detail. Lin recalled the years he’d spent living among the elite. Though he no longer lived in those circles, his memories lent weight to the soldier’s argument.
Even against a police-level unit, we’d probably lose if more than 30% of us can’t handle firearms.
While Lin agreed with much of the bald man’s reasoning, he couldn’t help but mull over the conversation. A nagging question bubbled to the surface.
Is he also stupid?
“If you’re in the military, shouldn’t you know what’s going on?” a voice piped up, cutting through the heavy atmosphere. Lin glanced to his side to see the golden-haired boy speaking again, his question drawing attention from the two arguing men and the crowd as a whole.
“Maybe the tech rings some bells?” the boy added, his tone infused with a mix of curiosity and faint optimism. It was enough to ease some of the mounting tension, though the weight of the situation still loomed overhead.
At his words, everyone turned back toward the bald man, who seemed caught off guard by the pitiful gazes directed at him. His expression darkened as he shook his head.
“S-sorry, but I don’t recognize any of this,” he stuttered, and the brief moment of hope faded again.
Maybe I should step in… Lin’s expression began to harden with every word spoken. He could feel himself becoming more affected by the unfolding conversation, a tension building that he knew might soon compromise him. His gaze shifted to the blue-haired man, anticipating the inevitable, and to his despair, the man spoke.
“Mmh, that sounds very convenient, doesn’t it?” the blue-haired man said, his voice sharp as he grabbed everyone’s attention. “Why should we trust you? Maybe you’re part of this whole setup,” he continued, glaring at the bald man with unflinching confidence.
The bald man, however, didn’t rise to meet the aggression. He appeared calm, confident in his innocence, and barely reacted as he responded coolly,
“If I were in on it, I would’ve kept quiet and played dumb,” he stated sternly. It was a logical rebuttal to the baseless accusation, and it seemed to give others pause.
Drawing suspicion to himself would serve no purpose if he were involved—especially after everyone had already concluded that their captors were both powerful and methodical. The unspoken consensus seemed clear: only an entity with significant resources, like the government, could pull off something of this scale without consequence.
“Maybe you’re doing this to try and earn our trust. Since you claim you’re military, everyone here would obviously want your protection,” the blue-haired man continued. The words introduced a new layer of tension as several others cast wary glances at the bald man, clearly waiting for his defence.
That sounds like a stretch… but no one else seems suspicious, Lin thought, scanning the faces around him. From what he had observed so far, there weren’t any overt signs of deception.
If there’s a spy among us, they’re either highly skilled... or they don’t even know they’re a spy, he considered, his gaze lingering on the bald man. However, he soon noticed a shift in the atmosphere—several individuals had begun casting glances in his direction.
They’ve noticed me watching them.
Their wary gazes lingered briefly before turning away, cautious of his behavior. Strangely, this reaction gave him a sense of comfort. It meant that they, too, were cautious, making them potential allies in his mind.
The bald man stayed silent; his expression thoughtful as if carefully weighing his next words. Before he could speak, someone else interrupted.
“I think you should both stop that. None of us want to be here,” the feminine-looking man interjected, his calm but firm voice cutting through the rising tension. “I was one of the first to wake up, and I didn’t see anyone faking their confusion. So, please, let’s try to work together.”
Those who had begun to fear the possibility of infighting seemed to relax immediately afterward, nodding in agreement.
So, everyone woke up at different times, Lin noted, tuning out the tension as he focused on the new piece of information.
“Tsk,” the blue-haired man clicked his tongue, visibly annoyed, but thankfully said nothing further. Despite his bravado, Lin couldn’t help but notice that the man obediently stood within his designated block, just like everyone else.
Comfort in numbers, huh? Lin mused, his sharp gaze dissecting the man’s behavior. It was clear the blue-haired man would only act if he had the collective backing and motivation of the group. Without their support, any resistance he might attempt would be futile.
“Excuse me,” Lin’s calm voice cut through the air, drawing everyone’s attention. Feeling their gazes on him, he wondered briefly what they might be thinking. To him, the conversation he had just witnessed felt baffling—almost beyond comprehension.
How should we proceed?
(for visual representation, not drawn to scale)
image [https://i.imgur.com/wykOSsc.png]