Chapter 17: Rules

The crowd gasped audibly as the barren landscape transformed into something straight out of a horror movie. However, despite their initial fear, they quickly overcame it by thinking about winning a pod. Although it probably helped that they knew the forest wasn't real, just a bunch of code and data.

 

Because it sure helped Ari.

 

Even though he had watched the playback of this event, it wasn't the same as seeing it live. There is always a difference between experiencing something in person and watching it online. So, even though he was a bit surprised, he was also eager for what awaited him.

 

In the crowd of hopefuls, a buzz permeated the air, causing him to notice the other people around him. Although it wasn't like him to do so, he couldn't resist the urge to listen in on their conversations as they whispered strategies to their partners.

 

'Climbing up a tree until the game was over... that won't work,' Ari thought, listening to one of their ideas. 

 

Ji-Hye, who had been entranced by the sight, quickly snapped back to reality after processing everything she had seen. 

 

"Ari..." Ji-Hye whispered, still in shock. "Is this really the place where they want us to play hide-and-seek? Cause if so, this will be easy." 

 

However, before Ari could express his doubts regarding her assertion, the CEO of Vsoft spoke again. 

 

"It looks like everyone is very excited to begin!" The black-haired man said with a knowing smirk. "However, there are some rules you need to know before the game begins.

 

Rule number one, the game will only last one hour. Everyone who isn't found by then wins. Rule number two, don't make too much noise. If you're caught, that will be game over for you, and lastly..."

 

Without responding to a wave of jeers and boos sounded after the second rule, the CEO continued. " If anyone touches another player without their consent, they will be disqualified from the game! Got it?"

 

"Yes!" everyone screamed.

 

"Good," the CEO replied with a wide smile. "Since the VSOFT company wants everyone to have a better chance to win I had the forest changed so that it would be instanced. This means that it will only be the people inside your square that will join you in the hide-and-seek game."

 

As all the participants cheered with excitement, thinking this game would be easier than they thought, Ari was the only one who noticed an evil smirk come over the black-haired man's face. 

 

"Then, without further ado, let the main event commence!" Suddenly the man clapped his hands and portals appeared in front of each of the ten squares. "I wish you all good luck and... beware of the seeker."

 

With those words, the portals in front of them activated, glowing brilliantly before turning into a luminous, iridescent cyan arch. Soft whirring noises emanating from it, almost beckoning Ari with their haunting beauty. However, he couldn't be fooled. He knew what lies behind its depths. 

 

Looking around, he noticed some attendees in his square looked hesitant, as if detecting something strange. Ari knew these people would be his actual competition. He was just glad that seemed to be a few of them. 

 

The rest of them stepped into the portal with no delay, excitement shining on their faces. Ari felt bad for them. They were like lambs for the slaughter. 

 

Grabbing Ji-Hye's hand, he squeezed it before looking at her. She was grinning, but he could see the slight fear she was trying to hide in her eyes. 

 

"We can do this," Ari whispered, giving her an encouraging smile. Too nervous to speak, she just nodded, but he could tell from how tightly she held his hand she wasn't sure. 

 

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Quirking his lips upwards, he started walking into the portal, pulling her along with him. 

 

Once they were inside the forest, they quickly scanned their surroundings, but they were doing it for different reasons. Ji-Hye wanted to know if there were other players nearby while Ari was keeping an eye out for Killerjack. 

 

Suddenly, an electronic voice sounded loudly from above, echoing throughout the forest. 

 

[System: All participants have now entered the forest! The countdown will begin now!] 

 

In response to these words, a gigantic timer appeared in the sky. The clock started counting down from sixty minutes with a ticking sound accompanying it.

 

Ari knew that this was a psychological tactic that would cause the players to panic and rush to find a hiding spot. Which would cause a lot of them to pick ones that were easy to find, making them lose faster.

 

Even he could admit it was a smart move. 

 

As if to demonstrate exactly what he was thinking, Ji-Hye tugged at his arm, looking extremely panicked. "Ari, the timer started, we need to look for a hiding place!"

 

"Ji-Hye, calm down," he whispered, quickly looking around making sure she didn't alert anyone to their whereabouts. "Did you forget what the CEO said? There is an NPC out seeking us and could be anywhere. We need to take our time and figure out what we should do."

 

"You're right," she conceded, but still aware of the time ticking down. "Then what do you think we should do first?"

 

Although Ari had everything planned out, he couldn't tell her about it since this forest and everything within is supposed to be unknown. So how could he convince her they needed to head to the center of the forest?

 

He thought for a moment before coming up with an idea. "Why don't we start by scoping out the area? So far, the only thing around us are trees that are, by the looks of them, great for hiding."

 

Ji-Hye nodded, following his lead as they walked around the perimeter of the forest. After a few minutes of exploration, they found a bush with purple flowers. Although it looked quite strange, it was large enough to hide four grown adults. 

 

"Wow!" Ji-Hye exclaimed, happily. "This is a perfect place to hide."

 

Although Ari knew that sometimes looks can deceive, he got a bad feeling from it. "Ji-Hye, I don't think it's a good idea to stay here."

 

"What? Why?" she asked, looking up at him in confusion.

 

He took a deep breath before continuing. "There's something about it that doesn't feel right."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

Ari didn't explain. Instead, he picked up one of the pebbles that littered the forest floor and threw it at the bush. Immediately after doing so, the vines that emanated from it grew larger and reached out to grab them. It was horrifying.

 

"Because it feels like a trap," Ari replied, stumbling as he backed away from the vines along with Ji-Hye.

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