I must live

From the outer most edge of the altar, small blue flames floated upwards and began drawing a circle of their own as well. There looked to be at least thirty of these blue flames, placed real tightly next to each other.

'34. 35. 36.'

Jin-Woo quickly counted them all as the blue flames completed the circle and he realised that there were 36 of them.

'The seven red flames that lit up to match the number of people. And the 36 blue flames that appeared outside them. What could be the significance behind that number?'

It was then.Without a warning, the resolutely-shut door suddenly opened up wide. Hunters reflexively flinched.

"Euk!"

They all wanted so bad to run towards the wide-open doorway, but having seen the final moments of the choirboy Hunter, they found it hard to take the first step. If one tried to be the first, just who knew what might happen to them?Everyone's gaze fixed on Jin-Woo as if to demand an answer from him. However, Jin-Woo's lips remained tightly shut.He couldn't come up with a guess at the moment. He didn't know whether the open door was a trap, or they were now allowed to go out after they upheld the final law successfully.Too bad for him, just as everyone was looking at Jin-Woo, a horrifying noise filled up the entire chamber.

Creak….

Creeeaaaak….

The heads of all six Hunters quickly snapped around to look.

"What was that?!"

"It, it's coming closer!!"

"Those damn things are all moving now!!"

Hunters' breathing quickened in an instant.The stone statues that had only moved when a person got near were now several steps closer to the group. Jin-Woo only needed a short moment to figure out what happened, of course.

'No, the statues didn't move. It's the plinths below them that moved.'

That horrifying screech from earlier on most likely came from the plinths beneath the statues grating against the stone floor.

"….They are not moving anymore?"

Asahi wiped the droplets of sweat on his forehead as he spoke.While everyone was still staring at the statues, Jin-Woo's focus was on the blue flames. They had been going out one by one, and three of them had flickered out of existence already.

Creaaakkkk…

Hearing that screech, someone cried out.

"Wha-what was that?! Where did it come from?"

Jin-Woo quickly raised his head. The noise had come from his general direction. The stone statues facing him had moved a little bit closer.

'Why only my side….?Was it because he looked at somewhere else briefly?´

In order to confirm, Jin-Woo closed his eyes.The noise resounded out again.

Creaaaakkk…

As soon as he opened his eyes, the noise stopped.

"What the f*** is going on here?!"

"What, what are we supposed to do about this?!"

Jin-Woo quickly shouted at others.

"Don't take your eyes off the statues, no matter what!"

When he thought about it, he realised that the statues first began moving closer to the group when others were busy looking at him.

'They creep closer when we are not looking at them.'

It was right then, another blue flame disappeared. However, there was still no discernible change to either the group or the statues.

'Could it be…?'

Cautiously raising his arm, Jin-Woo did his best not to take his eyes off the statues while checking the time with his wristwatch.

'As I thought.'

At an interval of one minute, a blue flame was being extinguished.

'The blue flames are the timer.'

It was quite likely that one of the main points of the third law was to stay within the altar until all 36 blue flames died out.In other words, as long as everyone was keeping close watch on the statues, they'd be safe. It was quite possible that no one had to die at this final huddle.Wanting to be more accurate about the remaining time, Jin-Woo began recounting the number of blue flames once more.

'There are thirty remaining.'

They only needed to endure thirty more minutes!Unfortunately, Jin-Woo made a huge mistake, just then.While he was counting the number of blue flames, his eyes wandered away for a brief moment, and that resulted in the statues creeping closer.

Creeeakkkk….

"Euuuh, uwaaaahhh!!"

Now with Naruto.

¨What happen up there,why is there screaming and creaking noise?Have to climb faster.Damn,this is super tiring!!So close to the ceiling!¨

Back to the altar.

The man standing on the opposite side screamed and ran towards the door. He simply couldn't hold on any longer as the horrifying screeching noise coming from his back frightened him so much.As soon as he left the altar, one of the red flames disappeared.

"No!!"

Jin-Woo cried out urgently.However, the man running as if he had gone crazy escaped through the open doorway without meeting a grizzly fate, which took everyone by surprise.

"What, what the hell?! Mister Seong! What's going on? That guy made it out alive!"

Asahi shouted out, flustered.Jin-Woo was standing with his back to the doorway so he couldn't really tell what was going on.

"Did something change?"

"The door…. The door has closed just a little."

"The door's closing?"

"No, no. After that guy left, the door moved a little bit, but then stopped."

Jin-Woo then recalled one of the red flames disappearing as soon as that man left the altar.

'God damn it!!'

He immediately felt his heart go cold.One of the questions that he couldn't quite figure out until now as he stood on top of this altar finally had an answer.How could standing on an altar be a proof of one's piety?Indeed, he now had the answer to this quandary.And that answer was probably the worst one for Jin-Woo, who had to tired to move a step and needed other's help just to keep his balance.That 'open' doorway was a trap.A false hope right in front of one's eyes!If people saw the open door and climbed off the altar at the same time, the red flames would've gone out and the doorway would be closed shut again. And then, the banquet of raining blood and screams would also follow next.On the other hand, the 'altar' was the proverbial promised land.If each one did what they had to do in their positions until the timer ran out, then their survival would be guaranteed.So, it was between the false hope right in front of one's eyes, or the unseen promise of salvation.The third law was a test to see if one could defend one's position without falling into the sweet temptation over yonder while constantly being under the encroaching threat of death.The first one was Jin-Woo.Originally, the remaining group of people would've ran straight for the open door, but they stopped first to listen to what Jin-Woo had to say and that helped them avoid the trap being sprung in the first place.

'We got lucky there.'

Indeed, that had to be the only explanation.Such a thing was only possible because Jin-Woo managed to figure out the first two laws all by himself and earned the trust of others.How would human beings react when there was a hope of survival right in front of their eyes? It was way too obvious.The man and lady helping Jin-Woo up abandoned the youth and bolted as well. Jin Tae hurriedly reached out and propped Jin-Woo up from his back.Poof.When that man left the altar, yet another red flame disappeared and as expected, the door closed a little bit more.

Part 10

Kim dazedly pointed at the second deserter, but just like the first person to abandon them, he too safely escaped past the doorway.Jin-Woo confirmed the number of remaining red flames and shouted out.

"We must not move! Any more than this, then it'll be the end!"

Front, back, left, and right.In order to secure all four directions, four people were the bare minimum required.Jin-Woo himself, Ju-Hui, Mister Jin Tae and finally, Mister Asahi. A single person leaving now would result in a gap within the field of vision.Asahi wiped the sweat off his forehead and asked urgently.

"Mister Seong, just what is going on here? Explain it to me properly."

"We'll make it as long as we wait here! Only until all the blue flames are extinguished!"

Jin-Woo spat out everything he had deduced so far. Kim nodded his head as his ears perked up.

The laws of this chamber always left open a path for one's survival. The final law would not deviate from that. Jin-Woo was certain of no one else needed to die as long as the remaining people trusted each other.Too bad, Asahi's thoughts were quite different from the youth's. The older Hunter asked hesitantly.

"Look here, Mister Seong...you might be right on this one, but could the door close shut fully instead when the timer runs out?"

Jin-Woo couldn't answer that one.He came to his conclusion after considering several variables, but until the result was in, he couldn't be 100% certain of anything.However, what Asahi wanted was a definite assurance. Rather than an uncertain promise of everyone's survival, the definite survival was only himself had proved to be far more important in the end.

"I'm sorry about this, but… I don't think I can stay here anymore."

"Ahjussi!"

"Sorry."

With that parting word, Asahi stepped down from the altar. He then ignored Jin-Woo's urgent calling and ran towards the door. He stopped and looked for a brief moment just outside the door, but Asahi did not step back inside the chamber again.Jin-Woo gritted his teeth.He had saved the lives of others, but what he got in return was definitely not something like gratefulness or friendship.His entire body shuddered from the pain of betrayal.Just as he suspected, as soon as Asahi had abandoned them, a gap within the surveillance had been created. It was impossible for three people to guard all four directions.And so, the statues positioned in the blindspots began creeping closer to the altar.The encirclement of the stone statue was gradually tightening. Jin Tae took a look around and then, spoke to Jin-Woo and Ju-Hui.

"Both of you, you should leave now."

His voice was full of resignation. Jin-Woo looked at the old man.

"But, ahjussi….?"

"Just as Asahi had said, I was the one who dragged us all in here and made your friend Naruto died. If someone has to remain behind, then it'd be only right that I'm the one."

"But, still!!"

"You two with a better future ahead of you should be the ones to survive today."

Jin Tae began smiling, then. He was thinking of these two young people's hearts as they would have to abandon him here.Jin-Woo helplessly nodded his head. He was uncomfortable about this whole thing, but there was no time left to argue back and forth who should remain in here, it would mean breaking Naruto´s last wish.However,he still needed to take care of his mother and sister.Jin Tae then tried to ask Ju-Hui to take care of Jin-Woo.

"Miss Ju-Hui, can you help out Mister Seong here for a bit?"

"Y-yes."

However, just as she was about to prop him up, Ju-Hui plopped down to the floor.

Ju-Hui tried to get up, but then, tears began forming around the edges of her eyes.

"My legs… I, I can't move my legs…."

Both the expressions of Jin-Woo and Mister Song hardened in an instant.Ju-Hui's current physical condition did look terrible even from a casual glance.Her entire body continued to tremble ever so imperceptibly.She was still suffering from a close friend loss.Jin-Woo felt his chest tighten and couldn't say anything. However, they really didn't have any time left now.

Creeeeaaaakkkk…..

The stone statues were relentlessly approaching them without a moment of rest even now.

Jin-Woo shoved Jin Tae's hand away and plopped down to the ground himself. Seeing this, Jin Tae's eyes grew wider.

¨Gaki 1?¨

Jin-Woo spoke up with a determined expression on his face.

"Ahjussi, please take Ju-Hui and get out of this place."

"I told you, I'll be the one staying behind."

"In that case, who's going to help Ju-Hui?"

It was pretty much impossible for him to take Ju-Hui, who couldn't even stand properly, and leave through the door within the time limit.There was the other choice of abandoning Ju-Hui behind, as well. However, Ju-Hui had saved his life several times already.He definitely did not want to suffer the guilty conscience of abandoning such a person behind in this godforsaken place.

"There is no time left. Please leave now.For Naruto and my sake."

Song's expression remained hardened as he helped Ju-Hui up. She shook her head desperately while tears streamed down on her face.

"No, you can't… Mister Jin-Woo can still survive, you know? Let me heal you!I can´t let you die like Naruto!"

It was at this moment that Jin-Woo signalled to Mister Jin Tae with a nod. The older man then lightly chopped on the back of Ju-Hui's neck.With that, Ju-Hui lost her consciousness. Jin Tae picked up the unconscious girl and placed her over his shoulder.

Mister Jin Tae bowed his head to Jin-Woo.With that goodbye, Jin Tae quickly left the altar.During the time the three of them were chatting, the statues had arrived at the proverbial stone's throw away.Jin-Woo got on his knees and took several deep breaths.

*SFX creaking and breaking of floor*

BLAMMM!!!!!

As a figure that Jin-Woo knows was dead,appear from the hole in the ground.

¨FUU-WOO,FUU-WOO!!!Naruto,you´re alive!!!¨

¨Of course,I am!!We need to leave now!!¨

¨The gate´s closed,Naruto.¨

¨Then we fight to the end.¨

He spotted the sword Asahi had left behind next to him. So, he reached out and picked it up.

¨Bring one of them down!!¨

The first two to arrive climbed up on the altar. Jin-Woo glared at it and lifted the sword up and as Naruto with his dagger.

"Come."

Unfortunately, the expected attack didn't come from the front, but his back.Stab!

¨Jin-Woo?¨

A long spear penetrated into Jin-Woo's back and exited out of his chest.

"Keok!"

Jin-Woo spat out a mouthful of blood.An unimaginable amount of pain rushed in like a tsunami wave.

Then,Naruto was stabbed from the front by a broadsword and exited his back.

"Keok!"

Naruto also spat out a mouthful of blood.

The stone statue lifted up the spear. Jin-Woo was lifted up along into the air, still pierced through by that spear and Naruto pierced through by the broadsword. They only got to struggle for a brief moment, though because the statues slammed them down on the altar.

SLAM!!

"Keok!"

Sounds of bones breaking could be heard from all corners of his body.

¨I....i..i guess this is where we di..e.¨

As they began trembling, the stone statues slowly surrounded them. They formed a encirclement around them. Jin-Woo raised his head and glared at them together with Naruto, their entire being shuddering non-stop.Now that they was facing their final moments, tears pooled on their eyes.He recalled the faces of their family.They also recalled the face of Ju-Hui, her face full of anxiety and worry for their safety.The stone statue wielding a sword took a step closer without a hint of emotion. Then, it raised its sword up high.Finally, the statue's sword slashed down.

Swiiiishhh….

'Only if, only if I had one more chance!'

It happened then.

*SFX for the statue's movements suddenly stopping*

As if someone had pressed the 'pause' button, the scarily-fast moving sword suddenly stopped in mid-air.No, that wasn't actually correct: it hadn't stopped at all. It simply had slowed down so much that they ended up thinking that way.One millimetre in one minute?It was very slow, but the sword was still definitely coming down.It was then, a voice of a female he had never heard of before resounded within his head.

[Completion requirements for the 'Secret Quest: the Courage of the Powerless' has been met.]

¨C..c.an you heard it too,Naruto?¨

¨Yeah,i..i..i can heard it too.Where is it coming from?¨

[You have acquired the rights to become a Player. Will you accept?]

¨It..ś requesting me to become a Player,i guess the same for you.¨

[There is not enough time left for you to make your decision. Your heart will cease functioning precisely 0.02 seconds after you refuse to accept. Will you accept?]

¨We accept.¨

[Congratulations on becoming a 'Player'.]

A blinding light suddenly wrapped around Jin-Woo's body – and at the same time, he lost his consciousness.