**Chapter 30: Don't hold a Grudge**

**Arriving in the Grudge**

The world around them remained a half-conscious blur. By the time their senses returned, they found themselves in a very ordinary room. The floor was covered in tatami mats, and the walls were divided by shoji paper doors. The simple decorations and minimalist design left no doubt: this was a traditional Japanese house.

The group quickly scanned their surroundings, but it wasn't the tatami or the shoji that caught their attention. It was the people lying on the floor.

They counted quickly. Fourteen newcomers—people who weren't part of their original team. With the six of them, that brought the total to twenty.

A chill ran through the veterans as the implications set in. The more people there were, the harder the movie became. In *Aliens*, twelve had been enough to force the god to alter the plot, nearly wiping them out. Now, the number had reached the maximum allowed, and it was clear: the difficulty level had just skyrocketed.

"Great," Kris muttered, eyeing the unfamiliar faces. "I could work with this."

Biscuit, ever calm, gave a sharp nod. "We're one newbie short, but everything seems to follow the original plot. We'll need to watch for any deviations."

Kris nodded at Biscuit's words, his mind already racing. He scanned the group of newcomers, wondering which ones might prove useful. But he parked that thought for now—he wouldn't know who was who until they woke up.

---

**The Mission**

Kris glanced up from scanning the unconscious newbies, still processing the weight of everything he'd been reflecting on. The others hadn't noticed, too focused on their current location. His thoughts wandered for a moment—what was the next move? He wasn't even sure how to spin this to their advantage.

Then, Jie's voice broke through the haze, pulling him back into the present.

"So, what's the mission?" Jie asked, eyes darting around the room, eager for answers.

The group checked their watches in sync, the familiar mechanical buzz signaling the start of whatever nightmare awaited them. On the screen, their instructions appeared: survive for seven days. A short, simple sentence that felt anything but. But then there was the option— kill Kayako's main body and earn a rank B reward and 5000 points.

Jie's eyes practically sparkled at the mention of points. He sprang up from the tatami, grinning wide. "Rank B reward and 5000 points? Hell yeah, that's worth the risk. Complete this, and we can do whatever we want."

The mood shifted, the weight of their situation easing, even if only for a moment.

Kris couldn't help but smirk, glancing at Biscuit, amused as Jie began his not-so-subtle attempt to trip everyone off their feet. His arms crossed, but his expression more relaxed.

"You think it's gonna be a walk in the park?" Kris said, the tone casual, but with the edge of someone who knew better. "Remember the Queen? Everyone walked away with a rank D reward, and I got an extra 3000 points for surviving. Kayako's probably even worse."

Zheng let out a low chuckle, breaking the tension that had followed Kris's words. "Yeah, you might be right. But a rank B and 5000 points? That's a temptation we can't ignore."

Kris, still mulling it over, added, "The question isn't whether we can kill her. It's whether we can survive long enough to make it happen." His eyes flicked to each of them, assessing, calculating the chances. "So... you sure you're ready to risk it all for some points?"

---

**Conflict of Interest**

Jie was about to argue, clearly insistent on pursuing his own agenda, but Biscuit cut him off.

"If we're going to focus on getting the points. What about the newbies? They're just regular people right now," said Biscuit.

Jie's eyes narrowed. "What about them?"

"Have you forgotten what Xuan said about hidden talents among the newbies? Some of them may not be useful now, but they could be vital in the future. Are you just going to abandon them? Because if we focus solely on killing Kayako, I'm pretty sure they'll end up as casualties," Biscuit retorted, her tone sharp.

Jie scoffed, leaning back. "Isn't that what you and Kris were doing in the last movie? You could just give them a talisman for protection, have them hole up somewhere. You of all people should know not everyone's worth saving. Did you forget what happened in *Aliens*? Those fools tried to mutiny on the mothership."

Zheng stepped in, trying to defuse the tension. "Guys, they're starting to wake up. Why don't we park this conversation for now and see what kind of people the newbies are?"

Everyone, including Kris and Biscuit, fell silent, agreeing to hold off for now.

Kris finally nodded, speaking up with a smirk. "How about you let Zero or Kampa explain things to the newbies? They'll need the points more than any of us."

Kampa gave a small nod, and Zero, though reluctant, agreed with a quiet glance. As the others stirred awake, Zero stepped forward to begin the explanation, his voice steady and clear.

---

**Newbie Orientation**

Zero stood in front of the group of newbies, his expression stoic as always. The others remained behind him, giving the man some space to handle the explanation. As they began to wake fully, groggy and confused, Zero wasted no time.

"Listen up, everyone," he said, his voice low and commanding. "You're not in your world anymore. You've been pulled into something called the God Dimension. This place, these… movies, they're not like anything you've experienced before. You've been chosen to be a part of it, and there's no going back unless you follow the rules."

A few of the newbies exchanged nervous glances. One of them, a young woman, raised her hand. "What do you mean? Chosen? This doesn't make sense."

Zero's gaze hardened, making it clear this was not the time for questions. "This isn't some dream. You're in *The Grudge* now, and you've all been thrown into the middle of it. Things are going to get ugly. The rules here are simple: survive, and you might make it through to the next round. But if you don't, you'll end up dead. It's as simple as that."

Another newbie, a man with short, messy hair, spoke up, voice shaky. "The Grudge? As in… the ghost story? Are you telling us there's a vengeful spirit here?"

Zero nodded, his expression not shifting. "Exactly. Kayako, the spirit, is the big threat here. You're in her world now, and her reach is far. What you've seen in the movie, that's just the beginning. If you want to survive, you need to work with us. We'll help you get through this, but you need to listen and adapt quickly."

The group fell silent, processing the gravity of the situation. Kris, still standing at the back with his arms crossed, couldn't help but notice the fear, denial, and distrust in their eyes. He didn't feel much fear anymore—not after everything he'd gone through—but he knew that would hit them soon enough.

"Zero's right," Kris said, stepping forward with a faint grin, his tone carrying an air of playful reassurance. "But don't worry—keep your head on straight and follow instructions, and you'll be more than just cannon fodder. Sound good?"

The newbies, though clearly scared and confused, nodded along, trying to absorb the surreal reality they were now part of.

Zero gave Kris a quick glance but didn't comment. He turned back to the group. "Alright. You'll get your points soon, but your priority is staying alive. Stick with us, and we'll get through this."

A silence followed, thick with tension, before Zheng spoke up.

"Let's get out of here for now and find a place to discuss things further. The movie's starting, and I don't think the owner of this house—though only an old woman—will appreciate us trespassing."

With that, the group began to organize themselves, each person falling into their own rhythm, readying for whatever horrors lay ahead.

---

**Kayako's Curse**

The group had just began to make their way to the door when a chilling sensation swept over them, making the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end. It was subtle at first, just a fleeting unease, but the longer they stayed in the room, the more it grew—like something was watching them, waiting. The air felt thicker, and the walls seemed to press in, suffocating.

Jie wiped the sweat from his brow, eyes darting nervously. "We need to get out of here, now."

Kris gave him a pointed look, lips curling into a half-smile. "Yeah, no kidding. Shit! It's the curse!" He paused, letting the words sink in, eyes scanning the others. "You've been feeling it too, right? Like something's crawling under your skin?"

Biscuit stood still, her usual composure cracked for just a second, as if she could feel the weight of the curse tightening around them. "*GYO*" she muttered, her eyes flicking toward the walls. "It's trying to keep us here. The curse is already in play."

Zheng clenched his fists, his voice low and harsh. "Great. So, what? We just wait for it to consume us?"

Kris exhaled slowly, taking in the situation. "Not if we have something to say about it." He pulled out the small bundle of charms they'd collected, each one inscribed with Buddhist symbols—tokens of their survival, knowledge they'd gained. "Biscuit, you ready to lead?"

Biscuit gave him a single, sharp nod, her eyes already calculating the steps ahead. "I've got the chants. We'll need to circle up, keep the energy contained. If we do this right, we can buy ourselves enough time to get out of here."

Xuan, standing off to the side with a calm and calculating gaze, spoke up quietly. "It's not just about the curse. The house itself is alive. It feeds off fear. We'll need more than just protection to escape. Any wrong move, and it will get us."

Kris met Xuan's eyes, recognizing the weight of his words. "Then we'll have to move fast." He turned to Zheng, who was already looking at the door with suspicion. "Zheng, get ready. If we fail to hold it off, you're going to need to get the others out of here."

Zheng gave a grim nod, his hand instinctively resting on the handle of a hidden blade he carried. "Got it. Just don't make me fight this damn house."

With Zheng in position, Kris turned to Kampa, who was standing toward the back, riffle in hand. His face was stoic, but his eyes showed signs of worry. "Kampa, you okay to back us up?"

The Russian gentle giant just gave a reassurring nod.

---

**The panic start's**

The air thickened with an oppressive energy as the group stood at the center of the room, the chill settling over their skin like a blanket of dread. The curse had already sunk its claws into them, and the sense of urgency was palpable. The 14 newbies, still disoriented from the chaos of their sudden arrival, were already on edge. Eyes wide with panic, they shuffled nervously, unsure of what to do or where to go. The fear in the room was like a wave, and it was spreading fast.

One of the newbies, a tall man who looked like he'd just been dragged out of a normal office job, let out a shaky breath. "What the hell is going on? Why are we—why are we even here?!"

A younger woman, trembling, grabbed his arm. "Are we—are we going to die here? What's happening?"

Panic started to spread through the group, their voices rising in anxious questions. Kris's eyes flicked toward them, his mind racing as he processed the situation. They were panicking, and it was only going to get worse unless they took control now.

"Focus, everyone," Biscuit commanded, her voice unwavering. "We can't break the seal until we're ready to go. We hold this barrier long enough, and we get out. Stick together. Don't let the curse break through."

As the chanting continued, Kampa stepped closer to Kris, his eyes scanning the room, ready to step in if the charm failed. Zheng and Xuan stayed close, hands at the ready. Zero stood by the doorway, ensuring no one was caught off guard.

For a moment, the room seemed to pulse with energy, the chant growing louder, the room glowing faintly. Then, without warning, the curse responded. A low, guttural growl rumbled through the floorboards, reverberating in their bones. The walls of the house seemed to shake violently, the very foundation groaning with power.

"Hold on!" Kris barked, his voice steady despite the tension.

The house itself felt like it was alive now, the pressure building, making it harder to breathe. The ground seemed to shift beneath them, like the floorboards were sinking into the earth. But Biscuit's chant didn't waver. The Buddhist symbols on the talismans glowed brightly, keeping the curse at bay.

Zheng clenched his fists again, sweat dripping down his forehead. "How long are we gonna be able to keep this up?" he asked, voice strained.

"We don't have a choice," Kris answered, his eyes never leaving the house's walls. "We either hold it off long enough to escape or we get swallowed by it. Everyone, get ready to move."

---

**Escaping the house**

The veterans, had already fallen into their rhythm.

Kampa stepped forward, his usual gentle demeanor now commanding. "Listen up," he barked, his voice cutting through the rising panic. "No one's going to die if we do this right. Follow the veterans, and stay calm. If we panic, we're done. Stick with us—move quickly, and don't think about anything else. Got it?"

Kris stood beside Kampa, his sharp eyes scanning the room, watching every shift of body language. He looked almost indifferent to the chaos, but the way his posture was locked, ready for action, communicated volumes. His voice was low but steady as he addressed the group. "We've handled worse. Trust us."

Zheng nodded, his voice firm but not unkind. "We're not here to die, okay? Stay close to the vets, and stay focused. We get through this together. The moment you start thinking for yourself, you're a liability."

The group of veterans—Biscuit, Zero, Xuan, and Kampa—moved into their positions without a word, a practiced efficiency that only years of experience could bring. Zero was already near the door, making sure it was secure. Kampa moved to the back, keeping watch. Kris and Biscuit stood in the center, keeping the focus on the task ahead.

The newbies, though still fearful, began to settle down as the veterans took charge. It was clear they didn't have the experience, but the veterans' presence gave them a semblance of stability.

"Stay in formation," Kris said, giving the group a nod. He moved fluidly, giving instructions without hesitation. His past experience with high-pressure situations had taught him that it wasn't about calming the chaos—it was about controlling it.

As the chant continued, Kris and Biscuit's combined presence in the center acted like a beacon, a solid focal point the newbies could focus on. Each veteran was strategically placed, forming a tight perimeter around the group. The energy of the chant was rippling through the room, but with every step, Kris was managing to keep them grounded, his calm cutting through the rising panic.

Xuan, accompanied by Bishop and his bodyguard, ever the tactician, made sure the newbies were positioned between the strongest of the veterans. He knew how to keep their backs covered while Kris and Biscuit held the center. The coordination was seamless, and the group moved as one—like an experienced extraction team handling an op that had gone sideways.

The force of the curse pressed in harder, the walls groaning and the ground shaking beneath them. But with every wave of fear trying to break through, the veterans stood their ground. They kept the formation tight, moving as a unit. There was no hesitation in their actions, no doubt in their minds. Every movement was calculated.

Zheng's voice cut through the chaos from his post near the door. "We're losing ground! Hurry up with the chant, Biscuit!"

Biscuit's eyes narrowed, but she didn't falter. "Keep it tight. We don't have much time left."

The house screamed again—its wail more guttural, more insistent. But the veterans didn't break. With Zhengs' voice and Kris's tactical leadership, they held their formation, the newbies following their lead. Their pace, their discipline, had become the lifeline the newbies desperately needed to stay calm.

The house was almost alive now, the air thick with the weight of something dark and ancient pressing in on them. But it was the veterans' collective resolve that kept the others together.

"We're almost there," Kris muttered, eyes still scanning the room, every instinct on high alert. "Keep it together."

Finally, with a burst of energy, the group reached the door. The walls seemed to collapse inward, a scream rising from the depths of the house as the curse fought to keep them in. But the chant reached its peak, the talismans glowing brightly in their hands, and with one last collective push, they breached the threshold.

The moment they stepped outside, the pressure lifted. The house's wailing died down, and the suffocating grip of the curse receded, but only just. They were out—alive—but the realization hit them all at once: they were barely one step ahead.

The newbies, though still shaken, breathed in the cool morning air, feeling the weight lift from their chests. They had made it out, thanks to the veterans' quick thinking and precise teamwork.

Kris wiped his brow, giving the newbies a pointed look. "We're not out of the woods yet. But we made it this far. Stick together, and we'll keep moving."

Zheng exhaled deeply, his shoulders finally relaxing. "That was too close. We're lucky we had you guys."

Kampa gave a brief nod, his eyes scanning the unassumingly ordinary streets of the japanese city ahead. "The real danger's coming. We can't let our guard down."

Kris glanced at Zero, his expression unreadable. "This was just one battle. Stay sharp. The curse isn't done with us."