CHAPTER 17: "ECHO ISLAND - PART 2"
FADE IN:
EXT. GOTHIC CITY - NIGHT
The team walked slowly toward the city.
The atmosphere was heavy. Street lamps flickered weakly. But the strangest thing was the people. Their movements were mechanical, their eyes empty, their expressions blank. They moved as if they had all been programmed at the same time.
METE KAĞAN (whispering, voice tense) Be even more careful than usual. We still don't know where Bilge Kağan is.
The city gates stood wide open. At the entrance, a massive stone bridge stretched all the way to the island. Mist rose from the edges of the bridge.
EXT. ISLAND ENTRANCE - NIGHT
At the island's entrance, an old, weathered wooden sign hung. Written in blood-red letters:
ECHO ISLANDSUITABLE FOR SV0 - SV1SV2 AND ABOVE CANNOT ENTERDEATH IS PERMANENT
KEISE (looking at the sign, half-joking but uneasy) So… what now? Are we really going to collect cards like in a game?
SETSUKO (smiling faintly, but her voice worried) Looks like it…
ERETT (serious, eyes fixed on the sign) Then we need to collect cards to survive. And remember… this isn't a game.
METE KAĞAN (looking ahead, voice deep) First, let's get to know the city. Then… we'll collect the cards. But… trust no one.
EXT. GOTHIC CITY STREETS - NIGHT
The team entered the city.
Street vendors were everywhere. Everyone carried cards as if they were the most valuable treasures. Some were trading, some shouting prices, some showing off by spinning them in the air.
Yet something was deeply wrong with all of them: their eyes were dull, their movements artificial.
ERETT (scanning the surroundings, lowering his voice) Come on… let's go into that inn over there. Maybe someone knows something.
METE KAĞAN (hand on his sword) Fine. But remember… here, even I am powerless. We have no choice but to submit to the cards.
EXT. INN ENTRANCE - NIGHT
As they approached the inn, Keise's mind drifted to his old life. He suddenly stopped.
FLASHBACK:
INT. KEISE'S HOUSE - DAY (OLD WORLD)
Young Keise was in his brother's room. His brother was excitedly playing a game on the computer.
BROTHER (excitedly) Look, bro! First you join a guild. Then you take quests. You level up by completing quests and collect gear. Got it?
YOUNG KEISE (bored) Yeah, yeah, I got it…
FLASHBACK ENDS.
EXT. INN ENTRANCE - NIGHT (BACK TO PRESENT)
KEISE (eyes suddenly lighting up) I've got it!
Erett and Setsuko looked at him in surprise. Mete Kağan turned curiously as well.
KEISE (excitedly) Let's go to the guilds! We'll take quests! Let's ask the people in the inn, someone must know!
METE KAĞAN (smiling faintly, but his voice serious) Good idea… But don't trust anyone. A smile here can be dangerous.
INT. INN - NIGHT
Above the entrance, a sign read "GUILD INN."
When they opened the door, the noise inside didn't stop, but every pair of eyes turned toward them.
Everyone inside had high SVs. Weapons, armor, stares… everything felt heavy and calculated.
KEISE (inner voice) Where did these people come from? Did they fall from another world too?
They walked deeper inside. No one reacted. No one even turned their heads again.
KEISE (inner voice) They're all like robots… or pretending to be.
They approached the bar. Behind it stood a young, short girl with green hair. She wore an apron and looked more like a cook than a bartender.
Keise stepped closer.
KEISE (excitedly) Hello! Is there a place around here where we can take quests or get cards?
The moment Keise said the word "cards," everyone in the inn turned their heads at the same time.
A heavy silence fell.
All eyes were on Keise.
KEISE (confused, voice low) What… what happened?
The bartender girl spoke with a shy but cautious smile.
BARTENDER GIRL Of course there is. There's a board on that wall with quest listings. But the quests here are very difficult. If you want, I can give you a map. The Guild District is 2 kilometers east.
KEISE Great! We'll take one map. By the way… we don't have any money.
BARTENDER GIRL (smiling) No problem. You can pay later.
ERETT (suspicious) Later? How will you find us?
BARTENDER GIRL (calmly) Your name comes with a number. It's unique to each player. Finding you won't be hard.
She lowered her voice.
BARTENDER GIRL (whispering) But be careful. There's an order to the quests. It's clear you're new here. Before taking any quest, join a guild or a group. Get at least one card. Even one card makes a difference. You can copy it and distribute it among yourselves.
She paused, her eyes turning serious.
BARTENDER GIRL (cont'd) But listen carefully. Death here means… your echo will be extinguished. If you die here, the echo you brought from your original world will disappear too. I don't know which world you came from… but don't die here.
She bent under the bar. Everyone in the inn was watching closely.
The girl handed over a green card. It had 3 stars and a blue frame.
BARTENDER GIRL This card: Spark of the First Flame (Bright – Fire Echo) Effect: One-time powerful fire explosion, 10-meter radius. Cost: After use, burn marks will remain on your body for 3 days and your pain threshold will increase by 30%.
She handed the card to Keise.
BARTENDER GIRL (cont'd) And take this book too.
She slid over a blue-covered book.
BARTENDER GIRL There are a total of 666 cards. Collect all 666 and bring them here. Only then can you leave.
KEISE (stunned) Okay… but how do we use them? Is there a method?
BARTENDER GIRL (smiling) You just have to say the card's name out loud. And you can use each card up to 5 times. See the 3 stars? That's the corruption counter. If you use it 2 more times… the card will disappear.
At that moment, people in the inn started gathering around them.
A MAN WITH A SCARRED FACE (grinning) Hey kid, I have lots of good cards. Want to trade?
Another man pushed him aside.
A WHITE-BEARDED VIKING-LIKE MAN (showing a card) Mine are better. Viking soldier cards. What do you say, young man?
Keise looked shocked, staring at his card and the men.
SETSUKO quickly stepped in.
SETSUKO (pulling Keise) Thank you, but no need!
The team quickly left the inn.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE INN - EVENING
The sky had suddenly turned dark. Just moments ago it had been daylight.
KEISE (shocked) What? It was daytime just now!
METE KAĞAN (serious) It seems… time passes much faster here.
ERETT (determined) Then let's not waste any. Let's head to the guilds.
KEISE (putting the card in his pocket) I'm not taking this card out in public. It stays in my pocket.
He opened the map. It looked extremely complicated.
KEISE Okay… but where is east? Nothing is clear on this thing!
SETSUKO (taking the map from his hand, smiling) East is that way. Follow me.
KEISE (surprised) How did you understand that?
SETSUKO (shrugging) Hunter's eyes.
ERETT (smiling faintly) That's exactly why you're with us.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
The team followed Setsuko toward the Guild District.
EXT. GUILD DISTRICT - NIGHT
After walking about 2 kilometers, a massive square appeared before them. Dozens of buildings surrounded it, each with a different emblem above the entrance.
ERETT (amazed) This place… really feels like a game world.
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed:
VOICE Yessss! Newcomers! Welcome to the Guild District!
The voice was getting closer. Its silhouette was unclear in the darkness.
METE KAĞAN (hand on his sword) Stay alert. Something's coming.
From the darkness, something emerged.
A white cat standing on two legs, with bright green eyes.
KEISE (stammering) A… talking cat?
CAT (raising a paw) Hey hey, calm down! I'm not a talking cat. My name is Uruse. When I came here, I used a cursed card and… turned into this.
He pulled a card from his pocket. On it was written "Microphone Voice."
URUSE With this card, I can direct my voice however I want. That's how I made the announcement.
KEISE So… you were human? And you turned into a cat?
URUSE (sadly) Yes. I've been here for 2 weeks. I'm looking for the exit. 666 cards…
ERETT You too?
URUSE Yeah. Maybe… we can work together.
A long silence followed.
KEISE (determined) Whether you're a cat or a human… we'll help you.
URUSE (smiling) Thank you.
KEISE By the way… how long have you been here?
URUSE Just 2 weeks. And remember… time passes very fast here. One day is only 12 hours.
Keise laughed.
KEISE (grinning) Loser! You've been here 2 weeks and you only got a voice card? We haven't even been here a full day yet!
He pulled the Fire Card from his pocket.
KEISE (proudly) Look! We already have a fire card!
SETSUKO (sighing) This guy… is such an idiot.
URUSE (eyes sparkling) Whoa! Where did you get that?
KEISE A bartender girl gave it to us.
ERETT Anyway… let's not stand out in the open.
URUSE (excitedly) I joined a guild! Adventure Guild. They're not very strong, but… I can take you there too.
METE KAĞAN (stern, hand on sword) Tell me, cat man… why should we trust you? Maybe you're leading us into a trap.
URUSE (turning to Mete Kağan with a cold smile) If I wanted to trap you… I would have attacked the moment you showed that card.
Mete Kağan fell silent.
URUSE (leading the way) Come on, I'll take you to the guild!
They walked through the darkness. Soon, a huge building appeared before them. Above the entrance, it read ADVENTURE GUILD.
FADE TO BLACK.
[CHAPTER 17 END]