The man continued, his voice heavy with urgency.
"Our elder has been eagerly waiting for you all regarding the investigation. We truly hope for something better this time."
A man wearing glasses frowned and stepped forward.
"Why? What exactly happened in this village?"
For a moment, silence settled over them.
Then the man's eyes grew misty. His voice dropped.
"There are children missing from our village… many of them. We tried everything we could, but we couldn't find any trace. It's as if they simply… vanished."
He turned away quickly, wiping the corner of his eye.
The man with glasses pressed on. "You didn't report this properly to the police?"
"Yes, we did," the villager replied. "But nothing came of it. Investigators came and went, but there were no results. Still… we haven't lost hope. That's why we called for help again."
He gestured toward the narrow path ahead.
"Now please, come with me. The elder is waiting."
A young man in a brown jacket spoke up. "What's your name, sir?"
The villager straightened slightly.
"My name is David."
He was unusually tall—towering over them in a way that made it feel like he could see through each of them, reading their thoughts, their fears. His presence was unsettling, like he was more aware of the world than he should be.
Among the group, only the man in the brown jacket seemed composed. The others—pulled from a world they barely understood—exchanged uneasy glances. Some of them were clearly afraid, standing at the edge of something far beyond their understanding.
And yet, there was no turning back now.
David turned and began walking.
And they followed.
The man with glasses stepped forward first, looking slightly nervous but trying to stay calm.
"Hi! My name is Riju. What's your name?"
The man in the brown jacket glanced at him and replied quietly, "Sian."
A moment later, Sian leaned in slightly and spoke in a low voice so the others could hear.
"Okay everyone, I am Sian. I'm from Krisht City. I've been in this game before—this is my third time. Don't panic. I know it's your first time, so this level should be relatively easy compared to what comes later."
He paused, scanning the group.
"Just focus on staying alive. If anyone faces trouble in the future, come to me. Any questions?"
Silence followed.
"No," someone finally muttered.
"Alright then," Sian said. "Let's introduce ourselves properly. It'll help us coordinate."
A middle-aged man stepped forward first. He adjusted his posture and spoke calmly.
"Hi, my name is James. I used to be an engineer."
Next, a burly man stepped out with heavy footsteps.
"Kiupa," he said simply, then stepped back.
One by one, everyone introduced themselves, the atmosphere slowly shifting from tension to reluctant acceptance.
Suddenly, a soft yawn broke the silence.
All eyes turned.
A beautiful girl stood there, as if she had just finished observing everyone. She had fair skin, striking eyes framed by long eyelashes, and a small mole near the corner of her lips. For a brief moment, the entire group seemed captivated by her presence.
A boy with spiked hair quickly stepped forward, his excitement obvious.
"Hey beautiful 😍 what's your name? he asked brightly, clearly impressed.
'Misha' Astha replied lazily.
From a group of three girls nearby, one watched silently, her expression tightening slightly. A flicker of jealousy passed through her eyes as she noticed how easily Misha had drawn attention to the newcomer.
Then, a cold voice cut through the moment.
"Yug."
Everyone turned.
A tall man stood behind the group. He had a sharp, handsome face, broad shoulders, long legs, and an intimidating calmness. Dressed in a black business suit, he looked out of place yet commanding, as if he naturally belonged at the center of attention.
For a brief second, everyone fell silent.
Someone finally broke it.
"Wait… are you from Beijing? Mr. Yug Calavaston?"
"Yes," he replied flatly.
A murmur spread through the group.
"Alright, everyone," one of the organizers said, trying to regain control. "We've arrived."
They had reached the Elder's house.
Unlike the rest of the village, the area was eerily quiet. Around 60 to 70 small houses stood scattered nearby, all strangely covered in creeping vines, as if nature had slowly reclaimed them. Only the Elder's house stood different—larger than the rest, with a wide courtyard that felt both welcoming and unsettling.
David stepped forward and knocked firmly on the door.
Knock knock knock.
"Elder!" he called out.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then the door slowly creaked open.
And they stepped inside…