The boat cut through the water in silence.
The mainland grew closer with every passing minute.
But Stefan didn't go all the way.
He slowed the boat and stopped at a distance.
Still far from the shore.
Nami looked at him.
Nami: "Why stop?"
Stefan looked ahead at the dark land.
Stefan: "It's still night."
Andrew understood immediately.
Andrew: "Mutants will be active."
Stefan nodded.
Stefan: "We wait."
They stayed on the boat.
Quiet.
Watching.
No one slept properly.
The land ahead felt heavy.
Like something was waiting.
Then—
Morning came.
Light slowly spread across the horizon.
The darkness faded.
Stefan stood up.
Stefan: "Now we move."
The boat started again.
This time—
They reached the shore.
Stefan stepped down first.
Then Nami.
Then Andrew.
Rex followed.
The moment their feet touched the mainland—
The system reacted.
A sharp pulse filled their minds.
System: "Entering Block 3."
A pause.
Then—
System: "Master detected."
The air felt heavier.
System: "Block Master: David."
Nami frowned slightly.
Nami: "So this is his territory…"
Andrew looked around carefully.
Andrew: "Stay alert."
Then new rules appeared.
System: "Block Rules Updated."
All three focused.
System: "Rule: All players must participate in the tournament."
A pause.
System: "Tournament begins in 3 days."
Silence followed.
Nami turned to Stefan.
Nami: "We should leave."
Andrew nodded.
Andrew: "Yeah… this sounds bad."
Nami continued.
Nami: "If this master is forcing everyone…"
She paused.
Nami: "…what if other blocks are better?"
Stefan stayed silent for a moment.
Thinking.
Then he spoke.
Stefan: "Or worse."
Silence.
Nami looked at him.
Nami: "What do you mean?"
Stefan looked ahead.
Calm.
Focused.
Stefan: "We don't know anything about other blocks."
A pause.
Stefan: "This one at least shows its rules."
Andrew crossed his arms.
Andrew: "And forces fights."
Stefan nodded.
Stefan: "Which means…"
He paused.
Then—
Stefan: "…we get stronger."
Nami's expression changed slightly.
She understood.
Danger—
But also opportunity.
Andrew let out a small breath.
Andrew: "So we stay?"
Stefan answered clearly.
Stefan: "We stay."
A pause.
Stefan: "And we join the tournament."
Silence followed.
Then Nami nodded slowly.
Nami: "Alright."
Andrew smirked slightly.
Andrew: "Then let's see what this 'David' is like."
Stefan looked ahead.
Into the mainland.
Into the unknown.
Stefan: "…And how strong this block really is."
The wind moved across the land.
And somewhere ahead—
The game had already begun.