As they proceeded, Kevin explained, "If your assessment is accurate and the bald player is indeed formidable, then he may have already infiltrated the manor, perhaps even ventured into the subterranean laboratory."
Erik's eyes brightened. "So, he might have been captured?"
"Precisely! Come, let us investigate where Emily confines her captives."
Erik trailed behind Kevin, scrutinizing him closely. Once again, Kevin revealed a telling detail—his intimate knowledge of Emily far exceeded what could be gleaned from mere covert incursions into the underground laboratory.
Yet she said nothing, choosing caution. With no tangible clues within this simulation, their only option was to follow his lead for the time being.
After the power was cut throughout the underground laboratory, the confinement chamber of the bald player was also unlocked. Suspecting a ploy, he cautiously edged outward, until suddenly a hand emerged from the darkness to cover his mouth. As he struggled, another hand seized his wrists.
Such formidable strength!
"I am an ally. Do you remember me? The one resembling a monkey," Erik said, illuminating the scene with his flashlight.
The bald player ceased struggling. "You? Why are you restraining me?"
"The light ring lies within the laboratory's cultivation chamber and requires a key. Do you possess one?"
Upon hearing "light ring," the bald player's demeanor calmed. "Do you have any leads on its whereabouts? What key? I possess none."
Kevin released him. "It seems we must venture out once more to ascertain whether your other companions hold any keys."
"And who might you be?" The bald player regarded Kevin with suspicion, retreating slightly.
"He is Kevin, a player from the previous batch trapped here for three years."
The bald player was taken aback.
Following a brief introduction, the trio tentatively agreed to cooperate.
Kevin assumed command, proposing they first secure the elevator: "We must control her here before seeking out the other players, lest we be countered and permanently barred from reentry," he declared.
The bald man remained deeply wary, positioning himself at the greatest distance from Kevin. Hearing his words, he inquired sharply, "You've been here for three years—how have you not found an opportunity to eliminate her? Don't tell me you lack the courage. To kill a mere obstacle for resurrection, I find it hard to believe you couldn't manage."
"I am capable of it, but I refuse to act thus."
"No wonder you've been trapped for three years," the bald man scoffed dismissively, branding Kevin's restraint as weakness. "Three years squandered—if you had exerted yourself on the missions, you'd have amassed enough points to revive by now!"
Kevin shook his head gently. "It appears you are unaware," he remarked, glancing at Erik, deducing that he, too, was ignorant of this truth. Seizing the chance to act as a benevolent stranger, he sought to enlighten them, hoping to alleviate some of their guardedness toward him.
Truly, he was a man of good heart.
"If one resorts to killing, it is highly probable—indeed, nearly certain—that in the future, when entering supernatural realms, one will encounter the individual they have slain. Such realms are perilous by nature, and to have a vengeful spirit fixated on you would make survival a near impossibility."
The bald man was visibly stunned, hearing this theory for the first time.
"I intend to venture into these supernatural realms myself, aiming to gather points swiftly. Thus, I see no reason to leave behind a potential threat here." Emily, alive, was formidable—intelligent, resilient, and relentless. Her death, however, was a scenario Kevin dared not entertain. The thought of encountering her vengeful spirit in such a realm filled him with dread, her pursuit rendering escape an insurmountable challenge.
The instance had not reset in these past three years, and Kevin possessed no clue whatsoever regarding the light ring; why then risk killing Emily? Only a fool would commit such folly.
"…This is the first time I've heard of such a thing… Ahem. Even if it were true, one could simply avoid the supernatural realm, could they not?"
"No, I intend to venture into the supernatural realm. Though the game categorizes levels simply into ordinary and supernatural, the ordinary levels vary greatly in difficulty—some are straightforward, others intricate and perilous, requiring an abundance of healing supplies to complete, yet they yield a mere four points each." Kevin shook his head. "It is a poor investment; effort and reward are disproportionate. I prefer to regard ordinary levels as novice trials. Only after sufficient honing within them should one proceed to the supernatural realm to accrue greater points."
The bald man found merit in Kevin's reasoning but interjected, "The mortality rate in the supernatural realm is exceedingly high!"
"Each individual's path differs," Kevin remarked, indifferent to persuading others with his own convictions.
"Thank you for sharing this invaluable information," Erik expressed, visibly astonished. She had long intended to brave the supernatural realm to amass points swiftly, and after composing herself, she extended sincere gratitude to Kevin.
"You are welcome. There is another facet to this revelation: if the player you have slain harbors a sufficiently potent and deep-seated obsession, they may forcibly draw you into the supernatural realm even if you yourself have not ventured there. For instance, you might step through the gateway of an ordinary level, only to find yourself seized by the light ring and thrust into the supernatural domain."
Upon his revelation, the bald man's complexion drained of color in an instant; his trembling lips rendered him speechless, and after a long pause, he finally stammered, "Surely this cannot be true—I have never heard such a tale…"
Observing his reaction, Kevin harbored a knowing understanding yet feigned ignorance, proceeding to explain, "Did I not mention earlier that survival in the supernatural realm is but a slender thread, fraught with peril? How could one who perishes relay messages back? This information was procured at great expense from a player who had reached the pinnacle of mastery—she herself endured such a fate. Moreover, it is wise to refrain from taking lives within the supernatural realm; the reasoning remains the same."
The atmosphere grew utterly suffocating, steeped in silence.
Gazing at Kevin, Erik found him to be an enigma—seemingly candid and unreserved, yet perennially cloaked in an aura of concealed truths. Despite this uneasy intuition, she recognized that everyone harbors secrets, just as she did, and for the sake of self-preservation, it was unnecessary to lay bare her soul before strangers. Nonetheless, she was deeply grateful for Kevin's generous and enlightening disclosure.
Should fate allow their paths to cross again, she resolved to offer her own token of appreciation to validate the veracity of his words.
Erik's ears twitched as she turned toward the elevator's direction.
"There's a sound!"
The three braced themselves, springing into action according to their predetermined plan.
Within the elevator, Emily peered outward; beyond was a cloak of darkness, devoid of any visible presence. She knew well that Kevin's nature would compel him to lie in ambush here. Such profound understanding of one's adversaries was both piercing and disheartening. Steel resolve hardened within Emily as she flung open the elevator doors.
She did not step out; instead, behind her, two dinosaurs burst forth with roaring fury, immediately locking their gaze upon two separate targets.
"My God! Dinosaurs?!" the bald man shrieked, flailing about in panic.
From the opposite direction, a calm voice commanded, "Take down the dinosaurs first!"
Realizing they had been exposed, the two swiftly switched on their flashlights.
They watched helplessly as the men were driven to frenzied retreat, the blades striking the dinosaurs' hides with no more effect than on stone.
"How can their skin be so tough?!" the bald man bellowed.
Though no taller than two meters—still juveniles among their kind—the dinosaurs, hastily bred by Emily in recent days, were insignificant amid their own species but imposed an overwhelming presence before these mere mortals.
Unable to slay the creature, Kevin reluctantly resolved to lure it away, intending to secure it within a nearby chamber. The bald man called out hurriedly, "Wait for me!"
The pair, accompanied by the two dinosaurs, departed, while Emily refrained from emerging, the elevator doors remaining shut. She stood poised, prepared to witness the beasts tear their prey asunder.
Staring into the enveloping darkness, anger flared within her eyes—this was her sanctuary, and Kevin had dared to desecrate it. Unskilled in electrical repairs, the mere thought of expending vast hours restoring the circuits ignited her vexation.
Suddenly, a faint clamor overhead caught her attention; instinctively, Emily lifted her gaze to behold a shadow descending swiftly from above.
Erik seized her before she could react, swiftly binding her with rope.
"Who are you?!" Emily, caught unawares and restrained, trembled with alarm—never had she fathomed a third presence within these confines.
A grave miscalculation.
Erik offered no reply; instead, she tightened two more knots and torn a fragment from Emily's garment, balling it and forcing it into her mouth.
Only then did Emily dare to breathe deeply. The elevator had shifted moments before, prompting Kevin to direct her into its shelter.
"She won't emerge brazenly; it's far more likely she'll lead her henchmen. The bald man and I shall draw their fire while you lie in ambush."
Kevin's effortless prying open of the elevator's upper panel betrayed a familiarity that caused Erik to doubt his claim of having entered "only thirteen times." The bald man's eyes betrayed similar unspoken depths, yet urgency dictated cooperation; neither elaborated further. Erik slipped inside, and moments later, Kevin resealed the panel.
Inside, Erik found the space desolate; she settled in the center, awaiting the elevator's ascent. As the carriage neared, illumination revealed the transparent panel beneath her, through which she clearly discerned Emily's figure within.
A tall, slender woman of approximately forty, radiant and alert.
Behind her stood two dinosaurs, jaws agape, fangs protruding and saliva dripping. That Emily's enforcers would be dinosaurs was unexpected; a chill of apprehension gripped Kevin and the bald man alike.
What followed unraveled precisely as Kevin had foretold.
Seizing the moment of Emily's distraction, Erik shattered the thin panel beneath her, dropping down to subdue the woman.
The plan unfolded flawlessly, prompting Erik to exhale deeply.
She activated the elevator doors—utilizing Emily's fingerprint and iris recognition.
After over half an hour, Kevin and the bald man returned in a disheveled state, bearing numerous wounds both great and small.
"Captured her, eh? Good! All those battles with the little dinosaurs weren't in vain!" The bald man collapsed, utterly spent. Kevin met Emily's furious glare as he seated himself and inquired of Erik's condition.
"No injuries; the elevator was quite secure. What of the dinosaurs?"
"We led them to the feeding zone."
"The feeding zone?" Erik inquired, curiosity piqued.
"Don't ask, sister. You assuredly would not wish to see what the feeding zone looks like," the bald man groaned weakly.
Kevin responded calmly, "The feeding zone is where specially bred meat dinosaurs are butchered into portions."
"Meat… dinosaurs?" Erik hesitated. "Similar to broilers or pork?"
"Exactly. These are genetically incomplete specimens of no research value, mass-cultivated solely as feed."
His casual tone only deepened Erik's revulsion.
"What are the next steps? Who will guard her here?" Erik glanced at Emily, steering the conversation onward.
"No one stays behind to watch. We shall escort her out and then position ourselves outside to emit signals, drawing other players to our location," Kevin declared.