Previously on Captivity...

Adrena stormed into the council hall, a grand and dimly lit chamber where shadows danced across ornate pillars and a vaulted ceiling. At the far end, on an elevated dark throne, sat the enigmatic God of Games, shrouded in a cloak and wearing a joker mask. Frustration laced Adrena’s voice as she confronted the God, demanding to know why there were two pairs in the game with no chance of winning. The God of Games, with an unsettling calm, revealed that this was indeed the plan, reducing Adrena’s righteous anger to mere amusement for their twisted games.

As the confrontation escalated, Adrena found herself outnumbered by the cold, calculating Alara and the wickedly amused Asee. The atmosphere grew darker, the hall echoing with mocking laughter, leaving Adrena simmering with rage, yet powerless to change the course of events.

Meanwhile, in the game hall, players like Demnin and Awandea faced the first round of challenges. A seemingly innocent camaraderie was shattered by Adrena's ominous announcement: the game had begun, and their survival was at stake. A mysterious golden screen detailed their first quest—escape the hall within thirty minutes, or face the consequences.

Tension mounted as players realized their only exit had disappeared, leaving them trapped with no obvious way out. As panic spread, Lumin provided Awandea with a cryptic item, hinting at its future importance. Simultaneously, Demnin discovered that he was classified as a D-type player, a mystery that set him apart from the rest of the E-types.

With the clock ticking, desperation led to creativity. Hinata’s suggestion of forming a human chain allowed one team to reach the high exit, securing their first victory and access to the weapon shop. As teams began to clear the stage, the game's deadly seriousness became painfully clear. The players had only just begun to understand the peril they faced, with the threat of failure looming over every step they took.

VERMINACE
ESCAPE THE HALL.LV.1

Demnin’s eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the screen before him. "How... Amazing. Four teams have already cleared the quest," he muttered, reading the words displayed on his player's screen. His tone was a mix of shock and frustration, reflecting the pressure building among his team.

Amelie, a sharp-witted and determined player, quickly assessed their situation. "Let’s do what those teams did," she suggested confidently, glancing around at her teammates. The others nodded in unison, their resolve hardening. They were all familiar with the high stakes of the game now, and they couldn’t afford to fall behind.

The six players swiftly arranged themselves, creating a human tower, each one supporting the next in a precarious balance. Celine, nimble and quick, was tasked with grabbing the edges of the door to hoist them up. However, just as she was about to reach the exit, disaster struck. Kaito, who was positioned at the base of the human pillar, suddenly felt his balance falter. A sharp, unexpected pain shot through his foot, causing him to cry out. "Ah!" he exclaimed, as he collapsed, bringing the entire structure down with him. They all fell in a tangled heap, landing hard on the cold, unforgiving floor.

"Ugh... what was that about, Kaito?" Amelie groaned, rubbing her back, her voice laced with irritation and pain.

Kaito looked sheepish, his face flushed with embarrassment. "I’m sorry, Amelie... but I felt like something was nibbling on my toe..." he explained, his voice trailing off as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

"Your toe?" Chloe, who was standing nearby, glanced at Kaito’s feet with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Her eyes widened as she spotted the culprit. There, clinging to his right foot, was a small, scraggly rat, its beady eyes fixed on its next meal. "Oh... a rat..." Chloe said, pointing at the creature, her voice filled with a mixture of disgust and disbelief.

Kaito’s reaction was immediate. He yanked his leg into the air, frantically trying to shake the rat off. "What the heck... Ugh, get off me!" he gritted, his voice rising in panic as more rats began to appear, seemingly drawn by the commotion.

Jiro, who had been watching the scene unfold, suddenly found himself under attack as well. "Ugh! Get off me!" he yelled, brushing away the small creatures that had begun to swarm around him. Hiroshi was no better off, desperately kicking and juggling the rats with his feet in a vain attempt to keep them at bay.

As the chaos ensued, Florida watched with a mix of horror and amusement. She turned to her teammates, who had jogged over to her side. "What’s wrong, Florida?" they asked in unison, noticing her disturbed expression.

Florida pointed towards the collapsed team, her face contorted in a strange combination of concern and glee. "Oh... guys. That team... F, was it? They just collapsed..." she replied, her voice trailing off as she tried to stifle a laugh.

"Oh, that’s sad," Maria, one of Florida’s teammates, said, her tone genuinely sympathetic.

"Sad? What are you saying? That was so damn hilarious! They just toppled over each other like stacks of cheese!" Florida burst out, unable to contain her laughter any longer. The absurdity of the situation was too much for her to handle, and soon enough, Maria found herself laughing along with her, despite her initial sympathy.

"Haha... I guess that is funny..." Maria nodded, holding in her laughter as best as she could. However, their amusement was short-lived as more rats began to flood into the hall, pouring in like a wave of small, furry bodies.

"Sheesh! What the heck? Get away from me!" Demnin shouted, his voice rising in frustration as he violently shook the rats away from his feet. This was unlike anything he had ever thought pf encountering in this game. These weren’t ordinary rats. They were relentless, clinging to him with an unnatural tenacity.

One of the rats, smaller than the rest but no less persistent, latched onto Celine, who was standing not far from Demnin’s team. The creature began gnawing at her hair, its sharp teeth tearing through the strands with alarming speed. Celine tried to shake it off, her movements growing more frantic with each passing second. But the rat was stuck to her like permanent glue, refusing to let go no matter how hard she struggled.

As the situation grew more desperate, the players found themselves being cornered by the ever-growing crowd of rats. The small creatures, which had initially seemed harmless, now posed a serious threat. No one dared to get close to Celine, not after seeing how the rat had latched onto her. "What the... you know, it’s just so obvious they are not normal rats..." Demnin muttered, his voice tinged with suspicion.

"I mean, they stick to you like their life depends on it," Ahira added, his voice shaking slightly as he glanced around the rapidly shrinking hall. The atmosphere was tense, the weight of the quest pressing down on them as the clock continued to tick.

Ten minutes had passed since the quest began, and the players’ eyes were glued to the large screens displayed in the hall, where the ominous words "Penalty: Failure" loomed over them like a death sentence. The reality of their situation was sinking in, and fear was beginning to take hold.

A sudden scream pierced the tense silence. "Th-The walls are closing in on us!" Fuji, one of the players, shouted, his voice filled with panic. His observation was correct—the walls of the hall were indeed moving, slowly but surely closing in on the group. It felt as though the room itself was conspiring against them, pushing them closer and closer together until escape seemed impossible.

"L-Lumin..." Awandea chewed nervously on her nails, her usually calm demeanor shattered by the dire circumstances. She looked to Lumin for guidance, her eyes pleading for a way out.

Lumin’s expression was unreadable, his face partially hidden behind a curtain of neon purple hair. His mind raced as he calculated their next move, the pressure mounting with each passing second. "Let’s go," he finally said, his voice calm and steady, masking the urgency he felt.

"But... you’re a bit..." Awandea hesitated, glancing at the shrinking walls and the rats that were still swarming around them. Her fear was palpable, but she trusted Lumin’s judgment.

Without another word, Lumin pulled Awandea closer, gripping her shoulders firmly. The other players watched anxiously as he reached for the watch strapped to his right wrist. With a swift motion, Lumin pressed a button on the edge of the device. A thin, metallic rope shot out from the watch, its anchor hooking securely onto the exit above them.

Lumin’s face remained obscured as the rope, now taut, began to retract, pulling them both upward towards the exit.

Ding!

The sound of the system notification echoed through the hall. "Team E has cleared the stage," the automated voice announced, confirming their success.

"Seems to me you aren’t the only one who has access to the weapon shop, Demnin," Qiang remarked, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips as she glanced at the screen. Demnin nodded, not particularly surprised but more determined than ever.

Without wasting another second, Demnin opened his player’s screen and quickly accessed the weapon shop. His fingers flew across the interface as he purchased six jet packs, one for each of his teammates. "Here, take these," he said, handing the devices over. His team quickly strapped them on, and with a coordinated effort, they activated the jet packs, soaring towards the exit.

Ding!

"Team B has cleared the stage," the system announced, confirming their safe passage.

"Time remaining: 17 minutes," the display read, a stark reminder that time was running out.

Anex looked around desperately, her mind racing as she tried to formulate a plan. They were a six-member team, just like the others, but the presence of the rats complicated everything. "We have to do something..." she said, her voice trembling with urgency. The thought of failure—and the consequences it might bring—was too terrifying to consider.

Caleb, her teammate, stepped forward, his expression resolute. "Anex," he began, "only one of us needs to cross the stage. Then they can help the rest because access to the weapon shop is granted as soon as we enter."

Anex’s eyes narrowed as she considered his words. "So, what do you suggest?" she asked, a sense of dread settling in her stomach.

Caleb took a deep breath, his mind already made up. "All of you guys, give me your hoodies, jackets, whatever you have," he instructed, holding out his hands. His teammates immediately complied, handing over their extra layers without hesitation. Caleb quickly donned the sweaters and jackets, layering them over his shirt until he looked almost comically bulky.

"Listen," he said, his voice steady despite the situation. "I’m going to let the rats go rampant on me—"

“Stop. What the heck, Caleb?!” Anex interrupted, her voice rising in panic as she stared at him with wide, disbelieving eyes. “Do you want to play the hero so badly—?”

“Anex,” Caleb cut her off firmly, turning to face her. His expression was serious, the gravity of the situation reflected in his eyes. “Do you know what failure could mean? They literally termed someone's death as a ‘default.’ What makes you think we won't get killed if we don't cross this stage?”

“But—” Anex started again, her voice shaking.

“Look, Anex,” Caleb continued, his tone softening slightly as he attempted to reason with her. “Access to the shop can also earn us medical stuff. Better cure me later than die altogether, don’t you think? And it’s not free, of course. I’m hoping I’ll be saved, so come on. Let’s give this a shot.”

Arlo, the usually quiet and calculating member of the group, stepped forward, sensing the rising tension between Caleb and Anex. His voice was calm, yet there was an underlying urgency to it. “What are you going on about, man? We are a team now. We gotta save each other. You do what you gotta do and let one of us reach up there. I assure you we’ll get you out of the trouble you will put yourself in for us.”

“Arlo,” Anex protested, her face twisted in frustration. “Why does Caleb have to be the bait for all this?”

Anex’s question hung heavily in the air. The idea of Caleb throwing himself into danger was difficult for her to swallow, but Arlo held her gaze, his expression unwavering.

“Anex,” Arlo said firmly, “let’s hear Caleb out first, yeah?”

Anex bit her lip, her frustration simmering just below the surface, but she took a step back, conceding for now. “Ugh…” she muttered, crossing her arms as she glanced away.

Caleb let out a sigh of relief and offered her a reassuring smile. “Thanks, Anex.”

But even after hearing his plan, Arlo was dumbfounded. It was a crazy idea, but in this twisted game, craziness often meant survival. The stakes were too high to dismiss any possibility, no matter how dangerous it seemed.

As they deliberated, they could hear the frantic activity around them. Many teams had already crossed the stage, some by sheer luck and others by taking drastic measures. Teams had been seen helping each other in some instances, but in other cases, they showed no mercy, climbing over others without consent to reach the exit. The competition for survival was brutal.

Desperation had driven players to innovate, making ropes out of their clothes—jackets, sweaters, anything they could spare. Some of the male players had even stripped off their shirts, using them to try and hook the exit, allowing at least one member to climb up. But it was a temporary solution at best. After six to eight teams had crossed, the rats, relentless in their hunger, gnawed away at the makeshift ropes, yet the players pressed on, determined to live another day.

The thought of her friends, Awandea, Nia, Demnin, Nicole, and even Florida, who had already completed the quest, gnawed at Anex’s conscience. She didn’t want to die so early on in the game, and if they could survive one way or another, maybe this was how it was supposed to be.

Caleb stood directly below the exit, his breaths coming in deep, controlled exhales. The tension in the air was palpable as he glanced over at the rats, which seemed to sense his presence. His heart pounded in his chest, but he remained calm, his mind focused on the task at hand.

He waited, silently, for the rats to approach. Every muscle in his body was tense, but he didn’t move an inch. The absence of movement gave the rats better access to him, and they began to jump on him in large numbers, gnawing at the layers of clothing he had donned. Caleb gritted his teeth but remained still, his eyes fixed on the exit above.

Soon enough, a grotesque stack of rats had formed in the middle of the hall, their bodies writhing over Caleb. It was an unsettling sight, but Caleb’s plan was working. Because he didn’t refute the rats’ advance, they climbed over him freely. Rats were naturally afraid of humans, and the slightest movement would have sent them scurrying away. But Caleb had remained utterly still, allowing them to use him as a human stepping stone.

Clenching their fists, the rest of the team sprang into action. Without a moment to lose, they began to climb over the mountain of rats. These rats, mere NPCs, were not programmed to kill, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming. They scrambled up the pile, desperate to reach the exit before time ran out. Arlo was the first to reach the top. As soon as he grabbed onto the edge of the exit, he opened his player’s screen, quickly navigating to the shop.

Arlo’s fingers flew over the interface as he frantically searched for what he needed. He quickly purchased a rat spray, a weapon designed to drive away the swarming creatures. Wasting no time, he passed it down to Anex, who was right behind him.

Anex took the spray, her hands shaking slightly, but she quickly composed herself. Arlo pulled himself up into the exit, vanishing from sight. Anex immediately began spraying the area around Caleb, the harsh chemical scent filling the air. The rats let out high-pitched squeaks as they scattered, fleeing from the stinging mist that surrounded Caleb.

The rats rushed towards the other players, who had yet to climb up. Panic spread like wildfire as they realized the imminent danger. The hall, once expansive, now felt suffocatingly small as the remaining players were herded together, the walls seemingly closing in on them.

Ding!

A timer flashed on their screens, reminding them of the dwindling time.

Time left: 9 minutes

Teams remaining: 6

The rats’ approach threw the other players into disarray, terror written across their faces. The shrinking hall made it feel as though they were all going to get stuck together, squeezed into a trap from which there was no escape. But for now, Caleb’s team had the advantage.

“Caleb. Caleb! Are you okay?!” Anex cried out as she lifted his head, her eyes wide with concern.

Caleb blinked up at her, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Of course. They ate away your sweatshirt, though.”

“Who cares?” Anex replied, relief flooding her voice. “Arlo bought us this jet pack. Let’s just leave.”

“Haha, okay, okay,” Caleb chuckled, finally allowing himself to relax as the tension began to ebb away.

Ding!

A final notification flashed on their screens as the last seconds ticked down.

Time limit: 0 minutes

Teams remaining: _ _