Previously on Captivity...

Demnin's team was in disarray as they stared at the screen in shock. Four teams had already cleared the quest, leaving them under immense pressure to catch up. Meanwhile, Amelie from another team suggested they follow the lead of the successful teams, but their attempt was foiled when Kaito's sudden pain caused their human tower to collapse. The team fell in a tangled heap, and their frustration grew.

As they struggled to regroup, rats swarmed the area, attacking players and causing chaos. Florida's team found the situation amusing, but soon faced their own rat problem. The creatures seemed relentless, and the players were desperate for a solution. Lumin's team used a metallic rope to escape, while Demnin's team employed jet packs to reach the exit.

Anex's team devised a risky plan, using Caleb as bait to distract the rats and clear a path to the exit. Caleb's bravery paid off, and his teammates were able to climb to safety. But the ordeal took its toll, and the team was shaken. With time running out, the remaining teams faced increasing desperation and danger. The walls were closing in, and the rats seemed to be everywhere.

VELOCITY
ESCAPE THE HALL LV.2

A low, familiar voice echoed through the dense fog blanketing the exit of the hall. "Hello, players," it said, sharp and clear. The sound cut through the thick air, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Shadows stirred, and from the obscurity emerged a silhouette, familiar to them all. As a soft light spilled over the figure, Adrena came into view, her presence commanding. She stepped forward, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as her voice rose again, louder, more authoritative. "It is a surprise how all of you passed this quest. I mean, all of you." She emphasized the word as if it carried an unsaid challenge, her gaze sweeping over the room.

Suddenly, the players' screens flickered, the virtual display flashing before their eyes.

Time limit: 0 minutes
Teams remaining: 0

Demnin's eyes narrowed as he glanced down at the display, the information settling in his mind. He threw a quick, curious look in Celine's direction. She had been on his mind throughout the quest, but now his gaze was drawn to something else entirely-something that made him stifle a laugh. There, tangled in the ends of her hair, was the tiny creature, the rat, gripping on for dear life. Celine shook her head vigorously, trying to shake it loose, but it clung with an almost comical determination.

"Haha... It's still there..." Demnin muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. For a moment, he was relieved, knowing that he had narrowly avoided that particular disaster.

Adrena, unbothered by the small chaos around her, continued speaking, her words firm and laced with finality. "Players, before the next quest begins, you can rest in the break room. The next quest will begin in sixty minutes. Good luck." Her figure dissolved into the fog, leaving only the tension of her words hanging in the air.

Awandea wasted no time. She reread the new rules, her eyes scanning every word carefully as if memorizing each line could save her life. As she immersed herself in the information, Lumin appeared beside her, silent but present. Without a word, he pressed a cold can of juice to her cheek. Startled, she flinched slightly, then turned to him. With a small nod of thanks, she accepted the drink.

The sharp hiss of the can echoed in the break room as Awandea popped it open. She took a long sip, the cold drink refreshing her, a welcome relief from the tension. Lumin pulled his hair back and sat beside her, his posture relaxed as though they weren't trapped in a dangerous game.

Awandea's gaze wandered, landing on Lumin's face now that his hair no longer concealed it. His features were sharp, and there was something calm, yet intense, about the way he held himself. She stared a little too long. Noticing her lingering gaze, Lumin snapped his fingers in front of her eyes, pulling her back to the moment.

"S-Sorry," she muttered, embarrassed at being caught staring.

"The preliminary rounds are still on," Lumin reminded her, his voice low and serious. Awandea nodded in agreement, not trusting herself to speak as she finished her drink.

***

Without warning, a loud stomp reverberated through the ground, pulling every player from their rest. The doors to the break rooms swung open, and they were forced to return to the center of the fantastical world they were trapped in. Adrena, once again standing before them, looked more triumphant than ever. She glanced around at the players, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I see that mice and walls were hardly any obstacle for you," she said, her tone light but mocking. "So, here is something you'll really be excited to hear. The game guide has decided to introduce these characters to you early on."

At the end of her sentence, the players' screens flashed with a blinding blue light. The new quest details appeared, sending a ripple of confusion through the room.

Round One
Level Two
Preliminary Rounds
Target: Win a rose crown
Time: 3 hours
Obstacle: Your team
Reward: Coins, a dozen healing potions
Penalty: Suspension of status until the next quest

Awandea read the quest again and again, her brow furrowing deeper with each read. Meanwhile, the other players were already descending into chaos, their voices overlapping in confusion. Adrena had disappeared once again, leaving them stranded with no further explanation. The sense of urgency began to grow, pressing against them like an invisible weight. Time was ticking, and the longer they stayed stuck in uncertainty, the closer they were to failure.

Lumin's eyes darted over the screen, his mind working quickly to figure out what the "rose crown" could be. He finally typed the words into his player's search, hoping for a clearer answer.

Rose crown: Belongs to the princess of flora.

He stared at the screen, his confusion only deepening. "Princess of flora? What is that supposed to mean?" he muttered under his breath, gnawing on the edge of his lip in thought. He turned to Awandea, but her expression mirrored his-completely lost.

With no clear instructions or hints, the players began searching frantically. They combed through every corner of the break rooms, the halls, even their personal inventories. Each attempt ended in more frustration as they came up empty-handed, fear gnawing at the back of their minds.

Lumin led Awandea through the area, his pace quick but deliberate. Awandea trailed closely behind him, her hands nervously wringing together as they walked in silence. She knew better than to engage him in casual conversation at a time like this. He was focused, his entire demeanor locked into deciphering the next move.

Their quiet journey came to a halt as Lumin suddenly stopped, his eyes shifting upward towards the sky. He stood still, taking a long breath before speaking. "She's the princess of flora... It only makes sense that we should check parks, forests, or anything related to flowers. That's where we'll find it." His words were slow but thoughtful.

Awandea quickly pulled up her player's screen, entering Lumin's deductions. The golden light shimmered as she marked out every park, forest, and flower-themed location in the game. "But we can't travel by foot," she said, glancing at the vast distances displayed on the map. "It'll take us way too long, and we'll be finished before we even get there-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Lumin turned to face her. His face, now fully revealed, took her by surprise. She stumbled back a little, her mouth moving soundlessly as she stared at him. She was very used to seeing his face covered by his hair and she has never expected him to look so beautiful.

Lumin, however, remained unfazed. With a light whistle, a sound like wind through a hollow tunnel, he summoned a roaring demon of a vehicle. It was sleek and black, its glossy surface gleaming ominously in the light. Without hesitation, Lumin swung his leg over the seat and turned to Awandea, beckoning her to join him.

Awandea hesitated for only a moment before jumping onto the bike, her legs pressed against the cool metal. With a flick of his wrist, Lumin twisted the bike's handles, and the world around them blurred as they shot forward. The sound of the engine rumbled beneath them, and Awandea could feel the rush of wind whip through her hair. The speed was dizzying, and with each passing second, the scenery around them became a blur of colors and shapes.

Lumin pulled on a floating lever beside the vehicle, and the bike surged forward, lifting a few feet off the ground. Awandea gripped Lumin's jacket tightly, her knuckles turning white with fear. Despite her terror, there was something exhilarating about the speed, the feeling of flying, of being caught between danger and excitement.

***

Back in the break room, Ahira stared at the spot where Lumin and Awandea had just sped away. He tapped his foot against the ground, replaying the image of the motorbike in his mind. "Your friend just sped away with that weird boy on a grade item bike?" he asked, still incredulous.

Qiang raised an eyebrow. "Where did they even get a bike like that?" she muttered, unable to mask the envy in her voice.

Li's expression twisted in frustration. "Isn't this kind of unfair?" she grumbled, her teeth clenching. "He's got a vehicle and everything. He must have a ton of cash. What about us? Even if we pooled all of our money, we'd barely have enough for a flying carpet, let alone something like that."

***

Information for Players:

Starting players (E-type players) are given 5000 bronze coins. Items in the game shop are categorized into three types:

1. Normal Items: Cost no more than 10,000 coins and include everyday items like food, drinks, casual clothes, or simple tools like the rat spray from earlier chapters.

2. Luxury Items: Cost between 10,000 and 100,000 coins and include advanced weapons, jet packs, and special potions. (These will be marked with "LUXURY" for clarity.)

3. Grade Items: These are high-end magical vehicles, superior weapons, and rare, powerful items. They are the most expensive and valuable items in the game.