The city opened up like a wound.
The next game zone was a broken stadium, half-buried in ash and glass. Floodlights flickered overhead, casting long, twitching shadows across the field.
Their wristbands buzzed as they approached.
GAME NAME: TOWER OF TRUST
TYPE: COOPERATION / DECEPTION
PLAYERS: 3
RULES:
BUILD A TOWER TO ESCAPE THE ARENA. ONLY TWO PLAYERS MAY CLIMB. ONE MUST STAY BELOW TO SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE. IF THE TOWER FALLS: ALL DIE.
TIME LIMIT: 20 MINUTES
They stood in silence.
"Obvious trick," Rin muttered. "Whoever stays below risks dying. Whoever climbs—gets out."
"Two escape," Matthew said, eyes narrowing. "One sacrifices."
"No. One is left behind," Sora corrected softly.
They stared at the pile of metal rods and shattered scaffolding that would form the tower.
Only one thought lingered between them:
Who stays?
They built in silence.
Fifteen minutes passed—sweat, cuts, bruised hands. The tower reached fifteen feet. Still unstable. They reinforced the base. Every second mattered.
At ten minutes remaining, Rin spoke.
"I'll stay."
Matthew turned. "Huh!?"
"You two go. I'm faster on foot anyway. If it collapses, I'll jump. Just move."
But Sora stepped forward. "No, I should stay."
"No," Matthew said. "I will. You two escape. I owe you both."
They argued. The tower stood—barely—but the tension cracked in the air around them.
5 minutes left.
They drew straws.
Matthew got the short one.
He stayed.
Sora and Rin climbed.
Halfway up, Matthew adjusted the base, wedging supports under the corners. His arms ached. His heart pounded. The wind shifted.
The tower creaked.
Then—a snap.
A missing beam.
He looked.
And saw Rin.
She was holding the last support.
In her hand.
Smirking.
"I can't risk it," she said softly.
And then—she kicked the beam loose.
The tower swayed violently.
Sora screamed, hanging on.
Matthew shouted, scrambling to restabilize—
But it was too late.
The tower buckled.
Sora leapt just in time, landing hard beside him.
The rest collapsed in a cloud of dust and steel.
TOWER FAILURE
BUT STRUCTURE PRESERVED ENOUGH TO GRANT MERCY PASS
PLAYER RIN: ELIMINATED BY GAME RULE VIOLATION
They turned.
Where Rin had stood—now only smoke.
The system had removed her. Instantly.
BETRAYAL DETECTED. GAME COMPROMISED.
REMAINING PLAYERS: 2
BONUS UNLOCKED: TRUST POINTS INITIATED
Matthew stared at the dust, fists trembling.
"She tried to kill us," he muttered.
Sora knelt, breathing hard. "She chose herself. That's what Death Land does."
They both sat in silence as the arena dissolved around them.
Alone now.
Only two.
And far from safety.