Knock knock knock—knock knock knock—
In the dull knocking sounds, the man stood outside the window, continuously crying for help.
[Please, I beg you, help us out!]
[Someone is really stuck in the Blood Vessel. If we don't do something, he'll die!]
[Please, I beg you, help us!]
The voice filled with earnest pleas kept coming from outside the window, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
But the four inside merely stayed silent, sitting motionless without even glancing at the person begging for help.
The atmosphere grew somewhat oppressive for a moment. Susan, the newbie unaccustomed to this vibe, curled up her body. Chika Fujiwara leaned against Gao Hai, then after hesitating, simply sat right beside him, their shoulders pressed tightly together. Probably only this could give her a bit of security, allowing the girl to stay calm amid the eerie situation.
Gao Hai had no reaction to this. He didn't mind the pink-haired girl showing a more intimate, dependent attitude at a time like this.
That said, he felt like the way this girl looked at him had gradually changed. What was going on?
Gao Hai glanced at the pink-haired girl beside him, silent with her knees hugged to her chest. He sensed her tone, gestures, and interactions with him had developed a subtle difference.
Hmm, hard to pinpoint exactly what... It vaguely reminded him of how things started with Maki. Huh, why think of Maki all of a sudden?
Amid his random thoughts, the knocking outside gradually faded.
Under the indoor group's state of [ignoring], the figure at the door dimmed and vanished soon after. The view outside shifted from an empty dark cavern to a flooded torrent, with clothes tumbling in the water.
After confirming through his Blessing that the thing had fully departed, Gao Hai finally relaxed, his tense body easing bit by bit.
"That thing shouldn't come back for a while."
Lixer, sitting by the door, glanced outside and spoke in a low voice.
"So, what are your plans now? Any ideas for next steps?"
Gao Hai turned to Lixer and Susan and asked.
"Play it by ear. You can't leave the instance from this area. I plan to try other clothes in a bit, see how to find a way out."
Lixer answered casually, his tone quite offhand.
"Sounds pretty casual."
Gao Hai raised an eyebrow.
"No choice. I'd rather not move if I could, but circumstances leave no options."
Like a classic Amelian, Lixer shrugged and whistled to express his helplessness—though to Gao Hai, the man seemed more indifferent and carefree. He showed no fear or dread of this bizarre world, as if unconcerned about escaping alive. Or maybe he just didn't care if he lived or died?
This thought puzzled Gao Hai. Recalling how Lixer had given a key weapon to newbie Susan, he began suspecting the man had grasped some hidden clue, knew another clearance method.
After all, he'd entered the security world; theoretically, he could know escape routes. If so, was he secretly planning to use him and Chika?
But that wouldn't track—his Blessing would detect malice. Right now, only goodwill registered. Didn't add up.
"You seem in good shape stamina-wise."
Gao Hai, drawing no conclusions, just commented casually. Lixer merely smiled faintly, saying nothing more.
Maki was probably still sleeping now, so Gao Hai kept comms silent on his end. As for himself, though reluctant to stop, he had to admit the expedition had drained him heavily. His current state wasn't great; rest was needed.
Chika had exhausted herself at the Great Slide; she could barely stand now, even less fit to continue.
Must rest a while.
Realizing this, Gao Hai, confirming the sentry box safe in the rescue world, planned to stay, recover strength, then move.
But neither Susan nor Lixer let him fully relax. With them here, proper rest was impossible.
"Looks like you two need a good while to recover."
Lixer clearly noticed, glancing at Gao Hai and Chika casually.
"In that case, Susan and I will head out temporarily. Back in five hours."
The man stood briskly, tone light.
Leaving outright?
Gao Hai couldn't fathom his intent.
"Mr. Lixer?"
Susan looked surprised too, unsure why.
"I know other safe zones besides here. Finding rest spots is key player skill in instances. Anyway, whatever happens, we talk after recovering. In the Sacrificial Game, players can't truly trust each other—I get that. So we'll step out. Hope to see you two later."
With that, Lixer took the puzzled Susan and left the sentry box.
From start to finish, only goodwill showed. Gao Hai, Blessing-confirmed, grew more baffled. He checked surroundings carefully—no traps left. Even more perplexing.
Whatever his game, Gao Hai needed rest now—pressing need.
Muddy water deathmatch with anomalized player.
Smashed by rocks from dozens of meters up.
Choking, wall slams in fight.
Cliff and Great Slide climbs aside—enough to exhaust even his near-superhuman stamina.
Seemed he'd found a Rescue Team Badge flaw: boosts physique, strong self-heal, but no stamina recovery if depleted first.
Pondering, Gao Hai pulled his last energy bar from his pocket, planning next steps.
Whatever Lixer's scheme, Gao Hai was set to try his guessed normal-end clearance.
Freeing obsessions to destroy instance sounded cool, but tough. With limited rewinds, conventional clearance first. He'd even picked [good friends] for help: those two nameless players from loop one in rescue roles.
Nameless, their clearance odds near zero. Unethical, but usable. No stamina now, so rest first.
One hour.
Gao Hai set mental timer.
Max one hour here, then hunt loop-one players.
Also gather enough security clothes—at least one each for him, Maki, Kaguya, Chika; double extras ideal.
Chika might not recover fast; leave her resting if needed.
Thinking this, Gao Hai felt the shoulder against him sink.
He turned; Chika's head lolled into his lap.
More tired than expected. She'd gone quiet during his chat with Lixer, battling sleep. Now, sensing safety from his expression post-departure, she'd passed out, collapsing like a small animal onto him.
Overly trusting for one day's acquaintance. Was she that bold in canon?
"…"
Brief silence, then Gao Hai gently stroked her head.
Sleep. While you can.
Few such rests before clearance.
Thinking this, Gao Hai gazed out the window at surging mud in the cavern, closing eyes in silence to rest.
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