Chapter 80: The Endless Loop.
When entering inside, they went down below the dust-covered stairs slowly and carefully. Each footstep was one careful observation downward.
After finishing the walk down, they again went in a straight and dark path... then again reached a familiar door, but to them, it was not.
Takeshi, hand holding the glowing stick, brought it close to observe the crude door lacking any meticulousness. He turned to Airi, red eyes flashing powerfully in the yellow light, as if crushing the yellow color with the red of his eyes.
Nodding slightly to signal opening, eyes determined.
Airi also nodded in return, she turned back, without saying a word. But Ayaka and Elyssia also understood when looking at her expression and eyes. Both immediately entered a state of alertness.
Takeshi opened the door slowly, but in front of them were wooden crates piled up, rising all the way to the ceiling.
He stepped forward and saw a small path on the left, frowning slightly with a bit of suspicion, but he still continued.
He went outside and saw a large stone block, with strange red patterns and characters on the stone surface, weak candles burning and wax piled on each other as if when this candle burned out, another was replaced, continuing like that over a long time. And in the center of the stone block, a child's brown head was placed there, right at the center of the strange drawings.
The three girls followed immediately behind, they curiously peered out.
Takeshi turned back and spoke softly, trying to hide as much as possible; though not knowing what the danger was, alertness was still paramount:
"Slowly, it looks very eerie, I think we shouldn't get close, something will happen."
Elyssia stood behind, still as always regardless of which version, she still wrote on paper as a deserved trust specifically for her. The handwriting, not too bad, was written on her smooth white hand; even white paper had to lose before her pale-to-ghostly white skin.
Airi and Ayaka glanced at Elyssia who was busy recording, then turned back, looking toward the large stone block from behind Takeshi's large and steady back.
Airi spoke softly, like wind blowing gently past ears on peaceful autumn afternoons:
"I feel we shouldn't stay long, sounds too dangerous. We should leave."
Suddenly, Ayaka glanced around the room, she saw a path and the silhouette of stairs revealed in the dim and hard-to-see darkness. Frowning slightly, she strained her eyes to observe.
"Is it stairs? Leading upward?"
She immediately pointed her finger toward there, voice small but carrying seriousness, as well as uncertainty:
"Hey look, over there seems to be a staircase, right?"
She turned back and asked Elyssia who was bowing her head and writing intently. Knowing that an angel's eyes do not fear the dark.
"Right, Elyssia?"
Elyssia was writing, she immediately stopped her pen, seemingly finished. Stowing the paper behind the layer of clothes at her chest. The pen was tucked into her shoe. She looked in the direction of Ayaka's pointing finger.
Nodding slightly, confirming there was a staircase there.
"Um."
Ayaka brightened with joy and turned back, her voice a bit louder, seemingly excited knowing there was more ahead:
"Then let's go there."
Airi and Takeshi also squinted toward the direction Ayaka pointed, truly there was a staircase there.
Airi pointed her finger at the stone block in front.
"Then what about that? Aren't we going to try exploring it?"
Elyssia brushed her platinum hair backward.
"I just have a feeling it's dangerous? A feeling that one slip-up and it's over instantly."
Takeshi nodded.
"I feel that way too, best not to get close. Who knows what it is?"
Elyssia nodded, eyes looking at those strange and interlaced drawings.
"Could be a seal or some damn barrier trapping us."
Airi nodded, she also found it reasonable and followed her friend.
"Yeah, then let's try seeing where those stairs lead."
Takeshi started walking with slow steps, intentionally staying close to the wall and not wanting to get near that strange stone block. He spoke softly:
"It leads to the upper house, where else?"
The three girls followed immediately behind, everyone slow but steady, not rushing at all.
Ayaka nodded.
"Maybe we will meet the homeowner."
Walking a few steps, they reached the staircase. Looking up the stairs was another crude door, as if just assembled from a few freshly cut wooden planks.
All four stood still and observed; when getting closer, everyone was on high alert. Heartbeats thundered in heaving chests, followed by light, rapid breaths.
Elyssia felt quite suspicious. She spoke softly:
"Why is there a door going up here? And why does it connect to our house?"
Airi: "Probably the two houses are related. If this is a trial, it certainly has a purpose and a reason. What we need is to find out."
Takeshi pointed upward and turned to ask the three girls' opinion.
"Shall we explore now?"
Ayaka grabbed Takeshi's shoulder and stopped him, her hand gripped tight but the squeezing force was extremely weak.
Takeshi turned back and looked at Ayaka with confusion.
Ayaka: "Just slowly, no need to rush."
Elyssia: "So now going up, we will see what's above; if the homeowner returns, then run, okay?"
Airi nodded.
"Of course."
The four stood one after another in a line at the small staircase. Takeshi placed his hand on the rough door, he slowly pulled it toward himself. All were a bit worried, eyes not leaving the door.
When the door opened, before everyone's eyes was a large table with items lying scattered on it and the floor. There were wine bottles, cups, bowls, plates, leftover food…
And the thing rising strongest was the smell of heavy alcohol flooding everywhere, stabbing straight into their noses, creating an extremely uncomfortable feeling whenever inhaling.
The four slowly stepped upward, everyone bewildered looking around.
Ayaka spoke softly:
"Why is this house so dirty and messy? Is the homeowner a drunkard?"
Airi walked to the foot of the table and bowed down. Picking up an ordinary book, no name, only a thin layer of leather as a cover. And especially this book was super thick with a large amount of paper.
She frowned slightly and opened the book. But inside there was nothing, flipping through once. Inside was only white paper, not a single word.
"Is it a book for writing a diary? Pure white?"
Takeshi stepped onto the stairs leading upward, footsteps emitting "creaking" sounds of unstable wood.
After walking a few steps, Elyssia raised her head and spoke, somewhat softly:
"Be careful, the homeowner might be up there."
Takeshi immediately froze after taking 4 steps, he turned down, a bit worried. Opening his mouth intending to say something: "..."
Cough... cough…
Before saying a word, a loud cough erupted from outside, immediately making all four jump, bewildered and terrified, eyes worriedly looking toward the door at the same time. Everyone swallowed a mouthful of saliva in anxiety.
Cough... cough…
As soon as the second cough rang out, it was closer and clearer. Like a warning to intruders. Heartbeats accelerated frantically.
Elyssia was the first to act, worried eyes clearly showing, she snapped her body around and spoke small:
"Run."
Like a waking bell for those who were bewildered. Airi and Ayaka immediately turned and ran right after.
Takeshi, on the staircase, immediately jumped over the railing of the stairs quickly.
Thud!!!
He landed on the wooden floor below and a sound loud enough to be heard clearly rang out; very worried that he had caused a noise, he immediately ran into the door leading back.
…
Slam!!
The house door was flung open by an extremely powerful force. A man with eyes constantly darting fiercely, hand holding a sword ready to finish any target.
He saw Takeshi's silhouette just running downstairs, the door not yet closed.
Two sets of teeth clenched tight in anger, he immediately ran down after, voice growling as he shouted loud:
"Monsters want to free each other?"
On the other side, at the tunnel, the three girls were running hard in front while Takeshi ran behind. Running strides large and hurried, continuously stomping hard, mixing with each other's rapid gasping breaths.
Takeshi ran right behind with anxiety, hand still holding the stick with the glowing stone. He shouted ahead:
"Run fast, we are discovered."
They ran straight up the stairs; looking they seemed low, but now, with this strength. It was to them like a high mountain and an extremely large challenge they needed to overcome.
Running straight up with difficulty, escaping through the small crevice. The door was flung open and smashed against the wall making it vibrate as if wanting to fall off the wall.
The three girls continuously turned side to side with panicking looks, trying to find some reasonable place to hide if pursued all the way here.
Takeshi just ran while breathing and escaped outside last. He didn't say a word because he was tired, but just like that ran past all three girls, that loud breathing drew their attention.
Takeshi ran toward the table, he hoisted a chair up heavily and weakly like a wild weed before a storm.
"Damn it, why is the chair small but so heavy? What the hell kind of wood is it made of? So hard to carry."
Walking near the door with difficulty and urgency, all three girls seemed to understand Takeshi wanted to use chairs to block the door.
They immediately ran to the table, each person hoisting a chair and walking slowly with difficulty while carrying them with weak bodies.
Takeshi was panting from fatigue, but he let out a joyful smile, like a tiny spark of hope of a candle before the wind.
The chair seemed designed specifically for the crevice. He pushed it inside perfectly and flush against the wall miraculously. The chair successfully was pushed and placed right before the door and prevented it from being opened from the other side.
He turned back, seeing the three girls carrying chairs near heavily, rushed to help.
…
After a while, they successfully stacked four chairs on each other and successfully blocked the door.
Banging sounds from the other side, it had rung out when the second chair was placed.
Boom... boom…
The door continuously endured extremely powerful force from those horrific bashes. But fortunately, the chairs had successfully blocked the door.
Airi breathed a sigh of relief, as if all burdens and fatigue vanished after successfully escaping outside without harm.
"That was a close one."
She smiled, voice joyful as she glanced at Takeshi:
"Well done Takeshi, you thought of it just in time."
Takeshi turned back and smiled when praised.
Suddenly, a sword stabbed through the door from above, but not piercing through. But piercing through the hinge gap of the door.
All four stood silently observing in anxiety, swallowing saliva.
Clang!!!
Clang!!!
Ear-piercing sounds rang out when metal collided.
The sword immediately ran straight down, cutting through the two hinges of the door decisively without a single redundant movement.
The door was pulled inside. The man placed it leaning against the wall.
He said not a word, face fierce to a terrifying degree. The sword in hand swung out and cut all those old rotten chairs easily without the slightest difficulty.
Takeshi bewildered and terrified, recoiled by instinct. Voice stuttering and trembling:
"W-What... to do?"
Airi shouted with an urgent voice and turned to run back:
"What else? Run fast, what else?"
The man, like a god of destruction, slowly stepped out, right hand gripping the sword, left hand throwing the stick with the glowing stone into the tunnel decisively. He swung his foot kicking the wood pieces that were chair legs slashed to bits on the ground obstructing him.
All four immediately ran in fear, needing no other word. They also knew, this person wanted to kill them; just looking at those eyes overflowing with killing intent was enough to understand.
The man just stepped out of the basement, before even stabilizing his stance, he heard footsteps. He saw all four running toward the exit.
Two sets of teeth bit tight as if in a feud and wanting to grind each other, the hissing sound when teeth ground against teeth sounded truly unpleasant. Eyes wide with surprise, he immediately chased after.
Slam!!!
The door was flung open by Airi, she ran outside immediately. Following right after were Ayaka, Takeshi, and Elyssia.
When they set foot on the water-filled ground outside, no one saw each other. Only rain, black clouds, and black houses stretching to infinity without a single light, only light from lightning flashing from afar then vanishing.
Not only were they running…
Somewhere....
An Airi was lying on the water-filled ground, heavy rain pouring straight onto her body, lying motionless and huddled up without any movement other than her body trembling in waves.
Airi quietly lay alone here, lonely and solitary without anyone.
Her body temperature was gradually dropping after having to be outside too long and bathing in the freezing rain on every fiber of flesh.
Even her mind was exhausted....
"E-Everyone, I'm sorry. I cannot complete the trial. I'm too tired, I'm so sleepy."
Eyes covered by hands, covering the large raindrops falling from high above, slowly closing tiredly.
"I think I should sleep for a while."
This Airi had caught a cold and died amidst the deserted space, without anyone. She died in loneliness and longing…
....
In many other places, the Airis all had similar deaths, or nearly similar. And of course, there were other deaths like that.
....
Somewhere....
Airi was sitting at the table with everyone.
Takeshi was a bit joyful and smiled brightly.
"Where did you go? Why only returning now?"
Airi smiled, glancing around at the friends she wasn't sure were real or not.
"I just curiously went outside a bit, everyone don't worry."
Ayaka was a bit worried, she peered closer to Airi and observed that soaking body. Voice clearly showing worry:
"Hey, you're all wet, take off your clothes."
Finished speaking, she turned toward Takeshi and flicked her hand signaling Takeshi to go elsewhere.
Takeshi also took the hint, he sat turned away and waited....
Elyssia asked with a suspicious look:
"Hey? So it's raining like that outside, what was there for you to go out?"
Airi noticed Elyssia's interrogation directed at her, seemingly quite suspicious of Airi.
Airi smiled, speaking with a very nonchalant voice, trying not to have any strange expressions:
"I went out, playing in the rain then almost got lost out there, it's very dark outside. So it's hard to see the road and determine direction."
As Airi spoke, she took off her clothes. The outer shirt was soaking and heavy with water, her inner shirt was also quite wet and clung tight to her body.
Elyssia felt Airi spoke quite nonchalantly, she was still very suspicious. But could do nothing, only sat still and observed.
Ayaka was very worried for her friend:
"The rain outside is very big, if not careful you'll be struck by lightning. I live in the forest, lightning often strikes trees, even strikes straight down to the ground."
Airi was silent, she bowed down, one hand gripping the chair for balance, starting to take off her shoes.
"Damn it, Elyssia is still too alert. Indeed I am not the Airi of this house."
"On the paper it wrote to wait, this house just happened to lack me."
"So what else do I need to do, this house has enough four people now. Don't tell me I just sit and wait next? But wait for what the hell?"
Removing the water-heavy shoes, she started unbuttoning her shirt.
Ayaka sat waiting for Airi to undress, she had already taken off her own outer coat for Airi.
Elyssia silently observed and looked out at the rainy sky, the door still not closed. The sound of rain discharging "shattering" still rang steadily outside.
Creak....
The sound of someone's footsteps on the wooden floor rang out gently like a child's feet.
Suddenly, Elyssia opened her eyes wide when seeing a boy run inside the house with fear and anxiety, neck still looking back behind observing if the pursuer behind was still chasing.
The three girls immediately paid attention, the boy stood opposite all three.
Expression and eyes bewildered. Voice trembling and full of fear:
"H-Help... me, someone wants to kill me."
Airi had not yet finished taking off her wet inner shirt, she stepped closer, suspicious eyes looking down at the boy in front. Ayaka and Elyssia also stepped closer.
Elyssia went and called out loud:
"Takeshi, turn back here."
Takeshi was sitting on the chair and turned away. Hearing Elyssia say he was allowed to turn back, he immediately turned. Stepped closer with confused eyes as the three girls were standing in front and bowing down observing the boy.
Takeshi stepped over, he was quite surprised that here there was a boy standing still looking up observing all four.
"A brat? What is he doing here?"
Airi: "Don't know."
Creak... creak…
A slow footstep rang on the loose wooden planks.
It was the man, his eyes seemed very surprised that before him were so many monsters.
"So many monsters?"
The boy sensed this man behind, slowly turned back tremblingly, eyes vibrating in sockets. Though not cold, the boy's teeth continuously clattered together, surely the man's killing intent radiating out was too sharp and cold.
All four of them were surprised before the man standing in front of them, Elyssia recoiled and took out paper and pen and recorded.
The man slowly drew the sword out of the scabbard, the sound of metal friction ringing ear-piercingly. The blade slowly pulled out of the scabbard, seemingly the man standing with this close distance was quite confident.
The sharp blade glinted in the dim light, lightning flashed right behind him making his face reflected and looking extremely fierce. Thunder struck hard across the sky, like a drum of a death sentence…
A crazed smile appeared, pure white teeth bared as he smiled and glowed in the weak light of the room.
His voice seemed extremely interested and excited, clearly shown through each word and his expression:
"A pack of monsters gathering? You all must die here together."
He stomped his foot hard and gained momentum to run very fast ahead. The sword in hand swung from above down.
That boy immediately turned and ran inside.
All four of them panicked, startled awake and ran inside.
But the man was very fast. He lunged and slashed a sharp slash straight into Airi's back making blood splatter everywhere. But strangely, no loop occurred.
This Airi was killed…
Everywhere in this world, a series of all versions of the four of them were constantly dying in different ways, constantly finding secrets, constantly going to houses and exploring.
They found, then they died, they found, but many copies died…
Their loops constantly repeated to infinity in different or similar ways....