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-Lv11-
Helen stood up, brushing the dust off herself.
She still couldn't believe she was alive. The deadly light, the awakening, the level shift—it had all happened too fast.
Helen couldn't help but feel useless. While she had been struggling to keep up, Ryan had already led everyone into the new level.
She looked around, disoriented, when suddenly—a hand rested on her shoulder.
It was Ryan.
Ryan: Hey, don't just stand there looking spaced out! The Watchers still exist in this level. Don't just hang around here!
Helen: I... I know...
Ryan patted her head again, and her heart skipped once more.
He began gathering everyone together. The formation had shifted slightly due to the arrival of a newly awakened member—Linus would now stay in the center while the rest remained in their usual positions.
To avoid encountering more Watchers, Ryan led the group through the buildings, eventually stopping in front of an apartment complex.
Ryan: Everyone, rest up here. Once we enter this building, we'll reach the next level. Be ready.
Helen sat down and drank some almond water to regain her strength, while the others went to search for more supplies.
She wanted to help too... but she knew she'd only get in the way.
When everyone began to fall asleep, Helen drifted into a strange dream.
She stood in the middle of a red forest.
Everything—from the ground, the grass, the trees, even the sky—was stained a deep, blood-like red. The whole world bathed in an unreal, eerie glow.
And then—something didn't belong.
A cold chill ran down her spine. She spun around.
Behind her—stood a figure wearing a mask made of human skin.
In his hand, he clutched a massive saw. His clothing was torn and filthy, like he had crawled out of someone's darkest nightmare.
"It's him."
Then—she saw someone else.
To her right—
She turned her head.
It was Sacium.
He stood facing the creature.
Unmoving. Unshaken. Unafraid.
They didn't speak. They simply looked at each other.
As if they had stood in this exact spot—many times before.
There was a strange silence between them. A calmness not born of this place, but of their shared presence.
As if they had endured countless wounds together—and now, only stillness remained in the chaos.
Then both of them turned to look at her.
Helen's chest tightened.
A tidal wave surged through her heart—rage and sorrow intertwined.
The soulless eyes behind the skin mask stared into her.
Within them—she could feel a deep, horrifying fury…
But also—an exhaustion. A sadness so cold it froze her breath.
Sacium's eyes, on the other hand, held hope.
Soft. Steady.
Though the two stood opposed, Helen felt something undeniable—
They respected each other.
She didn't understand what had happened between them.
But somehow—she knew.
They had once been allies. Or enemies.
Now, all that remained—was silent respect.
She jolted awake, drenched in sweat. Her heart pounded violently. Everyone else was asleep.
Thud!
Ryan's hand touched her shoulder. She turned to look at him.
He wiped away a tear from her cheek—one she hadn't even noticed was there.
He pulled her into his arms.
Ryan: It's okay. It's okay. I'm here.
And now—her tears wouldn't stop.
They flowed. And flowed. And flowed.
She buried her face in his chest, feeling safe.
It felt so peaceful beside him.
So wonderful. So... warm.
Eventually—she fell asleep in his arms.
When she woke up, the others had already stirred. Ryan was giving instructions, preparing everyone for the next journey.
Then—he suddenly turned to her.
Ryan: Look who's finally up—our sleepy little bear~. Come on, pack your things!
Her heart skipped again.
She stumbled over her words.
Helen: I-I got it!
Ryan turned back to the group.
"He's always so busy, yet he still notices me..."
"I want to help too... but what can I really do?"
She asked herself quietly, then got up and joined the line.
Ryan: Alright, let's move!
He led the group into the apartment building.
As they stepped inside, Helen glanced back.
She blinked—and the path behind them vanished.
In its place—was a long, dim hallway of the apartment.
She was used to this by now.
They passed a staircase.
She glanced at the sign: "10th floor."
"Wait... We just entered on the 1st floor. How is it already the 10th? That's impossible..."
As they walked, Helen frowned and looked down.
"Why does the floor... look glitched? Like a corrupted video feed..."
The surface shimmered oddly, reflecting the hallway lights in warped waves.
She reached out to touch it, but before she could—
Crack.
A sound like shattering glass rang out—sharp and cold, slicing through the silence.
Then she fell.
Not tripped—
But plunged straight through, as if gravity had rejected her.
The air twisted violently, spinning into a storm of static.
The group screamed in panic.
Aaron tried grabbing a doorway.
Linus reached for Harry's hand.
But no one could hold onto anything.
They were all dragged down like leaves in a tornado—falling through the floor as if it had never existed.
Voices warped into distorted echoes.
Helen looked up—
There was Ryan, falling alongside them.
Still calm.
His eyes glinted with a cold light.
As if—he had known this was coming.
"This... This is noclip. The thing Ryan and Sacium told us about..."
She fell.
And fell.
And kept falling.
9th floor... 5th... 1st...
Until—
A red land appeared below her.
A vast crimson sea stretched to the horizon.
Twisted trees like scorched skeletons clawed at the sky.
The air was thick with the scent of metal.
And red light oozed across the branches like living blood.
It was—
The Red Forest.
-Lv14-
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