A new title card appeared in the sky above the Fallen Bridge—no sound, no fanfare.
Just five words, etched in light:
GAME START: BALANCE OF THREE
OBJECTIVE: Cross the bridge together.
RULE: No player may weigh less than the others for longer than 90 seconds.
PENALTY: The lightest will fall.
BONUS: If all reach the end, a memory will be returned.
The stone beneath their feet rippled.
Three pressure plates—one under each of them—lit up in red. The bridge extended forward, but now narrow, serpentine, constantly shifting with each movement.
Rin cursed under her breath.
"Balance of weight?" Matthew asked. "What kind of sick—"
"It's psychological," Sora muttered, analyzing. "We all carry different burdens. But now the bridge is trying to quantify it."
Matthew checked his pack. "I'm heavier than both of you."
"I'm carrying almost nothing," Rin said quietly.
The system pinged.
RIN: 62kg
SORA: 67kg
MATTHEW: 106kg
"Perfect," Rin muttered. "We're doomed."
The bridge shifted again.
3
2
1
BEGIN
The plates turned green. The players stepped forward.
Thirty Seconds In
Every move caused the bridge to tilt subtly, like a scale. The stones cracked with tension. Below them, something in the void watched, waiting for failure.
Matthew slowed to adjust.
Rin sprinted forward to match weight.
Warning: Rin now 9kg below threshold. Countdown: 60s
"Stop moving!" Sora shouted.
"I'm balancing!" Rin hissed.
"You're not—wait—"
Matthew turned. "I can carry one of you."
"No," Sora growled. "That'll spike your side and drop Rin faster."
The bridge groaned.
A chunk fell behind them.
Seventy Seconds In
The pressure plates flared.
RIN: 62kg
SORA: 67kg
MATTHEW: 106kg
VARIANCE TOO HIGH. PENALTY INITIATED IN 20s.
The sky above them cracked with red lightning.
Rin looked at the gap ahead. "I'm going to run for it."
"You'll trigger the collapse," Matthew warned.
"I'd rather fall moving than stand here and—"
RIN: 61kg
VARIANCE: DANGEROUS
She dropped her jacket. "Sorry."
Sora stepped forward—fast.
Then did something unthinkable.
She handed Rin her knife.
"It weighs four kilos," Sora whispered. "Now run."
Rin hesitated.
"You still trust me?" she asked, voice thin.
Sora didn't blink.
"I'm betting on it."
Ninety Seconds In
Rin ran.
Sora moved.
Matthew adjusted.
The bridge screamed.
But the system stilled.
BALANCE RESTORED. CONTINUE.
They sprinted forward as the plates ahead re-lit.
Another section.
Another weight shift.
And far above them, the fourth presence drifted across the cracked stars…
Silently marking who gave up what.
And who would pay for it.