They pushed the doors.
The cafeteria was empty.
It smelled of food.
The dining area was spacious.
And a massive figure worked in the kitchen.
"Is it safe?"
Chen Shi stopped.
Elena scanned the room.
"No new rules."
"And the old rules don't forbid early entry."
"So it is safe."
They walked in.
Looking around.
Tables and chairs were neat.
Normal.
But when they looked at the windows.
Chen Shi froze.
Because black handprints covered the glass.
Scratches.
And twisted face imprints pressed against the pane.
The Dragon Country stream drowned in fear.
[Holy shit! What are those?!]
[Just looking at the marks gives me chills.]
[If this is now, imagine dinner time.]
[Who can withstand that?]
Elena narrowed her eyes.
Pointing.
"Notice?"
"Not every window has curtains."
"And the center seats are limited."
So latecomers had no choice.
They would be forced to face the horrors outside.
But they were lucky.
So they took the safe seats in the middle.
Chen Shi sat.
Then he saw Annie in the corridor.
A chance to farm affection.
So he stood up.
But the map warned him.
The kitchen was red.
A restricted zone.
So he sat back down.
She was staff.
She would come out for dinner.
So he would wait.
Just then.
Chen Shi's stomach churned.
Because his nerves relaxed, his body reacted.
"Bathroom."
Chen Shi clutched his stomach.
Elena looked up.
"Remember the rule."
"If you hear a noise, get out."
"I know."
Chen Shi nodded.
Walking to the restroom.
Elena watched him.
Thinking.
Then she grabbed a bottle of acid from a cart.
And she followed him.
Into the men's room.
The stream filled with question marks.
[??? Are they in elementary school?]
[Sister Elena is skilled at entering the men's room.]
[Stop joking. Sticking together is smart.]
A viewer asked.
[I don't get it.]
[The rule says 'come out if you hear a noise'.]
[Just do it. Why do people die?]
A verified user commented.
[Because you underestimate anomalies.]
[Simple actions become hard.]
[And... because of human factors.]
[Switch to the Cherry Blossom stream. That rookie is about to die.]
Dragon Country viewers switched over.
The scene changed.
To a public toilet outside the manor.
Hasegawa rushed in.
Shivering.
He ducked into a stall.
And locked the door.
But he didn't notice the veteran following him.
The veteran walked to the stall.
Listening.
He sneered.
Then he took out a wire.
And locked the empty stalls from the outside.
He backed out.
Lifted a heavy stone.
And blocked the main door.
He left.
So Hasegawa was trapped.
Inside.
Hasegawa squatted.
But then he froze.
Gurgle.
Slithering sounds came from the sewer.
Something was climbing the pipe.
[Rule: If you hear strange noises, come out.]
Hasegawa panicked.
So he pulled up his pants.
He pushed the door.
And rushed out.
But the main door wouldn't open.
It was blocked.
"Let me out! Help!"
He screamed.
He tried other stalls.
But they were locked.
So there was no escape.
His cries for help reached outside.
A three-person team passed by.
A young man stopped.
Because he heard the screaming.
"Someone needs help."
The others were silent.
"It's a life. Saving him means numbers."
The others glanced at each other.
"You go. We'll watch."
The young man stepped forward.
He moved the stone.
And opened the door.
Hasegawa was on the floor.
Crying.
Reaching out.
Because shadows wrapped his legs.
Dragging him to the hole.
The young man rushed in to help.
Bang.
But the door slammed shut behind him.
The latch dropped.
Grinding sounds followed.
Because the teammates pushed the stone back.
Blocking the door again.
Laughter came from outside.
"An idiot saint."
"He helps us test the rules."
"Watch how the anomaly kills."
The young man froze.
He pounded the door.
"Open the door!"
Gurgle.
The shadow pulled hard.
So Hasegawa hit the floor.
And was dragged into the hole.
He clawed at the tiles.
Fingernails cracked.
But it was useless.
He went in halfway.
But his head got stuck.
Because the hole was too small.
His skull jammed.
A pause.
Then the shadow pulled harder.
Pop.
His skull exploded.
Crushed.
Blood sprayed the young man.
Crack.
Bones broke.
And the corpse was stuffed into the pipe.
Silence followed.
Blood on the floor.
Broken fingers.
The young man pissed himself.
[Announcement: Cherry Blossom Country Chosen dead.]
The young man trembled.
Looking up at the window.
The teammates watched.
Smiling.
The young man cried.
Mouthing.
"Save... me."
But they didn't move.
One tossed a stone inside.
Clang.
The stone hit the tile.
The sound echoed.
Gurgle.
The monster returned.
Because it was attracted by the sound.
The teammate grinned.
"Precious intel."
"Watch."