Previous Chapter Reminder = We saw Manu and Orion preparing for the ruin. Manu managed to convince Eira to form an alliance. The gate finally opened. Now next...
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Manu, Orion, Eira, and their teams entered the gate.
The moment they stepped inside, all of them froze in shock.
Scene shifts to the eliminated Falcon Team, who were watching the round through the giant screen.
---
Darius = Captain Lyra, this boy is acting cool. He knew something but never told us. Ridiculous.
Lyra = Be silent. The mistake was ours. We never understood Manu's goal. He was never trying to win. He was only trying to survive. We were blinded by greed. If he had followed our strategy, he would have been eliminated long ago.
Elira Windmark = Captain, you're right. We almost dragged Nyra down with us. Thankfully she was smart enough to understand Manu's plan.
Lyra (Thinking) = Maybe... but how did Manu convince both Eira and Orion in only three minutes?
Who exactly are you, Manu?
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Aria wasn't present with the group. She was resting in the recovery room.
Scene shifts back to Manu.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Before them stood a gigantic black chamber.
The room was large enough to fit ten elephants.
The smell of old paper filled the air.
Thousands of brown cards covered the floor.
Before entering, Orion suddenly stopped Manu.
---
Orion = Little Turtle, what exactly is your profession?
You convinced Eira far too quickly.
And another thing...
Your eyes were green before.
Why are they black now?
---
Manu = Profession?
What's that?
And when did I convince Eira?
I barely talked to her.
---
Orion (Confused) = What?
---
Eira = If you're done chatting...
Let's move.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = The moment everyone stepped forward, two cone-shaped structures hidden in the corners activated.
A red light burst from them.
The red light completely covered every participant.
Each person was teleported onto a separate brown card.
Above their heads floated the number:
10 Hearts
The red light then transformed into the hologram of an ancient robot.
A name was engraved on its forehead.
RAHUL
---
Rahul = Welcome to the Memory Card Test.
The rules are simple.
Flip cards and find matching pairs.
For example:
Card 1 = Sword
Card 2 = Pot
Card 3 = Sword
Cards 1 and 3 become a pair.
If you fail, you lose one Heart.
If your Hearts reach zero...
You are eliminated.
Time Limit:
Three Minutes.
If nobody clears the test before time expires...
All players will be eliminated.
Good luck.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Suddenly a strange parasite-like entity crawled across the hologram.
The hologram glitched.
Its color changed.
Half Purple.
Half White.
Its robotic voice disappeared.
A human voice emerged.
---
Rahul = Let's begin.
It's been a long time since I played with humans.
If nobody clears this test...
You die in reality.
Come on, humans.
Let's play God's Game.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Behind Orion, Manu, and Eira stood a silent shadow.
Emotionless.
Calm.
Watching.
It would participate in the game alone.
Manu immediately felt goosebumps.
His survival instincts exploded into action.
For the first time, he looked at everyone as a potential threat.
Orion was sweating.
Eira's cold expression cracked.
Her strategist mind took control.
Before the game began, Orion spoke.
---
Orion = We need teamwork.
---
Astra Member = Boss...
I want to live.
I don't want to play this game.
---
Frost Member = Me too.
---
Eira = Tell me.
How do you want to die?
By my hands?
Or by this game?
At least the game gives you a chance.
I don't.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Everyone immediately chose the game.
The timer started.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Orion flipped his first card.
A Rock.
Eira flipped hers.
Ice.
Manu flipped his.
A Turtle.
Then something horrifying happened.
The mysterious shadow silently appeared behind Astra's right-hand man, Leo.
A knife flashed.
One strike.
Leo's throat was cut.
Before anyone could react, the shadow transformed into Leo.
Perfectly.
---
Leo (Thinking) = At least I was useful before dying.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Nobody moved.
Fear had frozen them.
One minute passed.
Then another.
Two minutes were already gone.
Manu was the only person still trying.
Sometimes he found a Pen.
Sometimes a Book.
Sometimes a Flower.
His Hearts had already dropped to three.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Eira suddenly looked at the timer.
Only 1 minute and 30 seconds remained.
She slapped her own cheek.
Hard.
---
Eira = Look at the timer!
We're standing like statues!
Even Leo and Manu are trying!
Wake up!
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Everyone finally returned to reality.
The search resumed.
Eira found a Turtle card.
She immediately signaled Manu.
---
Eira = Manu.
I found a Turtle.
Where's the second one?
---
Manu = Leave that pair to me.
---
Eira = No.
---
Manu = Walk straight three times.
Then turn left.
---
Eira (Thinking) = If he's wrong...
I'll lose three Hearts.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Eira used her teammates as stepping stones to reach the location.
She flipped the card.
Turtle.
Pair Matched.
Success.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = But Manu wasn't looking at the cards anymore.
He was watching Leo.
Very carefully.
---
Leo (Thinking) = Did Manu figure out my identity?
Impossible.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Leo flipped another card.
A Pen appeared.
---
Manu (Thinking) = Something feels wrong.
My gut is screaming at me.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Manu waited.
Leo became uncomfortable under Manu's gaze.
Distracted.
He flipped the wrong card.
Lost a Heart.
Immediately, Manu moved.
He flipped the Pen card Leo had revealed earlier.
Then matched it with another Pen.
Pair Success.
A Heart was restored.
---
Manu (Thinking) = I found the clue.
That's why Leo's Hearts never dropped below seven.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Less than one minute remained.
Only six cards were left.
---
Orion = Little Turtle!
One Sword is west of you!
The second one is behind your left side!
Move!
Only twenty seconds left!
---
Eira = Two Pot cards are north of you!
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Manu ignored everyone.
He trusted nobody.
Not Orion.
Not Eira.
Not anyone.
He placed a hand on his chest.
Closed his eyes.
Everything became silent.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Around him, people screamed.
Panicked.
Cried.
Pulled their hair.
Prayed.
But Manu heard none of it.
Only his instincts.
---
NARRATOR VOICE = Five seconds remained.
Manu opened his eyes.
His irises turned green.
---
Three Seconds.
Everyone had already given up.
---
Two Seconds.
Rahul began gathering energy in his palm.
Preparing to erase everyone.
---
One Second.
Manu flipped a card.
Pair Match.
Then another.
Pair Match.
Then another.
Pair Match.
The final card flipped.
At the exact moment Rahul launched the energy sphere toward the players—
---
COMMING SOON....
Which part did you find most interesting?
Keep commenting because your comments give me motivation to continue this journey.
And if you enjoyed the story, throw a Power Stone at it... preferably the red one.