Liam woke up to the familiar glow of a system notification. He rubbed his eyes and focused on the screen in front of him:
[Quest Received: Final Escape
Description: Help your team escape this place.
Rewards:
-1 RP
-4000 XP
-1 SP
Deadline: 24 hours
Note: This quest is of critical importance. Failure to complete it within the deadline will result in severe consequences.]
Liam's eyes widened as he read the rewards. "SP? System point?" he muttered to himself. He had never seen a SP as a reward before. He realized how important this quest was and felt a mix of excitement and pressure. "Once I complete this quest, I'll have 10 RP. Finally, I'll be able to wake up in the real world."
He sighed in disbelief and muttered, "I can't believe I'm actually missing that shitty real world."
As everyone began to wake up, they made their way to the training ground. Though they were supposed to practice, they spent the time cultivating their Qi and storing it in their bodies.
"Does anyone else feel like time is flying by?" Soo-Min asked, her voice nervous.
Rin nodded. "We need to make every second count. Let's focus on cultivating as much Qi as possible."
Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, the noon meal distribution started. As they ate, they couldn't help but notice the tense atmosphere around them.
"Everyone looks so on edge," Soo-Min commented, her voice low.
Joon Soek nodded. "It's the last day to complete the task. Everyone's desperate to succeed."
Rin looked at the other squads, her expression thoughtful. "I wonder how many will actually make it."
Liam spoke up, his voice calm and confident. "We will. That's all that matters."
Joon Soek glanced at Kai, his curiosity piqued. "Hey, Kai, I forgot to ask last night. What happened to your goons? They reached the first stage, so why aren't they with you?"
Kai shook his head. "They weren't my goons, and they weren't from Crimson Shadow's squad. They were from Iron Fang's squad."
He continued, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and frustration. "One day, I was eating alone, and some goons and their leader from Iron Fang's squad came to kill me. I don't know why; I never did anything to offend them. I killed their leader in self-defense, and ever since then, those goons started following me and calling me their new leader."
The group listened intently with curious and surprised looks on their faces.
Kai went on. "After Liam beat me, those goons carried me somewhere and tried to kill me when I wasn't in a good state. But I defended myself and beat the shit out of them. After that, they weren't seen again."
Joon Soek chuckled. "Well, that's one way to deal with unwanted followers."
Soo-Min shook her head in disbelief. "That's crazy. I can't believe they tried to kill you."
Mi-Na nodded in agreement. "You're stronger than you look, Kai."
After they finished eating, Liam stood up and addressed the group. "Alright, everyone. Let's go back to the cages and rest for a while."
Once they were in the cage. "I'll hand out the weapons now. Get familiar with them and come to me if you need any help."
He distributed the weapons, ensuring everyone had what they needed. Soo-Min held her dagger, her eyes filled with determination. "I learned a few moves. I will show you."
Rin took her sword, her grip firm and confident. "I'll be ready when the time comes."
Joon Ho and Joon Soek inspected their swords, their expressions focused. "We'll make sure we're prepared," Joon Ho said.
Kai and Mi-Na nodded, their faces filled with resolve. "We'll be ready," Mi-Na said.
Liam looked at the group. "Together, we'll escape this place."
The team practiced their moves with the weapons, while Liam kept a watchful eye to ensure no guards passed by or saw them.
The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the training grounds. The air was filled with the faint hum of conversations and the clinking of utensils as the night meal distribution began. Liam and his team exchanged tense glances, knowing that the moment they had been preparing for had finally arrived.
As the night meal distribution began, the atmosphere shifted. Most of the squads were gathered in the common area to get their meals, while others were busy completing their tasks, desperate to meet the deadline. Liam and his team saw their opportunity and began their escape.
They had divided their escape plan into three phases for better understanding and execution:
Phase one was Stealthy Departure. Leave the training grounds and make their way to the connected paths to the middle area without being detected.
The second phase was navigating through the Paths. Traverse the connected paths of the guards chambers to reach the outer perimeter of the training grounds.
And the last phase was a breakout. They had never been to that area as it was restricted to them, but Liam had created a rough layout for the plan.
The team had gathered in a circle and encouraged each other before starting their escape.
"Stick to the plan," Liam whispered, his voice steady and calm. "Phase one: get to the training ground and make our way to the guard chambers."
The team nodded, their hearts pounding with a mix of excitement and fear. They moved silently, their footsteps muffled by the soft grass beneath them. The training ground was a sprawling area filled with obstacle courses, sparring rings, and weapon racks. The paths between the different sections were narrow and winding, providing ample cover for their escape.
Liam led the way, his senses heightened as he scanned the surroundings for any signs of guards. The team followed closely behind, their movements coordinated and silent. The air was thick with tension, and every rustle of leaves or distant shout made their hearts race.
As they neared the first obstacle—a tall wooden fence that separated the training ground from the guard chambers—Liam signaled for the team to stop. He peered through a small gap in the fence, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a guard patrolling nearby.
"Wait for my signal," Liam whispered.