Things flowed the same as before.
The Archangel bitch marked the start of the trial, and a few members fell into the magma and died. Everything went completely the same as before.
And of course, just the same as before, the muscle man raised his voice again. The same speech, same expression, and same condescending look toward everyone else.
"Among here, who has a skill that’s useful in this maze?! A map or something!"
Right when this question was raised, where nobody should’ve answered.
"I know the exit." Raive raised his hand, voice loud and clear.
"You...?"
The muscle man stared at him in disbelief, but before he could start spewing nonsense, Raive continued.
"That path is the right one. And based on my skill, it’s safe with no traps or monsters, just a single path with no forks, about a three-minute jog. The exit is at the circular room at the end." He said in a single breath.
"If you want, you can ask someone to confirm it first. I’ll just sit here and wait."
"..."
The muscle man paused, as if thinking.
Then, he nodded his head, lips curled into a thin frown.
"Alright, let’s confirm your words first. Anyone who wants to volunteer to check?" He asked.
But as expected, nobody wanted to dare to shoulder the risk alone. Everyone was scared. They just watched someone die from getting burned alive, after all. The shrill screams and begging for help still echoed loudly in their heart and minds.
"Tsk!" The muscle man clicked his tongue and turned around. "Then, I’ll go check it myself!"
"Please do."
The man turned around, stomping his feet while mumbling things under his breath. He was definitely pissed that nobody wanted to risk themselves even if it was to confirm the exit.
The hall went silent for a few minutes.
Everyone was whispering with each other, hushed voices mixing into one giant murmur that filled the space. Raive, of course, felt gazes sent his way now and then.
No doubt, he was becoming a product of gossip in the limited space they were in.
"I-It’s really the exit!"
Only after ten minutes, when the muscle man returned with sweat covering his entire body, did everyone’s expressions brighten.
"Really?! We can survive...!"
"Fuck, I hate this humid place. Let’s go!"
"I-Is it really the exit? Are we saved now...?"
The whispered voices grew louder now that they got a confirmation. A hint of hope crossed everyone’s eyes, as if they could finally see the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.
Raive, of course, noticed that the man was already starting with his little scheme.
After all, he never mentioned that the exit was closed, nor did he bring up the five chairs in the room. Everyone just raced through, heading straight to the exit like moths to flame. None of them thought about others, completely selfishly focusing on their personal survival.
But upon reaching the place, they, too, noticed the anomaly.
Five chairs and a closed door.
Even a child with brain damage could figure out what this signifies.
Out of curiosity, a few went to sit on those thrones, and the moment they did, the exit successfully opened. It exuded a bright red light, crackling with a weird energy.
A few who were light on their feet rushed to the exit without as much as a word, leaving the maze. Everyone watched as their figure disappeared beyond the exit, and...
"Fuck, I’m leaving too!"
"Don’t push!"
"I’m not going to get left behind!"
Everyone started running.
Of course, that included the ones sitting on the throne.
But as soon as they stood up, the exit closed. The light faded as if a lie. Only then did everyone realize what was going on.
"So not everyone could leave... This..."
The muscle man announced with a pained expression. His voice was emotional, as if he couldn’t bring himself to do it. But he shook his head, as if shaking his indecisiveness away, and spoke further.
"...We need five volunteers to sit on the throne to let everyone else exit. Anyone?"
Though, of course, Raive was aware that he was capable of even killing someone. Those fake emotions wouldn’t even faze him.
Raive kept quiet, however.
He stayed near the middle, where he would be hard to see.
This way, he could escape becoming the "sacrifice" by accident.
Of course, nobody wanted to volunteer. Everyone wanted to survive. And in the end, what Raive predicted happened.
The muscle man, along with a few others with powerful skills, threatened those with weak abilities to sacrifice themselves.
The sound of their crying and begging filled the place, but as if to not let them escape, someone even encased them in ice from neck down to not let them move.
Raive felt a bit of pity for them, but he, too, simply wanted to survive.
He glanced at those men, sacrificed for the greater good, and faced forward. There was no more looking back.
Slowly, Raive reached the exit and carefully took a step.
A flash of light blinded him for a moment, before...
[User’s Heart had Stopped Beating.]
[Auto-Load activating...]
[Success.]
"...Huh?"
Before he realized what had happened, he was already back.
Back to the beginning.
He stared up at the archangel bitch that was slowly looking more sinister in Raive’s eyes. Then to everyone around him, who were completely "duped" by her façade.
’I should’ve exited this place, though...’ Raive thought, biting his lips as he let his gray matter turn, reviewing everything. ’What did I miss? And how did I die? Why... Just why...?’
He was rattled.
He thought he already solved the puzzle, but it seemed like the solution "spoon-fed" to him... was nothing but a nasty trap.
"Phew..."
Raive, thankfully, was capable of easily calming his nerves.
After a few deep breaths, he was already back to his usual state of mind. And then, he figured out the answer that he missed.
Considering the nasty angel’s personality, this answer was the only possibility.
The worst answer, turning hope into instant despair, and hopelessness into newfound freedom.
Raive already created a new plan, allowing himself to survive.
However, he needed someone else to take with him. Someone useful, and who would easily side with him.
Preferably someone pure, the least selfish among the entire batch.
Someone blessed with good skill.
After some pause, a smile crossed his lips. One overflowing with confidence.
"Alright, this should work!"
He got a new plan.