Chapter: 58
58 – Room 106, Mission Room – “Hotel Land of Hope” (5)
[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 21
Current Location: Level 1, Room 106 (Mission Room – Hotel Land of Hope)
Sage’s Advice: 0]
As we approached the train, everyone started to have one common worry. It was structured like the typical Blue Dragon Train, with countless train cars lined up in a row. Should we all board the same car? Or should we split into different ones?
“Shouldn’t we all stick together?” Seungyub suggested, his voice slightly trembling. It didn’t seem like a rational deduction; he just looked scared of being alone.
“There could be dangerous cars and safe cars. In that case, splitting up might actually give us a better chance of survival,” argued Ahri, advocating for separation.
“But splitting up could also be a trap,” chimed in Jinchul, who had started to view everything he saw as a potential trap. Though I couldn’t entirely blame him considering the hotel’s track record.
I took a simpler approach based on what I could clearly see. “It seems we don’t really have a choice; we should definitely split up. I can see oxygen tanks in every car.”
Moreover, each tank only had one mask attached to it. From the beginning, it appeared we had no alternative.
Ultimately, everyone ended up in different cars. Yet, since the cars were connected without any real dividers and they weren’t particularly spacious, we could still chat if we took off our masks for a moment.
The moment we boarded the train, gravity vanished. Technically, it was strange for gravity to exist in space, to begin with.
There had been gravity up until the platform, but stepping onto the train made us float around. Just as we were getting used to our weightless bodies, the conductor popped up out of thin air and began rambling.
“Welcome aboard, challengers! I’m the conductor of the Blue Dragon Train. Starting now, we will venture through the mysterious cosmos and provide you with various fun experiences, so please participate actively.
In 10 seconds, the train will depart, and that will kickstart the comet-dodging game!”
“What the hell does that mean? Comet-dodging? Explain yourself, you lunatic!” exclaimed Jinchul.
“Comet-dodging means dodging comets,” the conductor simply stated.
After hearing that response, all motivation to ask further questions evaporated.
“Look up at the sky.”
“Sky? We’re in space!”
“I just meant look upwards,” he clarified.
I tilted my head upwards and finally understood Ahri’s point.
There were countless rocks floating above, marking the path of the train.
Ah, this was going to be a tiring experience.
As soon as the train started moving, the ‘comets’ began to fall.
Whiiiiiiik KUNG!
Everyone started frantically dancing in their cramped compartment, trying to avoid the falling debris. Instead of fiery ‘comets’, they were just ordinary rocks, but getting hit was not an option.
To make matters worse, we still had to carry our oxygen tanks. At least the lack of gravity meant the tanks felt weightless, but as the train began to bounce around, it got increasingly difficult to dodge the incoming rocks.
RIIIP!
At one point, a rock skimmed past my torso, tearing my shirt. I wouldn’t die from a single hit, but still—what a nuisance! One or two hits might be okay, but I definitely wouldn’t survive a barrage.
Were the others alright? I wanted to check, but I had no time. Typically, Jinchul was fine with physical tasks, but could his legs handle dodging rocks like this?
In a moment of chaos, the train spun, and the meteor shower briefly ceased.
Taking the opportunity to breathe, I pieced together what had happened. The Blue Dragon Train had made a sharp turn, making the comets crash into the underbelly of the train instead, which provided us a temporary reprieve.
“Is everyone alright? Did anyone take a hit?” I asked.
“I’m fine. I got grazed by a rock but I’m okay,” answered Jinchul.
“I dodged somehow too,” added Ahri casually.
“…”
“Seungyub?”
There was no answer from Seungyub. I decided to drop the subject and focus.
Even with the train inverted now, it wasn’t too uncomfortable. If we were on Earth, gravity would have sent the blood rushing to our heads, but here in space, the only discomfort was the momentary dizziness.
Eventually, though, it would flip again—and that meant more rocks to dodge with no time to think.
“What do we do now? Does anyone have any bright ideas? Are we just going to keep dodging endlessly?”
“…”
“Uh, I had a thought when the train flipped,” Jinchul began nervously. “It’s a bit absurd, but…”
“Ridiculous doesn’t matter! Just say it already!” I urged.
“When it flips back, how about we all head to the bottom of the train?”
?
“Hyung? What do you mean?”
“We’re in space, so gravity doesn’t really apply, right? Up and down lose their meaning. If we’re underneath the train, there’s no pull dragging us down. We just need to dodge the falling rocks, right?”
“That actually makes sense! Plus, the layout is open so we can easily cross over.”
I finally understood. Since we were in zero gravity, we didn’t need to stick to the top of the train. We could move underneath with our oxygen tanks.
“But the train sways, right? What if we get tossed off while shifting sides?”
“We’ll just hold onto something for dear life. Honestly, it’ll be easier than dodging these fast-moving rocks forever.”
BANG!
The train began to spin again, hinting that we’d soon be dodging comets once more.
Taking Jinchul’s advice, we carried our oxygen tanks and crossed over to the other side of the train—
And immediately realized it was the right move.
As soon as I opened the door next to my seat, I found a ladder—something I completely missed when boarding the train! With a hopeful attitude, I descended the ladder and discovered that the same cars we were just in were beneath us.
That was the true nature of the train, obscured from view until we departed due to the platform blocking our sight.
Incredibly, this train was a double-sided one!
So, we ended up shuttling between both sides to evade the rocks, and after what felt like an eternity, the comet shower ceased.
Whew! “Hahaha! So, everyone? Did you enjoy yourselves? That’s the end of the comet-dodging game! The next and final challenge is to withstand the black hole!”
No tricks allowed this time. Show off your muscles, folks!
The meaning of that soon became painfully evident.
Suddenly, the train’s setup changed, and all useful structures vanished; the ladder and doors to the other side disappeared. The only thing left was a single handle in the center of each cabin.
Then, a massive hole opened up above us.
Was this it?!
As instinct kicked in, I grabbed the handle as a violent suction force surged from the void.
No tricks! Show us your physical prowess!
That was literally what it meant.
This wasn’t about brains; we had to hold on with sheer muscle power!
Wait, what kind of ridiculous mission is this all of a sudden?
I glanced around, searching for something to make it easier but saw no options available.
Then one thought crossed my mind.
I probably didn’t need to hold on with my ‘arms’.
I wedged the handle between my legs, praying I could hold on for dear life.
…
My legs felt like they might rip off at any moment.
How long had I been hanging on? I didn’t know. In reality, it might have been less than ten minutes.
Every passing second was torture. That swirling vortex from outer space—this might be a black hole, or just something imitating it—but the force was trying to tear my body apart.
From a distance, I finally began spotting the station!
If I could just hang in there a little longer, maybe all of this would come to an end!
I wasn’t the only one who noticed the finish line.
“Everyone, just a bit longer! We’re almost there!”
Compared to me barely standing, he looked fine enough to cheer.
Unlike me, who was holding on with legs, Jinchul must have been using his arms to cling on. Since his arms were still operational, he could easily carry the weight.
Just as the train was about to pull into the station—
TING!
I heard a sound like something metal slipping and saw Ahri launch out of the cabin!
I could do nothing but blankly stare as another teammate got disqualified. But just then, Ahri seemed to spring back into the air, soaring straight towards the station.
It looked like she still had some strength left. Somehow, the three of us had made it.
As the train rolled into the station, the suction force vanished, and gravity returned.
Dazed, I sat on the ground mindlessly. As soon as the train stopped, I stumbled out.
My legs were in terrible shape. Like Jinchul after his gyro-drop, bruises covered my legs from top to bottom.
I didn’t even have the strength to stand, so I immediately collapsed onto the platform floor after disembarking.
A little while later, I noticed Jinchul had taken to lying near me.
“…Kain, you alright?”
“Do I look okay to you?”
“You look like crap. Same goes for me.”
“We have two more missions left. I genuinely feel like I’m dying.”
“The missions affecting the body and the mind are both out to get us, it’s unbearable. And they don’t even give us a moment to breathe; this is seriously brutal.”
Tap. Tap.
Someone approached us wearily.
“Ahri, are you alright? It seemed you had some strength left at the end when you took off.”
“…”
“Ahri?”
“Both of you, come here.”
She whispered in a voice so small it could be mistaken for a mosquito.
Sensing something was off, both of us rose unsteadily and approached her. Her face was so pale it looked almost blue. The chill radiating from her hinted at a body getting colder by the second.
“Ahri? Are you—! Ahri! Are you okay?”
“I think I need to rest a bit first.”
I was speechless. Did that final flight she made signify the last ounce of her strength?
Both Jinchul and I were left at a loss.
“Get me a syringe.”
I pulled out the syringe as instructed.
“Are we supposed to extract our blood to give it to you? Or should I feed it to you?”
Despite being half-dead, Ahri wore the most incredulous expression.
“Blood? Do I look like a vampire to you? This is not the time for nonsense.”
“I thought you were! You always used blood for your abilities.”
“Just draw my blood,” said Ahri sternly.
“No, aren’t you like this because you lack blood—”
“There’s no time. Hurry up.”
“…”
With my eyes shut, I drew Ahri’s blood with the syringe.
Jinchul stood frozen beside me, trembling but making no move to stop me.
“You’ve tasted this before, right? It’s the enhanced version of the drink that replenishes your stamina. Inject this directly into your wounds. This is it for me; see you outside.”
Was that her last breath? Her silky black hair tumbled as her fairy-like face fell sideways.
It was an expression of serene comfort, as if she found solace in finally resting.
Now, only two of us remained.
At this point, I’d grown accustomed to the fluctuations of reality.
When I came to my senses,
I found ourselves in front of an old mansion, its shabby appearance illuminated vaguely under the dim moonlight.
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