Stark and Sora remained within the safe zone just outside the city's decaying outskirts, feeling a temporary sense of relief.
Their [Moonscorched] infection was down to 0%, which meant they could delay the inevitable decay a little longer.
Then, out of nowhere, a notification popped up.
Ding!
[Global Announcement: Participant "Partner" has been killed by the "Mayor."]
Stark's eyes narrowed as he processed the message. "Partner's dead. That means CEO's probably in the manor with him," he muttered.
Sora glanced over, her usual calm demeanor unchanged. "So, where do we go now?"
For Sora, following Stark had become almost second nature.
It felt safer than making independent decisions, especially in the chaotic landscape of Termina, where dangers lurked at every corner.
All she needed to do was fight when necessary, and Stark seemed to know exactly where to go.
Stark pulled up the [Termina Map], scanning the various locations scattered across the city.
There were 97 tasks still left to possibly complete, and they were spread out across multiple areas.
Tasks were essential—not only for leveling up but for gaining any possible edge over the other participants.
The longer they waited, the fewer tasks would be left, and time was running out.
The other participants wouldn't wait either, and as the trial wore on, the monsters and challenges would only grow stronger.
"We've got a lot of options," Stark said, zooming in on one particular area. "But here—this place." He tapped the map. "The orphanage. It's nearby, and we can get several tasks done there."
It wasn't like they had any real choice.
Sitting around the safe zone wasn't an option.
The so-called "safe zones" weren't exactly safe; they merely reduced the [Moonscorched] infection.
High-level monsters could still infiltrate them, and the other participants would eventually come hunting. Besides, they needed to stay active—staying idle meant falling behind.
"Let's move," Stark sighed, getting up.
Sora nodded. "Alright, to the orphanage, then."
"Yep."
Together, they left the safety of the zone and ventured out, battling monsters along the way.
Each fight sharpened their skills, their movements in sync as they dispatched various foes that littered the outskirts.
By the time they reached their destination, they had both gained two more levels.
Stark was now level 115, and Sora had reached level 112.
[Experience: 1,545,000/10,000,000] (level 115)
[Skill Points: 88]
As they arrived at the orphanage, another notification chimed.
Ding!
[You have arrived at the Orphanage.]
However, another announcement immediately followed.
[Global Announcement: Participant "Mao" has been killed by "Father Hugo"!]
Stark stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing at the latest death notification. "Wait a minute..." He had heard that name before.
Ding!
[Task #13: Defeat Father Hugo in the Orphanage.]
That's right!
Father Hugo, one of the five commanders, was inside the orphanage.
He had just killed Mao, and now they were about to walk into his domain.
Sora shot him a sideways glance but didn't bite. "I just don't like seeing a place for children in this... state. This trial is truly wicked."
Stark raised an eyebrow. "You like children?" He hadn't expected that. Sora had always come off as indifferent to most things.
"Yes," she replied simply.
That caught Stark off guard.
He was about to ask more, curious to learn something new about his companion, but before he could say anything—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
CREAK! BAM!
A loud crack sounded as Stark stepped on a fragile floorboard.
The wood splintered beneath his feet, and he fell through the floor.
"Shit!" Stark cursed as he plummeted into darkness.
He quickly tried to throw a Crimson Ball to stop his fall, but he missed it, and before he could attempt another, his body hit the ground hard.
BAM!
-13,371 HP
Stark groaned as he pulled himself off the ground, wincing in pain.
He wasn't dead, but the fall had left him bruised and disoriented.
Looking around, he realized he was in the orphanage's basement.
The hole he had fallen through was too high to climb, and there was no sign of Sora.
"She'll be fine," Stark mumbled to himself. "She can handle herself."
The room he found himself in was unsettling.
White walls surrounded him, but what stood out were the chains hanging from them.
Scattered throughout the room were corpses, some of adults, others... children.
"This place just gets better and better," Stark sighed, trying to push the disturbing images from his mind.
There was only one exit: a wooden door at the far end of the room.
Stark headed toward it without hesitation, wanting to get out of here and meet up with Sora again.
But just as his hand reached for the handle—
SLAM!
The door burst open.
A massive figure loomed in the doorway.
Stark barely had time to react before it kicked him with a force that sent him flying back into the wall.
His shield cracked under the impact.
-83,394 HP
But it didn't break.
[47,812/200,000]
it still held on from his previous encounters.]
"Fuck..." Stark groaned, pushing himself to his feet, feeling the sharp pain in his side. But he wasn't about to go down that easily.
A voice echoed through the room, deep and menacing, "Bad child. Escaping is not allowed."
Stark's eyes narrowed as he looked up, seeing a panel display in front of him.
[Moonscorch Commander: Father Hugo.]
[Level 600]
"Damn."