The door stood tall before them, glowing with that same ethereal light, a mocking reminder of the cruel reality they faced. The undead horde crept closer, their snarls growing louder, filling the air with dread. The time to decide was slipping through their fingers like sand, and Seyun, Hana, and Kaito stood frozen, the weight of the situation sinking into their bones.
"Sacrifice?" Kaito repeated, his voice trembling. His eyes darted between Seyun and Hana, desperate for another way out. "There has to be another option! We can’t just—"
"There isn’t," Seyun interrupted, his voice steady but heavy. "The gods are testing us. This is the only way."
Hana clenched her fists, her mind racing. Her heart thudded in her chest, and she could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Every instinct screamed at her to fight, to survive, but the door’s glowing inscription was clear: *Sacrifice is the key*.
"I... I can’t accept this," Hana whispered, her voice cracking. She took a step back, glancing at the approaching horde. "How are we supposed to choose who stays behind? We’ve fought together... survived together."
Seyun remained silent for a moment, his eyes scanning the area, the skeletal remains that littered the ground, the snarling creatures drawing ever closer. "I’ll stay."
Both Hana and Kaito turned to him in shock.
"What?!" Kaito blurted, stepping forward. "No way! You’re not sacrificing yourself. We need you to get through this. You’ve been the one keeping us alive!"
Hana nodded, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Seyun, you can’t—"
"I can, and I will," Seyun said firmly, cutting them both off. His expression was calm, but there was a deep sadness in his eyes. "Look, I’ve been thinking about this since we entered the trial. The gods want to break us—force us to make impossible choices. I’m the logical choice to stay behind."
"How can you say that?" Hana snapped, her voice filled with frustration and fear. "You’re the strongest of us! Without you, we’re as good as dead!"
Seyun looked at her, his gaze softening. "That’s exactly why I have to stay. You and Kaito... you’re both good people. You deserve to make it through this, to find a way out. I... I’ve made my peace with it."
Kaito shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. "No. No way. I refuse to accept that! We came this far together, and we’re going to finish it together!"
Seyun turned to Kaito, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Kaito, listen to me. You have the heart to keep fighting. You’re strong in a different way. You and Hana can make it."
The undead were now mere feet away, their gnarled hands reaching for the trio. Seyun’s hand tightened on his sword, ready to fend them off for as long as he could.
"Go," Seyun said, his voice low but firm. "Now."
"But—" Hana started, her voice breaking.
"Go!" Seyun shouted, turning to face the horde. His back was to the door, his stance firm and unwavering. "If you stay any longer, we’re all going to die! This is the only way."
Hana’s eyes filled with tears, her heart shattering at the thought of leaving Seyun behind. But the reality was clear—the gods had given them no choice. If they didn’t move now, they’d all be consumed by the undead.
Kaito took a step back toward the door, his face contorted with grief. "Seyun... you better make it through this somehow. We’ll find a way to bring you back, I swear."
Seyun offered him a small, sad smile. "Take care of each other. Survive."
With that, Kaito grabbed Hana’s arm, pulling her toward the door. Hana struggled, resisting for a moment, but she knew Seyun was right. They had to go. As much as it hurt, as much as it tore at her, she had to trust him.
The door began to glow brighter as they approached, the golden vines unwinding and the door creaking open, revealing the path ahead. Kaito and Hana stepped through, their eyes lingering on Seyun one last time.
"Seyun!" Hana cried out, her voice filled with anguish. "Don’t you dare give up!"
"I won’t," Seyun replied, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "Now go!"
The door slammed shut behind them, and the sound of it closing reverberated through the air like the tolling of a final bell.
Seyun stood alone now, the undead surrounding him on all sides. He gripped his sword tightly, his breath steady, his mind clear. This was the end of the trial for him—but it didn’t have to be the end of his fight.
"Come on then," Seyun muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as the first of the creatures lunged toward him. "Let’s see what you’ve got."
With a swift motion, Seyun swung his sword, cutting through the first wave of undead with precision and strength. But more came—dozens, then hundreds. He moved like a blur, his movements fueled by adrenaline and determination. Every strike was calculated, every dodge precise.
But no matter how many he felled, the creatures kept coming, their numbers endless. Seyun’s muscles burned, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. His vision blurred as fatigue set in, but he refused to stop. Not yet.
"I won’t... die here," he muttered through gritted teeth, swinging his sword again. The creatures snarled and lunged, but Seyun stood his ground, determined to fight until the very end.
As the undead pressed closer, Seyun felt something shift within him—an overwhelming surge of power, like the gods themselves were watching his struggle, amused by his defiance.
Suddenly, a bright light engulfed the battlefield, blinding both Seyun and the horde. The creatures recoiled, their shrieks of pain echoing through the air. Seyun shielded his eyes, trying to make sense of what was happening.
A booming voice filled the air, familiar and authoritative—the voice of the Administrator. "Your sacrifice has been noted, Seyun. But your journey is far from over."
The light faded, and Seyun blinked, finding himself alone on the battlefield. The undead were gone, their bodies dissolved into nothingness. The ground beneath his feet was scorched, and the tower loomed in the distance, but the path ahead was clear.
Seyun fell to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion. But he was alive. Somehow, he had survived.
"Administrator..." Seyun whispered, his voice hoarse. "What... what now?"
The Administrator’s voice echoed in his mind. "You have proven your strength, but this is only the beginning. Prepare yourself, Seyun. The true test lies ahead."
Seyun closed his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He had survived this trial—but he knew, deep down, that the worst was yet to come.