The Hidden World's

Chapter 9 Time Skip

Time Skip, ten days later.

The wind blows strong. I took a breath, inhaling the air in this place for the last time. Ten days passed very quickly. I almost forgot that I was in a room that looked like the outside world. Today I'm going to see Nana, Layla, and her again.

“Lina, I don't think there's anything to worry about. You've been more than I expected. Ten minutes the door will open. You're about to start the real test. Remember that! As strong as you are and as weak as your enemy, cooperation is the key to victory. Never underestimate the enemy in front of you, because you do not know what secret powers he holds. Understand?” Liebe held my shoulder. His gaze was like he was staring at his beloved son who was about to leave for a long time.

Nine o'clock past fifty minutes. At exactly ten o'clock the door that had disappeared will reappear. I can't wait to meet my friends. But I also still feel hard to part with ‘many Liebe’ are with me now. Rarely was there a unique person like him with such sincerity, cleverness, weirdness, and also such a high folly as himself. He was even more unique than Arthur.

“Live a few more seconds.” Liebe watched the clock in her hand that looked like a compass. Not long after that the door started to appear slowly. Liebe pulled the doorknob, walked out. I follow behind him.

By the time I got outside, Arthur, Nana, and Layla were already in front of their room with the accompanying person. I looked at them one by one. Arthur was with a man who had long hair. He wore a hat, was muscular, and wore a bare-chested shirt. It looks like a lot of blackened scars.

I turned my eyes to Nana. The person who was with him was a girl. He wears headphones on his ear. She looks like a jolly girl. He suddenly jumped up, riding on Nana's back.

“Nana!!! I will definitely miss you.” The girl screamed. Nana clogs her ear with her index finger, twisting the eyeball.

“OK, okay. I thank you for giving me a valuable lesson.”

“Really? What is it?”

“Of course the strength training you teach and one more thing.” Nana was silent for a moment.

“You taught me that jolly children are not good for ear and heart health.” Nana glances. The girl puffed her cheeks. I chuckle. Nana has changed a little.

I turned my eyes back. I looked at Layla who was not far from me. He was with a tall and fat teenage boy. Her hair covered her neck. Both hands held meat. He ate voraciously, rather greedily. I looked at Liebe who was beside me. I think Liebe is the most normal person here. Liebe.

“Alright, it looks like it's time to say goodbye.”

I'm nodding. “We'll split up here. Can we meet again?”

“Emm, I think it's impossible. I can't get out of this safe zone and you can't just walk in here. So, I guess it's impossible.” Liebe stroked my hair.

“Calm down, if you think about it this is not a farewell. I'm sure one day you'll become stronger and change the world. When that happens we will meet again.” Liebe smiled. I know what he meant. He wants me to change the world that the princess ruled. He's fed up with the game the princess gave him. Too many people have suffered because of him.

I'm nodding. “Please wait, I will definitely come back to pick you up. Even if it takes a lot of time."

Instead of looking at Liebe's smile, she slapped me

"I'm not asking you to come back. I ask you to become stronger and change this world. I didn't ask you to pick me up, because I myself will come to you and thank you.” Liebe pushed me, nodding at me to be bold in taking a step. I looked up, smiling at him for the last time. Layla and Arthur waved, while Nana stared coldly at the person who was accompanying her.

Liebe, I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself. Wait for me to change this world. Of course I can't do it without the help of my friends.

“Thank you for your hard work over these ten days. Portal will open soon. Hope you enjoy the game we provide.”

The voice I first heard when I entered this place reverberated. A few seconds later, a big hole appeared in front of us. The hole went round and round, making my head dizzy. Arthur jumped, followed by Layla, Nana, then I became the last.

\*\*\*\*

I opened my eyes, blinked, took a sitting position. I'm staring around. Near me Layla lay unconscious. I crawled closer to him.

“Layla! Hey, Layla! Wake up! We're apart.” I shook Layla's shoulder. He coughed softly, sat down, rubbing his eyes.

“Where are we?” Layla's gaze swept across the room.

“I don't know. The hologram map is in Nana. We're apart.” I let out a breath. Layla stood up.

“We have to hurry before the game starts. Even if we are apart, we must keep moving.” Layla holds back neck.

We walked out of the room, went near the window. We tried to guess what floor it was on.

“If viewed from the height, I think we are on the thirties.” Layla tried to guess. I took a long breath.

“We still have to find one more keyword. If it's not wrong it's on the forty-fifth floor. We only need to go up about fifteen more floors.” I looked at Layla. He's nodding. Without thinking, we continued our journey.

We watched every room along the corridor. Most of the empty rooms are leaping, there's nothing. We continued walking up the stairs until we reached the next floor. There is one room that attracts attention. Layla and I walked in. In the dalm there are some tools that I do not recognize.

“What is this an advanced technology?” I muttered.

“I think so.” Layla looked at her.

After a few minutes of exploring the room, I found a notebook in a pile of old books.

“Layla, look what I found.” I called Layla without distracting me from the book. Layla who was not far from me walked over, watching the book I was holding.

“Book note?” Layla muttered softly.

“Secret?” I knitted my eyebrows, staring at the writing on the front cover of the book.

“What does this mean?” Layla walked backwards.

“Why?” I turned my head, looking at Layla with a look of caution.

“I feel a bad aura from the book.”

“You can feel the aura?”

“I think you can also feel the powerful aura emitted by the book.” Layla nodded slowly.

“I taste.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“It is better we should immediately go from this place.” Layla's eyes twitched, watching every corner of the room.

“Alright! I'll bring this book just in case. There may be very valuable information in it.” I put the little notebook in my fairly wide pocket.

We walked outside the room. No matter what happened, after we came out of the room, the atmosphere around us suddenly changed. The atmosphere felt heavier and gripping. My heart is beating fast. My body is sweating cold. A completely different atmosphere than before. I looked at Layla who was beside me. He was silent, standing stiffly in place.

Empty look. It was like seeing something I couldn't see. I'm panicking. Really panicked. But, I can't do anything. This change in atmosphere alone had made me almost lose consciousness. It feels like someone has mixed a certain gas with the air around. Well, I guess it's like that.

Waitaminute! Are we being monitored? Is correct. I looked around, sending my eyes out to all directions. My breathing started to get irregular. With the rest of my consciousness, I'm still trying to find a camera that might be attached around here. If it is true that we are being watched, there should be cameras not far from us to monitor us.

Layla who was next to me collapsed. I tried to get to him. Layla jerks slowly. I think his consciousness is back. Instantly the gripping atmosphere was instantly gone. I took a deep breath. My breath is normal.

“Lina!” Layla gripped my upper arm tightly. I don't pay much attention to it. I'm still trying to get my breath back.

“We really need to get out of here. I mean from this building. We need to prioritize looking for Arthur and Nana. We need to stay together. If we continue to separate like this, then we will never be able to get out of this place. I'm not sure we can still live.” Layla's face paled. He really looks scared.

“What's up?” I'm looking forward to asking. Layla hanha shook her head.

“There is no time to explain. The sooner we get together, the better."