Then another notification popped up.
“Proceed Right.”
Newton stood immediately. He did not hesitate. He had already learned something about this place, delay meant loss.
Sometimes worse.
He stepped to the right The others followed without questioning. Not because they trusted the system, but because they feared it.
Because it had already proven it did not repeat itself twice.
They moved down a smooth white corridor that seemed to stretch longer than it should.
Their footsteps echoed: soft, and lonely.
Then the corridor opened. And they saw it.
It looked like a school hostel: clean, organized, but cruel.
Doors stood in neat rows. Each labeled clearly
TOILET.
LIBRARY.
CLINIC.
SLEEPING AREA.
Rows of bunk beds could be seen through the transparent barrier of the sleeping area. Soft mattresses. White sheets. Pillows that looked like heaven.
Relief spread across their faces like rain after drought. Brian exhaled loudly, and stretched. “I think I need to sleep.”
His voice carried exhaustion. He staggered forward. His shoulders loose. His eyes half closed. He reached the sleeping area entrance.
A calm mechanical voice echoed:
“To access the sleeping area, stretch your wrist.”
Brian smiled immediately. “That is simple.” He stretched his wrist confidently.
They all watched.
Waiting.
Hoping.
The screen on his wrist glowed. Then the voice came again: cold, and merciless.
INADEQUATE NINJA COIN
TO ACCESS THE SLEEPING AREA PER A TIME, YOU NEED ONE NINJA COIN
Silence fell. It was heavy, and unforgiving.
Brian’s smile died slowly. Like something strangled. “What?”
He stared at his wrist. As if the words would change. They did not.
Newton turned immediately. He rushed to the toilet entrance. He stretched his wrist. The same message appeared.
INADEQUATE NINJA COIN.
TO ACCESS THE TOILET AREA PER TIME, YOU NEED ONE NINJA COIN.
His throat tightened.No sleep. No toilet. No rest.
Without coin, Nothing.
He turned quickly. His eyes landed on the last door:
The library.
He moved: fast, almost running. He stretched his wrist. The door slid open instantly.
Newton froze for a while.
There was no message. No rejection.
His eyes widened.
“Guys!”
His voice cracked.
“This one is free”
They ran. They rushed like starving animals. Bodies colliding. Feet scrambling.
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Brian shoved Newton hard as he passed . Newton stumbled but did not fall.
Brian walked ahead. Then stopped, and turned. He stared at Newton. His jaw was tight. “Why are you always the first to discover something?”
His voice was low, but sharp
Newton said nothing. He only looked at him.
Quiet, and careful.
Brian scoffed. Then turned away. The library was massive. Endless rows of shelves stretched into the distance.
The air smelled old dust, knowledge, and survival.
Before anyone could speak, a notification appeared on their wrists:
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION.
NEW TASK ALERT.
Everyone froze.
Hearts Thundered.
Eyes were wide.
PROCEED TO READ A BOOK AND ANSWER QUIZ.
TIME ALLOWED: ONE HOUR
REWARD: FIVE COIN PER EACH QUESTION CORRECTLY ANSWERED.
FAILURE: NO REWARD.
YOUR TIME STARTS NOW.
A timer appeared: 59:59.
It began to count down.
“Coin!” Someone whispered. Hope flared. Desperation burned.
They rushed, hands grabbing books randomly. Pages flipping. And breathing was uneven.
Newton did not move immediately. He watched. He observed. Then he stepped closer to a shelf.
His fingers traced the books. He paused. Every single one was the same. Same cover .Same title. Same thickness
A book about Ninjas.
His time now reads: 58:35.
He grabbed one, and opened it. His eyes moved fast. Faster than normal.
His brain forcing itself to absorb everything:
Shuriken.
Throwing weapon.
Distraction.
Escape tool.
Kunai.
Climbing.
Stabbing.
Utility.
Katana.
Short sword.
Close combat.
Lethal precision.
Smoke bomb.
Escape.
Blind enemies.
Create space.
His heart pounded. He flipped pages rapidly He could hear others breathing, cursing, murmuring, and praying.
The time was moving too fast. He reached the last page. He looked at the timer.
14:12.
His fingers trembled. He raised his wrist, and tapped.
PROCEED TO QUIZ.
The screen blinked.
QUIZ INITIATED.
Newton’s throat went dry. Panic and doubt clogged his heart.
QUESTION ONE
WHAT IS THE KATANA USED FOR?
Newton froze. Not completely. Just enough for doubt to slip in.
The question hung in front of him, glowing on the screen, waiting. His mind scrambled through memories. Images from games. Movies. Fragments of things he never thought would matter.
He swallowed.
“It is used to fighting.” His voice came out unsteady. He forced himself to continue. “It is also called the Ninja sword.”
Silence followed.
One second, then two. His heart thumped harder with each passing moment.
Then, the screen popped.
EXCELLENT. FIVE NINJA COIN ACHIEVED.
The tension inside his chest loosened. Not gone. But weakened. He inhaled deeply. The air felt real again.
QUESTION TWO
YOU ARE A NINJA IN A MISSION AND YOU ARE CROWDED BY ENEMIES
WHICH IS THE PERFECT WEAPON TO RESORT TO?
Newton’s fingers twitched. His eyebrows raise up as he scratches his head.
Crowded. Surrounded. No escape.
The words lingered on his mind.
Not a sword. Too slow. Not fists. Too close. Then it came:
Smoke bomb.
He swallowed.
“The smoke bomb,” he said. His voice was low, laced with doubt.
The system was quiet. Newton’s heart raced.
“It blinds enemies,” he added desperately.
He paused.
“It creates space to escape.”
Silence again. Longer this time.
His palms grew wet. His legs felt weak.
Then, the screen popped.
EXCELLENT
YOU HAVE EARNED ADDITIONAL FIVE NINJA COINS.
His heart jumped. Hope. Real. Alive.
The questions kept coming. This time, they were faster, harder, and more precise.
He answered everything he could. Some he knew. Some he guessed. Some he prayed through.
Time lost meaning. Only the next question mattered.
Then suddenly, the screen blinked:
TIME REMAINING: 0:00
QUIZ IS OVER.
Newton stood still, breathing hard. Slowly, he looked down at his wrist. The number displayed there made his eyes widen.
Thirty five.
He froze. “Thirty five!”
He stared at it like it might disappear. Then he smiled. It came slowly. Weak. But real.
Thirty five coins meant food. Sleep. Toilet. And ultimately survival for now.
Behind him, a voice exploded. “Shit!”
Newton turned. Brian stood there, his face twisted in frustration. “I was only able to get five coins.”
Others reacted too. Groans. Curses. And even silence.
Newton’s eyes searched the room. He found Samuel, his friend standing motionless. His eyes were red, wet, broken.
Newton walked to him carefully. “Hey man.”
Samuel shook his head immediately. “I didn’t even get to switch to quiz.” His voice cracked. “I was still reading when my time got exhausted.”
His chest trembled. “How am I going to survive now?”
Newton felt something twist inside him. Not fear for himself. Fear for his friend. He raised his wrist slightly. “Relax.”
He forced a small smile. “I got thirty five.” Samuel looked up slowly..Hope flickered in his eyes. “It should be enough for us.”
Newton nodded. “For a few days.”
Samuel nodded weakly..He didn’t smile..But he breathed easier, and That was enough.
Then, something changed. Brian’s eyes locked onto Newton’s wrist. On the number glowing on the wrist.
.
Thirty five.
His face darkened. His jaw tightened. His breathing grew heavier. He stepped forward.
Once, and twice.
Then suddenly, he lunged. His hand shot out and grabbed Newton’s wrist.
Newton felt it: Hard. Too hard. Pain shot up Newton’s arm.
Newton gasped. Brian pulled him closer. Their faces were inches apart.
His breath was hot, and desperate. “GIVE ME YOUR COINS.” His voice sounded like it came from somewhere broken. His grip tightened. “ELSE YOU DIE.”
Fear wrapped around Newton’s lungs: quiet, cold. But Familiar.
He had seen this before. Brian had never asked, he took.
His fingers loosened.
Coins meant nothing if he ended up on the floor. If he couldn’t breathe. If he couldn’t live.
He raised his hand to the air, in surrender. Then, a voice cut through the tension.
“You will do well to let go of him.”
It was sharp, cold, certain.
There was pause.
Then:
“Or I will kill you myself.”
Everyone turned. Stella stood there. Her hair was messy. Her face was calm. Too calm, as if violence was her usual way of life.
In her hand was the broken leg of a chair. Jagged, and dangerous.
Brian swallowed. His grip weakened. Their eyes met. There was no hesitation in hers.
No anger. Just a ruthless decision. And that frightened him more.
He released Newton’s wrist: slowly, and carefully.
He stepped back carefully. Then walked away. He didn't say anything, not a word. Not a threat. Only wounded pride.
Newton exhaled. His arm trembled. Before he could recover, Stella grabbed him. She slammed him lightly against the wall. Not enough to injure. But enough to make him listen.
“It is time you start standing for yourself.” Her voice was low, and controlled.
Newton swallowed. “I don’t want violence.”
Her eyes searched his. “This is not the world you know.” She gestured around them. “Here, violence will happen.”
She stepped closer.
“It is either you do it.”
She paused.
“Or it is done to you.”
She released him. Newton stood there. Her words stayed with him.
Heavy, and dangerous. A part of him whispered. “Maybe she is right. But here, survival is greater than belief.”
But another part resisted. “Maybe this is a test. God is putting us to a test.” He held onto that thought.
That evening, they returned to the restaurant. Students gathered in groups. Some bought food. Some shared. Others hid theirs. Brian sat alone.
Eating fast, and aggressively.
Kael approached him slowly. “Hey man! I have no Ninja coin, could you please buy me food?”
Brian frowned. “I cannot.” He took another bite. “ I do not have enough for myself either. I need to survive.”
Kael begged.
Brian shoved him. “Get out, else I break your bones.”
Kael left, heart broken, and disappointed. He had thought maybe his friends would help him but even them, have shoved him away.
Newton pushed part of his food toward Samuel. Samuel hesitated. Newton nodded. Then Samuel accepted.
That night, Newton paid for both of them to sleep. Samuel stared at him. “You didn’t have to.”
Newton said nothing.
Morning came..No task. No system. They had thought, maybe a new day would come with an opportunity to earn coins. But they were wrong.
No task came.
Days passed. Coins vanished. Hunger grew. And bodies weakened.
On the fourth day, Kael snapped. He approached Edmond. “Give me your food or I will kill you.”
Edmond observed him. “You got some nerve. You want me to willingly hand over my last meal to you?”
Kael’s teeth dug into his lips. “I am not joking,” he breathed weakly. “Do not make me hurt you.”
Edmond nodded, and gently dropped his food. “If violence is what you truly desire, then bring it on.”
Kael attacked. The sound of the punch echoed. Blood spilled. Edmond fought back.
Newton stepped forward to stop the fight, but Rebecca grabbed him.
“Don’t. Else you might be the one to get hurt.”
They fought like animals: Desperate, and dying.
Edmondt’s final punch landed on Kael’s face. Kael collapsed, but Edmond didn’t stop.
He kept hitting. Again, and gain. Until he finally stopped.
Kael lay still, and broken.
Everyone stared. Rebecca stepped forward. She checked his pulses. Then spoke quietly.
“He is dead.”
Silence filled the room.
Heavy, and permanent. Something had changed. Not just Kael. All of them. They had crossed a line. And there was no going back.
