After finishing with numbers 6, 7, and 8, it was time to talk about number 9. Number 9 exploded without me even recognizing the person. She was the girl who died next to number 5.

I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, not until the end when I found out what number 9 was for. It suddenly dawned on me the purpose of this game. If I had understood it earlier and saved number 9, we could have strategized and confronted the K aliens on our terms instead of passively relying on shallow tricks to get through unexpected situations.

So, what was number 9? Number 9 was a Ph.D. student studying paleontology.

That's why I say the biggest mistake I made in my life was not understanding my team members. If only I had asked a few more questions instead of showing off my cleverness and focusing solely on those so-called little puzzles, I would have realized that a woman in her thirties wandering alone in the secret room was likely a female scientist.

If I had known earlier that she was a female scientist specializing in paleontology, then we could have figured out what creature was mentioned in the "Secret Room Instructions" sooner.

According to Rule 5 of the "Secret Room Instructions," "5. If you encounter a giant 'praying mantis' with sharp teeth, extremely agile movements, and wielding a brown sickle while wearing a disguise, please remain calm. That's an actor in a costume."

Don't worry, there were no monsters in the secret room at first.

They only appear during the doomsday mode.

These monsters are very ferocious, but they are sleeping before the doomsday mode. Look up, there's a praying mantis-like creature about the size of a person, right?

Don't worry, they are truly asleep now, so just walk quietly and avoid making loud noises.

So, how far have you progressed? Have you triggered the doomsday mode yet?

But don't worry, this is a must-play part of the game. Every companion who enters the secret room will eventually experience it.

After the deaths of numbers 5 and 9, our team split into two factions. Some people didn't want to continue playing and turned back, while others like Makai decided to stay and fight this game to the end.

Only afterward did I realize that the invitation to accompany her on a visit to the secret room was just a ploy to lead me to the K aliens.

Well, enough about Makai. Let's continue talking about the doomsday mode.

Opening the map, you can see that the fortress is structured as follows:

1. The first floor underground consists of the entrance, corridors, and the foreman's office.

2. The second floor underground is an open refugee square.

3. The third floor underground contains various warehouses, such as the water storage area, medicine area, food area, etc.

4. The fourth floor is the control room.

5. The fifth floor is the graveyard.

After obtaining the map, the first level was considered complete (it was that simple), and immediately after, we triggered its most crucial feature: the doomsday mode.

This secret room is designed like a huge bunker, capable of withstanding even a nuclear explosion.

When I saw the structure, the slogans, and the "Doomsday Act" on the wall, I knew it was all over. This secret room was most likely going to simulate a nuclear explosion.

Indeed, when we descended to the second floor, the refugee square, we first heard a thunderous rumbling sound, which then turned into vibrations that emanated from the center of the second floor hall and spread outward in concentric circles.

It felt like an earthquake accompanied by a strong ringing in the ears.

After the "nuclear blast," all lights went out, and red emergency lights came on. The entire shelter started sounding the alarm.

"Level 1 alert, level 1 alert. Everyone, gather on the third floor bunker. Level 1 alert, level 1 alert. Everyone, gather on the third floor bunker."

We couldn't find a proper hiding place, so we crawled through the stairwell, moving up floor by floor towards the third floor.

Makai was practically crying, but the loud noise, fear, and the scent emanating from Makai made me incredibly alert. Time stood still at that moment, and every sound and movement seemedamplified.

Finally, we reached the third floor, where there were various warehouses. The water storage area, medicine area, and food area were all clearly labeled.

As we were catching our breath and regaining our composure, we noticed a group of people crowding around the water storage area. They were fighting and arguing over bottles of water.

It was chaos. People were pushing and shoving, trying to grab as much water as they could.

Makai and I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do. We were still trying to process everything that had happened so far, and now we were faced with this desperate situation.

But then, something unexpected happened. One of the men who had managed to grab a bottle of water suddenly collapsed to the ground. He was convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

People around him panicked and backed away, afraid that whatever had caused him to collapse was contagious.

It was at that moment that I remembered the "Secret Room Instructions" and Rule 6: "6. In the event of a water shortage, water can be found in the medicine area."

I quickly grabbed Makai's hand and pulled her towards the medicine area. We pushed through the crowd and managed to find a small supply of bottled water.

As we distributed the water to those in need, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. We had found a solution to the water shortage problem, at least for now.

But the incident served as a stark reminder of the harsh reality we were facing. The doomsday mode had brought out the worst in people, turning them into desperate and selfish beings.

We realized that surviving this game would not only require solving puzzles and riddles but also navigating through the complexities of human behavior and making tough decisions.

With each passing moment, the gravity of the situation became clearer. We were not just playing a game; our lives were at stake.

As we continued exploring the secret room, we encountered more challenges and dangers. The K aliens seemed to be one step ahead of us, anticipating our every move.

We had to be vigilant, constantly on guard, and ready to adapt to whatever came our way.

But amidst all the chaos and uncertainty, there was one thing that kept us going: hope. Hope that we would find a way to escape this nightmare, hope that we would survive.

And so, we pressed on, determined to unravel the mysteries of the secret room and emerge victorious.

Little did we know that the biggest challenge was yet to come.