[User: Han Kain (Wisdom)
Date: Day 21
Current Location: Level 1, Room 106 (Mission Room - Land of Hope Hotel)
Sage's Advice: 0]

5. Azure Dragon Train Launching from Space

As we approached the train, everyone started to think it through. The train had a familiar structure, like a traditional dragon roller coaster, with many cars connected in a line. Should we all get into the same car? Or should we spread out?

"Maybe it’s safer if we all stay together?" Seungyub suggested, his voice sounding a bit nervous. It wasn’t so much logic guiding him as much as the fear of being alone.

"There could be safe and dangerous cars. In that case, scattering might mean someone survives," Ahri proposed, suggesting once again that we split up.

"But what if splitting up is just another trap?" Jinchul-hyung remarked, starting to see traps everywhere, a realistic response considering this hotel.

I focused on what was immediately visible.

"It's not really a choice. Looks like we have to split up—each of these oxygen tanks only has one mask attached."

It became clear there was no option from the start. In the end, we all went into separate cars. The train cars were small and close enough together that, by taking off the mask for a moment, we could still talk.

The moment we boarded, gravity disappeared. Realistically, it was strange that we even had gravity in space at the station. But in the train, weightlessness took over, and our bodies floated. Just as we began getting used to it, the conductor suddenly appeared in mid-air and began to speak in a bored tone.

"Welcome aboard, challengers! I am the conductor of the Azure Dragon Train. This train will take you through the mysteries of space, offering various enjoyable experiences, so please participate actively!

In 10 seconds, the Comet Dodging Game will begin as the train departs!"

"What does that mean? Comet dodging? Explain yourself, you lunatic!"

"Comet Dodging means you dodge comets," was his dry reply.

Hearing that, any urge to ask further questions vanished.

"Look up."

"Look up? We’re in space."

"It just means look up."

Looking up, I understood what he meant. There was an endless field of rocks in our path along the train’s rail.

This was going to be exhausting, no doubt about it.

As soon as the train took off, the "comets" started raining down.

 

Swoosh! Bang!

We frantically danced around in the cramped train car, dodging the falling rocks from above. Although they were just rocks, not actually burning, getting hit wasn’t an option.

On top of that, we had to carry the oxygen tanks as we moved. The only relief was that in zero gravity, the weight didn’t matter. As the train lurched and twisted, dodging the rocks became harder and harder.

Rip!

A rock skimmed past, tearing part of my shirt. It probably wouldn’t kill you instantly, but if you got hit enough times, it’d be game over.

Was everyone else okay? No time to check. Normally, Jinchul-hyung could handle things like this, but with his leg, would he manage to dodge everything?

In the midst of dodging, the train started to spin and then the comets stopped falling.

Taking a moment to catch our breath, I figured out what happened. The Azure Dragon Train had flipped halfway, rolling horizontally. Now the comets were hitting the bottom of the train, leaving us safe for the moment.

"Everyone okay? Anyone hit by a rock?"

"I’m fine. Took one hit, though."

"I managed to dodge somehow."

"Seungyub?"

No response. I decided to focus on the present situation. We were upside down, but in zero gravity, it didn’t really matter. If we were on Earth, blood would rush to our heads, but here it just felt a bit disorienting.

Sooner or later, the train would flip again, and then it’d be time to dodge again.

"What should we do? Anyone have any ideas? Are we just going to keep dodging endlessly?"

"Actually, I had an idea when the train flipped. It might sound a bit crazy."

"Doesn’t matter. Just say it."

"What if, next time the train flips, we all move to the floor instead of staying up top?"

"Huh?"

"Look, there’s no gravity out here, right? So up and down don’t really mean anything. We can avoid the comets by moving wherever they aren’t coming from."

"That actually makes sense! And since there’s no barrier, it won’t be hard to switch sides."

It clicked. In zero gravity, there was no need to stay up top. We just had to hold onto the oxygen tanks and move to the bottom side of the train.

"But the train’s moving forward, right? Won’t we drift backward if we move around?"

"We’ll just have to hang onto something. It’s got to be easier than trying to dodge these rocks until the end."

Clunk!

The train began flipping again. If this kept up, the comets would start falling soon.

Following Jinchul-hyung’s suggestion, we held onto the oxygen tanks, opened the doors, and crossed over to the opposite side—

And that’s when we realized we’d made the right choice.

As soon as we came out of the train car, a ladder we hadn’t noticed before appeared. We climbed down, finding an identical car underneath.

The train was actually a double-sided vehicle with no top or bottom!

By continually moving back and forth between the two sides, we avoided the comets. After a long while, they finally stopped falling.

 

"Ha ha! Everyone, did you enjoy that? The Comet Dodging Game has ended. Next up is the Black Hole Survival Game!

In this game, no tricks will work. Only your physical strength will get you through."

No tricks, only strength? The meaning soon became clear.

The structure of the Azure Dragon Train shifted, making it impossible to switch sides. All ladders and doors vanished, leaving only a single handle in the middle of each car.

Then, a massive hole opened up in space. Could it be…?

Acting on instinct, I grabbed the handle just as a powerful force began to pull at us.

"No tricks. Show your strength."

It was literal. This was pure endurance—a test of strength against the pull of the black hole.

Wait, they expected us to survive through brute force?

Looking around for any alternative, I found nothing.

There was only one thing that came to mind.

Maybe I didn’t have to use just my arms.

Clamping the handle between my legs, I prayed I’d have enough strength to hold on.

 

It felt like my legs were going to tear apart. How long had we been holding on? It might not have even been 10 minutes, but every second was agony. That massive, swirling black hole—whether real or artificial—seemed ready to rip me apart.

In the distance, I saw the station approaching.

Maybe, if we could hold out until we reached it, this would end?

Someone else seemed to have the same idea.

"Just hold on a little longer! We’re almost there!"

They had enough energy to shout, at least. Jinchul-hyung, probably holding on with his arms, seemed to be managing better than me.

The moment the train entered the station—

Ting!

I heard a metallic clink, followed by the sight of Ahri tumbling away!

There was nothing I could do but stare in shock as another teammate fell.

But then, she propelled herself through the air, flying back into the station.

She still had the strength to fly. Somehow, it seemed, three of us had made it through.

As we arrived, the gravitational pull stopped, and I slumped onto the platform, unable to stand. My legs were completely wrecked, bruised from the effort.

Jinchul-hyung soon collapsed beside me.

"Hey, Kain. You alright?"

"Do I look alright?"

"Honestly? No. I feel the same."

"We’ve still got two missions left. I’m barely hanging on."

"Missions that push you physically and mentally with no breaks? This is hell."

Tap. Tap.

Ahri approached us, her steps barely steady.

"Ahri, are you okay? You still had strength at the end, didn’t you?"

"…"

"Ahri?"

"Both of you, come closer."

Her voice was a barely audible whisper.

Noticing something was wrong, we struggled to our feet and approached.

Her face was pale, almost blue, her body cold and lifelessly still.

"Ahri? Are you okay?"

"I… need to rest a bit."

I was speechless. That final burst of energy must have been her last bit of strength.

Neither Jinchul-hyung nor I knew what to do.

"Syringe."

I pulled out the syringe as she requested.

"Are we supposed to give you our blood? Feed it to you?"

Even as she lay dying, Ahri managed to look offended.

"My blood. Draw it."

I closed my eyes and did as she asked, injecting each of us with a dose. The effects were immediate, revitalizing, a boost of energy to each of our battered bodies.

And then, Ahri's head fell to the side, a look of relief softening her face, as if she’d finally earned some rest.

Only two of us left.

Mission 5: Azure Dragon Train Launching from Space—Success! Proceed to the next mission?

Mission 6: Real Combat! Haunted House.

1! 2! 3! Start!

The now-familiar disorientation hit me again, and when it stopped, I found myself staring at an old, eerie mansion, dimly lit by the pale glow of the moon.