Livestream to Another Dimension: Where Views Decide Your Fate

Haku stepped through the open door, into the next "waiting hall" Mey close behind him. The hall was stark and sterile, with smooth white walls glowing faintly. On the far side of the room, a single large door stood illuminated with bold text above it:

Stage 3 – Final

All players must enter. Timer: 200 Seconds.

His eyes scanned the room quickly. Most of the remaining players were already there, huddled in small groups, their voices filled with tension. Whispers echoed through the space as they discussed the situation, their expressions grim.

"That's it…" one of the players muttered, staring at the glowing door. "The last stage. We're all going to have to fight in there."

"Do you think we'll all be working together?" another asked nervously. "Or are they going to make us fight each other?"

Haku kept his face neutral, his mind already calculating the possible outcomes. So, everyone left will be funneled into one room. This stage is going to be chaos.

As the trio entered the hall, the murmur of voices began to die down. The Crazy Guy's imposing presence loomed over the others like a shark entering a pool. One by one, people turned to look at them, and an uneasy silence swept through the space. The groups instinctively shifted farther away, creating a noticeable bubble of space around Haku, Mey, and the Crazy Guy.

Mey leaned slightly toward Haku, her voice low. "They're all avoiding us."

"It's not us," Haku replied, keeping his voice calm. His gaze flicked briefly to the Crazy Guy, who was strolling ahead with a wide grin. "It's him."

The tension in the hall grew as players nervously discussed the upcoming stage. Fear and uncertainty hung thick in the air.

"What even is the Final Stage?" one woman whispered, her voice trembling. "It can't be worse than what we just went through… right?"

"It has to be worse," another player responded grimly. "Half of us are already gone. This… this is going to be hell."

Haku stepped forward, pulling four neon-pink pistols from his inventory—the ones he'd collected from the fallen players earlier. He placed them on the ground in front of him and raised his voice.

"If you've got good aim and think you can handle it, take one," he said firmly. "It's better they get used than left to waste."

Several players hesitated, exchanging unsure glances. Slowly, a few stepped forward, their hands shaking as they picked up the weapons. Haku noticed their expressions—equal parts gratitude and fear—as they quickly stepped back into their groups, avoiding eye contact with him, Mey, or the Crazy Guy.

Without warning, the Crazy Guy slammed his massive fist against the wall with a thunderous bang, the sound echoing through the hall. 

"Idiots!" he roared, his voice raw and filled with rage. The players closest to him froze in place, their faces pale as they instinctively backed away.

For a brief moment, he stood motionless, his chest heaving with barely-contained aggression. Then, with a sudden burst of violence, he hurled his neon-pink pistol against the wall with all his strength. The weapon shattered on impact, fragments scattering across the floor.

"Idiots!" he screamed again, his voice even louder this time. His eyes burned with wild fury as he glared at the ground, muttering incoherent words under his breath. It was as if he wasn't even aware of the people around him anymore.

"What… what's wrong with him?" someone whispered, their voice shaking with fear.

Haku's sharp gaze locked onto the Crazy Guy, his mind racing. That venom… it's doing something to him. Changing him. Maybe it should've killed him, but his body is just too massive to go down that easily. Whatever it's doing now… it's bad.

The Crazy Guy's mood shifted again without warning. A manic grin spread across his face, and he let out a bone-chilling laugh that sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room. Without another word, he turned and strode toward the door leading to the Final Stage, his movements deliberate and unnervingly calm.

The players parted like water, giving him a wide berth as he passed. Whispers followed him, filled with dread and uncertainty.

Haku exhaled quietly, his gaze lingering on the Crazy Guy's retreating form. "He's getting worse," he muttered under his breath.

Mey glanced at him, her brow furrowed. "What do we do if he snaps in there?"

"We stay out of his way," Haku replied, his tone steady. "And we focus on surviving."

The door slid open with a loud hiss. Above it, a glowing timer started counting down:

200… 199… 198…

"EVERYONE GET IN THERE NOW!" the Crazy Guy roared, his voice booming like a cannon. "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GO! GO! GO! EVERYONE IN, NOW!" He waved his massive arms around, his tone growing more impatient and crazed with each word.

Haku and Mey didn't hesitate. With a quick glance at each other, they walked through the door, calm and collected.

Behind them, the others froze for a moment, startled by the Crazy Guy's sudden outburst. They exchanged nervous looks, fear etched on their faces. Slowly, they began filing into the room, their movements stiff and cautious.

Each step was filled with dread, their thoughts spiraling. 

What am I more afraid of right now? one wondered, trembling. Him… or whatever's waiting behind that door?**

Haku and Mey entered the room, their eyes widening as they took in the vast landscape. Rolling green hills, a small forest in the center, and the warm glow of sunlight bathed everything in a serene atmosphere. The air smelled fresh, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers.

Without hesitation, Haku pointed toward a large tree at the base of a nearby hill. "Let's move there," he said firmly.

Reaching the Hill, Haku crouched slightly, using the trunk of a three for cover. He glanced at Mey, his voice low but steady. "Stay here. Don't get too close to anyone else. I've noticed—the Scorpions focus on the largest groups. If we keep our distance, it'll be easier to take them out without becoming targets."

Mey looked at him, her grip tightening on her weapons. For a moment, it seemed like she wanted to ask something, but instead, she nodded. "Alright," she replied, her voice calm despite the tension in her eyes.

Mey: "Why didn't you have any friends in school?" 

Haku: "Huh? I had friends—two, actually," he replied with exaggerated pride, his tone dripping with sarcasm. 

Mey: "The voices in your head don't count." 

Haku chuckled softly, a smirk playing on his lips. 

Haku: "And whats your deal, why is your aim so insane" 

Mey: "I-I don't even know," she admitted, sounding genuinely surprised. "I'm surprising myself too." 

Mey hesitated before asking again, her voice curious:

"Why did you jump into our group earlier?" 

Haku thought for a moment, internally cringing.

What does she want to hear? No, that'd be way too awkward._ 

"Because I really wanted to be friends with that charming, Crazy Prison Guy." 

Mey let out a soft laugh, shaking her head slightly. "You're such an idiot."

The countdown on the system screen began flashing: 

Spawning in: 100 Seconds.

Haku's eyes stayed locked on the timer. He clenched his fists, a quiet determination filling him. Mey leaned slightly to check the timer as well, her breathing slow and controlled.

In the distance, the remaining players gathered in small, tense groups. Their whispers carried faintly on the breeze.

"Why is it taking so long to start?" 

"Do you think... any of us will even survive this?"

The air was thick with dread, but none of them dared to approach Haku, Mey, or—most importantly—the Crazy Guy, who still stood near the entrance, muttering to himself and pacing like a predator waiting to strike.

All of the players had gathered in a tight group near the entrance, their fear evident as they stayed close together, their voices a frantic hum of panic and confusion.

Haku and Mey, however, had moved away from the crowd. They stood on a small hill at a distance, separated from the chaos below. From their elevated position, they had a clear view of the field and the clustered players near the door.

Suddenly, a loud warning signal blared from the direction of the hall they had just left. All heads turned toward the sound, a sharp, mechanical wail that filled the air with a sense of dread.

Players near the door froze in place, their eyes darting toward the source. In the hall, some players were still paralyzed with fear, while others hesitated, unsure whether to move.

3… 2… 1…

Boom.

The hall disappeared in an instant, revealing a vast expanse of the universe beyond—a silent, endless void filled with faint stars. The players who had stayed behind floated lifelessly, their bodies twisting as they suffocated in the vacuum.

Haku's eyes widened as he took in the sight. "We're in space?!" he muttered, his voice edged with disbelief.

Mey's voice trembled beside him. "How… how is this possible?"

The players near the door stumbled back, some screaming in terror. The contrast between the peaceful landscape they stood in and the horrifying scene outside was jarring. Panic rippled through the crowd as they scrambled closer to the center of the field, desperate to distance themselves from the deadly void.

Spawning in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

The countdown ended with a sharp, mechanical tone that echoed across the field. For a split second, everything was still.

Then, from the horizon, movement began. Small at first—shadows shifting against the bright landscape. But those shadows grew larger, multiplying rapidly.

Above, a cold, emotionless display flickered to life:

1000 Remaining.

Gasps rippled through the players as they stared at the number. Mey's breath hitched. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "One... one thousand?"

Haku clenched his fists, exhaling slowly through his nose. His gaze locked on the dark tide of the now even bigger and more scorpions flooding over the hills.

The large group near the entrance stood frozen in place, their faces pale with terror. Some murmured prayers; others stumbled backward, shaking their heads in disbelief.

Haku's eyes darted toward Mey.

"Mey," he said sharply.

She snapped her head toward him.

"Huh?"

"Focus," he said, his tone firm but calm. "We're not dying here. Not today."

Mey swallowed hard, gripping her pistols so tightly her knuckles whitened. "O-okay," she whispered.

The swarm surged, their speed terrifying, their sheer numbers overwhelming.

A single thought burned in Haku's mind as he steadied his aim: 

This is it. We either survive... or we don't.