Satan’s Game

Cillian has the flashlight in hand, making it much easier to navigate past the swamp without extra caution.

After parting ways with Carlos, he feels both relieved and slightly regretful. 

While Carlos can be annoyingly slow and overly considerate, there's no denying he's a walking encyclopedia—and an entirely selfless one at that.

Still, Cillian has no interest in Carlos' angelic heroics. 

Save people? What a joke. 

This game is all about eliminating competition.

The terrain on the far side of the river becomes increasingly peculiar and challenging. After the swamp, there's a steep slope, forcing Cillian to constantly watch both above and below. 

The climb is exhausting.

After scaling another section of the incline, he finds the path growing steeper. 

Fatigue starts setting in, and he notices a relatively flat boulder nearby—clean enough to rest on. 

With three hours until dawn, he decides to set up a small fire and take a nap to regain some energy.

Meanwhile, Carlos is carefully following Cillian's trail. 

Broken branches, trampled grass, and cut vines make the path obvious, but holding a flaming torch slows him down. Navigating at night is exponentially harder than during the day.

He's unsure how long he's been walking when he notices a faint, stationary flicker of firelight in the distance—someone has set up camp. 

Most likely Cillian.

Cillian notices the moving flame as well. Someone is heading toward his location. 

After the peace mode ends, only someone reckless or familiar would approach. The answer is obvious.

[Live Comments] Carlos is coming! Cillian, make up with him already. Poor boy looks so pitiful!

[Live Comments] This is a survival game. Trust no one, Cillian! Go solo.

[Live Comments] But Carlos is useful. Just think of it as exploiting him, Cillian.

[Live Comments] What if Carlos is the one exploiting Cillian? I don't trust this "pure" persona. Bet he's secretly cunning.

Carlos spends nearly an hour climbing the slope, feeling as though he's scaling a mountain. 

Finally, in the gray light of pre-dawn, he reaches a plateau and spots Cillian sleeping on the rock.

He stays silent, careful not to disturb Cillian, and sits by the fire. 

Gently, he stirs the coals, coaxing the flames to life. From his bag, he pulls out a small pot, filling it with water to boil.

The water bubbles and steams, but when Carlos sips, the temperature burns his lips, peeling a layer of skin. 

He winces in pain but stays quiet, not wanting to wake Cillian. Holding his mouth, he curls up, enduring the sting.

Then Cillian speaks suddenly, "Being overly cautious when approaching a stranger in the wild can backfire. Some might stab you first, just in case."

Carlos looks up. "You're awake?"

"I woke the moment you arrived. Stop creeping around like a thief." Cillian yawns, sitting up.Then he throws a few more branches onto the fire. 

"What happened to the person you were going to save?"

"I didn't save him."

"Didn't?"

"He's the one who dragged me underwater during the day. Almost drowned me."Carlos adjusts his glasses.

Cillian looks even more intrigued, his expression unreadable. 

Carlos notices the subtle shift and grows defensive. 

"Do I look like someone who can't tell right from wrong, who loves everyone indiscriminately?"

Cillian can't help but laugh at Carlos' confidence.

Carlos feels frustrated and stirs the fire with a stick, sending sparks flying and intensifying the heat until Cillian finally intervenes.

"If you keep this up, you'll roast us along with the firewood."

"I'm not—" Carlos starts to protest but stops. 

After a moment of silent deliberation, he continues, "I didn't save him because he tried to kill me. But if that hadn't been the case, I would've saved him no matter what."

"And if you knew a person would kill you after being saved?"

"I wouldn't save him."

The decisiveness in his tone is striking.

Cillian, despite his differing values, finds himself impressed, even vaguely understanding Carlos' perspective.

"Carlos," Cillian asks after a pause, "you're not the only one who's tried to challenge Satan's rules. But those who do tend to end up dead. Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"Of course, I'm afraid."

The straightforwardness of the answer catches Cillian off guard. He'd expected some idealistic stubbornness, but Carlos' honesty disarms him.

Carlos then cautiously ventures, "Can we team up again?"

"Why? We don't even share the same worldview," Cillian retorts.

"Because I can't make it to the final round on my own."

"So, you're admitting you're using me? And you're doing it so openly?"

Carlos frowns, giving the question some thought. "I'd call it mutual benefit."

"But I don't want to. I don't see the point of working with someone whose values clash with mine. Every life-or-death decision will turn into an argument, and then we'll 'mutually benefit' our way into another temporary truce. What are we? Ride-or-die friends?"

Carlos freezes, clearly having anticipated the refusal. 

"Are you suggesting I just agree to follow all of your decisions?"

"Yes."Cillian admits it directly.

Carlos furrows his brows deeply. A realization dawns on him. "So earlier, when you got mad and stormed off, that was just you trying to gain control over decision-making?"

Cillian smirks faintly but doesn't deny it.

He should have realized it sooner. Cillian, someone who loved making deals, wouldn't tolerate conflicting opinions disrupting their progress. 

In a team, there had to be a decision-maker and a follower.

An absolute follower.

The so-called "breakup" of their alliance was likely a strategic move—Cillian's way of retreating to advance, forcing Carlos into the role of the follower.

Cillian truly excelled at negotiation.

But Carlos has also seen how merciless the rainforest can be. He knows his physical limitations and realizes that without an ally, he might not even make it through the first round.

Especially with the looming challenge of the cliff. He can't imagine standing at the edge, let alone descending it.

After wavering, Carlos finally sighs in resignation. 

"Fine, I'll follow your lead. But I want to reserve the right to make one decision myself."

Cillian raises an eyebrow but concedes. "Fine."

"So, we're a team again—"

"Hold on," Cillian interrupts. "I don't think that's enough."

"I can give all my items to you!"

Cillian waves him off nonchalantly. "Not interested, especially not that one."

His gaze lands pointedly on the red beads adorning Carlos' wrist.

 "What's wrong with these? They bring good luck."

"Oh really? What luck have they brought you so far? Getting stuck in a tree? Almost drowning?"

"They brought me to you!"

Cillian freezes.

Carlos repeats with utmost seriousness, "They led me to you."

Cillian: "…"

[Live Comments] OMG!!! Is Carlos gay?

[Live Comments] And people say Carlos isn't secretly a smooth operator. Look at that delivery!

For a moment, it feels as though the tension of the survival game is drowned out by the audience's collective excitement.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not gay. I'm 100% into girls. I just want to say they're really helpful."

Cillian reaches out a hand. 

"Give me the beads."

Without hesitation, Carlos hands them over.

And without a second of delay, Cillian hurls them down the slope, the beads disappearing into the thick foliage below. The motion is as clean and decisive as if it were planned all along.

"Great. Now we can work together again."

Carlos pauses briefly. "Alright," he says calmly, before heading down the slope to retrieve his beads.

Cillian had expected this. Bored and curious, he watches him from above, wondering how long it will take.

As dawn breaks and the first rays of sunlight bathe the forest, Carlos' figure moves methodically below. He's crouched, carefully searching, his shirt snagged on thorns and his hands smudged with dirt and grass stains.

When the sun is fully up, Carlos finally climbs back up the slope, holding the beads in his hand. His face and arms are streaked with green and brown smears, making him look thoroughly disheveled.

Cillian waits for him to lose his temper.

Instead, Carlos extends the beads toward him. 

"Here."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you want to throw them again?"

"…Are you kidding me?"

Carlos, serious as ever, explains, "Look, we've officially teamed up again, right? From now on, we'll be sticking together. But I know I can't beat you in a fight—"

"Drop the can't beat you part. You just can't," Cillian interrupts.

Carlos opens his mouth to protest but ultimately gives up. 

"Fine. I can't beat you. I'm also not the most alert, and I sleep like a log. If you want to throw the beads, there's nothing I can do to stop you. So, I figured I'd let you throw them until you get tired of it."

Cillian stares at him.

Damn.

This man is too logical. It's weird.

Who let him show in?

The desire to toss the beads suddenly evaporates, along with any interest in them at all. 

Even if he doesn't want to admit it, Carlos has won.

Before either of them can say another word, the familiar sound of a system alert interrupts them. A bright screen appears before their eyes.

[Progress Update: Current Chests Found: 1/3. Clues Available: 1/3.]

Cillian and Carlos exchange a glance.

Someone's already claimed the second clue.

That quickly?

—who could it be?