Thirty minutes before the goddamn timer screams, I feel tremendous drowsiness. My eye bags are jet black, no different from pandas.

I'm not used to staying up late, but here I am; I stayed up all night without being able to close my eyes for even a second. No, this wasn't because I forgot to do my homework. My brain couldn't stop thinking about this terrible possibility: what if Johann also came into play in that world?

It's a bit strange to think about an uncertain thing based on uncertain evidence as well. TickBit was always utilized to do some action in the past game. So it's not surprising that players can be identified by that device on their wrist. However, millions of TickBit users are spread across the country, and there are only 100 players. So the probability of Johann being one of the players is very low.

Why would I overthink it?

Even so, I'm really worried if my est-elementary-school best friend gets involved in that competition, or tournament or whatever that crazy game is. I have to check him out in person.

It's not like me. Waking up all night thinking dubious truth, not me. Somehow that world indirectly 'controls' how I behave. I felt controlled by the organizer after the premiere game.

Fifteen minutes left before my surroundings turn grayish, and I still have to fight the heavy sleepiness. There is no time to dwell on the uncertain. I'd better use the remaining time to prepare myself. Anything can happen shortly.

There wouldn't be enough time to toast bread, aka my favourite breakfast, so I went out of the apartment to buy a cup of ramen. There is a mini-market in my apartment complex, luckily. I also can't make a noise because Mama is probably still asleep in her room. It's not kind to disturb her sleep this early. Moreover, I can't imagine the look on Mama's face when she sees her son who (maybe) is unconscious, or in a coma, or whatever 'sleep' condition I will experience later. So I better 'play' when I'm outside.

I'm just waiting for this firm ramen to wilt. This will definitely refresh me; at least the super spicy taste will keep me awake for the next few hours. I've also gulped down two bottles of energy drink while waiting for the ramen to cook, although I didn't have any expectations that it would help set up my body.

*Shred*

Whoa, it feels like magic. The cat's jump stopped just as I tore off the cover. Unlucky, she almost reached the top of the trash can. The cat must be starving.

Yup, my surroundings have turned gray. Meaning, it's thirty seconds before I'm sent to the middle of nowhere. I haven't even eaten a single strand of ramen yet. I also haven't had time to burn my tongue with this spicy taste and warm soup to make me literate.

I'm just yielding looking into the content of this plastic cup; maybe it can help me deal with my empty stomach. I once read a study that humans can satisfy hunger just by looking at food photos, so this is no difference, right?

Not exactly working out. My saliva dripped profusely. Mothertrucker. I'm more imagining how red and savoury this ramen soup is because of the gray colour. The right level of ripeness of the ramen also made me bite the thin air in my mouth.

Desperate because my stomach starts churning, I pick up the golden fork I had brought from the apartment, gripping the cup, trying to roll up a large amount of ramen noodles. Even though I know my efforts will be in vain, at least I can pretend to eat.

Gold fork? Shouldn't it be gray?

This soup is also red. This time it's not my imagination; the ramen cup is back in colour. I can smell the spicy aroma and feel the heat of the cup. I can also feel the real sensation when I play with the noodles with my fork. Wait, how did this happen?

I was so confused by what was going on that I stupidly spent the last ten seconds just playing with the noodles.

Now I felt that excruciating dizziness again and passed out a few seconds later. Not because my stomach was empty, but because I was being taken to the Chronosseum.

***

I don't know for sure which one, but one of these gloomy march with thumping bass or hot cup ramen pressed against my forehead wakes me up from my 'long' sleep.

This march reminds me of the music played in amusement parks, but in a darker, less pleasant version. It seems like I'm indeed at an amusement park.

I woke up in the middle of a large area with stone pavings. It's like an abandoned horror-themed amusement park with unusual rides circling me. I can see a carousel with a crawling human/zombie as a mount, a rollercoaster with countless loop-de-loop, swing rides without a seat belt, and so on. The lines of half-animal-half-human animatronics and gruesome gothic castles as props didn't go unnoticed. This creeps the hell out of me. I'm a hundred percent sure that children won't come to this place in the real world.

I slowly get up, take the ramen cup which had been brought here somehow. My golden fork finally dipped in the sea of red soup. It's so delicious and refreshing! Even though I'm not too sleepy now, I think this is enough to increase my energy. My tongue feels hot from the extra chilli, but that's what makes my spirits boil.

*Poke* *Poke*

Hmm? Did someone poke my shoulder? Who was that? Am I not alone here? Oh yeah, maybe another player. Or better yet, Farkas and/or Sher?

"Hey, you guys won't believe what I brought-"

*SPURT!!!!!!*

I gushed out all the soup and the last ramen that was in my mouth. It is neither Farkas nor Sher, nor is it a human. The figure that poked me is one of the robotic puppets I saw earlier. Its body is in the shape of a bear with a human head and chicken wings as one of its arms. His eyes are bulging and can't be moved, so he had to move his whole head-part just to look around. He wears a clown outfit with flashy make-up. With the proper lighting at night, this puppet is sure to be a million times way scarier.

The robot then moves rigidly, the joints and hinges making a squealing sound, lacking oil. He shows me a club car full of fur, the front of which was designed to resemble… I don't know; I'm confused between archaic humans or gorillas.

Don't tell me he asked me to hop on that suspicious club car? Well, from his gesture, the answer is a yes. I hesitate to get in, so I spend a few minutes shaking.

The puppet is running out of patience. His head swivelled almost 180 degrees to look back at me, and tilting his head signalled me to get in.

“W-Wait, wait a moment. Let me trash my ramen cup first.”

I turn my head to and fro, my eyes scanning the entire area for a trash bin. And I found one there, among the rows of animatronics.

Human-sized robotic puppets with chicken head, bear, goblin, Frankenstein, faceless, all of them suddenly turned their heads towards me, as if inviting me to come to dump the trash nearby them.

"Come on buddy, let's go! Take me wherever I should go! Call the driver over here!” I patted the 'bear' robot on the shoulder and excitedly climbed into the club car with a chilli-smelling plastic cup in my left hand. I want to meet the other participants; it isn't pleasant being the only living thing here.

Unexpectedly, this robot is the driver, and he is reliable on the road.

I look at this robot in awe. Between an era that has developed too rapidly, or the organizer is too wealthy with some genius scientists in the team to assemble highly intelligent robots.

The robot turns its head 90 degrees, notices my gaze and gives me a stare back. This robot doesn't need to see the road to be still able to ride stably.

U-Ugh, this really makes me uncomfortable. His stiff smile gave me goosebumps.

I sit sideways, making my body face to the left. The robot never gave a shit to the road anymore, so I had to sacrifice my comfortable sitting position. I regret looking at that robot before.

The scenery of several scary rides alternated. Several food and beverage stalls were passed by. My eyes caught some… 'things' on offer; brain juices, whole rabbit meat (that hasn't even been skinned), maggot-large porridge, and many other dirty, disgusting things that are impossible to consume.

I really wonder, what is the purpose of this amusement park? I understand very well that some attractions and rides are built with a mysterious and scary atmosphere to provide 'spice' in an amusement park. But this is too much. The whole content is nothing delightful. I think this amusement park is too cursed. Or… Is this the theme?

Oh, well, I guess the landmark ahead will give me the answer.

The landmark is indistinctly shaped, so don't blame me if I can't explain this strange thing I see before my eyes. Anyway, scary things piled up into a big, towering mound. I can see wizard puppets, models of human internal organs, yetis, Freddy Krueger, all piled on top of each other, supporting a large signboard.

“NIGHTMARELAND ~You build your own hope and dream, and we shatter it.~”

Ha ha ha. Dreamland parody? Not funny at all. But I have come to understand the theme of this amusement park.

My head suddenly overthought. Did the Chronosseum organizer know anything about my promise, and this parody of Dreamland was meant to make fun of me? Or even more cruel; were they celebrating Mr Wayne's death and making fun of him because he couldn't keep his promise to Marie?

I'm lost in my thoughts, much deeper, losing my mind.

Was the first game aimed to bring Mr Wayne down? On second thought, the game didn't suit Mr Wayne, specifically, and they used the cheery song to make fun of him?

Again not a certain thing, but my emotion overflowed because of it. I would totally kill the organizer for toying with someone, laughing and celebrating someone's death!

"Oy!-"

I'm not gonna lie; I actually tried to confirm it directly to the robot. Perhaps it can talk or connect to the organizer somehow. But I stopped my intention to yell and let out my emotions since this robot still turned its head towards me. Although this human-headed bear robot can't move its eyeballs or even blink, I can feel the different look in its eyes. The dead glare that pierced my eye put a lot more pressure on me, as if asking me to keep my mouth shut and not ask questions.

I have to be satisfied with squeezing a plastic cup to temper my emotions. I have to repress all the questions about this world in my brain and try to find the answers later. I'm also forced to believe that the organizer has no intention of bringing down Mr Wayne because the scale and effort are too big to just target or takedown one specific player.

***

This gorilla club car stops right in front of the circus tent with the number 25 on it, with a design full of splashes and blood spots. The robot doesn't ride the car for a few seconds, so I think this is my stop. I get off, leaving the plastic ramen cup in the seat. Please differentiate between littering and leaving trash to the buddy. Meanwhile, I put the golden fork into my jeans pocket.

Two figures are standing straight between the tent doors: the geisha robot dolls, who both give me chills. They seem to be on guard. Meanwhile, the inside of this small tent brought me together with two figures I already know (not very) well.

"Oh, Grey, my boy!" Farkas greeted me as soon as the bridge of my nose was visible. He wears the same suit as in the premiere game. Yes, those complicated classy outfits. "Well, we meet here apparently! Although we already parted coolly like a man and prayed for each other, GHAHAHAHA!

I find Sher just waving his hand at me. He isn't on his work shift, so he wears more relaxed clothing this time. Looks like Sher really likes caps, huh. He's wearing the New Osaka Sea Crane baseball team's cap.

Meanwhile, I just realized that I forgot to change my clothes from last night. I'm still wearing the light blue uniform from Oasis. This time I became the billboard to promote Oasis. Manager Ruben should give me a bonus.

“Aren't we currently at the amusement park or something?” Farkas sounded excited like a child, “This horrific and gripping atmosphere really makes my chest pound! I can't wait to do the activities!”

Sher and I just shrugged.

"So how about it, Grey? Any thrill rides we can ride?” Sher leaned over to me, curious about what I saw outside this tent.

I looked at Sher with a question mark sticking out of my head, “Huh? Shouldn't you guys have looked at the rides out there? Delivered by a half-animal-half-human robot and travelling around in a gorilla club car to get to this place?”

“Half-animal-half-human robot?”

“Gorilla club car?”

Sher and Farkas answered each other in confusion.

"What are you talking about? My boy Sherwyn and I woke up together in this tent, and look at that.” Farkas pointed out the television stand that stood in the corner of the tent, with its screen showing a few words. Cigarette butts and ashes clustered under the television stand. Ugh. who else is the culprit if not the cigarette maniac.

The first official game is in preparation. Please kindly wait inside, keep yourself from getting out of the tent. Punishment will be given to those who leave the tent.

“Looks like it's going to be a team game or something… There's no other reason to gather a group of participants in the same tent, right?” It was clear that Sher felt smart and proud, even though he obtained most of that information from Farkas' analysis.

“I wanted to be stubborn-boy by peeking out; I could die of curiosity! But I can clearly see that there are two shadows that stay on guard!” Farkas paused for a while before resuming after a glowing bulb appeared from behind his head.

"Aha! You've seen the guards! Do they look hell strong?"

“A-Ah… U-Umm… T-They're women…”

"Only two women?" Farkas cut me off, “Then let's take them down! Even if they're military graduates, I'm sure they won't be able to confront the three mighty men! I really want to peek!”

"D-Don't do that, don't put yourself in danger!" I tried hard to hold back Farkas' body that was rushing towards the tent door, but I was pushed instead, "You won't be prepared for what you're about to see!"

"Do they look that powerful?" He stopped in his tracks, finally.

“W-Well, that's how it is… They seem to be armed with rifles or something.” I had to lie to discourage him. But it might be true that the human-sized geisha robot guarding this tent was equipped with a built-in weapon, like a laser in its eye or something.

Farkas spit out in disappointment, then took a pack of cigarettes from the inside pocket of his coat and put a stick in his mouth. He sniffed something before burning the tobacco paper.

“*Sniff* *Sniff*... What is this spicy smell? Anyone eating Hot Spicy Chicken Ramen?”

“A-A while ago I ate that, just after waking up in this world.” I was struck by how sensitive Farkas' sense of smell was.

"Oh, so you already know that one trick?"

"Trick?"

Farkas then signals Sher to show something. Sher runs to get three bottles of isotonic drink which he put on the television stand. I thought they were gifts from the Chronosseum organizer, but it seems that the three drinks were brought directly by Sher from the real world. How?

“I think when our surroundings turn gray, it's time for the players to 'prepare'. Anything that the player touches during that time will be brought into this world. Ah, 'touching' might not be the right word; it's more of 'carrying', 'wearing', or 'using'. Then we have to do it specifically in that colourless time. I found out after doing two experiments with two different packs of cigarettes…” Somebody please separate this person from things that smell like cigarettes. Was there nothing else in his life?

“...I held the two packs before that 'prep time'. When that time arrived, the first pack I treated by just touching it and not getting carried away here. While I gripped the second pack tightly, miraculously, the colour came back, unlike the first pack."

"Then? Where's that second pack of cigarettes?"

Farkas showed me one of the empty cigarette packs on the ground. I just shake my head. Crazy. Which means he's finished a pack of cigarettes while waiting for me to get to the tent.

“It seems that the recolouration of the held object indicates that it is 'legitimate' to be brought into this world. Yesterday, I also asked Sherwyn to do the experiment, and the result, as you can see, we can have three bottles of drinks for free!”

“Not free, old chap. I bought this legally from a mini-market near my house.” Sherwyn grunted.

“Well, that's just how it is! I keep wondering why I'm the only one who brings things from the real world while you guys don't, so this answers everything! The mechanics are probably a little different, but maybe this knowledge can be advantageous for us.”

Oh, that's how Farkas was able to smoke in the premiere game.

A few moments later, the shadow behind the tent moved into the tent. How ridiculous it is to see Sher and especially Farkas when they are surprised to see the figure of this tent guardian.

“U-Ugh, this is even more brutal than a military member carrying a rifle.” Farkas moved back slowly bit by bit; his face frowned. "Man, I'm not about those horrible creepypasta things and kinds of stuff."

"Just wait until you see what's outside." I teased. Farkas' weakness can be my weapon, hehe.

“Ugh… Just imagining it makes me sick.” Farkas tried to ignite the stick that had been in his mouth for a long time. He smoked to relieve his anxiety. Meanwhile, despite trying hard to hide it, Sher looked very excited after hearing what I said.

“Plea-seco-me with-us, y-ou mu-st bebored in-side. Whi-le wai-ti-ng forthefirst of-ficial ga-me to setup, we will ta-ke Es-tre tothe up-cha-rge at-trac-tionsareaand ba-zaar to-pass the ti-me.” One of these robotic geishas was talking to us with his head constantly twitching, having trouble speaking, for whatever reason, like, a stroke?

Before we could ask how we would pay, another geisha robot approached us with nine tokens in his hand. These tokens are divided equally among us. Sher and I took it happily while Farkas crouched behind my back and asked me to get his tokens.

Oh, it's no ordinary coin, it's an eyeball toy that is shaped in great detail with its veins, and Farkas screaming hysterically as three eyeballs roll in his hands.

We were told that the eyeballs could be used as a medium of exchange; for shopping or used as staked in mini-games. The geishas also explain that one person is only given three chances to play mini-games regardless of the outcome. The stand robot will explain the details of each game they held. Seriously, another robot?

We arrived at an area full of mini-games and food outlets after a long walk. The geisha robots withdrew and disappeared among the bushes.

“U-Ugh, what an unappetizing amusement park.” Farkas continued to snuggle behind Sher's back who was very excited during the walk. He just peeked and didn't dare to explore with his eyes. I called it if he wouldn't be ready for the world outside the tent.

It seemed that the organizer gathered the 99 players in this vast field. We simultaneously entered this bazaar section from various directions. Truly lively, majestic, and tense at the same time. It's also the first time we've all seen each other.

Oh, that's right! This might come in handy. I can find Johann's whereabouts. Fingers crossed I can't find him here.