Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This was absolutely a personal hell for 007n7. It wasn't his narcissism talking; the recent events made it hard for him not to believe that this was real.

At first, he thought witnessing his most beloved son turn into a murderous monster was terrifying enough, not to mention the endless "Games" waiting for him every single day. Each round required evading various Killers to avoid being killed or having his neck snapped by his own son.

007n7 only had a bootleg version of c00lGui; its functions were solely for self-preservation, leaving him with no way to fight back against the killers. Most of his fellow Survivors hated him because of the trouble he'd caused during his hacker days, so how could he dare hope for anyone's help? How ironic. The one who was once a hacker ended up being saved by the administrator.

Recently, new Killers had appeared, but they were none other than 007n7's former partner, Noli – yet another person who despised him. Noli was exceptionally keen on killing 007n7. Whenever Noli was the Killer, 007n7 was almost always the first to die. His fake Generators, hallucinations, and a sprint very similar to c00lkidd's made him practically a hard counter to 007n7. Noli's emergence was like adding fuel to the fire of 007n7's already abandoned existence.

Who would be the next? His daughter? Oh no. How long had he been missing for her? The last time he checked, she had dropped out of school after C00kkid went missing to join 007n7 in searching for her little brother. Without him, how is she supposed to survive on her own?

I abandoned her again. That was the only thought 007n7 could muster.

"007n7!!!"

007n7 snapped out of his daze abruptly. What met his eyes was an angry pizza delivery guy.

"Are you even listening to me?! This is the THIRD time today you've led the Killer right to me! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Elliot yelled, his body still trembling from the recent death.

007n7 blinked, looking blankly at Elliot, finally recalling what had just happened. Somehow today, he was out of sorts, his mind wandering. He'd repeatedly forgotten to conserve his stamina or check his surroundings while running, inadvertently getting his teammates killed several times.

"S-sorry, Elliot..." Apart from the apology that had long become a mantra, he truly didn't know what else to say. He had no energy left to defend himself. All he wanted now was to hide in his room and catch a brief nap before the next Round started.

Elliot met the tired eyes of the single father, and the words on the tip of his tongue died away. He sighed. "Forget it," he said, turning and heading towards the second floor of the lobby.

Watching Elliot's retreating figure, 007n7 breathed a sigh of relief, but the guilt inside him remained. He'd held the team back again. Dejected, 007n7 silently made his way to his room.

———

With each step up the staircase, a dull ache throbbed in Elliot's chest, as if the blade was still lodged in the old wound. Although Survivors resurrected after death, and their physical wounds vanished, the mental scars didn't heal instantly. The brain still believed the injury was there, and Survivors usually needed some time to fully recover.

Elliot spotted Chance sitting in front of the television that once looped panda videos. Chance had been the first to die, encountering the Killer just one minute after the Game started. It seemed Lady Luck hadn't been on his side.

The television in front of Chance was now broadcasting live footage from the ongoing Round. Whenever a Round commenced, the TV channels would change, and using the remote control placed beside it, one could switch between different Survivors' perspectives.

Chance quickly noticed Elliot behind him and flashed his signature smile, turning and waving to invite him to sit beside him and watch the match. Elliot found a beanbag and sank into it, his body, still shaking from phantom pain, gradually relaxing.

"Well, aren't we both blessed with luck? We died spectacularly in the first five minutes. Haha!" Chance said cheerfully, fiddling with a gold coin in his hand.

"Ugh, this is absolutely 007's fault. Recently, for some reason, he's been completely spaced out," Elliot grumbled, scratching his head before crossing his arms and pouting at the TV screen, which showed Guest1337 trying to distract the Killer.

"Oh, come on, man. I'm sure our friend didn't mean to. He's probably just not in a good headspace lately, especially with the new Killers showing up... He'll be back to normal in a few days~" Chance tried to comfort Elliot. Though his tone was cheerful, a hint of sympathy for 007n7 was still detectable.

Being hunted by someone you were once close to... that's tough for anyone to handle, right? Let alone when there are two of them.

"I doubt it. He hasn't even fully recovered from the whole 'son incident' yet, not to mention dealing with his 'ex' now."

"Wait, they dated?"

"Uh, don't get me wrong. I don't actually know. It's just that they were practically inseparable back in their hacker prime. Hard not to suspect something."

"Ooh, I smell some gossip~" Chance rubbed his hands together and leaned in closer to Elliot.

"And this is exactly how all those wild rumors start flying around the house ..." Elliot said with a hint of disdain, gently pushing Chance's face away with his finger.

Pushed away, Chance put on a dramatic pout and furrowed his brows, shooting Elliot a look that said, "How dare you say that to me?" Elliot couldn't help but laugh, the tension finally leaving his body. He stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes.

"Anyway, I think I've rested enough. Time to go get dinner ready for you all. This was our last game for today, right?" Elliot said as he walked out of the room, leaving Chance alone to watch the remaining teammates.

"Honestly, just watching these survival matches over and over is getting kind of boring now... " Chance started muttering to himself, the gold coin still spinning between his fingers.

Clink—

Tails.

Clink—

Tails.

Clink—

Heads.

Clink— Clatter.

The coin slipped from Chance's fingers and fell to the floor. His eyes widened in surprise, fixed on the television screen.

"Oh ###, I didn't expect a new poor soul to join us now of all times.”

———

Timer: 09:42

Map: Brandon6875935's Place

Survivors: Guest1337, Builderman, Shedletsky, Dusekkar, Noob, Two Time, ???

Killer: 1x1x1x1

One of the team's healers had died fifteen minutes ago. With three teammates gone, the timer jumped from fifteen to twenty-four minutes, and a wave of despair crushed everyone's spirit. Yet, through excellent teamwork, Guest1337 and the other survivors had managed to hold their own against 1x1x1x1’s attack for nearly ten minutes without further deaths.

The relentless chaos had scattered the team, leaving the survivors split into small groups across the map. Guest1337 found himself alone. After confirming that he was safe immediately, he quickly assessed the situation: he had to actively seek out and regroup with the others.

Guest1337 made his way through the maze, heading towards the castle. The castle, perched high above the ground, was a common gathering point for survivors. He was concentrating on the road ahead when he heard the faint sound of rolling gravel behind him.

His body reacted before his mind could process it. He turned around instantly and looked in the direction of the sound, fists clenched, muscles taut, entering a state of high alert.

"Who's there?" he growled, his voice low and raspy from constant running and exhaustion.

After a moment of silence, the source of the sound revealed itself. It was a girl who looked like a teenager.

"Um... excuse me, sir... I didn't mean to scare you..." she said softly, her tone hesitant. "I just... wanted to ask where I am?"

She had a pair of demon horns, fading from black to green, on her head, and a matching tail that swayed gently behind her. A chicken hat sat atop her head, and she wore a hoodie with a few strands of red bangs peeking out from under the hood. Characters from an Eastern language Guest1337 didn't recognize were printed on the front. A denim jacket was thrown over the hoodie, paired with dark blue jeans and strikingly bright orange sneakers.

Something about her inexplicably reminded Guest1337 of 007n7.

"It's fine, kid. What's your name?"

"Codeless." A strange name, but after considering the names of the other survivors, Guest1337 didn't dwell on it further.

"Guest1337. You can just call me Guest."

"Okay, Guest." The girl stopped for a moment, her eyes scanning his military-style clothing. "Am I... on some kind of war?"

"No, Codeless, not at all." Guest1337 paused, trying to find the least shocking words to describe their current situation, but realized it was utterly futile. "You haven't been dragged into a war. But this place... might be worse than any battlefield." The so-called reassurance was, in truth, comforting to no one.

Once you entered Forsaken, you were forced to participate in one death game after another, “enjoying” the endless torment. The thought made Guest1337's heart sink. Moreover, the girl before him, who seemed to be a new survivor, looked like she was just a teenager. He had thought that C00kidd and the others would be the only children in this hellish place.

But now, it seemed He was wrong at all. 

"Listen, Codeless, it's not safe here. I'll take you to the castle to regroup with the others and explain on the way—" Guest1337's words cut off abruptly.

A streak of green light caught the corner of his eye, hurtling towards them.

"Look out!"

Acting purely on instinct, he lunged, wrapping an arm around Codeless's waist and dragging them both behind a nearby piece of cover. A green shockwave slammed past, right where they had been standing.

It was 1x1x1x1's Mass Infection.

"What was that?!" Codeless's voice was shrill with terror. She slumped to the ground, realizing how close she had just come to death, her tail instinctively wrapping tightly around her left leg.

There was no time to explain. Guest1337 hauled her to her feet. "Run."

His heart sank. Of all times for 1x1x1x1 to show up. His primary mission was to get the new survivor to the others; he couldn't hold off a Killer alone for long, especially not while protecting a panicked child.

He had to minimize the trauma this newcomer would carry from her first game. Driven by this thought, he quickened his pace.

Chapter Text

Codeless's mind was in turmoil. First, she had been teleported to an unknown place, then she encountered a soldier, and now she was being chased by a monster she hadn't even gotten a clear look at.

She didn't know how long they had been running. Her pace gradually slowed, her lungs burning, her stamina nearly depleted. If this continued, she would undoubtedly become another victim to the monster behind her. She had to do something…

The will to survive overwhelmed her fear. As she ran, she frantically groped around on her body, eventually summoning a black square with a green border in front of her chest. Her fingers began flying across its surface.

Guest1337 noticed Codeless lagging and turned, only to find her fiddling with a… c00lgui??? No, 007n7's c00lgui was red and black. This one was green and black.

Before he could process this, Guest1337 acted instantly. He planted his feet, pivoted, and drove a heavy elbow strike squarely into the pursuing Killer. 1x1x1x1 grunted in pain, stunned by the impact, halting its advance.

Seizing the opportunity, Guest1337 and Codeless put more distance between them and the Killer.

They took cover behind a stone wall to catch their breath. Only after confirming 1x1x1x1 wasn't following did Guest1337 relax slightly. As he gasped for air, he noticed Codeless was still utterly focused on manipulating the square in her hands.

"Codeless?"

"Please tell me the general direction of the castle!" Codeless whirled around to face Guest1337. The eyes that had been filled with terror moments ago now blazed with determination.

Startled by the sudden shift, Guest1337 nonetheless pointed towards the castle. It was still some distance away, and 1x1x1x1 was likely still lurking nearby.

Upon knowing this, Codeless input a string of mysterious numbers into the screen. Just as Guest1337 tries to warn against rash action that might alert the enemy, Codeless's "c00lgui" enlarged, planting itself on the ground and transforming into a portal shimmering with a faint green light around its edges. Codeless pushed her hand through the portal, gesturing for Guest1337 to follow.

Knowing they had no other choice, Guest1337 suppressed his doubts and stepped through after her.

A brief sensation of weightlessness seized them. Their feet met empty air, and they tumbled down, landing solidly on grass—more accurately, they had fallen from just outside the upper wall of the castle.

"Well, that's a bit awkward…" Codeless sat up, rubbing her sore spots, her tail swishing in embarrassment. "I meant to teleport us on top of the castle."

Guest1337 rose quickly, scanning their surroundings. Confirming they were at the castle, he looked down at the girl on the ground with a touch of surprise. A teleportation skill. While 007n7 had one too, he could only transport himself and it required a full 5-second wind-up. Codeless's teleport took less than two seconds and could bring a teammate along. This could be incredibly useful for the team.

"It's fine , kid. You did a great job," Guest1337 said comfortingly, offering a hand to pull her up.

"Oi, hey, it's Guest!" A voice called from above them.

Looking up, they saw it was Shedletsky—the former, retired admin. To Guest1337's surprise, Codeless flinched visibly upon seeing him. Strange, Guest1337 thought, why would an ordinary robloxian instinctively fear an admin?

The two ascended the castle via a nearby ramp, finally reuniting with the group. Shedletsky stood waiting for them near the entrance. Codeless eyed the sword in the admin's hand uneasily; it was stained with what looked like blood. He himself appeared rather disheveled, as if he'd just been in a scuffle, yet the characteristically confident smile remained plastered on his face.

Behind Shedletsky were four others. Codeless recognized Builderman and Dusekkar—they were admins. The two were stationed near a peculiar machine emblazoned with a red cross, which periodically emitted a red mist—perhaps some kind of healing device? Their clothes were stained with blood too… but weren't admins supposed to be powerful? What could have possibly injured them?

Further away, a yellow robloxian  holding a cola was staring at her nervously; another figure draped in a black cloak was setting traps nearby. Codeless noticed faintly visible wire grooves at her feet, but strangely, she couldn't seem to step on them.

"So, they decided to add a new survivor  halfway through a round?" Shedletsky broke the silence first, a playful lilt in his voice.

Builderman looked over at the newcomer, then recognition dawned on his face. "Oh, it's you!" A slight Southern US accent colored his words.

"You know this guy?"

"Yep. She's 007n7's daughter. It's… Codeless, right?"

"Y-Yes, sir," Codeless stammered in reply.

"Why does 007 always give his kids such weird names—ow!" Shedletsky's quip was cut short as Builerman punched him in the arm.

Witnessing the scene, Codeless couldn't help but let out a small laugh. Seeing the usually stern admins acting like regular robloxian was a rare sight especially when you were associated with a hacker.

Builderman shot a glare at Shedletsky and cleared his throat. "I suppose you already know me, Guest, Shed, and Dusekkar. The one standing further away is Noob, and the one setting traps is Taph. I'm guessing Guest hasn't had a chance to fully explain the whole situation ,right?" Builderman looked at Guest1337, who nodded silently in confirmation.

"Long story short, you're trapped in a death game. We will be hunted by Killers everyday. We respawn after death, but no one knows how to escape—OW!!!" Builderman delivered another sharp punch to Shedletsky's arm, cutting him off again.

"What! Someone has to explain it to her!" Builderman didn't respond, just fixed Shedletsky with a cold stare.

"What?" A trembling voice escaped Codeless's lips. She just wanted to find her brother and father. How had she ended up trapped in a mad, endless death game with admins and a group of strangers?

"New one, have no fear, We'll stand with you, right here. Through all that may appear, We'll guard 'til the end is near." A gentle voice floated near her ear, instantly soothing her frayed nerves. Dusekkar hovered calmly, observing the newcomer, his composed demeanor a stark contrast to the other two.

"He's right. We'll do our best to protect you," a strong, firm hand came to rest on Codeless's shoulder. Guest1337's resolute gaze made her feel somewhat reassured.

"Any~ways~" Shedletsky said, twirling his sword. Those nearby instinctively took a step back, though he didn't seem to notice. "What can you do? Your abilities?"

"I… I can teleport?"

"Hmm, yeah, I saw that. But when is your portal going to close?"

"Wait, what?! Shouldn't it close automatic—" Before she could finish her sentence, a green figure shot out from the portal.

It was 1x1x1x1.

"Everyone, disperse!" Builderman barked. In the next instant, two glowing green knives lunged for him. Multiple window-like interfaces instantly popped up over his face, causing his movements to falter fatally. He failed to dodge 1x1x1x1's initial charge.

Fortunately, 1x1x1x1 triggered one of the bombs Taph had placed earlier when he was tripped. The explosion disoriented him temporarily.

Codeless was startled by the sudden turn of events. What just happened? Why wasn't her portal working like before? She hurriedly summoned the black square again, only to be horrified to find only three functions available now. The "Portal" option was greyed out, clearly displaying a line of text: "Cooldown: 5 minutes." Who would be so bored enough to put a cooldown on a lifesaving tool?!

Builderman took the chance to clear the windows from his face, regaining his mobility, and leaped down through a breach in the castle's outer wall. The others also scattered in different directions. Before Codeless could fully grasp her predicament, 1x1x1x1 recovered from the blast with a low growl, locking his sights on the bewildered girl.

Codeless let out a frightened yelp, raising the square instinctively to protect herself. Just then, a long sword shot out like a striking viper, meeting 1x1x1x1's descending blade with a loud "clang," blocking the attack steadily.

The habitual playful smile had vanished from Shedletsky's face, replaced by a focused seriousness. He pressed down with his wrist, deflecting the opponent's blade, and a completely different, battle-ready grin tugged at his lips. "Hey 1x, pick on someone your own size. Like me."

The moment 1x1x1x1 saw Shedletsky, his entire demeanor shifted. His red eyes sharpened intensely. "Shedletsky…" His voice dripped with pure, unadulterated hatred.

He raised his sword and charged at Shedletsky again. The two engaged in a fierce duel. Amid the chaos, Codeless seized the chance to run down from the wall.

Once outside the castle, a still-shaken Codeless found the others gathered nearby. Builderman quickly approached her as she descended. "Codeless! Listen, you're coming with me and Noob to repair the remaining generators. Dusekkar and Guest1337 will stay here to support Shedletsky."

Codeless's mind was still a blank slate. Without thinking it through, she just nodded and was hurriedly led away from the battlefield behind her.

———

The journey to the generators was quiet. Builderman and Noob walked ahead, leading the way, while Codeless followed behind with her head down and her tail drooping, lost in thought.

Looking at Builderman's injuries, Codeless was filled with guilt. She wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat. Finally, she mustered the courage to speak. "Um… Mr. Builderman?" Both Builderman and Noob turned to look at her. "I'm… I'm really sorry about that… I led the Killer to everyone, and you got hurt because of me…"

"Oh! No, no, no, it's alright, kid. Everyone's first game is rough! When I first got here, I basically tried building machines right in the Killer's face and died, no surprise there." Builderman joked about his own pathetic death experience to comfort her. Codeless managed a weak, uneasy smile, the remark serving only as another reminder that death was commonplace here.

"Hmm… Codeless, why don't you try seeing what else that… black square of yours can do now," Builderman suggested. Codeless nodded and checked what the other two options were, besides the portal.

"Item Generator… and Happy Express Delivery??? When did I ever add these functions…" Codeless muttered the last part under her breath.

"Excuse me… is that a… c00lgui?" Noob, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up nervously, his voice laced with anxiety and unease. Based on past experience, those connected to the ex-hacker weren't usually friendly.

"Oh! This isn't c00lgui. You could call it… a harmonized version of c00lgui! I usually call it g00dgui," Codeless quickly explained. "I don't really use it much normally, and it doesn't have any offensive functions, I promise!" She really didn't want anyone misunderstanding her as following in her father's youthful footsteps.

"So…… 007n7 still engaged in hacker activities?" Builderman‘s voice made Codeless freeze and subconsciously hid g00lgui. She almost forgot that there is an admin right beside her.

"Ahaha… I, emmm… I swear it's just for the safety! My dad made a lot of enemies when he was younger… It wasn't safe for me to travel alone…" Her voice trailed off, and her tail curled around her leg guiltily. She knew she can’t hide their secret anymore.

Builderman sighed, massaging his temples in exasperation. "Never mind, now isn't the time to argue about this. Why don't we try your ability, 'Item Generator' first? See if it can produce anything useful."

"O-okay, sir." Codeless felt her cheeks become warm. She scratched the back of her head and summoned the black square into her hands again, mostly to give herself something to do.

A few seconds later, an item generated in Codeless's hands...

"A medkit?"

"A medkit?!"

Codeless and Noob exclaimed in unison. Builerman, caught in a moment of pleasant surprise, stood thoughtfully to the side, observing the white box in her hands. "Interesting... Extra medical supplies could be a huge help to the team in the future... Can you generate more of these?"

"Let me see... The number on it changed from three to two... and there's a cooldown of 1 minute," Codeless said while fiddling with the g00dgui, trying to find a way to bypass the cooldown.

"A portal plus resource support... This is way more useful than 007n7's c00lgui," Noob muttered under his breath.

"Wait? My dad's here too?!!!"

---

A rich, savory aroma filled the kitchen. Elliot watched the boiling soup, then covered the pot and turned down the heat. He turned back to pick up his knife and continue chopping vegetables. Just then, Chance's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Elllllllliiiiiiot!" Chance drew out the name, skating over to Elliot as smoothly as on ice. Elliot answered him with nothing but a sigh.

"What do you want now?" Even as he spoke to Chance, Elliot's eyes and hands remained focused on the vegetables he was preparing.

"Another survivor just joined us! Too bad for you—that's one more mouth to feed~" Chance formed his fingers into a gun and poked Elliot's cheek with it.

"Really? Who is it?"

"A young girl, I think. Builderman seemed to know her. She's... 007's daughter?"

"Codeless?" The knife in Elliot's hand had already been set down—proof that he was now fully listening.

"Bingo! Wait, you know his daughter too?"

"I'm their neighbor. What do you think?"

"Ayy, never knew you were that close to the family. Literally."

"Alright, get out of my kitchen. I need to focus on making dinner."

"You think we should... y'know, tell 007?"

.…..

Chapter Text

修理發電機本身並不難，但過程中偶爾飛濺的火花卻讓人分心。至少，Codeless 是這麼覺得的。 Builderman 和 Noob 似乎對此毫不在意，或許他們已經做過很多次了，已經習慣了。

Codeless 想知道他們被困在這裡多久了。她知道這些年來社區裡發生過幾起神秘失蹤案（畢竟她親眼目睹了其中四起），但她從未想過連 Roblox 公司的 CEC 也會成為受害者之一。目前沒有任何關於此事的洩露資訊；Builderman 的失踪似乎被其他管理員壓制了，以防止引起社會恐慌。

建造者拒絕使用醫療包，告訴科德萊斯把它留給哨兵，他有自己的治療方法。話音剛落，他便拿起一把錘子，在地上敲了幾下，不到一分鐘就造出了一台和科德萊斯之前在城堡裡看到的一模一樣的機器。速度之快，讓科德萊斯目瞪口呆。他究竟是從哪裡弄來的材料？

With the generator worked, the three of them rested near Builderman's machine. No one spoke, or perhaps there was no reason to make conversation—staying alert was crucial, especially with a ruthless killer still lurking nearby. Codeless wondered how the other team members were faring...

———

"Oh, come on, Elliot! Please come with me—"

"No, Chance. 007 will find out his daughter is here sooner or later. There's no need to go out of our way to tell him."

"Seven is one of us. He has a right to know when a new survivor arrives. And like you said, he's been in a bad place lately. Don't you think we should give him some time to mentally prepare before he's faced with the fact that his daughter is now trapped in this hell, same as him?"

"He doesn't need it, okay? Telling him in advance won't change a thing! And I hate the guy. If you want to tell him, go by yourself!" Elliot's patience was wearing thin. Why couldn't Chance understand? 007n7 was an adult; he didn't need anyone to provide emotional support. He could handle this on his own... right?

"...Alright, fine." Chance shrugged in resignation. "But I still don't want to do it alone. It'd be way too awkward." He crossed his arms and grumbled under his breath.

"That sounds like a 'you' problem." Elliot muttered through gritted teeth. He then took a deep breath, feeling the sudden surge of anger slowly recede. He didn't need to get worked up over this. After all, he still had a whole house full of people to feed. He needed to get back to work.
As for 007n7...

"Elliot?"

The sudden voice made them both jump. Chance fumbled, his coin clattering to the floor with a clink. They turned to find none other than Guest 1337 standing there.

"Guest! Didn't expect you back so soon, mate!" Chance said, bending down to retrieve his coin.

"I messed up. Have you guys seen Seven ? I need to talk to him..."

"No... but he's probably in his shack. He always is after a round," Elliot replied, looking over Chance's shoulder.

"Right, thanks." Guest 1337 gave a curt nod and turned to leave.

"Wait! I'm coming with you!"

Watching Chance follow Guest 1337 out of the kitchen, Elliot was filled with conflicting emotions. Part of him wanted no part in this; another part was intensely curious about how 007n7 would react. Would he be happy? Or would he blame himself, accusing him of being the reason his child was now trapped in this hell alongside them.

"Ouch!" A sharp sting shot through Elliot's finger. A cut had opened on his index finger, and blood was slowly welling up. "Tch... Can't afford to lose focus anymore..."

———

"It seems we've lost Guest," Builderman reported the situation to the other two beside him. Noob slumped in frustration at the news, while Codeless found her attention captured by the screen in the admin's hands.

This screen was unlike c00lgui or g00dgui—it was semi-transparent and intangible. It displayed the portraits of all survivors, along with Builderman's health and stamina. Codeless noticed that the avatars for 007n7, Guest 1337, Elliot, and someone named "Chance" had all turned a dangerous shade of red—an unmistakable sign that they had been eliminated.

"We need to reinforce the other Sentinels." Builderman's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Shedletsky, Dusekkar, and Taph are all below half health. As for Two Time..." He furrowed his brow. "He's disappeared again, no one knows where."

"Two Time?" The name reminded Codeless of a song she'd heard long ago.

"That's me."

A flat, uninflected voice sounded almost directly behind her ear.

"AHHH!!!" Codeless and Noob jumped in unison, scrambling to hide behind Builderman. It was only then they noticed the figure who had appeared soundlessly beside the wall.

They had jet-black hair, and their form-fitting suit was emblazoned with a clear, stark symbol of Spawn. A grotesque, unsettling smile was fixed upon their face.

"Two Time..." Builderman folded his arms, his expression a mix of exhaustion and exasperation. "The round is half over. Where have you been?"

"Dear Administrator, I was guided by the Spawn. I journeyed to the far side of the world and single-handedly completed three generators." Two Time brought their hands together in a gesture of prayer. The displeasure on Builderman's face faded, and he gave a slow, approving nod.

Noob let out a sigh of relief upon realizing it was only Two Time and stepped out from behind Builderman. Codeless, however, remained wary, her gaze fixed cautiously on the newcomer. Her father had warned her to be careful of the "Spawn Cult"—its devout followers were often extreme, and the person before her was undoubtedly one of them.

"I see a new soul has joined our flock." Two Time's glance fell upon Codeless, still hiding behind Builderman. Mentioned directly, she flinched and quickly averted her eyes to the floor, as if it had suddenly become the most fascinating thing in the world.

"Two Time, this is our new member, Codeless. Codeless, this is Two Time." Builderman's words came out in a rapid-fire rush. "There's no time for proper introductions. 1x1x1x1 could appear at any moment and wipe us all out. Right now, we need to get these medkits to the wounded and hold out until the timer ends."

With that, he immediately led the others off in search of the Sentinels. Shedletsky is probably still kiting 1x1x1x1, and Dusekkar should be looking for us, he thought. His eyes flicked to the timer. Three minutes. Maybe there's still hope.

———

Knock, knock, knock.

 Guest 1337's hand rapped a steady rhythm against the door of 007n7's cabin. "007n7?"

Silence answered at first. Guest 1337 and Chance stood awkwardly outside, exchanging a glance. Just as Guest 1337 raised his hand to knock again, a faint shuffle sounded from within, followed by a quick succession of footsteps. The door swung open to reveal a weary 007n7.

He looked at the two visitors with tired confusion. His hair was dishevelled, and his burger hat sat slightly askew—clear signs he had just woken up.

Guest 1337 cleared his throat, trying to steady his own nerves. "Seven, we have... a piece of news. Good or bad... depends." He then glanced at Chance, hoping he would help complete the sentence. Noticing the look, Chance offered a strained laugh, scratched the back of his head, and mumbled incoherently without managing a single clear word.

Everyone knew 007n7 wasn't the most emotionally stable among the survivors. No one could forget how he had completely broken down after discovering what happened to c00lkidd—locked away for a full week without even coming out for meals, until Elliot finally dragged him out. It was… memorable.

Witnessing the scene only deepened 007n7's confusion. The usually stern and composed Guest 1337 and the notoriously chatty Chance were now a pair of nervous wrecks at his doorstep. A sense of unease crept over him. "Are you two… alright?"

Chance took a deep breath, as if steeling himself. "Your daughter is here." The four words shot from his lips like lightning, too fast for 007n7's mind to immediately process.

A dead, heavy silence swallowed the space between them. None of the three spoke—two afraid of triggering the third, and the third still struggling to comprehend the information he'd just received.

007n7's confusion evaporated, leaving behind a blank void. A few seconds later, his fingers instinctively tightened on the doorframe, his knuckles turning white. A broken, fearful sound was wrenched from his throat:

"What?!"

———

"What?! Coke???" Codeless stared in disbelief at the can in her hand. The cooldown on the Item Generator had finally ended, and she'd used the ability again, only for it to produce a carbonated drink.

Noob looked curiously at the Coke in Codeless's hand, while Two Time watched the green demon girl's reaction with clear amusement.

"It seems it has a degree of randomness," Builderman remarked offhandedly, his gaze still focused on scanning the area for their teammates.

「但是我該拿可樂幹嘛？慶祝我們的勝利嗎？我甚至不知道我是否能堅持到最後！」科德萊斯的聲音裡充滿了沮喪，她的尾巴惱怒地擺動著。

「我看得到嗎？」Noob的聲音響起。他接過Codeless遞來的可樂，仔細端詳，然後恍然大悟。 “這瓶可樂看起來和地圖上那些一模一樣！”

“你是什麼意思？”

“它們可以讓你跑得很快一段時間。”

“飲料什麼時候變得這麼先進了？”

「你留著吧，」Noob說著，把可樂遞回給Codeless。 “你可能比我更需要它……我自己的手藝讓我可以做出可樂。”

科德萊斯盯著罐子，琢磨著怎麼用它。然後，她的腳踩進一灘濃稠的深紅色液體裡。她順著血跡走去，目光落在了血的來源——她的鄰居艾略特。或者更準確地說，是他的屍體。這景象讓她不由自主地脊背發涼。

紅髮女孩正想移開視線，另一個癱倒的身影映入眼簾。那頂熟悉的漢堡帽…007n7。

科德利斯的瞳孔猛地收縮，雙腳僵在原地。她凝視著失蹤兩年的父親的屍體。她從未想過，他們的重逢竟然會以他那張毫無生氣的臉為背景。

她僵住了，恐懼和悲傷的洪流即將淹沒她。她強忍著不去看他手中破碎的c00lgui，強忍著不去看他散落的內臟，強忍著不去擁抱父親遺體的衝動。每一個念頭都刺痛著她，撕裂著她的思想和靈魂。

她的耳朵裡充滿了嗡嗡聲，淹沒了所有其他的聲音——直到她聽到自己的名字。

“無代碼！移動！”

已經太晚了。

一把從遠處飛來的劍，直接刺穿了她的身體。多個狀態窗口充斥著她的視野，緊接著一道綠色的衝擊。 Codeless 來不及閃避。突如其來的灼痛讓她肌肉僵硬。在她茫然的狀態下，她看到 1x1x1x1 徑直朝她衝來。

隨後，世界的聲音消失了。她身體的重量消失了。最後，她墜入了一片沒有光亮的虛空。

這是她第一次死亡。 

——————

順便說一下，我畫了一些東西 

Chapter Text

The warm glow from the fireplace bathed every corner of the survivors' cabin in a golden light. The crackle of burning wood was soothing, and the faint, comforting aroma of a cooked meal lingered in the air. Yet, even this cozy atmosphere couldn't calm the single father in the hamburger hat.

007n7 paced back and forth anxiously, muttering under his breath, while Chance and Guest 1337 stood by, watching him with worried eyes.

"Hey, man, why don't you sit down and take a breath?" Chance was the first to break the awkward silence.

"Calm down? How can I be calm?!" 007n7 halted abruptly. His voice, strained with panic, held a rare edge of anger that made Chance flinch back.

Seeing Chance's reaction was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him. 007n7 instantly stilled, guilt washing over him as he realized he'd just yelled. He covered his face with his hands. "Sorry... I just... I'm just so worried." He let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm terrified this place did something to my daughter, that she's ended up like c00lkidd... or worse!"

His breathing began to quicken. Seeing 007n7 on the verge of a panic attack, Chance quickly stepped forward and placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Whoa, Seven! Don't go down that road. Your daughter is fine! Well... physically, at least."

Hearing Chance's words, 007n7's breathing gradually evened out. "Sigh... But Codeless was brought into this hell because of me. It's all my fault... If it weren't for—"

"This isn't your fault."

Guest 1337, who had been silent until now, cut him off. The firelight danced across his features, making him seem to almost glow.

"Listen, Seven—"

"Gyahhh!"

A pained cry made all three of them turn towards the respawn point. They saw Shedletsky sitting on the floor in an awkward, tangled position. His eyes met the trio by the fireplace, and a heavy silence descended.

"Haha... Am I interrupting something?" Shedletsky tried to sound nonchalant, but a slight tremor in his voice betrayed him. Death had left his hands unsteady; he could only slowly, carefully, sheathe his sword.

"Yeah! You totally killed the mood!" Chance complained, watching the former admin struggle to his feet and then collapse onto the sofa in front of them.

"Whatever mood I killed," Shedletsky said, pulling a bucket of fried chicken out of seemingly nowhere, "I really need to recharge right now." He took a huge bite out of a drumstick. Chance and the others could only watch in speechless bemusement as he enjoyed his meal.

"Ahem... As I was saying, Seven," Guest 1337 redirected his gaze back to 007n7. "This isn't your fault. Everyone here is trapped in this hell for reasons we don't understand. You don't need to carry that guilt. We'll help your daughter adapt."

As he finished, Guest 1337 offered a small smile. It was like a warm current, melting the last traces of terror in 007n7's eyes.

But this tender moment was shattered by another uninvited guest. Another survivor materialized at the respawn point. A closer look revealed they were none other than the child 007n7 had been so worried about.

"Codeless?!"

Codeless didn't answer him. In fact, she didn't seem to register her new surroundings at all. Her face was pale, her pupils unfocused. Her body swayed precariously, as if she might collapse at any moment.

Seeing his daughter unresponsive and on the verge of fainting, 007n7 hurried to her side, with Guest 1337 and Chance close behind.

007n7 gently placed a hand on Codeless's shoulder, as if touching a fragile piece of glass. "Codeless... can you hear me?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Codeless jolted. That familiar voice... Her vision slowly focused as she glanced around, bewildered, taking in the unfamiliar cabin. And the person standing beside her was...

"...Dad?"

Her voice was hoarse. A wave of heat rushed to her nose, and her vision instantly blurred with tears. Her father, missing for two years, was right here in front of her. But this time, it wasn't a corpse. It was her father, alive. The sheer longing for him instantly overshadowed the lingering fear of her recent death.

Hearing his daughter's voice, 007n7 could no longer hold back his emotions. He pulled her into a tight embrace. He had missed his children's hugs so much—hugs with no fire, no blood, just peace and comfort.

Guest 1337 and Chance watched the father and daughter reunite with warm satisfaction. Such heartwarming scenes were a rare sight here.

Reluctantly, Codeless pulled away from the hug, wiped her tears, and took a proper look at him. Compared to the father in her memories, he had significantly more white hair and looked utterly exhausted. Time had flown... and been harsh.

"You look more like an old man," Codeless giggled, covering her mouth.

Hearing this, 007n7 finally allowed a relaxed smile to spread across his face. He gently stroked her hair. "And you've grown so much..."

The familiar warmth of his hand on her head felt like a dream—so warm, so unreal. Her nose stung again, and she pulled him back into the embrace. If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.

"Awwww~ How touching!"

A muffled voice came from behind them. They turned to see the former admin, his mouth full of fried chicken. His slovenly appearance was a stark contrast to his former title, making Codeless not know whether to laugh or cry. The others, however, seemed used to it.

Codeless would have loved to stay in that hug forever, but being stared at was a bit awkward. She finally let go of 007n7 on her own.

She took another careful look around. Besides Shedletsky on the sofa and her father, she noticed the two other people in the room.

She remembered the blue-haired soldier—the first person she'd met here, the one who had saved her. She was immensely grateful to him. Was it Guest 1334? Or 1338? She'd already forgotten her savior's full name.

Great...

And standing next to Guest was someone with gray hair and distinctive clothing. Judging by the iconic sunglasses and hat, this was probably the Chance she'd seen earlier.

"Yo! You must be Codeless, right? I'm Chance. Nice to officially meet you." Chance grinned and extended a hand. It seemed her guess was correct.

"Nice to meet you too, Chance," Codeless replied with a smile, shaking his hand.

"Guest 1337. I believe we've already met."

"Ahaha... yeah, and thank you again for saving me!" Guest 1337... She repeated the name in her head, determined to remember it this time.

"It was nothing, really," Guest 1337 waved off her thanks with a smile. "I've been looking forward to meeting you... though certainly not under these circumstances. Your dad talks about you often."

"He does?"

"Oh, hey! That reminds me!" Chance chimed in. "You know Elliot, right? He said he's your neighbor. You never mentioned that, Seven!" The comment made 007n7 freeze; he hadn't expected the conversation to head in this direction.

"We... never really got along, Chance. You know... his pizza place and all..."

"Ah, right... That whole mess. But  Elliot got over it last year! He even gave me a job at his pizzeria. "A flicker of surprise crossed 007n7's face.

"Really?"

"Yeah! It helped me support myself... after you disappeared..."

The smile vanished from 007n7's face. Right. Two years ago, he had abandoned his daughter. Without him, Codeless had been left to struggle alone. Guilt coiled around his heart like thorny vines once more.

Sensing the shift in her father's mood, Codeless quickly steered the conversation elsewhere: "So, anyway! No one has properly explained it to me yet. What is this place? I know it's some kind of 'game' or whatever, but... what exactly...?"

"Weeeeeell, that's a question..." Chance scratched his head. "Usually, Builderman or Dusekkar handles the newbie briefings. Maybe we should wait until everyone's together? Usually, a new arrival means the admins will call a 'welcome' meeting." He made air quotes with his fingers around the word "welcome."

Welcoming someone to this hellish suffering was ironic, but these "welcome meetings" served to help newcomers understand their situation and develop their abilities for future teamwork.

"Honestly, your arrival surprised me! Didn't expect another new member so soon! Haha!"

"This round had all 10 of us participating. That's usually a sign of a new survivor... or a new killer has appeared..."

"Oh! You're right!"

Seeing Chance's delayed realization, Guest 1337 could only shake his head with a wry smile. What could he do with such a clueless teammate?

"But... when does the round end?" Codeless realized a significant amount of time had passed since her death.

"I think it should be any moment now. No one has died for a while—"

Suddenly, a commotion came from the direction of the dining area. Immediately after, a line of stark white text materialized directly in the center of Codeless's vision:

[SURVIVORS WIN]

Codeless stared at the words, and a strange sense of calm washed over her. It seemed it was finally time to face the other survivors.

Chapter Text

1x1x1x1 was a formidable Killer. Even after losing three Sentinels, the survivors had managed to pull through, relying on exceptional teamwork. Though the process was arduous and involved a fair share of luck, they had ultimately emerged victorious.

Back in the cabin, Builderman opened his eyes. The survivors around him were exhausted, but their weariness couldn't erase the relieved smiles born from having narrowly escaped death. The sound of footsteps approached as the fallen teammates returned to congratulate them on their hard-won victory.

"Well done, everyone," the blue-haired soldier offered his congratulations with a warm smile.

Soon, the survivors fell into casual conversations in their respective spots, waiting for Elliot to prepare dinner. Builderman's gaze drifted to a corner of the room, where two figures sat isolated from the rest.

One was 007n7, disliked by most, so his isolation was unsurprising. The other was his daughter, Codeless, who likely just wanted to stay by her father's side. She seemed to be chattering nonstop, sharing stories of her life, her tail—unable to contain her joy—wagging furiously behind her. 007n7 listened quietly to his daughter's endless stream of words.

Builderman brought over two chairs and gestured for the father and daughter to join them. Hearing Builderman's call, 007n7 froze for a moment, but ultimately complied. Codeless followed closely behind.

The moment they sat down, the chatter at the table dipped noticeably. Some survivors looked their way with unease and suspicion, though most of these glances were directed at 007n7. He was self-aware enough to try and ignore the piercing stares, focusing instead on his time with his daughter. Poor Codeless, however, hadn't yet grasped the situation. The sudden shift in atmosphere left her feeling lost and uncomfortable.

Fortunately, the tension didn't last long. Elliot arrived with dinner for everyone, and the group's attention shifted to the food in their hands.

Apart from TwoTime's pre-meal prayer, the only sounds that filled the table were the clinking of cutlery. After washing his hands, Elliot finally joined the table, taking a seat directly opposite Codeless.

Codeless noticed Elliot and waved to him with a smile. Elliot smiled back. "Hey, Codeless. It's been a while. How have you been lately?"

"Oh! Pretty good. I'm really happy to see both of you again." Codeless glanced back and saw her father staring right at her—or perhaps he was just avoiding Elliot's gaze.

"Ah, that's good... How's the pizzeria?"

At the mention of the pizzeria, Codeless paused for a moment before replying, "Ah... Ah! The pizzeria is doing fine!"

They looked at each other for a few seconds before Codeless finally broke, speaking quickly and seeming uneasy. "Okay, fine. Everything fell apart after you left. I'm starting to think you were the only one who actually did any work." Elliot picked up on her discomfort.

"It's alright, Codeless. I kind of figured that would happen..." Elliot sighed and rubbed his temples, as if battling a headache.

As they spoke, Codeless began to notice that curious glances from around the room were gradually gathering on them, making her break out in a cold sweat.

She shot her father a look pleading for help. Picking up on his daughter's unease, 007n7 placed a hand on the back of hers and was just about to speak when Chance cut in.

"I have a question," Chance announced, raising his hand as he looked at the father-daughter pair. The brief shift of everyone's attention to Chance let Codeless secretly sigh with relief.

"Who is Codeless's mom?"

Instantly, Builderman spat out his water, coughing and waving an apologetic hand. Elliot shot Chance a look that said, "Did you really have to ask that?" The relief Codeless had just felt turned into a sharp intake of breath.

"I... I don't have a mom, Chance. I was adopted," Codeless replied, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. The tension in her muscles from moments earlier eased because of the absurdity of the question.

"Oh no! Sorry, you two look so much alike, I just assumed you were biologically related."

"...Thanks?"

"Uh... Chance, just stop," Elliot finally interjected, unable to watch his friend's social blunder any longer. "She just got here, and you're already conducting a genealogy survey?" he half-joked, scolding him.

"Ohhh—come on—"

"Codeless, is it the food? Did I make something you don't like? I noticed you haven't touched your plate much," Elliot said, ignoring Chance's complaint as he turned to Codeless.

"Oh! No, no, no! The food is great! I just... already had dinner before I got here... so I'm not really hungry right now."

"I see. Don't force yourself. Just leave the food there; we'll take care of it later."

Watching the friendly interaction between Elliot and his daughter, 007n7 felt a mix of warmth and discomfort. Of course, he was grateful to know Codeless had someone looking out for her after he left. But that someone being Elliot, of all people... Over a decade ago, they had repeatedly harassed the pizzeria where Elliot worked, and soon after, it was wrecked by c00lkidd. Yet, Elliot had still taken care of Codeless without holding a grudge. This kindness, free of past grievances, lodged itself like a tiny splinter in the most guilt-ridden part of his heart.

By now, 007n7 had already quickly cleared his plate, as usual. Builderman, having wiped the water from his face, noted this. "7n7, it's quite late. Why don't you take Codeless to get familiar with the surroundings and turn in early? We'll hold the newcomer briefing tomorrow at 8 a.m." He was addressing 007n7, but also announcing the next day's schedule to everyone.

007n7 nodded at Builderman, then naturally took his daughter's hand and led her away from the table.

After the father and daughter left, silence fell over the dining table. The blue-haired soldier was the first to break the quiet. "Frankly, it was rather inappropriate to stare at the newcomer like that earlier," Guest 1337 said, a hint of displeasure in his tone.

"My dear soldier, please forgive our discourtesy," Two Time murmured, hands clasped together as if in prayer, their voice soft and melodic. "But that girl is the descendant of a former hacker. We have all witnessed the horrors wrought by the other child. It is difficult not to wonder if she has inherited that same... talent."

"Y-yeah!" Noob stammered in agreement, his voice trembling with fear. "We all saw that cube in her hand, the one that looked like the 'c00lgui'! Maybe she was also a ha—"

"Ohhh~ my dear Nooby!"

Their words were abruptly cut off as Chance, who had suddenly appeared beside them, slung a friendly arm around the yellow-haired robloxian's shoulders, making them jump. "Trust me, I'm an excellent judge of character! From what I've observed, she's completely harmless!" Chance declared with confidence that seemed to come from nowhere.

"Chance, you've known her for barely fifteen minutes."

"And you've known her for years, Elliot. Am I wrong?"

"...No," Elliot admitted reluctantly. "Codeless is a good kid. At the very least, she's far more... stable than c00lkidd ever was."

"Alright, everyone," Builderman interjected sternly. "This discussion is over. Focus on your meals and get some proper rest. We have another three rounds to get through tomorrow." His gaze swept over the others. The clatter of cutlery resumed around the table, and no one said another word on the matter.

————

"The second floor is our common room. Most people choose to spend their time here."

"There's even a TV?" Codeless pointed at a television screen looping a panda video. "Why is it stuck on the same footage?"

007n7 glanced where she pointed. "That's just how it is. It only switches to other views after a game starts... showing the survivors."

"That's so cool! A spectator view? That really makes it feel like a game!" Codeless watched the screen with interest. Meanwhile, the faint sound of discussion drifting upstairs made her worry once more about their situation.

"Seems they still don't trust us... And three Administrators? Good grief, Seven, you've been trapped here for two years?"

Her demeanor shifted subtly. She didn't need to play the part of the completely clueless girl in front of her father—or perhaps, her former partner.

"It's alright, Codeless. I understand why they feel that way. Seems two years haven't changed much." 007n7 smiled wryly, recalling his past experiences with the other survivors.

"You seem pretty close with that soldier," Codeless remarked, leaning against the corridor railing.

"Yes, Guest is friendly with everyone. He's a father, too. We have a lot to talk about." 007n7 moved to his daughter's side, both of them gazing at the ceiling.

"I can't believe you were trapped here. Why didn't you contact me?"

"Everyone's abilities are diminished here. Otherwise, the Administrators wouldn't hold such sway."

"Ah... That makes sense."

A silence fell between them.

"How did you get here?" The simple question made Codeless's breath hitch. 007n7 noticed immediately.

She didn't answer, her tail beginning to lash in agitation.

"Codeless."

"...I used your c00lgui..."

The answer took 007n7 by surprise. He furrowed his brow.

"I know we had an agreement... but..." Codeless covered her face in shame. "I had no other choice..."

Seeing her guilty expression, 007n7 could only sigh in resignation. He placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. He had no right to blame her; after all, he was the one who broke their agreement first.

"Let's not dwell on that for now. Is your... code still stable?"

"I've been making my own adjustments?"

"...I'll check it for you when we get back." His tone left no room for argument, filled with deep concern. "Let me show you the outside area first."

"Okay."

They got up, descended the stairs, and left the survivors' cabin.

Chapter Text

The Survivors' Cabin was nestled in a forest. Though surrounded by dense woods, no birdsong could be heard, no deer were seen, and not even a trace of insects could be found. The only living beings in this forest seemed to be the eleven survivors...

...Was that truly the case?

Several kilometers away from the Survivors' Cabin stood an identical log house, only larger, its walls covered in deep scratches. This was the Killers' territory.

Outside of games, the Killers lived in conditions similar to the survivors, each having their own small cabins scattered around the main lodge. Not far away was a water source—a lake whose dock was marred by mysterious claw marks.

The Killer faction wasn't large, consisting of only five members. But one of them stood over two meters tall, which likely explained why the main lodge was built on a larger scale. At this moment, this two-meter-tall Killer was emitting a continuous, piercing shriek.

"Ah! c00lkidd, will you just SHUT UP?!" 1x1x1x1 roared in fury, driving his twin blades deep into the sofa beneath him, his red eyes blazing with menace. He had just lost a match, and returning to endure the child's headache-inducing screams was pouring fuel on the fire of his rage.

"But my sister is here! Mr. 1x! I wanna play hide-and-seek with her now!!!" The voice of a ten-year-old child emerged from the two-meter-tall monster, creating a bizarre and chilling dissonance. Corrupted by the world's master, "The Spectre," c00lkidd's form had become utterly distorted, bearing little resemblance to his original self: his demonic horns had grown larger, his teeth sharper, his body more powerful, equipped with strong claws and a muscular tail. Yet, within this terrifying "monster" still resided the mind of a ten-year-old child.

For 1x1x1x1, it was psychological torture.

"I don't care if your whole family moved in! That wretched screeching of yours has been going on for half an hour! Shut up! Right now! Or I swear I'll—"

"No-now, n-now. Wh-what's going on h-here?" A voice crackling with static and glitches cut in.

"Uncle Noli!!!"

"I am n-not your uncle!"

"About time, Noli! Get your damn br under control! Or I'll make sure you never see tomorrow's sun!" The moment he saw who it was, 1x1x1x1 immediately redirected his fury at the newcomer. All he wanted now was to be rid of the red demon child.

"Fir-first, I have no kids. Se-second, I haven't seen the s-sun since I got h-here."

"Like I give a ####?!"

"But—" c00lkidd didn't get to finish before Noli interrupted.

"Enough, child. T-time for b-bed."

"B-but... it's only nine-thirty!"

"D-don't make me s-say it again."

"Okay..." All the energy drained from c00lkidd. His tail drooped, and he trudged out of the living room without another word.

"There. H-happy now?" Noli watched the hulking figure leave.

"Good. Now you get out too!"

Upon hearing 1x1x1x1's words, Noli rolled his eyes hard before finally following c00lkidd out.

1x1x1x1 didn't dislike Noli—as the embodiment of hatred, he despised every existence with equal fervor. Among the five Killers, Slasher was mute, John Doe was delirious and rarely spoke, and c00lkidd was, well, c00lkidd. Only Noli, the newcomer, was somewhat capable of conversation.

In this way, Noli's presence had ironically become the one thing in this endless purgatory that could precisely bear the brunt of all his malice... a perverse sort of solace?

At least there was someone who could understand his curses. The feeling wasn't entirely unpleasant.

As for the new survivor? She was just another pitiful existence, nothing more.

————————————

"So... everyone gets their own house?"

"Basically. Though mine is a bit more far..."

Codeless and 007n7 walked along a secluded path, the lights from the main house fading behind them. The forest was eerily quiet. Beyond the sound of their footsteps, the wind, and their own breathing, there was nothing. It made them instinctively lower their voices.

"Is it always this quiet around here? Why isn't there even the sound of insects?" Codeless glanced around, her tail twitching restlessly.

"It's normal, dear. There are no other living creatures around here except for us."

"Huh? Then what do we eat?"

"The fridge and cupboards in the kitchen generate food every week... It's random, but at least we don't have to worry about starving."

"Oh..." Codeless stopped walking, her index finger pointing ahead. "Is that your house?"

"Yes, that's—" 007n7 followed her gaze, and his words cut off abruptly, his steps halting suddenly.

He stared in shock at the spot where his cabin—the one he had lived in for two years—should have been. The dilapidated little shack he remembered was now replaced by a brand-new, two-story log house.

Codeless watched her father's stunned reaction, then looked back at the house more carefully. She noticed a small plaque beside the door. Cautiously, she moved closer and, by the moonlight, read the inscription aloud.

"'007n7 & Codeless'..."

"Oh... Well, that explains it."

"Great! I was worried I'd get separation anxiety if we lived apart. Haha!"

"..."

"...Not funny?"

007n7 approached the door and gave the knob a tentative twist. With a soft creak, it swung open, revealing a sparsely furnished living room washed in warm light. A green leather sofa and a wooden coffee table stood facing a window. To the left of the sofa was another door. Codeless opened it curiously, discovering a bathroom complete with a shower.

"Huh," 007n7 muttered from behind her. "Guess we don't have to fight for shower time at the main hall anymore."

Codeless noticed two sets of toothbrushes by the sink. "Well, isn't this place full of surprises."

They then headed upstairs to find two bedrooms. One was unmistakably 007n7's. Pushing the door open revealed his familiar room, arranged almost exactly as he'd left it. A wave of relief washed over him, knowing his belongings hadn't vanished.

That meant the other room was Codeless's. It was simply furnished: a single bed, a desk with a chair, and a large wardrobe. To her surprise, some of her personal belongings had made it into this world as well—a few books and some anime posters.

"Hey, look! They even brought my pajamas!" She opened the wardrobe, dug through a pile of colorful clothes, and pulled out a clownfish onesie, holding it up like a trophy.

"Haven't seen that thing in forever."

"You still got your shark one?"

"Oh yeah, let me grab it."

About ten minutes later, the two of them were sprawled on the couch, both wearing their goofy animal onesies... a truly peculiar sight.

"Man, it's been ages since I wore this," Codeless said, sinking happily into the cushions. "I'd almost forgotten how comfy it is. Remember that time you and c00lkidd put on your shark suits and chased me around the house, pretending you were gonna eat me?" She gestured animatedly with her arms, the memory so vivid she could almost hear c00lkidd's laughter and clumsy footsteps again.

Hearing this, 007n7 was also drawn into the recollection. A clear, genuine laugh escaped him. "Hahaha, yes! In the end, Elliot couldn't stand our noise anymore and came banging on the door to yell at us."

"Wish he was here now, though…" Codeless's mind drifted to the night her brother disappeared, the very night these silly onesies were put away for good. Her smile faded slightly at the thought.

"..."

No. He is here. The words stuck in 007n7's throat. A wave of self-disappointment washed over him. How could I be such a coward, too scared to even tell my daughter the truth?

"How about I run a diagnostic on your code now?" he almost blurted out, abruptly changing the subject, his voice slightly hoarse from the suppressed emotion. "...Just in case anything has become unstable while I was gone."

He would tell her.

But not tonight.

Chapter Text

The first night in Forsaken was tough...

There were no phones.

Back home, Codeless would typically scroll through her phone until 1 a.m., even if she had work the next day. But on a phone-less night, she had no choice but to turn in early. On the bright side, she thought, maybe this would finally help her develop a proper sleep schedule.

The first morning in Forsaken was equally challenging.

"Codeless... time to get up." 007n7's raspy voice came from outside her door. "It's 7:30. If you don't get up now, you'll have to attend the meeting in your pajamas."

Hearing this, Codeless jolted awake. She wasn't wearing any headgear, and her red hair was a messy nest from being pressed against the pillow. Rubbing her eyes, she groggily fumbled for the clock on her bedside table.

6:50.

"Seven..." Codeless whined weakly. She could only scratch her scalp in frustration, her tail thumping irritably against the mattress before she let out a long, deep sigh. It seemed the price of this "good habit" was enduring forty extra minutes of paternal affection.

After all, another death game was waiting for her today.

—————————

Breakfast passed quickly, with everyone just having some simple eggs, bread, and a bit of coffee. Once everything was settled, Elliot also took his seat. Everyone waited quietly in their places for Builderman to begin.

Seeing that everyone was present, Builderman set down his coffee and cleared his throat. Immediately, all eyes turned to him. "Good morning, everyone. Since we're all here, we can begin the..." He paused, glancing at the blackboard beside the table. Aside from some random doodles, the words "WELCOME MEETING" were prominently written at the top. "...this 'Welcome' Meeting." The corner of his eye twitched slightly.

From a corner of the table, a certain someone wearing sunglasses was clamping a hand firmly over his mouth, though his shoulders betrayed him with a slight tremble.

"Codeless, perhaps you could briefly introduce yourself to everyone now?" Hearing her name, Codeless looked up. Introduce herself? Her heart skipped a beat. She had never been good at socializing; dealing with strangers made her nervous, no matter her age.

Fortunately, her father was right beside her. He gave her an encouraging look.

She took a deep breath. "Um... Hi, everyone! I'm Codeless, and I'm 16 years old. Uh... I think you all know 007n7 is my father..." Finding herself getting lost in her own thoughts, she decided to quickly end the awkward moment. "I hope we can all get along well in the future! Haha..."

Builderman gave a silent nod, and then the others quickly introduced themselves out of courtesy.

When it was the figure in black's turn, they silently looked at Codeless, then raised a hand and deftly signed a sequence of symbols: "😊👋🐔🟢👉😀💣"

"What?" Codeless blinked in confusion.

"Oh, right. Taph is mute. They can only communicate using sign language or emoticons," Builderman explained. Codeless had a sudden moment of understanding, nodded apologetically, and gave a quiet wave to Taph.

While Codeless interacted with the team, Builderman turned, picked up a piece of white chalk, and wrote "Codeless's Abilities" on the blackboard. He then listed two items: "Teleportation" and "Item Generation."

"I believe some of you have already witnessed our newcomer's abilities," he said, turning to face the group. "Codeless's 'g00dgui' is similar to 007's 'c00lgui.' Both possess teleportation and generation functions."

He paused, shooting a glare at 007n7 that seemed to say, 'I know you involved your daughter in hacker activities. We'll settle this later.' 007n7 understood the implication perfectly. A light sweat broke out on his forehead as he offered an awkward smile, guiltily lowering his head and breaking eye contact with Builderman.

Builderman continued, "But there are differences. Codeless's portal can transport teammates along with her over a certain distance, though it seems Killers can also use it. Additionally, she can generate items found on the map, like Medkits and Bloxy Cola." He stopped again, his gaze sweeping over the survivors, observing their reactions.

The survivors who had been at the castle remained relatively calm, having witnessed her abilities firsthand. Those who had died earlier, however, were more surprised—especially 007n7.

He was glad Codeless possessed an ability that could help the team. It meant others would have more reason to look out for her during the games. He could imagine it: Sentinels providing cover, stunning the Killer, then following her through a portal to another part of the map. She would fit in with them easily... far more easily than he ever had.

007n7 shrunk into his seat, his hands fidgeting anxiously under the table. She could have had a better life. His mind drifted back to when c00lkidd went missing, and she had insisted on dropping out of school.

—————————

"I'm practically an adult! So what if I miss some school?!"

"You're sixteen!"

"Yeah! Physically! But you know what I really am!"

"But not legally! Codeless, listen to me, you'll ruin your future like this!"

"We can deal with that later! You know how—make another fake identity or something. But c00lkidd has been missing for weeks! Who knows what's happened to him? You have to let me help! 007n7!"

—————————

They had argued that day, and shame over it still clung to him. And just before he'd been taken to Forsaken, they'd had an even worse fight. It's all your fault. The thought echoed in his mind, day and night. If only he had communicated better. If only he had been a better father. If only he hadn't let Codeless become a hacker…

Suddenly, a hand rested on his arm, pulling him from his turbulent thoughts. His eyes met Codeless's, seated beside him. She offered a small, weak smile, her eyes filled with concern for her father.

"Dad," her voice was soft, carrying a note of pure curiosity, "how do you think I should best coordinate with everyone?" Her tone, for a fleeting moment, reminded him of when she was four (or was it sixteen?), asking why some people in English referred to themselves with a "plural." What a strange question.

The memory made his expression soften. "Well... I think you could help injured survivors get away from the Killer. With Sentinel cover..."

"That's a solid strategy."

Builderman's voice sounded right beside him, making him jump. He suddenly realized all eyes at the table were on him. How had the conversation shifted his way?

007n7's gaze dropped to the blackboard, now densely covered in short phrases. Next to "Codeless," they had written "SUPPORTER." Beside "Item Generation," they had listed "Third Medic," "3 Uses Limit," and "Generate ASAP at Round Start." The admin was currently adding "Support Injured Teammates" next to "Teleport," with "Memorize Map Layout" and "Recon" written below.

007n7 noticed a new, prominent heading added under the two abilities: "Happy Express Delivery".

"What the #### is 'Happy Express Delivery'?" Chance asked, legs crossed and slouched in his chair.

"First, watch your language. Based on available intel, 'Happy Express Delivery' is likely an extension of 'Item Generation,' but we had no chance to test it last round. Codeless." The red-haired girl instantly straightened up as if called on by a teacher.

"Next round, I need you to test this ability. If conditions permit, record the cooldowns and cast times for all your skills to facilitate future tactical coordination..."

"Okay, Teach— I mean, Builderman." Codeless nodded quickly, masking her slip-up with a smile and ignoring the muffled snickers from across the table.

"Let's wrap it up here, then." Builderman brought his hands together, creating a sharp clap. "The morning match should begin shortly. Codeless, try to follow the discussed strategy and coordinate with the team. Let's hope we secure a win this round."

The dining hall fell silent as everyone held their breath, waiting for the round to start. After a few seconds, Shedletsky cleared his throat pointedly.

"Um... How exactly does the round start?" Codeless whispered, a hint of awkwardness in her small voice, which was perfectly audible in the dead silence.

"Usually at 10:00 sharp." Builderman glanced at his wristwatch, its face clearly reading "10:00 a.m.," yet the game failed to materialize. "It's occasionally delayed. We'll wait."

Silence...

...

"What the—"

—————————

This round's Killer is...

Noli

---

Timer: 30:00

Map: Yorick’s Resting Place

Survivors: Codeless, Chance, Guest1337, Builderman, 007n7, Shedletsky, Noob, Two Time, Taph

—————————

This round's Killer is Noli…

007n7 opened his eyes to find himself teleported to the graveyard. He quickly scanned his surroundings, spotting Two Time and Codeless as his fellow starting survivors.

Damn it. He had completely forgotten to tell Codeless that his former partner was also here, let alone as a Killer.

He looked nervously at his daughter. The red-headed girl stood there bewildered, her mouth slightly agape in shock. She turned her head, looked at her father, and uttered in disbelief:

"...They even made an opening cutscene?"

"..."

Dead silence.

Even the usually unflappable Two Time's smile twitched involuntarily, their eyes betraying sheer incredulity.

007n7 took a deep breath, finally finding his voice:

"Are you serious ?"

Chapter Text

"Sorry! But I just can't seem to stay serious when I'm around you!" Codeless straightened up, crossed her arms, and tossed her head to the side, feigning anger as her tail swished dismissively.

007n7 watched his daughter's childish antics and let out a helpless sigh, then switched to a stern expression. "Noli is the killer. Considering what happened years ago... are you really going to be okay?"

Under her father's worried gaze, Codeless averted her eyes.

Ten years ago, before they found c00lkidd, 007n7 and Noli had a fierce argument over being hackers. 007n7 had grown tired of the destructive life of hacking across servers, so he proposed retirement to Noli. Noli was furious. He couldn't believe 007n7 was abandoning everything they had built. They had been through so much together; Noli had even become a hacker for his sake. And now, he was just giving it all up. Noli felt betrayed.

Codeless was caught in the middle. 007n7 and Noli had taken her in when she was at her most vulnerable. They taught her how to live a "normal life" and instructed her in the ways of hacking. She was supposed to be their successor. But now, with one of them deciding to leave, she was forced to choose between them...

The next morning, Noli left their secret base, leaving 007n7 and Codeless behind. Codeless never saw Noli again after that, though she would occasionally hear about him on the news – reports about how he emerged into the public eye with "The Void Star."

To her, Noli wasn't a "father" like 007n7 was; he was her mentor. She still respected him deeply. In just two short years, the three of them had formed a powerful bond. She had even joined them on several hacking operations, their so-called "field trips."

But ten years is enough to completely change a person. She wasn't sure if Noli was still the mentor she remembered, if he still saw her as his student, or if he even remembered the bond they once shared.

"I don't know..." Codeless's voice was as faint as a sigh, her throat tight. "I hope he still remembers me..." She wasn't sure what she was feeling. Fear? Sadness? Or perhaps both.

"Dear hybrid..." A slow, drawn-out voice sounded almost directly in her ear.

"Ahhh!!!" Startled, Codeless leaped behind her father, her tail standing straight up.

"This is your second 'Game.' May The Spawn bless your successful completion of this round..." Two Time had appeared behind Codeless once again, wearing a stiff smile and with hands clasped together. Their movements were eerily quiet, always managing to sneak up behind others. Their ability to startle newcomers was on par with that of a killer, making them entirely unsuitable for anyone with high blood pressure.

"Two Time ! You— oh, never mind... Thanks for the blessing..." Codeless began to snap but caught herself, remembering she wasn't familiar enough with this cultist to start a conflict.

"Don't forget your agreement with our dear Administrator," Two Time reminded her warmly. Codeless suddenly remembered her mission.

"Oh, right! Thanks for reminding me." She pulled up the g00lgui and clicked on the "Item Generator."

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three..."

Codeless suddenly caught a familiar scent, accompanied by the aroma of cheese and tomato sauce. She felt something materialize in her hand... a slice of pizza?

Cola paired with pizza—it actually made sense. The triangular slice felt piping hot, as if fresh from the oven. It was a classic pepperoni pizza.

"No way..." 007n7 stared wide-eyed at the pizza in his daughter's hand.

Among survivors, pizza had long transcended its role as mere food—it symbolized instant healing and hope in desperate situations. When health dropped to 10% with a killer in pursuit, no one would foolishly wait by Builderman's slow-acting healing devices. But Elliot's pizza was different: a single bite could restore most of one's health instantly. Not to mention, he had mastered the skill of precision long-range feeding, pulling teammates back from the brink of death countless times.

Elliot saved many, yet he could never save himself. For some reason, Elliot was unwilling to eat his own pizza—or perhaps he was unable to. Even if others forced the pizza into his mouth, it would always reappear in their hands. After all, there could never be another Elliot.

"Is that... Elliot's pizza?"

"What kind of question is that? How can you assume all pizza is related to Elliot? That's a stereotype!"

"Oh, Spawn!" Two Time raised their hands as if receiving a divine revelation. (Poor Codeless was scared once again by the cultist's sudden movement, her demon tail lashing in irritation.) "This must be the great The Spawn answering our prayers! This is His bestowed blessing! Praise The Spawn!"

Watching Two Time's exaggerated performance, Codeless silently leaned toward her father's ear and whispered, "What's wrong with them?"

"They've always been like this. But don't worry, they're basically harmless," 007n7 reassured softly.

The father-daughter pair silently watched as the cultist knelt on the ground, raised a short knife, and stabbed it forcefully into the floor. "Right... 'completely harmless'," Codeless narrowed her eyes, glancing at her father. 007n7 looked slightly embarrassed.

"They're just setting a respawn point. After activating 'Second Life', they'll revive here."

"Two Time's ability... no wonder they're called that."

By now, Two Time had completed the ritual, stood up, and smiled at their two horned companions, clasping their hands together once more: "We've wasted enough time already. Let's get to work, lest we draw... displeasure from others." With that, they turned and walked toward the generator in the graveyard, the other two following close behind.

—————————

Noli's mornings typically began with dealing with c00lkidd.

The red demon was a perpetual motion machine of energy. If not for the daily "Games" draining his stamina, he could have demolished the entire house in two days. Fortunately, the kid had Games to attend almost every day.

The child never stopped chattering about his damned father, 007n7, which irritated Noli to no end. Given his own history with 007n7, he wanted nothing to do with the brat. But since last night, a new name had started popping up in the red demon's incessant chatter: big sister? Just where did 007n7 find the energy to adopt so many kids?

His thoughts were interrupted by the violent sound of fabric tearing. Teleporting to the main hall, he was met with chaos: 1x1x1x1—the embodiment of hatred—was brandishing a sword and madly chasing the two-meter-tall red demon around what used to be a sofa. Wood splinters still hung in the air.

"C00LKIDD! DON’T YOU DARE TAKE ANOTHER STEP!" 1x1x1x1 roared, panting heavily, the sword still gripped tightly.

"HAHAHAHA! THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!" c00lkidd, thinking it was all a game, darted and dodged gleefully, completely oblivious that the person in front of him was actively trying to impale him.

Noli stepped forward, his feet landing on the sofa's "mutilated corpse." The poor thing, pushed beyond its limits, had finally met its demise on the sixth day. Noli observed a moment of silence for it in his heart. But the grief was fleeting—after all, tomorrow, a brand new sofa would inevitably materialize here, ready to be subjected to the next round of destruction.

John Doe sat silently on the sofa's skeletal remains, letting the circus unfold around him, that ever-present smile still plastered on his face. Wait... was that even a smile?

Noli had no desire to sit on the ruins. Just then, he noticed Slasher approaching him with a plate of food. It was a dish of... meat? Noli caught a whiff of something burnt. "Th-thanks? But—I'm not hungry, s-so... no, thanks."

The Lord of the Void sighed and turned to head to the kitchen to find some proper food, only to be forcibly yanked into a Game mid-step.

This disastrous morning had just gone from bad to worse.

He found himself standing before a gloomy, sprawling mansion, a Void Star shimmering with white light now in his hand. He let out a low growl, deciding to take all the frustrations of his morning out on the survivors.

He opened his Killer interface. Who to go for first? That pizza kid? His dear former partner? His eyes scanned the survivor list and suddenly landed on a familiar name.

Codeless. His most cherished student.

He gave a wicked smile and teleported away instantly.

—————————

The three survivors quickly finished repairing the generator. It soon emitted a beeping sound and sprang to life. Codeless stood up and opened the g00lgui to check the cooldown, only to find one usage of the "Item Generator" had been deducted. She clicked it again, and moments later, the familiar can of soda appeared in her hand.

Fine, she thought, stashing the soda can into her pocket. As for the pizza slice, it was already in there; the greasy sensation seeped through the fabric, making her shudder involuntarily.

"Can we just… use the pizza now? Grease stains are really hard to wash," she said, turning to her father and the cultist.

"Absolutely no, my dear hybrid," Two Time replied, their voice seemingly devoid of emotion, the signature manic smile still plastered on their face. "A sacred boon must not be squandered so frivolously."

"Why do you keep calling me that..." Codeless muttered under her breath. "Well, do you at least have some kind of 'container' I can put this thing in? How did Elliot store his pizzas?"

"He... seemed to have a dedicated pizza box that would just appear on him whenever he entered a Game," 007n7 looked up from the status panel and responded.His eyes scanned the panel, and his tone suddenly shifted. "I think Noli has found him." Elliot's health bar was slowly, steadily decreasing.

"Ah! Perfect timing," Two Time's voice carried a hint of eerie excitement. "Let us hasten to provide support." Without further discussion, they grabbed Codeless's hand. Before Codeless could even process what was happening, she was yanked forward and pulled into a run, leaving 007n7 behind alone.

A second later, 007n7 realized with a jolt—his daughter was being dragged directly towards the battlefield by a cultist!

"Wait! Two Time!" He frantically gave chase, his voice filled with panic.