Chapter 25: Knowledge is Power
Boom.
Another heavy step shook the earth.
The scientist clenched his fists.
"Everyone, stop running!" he shouted. "Panicking won't save you! We need to cooperate and figure out what those things are targeting!"
His voice barely reached anyone.
A hand suddenly grabbed the front of his shirt.
"You..."
He turned.
The man's eyes were bloodshot, his face stained with tears and mud.
"You..."
Recognition flashed across his face.
"You're the one."
He frowned.
"The one who told us to line up."
Silence.
"I listened to you."
His grip tightened.
"My sister listened too..."
His voice cracked.
"And now she's dead."
His lips parted.
"I..."
"You said it would work!"
The man shook him violently.
"You said we'd survive!"
"I only—"
"Bring her back!"
His voice echoed through the forest.
"Bring my sister back!"
The shouting drew no audience.
Everyone else was too busy running for their lives.
Some nearly crashed into them before changing direction.
Others didn't even spare them a glance.
To them, surviving came first.
"Enough."
A calm voice interrupted.
Yunxia stepped between the two men.
"If you want to settle this, survive first."
The man glared at her.
"What do you know?!"
"I know arguing won't bring her back."
"..."
"If you're going to waste your strength, do it after we're alive."
The man's breathing became ragged.
His hands still trembled around the scientist's shirt.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The footsteps grew louder.
The scientist instinctively turned.
One of the wooden golems was approaching.
Its glowing eyes swept across the area.
The scientist froze.
The grieving man was still clutching him.
Yunxia stood only a few steps away.
Three people.
The golem slowed...
Then continued walking.
It ignored them completely.
He blinked.
"...What?"
A scream erupted behind them.
He turned.
A lone runner was caught before he could escape.
The giant's foot came down.
The forest trembled.
His eyes narrowed.
No...
That doesn't make sense.
His mind replayed the last few seconds.
The man had been trying to beat him.
Yunxia only stepped in to stop the fight.
There was no kindness.
No trust.
No friendship.
So why...
His gaze swept across the battlefield.
People alone.
People in pairs.
People gathered together.
The giant.
The symbol on its chest.
Patterns.
His heartbeat gradually slowed.
"It's not judging intentions..."
He whispered unconsciously.
"It's judging..."
The grieving man's grip weakened.
His anger melted into despair.
He slowly let go.
"...Please..."
His knees hit the ground.
"...Bring my sister back..."
The scientist stared at him.
For a moment...
The forest disappeared.
A hospital room.
Machines.
The faint smell of medicine.
A little girl smiled despite the tubes around her.
"You'll find a cure one day... won't you, brother?"
The memory vanished as quickly as it came.
The scientist lowered his head.
"...I couldn't save her either."
The words escaped before he realized it.
Yunxia glanced at him.
She said nothing.
Another scream echoed through the forest.
The scientist looked up again.
This time...
He wasn't looking at the monsters.
He was looking at the survivors.
No...
Not survivors.
Variables.
"If there's a rule..."
He muttered.
"Then there's an answer."
And I will find it.
Yunxia looked at him.
"You have an idea."
The scientist hesitated before nodding.
"...A hypothesis."
"Can you prove it?"
"I think so."
"How?"
He looked at her.
"Walk away."
She frowned.
"A little."
"Not too far."
Without another question, Yunxia loosened her grip on the sack and walked away from the scientist and the grieving man.
Five steps.
Six.
Seven.
The nearest wooden golem stopped.
Its golden eyes slowly shifted.
Locked onto her.
It began walking.
The scientist's heartbeat quickened.
"One more step."
Yunxia obeyed.
The giant raised its foot.
The scientist rushed forward and grabbed her wrist.
The instant their hands met...
The golem froze.
Seconds passed.
Then it slowly lowered its foot before turning toward another direction.
The scientist exhaled.
"...I knew it."
Yunxia glanced at him.
"What did you know?"
The grieving man also looked over.
"What are you talking about?"
The scientist pointed toward the retreating giant.
"It isn't random."
"It has a condition."
"What condition?"
The scientist answered without taking his eyes off the monster.
"It attacks people who are alone."
Silence.
"The moment Yunxia separated..."
"It chose her."
"The moment she became part of our group again..."
"It stopped."
Yunxia looked across the battlefield.
"...They're forcing strangers to cooperate."
The scientist nodded.
"I believe so."
The grieving man immediately turned around.
"Everyone!"
His voice echoed through the forest.
"They're attacking people who are alone!"
"Stay together!"
"Stay in groups!"
A few survivors instinctively looked over.
Before anyone could answer—
"Watch out!"
A woman tripped while running.
She cried out as the wooden giant loomed over her.
Its foot rose into the air.
A nearby man didn't think.
He lunged forward.
His fingers caught hers.
He pulled.
The woman stumbled into his arms.
The giant remained still.
It stared at them for a brief moment.
Then...
Walked away.
Silence.
Then—
"I knew it!"
A survivor shouted.
"It's kindness!"
Another pointed excitedly.
"He saved her!"
"That's why they were spared!"
"They're testing our hearts!"
Hope spread faster than fear.
People immediately began helping strangers to their feet.
Others reached out their hands.
"Come with us!"
"We'll protect each other!"
"Don't leave anyone behind!"
The scientist frowned.
"...No."
"They misunderstood."
Yunxia sighed.
"We tried."
"They won't hear it."
"They're hearing what they want to hear."
Within moments, survivors formed groups everywhere.
Some laughed in relief.
Others even embraced one another.
Believing...
They had solved the trial.
The four wooden golems suddenly stopped.
The forest fell silent.
Slowly...
Each giant turned toward another.
Then...
They stepped forward.
Instead of attacking...
They embraced.
Several survivors smiled.
"See?"
"I told you."
"It's kindness."
"They're showing us."
The giants tightened their embrace.
Wood splintered.
Roots twisted together.
A blinding light burst across the forest.
Everyone instinctively covered their eyes.
When the light faded...
The four wooden golems were gone.
Two towering stone golems stood in their place.
Their massive bodies looked carved from entire mountains.
Across each forehead was a new symbol.
Different.
Unfamiliar.
Ancient.
No one had time to study it.
The nearest stone golem slowly turned.
Its crimson eyes settled on the same man and woman.
The couple smiled nervously.
"We're together..."
"We helped—"
BOOM!!
Its foot descended.
The earth exploded beneath them.
When the dust settled...
Nothing remained except blood staining the cracked ground.
Silence.
"..."
"..."
Then chaos erupted.
"They died!"
"But..."
"They were kind!"
"They helped each other!"
The survivors scattered in terror.
"No!"
"The rule changed!"
"Run!"
Groups broke apart.
Others desperately searched for more people.
Some simply fled without thinking.
A terrified young man spotted the scientist.
"The scientist!"
"He figured out the last one!"
He sprinted over.
"What does this one want?!"
"We'll do anything!"
Another followed.
Then another.
The scientist's group grew.
Nearby—
A thunderous crash echoed.
A burly man swung his axe with both hands.
CLANG!!
The stone golem's foot stopped inches above him.
His muscles bulged as he roared.
"Come on!!"
For a brief moment...
He held it back.
The surrounding survivors stared.
"He stopped it!"
"He can fight it!"
The burly man grinned through gritted teeth.
"Hah!"
"It's only big!"
"Get behind me!"
Immediately, people rushed toward him instead.
"If he can stop one..."
"We'll survive!"
Within seconds...
Another faction was born.
The scientist quietly watched.
No expression crossed his face.
Different people.
Different answers.
Different conclusions.
The trial...
Had only just begun.