As the participating teams slowly advanced,
the scene behind the ancient gate changed dramatically.
The blood-red eyeballs that had packed the cracks of the door, once so heart-stopping, suddenly vanished like morning mist, leaving not a single trace behind—only empty darkness remained.
Immediately after, a chaotic and complex clamor erupted from within the welfare institute.
It was the cacophony of countless feet hurrying across the floor, weaving an unsettling melody that echoed through the quiet air.
It made one involuntarily imagine a horde of invisible beings frantically running in the dark, chasing each other or fleeing some unknown terror.
Amidst the clamor of footsteps, the laughter of children abruptly cut in—crisp and pleasant, yet filled with an out-of-place eeriness.
The laughter seemed to originate from a carefree childhood, but it carried an indescribable emptiness and desolation.
