Suddenly — a voice. Not from the outside, but from within their minds. Cold, emotionless.
"System activated. Level: 1. Adaptive mode. Class: Unidentified. Observation initiated."
Ren looked at the others.
—Did you hear that too?
— It's like a game... — Mina frowned.
— This isn't a game — whispered Yuki.— It's a test. You can feel it in the air.
Takashi walked up to one of the plants. It had thorns and moved slightly, as if... breathing. He plucked a single leaf and immediately felt a small pulse of pain in his fingers.
— This isn't a game... this doesn't even look like anywhere on Earth. This is another dimension! Look at this plant — I just picked a leaf from it and it moved like it was alive… like it tried to defend itself.
He gave a nervous smile and showed the tip of his finger, blood trickling down.
He didn't know yet that this plant would play a crucial role in his near future.
Yuki and Mina looked at it, horror in their eyes.
— This can't be real… — Yuki whispered, her voice trembling.
— We can't just stand here. If even the plants are dangerous, we should find some kind of shelter, — said Haruto.
— Haruto's right. We can't wait for salvation. We have to do something, —added Tenji.
— Maybe we should look for a road or... anything? And the girls can stay here just in case, suggested Ren.
— That sounds like a good plan, — agreed Yuki and Mina, their voices still shaky.
— Then it's settle — they all said.
Everyone set off in different directions, while the girls stayed behind. Silence fell over the forest. Time passed, and the girls remained where they had first awakened.
Mina broke the silence and turned to Yuki.
— I wonder what this place is… and why we ended up here in the first place.
— Maybe it's punishment for our sins, — replied Yuki quietly.
— Don't be silly. There has to be a more reasonable explanation, —Mina said, thinking out loud.
After that, they fell silent once again, waiting for the boys to return with news.