The mechanical voice echoed throughout the room, flowing through speakers mounted in the corners of the ceiling.

  "THIS ELIMINATION GAME IS QUITE SIMPLE. CHOOSE THE RIGHT DOOR, AND YOU WILL ESCAPE."

  "BUT, IF YOU CHOOSE THE WRONG DOOR, YOU WILL BE PUNISHED WITH DEATH."

  "THIS GAME CONSISTS OF THREE ROUNDS."

  "TO FIND THE CORRECT DOOR, YOU WILL BE GIVEN A CLUE THAT WILL APPLY FOR ALL THREE ROUNDS."

  "EACH DOOR CAN ONLY BE ENTERED BY ONE PERSON. ONCE SOMEONE ENTERS, THE DOOR WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOCK."

  "PARTICIPANTS HAVE TWO MINUTES TO CHOOSE A DOOR. IF YOU MISS THE TIME LIMIT, ALL DOORS WILL LOCK."

  "BEFORE THE CLUE IS GIVEN, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO PREPARE."

  There was a brief silence after the announcement ended. The screen in the room began its countdown.

  "So, we have to race for the doors against the other participants?" Daniel asked anxiously. Beside him, Carla tightly held her son's hand.

  "I can't run fast," Carla mumbled, starting to consider ways to stay safe.

  "I think the symbols on these doors are more than just decoration," Eve said, her eyes studying the symbols carved on each door.

  I also started observing the symbols, trying to find any hidden patterns behind them. Then, a thought crossed my mind.

  "I think I know something. Look at the door to our left. I'm sure it's door number one, and the door next to it is number two, and so on."

  Daniel stared at me, doubtful. "How can you be sure that's number one?"

  I pointed at the row of symbols. "The numbers one through nine only consist of one symbol. Numbers above ten have two symbols, and at the far end of the room, we can see a door with three symbols. That must be the number one hundred."

  Everyone started to observe more closely. The leftmost door had the symbol '?', while the door at the far right had the symbol '???'.

  "Yeah, that makes sense," Eve nodded. "So we have to memorize the symbols for one through nine to understand the larger numbers."

  Carla looked at me hopefully. "So, how do we stay safe?"

  I took a deep breath. "Since this game happens in three rounds, Eve and Daniel, you two need to go first and enter the correct door. Nathan and I will help Carla and make sure she enters the safe door. After that, we'll follow in the next round. Agreed, Nathan?"

  I looked toward Nathan, who was still looking down, seemingly lost in thought.

  "Nathan?"

  I called his name again. This time, he jolted, then raised his head. "Yeah... Leave it to us."

  Eve looked at him with concern. "Nathan, are you okay?"

  Nathan gave a faint smile. "Sorry, I was daydreaming. But I understand the plan."

  On the other side, Daniel looked restless. "Mom, what if I carry you and catch up later?"

  Carla smiled gently. "Don't worry, son. Trust them. Just focus on choosing the right door. We'll meet at the end."

  The screen continued its countdown. The preparation time was almost up.

  "Get ready. The clue will be announced soon," I said, starting to help Carla along with Nathan.

  Eve nodded. "See you at the end."

  BZzzt.

  "PREPARATION TIME HAS ENDED. THE CLUE FOR THE CORRECT DOOR IS: 'THE DOOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE NUMBER 7.'"

  "THE GAME BEGINS!"

  The atmosphere shifted immediately. Several participants panicked and rushed to the nearest doors.

  "Associated with the number seven?" Eve mumbled, confused.

  Daniel looked around frantically. "What does that mean?"

  Nathan quickly shouted, "Look for the door with the number seven symbol!"

  Without wasting any time, Nathan and I helped Carla and ran to the door with the symbol '∩?'.

  We reached the door, grabbed the iron handle, and immediately helped Carla inside. "You go first, we'll follow later!" I said.

  As soon as Carla stepped inside, the door immediately slammed shut with iron bars. The door was locked. It could no longer be used.

  I turned around. The room was now in chaos. People were scrambling to get through doors, pushing each other, even attacking one another. Some doors were already locked, but screams could be heard from inside, followed by blood seeping out from under the door cracks.

  "This is like hell," I muttered, my voice trembling. Cold sweat soaked my forehead, and my body began to shake, but I fought with all my might to prevent the fear from completely taking over.

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  Nathan suddenly yelled, "That's the wrong door, Daniel!!"

  We immediately ran toward him to stop him, but it was too late. Daniel had already opened the door marked '??' and was about to step inside when an old man suddenly shoved him roughly. Daniel fell to the floor while the man hurriedly entered the room.

  Moments later, the door slammed shut with a deafening roar. From inside, a chilling scream echoed, making the hairs on my neck stand up. Blood oozed out through under the door cracks.

  Nathan and I quickly helped Daniel get up. His face was ashen, his body still trembling.

  "Thank goodness I didn't make it inside..." he mumbled in fear.

  His breath caught. Eyes wide, Daniel bolted upright like a spring.

  “My mom! What about my mom?!”

  I placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him. "Don't worry, your mom is fine."

  Daniel looked at me with wide, anxious eyes. "How can you be sure?!"

  Nathan was the one to answer this time, his voice calm and reassuring. "As long as it's the right door, we won't hear pain or see blood spilling from under the door."

  Before Daniel could say anything more, the sound of bells rang throughout the room.

  "DONG! DONG! DONG!"

  The first round was over.

  We still couldn't calm ourselves after what had just happened. The atmosphere here was completely chaotic. I glanced around, trying to observe the remaining people. My eyes landed on one person who was still sitting calmly at the spot where we had first arrived.

  It was the person who had survived the previous game with Nathan. When he realized I was watching him, he grinned in a truly eerie way. I quickly turned my gaze away.

  "That person still hasn't moved from his spot," I whispered to Nathan.

  Nathan glanced in the direction I meant and then quietly said, "He's dangerous. We'd better not get involved with him."

  I resumed scanning the room. "It looks like Eve managed to get through a door. I don't see her here."

  Nathan nodded. "I hope she picked the right door. I didn't catch which one she chose."

  The voice from the speakers echoed through the room, calling the remaining participants.

  "ALL REMAINING PARTICIPANTS, PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR STARTING POINT. THE COUNTDOWN FOR ROUND TWO WILL BEGIN."

  Then the voice continued with a statement that made everyone freeze.

  "HOW WILL YOU FIND THE RIGHT DOOR IF ALL THE NUMBER 7 DOORS HAVE BEEN LOCKED?"

  People began returning to the starting point, most looking terrified and battered from the brutal first round.

  A man with the symbol '????' on his back stepped forward, his voice filled with frustration. "What does it mean that all number 7 doors are gone? How are we supposed to pick the right door now?"

  "Exactly! There's no number 7 left!" another participant yelled, sounding desperate.

  But the speaker remained silent. No response.

  Panic started to spread among the remaining participants. I myself began thinking hard. "How are we supposed to find the number 7 in this round...?" I muttered.

  That's when the man with the buzz cut laughed cynically. "You fools. This is why you'll die easily in this game."

  An old man felt insulted and angrily retorted, "What do you mean?! Can you find the number 7?!"

  The buzz cut man grinned. "Of course, there's still a number 7 here. Use your brains."

  He paused for a moment before adding in a mocking tone, "Alright, I'll give you a little hint. The correct doors for round two are door 81 and door 92."

  Confused shouts immediately erupted.

  "Are you stupid? There's no number 7 there!" someone protested.

  I was also surprised. "Door 81 and 92?" I muttered. "How could there be a 7 there...?"

  The buzz cut man snorted in annoyance. "You're really idiots. 8 minus 1 equals 7, right? Same goes for 9 minus 2."

  Some people began to look uncertain, considering his words.

  "But how do we know which is the correct door, 81 or 92?" someone asked.

  "Just count from left to right," the man replied in a low tone, but it came off as condescending.

  I furrowed my brow, trying to understand his logic. "Is that really...?"

  Daniel took a deep breath and said urgently, "We need to be ready before anyone else grabs them."

  But before we could move, Nathan whispered quietly, "Don't choose those doors. It's a trap."

  Daniel turned with a furrowed brow. "Then, which door is correct?"

  Nathan stared straight ahead and calmly said, "Choose door 16, 25, 34, 43, 52, or 61."

  Daniel looked confused. "Why those doors?"

  I thought for a moment, then realized something. "Is this using the Digital Root method?" I asked Nathan.

  Daniel frowned. "Digital Root? What's that?"

  "Digital Root is the result of repeatedly adding each digit in a number until only one digit remains. For example, the number 16 has a digital root of 1 + 6, which becomes 7, leaving just one digit," Nathan explained calmly.

  Daniel stared at him, impressed. "Turns out you're pretty smart. Thank God you're on our side."

  However, confusion returned to his face. "But... if that's the case, then why are 81 and 92 wrong?"

  Nathan hesitated slightly before continuing, "In mathematics, digital root doesn't involve subtraction. But here? We don't know if there are other rules at play."

  I swallowed nervously. "So... do we have to sacrifice others?" My voice trembled, and guilt began to seep into my chest.

  "We don't have a choice," Nathan said flatly. "We need to observe."

  Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed through the room:

  "ROUND TWO: FINDING THE NUMBER 7 BEGINS NOW!"

  Like a spark igniting a flame, people immediately surged forward, fighting their way to doors 81 and 92. Screams, shoves, and the sound of bodies colliding filled the air. Some struggled to enter the doors, while others hesitated, trying to understand the logic behind the game.

  Nathan pointed to door 61, and without hesitation, Daniel ran towards it. I headed towards doors 43 and 52. But before I could touch the handle, someone grabbed my arm. Their eyes were pleading.

  "Please... let me go in."

  I froze. Their pleading eyes melted my heart. I nodded slowly and stepped back, allowing them to enter. The door clicked shut.

  Then-

  AAARGHHHH!

  A painful scream erupted from the direction of doors 81 and 92. I turned and saw expressions of horror on the faces of those who had survived. The people who had been fighting for the doors were now frozen, witnessing blood seeping from under the cracks of the doors they had just tried to enter.

  Suddenly, laughter echoed.

  "Hahahaha! Turns out I misjudged the door. Sorry, everyone!" The voice of the man with buzzed hair rang out, standing in front of door 97 with a wide grin that sent chills down my spine.

  "You're a monster!" someone shouted, anger beginning to boil among them.

  The man shrugged casually. "Sorry, sorry. But there's still time left, right? Doors 88 and 97 are the right choices. Who wants to go in?"

  No one moved.

  "We won't trust you anymore!"

  The man chuckled. "This time, I'm not lying. Doors 88 and 97 have a digital root of 7. 88 becomes 8 + 8 = 16, then 1 + 6 = 7. Simple, right?"

  His gaze swept over those who were still hesitant. "If no one wants to go, I'll go first. After that, you can fight over the remaining two doors."

  His hand reached for the door handle. Just as he was about to enter, someone ran toward him.

  "Wait!"

  A young man with a panicked look stared at him, eyes filled with hope. "Please... give me that door. I understand the calculation. I know it's right."

  The man with buzzed hair grinned. "Hmm... But I'm not sure I'll survive the third round. Do you have something to trade?"

  Without hesitation, the young man took off his gold necklace and handed it over.

  The man with buzzed hair weighed the necklace in his hand, then sighed dramatically. "Alright... it's heavy for me, but I'll accept it." With a sly smile, he opened door 97 and let the young man in.

  Seeing this, panic spread. Those who had hesitated now scrambled toward door 88, pushing to get in before it was too late.

  Then-

  CRACK!

  A heart-wrenching sound came from behind door 97. Moments later, a scream of agony tore through the air.

  Blood began to flow from under the cracks of the door.

  The people scrambling for door 88 froze, their bodies paralyzed in fear.

  Silence swallowed the room.

  Then, the voice echoed again-laughter from the man with buzzed hair, now sitting while holding his stomach.

  "Hhngh... Pffft-WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

  "DONG! DONG! DONG!"

  Round two had ended.