"Welcome back, everyone! I hope you all had fun," Eric's voice boomed over the crowd.

  A chorus of excited cheers erupted in response.

  Eric grinned. "Looks like you did! But before we announce the winners, let's change the scenery a bit."

  With a snap of his fingers, the waterlogged city vanished, repced by the familiar sight of the football field. The only thing left was the stage where the moderators sat, and Eric stood front and center at the podium.

  "Alright, I know you're all dying to find out who won," Eric teased, scanning the eager faces. "I know I am! Who caught the most animals, huh?"

  A buzz of anticipation rippled through the crowd. Fenix gnced over at Maya, catching her with her fingers crossed, eyes focused on the stage. He chuckled softly and crossed his own fingers for her, turning back to face the podium.

  "Don't drag it out!" Jin-Sook chimed in, her tail flicking pyfully as she eyed Eric.

  Eric shot her a mock gre and stuck out his tongue before turning back to the crowd. "Since Jin-Sook doesn't appreciate suspense, let’s get to it!"

  He fiddled with something in the air, likely a system screen only he could see before his eyes lit up. "In first pce, with a jaw-dropping 95 points, is… Foxysmile!"

  The crowd erupted in cheers as a woman in a medieval gown gracefully made her way to the stage. Fenix blinked, stunned. Ninety-five points? How on earth did she manage that? Maybe she was secretly a professional animal catcher.

  "And in second pce," Eric continued, "with 75 points… CondorBlue!"

  A man in biker gear strolled up to join her on stage, giving the crowd an enthusiastic wave.

  "And finally," Eric announced with a grin, "in third pce, with 60 points… Sweet Lipstick!"

  Maya’s fist shot into the air as she practically bounced on the spot. "That's me! That’s me!"

  "Well, what are you waiting for?" Fenix ughed, giving her a pyful shove. "Get up there!"

  Maya beamed and rushed toward the stage, nearly tripping in excitement. She took her pce next to the other winners, her eyes gleaming with pride.

  The crowd erupted into appuse, cheers ringing out for the top winners. Fenix cpped along, a proud smile tugging at his lips as he watched Maya, her grin as bright as ever.

  As the winners stood on stage, Eric handed each of them a gift box. The moment their fingers brushed against the boxes, they vanished into thin air, leaving only a soft shimmer behind. Eric gestured toward them with a smile. “The codes for your prizes will be sent directly to your email."

  The crowd cpped as the winners stepped down from the stage. Once they had rejoined the group, Eric addressed the other participants. “For those of you who found crates during the event, don't worry—the codes for those will also be sent to your email shortly.”

  Maya bounded over to Fenix, her grin was as wide as ever. "Third pce, baby!" she bragged, practically bouncing with excitement. "I still can't believe I made it!"

  "I can't believe it either," Fenix teased with a chuckle. "You must've worked hard."

  "Absolutely!" Maya beamed. Then, her tone softened with curiosity. "But, are you bummed you didn’t win?"

  Fenix shook his head, fshing a casual grin. "Not really. I found two crates, so I'm pretty happy with that."

  Maya’s eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, seriously? That's awesome! I couldn’t even find one!"

  Before Fenix could reply, Eric’s voice boomed again, snapping their attention back to the stage. "Alright, folks, that was just the second event. But we’ve still got one more lined up for you all. So... are you ready for the third event?"

  A wave of cheers erupted from the crowd, the energy buzzing with renewed excitement.

  Eric grinned. “Great! The third event is hosted by... Sarah, Dae-Jung, and Hiro!” He gestured to the trio seated at the side of the stage. As he stepped back to his seat, Sarah, Dae-Jung, and Hiro stepped forward.

  "Hello, everyone!" Sarah began with a wave. "We’ve got something amazing pnned for the third event. Let us show you."

  With a snap of their fingers, the air around them shimmered. The open field rippled and morphed, transforming into a lush, mystical forest. Towering trees sprouted from the ground, their branches thick with vibrant leaves in shades of orange, purple, and green. The air was filled with the fresh scent of pine and damp earth. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor, where soft moss and delicate ferns grew in abundance. As the crowd shifted, their footsteps made the leaves crunch underfoot, adding a peaceful, magical feel to the scene.

  Maya stood still, her eyes wide open with wonder. "Whoa..." she breathed, staring at the massive trees and sparkling foliage.

  Fenix was equally stunned, soaking in the new environment. The peaceful, enchanted vibe felt like a stark contrast to the previous chaotic settings. It was as if they had stepped into some sort of magical realm.

  Sarah smiled, clearly pleased with everyone’s reaction. “Welcome to the setting of the third event, ‘Woodnd Adventures.’ Here, you’ll gather ingredients, battle monsters, and cook what you find. This is a team-based challenge, so you’ll need to form teams of two or three.”

  Hiro stepped forward, adding, “To form your team, just touch another pyer, and a system prompt will ask them if they want to join. You’ve got five minutes to get your groups together, and after that, we’ll expin the rules.”

  Dae-Jung cpped his hands. “The timer starts now! Go ahead and find your team!"

  Immediately, the field exploded into a frenzy as participants darted in every direction, rushing to link up with their friends. Fenix and Maya didn’t budge, though. They exchanged a knowing gnce, both of them already on the same page.

  With a smirk, Maya lightly tapped Fenix on the shoulder. A system prompt fshed in front of him:

  [System: Would you like to join Maya’s team? Yes / No]

  Fenix tapped "Yes" without hesitation. A soft chime sounded, signaling their team had officially formed.

  [System: What would you like to name your team?]

  He shot Maya a questioning look, eyebrows raised. She gave a carefree shrug, her eyes glinting. “How about The Saucy Squad?”

  Fenix snorted, amused. “Why not?” he said, smirking as he inputted it.

  Once it was locked in, their focus shifted to the scene around them. The area buzzed with activity—pyers darting around, scrambling to figure out their teams.

  As the five-minute timer ran out, Dae-Jung’s voice echoed across the clearing. "Time’s up! If you didn’t find a team, don’t worry, you’ll be automatically paired up." He paused, surveying the crowd before continuing. "Now, on to the rules. Each team will receive a different recipe. You have to find the ingredients in the forest, make your way to the camp, and cook the dish before time runs out. The first three teams to complete the task will win."

  "That’s not all," Hiro chimed in. "The top three teams will also compete in a special contest. So, good luck!"

  Sarah crossed her arms with a pyful smile. "But how are they supposed to complete their task without some help?"

  "Ah, yes!" Hiro snapped his fingers, and small knapsacks appeared in front of each team, resting on the ground. "Inside these bags are the tools you’ll need."

  Fenix and Maya crouched down to inspect theirs. Inside, they found two sharp machetes, a basic set of cooking tools, a small ax, matches, a map, a few healing potions, and a folded piece of parchment.

  "Is everyone ready?" Sarah's voice rang out again, grabbing everyone's attention. "You’ll have 45 minutes to gather your ingredients and cook your dish. The woods are teeming with creatures and pnts that’ll provide what you need—so be ready for anything.”

  "And don’t forget to have fun!" Dae-Jung added with a grin, his enthusiasm contagious.

  With a dramatic flick of her wrist, Sarah raised her hand, and a rge digital timer appeared in the sky, counting down from 45 minutes.

  "Let the game begin!" Hiro called out, and the clock started ticking.

  Fenix turned to Maya, excitement fshing in his eyes. "Ready?"

  Maya’s grin matched his. "Let’s go!"

  Author Note:

  Want to read 50 chapters ahead? You can do that here: ko-fi.com/momocatt If you’re happy reading at the current pace, that’s totally fine too—I appreciate every single reader.

  But if you feel like sending a little support my way (maybe for a coffee or some extra motivation), you can also do that here: ko-fi.com/momocatt

  No matter what, thank you for being here and enjoying the story! (????)