The air in the arena was thick with tension, sweat, and the metallic tang of blood. The once orderly grid of the chessboard was now a chaotic battlefield, with only a few players left standing on each side. Gi-hun stood in his new role as queen, his heart heavy as he glanced at the few remaining members of his team. Their faces-pale, drenched in sweat, and smeared with streaks of dirt-were filled with desperation.

The Final Moves

Player 120, the white king, barked orders with a precision that had kept them alive thus far. Gi-hun admired her strength, even as he felt the weight of his own actions pressing down on him. He had been promoted, yes, but at what cost?

"Gi-hun," she whispered, her voice hoarse but firm. "We can still win this. Just follow my lead."

The black team’s queen advanced again, targeting Player 120 with ruthless efficiency. Every move brought her closer to checkmate, her icy gaze never leaving her target.

"Queen to H5," Player 120 ordered. Gi-hun obeyed without question, moving across the board to intercept. His new power allowed him to dominate the battlefield, but every attack, every defense, came with a price.

Gi-hun’s newfound confidence faltered as he watched the black queen target their rook, Player 388. Gi-hun hesitated, his mind racing.

“Protect the king, Gi-hun!” Player 388 shouted, charging to intercept the black queen.

“No!” Gi-hun screamed, but it was too late. The black queen struck, capturing Player 388. The guards moved in swiftly, dragging the man off the board. His screams were cut short by a gunshot.

Gi-hun froze, his breath catching in his throat. He had hesitated-he could have saved him, but instead, Player 388 was gone.

The Final Checkmate

The loss of Player 388 spurred Player 120 into action. With only herself, Gi-hun, and two pawns remaining, she gambled everything on a risky maneuver.

"Pawn to C6," she commanded, sacrificing yet another player to corner the black king.

Gi-hun advanced once more, now locked in a deadly duel with the black queen. His movements were calculated, precise, and driven by sheer will to survive. The clash ended with Gi-hun triumphing, the black queen collapsing in defeat.

The black king, now defenseless, made one last futile move. Player 120 delivered the final order:

"Gi-hun, checkmate."

Gi-hun stepped forward and claimed victory for the white team. The loudspeaker crackled to life.

“Game over. White team wins.”

Aftermath

The survivors-only 14 out of the original 32-stood in stunned silence as the metallic grid slowly retracted into the floor, revealing the cold, empty expanse beneath. Player 120 collapsed to her knees, her strength finally giving out.

Gi-hun looked down at his trembling hands. He should have felt relief, or even pride. But all he could feel was guilt.

"I thought I could make a difference," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "I thought I could be a hero."

Player 388’s face flashed in his mind-the determination in his eyes, the sacrifice he had made. Gi-hun clenched his fists. "But all I did was get him killed."

Player 120 placed a hand on his shoulder, her gaze steady despite the exhaustion etched into her features. "You kept us alive, Gi-hun. That’s all we can do here."

He nodded, but her words did little to ease the weight in his chest.

The Vote

As the players were herded back into the dormitory, the familiar sight of the voting box awaited them. Despite their exhaustion, a new wave of determination had taken hold of the group.

The loudspeaker buzzed. “Vote now: O to continue, X to end the games.”

Gi-hun’s hand hovered over the X button. He wanted to end it, to stop the carnage before more lives were lost. But as he looked around, he saw the faces of the other players-resolute, hardened by the games.

When the results were displayed, Gi-hun’s heart sank.

O: 9 X: 5

The games would continue.

As the players were dismissed, the loudspeaker crackled again.

“Congratulations to the survivors. You have passed the fifth game. The final game will commence tomorrow.”

*last game time has started*

a voice spoke again:

“Players will be required to maintain their position on the bars for 16 minutes. Falling will result in elimination.”

The room erupted into murmurs, panic spreading among the group. Gi-hun slumped against the wall, his mind reeling. He had survived this far, but at what cost? He wanted to end it all, but it happened so quickly that he had no chance with what was waiting for him.