Saé was stunned. She could see the red stars even in broad daylight. When Edano suggested that this might be normal, she explained that the number of stars visible at that moment was not the same as at night, and that there were many more.
"It can't be a coincidence, there must be a reason behind it all..."
After this disturbing event, Saé took a moment to think. Then, as if it were obvious, the answer came to her mind.
"I think I understand..."
"Really?"
"It's obvious. We have to find our bearings during the day to determine which areas are safe."
They then set out in search of safe areas. Saé thanked chance for putting this strange man in her path, because without this chance encounter, she might not have had the doubts that proved crucial to their survival.
As night began to spread its dark cloak over Okutama, Saé and her companions noticed a growing commotion.
"What's going on all of a sudden? People are getting agitated."
Indeed, majority and minority groups were forming, each preparing for what seemed to be a crucial choice for their survival.
"They're really going to go through with this stupid idea," said Sae.
In the midst of the commotion, a man approached them.
"Excuse me, you must come with us so we can follow the plan that has been put in place."
Sae, however, did not agree.
"What plan are you talking about? We've already found our own way to survive."
"It's not up to me to decide."
The man then told her that she should express her objections to the person who had proposed the plan.
Without hesitation, Saé and her companions headed toward the man who had instigated this plan to divide them into majority and minority groups.
Saé, determined to make her voice heard, approached Ono, expecting to confront him for instigating this division. But to her surprise, Ono revealed that he was not the instigator of this idea. With a wave of his hand, he pointed to a group of individuals standing above the crowd, seemingly dictating the rules.
Without hesitation, Saé turned to this group.
"Are you the ones behind this?"
"Yes, what do you want, young lady?"
"We had already solved this puzzle, so we have no obligation to follow your instructions."
"So what? Don't you understand? As long as we don't help each other in this situation, we'll never move forward. It's common sense."
The group responded firmly, insisting that even if they had solved the puzzle, they had to help the other survivors.
Faced with this response, Saé remained impassive. She refused to give in to a simplistic view of mutual aid, believing that their real duty was to maximize their chances of survival, even if it meant deviating from the instructions imposed by others.
As the members of the rival group confronted Saé and her group, they openly accused them of refusing to help the other survivors.
"Look, everyone! This group refuses to comply with the plan we've devised!"
The accusatory tone resonated through the crowd, amplifying the weight of oppression that weighed on Saé and her companions. Judgmental stares turned toward them, marking each face with an expression of disapproval and mistrust.
A man stepped forward, looking at them suspiciously. "Why are you refusing to follow the plan?" he asked accusingly
Saé took a deep breath to calm her nerves and replied firmly, "It's not a matter of refusal, but of informed choice. We have already solved the puzzle; we are already certain of our survival."
The man raised his eyebrows, his eyes flashing with reproach. "It's a matter of mutual aid! We must all work together to increase our chances of survival."
Edano intervened, trying to calm everyone down. "We understand the importance of helping each other, but your plan is rather suspicious..."
The other survivors then turned to Saé and her group, watching them with suspicion and judgment. "You refuse to follow the rules, you're selfish!" shouted a voice in the crowd, followed by murmurs of disapproval.
"So they're the ones who solved the riddle?"
"Look, it's the guy who stood up to Kaisho!"
"Did someone suck out his soul or something? Look at the face he's pulling."
Saé felt the weight of oppression intensify, her shoulders slumping under the accusing gaze of her peers. Unable to find the words to defend herself, she felt overwhelmed by the pressure of the injustice weighing on her and her companions.
The tension in the crowd rose a notch when eyes fell on Ishikawa, standing alongside Saé and the rest of the group.
"Am I dreaming, or is that really the man standing next to them?!"
Indignant murmurs and incredulous glances spread among the survivors. Ishikawa, usually seen as a symbol of hope and determination, had apparently chosen to side with the "rebels."
"He's just a hypocrite, he only takes what suits him!"
"He's joined the rebels too!"
Challenged by the accusing glances directed at him, Ishikawa clumsily attempted to defend himself. "I'm not a superhero," he said in a calm but trembling voice. "Sometimes, even with the best will in the world, we can't save everyone."
Ishikawa's words were met with indignant exclamations and aggressive gestures from some members of the crowd.
"Shut up!"
"You're the one who used to talk to us about helping each other!"
"This guy is a traitor, he must die!"
Objects began to be thrown in his direction in an attempt to take away one of his life points.
Edano and Sae rushed to stand between Ishikawa and the flying projectiles, their arms raised in a protective gesture. They tried to calm the agitated crowd, but the tension lingered in the air, fueled by indignation and resentment.
Amidst the turmoil, the childish voice rang out again, like a warning light in the midst of the growing chaos. Its announcement sent a chill through the assembly, evoking a new imminent threat.
"Dear solver, a toxic gas has spread throughout the Okutama region. You have sixteen hours to eat, drink, rest, and maintain your morale. Otherwise, your health bars will be reduced. Good luck! Ah... It seems that if you kill more than half of the survivors, you should be able to survive without any problems."
The words echoed in the heavy silence that had fallen, creating an atmosphere of urgency and contained panic. Faces paled, and a shiver of fear ran through the assembly as everyone realized the gravity of the situation.
Chaos erupted in a whirlwind of panic, revealing everyone's true nature in the face of the grim announcement. With the proposal to survive at the expense of half of the others, primal instincts took over, fueling a chaotic melee where everyone fought for their own survival. Fights broke out, but blows were held back, everyone aware that serious injuries could lead to a loss of life points.
Suddenly, the group that had initially proposed the idea rose to their feet, dominating the chaotic scene with their presence. Their voices rang out above the tumult, bringing a fragile glimmer of hope in the growing darkness.
"There is a simpler solution for survival," they declared, capturing the attention of the desperate crowd. "All you have to do is drink a drop of the Saé group's blood, because they have consumed the ambrosia."
This revelation caused confusion and disbelief among the survivors, but it also offered a glimmer of hope in the growing darkness of the desperate situation.
All eyes then turned to Saé and her group, like hungry predators staring at their prey. In this tense atmosphere, Saé realized with brutal clarity how far human beings were willing to go to survive. It was a sight that was both terrifying and revealing of the true nature of the survival instinct.
Despite the palpable tension and hostile stares weighing on them, Saé did not back down, determined to defend herself. She was ready to face the trials and challenges that the desperate situation imposed on them.
Suddenly, a voice rose above the tumult of the crowd. A man with a weathered face and short hair spoke up, addressing the group directly. His voice carried a calm but firm authority, denouncing the direction events were taking.
"Sorry, but I don't really like the way you're handling things..."
This unexpected intervention brought a moment of respite amid the growing chaos, offering a glimmer of hope in the deepening darkness of the desperate situation.
"Who are you?"
"I don't know you, but you seem to know a lot, which is problematic..."
"Who's the degenerate here?"
"Is he drunk or something?"
The man, seemingly oblivious to the overwhelming tension, spoke in a calm and relaxed voice, as if he did not fully appreciate the gravity of the situation weighing on them. His casual attitude stood in stark contrast to the despair that permeated the charged atmosphere.
"I understand that you like action, but don't you want to take it easy at first?"
"What the hell is he talking about?"
With an air of nonchalance, he took an ambrosia out of his pocket and dropped it into the pond surrounding them. His gesture, though simple, was imbued with a certain confidence, as if he had the solution at his fingertips.
In his next words, he laid out his plan with apparent calm.
"This ocean is now imbued with the power of ambrosia, which will grant invulnerability to those who drink it."