**Chapter 1: The Van**

Jongwoo walked to the location given to him by the strange man, the late night air casting long shadows across the deserted street. The only sound was the soft crunch of gravel beneath his feet as he shifted his weight, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. He had been told to wait for a van at this exact spot at this exact time, and he had arrived with a mix of trepidation and curiosity. As he waited, the silence began to feel oppressive, and Jongwoo's mind wandered back to the events that had led him here. The crypto scam, the debt, the desperation that had driven him to take a chance on a mysterious competition. He had been assured that it was a chance to win a life-changing sum of money, but as he stood there, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was making a terrible mistake. The van finally appeared, its headlights cutting through the darkness like a pair of glowing eyes. Jongwoo's heart quickened as he approached the vehicle, his senses on high alert. The side door slid open, and he was greeted by the sight of dozens of people lying motionless in the back of the van. Without hesitation, Jongwoo climbed in, taking a seat among the sleeping passengers. The door closed behind him, and he felt a surge of panic as he realized he was trapped. The van began to move, and Jongwoo's anxiety spiked as he wondered where he was going and what lay ahead. As the van drove, it filled with a sweet, pungent gas that seemed to seep into Jongwoo's lungs. He felt his eyelids growing heavy, and before he could resist, he was out. When Jongwoo awoke, he was disoriented and groggy. The sound of blaring children's music and the cacophony of complaints and screams assaulted his ears, and he was momentarily blinded by the bright fluorescent lights that illuminated the space. As his vision cleared, he took in his surroundings. He was in a large room that resembled a warehouse, with white brick walls and rows of tall, bunked beds that towered up to seven beds high. The bed he was on was stiff and uncomfortable, with a thin blanket that offered little comfort. Jongwoo sat up, rubbing his eyes in an attempt to clear the haze. That's when he noticed that he was wearing a green tracksuit with a number emblazoned on the front: 333. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized that someone had changed him while he was unconscious. His gaze fell upon the bracelet on his wrist, a gift from Seo Moon-jo, the serial killer who had stalked him in Eden. The bracelet was made from teeth, a grim reminder of the trauma he had endured. Jongwoo's thoughts were a jumble of emotions as he tried to process his situation. The room was erupting into chaos, with arguments breaking out among the crowd of players. Jongwoo's eyes scanned the space, taking in the sea of faces, all wearing the same green tracksuits with numbers on the front. A guard, dressed in a pink outfit with a triangular mask, stepped onto the stage at the front of the room. The guard's voice boomed through a microphone, "Welcome, players, to the game! You will be competing in a series of challenges, and the losers will be... eliminated. You have been brought here to play, and play to the end. The game will consist of six rounds, each with a different challenge. The challenges will test your physical and mental strength, and your ability to work together with your fellow players." The guard paused, surveying the crowd before continuing, "The game is simple: win, and you will be one step closer to the prize. Lose, and... well, you will be eliminated. The choice is yours." As the guard finished speaking, the room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on the stage. Jongwoo felt a sense of trepidation wash over him, his mind racing with questions. What were the challenges? What did it mean to be eliminated? And what was the prize? The guard's voice cut through his thoughts, "The game will begin shortly. Please, players, take your places at the starting line. You will be given further instructions then." With that, the guard stepped off the stage, and the room erupted into a flurry of activity as players began to move towards the starting line. Jongwoo stood up, his heart pounding in his chest, and took his place among the crowd. He had no idea what lay ahead, but he was determined to survive.