**Chapter 1: The Darkness of the Games**

Lee Myung-gi is the stem of many people’s debts. Ever since he’s gotten to the games, Jun-hee’s been letting him know that consistently. But she doesn’t go to the extreme lengths that Nam-gyu and Thanos do. No—they do more than just tell him. The six-legged pentathlon had just ended that same day. The dorm lights were shut off, and the ominous glow of the Piggy Bank loomed overhead—blood money flashing inside. The air was thick with tension, and the silence was only broken by the occasional murmur of the players. Lee Myung-gi stood in the bathroom, stepping away from the urinal and heading over towards the sink. His eyes caught his reflection in the mirror, the X patch adjacent from his Player ID was the first thing to catch his attention. He looked rough, his youthful appearance now marred by the stress and fear etched on his face. Did he want to leave? In reality, no he didn’t. But with Jun-hee here, pregnant, he has no say in the matter. It’s only right that he gets her out of dodge—or at least try to. The vote didn’t exactly go their way earlier. The faucet water ran hot as Myung-gi washed his hands. His mind drifted between several things. The next game that he’s technically being forced to play, Jun-hee’s current status, and if there’s really a way out of this place. Probably not, but he’ll try. And as long as Jun-hee’s alive, that’s enough reason. The faucet water cut off, steam from the heat rising into the air before vanishing. The YouTuber wiped his hands across the sides of his tracksuit pants, drying off his palms as he approached the bathroom door. However, right before he could make it out, the door opened. And coming inside was Choi Su-bong, and Nam-gyu. ‘Dammit.’ Thought Myung-gi. He knew where this was going. The beating he received just yesterday was already bad enough—he doesn’t have time for this shit anymore! “Well, well…” Nam-gyu was the first to open his mouth, his expression unreadable. He just stared at Myung-gi. “…MG Coin. What a fucking surprise.” His voice was laced with malice, and Myung-gi could tell he was itching for a fight. Myung-gi stopped in his tracks, backpedaling just a bit. It’s the dead of night, 001 isn’t there to save his ass again. And the guards? As if they even care. “What’re you doing up so late, MG Coin?” Grumbled Thanos, tilting his head in a crazed manner, eyes damn near bulging out of his head. “Huh? Thinking about how you scammed me out of all my damn money?!“ Thanos’ voice was a mix of anger and desperation, and Myung-gi knew he was walking on thin ice. This again. It’s always about this with Thanos. Money, money, money. Scam, scam, scam. It’s all he ever talks about, it’s pathetic. Myung-gi closed his hand, balling a fist. “How many times do I have to tell you? The price of the coin increased, but nobody sold at the right time.” Myung-gi tried to keep his tone calm, but he could feel his anger rising. Thanos took a step forward, Nam-gyu beside him. “Does that fix anything, MG Coin? Hm? No. I’m still in debt because of you—I was gonna kill myself because of you.” Thanos’ voice cracked, and for a moment, Myung-gi saw a glimmer of vulnerability. Myung-gi could tell where this was heading. Nobody can help him now. His eyes did widen at Thanos’ suicide confession, though. He’s a drugged out prick that’s only worried about money, of course he’d be suicidal. The situation escalated quickly, with Thanos and Nam-gyu attacking Myung-gi. The smaller man tried to defend himself, but he was no match for the two. He fell to the ground, his body battered and bruised. As the beating continued, Myung-gi felt a sense of hopelessness wash over him. He thought he was going to die, and nobody was going to stop it. Just as Thanos was about to deliver the final blow, Young-il appeared in the bathroom. He had been doing the night watch for his team and had received a report of a disturbance. “Sir, we need your assistance in the bathroom,” the guard whispered in a distorted voice. Young-il entered the bathroom to find Myung-gi lying on the ground, battered and bruised. He was nude, and his body was covered in bruises, blood, and semen. Young-il’s expression turned grim as he took in the scene. He approached Myung-gi, who was motionless. As he crouched down to inspect some of the bruising on his chest, Myung-gi suddenly woke up. His eyes locked onto Young-il, and he flinched. Young-il saw the fear and vulnerability in Myung-gi’s eyes, and for a moment, he felt a pang of protectiveness. He wanted to shield Myung-gi from the cruelty of the world. Myung-gi’s hand reached out, and he grasped Young-il’s leg. “P-please don’t leave me alone, I-I-I don’t want it to h-ha-happen again,” Myung-gi sobbed out, his voice broken. Young-il looked down at Myung-gi, and his expression softened. He felt a sense of responsibility towards this young man, and he knew he had to protect him. As Young-il gazed at Myung-gi, he couldn’t help but think about how he had ended up in this situation. The games, the debt, the desperation. It was all so familiar, yet so foreign. Young-il’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Thanos and Nam-gyu being escorted away by the guards. Myung-gi was safe for now, but Young-il knew that this was only the beginning. The games were far from over, and Myung-gi still had a long way to go. For now, Young-il would have to be his protector, his guardian. And as he looked into Myung-gi’s eyes, he knew that he would do everything in his power to keep him safe. But as Young-il stood there, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was playing with fire. The games were designed to bring out the worst in people, and Young-il knew that he had to be careful not to get too close. As he helped Myung-gi to his feet, Young-il couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for them. Would they make it out of the games alive, or would they become just another statistic in the long list of casualties? Only time would tell.