The atmosphere in the room is thick with tension as you sit across from Ji-yeong, the marbles cold in your hands. The realization has set in for both of you—whoever loses this game, whoever doesn’t win all ten marbles, dies. There’s no room for mistakes. No room for hesitation. The stakes have never been higher.

Ji-yeong isn’t looking at you, her eyes fixed on the marbles in her hand, her expression unreadable. You can feel the weight of the situation pressing down on both of you, but she remains cold, detached, like she’s been through this kind of thing before. You can tell she’s not the type to show fear, but there’s something unsettling in the way she’s gripping the marbles, like she’s holding onto the last bit of control she has.

“You know the rules,” she finally says, her voice a low murmur, cutting through the silence. “We play until one of us wins.”

You nod, trying to steady your breathing, but it’s hard. Your hands are trembling, but you force yourself to focus. This isn’t just about winning anymore. It’s about survival. And you’re not sure if you’re ready to do what it takes to survive.