"Phew, phew..."
As they ran faster and faster, the researchers' breathing grew heavier. They did not dare slacken for even a moment, pushing themselves to the limit as they strode desperately forward.
At the same time, the passage door ahead automatically opened just as the researchers were about to reach it.
"Phew..."
Finally... the researcher at the front reached the laboratory's intelligent mechanical door, but because he had pushed himself too hard earlier, he was now completely exhausted.
One hand braced against the wall, he gulped down air without pause. His heart pounded like a motor, yet he did not relax in the slightest and immediately entered the door before him.
"AAAAAAAAH!!"
At that moment, familiar screams came from behind him. He hurriedly turned around and saw several of his companions being wrapped up by a distorted space.
This was something that existed only in theory. The space around these backward researchers' bodies had been directly distorted. It was utterly unbelievable.
The distorted space prevented them from continuing their escape.
"Don't... don't go... save me!"
The people immobilized by the warped space wore expressions of extreme terror and fear. Looking at the man in front, they pleaded desperately.
But before he could finish speaking, there was a sharp snap, and he collapsed to the floor.
"My legs... I can't feel my legs..."
His terrified voice continued. At this moment, he had completely lost all sensation in his legs, as though he had never had legs to begin with.
When he turned to look at his legs, he discovered that they seemed to have entered another space... At the same time, beside him... that familiar girl, like a ghost, appeared at his side.
He knew this girl very well, because... just a few days ago, she had been their most satisfactory