As Mari stood in line behind Ji-yeong they watched as the metal doors opened to show two metal platforms with a rope hanging in the middle. "Welcome to the third game. This game is Tug-of-War. You will pull on a rope on that tower. Make your opponents fall and you win. Now I will hold a draw to decide which teams go first. Everyone, please sit down." Mari looked at the middle guard who was speaking confused but she watched as people started to sit on the floor so she did the same. "I will draw for the team on the left tower." The guard on the left reached into the box and pulled out a number. "Team one, please stand up." Team Number one stood up, it consisted of the men who attacked people a few nights ago. "Next, I will draw for the team on the right tower." The right guard said before sticking his hand in the yellow box and pulling out number 7. "Teams one and seven please enter the towers."

The two teams are led to each of their towers, Mari watched as each team loaded into an elevator and was taken up to the top of their respective towers. She rubbed her hands on her pants nervously, she looked around at each of the teams any of these people could be responsible for their deaths or they could be responsible for her death. The two guards on each side started to wave yellow flags so the guard that was still on the same platform as the rest of the teams raises a gun and shoots it into the air and the game starts.

Mari watches in horror as Team One quickly wins against Team Seven making them fall off the platform. "Oh my god." Mari puts a hand over her mouth as she sees the crumbled bodies at the bottom of the pit. "Eliminated players are numbers 245, 120, 37, 408, 27, 273, 58, 243, 327, and 241." She watches as guards walk towards the players with black boxes that almost look like they could be presents, Mari watches as they pick the bodies up and put them into the bodies with one thought only, that could be her.

Mari's hands reach in front of her to grab Ji-yeong's jacket but she pulls her hands back quickly, she can't do that. Not right now. "I will draw for the next round." The guard snaps Mari's attention back to the front. "Team Four." Mari's stomach drops, that was them. She shakily stands up following the rest of her team. "Team Five." Mari looks to her right to see the people she's up against, she slowly breathes out before putting her hands in front of her stomach and starting to twiddle her fingers.

They were led to the right down the long walkway towards the metal elevators. Mari's knees buckled as the elevator started to move. "Don't be discouraged. Tug-of-Ward isn't just about strength." The old man said but player 196 rolled his eyes and butted in. "Then what? Can we win by talking?"

"With Tug-of-War, you can win with just strategy and teamwork." The old man says seemingly ignoring everything 196 said. "The only one who can us now is the Lord." The man in front of Mari and Ji-yeong said, without looking Mari knows that Ji-yeong rolled her eyes at the remark. "You're barely standing, old man. Stop talking nonsense and save your strength." Player 196 says huffing loudly, Mari watches as the man's face falls so she feels like she should speak up. "Let's hear him out at least," Mari says in support, she has a slight smile on her face as in the front Gi-hun nods in agreement with her.

"I've done my share of Tug-of-Ward in my hometown when I was young, and I rarely ever lost. Even when there was a ssireum athlete on the other team, putting the odds very much against us. Listen closely, and I'll tell you how I beat them back in the day. First off, the leader is very important. That person gets close to the face of the opposition's leader, and the rest of the team looks at the leader's back. If the leader seems weak or dispirited, then the game is already over. Then at the end of the rope, you'll need someone dependable to act like the anchor of a ship. How you place people is also important. One left, one right, alternate with the rope in the middle. Place both feet parallel to each other, and hold the rope in your armpit. That way, you can put in all of your strength. And lastly, this is the most important thing. When the game starts, for the first ten seconds, you just have to hold out. You should practically lie down. Push your lower abdomen up to the sky, and bend your head way back so that you almost see the groin of the person behind you. It's almost impossible to get pulled in then. Hold out for just ten seconds like that. Then the opposition will get flustered thinking, 'Why won't they even budge?' They probably believe they were much stronger. If you hold out for that long, there will come a moment when the opponents' rhythm slips."

Mari let out a deep breath before wiping her sweaty palms on her pants, she watched as everyone started to make a little line so she did the same standing behind Ji-yeong, the elevator comes to a stop and the team is led onto the platform, the guards allow them to line up in a long line and start to attach the leather chains onto their wrists. They position themselves just like 001 told them to, Gi-hun was in front while Ali was in the back and Mari was in the middle behind Ji-yeong.

They placed their feet across the line and moved the rope so it was under everyones' armpit, when the shot rang off they all leaned back.