"Let us now see the list of the Running Man Survival Players who have survived the first game!" Announced the loud, clergy, Pululu with a voice of a thousand microphones.

A large, holographic, screen appeared in front of the viewers and a list of over 500 Running Man Survival Players were shown. Until the numbers reduced when a red "X" marked the eliminated players one by one, leaving them only in the estimated number of 100.

"Despite the Gatekeeper's unrivalled speed and power, the Running Man Survival Players still managed to have defeated him and won victoriously! All because of the Mysterious, Iron Beast!"

The crowd of ecstatic Pululus cheered together as they re-watched a replay of The Iron Beast stealing Vivace's emblem.

"Unfortunately, the game for today has come to an end. The Next game will continue tomorrow as we believe that everyone, even these criminals, deserves some time to rest. But resting is not the only thing they would do to waste their day. They are still criminals and they shall deserve what is coming to them, so that is why... We will send the newcomers to the place where they will be rehabilitated to reduce their sins and criminal behaviours... Training School!"

"Training School?" Miyo repeated before hearing Lonky's wail of horror.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Screamed the Giraffe, grabbing everyone around him's attention.
"Why did it have to be... SCHOOL?!!!!"
Lonky fell on both knees and hammered his two fists on the ground in defeat.

Popo, feeling the anguish as he, knelt on the ground and hammered his fists on it as well.

"NOOOOO!!!!! NOT SCHOOL!!! ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!!"

Popo screamed even louder while Liu and the rest watched in uncomfortable silence. Looking as if all of them were disappointed to have friends like them.

To make things worse, Salena joined in. Hopping and landed on both knees and lowered her entire front body on the ground.

"NOOOOO!!!! I HATE SCHOOL!!!!!!!"
She yelled in a muffled voice.

"Really?" Liu asked, sounding surprised until Salena popped her head up to him with a smile.

"Nope! I just wanted to join in on the fun!" She replied, standing up as she did, still having that forever smile while Popo and Lonky wailed together in the background with the Pululus watching.
"I actually had a fun time at school in my tribe! Arts and craft, music and instruments, Maths, English Literature. All of those fun things!"

Then, Miyo, Liu, Kuga, Pala, and Salena all turned over to look at Yuu with faces that showed their curiosity about his past. Just by the first glance, Yuu could already tell that they want to know whether he thought school was terrible considering his past but he already thought ahead of a reply.
Calmly slanting his posture, Yuu made his reply.

"Actually... I never had trouble in school. I passed all basic subjects... Acrobatics, Stealth, Combat, Hide Seek, Evasion, Archery, Weapon Making, Strategic Improv, and Malee Training. All of those basic and normal subjects... No big deal"

"... Those aren't basic subjects..." Miyo made the first comment, having the same surprised looks like the rest.

"One of those isn't even a subject... Hide and Seek is a game..." Said Liu.

"Not when your in a tribe that can turn themselves invisible..." Yuu commented on Liu's words before their ears moved on to the announcer.

"Inside the Training School is where the Players can sleep, eat, and rest after a long game but they will also be trained under strict guidelines as part of their rehabilitation process by our Disciplinary Officer. In addition, players can buy powerful items with the points they have earned in stealing from their opponents. Players are also able to buy their freedom so that they can leave Game and be free!"

All of the players suddenly opened their watches and scanned their points. Among them, Liu and Yuu are the only ones with the most points of 100 due to capturing the Golden Akong. However, Lonky and Popo were then shocked by their points as they whispered their response.

"We have 1200 points?!" Popo whisper shouted.

"What say you, Popo?" Lonky turned to ask Popo and with their telepathic understanding, both of them nodded and turned over to the Running Man.

"Sorry guys. We outie!" Lonky exclaimed with a blank expression and a straight posture.

"Yeah. We'll be supporting you back at Tree City" Popo accompanied a reply as both of them turned their backs around and walked up to the hologram of the Clergy Pululu while Yuu and the rest showed a disappointed look.

"They never change do they?" Liu asked. Sounding as if he had given up hoping for Popo and Lonky.

"Nope... They are still the same as we met them" Miyo replied.

"Second to Pala, Lonky and Popo are the weakest players we have anyways" Yuu mumbled.

Meanwhile, Lonky and Popo approached the announcer and showed her their points.

"Excuse me, but can you tell us the required points To buy our freedom? Haha, I believe you'll find it surprising" Lonky said, confidently with a dashing smile.

The Clergy Pululu smiled in return and showed them the total amount of points they have above her head. The points were indeed surprising but it wasn't the Pululu who was surprised.

"Lonky and Popo selected to buy their freedom! The total points needed are.... 266, 643, 246 points!"

"WHAT?!" Lonky and Popo shouted as they forwarded their heads together out of shock.

"But surely freedom doesn't cost that any points?!" Asked the impatient Penguin.

"If freedom only cost at a thousand points then criminals would already be out loose in the city!!!" The announcer shouted at them in return before hovering higher into the air to avoid the Giraffe and the penguin leaving them both speechless and too shocked to even blink.

Yuu and the others watched their pitiful sight and simple walked behind them and avoided them both.

"Serves you two right" Liu mumbled as they creased their eyebrows over at them.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Pala clicked his tongue in a disappointed manner.

"Could this get any worse...?" Popo asked as they frowned.

Then, Salena appeared next to Popo. When he looked over to her, they could see Salena frowning angrily over at Popo with both hands placed on her hips as she leaned down to speak.

"I can't believe that you would decide to leave your friends and me! To think that I even called you Po-bro! Have fun with just the two of you! I'll be joining my BFF!" Said the angry bunny as Yuu's voice was heard from a distance.

"I'm not your BFF..."

She ignored his comment and walked away from the penguin in anger.

"I guess it can... Even a girl I don't know, hates me" He mumbled as he sighed once more.

But suddenly, Salena came back and lifted Popo off the ground and hugged him from behind. Squeezing him with her embrace while also terrifying him.

"Awww I can't stay mad at you, Pobro~~~ you're too adorable and I love you too much!" Said the cheerful bunny as he hugged the frightened Penguin.

"AHHH!!! NO!! HELP ME! STRANGER DANGER! STRANGER DANGER!"

"Do you hear anything guys?" Yuu asked as they didn't turn to even look at Popo's distress.

"Nope" Everyone replied.

"Yeah. That's what I thought as well"

Then, a loud stomping was heard behind them. It was the iron beast. The huge iron Goliath walked past them without removing their focus ahead and entering the portal.

"I'm glad he was on our side..." Liu commented as the rest nodded but Yuu didn't. He looked at Iron Beast which showed anger and distrust in his eyes but, at the same time, he had a small grin underneath his bandages to show his excitement.

"No one here is on our side... It's us against the world in this new game...!"

"Yeah but... The Iron Beast isn't going to be easy to defeat..." Said Pala.

"That's what makes it fun" Yuu replied.

"Either way, we can't afford to be on that guy's hit list for now. Remember, he just took down a Keeper with one attempt while we clearly failed... We need to gather his list of weaknesses. That way, we'd have an upper hand" Miyo implied with her arms crossed before the announcer spoke once more.

"The portal is now closing! Be sure to enter before it closes or you'll be eliminated!" The announcer disappeared after making her final statement before the large portal was starting to disappear as well.

"Quick! Enter the portal!" Liu shouted as pointed at the portal.

The running Men dashed towards the portal with Salena, who was carrying Popo around her arms and chest, and Lonky running behind them in a hurry.

And with one last step of each of their feet, the Running Men jumped into the portal right after it disappeared.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the empty stadium, one of four diamond-shaped pillars glowed in Blue Lights.

As the running Man exited through the portal, they were placed appal as they stood in front of the largest school and/or prison to have ever witnessed.

"Wow... It's huge!" Said Liu in amazement with the rest admiring the building as well.

But Popo and Lonky stood far behind them and gazed at each other with uncertainty and desperation.

"Popo...?"

"Yeah, Lonky?"

"... I don't wanna go to school..."

With a few seconds of gazing at each other, Lonky and Popo dashed toward the opposite direction. Fleeing for their lives just to escape the social prison but, unfortunately, their escape attempt came to an end when they met with the edge. It was there they realized that there located somewhere above the Running Man Survival Game Stage. Over a thousand feet above the ground.

"Ahhh!!! We're so high!!!" Popo shouted after clinging to Lonky's feet to void falling.

"Why the heck would they place a school this so high up?!" A asked the shocked Giraffe.

After a few seconds, Popo and Lonky gave up and just lay their front on the ground. Surrender themselves to the inevitable school.

"Poor Po-bro..." Mumbled the bunny in pity.

"Leave them alone for now. They need to sulk this up on their own" Said the cold Human next to her.

"But Po-bro hates school... I want to help him!"

"Trust me, there's nothing you could do in this sort of thing. They'll come to grow into it. I was basically them on my first day of elementary school"

"Hmm... Alright..." Salena agreed before hopping closer to Yuu. Moving the side of her body onto Yuu's side as she smiled playfully.
"I guess it can't help if my BFF wants me to spend more time with him!" Salena cheerful stated as she attempted to embrace Yuu but he swiftly lowered his body and moved away from her.

"Don't touch me..."

"Lemme smell your hair again!"

Salena aggressively tried to apprehend Yuu but he was evading all of her attempts to catch him whilst the others watched.

"Yuu's hair does have a lovely scent..." Miyo mumbled quietly and quickly looked away when Liu turned towards her after overhearing what she said.

Meanwhile, as Salena tried to catch her new friend, and Popo and Lonky weeping on the ground, a small figure watches over them from behind the shadows of a huge statue.

Fortunately, the penguin manages to meet this person's gaze before immediately hiding behind the statue.

When the person tried to look over at them again, both Popo and Lonky were gone and were seen behind the stalker as a scream was heard.

Then, after a few moments, Lonky and Popo were seen dragging the stalker UpTo the Running Men and tossing the person to their feet.

"We found this stalker hiding behind the statue. Quietly observing us! Like a creep"

"It's... Just a Pululu?" Yuu pointe out in confusion as the stalker is revealed to be a yellow Pululu wearing a pointy red cap.

"I'm not just a Pululu!" Said the yellow Pululu as she hopped above the ground and stood proudly in front of them without fear.
"I'm Princess Zola of the Pululu Tribe and the Disciplinary Officer of this rehabilitation facility!"

Then, the Runningman all gasped in shock.

"P-Princess?!" All of them mumbled out of surprise before Salena spoke with added laughter in her tone.

"Oh wait, I'm also a Princess. Why am I so surprised? Hahaha?"

"What?!" The rest gawked in shock once more. Now facing Salena.

"You're a princess as well?" Lonky asked before Zola replied on Salena's behalf.

"Unfortunately, she is. She's the daughter of the Elder Chief in the Cottontail Tribe. They are also a tribe of Royals. But she's a criminal nonetheless! And worst of all... a Thief!" Zola scoffed and pointed at her in disgust but Salena only twisted a playful smile and pose innocently.

"Tehee~!"

"Moving on!" Zola proceeded as she cleared her throat to speak more clearly.
"All of you... Receive minus 100 points!"

"WHAT?!" Everyone, apart from Yuu shouted in unison that echoed through the area.

"Eh... I don't care..."

"I run a rehabilitation facility! As you can see everyone here are well behaved and rehabilitated in the best possible way!" After Zola said that, it was only there that they had realized that there were other Pululus around the area as well. Some doing Yoga, some socializing with each other, and the rest were just minding their own business.

"Were they there this whole time...?" Yuu mumbled.

"Guards are surrounding all of the exit points within this facility to make sure everyone is safe from harm or from themselves. Everyone here is, indeed, on their best behaviour than the 8 of you showed up and caused trouble! The punishment for that is point deduction! By now, some of you have negative points! Those with negative points are at risk of being eliminated but you can still warm them back with good and adequate behaviours!!!"

"Hey, all we did was stop you from stalking us like a weirdo" Popo casually replied.

"I'm supposed to stalk you! I'm the Disciplinary Officer! And I'm not a weirdo!"

"What happens if someone escapes?" Yuu suddenly asked before Zola's anger was replaced with mockery and humour.

"Hah! The day someone escapes this place is the day the Pululu empire will crumble... Never! No one has, or can ever, escape from this facility"

Then, just as she was explaining to them, an orange Pululu dash and passed behind Zola and tried to leap over the edge of the Facility in an attempt for a desperate escape until a holographic barrier electrocuted the Pululu and blasted him high above the sky with the Running Man as it's witness.

"She's not joking..." Yuu whispered to Miyo as she nodded with his statement.

Soon, Popo noticed that the Pululu who was blasted by the barrier was falling in the direction of Zola without a moment's haste, he quickly called out to her attention.

"Hey! Look out!" Popo shouted.

"Popo! Disturbing my introduction is a violation! Remain quiet or else-!" Then, the Pululu fell just next to Zola and startled her. Causing her to let out a high pitched scream as she jumped sideways out of reflex. Staring at the fallen Pululu in silence while paralyzed.

"I tried to warn you" Popo made a shrugging gesture while his friends tried to contain their laughter.

Feeling anger and embarrassment, Zoa hopped right back into her serious persona and pointed at Popo with a dead serious look in her eyes.

"Popo! For failing to warn me in time and taking pleasure in your amusement, this is your final strike! The same goes with the rest of you criminals!"

"So deducting 100 points from us is the first strike?" Yuu mumbled out of sarcasm once more but Zola ignored him and kept pointing at Popo as if he was the one she hated the most.

"What?! That's not fair!"

"Nothing is fair! If any of you makes a mistake or any violation. All of you will suffer point deduction! To avoid all of this..." Zola took in a deep breath and suddenly busted out a fast shout. "DON'T DISOBEY THE RULES!
DON'T BE LATE WITH ANY ACTIVITIES!
DON'T MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE!
DON'T FIGHT WITH THE PRISONERS!
AND DON'T... Get on my bad side... Hehe," The yellow Pululu creased a devilish smirk as she laughed in a wicked way.

"You yellow devil...!" Popo aggressively muttered, maintaining his anger within himself.
"You're just abusing your powers on us! You're not an Officer, you're a Tyrant!"

"Take that back, you little twerp!"

"I'm the same height as you!" Popo shouted in return as both of them walked forward and stared each other dead in the eye. Trying to clash their dominance and hatred.

"We got your back Po Bro!" Salena cheered with a confident look as the rest. Having their trust and loyalty to Popo and their friendship.
"Even if it cost us our points, we still have your back! Right, new friends?" Salena cheered once more but this time, everyone turned to look away. Trying not to look in Popo's direction.

"Actually... You can do this on your own Popo" Lonky said, still looking away from him.

"Yeah... I don't really want to lose any more points..." Pala mumbled nervously.

"And I don't care..." Yuu, whose back is turned against them, spoke with his hands inside his pockets.

The long sound of a horn was heard throughout the area. The Pululus started to march and headed back inside the School while the running Men remained outside. A group of Pululus glared at Yuu and Kuga, gesturing a sliced throat with a twisted smile and Kuga responded by gesturing them to come to him and fight while Yuu simply glared and whispered.

"Go easy on them"

"Sure, why not?" Kuga confidently replied.

"Enough!" Shouted Zola with a strict voice.
"Violence is not tolerated! Now, before you proceed to your room, here is the map of the area and the classes you must attend. Memorize them all and be on time with each one!"

The group were shocked to witness so many classes at a very strict time. Making them gasp and widen their eyes.

"So many!" Lonky exclaimed.

"Pottery, agriculture, dancing, bomb diffusing, Flying...? What kind of classes are these?" Said the confused human as he scanned through the items.

"Said the guy who has Hide and Seeks for a subject" Miyo joked with a sideways smile as she crossed her arms and bent her hips slightly to the left.

"Care to try and see if you can find me?" Yuu followed up. Sounding eager until Salena popped in between them and placed both of her arms around Yuu and Miyo's shoulders.

"Ooh! Are you guys playing a game?! Can I join?!"

Salena's childish habits made their eagerness vanish as they both let out a sigh and a sympathetic smile.

"Sure, maybe later Salena," Said the pink-haired cat.

"Really?! Yey! I can't wait!"

"Enough! I want all of you to at least pick 2 or 3 classes to attend or else all of you will be eliminated! That's all, now follow me!"

Zola proceeded towards the school with the game behind her. A holographic passcode appeared before her and before any of them could think of what it was, Zola puckered her lips and kisses the passcode as it scanned her beak.

"Yuck!" Lonky pulled his tongue and tried not to throw up what he last ate.

The large gets of the school quickly opened for their convenience whereas Zola stood in front of the entrance and smiled.

"Please come in and enjoy your rest for now"

And after a few minutes inside the building, the running Men were seen sitting together in the lounge where a few other Pululus were resting on a chair away from them.

"What are we gonna do?!" Lonky asked, sounding as if he was panicking along with Popo who was sitting on Salena's lap.

"Yeah! We can't just stay in this prison! We need to escape!" Said the penguin before Salena helped him calm down by placing a hand on top of his round head.

"It's okay Popo, I'm sure we'll find a way to escape," Salena said with a reassuring tone.

"Thank you, crazy Rabbit girl..." Popo replied with a calming smile.

"I don't about you guys, but some of the classes here are kind of fun. Hehe," Pala mumbled with a quick laugh.

"That's because one of the classes you chose is Sleeping! What kind of class even is that?!" Asked the suddenly stressed out penguin.

"What class did you choose?" Miyo whispered to you who had his arms spread across the circular seat for his relaxation.

"Archery, baking, and dancing..." The human slowly replied.

"I didn't know you dance?" Miyo asked, sounding surprised yet humoured at the same time.

"I don't, it was either that or singing" Yuu replied with a frustrated sigh.
"And what about... Baking?"

She asked once more.

"... I want to learn how to make some doughnuts..."

"... Seriously?"

"Yeah... How about you? What classes are you in?"

"Acrobatics, Tai chi, and Ballet..."

"Hmm... Not bad. You chose ballet because it improves your balance and posture correct?" Miyo's eyes quickly widened for a few seconds before replying.

"Yes. That's correct" She replied as a smile quickly formed. "And you chose dancing because dancing can, technically, be used in combat?"

"You just read my mind, didn't you?" Yuu said as a smile formed under his bandages as well.

"I don't have to read your mind to know why your thinking all the time, you know?" Miyo casually replied with a slight chuckle and a smirk.

Then, their conversation ended when Popo spoke out loud.

"Guys! Come on! Think! There's gotta be a way we can turn the tables around! Liu, what's the plan?!" Popo desperately called out to Liu as he pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Hmm... The Pululus are set to believe that Ulcus is their saviour... I'm afraid we can't turn any tables around for that matter..."

"He's right" Miyo quickly followed up with her legs and arms crossed.
"It's impossible to convince the Pululus here who Ulcus really is. I suggest we should just find a way out"

"You saw what happened to that Pululu who tried to escape right? He became a roasted turkey..." Yuu commented as they recalled the Pululu who was blasted into the sky by the barrier.

"Wait, you guys met Ulcus?! The Earth God?!" Salena gasped in shock as the rest nodded their heads.
"H-How?!"

"A cruel man by the name of Charming Gold wanted to take over the world..." Miyo replied but paused for Yuu to finish the rest.

"But that idiot summoned Ulcus and killed him in the process..."

"Whoa... Was the Earth God elegant and radiant as the stories say? In our tribe, we honour the Earth God almost as much as the Pululus. He's the saviour of the earth and the reason why we can harness the power of light and change into our forms. What was he like...?" Salena's personification of Ulcus made everyone fall into deep silence. Especially, Yuu and Liu, who last recalled watching their friends die one by one.

Liu attempted to agree with Salena's personification of Ulcus until Yuu got to speak his thoughts first.

"... Ulcus... Isn't only the Earth God... He is also the Apocalypse... The God of destruction" Salena's eyes widened along with her ears as Yuu's words shook her still. She thought he was joking but everyone's uncomfortable silence convinced her otherwise.
"After he was summoned... Ulcus rained down his anger and destroyed a distant land from Tree City. He was going to destroy the world until we stopped him and gave all of us a second chance"

"T... That's a lot to take in..." Salena mumbled. Her shaken words made everyone turn towards her in sympathy as she felt like her whole world was a lie.
"... I thought... Ulcus was a merciful God... Why would he destroy that which he created...?" Popo felt Salena's embrace tighten around his stomach and made him feel remorse and pity for the bunny.

"I-It's okay! We managed to convince Ulcus that not everyone is bad! Ulcus even gave Yuu a scarf as a gift!" Said Pala to cheer her up.

"... Really?" Salena asked, turning to face Yuu with his eyes staring blankly back at her.

What Salena didn't realise was that his eyes were not actually blank, they were filled with memories and voices of all of his dying friends when he couldn't do anything to prevent it.

"Yep. All's forgiven. Ulcus probably liked me in the end. Don't worry"

"Oh, for a second there... I actually thought you hated Ulcus"

"Nope. I don't hold grudges. But I can't say I wasn't angry at Ulcus back at the battlefield. And I did learn a very valuable lesson... And that... Is to never feel weak... Or else everyone around might just disappear... One by one... While you lie helplessly on the ground... Trapped under a pile of debris as you watch your whole world get taken away from you..." Yuu replied with a deep voice, his eyes fixed at a random part of the wall, letting the memories of his fear run across his mind.

The rest all started at him in appall. Their eyes widened and mouths opened.

"*Cough*!" Liu faked an audible cough followed by Popo as Yuu realised what he just said.

"... Or... Something like that" Yuu continued.

"I see... I wish I met you guys sooner" Salena paused and raised her head with a growing smile.
"Because all of you seem like a very nice group of friends that I'm happy to be a part of" Her cheerful speech brought small smiles and humour onto them. Lightening the dark shroud with positivity.

"Let's focus on the matter at hand for now. Liu, what should we do?" Popo asked.

"Hmmm... I need more time to think. Trust me, I just need more time, we can't stay here. We need to head back home. The Dv7, my sister... I worried about us. We need to work together here and head back home!"

Liu explained and the rest agreed with his statement.

But little did they know that Zola was hiding behind the sofa and heard all of their discussion. Once everyone became silent, she quietly rolled away until Popo's words contained her name as she stopped in fury.

"That Zola girl is really annoying. Not to mention, she's a total creep for stalking us earlier!" Popo then stood on top of Salena's lap and mimicked Zola by making his voice higher and pointing at his friends like she previously did.
"I'm Zola, Princess of the Pululus and I hereby decree... Minus 100 points! You there! Stop slouching! Minus 500 points! You there, stop breathing, minus 200 points!" The others, including Yuu, manages to let out a small, humorous, laugh as they listened to Popo's insult.
"Seriously! It's like all she can do is deduct our points and stalk us from afar! She's all talk and straight-up Pathetic!"

Then, as Popo continued to badmouth Zola, the yellow Pululu slowly revealed herself behind the sofa to where Popo was standing on.

The rest panicked, straightening their posture, looking away, and trying to make Popo stop talking by gesturing him with their hands while Salena quickly moved closer to Yuu in fright as he was the nearest to her seat.

"What's wrong with you guys?" Popo asked as Lonky and Liu kept gesturing him to stop.

"Dude... It's Zola...!" Yuu whispered and Salena nodded her head. Looking both nervous.

"Yeah! I know, Yuu. It's Zola. That loud, pathetic, creepy, yellow stalker, Princess Z-" Right when Popo was about to finish, Zola faked a cough just to get his attention and it worked.

The penguin quickly shut his mouth and slowly turned around. When his eyes met with Zola, who was staring daggers at him, Popo instantly screamed. Causing Zola to scream back as well as she didn't expect for Popo to respond that way.

The penguin fell on the floor after screaming and quickly stood on his knees to apologize.

"Z-Zola! I didn't mean what I said! I'm sorry!"

"Popo! For talking about me behind my back, I hereby deduct 500 points from you!" Zola shouted, shocking Popo and making him angry again.

"What?? 500?! You're insane!"

"This is what you deserve for your lies about an Officer!"

"Lies?! That was all true, you creep!" Popo and Zola both stared daggers at each other.

"You two, calm down," Liu said in an attempt to stop the chaos.

After losing to her rage, Zola hopped onto the top of the Sofa and spoke loud towards everyone in the room.

"Everyone one of you here is punished!" Then, with her sharp finger, she pointed over at Kuga.
"Kuga! You are too silent! Minus 50 points!"

"What?!" Kuga shouted.

"Miyo!" Zola pointed at the feline.
"Your legs are crossed! Minus 50 points!" She then pointed at Salena who was just sitting next to Yuu in the silence of the situation.
"Salena! You're too clingy to Yuu! Minus 50 points!" The bunny froze in surprise as her jaw dropped before Zola proceeded to point at her next victim.
"Yuu! You refuse to show your real identity! Minus 100 points!"

"The heck?!"

"Pala! Minus 70 points for sleeping!" Zola pointed at the sleepy Impala as he screamed in shock after just waking up.
Then, Zola pointed at Liu who was just scratching the side of his nose.
"Liu! Picking your nose for boogers, minus 100 points!"

"What?! I wasn't picking my nose! I-i... I was just scratching it..." Liu became self-aware and immediately lowered his hand.

"Lonky!" Zola pointed at the final player as Lonky straightened his posture. Trying not to do anything that she might hate. Zola scanned the giraffe quickly with a sharp pair of eyes and when Lonky gulped, she struck.
"You gulped too loudly! Minus 100 points!"

"WHAT?!"

"Hey, you can't do this! They did nothing wrong!" Popo defended them but Zola ignored his words and quietly left the area.

"Popo! Look what you did! Now half of us have negative points!" Lonky shouted.

"Hey! It's not my fault! That girl is crazy!" Popo exclaimed before Lonky quickly covered his mouth with his long arms.

"SHHHH! Quit! Or else she'll hear you and come back!"

Popo quickly moved Lonky's hands away from his mouth and spit on the floor several times.

"Seriously Lonky! What did you smear all over your hands! Fart Lotions?!"

"Lonky, Popo stop fighting! We need to work together to escape!" Liu stated.

"Escape?" Pala repeated in surprise.

"Yes! Escape! I said this earlier and I'm sure of it now! We need to escape and be reunited with the Dv7 who are waiting for us back at Tree City. My sister is probably worried sick..."

"I'm happy to agree with you Liu, but that's impossible" Kuga commented, still crossing his arms as he stood up.
"The bars tribe has the most heavily guarded prison amongst all of the other tribes but never have I seen anything like this place. The Guards are well-armed, the area is covered in invisible layers, and there are eyes everywhere. Running Man Survival isn't the same as the Running Man competition, here, there are rules"

"But we broke the rules in the competition to take down Charming Gold!" Liu aggressively replied.

"And, here, if we break the rules, we'll be locked away. For life! I'm sorry, but we have no other choice... But to play and win this game"

"No! There has to be another way!" Liu refused to surrender and turned towards Miyo.
"Miyo, can't you communicate with Rema or any outside help?!"

"I'm sorry, but I can't. I already tried that earlier but it didn't work. Something is messing with the signal even for technology made by the Nyanya tribe... Liu... Kuga's right... The only way to get out f here is to win this game" Miyo spoke softly as she sided with the tiger.

"Pala, you agree with me right?" Liu turned to look at Pala.

"Hmmm come to think of it... I only have 1 year... I guess I'll just have to accept my jail sentence and after a year, I'm free! Hahaha," The Impala laughed at his own statement.

"No! That can't be it! Yuu, how about you? You agree with me, right? We need to escape this place!" Liu became desperate for at least one person to agree with him but even Yuu had to break his spirits.

"This whole place bothers me... There's something more to this game, just like the Running Man competition. And whatever I felt towards Charming Gold, I felt it again right at Akong when I first saw him... Normally, I would just tie Miyo, and the rest who disagrees with you, with ropes and put them in a large sack so that we can carry them while we escape but... I'm afraid they're right... We can't escape this place... Not right now, we need to get to know the layout of this facility first before we try anything risky" Yuu's shut down caused Lou to fall into a deep silence while Popo and Lonky seemed rather disturbed by Yuu's attempted kidnapping.

"... Tch!... I can't believe you guys!" Liu shouted in rage before exiting the area and heading back to his room.

"Forget this... I'm heading back to my room!" Popo stormed away along with Lonky. Soon Pala and Kuga followed, both heading back to their new rooms leaving Yuu, Salena, and Miyo alone.

"Wow... I never thought Liu can get so... Angry..." Salena mumbled.

"I only saw Liu got angry twice but this is, by far, the worst" the Human replied with a frustrated sigh.

"It's alright, he just misses his big sister. We'll get out of this place, don't worry about it guys" Miyo said to reassure them. Yuu and Salena glanced at Miyo with smiles and sympathy as they nodded.

"Umm... Hey guys...? Salena suddenly called out, catching their attention as she fidgeted with her fingers nervously.
"If... If we do manage to get out of here... Can... Can I come with all of you? I don't have anywhere else to go"

"Why about you're tribe?" Miyo asked.

"... I... I don't think I'm ready to head back there yet. I still want to see what the world is like. There are so many places I haven't explored yet... I'd be happy if I get to see this, Tree City, you guys been talking about" Salena's ears and tone kept lowering the more she let out words. Showing signs that she secretly fears of living another life just by herself but Miyo and Yuu saw through her statement and smiled.

"Of course, you can. We'd be glad to tag you along with us" Miyo replied.

"Yeah. I'm pretty sure the others already liked you. And I'm sure the DV8 will. Just... Don't annoy them too much. At this point, I think only we can tolerate you" Yuu replied as well after Miyo.

The light in the room bounced off at Salena's eyes which are the size of dishes. She felt emotional clarity towards Yuu and Miyo's kind words and couldn't help but let out a few joyful tears before hugging them both from the neck to her embrace.

"Thank you so much, you guys!"

Hearing her think them, Miyo and Yuu simply fell into wholesome silence and waited for the minutes to go by. After some time, Yuu was the first to stand up and spoke.

"Alright, I'm going to stroll the area a bit. Might find me a good doughnut while I'm at it. I'll see you two tomorrow" Yuu stated as he stretched both arms above his head and walked out of the room.

"See you tomorrow, BFF!" Salena shouted, waving both hands joyfully and hearing Yuu's distant shout.

"We're not BFFs!"

"Hehe, we will be, soon!" Salena wickedly chuckled after mumbling those words.
"Oh! I better see what my room looks like. Maybe I can even decorate! I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow Miyo!"

"I'll be looking forward as well, Salena" Miyo casually replied with a simple wave of her hand.

Salena tapped her feet on the ground and a hole suddenly appeared. She dove into the hole and disappeared along with it. Leaving Miyo speechless and shocked with her eyes widened. She had nothing else to say g what she had just witnessed until a strange sound occured on the circular device she always carries on her tracksuit below her abdomen. The sound was never before heard since she started becoming a running Man player but recognized what it meant in an instant.

"Strange... There's... Someone else nearby?"