𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄, kang sae-byeok

chapter ten

TW: swearing, death

My team slowly walked into the lift. I could tell everyone here was nervous including me.

"Come on, don't lose your spirit. Tug-Of-War needs more than just raw strength." The old man, 001 says.

"Well then, what is it about huh? We just go out and speak to them?" 196 replied with an annoyed expression on his face.

"All you need is a good strategy in Tug-Of-War, and combined with good teamwork, you'll be able to win when you are against stronger teams." 001 said.

"Only one thin can help us now. It's the lord himself, I know it." A Christian man says.

"You can barely stay standing old man. So shut up and keep all of your strength, okay?" 196 says.

"Wait a minute let's here what the old man
says." Gi-hun says.

A/N: you guys don't have to read what the old mans saying because it's really long LMAO.

"Okay, when I was young, we always played Tug-Of-War. It's a game I know well. And back then, I would always win. Even if there is a wrestler on the other team, and it seemed the odds were stuck against us. Listen closely, and I'll tell you how my team and I were able to win even when it seemed impossible. First off, having a good leader is very important. The person is at the front and keeps an eye on how the other team is performing. And the rest of the team focuses on the back of their leaders head and follows there lead. If the leader seems weak or like their spirit is beginning to falter, then the game is already over. And then at the end of the rope you'll need someone strong and dependable, like the anchor of a ship. After that, it's all about how you arrange the rest of your team. If one player is on the right side of the rope, then the next one should be on the left, all the way down the rope. Both of your feet should be facing straight forward, and then hold the rope in your armpits. That way everyone can put in all of their strength. Finally, and this is the most absolutely important thing. Once the game begins, for the first ten seconds... you have to hold your ground. You should lean back, practically lie down. Push your lower abdomen to the sky, as hard as you can. And throw your head back to the point where you can almost see the groin of the person behind you. If you do that, the other team won't be able to pull us to their side. Just hold like this for ten seconds. Then the opposing team will start to get frustrated because they are thinking, "Why won't they budge?" Because they believed they were much stronger. If you can hold out for that long, you'll be able to catch a moment in your opponent's hold, and there rhythm breaks." The old man says and then the lift door opens.

'Damn that was long as shit, I forget everything he just said.'

My team walks out of the lift and the staff lock us onto the rope, doing the same for the other team also. Then I my team hears the gunshot, signalling for us to start. We do exactly what
the old man said, bending over backwards as much as we can. I was beginning to get rope burns on my hands but I didn't care, I just need to win.

Finally, just like the old man had said. The other teams rhythm broke and they began slightly slipping.

"NOWS OUR CHANCE!" Gi-hun yelled.

My team began pulling like our lives depended on it, but our lives literally did. The opposing team began struggling, almost falling to the edge.

"PULL IT TOGETHER!" Someone on the other team yelled.

Somehow the other team began pulling, hard. To the point where the flag reaches their side noting that now we were losing.

"We're losing! Goddamn it! Do something!" 212 yelled.

"Get yourselves together and listen! Let's try something! Take three steps up when I signal!" Sang-woo yelled.

"Up? What now? But that's the edge!" 212 yelled.

"Look, just trust me!" Sang-woo yelled while looking back.

"There's no way I'll do that!" 212 screeched.

"We might as well try!" Gi-hun yelled.

"Move up or you'll die! On the count of three!" Sang-woo yelled.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

All of us took three steps forward, leaving Gi-hun nearly falling off the edge.

Us stepping forward made the other team slip and my team began pulling again, making team 5 fall over the edge. But the other teams weight made us start toppling towards the edge too. Thankfully the rope was cut before we could fall over the edge making the other team go splat.

"Fuck." I groan as I look at my hands, they were bleeding.

I wipe my bloody hands against my tracksuit. My whole team including me was laying on the floor trying to catch our breaths. We weren't able to relax for much long because we had to go back to the lift.

-

As we were in the lift the Christian guy from earlier began praying rather loudly.

"Hey dude, who do you think your praying to, huh? To God? You think you made it here because of God, don't you?" 240 says but the guy ignores her and continues praying.

"The reason your still breathing and thanking that nice God of yours is that old man there. And that guy of there who came up with that awesome last-minute trick." 240 continues, "You know if there's anyone you should be thanking, it's them, not God."

"You sad lost soul. What would you say about everybody who was nailed to the cross for our salvation today? They sacrificed themselves for us, we are here thanks to their blood. I pray to the Lord on behalf of all us sinners. I gave thanks for their sacrifice. God made a decision to help our team win. That's why we're all here." The guy says.

"Bullshit. You killed those guys out there." 240 says and then the guy began to pray again.

"Oh! If we say some prayers we all get to go to heaven?" 240 asks sarcastically and then begins praying.

"Be quiet!" Sae-byeok says.

"Who? Me, or that guy?" 240 asks while staring at Sae-byeok.

"Everyone." Sae-byeok replies.

The door opens and my team exits the lift.

A/N sorry this chapter wasn't really exciting but next chapter I'll try to get a lot more interactions between Sae-byeok and Ara. Lmk if you want there to be smut or no smut.