Chapter 4: Gravity Sync

Chapter 4: Gravity Sync
Time Remaining: 63:45:18

The metal door clanged shut behind them, and for a moment, silence engulfed the room — cold, buzzing silence. As their eyes adjusted, the team froze.

There was no ground.

Just an enormous open space filled with floating stone-like platforms, suspended mid-air over a glowing blue abyss. The air shimmered, vibrating with an unnatural hum, and the ceiling overhead displayed shifting neon lights — arrows, symbols, and numbers moving in hypnotic patterns.

Suddenly, a deep mechanical voice echoed through the void.

“Zone 4: Gravity Sync”
Time Limit: 45 minutes.
Gravity shifts every 60 seconds.
One player moves per shift.
Wrong platform — immediate elimination.
Survive as one. Or fall, one by one.

Everyone instinctively stepped closer to one another.

“This feels less like a game and more like a battlefield,” Ishar muttered.

Vijay stared at the floating platforms. “Is this even real? One wrong move and it’s over…”

“Real or not,” Rakshit said calmly, “we have to play. And win.”

Shift One: The First Risk

“Gravity shift in: 5… 4… 3…”

The air hummed. The ceiling blinked with a forward-right arrow. Suddenly, gravity tilted in that direction. Everyone swayed, trying to maintain balance.

“One player may move.”

“I’ll go,” Vijaya said.

“You sure?” Sooryanvanshi asked.

“I’m the lightest. I’ll test the pattern.”

She studied the tiles, spotted one with a triangle, matching the ceiling's glowing shape. Taking a deep breath, she leaped.

The platform held.

“Platform stable. Next shift in: 60 seconds.”

Vijaya turned and flashed a thumbs-up. “Safe!”

Everyone sighed in relief.

Shift Two: Levitate

Gravity flipped upwards. Their boots magnetized to the floor, saving them from floating away.

“Next?” Rakshit asked.

“I’ll go,” Vijay volunteered. “That platform next to Vijaya — it has a matching symbol.”

He leaped. Landed. Safe.

Two down.

Shift Three to Eight: Chaos in Motion

Gravity rotated in mad patterns. The platform path narrowed.

Ishar leapt onto a platform — it cracked.

“Brother!” Sooryanvanshi shouted, diving forward and grabbing his hand.

“I got you!” he grunted, pulling Ishar back just as the tile shattered behind him.

“I owe you one,” Ishar panted.

“Just don’t die. That’s payment enough.”

Their bond grew stronger with each life-risking jump. Rakshit remained the calm strategist. Sooryanvanshi observed the ceiling for clues, guiding the others. Vijaya’s agility kept her ahead, while Vijay proved surprisingly sharp at identifying patterns.

The final group jump before the last stretch brought them to a giant hexagon platform, pulsing ominously.

Final Shift: Leap of Faith

“Last shift. Reach the final platform. 00:01:00 remaining.”

The only remaining platform hovered far ahead — too far to reach by a normal jump.

“This can’t be jumped. Not without help,” Sooryanvanshi said, frowning.

Vijaya noticed the ceiling — a massive symbol of a swirl, with arrows spinning in all directions.

“Guys… I think this last shift will twist gravity. Like a slingshot,” she said.

“We jump together,” Rakshit said. “If the pull is right, we’ll make it.”

Vijay gulped. “Or we all fall together.”

“Together’s better than alone,” Ishar said, offering his fist.

Everyone bumped fists in a silent pact.

“Gravity shift in: 3… 2… 1…”

They jumped.

Gravity twisted — like being sucked into a vortex. The air screamed around them.

Time slowed.

They soared.

For a second, it felt like falling in every direction — then, with a thunderous thud, they hit the final platform — together.

Silence.

Then the platform glowed beneath them.

“Zone 4 complete.”
Remaining Time: 63:00:26
Status: Full team. Zero losses.
Synchronization score: 100%.
New trait unlocked: Trust Link
Proceeding to next zone…

A hidden door slowly cracked open. But unlike before, this one didn’t lead to another room. It opened into a pitch-black tunnel — no lights, no floor. Just darkness and the sound of a heartbeat.

No one moved.

Until a distant voice — distorted, but familiar — echoed from within.

“One of you doesn’t belong.”

Everyone turned to each other.

Eyes narrowed.

Hearts racing.

A seed of doubt had been planted.

They had survived Zone 4 — but what waited in the shadows ahead might not be something they could face… together.

To be continued...