Chapter 3.5

Chapter 3.5: Live Update - The Hunt Intensifies

The room was alive with quiet anticipation, the glow of soft yellow lights casting long shadows across the walls. The hum of the camera gear and the gentle murmur of the crew created a backdrop of subdued energy. Ryan, Shane, and Producer Steven Lim sat in the middle of it all, surrounded by notebooks, laptops, and faintly crumpled maps of Baguio. Their makeshift studio, a corner of their cozy accommodations, was a blend of chaos and preparation.

The livestream was already buzzing. Comments cascaded down the screen at breakneck speed, turning the chat box into a living, breathing organism of excitement:

"OMG, finally! I've been waiting all day for this!"

"Do you think the girl is really a goddess? She looks too perfect to be real."

"I bet Luna and Tala are watching this right now, laughing at you guys."

"Did you hear about the guy who saw glowing eyes in the Sacred Forest? Creepy!"

"GUYS, PLEASE TAKE UNCLE ROGER WITH YOU. He'll roast the ghosts."

Ryan leaned forward, his elbows on the table, the flicker of his smile catching in the camera's lens. "Alright, folks!" His voice was smooth and inviting, cutting through the tension in the room. "Welcome back to another live update! We know you've been following us every step of the way on this crazy hunt for answers about these deities and other mysteries, and tonight, we've got some new intel that might just blow your minds."

The chat exploded again:

"NEW INFO?? DROP IT NOW!!"

"If you don't tell us something good, I'm unsubscribing. Just kidding, love you guys."

"Ryan, blink twice if you've seen something supernatural!"

"Shane, please don't antagonize the ghosts this time."

Shane, sprawled comfortably in his chair, rubbed his hands together as if about to unveil a magician's trick. The light caught on his glasses as he grinned. "Yeah, we've been working non-stop. And honestly? It feels like we're only scratching the surface of something huge. But tonight? Tonight, we've got some juicy updates for you guys."

"Tell us already!"

"Are you guys safe? That's all I care about!"

"Juicy updates?? Shane, don't tease us like this!"

Steven leaned forward, resting his arms on the table, his expression more serious. The producer's calm presence added weight to their enthusiasm. "We've been talking to more locals and digging into the history of Baguio. And we're starting to connect the dots. But it's not just research and interviews anymore-we're gearing up for something bigger."

The chat lit up again:

"Are you going back to the Starbucks place? What did you find there?"

"Did you see her again?!"

"SACRED FOREST OR RIOT!"

Ryan glanced at Shane, a playful grin spreading across his face as he nodded toward the camera. "Okay, okay! Let's start with Burnham Park and the Starbucks café, since that's where a lot of you are focused. The place where we saw that mystery girl-twice. Yeah, her."

Shane sat forward, his smirk widening. "The girl who looked like she'd walked out of a Final Fantasy cutscene. Well, guess what-we're going back there. This time, we're not just wandering around. We're going to dig deeper. That girl? She's not just a random encounter. There's something about her-and that spot-that doesn't add up."

The chat went wild:

"SHE'S A GODDESS I'M TELLING YOU!"

"Final Fantasy? She's more like Zelda with that vibe."

"Plot twist: she works at Starbucks and you guys are overthinking it."

"Y'all better not scare her off this time. Be respectful!"

Ryan's voice lowered, his tone growing serious. "We've been hearing rumors from locals that Burnham Park and that café might be tied to something bigger. Stories about strange happenings. And if this girl is connected to it, then we need to figure out how."

Steven interjected, his calm voice carrying a hint of resolve. "We're not going in blind this time. We're bringing the full kit-paranormal equipment, cameras, and even some tools we haven't used before. We're going to see if there's anything unusual about that area."

The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly, the weight of their determination palpable.

"PARANORMAL EQUIPMENT?? You guys are not ready for this."

"Shane's gonna provoke something again, isn't he?"

"Please tell me you have a spirit box!"

"Bring salt. Lots of salt."

"And after that," Ryan continued, his gaze steady on the camera, "we're taking things up a notch. You've all been asking about the Sacred Forest and the ancient tree. We've been hearing the same whispers from locals. It's said to be a powerful place, sacred and... well, not exactly welcoming. But we think it's time to find it."

The chat erupted in a frenzy:

"DON'T GO! It's dangerous!"

"YESSSSS. FINALLY."

"I've heard people go missing near that place. Be careful!"

"Make sure your camera batteries are charged. Ghosts love draining them."

"Steven's the only one with common sense here. Protect him."

Shane leaned back, a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Hold up, hold up. We're not just going to march into the Sacred Forest like it's a stroll through a park. This place is the real deal. It's not on any map. The locals are protective of it, and there are stories-strange lights, figures moving in the shadows. Stuff that sends chills down your spine."

Steven nodded gravely. "This isn't a casual investigation. We're taking this seriously. We'll need more intel, more clues, before we can even think about stepping into that forest. But the connection is there. The goddesses, the land-they're tied together somehow."

The chat slowed momentarily as if everyone held their breath:

"So this is it... the beginning of the real mystery."

"Please come back safe. This is intense."

"What if they're watching you right now?!"

Ryan rested his hands on the table, his eyes fixed on the camera as if speaking directly to every viewer. "We don't know what we'll find. But whatever it is, it's not just about these goddesses anymore. There's a history here, a story that goes back further than any of us imagined. And we're going to uncover it."

As the camera faded to black, the buzz of the livestream still lingered in the room. The crew exchanged glances, their nervous excitement mirrored in the quiet thrill of their audience. Outside, the night stretched on, the mysteries of Baguio waiting just beyond the glow of their temporary haven.

CHAPTER END