Episode 31

**"Time to Make a Choice"** is the thirty-second released episode of *Zero Game* by Zelbasen. Hanna, Alex, and Johan must choose between sacrificing an innocent child or slaying the evil Lucifer to clear the final stage of Level 3.

## Plot

In Lucifer's Garden, Micaela explains the challenge of the final stage of Level Three: choosing between using The Dagger With Arachne's Blood to sacrifice an innocent child NPC or stab and defeat Lucifer. A crowd of NPC villagers urges Hanna and her team to kill the child as punishment for summoning an evil demon in their town for his own selfish needs. Micaela clarifies that while NPCs are not real people, like Noise, Knock, and Oliver in Level One, they are alive and have feelings. As the only player who has cleared this level before, Alex decides killing the child is the safest route for survival. Since Hanna is still under the effects of the 10-Year Potion and Johan cannot attack his own wife, Alex volunteers to fend off Micaela as the other two search for the child. He declares that as a last resort, they will have to use Lucifer's Fruit or Lucifer’s Red Stuffed Toy. Although he is set on his plan, he assures Hanna and Johan that he trusts them to make their own decisions.

Hanna and Johan rush off to search for the child in the Garden. Hearing faint crying noises, Hanna squeezes through a small opening to follow them while Johan searches for a different entrance. As Hanna crawls down a narrow tunnel, she worries about killing an NPC if they have feelings.

     Eventually, she reaches the end of the tunnel and falls over the edge of the exit into a room whose only occupant is a young boy with red eyes.
Meanwhile, Alex approaches Micaela as she scoffs at his lone stance. She reminds him that the last time he played this level, she completely overpowered his team. Even with Elliot, Perry, and ten other players, they could not defeat Micaela and had to resort to killing the child. Alex insists that with this new team, they will achieve a different result. Though Alex made this bold declaration, Micaela effortlessly repels his attacks and strikes him down.

     She criticizes him for being used by Jay and purchasing an A-Class ability despite possessing 100,000 LP. After sacrificing everything he has to capture Jay, he will become nothing once he succeeds. Though severely wounded, Alex manages to figure out that Micaela has been watching his gameplay through monitor screens. Micaela confirms his suspicions, pointing out that he is only kept alive because of his highly coveted Life Points. She offers him advice for old time’s sake, recommending he play smart and fend for himself rather than sacrificing his gameplay to capture Jay. Fed up with being underestimated by both Elliot and Micaela, Alex demands if he ever depended on them to survive.

## Character Appearances

* Players
	+ Alex Baek
	+ Hanna Yoo
	+ Johan Lee
	+ Elliot Baek (mentioned)
	+ Perry Joo (mentioned)
	+ Jay (mentioned)
* NPCs
	+ Micaela
	+ Unknown NPC child
	+ NPC Villagers
	+ Oliver (mentioned)
	+ Knock (mentioned)
	+ Noise (mentioned)

## Item Appearances

* The Dagger With Arachne's Blood
* Divine Sword
* Staff
* Lucifer's Red Stuffed Toy (mentioned)
* Lucifer's Fruit (mentioned)
* 10-Year Potion

## Gallery

Alex fights Micaela aloneHanna encounters the NPC childMicaela injures Alex in combat