Part 4: Rule #2 - Do not feed the fish with anything other than what is provided.

A heavy silence fell once again after James lost consciousness. His body lay still on the cold marble floor, his skin so pale it was almost white. His once-playful eyes were closed, lifeless, and his breathing was so shallow it was barely audible. The orange and pink light from the coral tank reflected on his face, making the network of swollen veins look even more terrifying.

"He... is he going to be okay?" Ploy asked with a trembling voice. Her face was still pale from the pain of the burn on her hand, but her concern for another human being was greater. "Is he going to turn into... into those fish?" She pointed at the red-eyed fish in the coral tank.

Praewa knelt beside James. She gently touched his wrist to check his pulse. "He's still alive," she said, her voice strained. "But I don't know what's happening to him." Praewa felt despair beginning to gnaw at her heart. She never thought that searching for the truth about her father's past would lead her to such a terrifying situation. "We have to find a way to help him."

Gawin looked at James with a sense of responsibility. He was the leader of this group, and this was the outcome for his friend. "We need to get him somewhere safe," Gawin said, then turned to It. "Where do you think is the best place?"

It remained silent, his eyes fixed on James before scanning the surroundings as if assessing the situation. "Other zones might be more dangerous," It replied in a low voice. "Maybe... we should find a place to hide." He pointed to a small, darker-looking pathway that led to another zone, a path that seemed less used.

Miki, who had just hidden her phone in her pocket, looked at James in shock. "This is... way more than we can handle." she whispered, her voice trembling, a far cry from her usual brave YouTuber persona. She thought that even the most viral content might not be worth her life.

Ton continued to meticulously write every detail in his notebook instead of taking photos. His face was serious and somber. "The change that's happening to James... it's happening so fast," he murmured. "It's as if the aquarium is... absorbing his humanity."

Fah walked closer to James again. She held her hands over his body. Her psychic abilities allowed her to sense the chaotic energy within James. "It's a very strong energy... similar to water... but it's not just a normal current. It's something that's transforming him."

Uncle Daeng let out a heavy sigh. He sat down next to James and gently ran his hand through James's hair. "Poor boy... he shouldn't have to go through this." Uncle Daeng murmured. "This aquarium... it has consumed many people before."

Everyone turned to look at Uncle Daeng. His words created a sense of intrigue in their eyes. He seemed to know more about this place than anyone else.

"What do you mean, Uncle?" Gawin asked.

"Everyone will find out when the time comes..."

Uncle Daeng only said that much. Everyone exchanged confused glances. Seeing that they wouldn't get any more information, Gawin decided to help Praewa lift James. James's body was heavier than they thought. They slowly made their way down the path It had pointed out, a narrow and dim corridor where the light from the fish tanks was much weaker, making the atmosphere even more somber.

They arrived at a new zone with a sign that read "Submarine Tunnel." It was a large glass tunnel that stretched out as if it were taking them deep into the ocean. The surrounding dark blue water was filled with unfamiliar deep-sea creatures. Some fish had eyes that glowed in the dark; others had bizarre shapes, as if they had escaped from a nightmare.

As they walked through the tunnel, Ploy, who was still in pain from the burn on her hand, tried to distract herself by looking at the marine life. She saw a school of small, colorful fish swimming near the glass. Their eyes looked hungry. "Look! They're so cute!" Ploy exclaimed innocently.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of bread she had brought for a snack. She tore open the package while staring at the fish. "Why do they look so hungry?" Ploy muttered before starting to tear the bread into small pieces and extending her hand toward the glass, as if to feed the fish.

"Ploy! Stop right now!" Gawin shouted, but it was too late.

A small piece of bread slipped from Ploy's hand and floated through the tunnel glass into the water.

Suddenly, the whispers that had been faint grew loud and furious, echoing throughout the entire tunnel.

"Do not feed the fish with anything other than what is provided!"

The synthetic voice of the aquarium announced with a deafening roar, like a clap of thunder. Ploy shivered at the sound.

The small, colorful fish that Ploy had just fed now began to swim frantically. Their eyes turned crimson red. From being cute, they now looked incredibly ferocious and hungry!

The water in the tank began to turn dark rapidly, as if a giant cloud of black ink had been released, obscuring everything.

And then, something more terrifying happened!

A large number of fish in the tank, not just the small ones, but also some big ones hiding in the darkness, started to try and leap out of the water! A huge swarm of fish of various sizes slammed against the tunnel glass wildly. The resounding thuds made the tunnel shake, as if it were about to shatter! Some of them leaped up to their head level, their mouths wide open as they slammed against the glass, as if trying to bite their heads off. Their red eyes were filled with hunger and ferocity!

"AHHHHHH!" Ploy screamed at the top of her lungs. She stumbled backward in terror, her face paler than before.

Gawin quickly pulled Ploy into a tight hug to shield her from the crazed fish. Praewa also rushed to stand in front of Ploy. Her eyes were filled with panic, but she remained determined to protect her friend.

"This is insane!" James, who had been unconscious, suddenly opened his eyes and blurted out. His eyes were a little dazed, but he was aware of the situation. He tried to stand up, but his body was still weak.

Miki dropped the phone she was secretly filming with. She recoiled, bumping into Ton behind her. "This is not fun anymore!" Miki cried out. "They're trying to kill us!"

Ton was just as shocked. He looked at the crazed fish with a fearful expression. "They're not just normal fish anymore. They're like... they're being controlled to attack us!"

It remained still, his eyes fixed on the black water in the tank. "The change in the water... this is the result of breaking the rule," he said, turning to look at the burn on Ploy's hand, which now appeared more prominent and had a faint red glow.

Uncle Daeng moved closer to the group. His face was ashen. "They're hungry... they seem to be thirsty for... something."

THUD!

BANG!

The crashing sounds of the fish slamming against the tunnel continued nonstop. The vibrations made it difficult for them to stand, as if the glass tunnel would collapse at any moment.

"We have to run!" Gawin shouted. He made a quick decision. "This way!" He pointed toward the end of the tunnel where a dim light was still visible.

Everyone ran for their lives. Ploy's screams mixed with the thudding of the fish as they ran. James also struggled to keep up, his weak body needing support from Gawin and Praewa at times.

As they ran through the tunnel, Ploy felt a sharp pain in her hand. The burn on her palm was throbbing, and a little bit of blood seeped out. When she paused to catch her breath, she noticed a dark liquid mixed with a thin layer of reddish mucus flowing from a tiny crack on the tunnel floor. "What's that..." she muttered curiously.

No one else noticed it, as they were all focused on escaping.

They burst out of the submarine tunnel and into a wide hallway with several diverging paths. The lights here were slightly brighter, and the sound of the crazed fish faded away.

Everyone was panting, exhausted and terrified. James collapsed to the floor as soon as they were out of the tunnel, and Ploy couldn't stop trembling.

"This is not a joke, everyone," Miki said, her voice shaking. "These rules are really affecting us."

"Yeah," Ton added. "And the consequences are getting worse."

Praewa looked at Ploy's hand again. The burn mark now looked more distinct, and thin, reddish-brown filaments, like plant roots, seemed to be branching out from the mark. "Ploy... you need a doctor." Praewa said with concern.

"A doctor? There are no doctors here," Gawin said, his voice strained. "We have to find a way out of this aquarium first."

It walked closer to Ploy. He gently touched her hand. She flinched slightly. "This seal... it's similar to some kind of organism that was once discovered in ancient bodies of water."

"What is it?" Praewa asked, her face full of curiosity.

"I can't remember its name, but it's a symbol of transformation."

Uncle Daeng looked at It with a questioning gaze. "You seem to know more about this than we thought, It." Uncle Daeng said.

It didn't answer. He looked up at the aquarium's ceiling, which seemed to stretch endlessly. "Everything has a reason. If we understand it, we'll find the answers ourselves."

The whispers that had once been faint began to get louder again. This time, they weren't just whispers; they were voices that sounded like they were singing a beautiful and dreamy song, yet it was laced with sadness and danger.

"Keep moving forward... toward the hidden truth... toward the transformation... you can't escape..."

The song echoed throughout the Triton Aquarium, luring them deeper into the labyrinth of secrets and bringing them closer to a fate no one wanted to face.

Everyone now realized that surviving the 13 Iron Rules was not just about following them, but about fighting an unseen force that was trying to consume them one by one. And their time was running out.