Ep 4. DAYDREAM AND NIGHTMARE

In episode 4 of The Ones Within, titled "Daydream and Nightmare," the players are given a task to collect key badges in order to advance to the next level. However, they are not alone in this mission, as they are met with a new group of players who have been tasked with the same objective.

The episode begins with the players splitting into two groups to explore the area and find the key badges. As they navigate through the maze-like terrain, they encounter a group of players led by a mysterious girl named Hikari. She reveals that her group has been given a different objective, and they offer to collaborate with our protagonists in order to find the key badges.

As they work together, the group encounters various obstacles and puzzles. They come across a room filled with mirrors, where they must use their wits to figure out the correct path. They also find themselves in a room where they must solve riddles in order to advance. The challenges prove to be difficult, but the team manages to work together and overcome them.

Meanwhile, we learn more about the characters' backstories and motivations. Akatsuki's desire to win the game is revealed to come from a desire to help his family financially, while Riri's love for gaming is shown to stem from her desire to escape from the problems of her real life. As they open up to each other, their bonds as a team grow stronger.

However, tensions arise when Hikari's group and our protagonists reach a room with two doors. Each door leads to a different key badge, but they can only choose one. With both groups seeking the badges to advance, a heated debate ensues. In the end, they come to a compromise and split up to retrieve both badges.

As they continue on their mission, the team begins to feel the effects of their exhaustion and prolonged exposure to the game's stimuli. They each experience vivid illusions and nightmares, brought on by their personal fears and insecurities. These hallucinations serve as a reminder of the potentially dangerous effects of the game, and the very real possibility of losing oneself in the virtual world.

The episode ends with the team finally reaching their objective and obtaining the key badges. However, the challenges they have faced have taken a toll on their physical and mental states. As they regroup, they are left to contemplate the consequences of participating in the game and whether the risk is worth the reward.

Overall, "Daydream and Nightmare" is a thrilling and emotionally charged episode that delves deeper into the characters' personalities and motivations. The obstacles they face force them to confront their fears and insecurities, while the danger of the game becomes increasingly apparent. The episode sets the stage for what promises to be an intense and unpredictable journey towards the game's end.