Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Deok-su's group takes extra food, leaving other contestants without their meal. When a hungry player challenges him, Deok-su beats the man to death and the guards make no attempt to intervene. The prize increases again. Gi-hun realizes that violence between rounds is also rewarded, while Player 111 learns from his contacts among the guards that the reduced rations are intended to provoke a fight.
The dormitory erupts after lights out. Deok-su and his allies attack other players, and Gi-hun's group tries to protect itself while searching for the elderly man. Sae-byeok joins them during the fighting. Player 001 finally climbs above the beds and begs everyone to stop; the Front Man then sends the guards inside. During the uneasy aftermath, Gi-hun's companions exchange names and try to decide whom they can trust.
The next round requires teams of ten. Deok-su recruits strong men and discards Mi-nyeo, who joins Gi-hun's mixed group instead. The challenge is tug-of-war on elevated platforms, with the losing team dragged to its death. Player 001 explains how positioning, an anchor and leaning back can compensate for weaker bodies. His plan briefly holds off their all-male opponents, but they begin sliding toward the edge. Sang-woo orders everyone to take three steps forward to unsettle the other side, leaving their survival unresolved.