For a moment, everyone just kept staring, but suddenly, the man behind me launched an ice spear.
"ATTACK HIM!"
All types of attacks flew towards the figure from both sides. Some attacked with magic attacks while some cultivators threw arrows and aura attacks.
I watched in awe while all the magic colors decorated the sky, yet, the figure just stood there with the same scary smile.
*Flick*
He just snapped his fingers, and all the attacks disappeared.
"...."
Everyone just stared silently with shocked expressions. No one even dared to breathe loudly.
"I think you know your place now, well, let me explain everything to you."
Even though he didn't raise his voice, we could hear him clearly.
"You were chosen by Veydar, the origin of entertainment, to participate in 5 deadly challenges that will be broadcast across the worlds! After every challenge, you will get rewarded depending on your performance and needs. You may get a miracle potion, a soul-bound artifact, a new affinity or even a whole new body!"
I opened my mouth to say something—but no words came out.
'No no no!'
It wasn't that I didn't know what to say, I really couldn't talk!
Then I realized another terrifying fact, I couldn't move either. I was stuck there, unable to even move or close my eyes.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to return to my bed, but I couldn't.
'Please, please make this nightmare end.'
"While being watched, you have a chance to be chosen by a VIP or VVIP viewer. They will start talking with you and giving you gifts each month, so if you want a specific thing, you can just say it out loud and they may buy one for you! So make sure to make a good impression."
Suddenly, a white throne appeared behind him. He sat on the throne and pointed at the forest.
"Now let's talk about the first challenge. Your mission is simple. We gave you simple armor and the weapon that you have the highest talent in. In the end of that forest, there is an old mansion. You just have to kill the monster inside it. It's simple, right?"
He suddenly clapped, then I got the ability to move again.
"Now, let's see if you have questions."
"What the hell!"
"Who are you!"
"Are we a game for you?"
The scary man opened his mouth."I'm just one of lord Veydar's servants. You don't have to remember someone like me. And no, you aren't a game, but a show. They aren't the same thing."
"...."
What was the difference between turning us into a game and a show across the worlds? Was that even possible? I didn't even know that there were other worlds!
"I'm not participating in that." A demoness suddenly talked. "I don't care if you can kill me with a snap. I don't care about the rewards or your stupid show. Can't you just let us back?"
The figure tilted his head."Well, there is a way to leave, but you won't like it."
"PLEASE SAY IT!!" I screamed with the loudest voice I could make.
I wasn't ready for that. There was no way he kidnapped tenths of people just to make us fight a simple monster.
The figure's smile widened."You should have noticed that you are divided, right? There are exactly 50 Knulls and 50 other races."
Suddenly, I had a bad feeling.
"You have to either kill 4 from the opposite side or… kill 2 from your side. But of course, there is the option of working together and winning!"
'Shit!'
I ran as far as possible from everyone around me. Ironically, most of them ran in different directions too.
"There are many other things, but you have to discover them yourself. I hope you don't kill each other, that would be boring."
The next moment, a crack in the space appeared behind him which he entered before it got closed again.
*Gulp*
I kept watching my surroundings, waiting for anyone to get closer.
I didn't only have to worry about demons now but also the other races!
Suddenly, a calming aura fell on me, clearing my mind and decreasing my negative emotions.
I shifted my gaze to its source, and found an elf with golden hair and blue eyes raising both his hands as if he wanted to surrender. His expression was calm despite all the chaos.
He said with a bright smile: "Why don't we stop this and try to understand our situation first? We all are in the same boat right now. "
"Did you lose your mind?! You want me to work with demons?"
"As if the Knulls would work with the Eldorians!"
"I only have to kill 4 of you to return."
"Try me, bitch!"
I just kept staring as they kept fighting until the elf suddenly raised his necklace, which started sending light to all of us.
Thinking it's an attack, I raised my katana to block it, but the light just covered my body without any harm.
"That's a small gift for you to show my honesty. This should just strengthen your mind and help you think about what I said clearly. This would be one of the perks of working together."
A demon hesitated for a moment before asking: "H–how do we know that you won't betray us."
The elf suddenly chuckled, took a deep breath then said: "I think you are looking at the wrong problem. Tell me, what would be easier and end faster, killing 4 people or 2 people?"
The realization hit us like a hammer. At that moment, we had only one thought... In a situation like this, who would care about which race he have to kill?
"Do you understand now? If we work together, this won't only increase our chance of surviving, but also make it harder for anyone to betray his side. I will just sit here for now and let you all think. Just come here if you accept."
"Sir." I raised my hand slowly, trying to ignore all the gazes. "I–I accept."
I didn't want to deal with any of this. I wasn't planning to kill anyone or get killed by anyone. And moving alone didn't look good either, so I accepted instantly.
The elf's smile widened."Oh, good decision, kid. Come and sit here. You can call me Braham by the way."
"T–thank you. I'm Nameless1142511234." I nodded and sat behind him, but I didn't sheath my katana.
Some people just kept standing with serious expression, while some others formed their own groups and kept talking.
"I accept." The first one to accept was a human with black hair and red eyes, but what took my attention was the floating katana behind him.
He suddenly bowed."My name is Kaito Ishido, I hope we work well together and find a way to leave."
"It's nice to meet you. You can sit with us."
"I also accept." The second was a demoness with grey skin, long red hair and bright orange eyes. She had an orange sword in her hands which suggested that it was her soul artifact.
"Just to make everything clear. I won't take orders from you—We are in the same position."
"Yeah, you are right. Come and si—"
"I don't need to sit, and call my Ruby."
"Sure, I have no problems with this."
Then we just stayed like this, waiting for anyone to join us.
Recalling what that scary figure said, I looked at the katana in my hand.
'So, did I waste my time with the longsword?'
For cultivators like me, we had no way to know our talents, so it wasn't rare for us to use the wrong weapon.
"Cough… I wanted to ask, how old are you?" Braham suddenly asked me.
"I'm 15 sir!"
His expression suddenly turned into pity. "Oh, no wonder you looked too... Panicked. A kid like you shouldn't be in this situation. Wait, I will put a spell on you for now."
He simply put his finger on my head, and for the third time, all my negative emotions decreased again.
"That's cool! How did yo—"
Then I noticed that he looked too confused.
Before I could ask him what's wrong, he opened his mouth and said with a loud voice.
"Guys! Did you notice something wrong in your cores?"
I focused on my core and didn't notice anything wrong, but the other responses weren't what I expected.
"My core returned to Tier 2!"
"Even my mana core?"
"My body is also weaker."
"Is that even possible?"
Ruby took a deep breath."They didn't just kidnap us, but also weakened us greatly! If those bastards want us dead, why don't they just do it?!"
Suddenly, Kaito stood up and unsheathed his katana. Blue flames covered his body and sword, making all of us alert.
"I knew you can't be tru—"
"The trees..." He said, his voice calm and steady, but all of us heard it clearly.
I shifted my gaze to the forest, the place that we had to enter later, but what I saw sent a chill down my spine.
'H–how didn't I notice this.'
Some trees had faces, looking at us with their wooden smiles and hollow eyes.
The next moment, 2 wooden arms appeared on them. They pressed on the ground and started leaving it.
"Get ready to fight!!"
The trees suddenly opened their mouths, showing their sharp wooden teeth.
*ROAAAAR!*
*ROOOOOR!*
*ROAR!*