[The First Trial: Initiated]

  [The Fragmented Decade Begins]

  Entrants Remaining: 100

  Time Limit: 4 hours

  Trial: Free-for-all within the Malignant Maze.

  Every 2 minutes, one player is marked as the Target.

  Scoring Rules:

  - Entrant Kill: +1 Point

  - Target Kill: +10 Points

  - Target Survival: +20 Points

  - Secret Target Bonus: +100 Points

  Additional Rules:

  - Points may be transferred with the consent of both parties.

  - Only the top 10 scoring entrants will pass the trial.

  Reward: The return of your soul to your body.

  Failure: True death.

  Moments after the announcement burrowed into his mind, the sounds of screaming and clashing steel reached Kai’s ears.

  He glanced at Alira, ready to teleport away at the faintest hint of aggression.

  Thankfully, she didn’t look like she planned to convert him into points.

  A strange pull on his soul emerged - subtler than the Black Book, but no less unnerving - coming from the east.

  Kai had reservations about moving toward whatever was tugging at his soul - it hadn’t gone well for him last time. But what else was he gonna do? Hide here while the others massacred each other for points?

  The ice maiden didn’t seem like the hiding type. Convincing her to do so would be a chore - or hazardous to his health.

  If everyone was feeling the same pull, it probably came from the direction of the Target - the perfect opportunity to set an ambush or claim the Target for themselves.

  If the pull only affected Kai…it was likely connected to the Black Book or his Father. Figuring out what to do then would be harder.

  “Lady Alira, do you feel that?”

  Alira offered a stiff nod.

  Thank gods.

  Heading toward the Target was their best bet. Kai eyed the left path at the intersection and gestured in its direction.

  “Ladies first.” It was only right for a bodyguard to go first.

  Alira didn’t share his opinion.

  She scoffed. “A gentleman should stride into danger before a lady.”

  Kai shrugged, showing his empty hands. “A gentleman should have a sword.”

  Alira clicked her tongue, took the lead, and moved toward the east with unnatural grace. Kai’s eyes wandered over her body as she strode with calm confidence; he was both disappointed and glad her bulky armour hid her feminine figure.

  A distraction like that could get him killed.

  The books said noblewomen wore beautiful pieces of armour that showed off the female form. Was her family going through hard times? Or did she hate people staring?

  Kai quickly shifted his gaze to the path ahead. He coughed softly and gave in to his curiosity.

  “What’s the deal with the armour?”

  Alira’s body tensed up for a moment - brief enough that most people wouldn’t catch it, but Kai had always been observant. And his new spatial senses picked up even the smallest movements.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Noble ladies usually wear more…elegant armour, don’t they?”

  Alira flinched.

  She quickly constructed a calm facade, but Kai saw through it.

  What’s up with her?

  Alira clenched her fists, her shoulders stiffening as she spoke.

  “If you must know, this armour was crafted for my younger brother. It’s strong enough to repel a Wretched abomination, and that’s what matters in combat!”

  She raised her chin. “And who are you to talk? Who comes to the First Trial wearing a suit? This is the Darklands, not a fashion show!”

  Kai was impressed. Armour capable of repelling Wretched abominations was no joke - those things were a whole rank above a Marked. But something else caught Kai’s ear.

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  He smirked at the back of her head. “You think I’m fashionable?”

  Kharon was right. I’ll never doubt my big brother’s wisdom again.

  Alira released a heavy breath and shot him an icy glare. “If not for Space God’s lineage, I’d cut you down where you stand. Must you be so infuriating?”

  Although Kai enjoyed a little teasing at Alira’s expense, it was prudent not to infuriate her. Getting on the wrong side of his bodyguard was detrimental to his health.

  He cleared his throat and summoned his most apologetic tone:

  “Apologies, my lady. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  Alira offered him a sidelong glance, then sighed.

  “Let’s keep moving.” They continued towards their target in silence. Kai’s spatial sense helped them avoid dead ends and maintain steady progress. He considered the trial’s rules as they walked.

  This is a trial about murder, betrayal, and underhanded schemes.

  Ambushing entrants attacking the target. Betraying your teammates - or protecting them if they’re the target. Transferring points opens up a horde of both virtuous and despicable options.

  This trial is tailor-made for me! Finally, some luck!

  As Kai pondered the most effective methods of murdering entrants while unarmed, a strange tingle ran through his fingertips.

  After ensuring Alira wasn’t looking, he glanced down at his hands without moving his head. A shiver crawled up his spine. His fingernails were growing. They looked like…claws.

  Ashes. I’m really a demon.

  Kai forced himself to think less violent thoughts - with difficulty. Growing up in the Serpent Mob hadn’t given him many non-violent memories to choose from.

  The vision of Kharon’s hug surfaced, the only hug he remembered receiving. He thought about Alira’s enchanting sapphire eyes, like gems bathed in moonlight.

  Glancing at his hand - a wave of relief blanketed him - his fingernails had returned to normal. He released a soft breath and prayed Alira didn’t have a mind-reading artifact or curse.

  Alira glanced in his direction as though she were reading his thoughts.

  Kai’s whole body tensed.

  “Do you hear that?” she whispered.

  “Huh? Hear what?”

  Did she hear his nails growing? Is that a thing?

  “Footsteps, multiple people, to our right, heading east.”

  Kai cleared his mind of useless thoughts and focused on his spatial senses.

  Alira was right.

  Kai sensed three people within range of his ability. How had he missed that?

  “I sense them - three. They’re moving slow, but they’ll reach the Target before us.” Kai and Alira were walking down a path that only went left. They couldn’t intercept the other group or pursue them directly. Alira unsheathed her sword.

  “Get ready. They’ll likely finish the target before we get there, but we might be able to catch them from behind while they’re engaged.”

  Kai nodded at her, approval blooming in his chest. He wasn’t sure if she was the kind of foolish noble who valued honour over victory. A knife in the back was always better than a frontal assault, as far as he was concerned.

  The best enemies were distracted enemies.

  If the fight finished before they got there, they’d have the chance to check the enemies’ condition before deciding what to do next.

  The best enemies were injured enemies.

  Kai thought for a moment.

  Aren’t the best enemies, dead enemies? That’s it - nothing beats a dead enemy…except one who serves you.

  Kai shook his head at his inability to use the [Lord’s Command] at his current rank.

  I’m the heir of death, and I can’t command a single zombie without blacking out. Am I a failure of a son?

  An important realisation struck him.

  No, I’m not a failure as a son - Death God is a failure as a father! Why didn’t he give me a Gift I could actually use at my rank? What kind of inconsiderate god is he?

  As they closed in on the target, and Kai blasphemed his Father in his mind, shouting voices reached them.

  “Why don’t you just lie down and die?”

  “You’ve got no chance against three of us! Give up and we’ll make it quick!”

  The boisterous shouting turned to horrified screams before Kai could even see the scene. From what he could tell, it was a three-on-one fight.

  Bad odds for the Target.

  The strange thing was - there were two different screams at roughly the same time. Did the Target take one of them down with him?

  Kai and Alira moved closer to the source of the screams. They slowed their pace and peered around the corner of the latest intersection.

  A large square courtyard came into view; the metallic smell of blood flooded his nostrils. Another grey concrete wall enclosed the space. Four gaps in the wall served as entrances.

  The centre of the maze.

  Kai’s unbelieving eyes widened.

  They were just in time to see a man…fall apart. As the assailant moved away from the Target sitting in the courtyard’s corner, his head dropped from his shoulders. His arms separated from his torso, and his legs crumpled to the ground.

  Two other butchered corpses lay nearby, a pool of blood crawling outward.

  The Target was naked - apart from a pair of white boxers spotted with red. He sat cross-legged as though he didn’t have a care in the world, as if he hadn’t just transformed three men into bloody meat chunks.

  Kai didn’t need a demonstration to understand this man was dangerous.

  Kai’s thumb twisted the silver ring on his finger as his thoughts sped up. The space around him slowed. Theories and plans raced through his mind.

  Is every target forced into the centre? How can anyone escape with all the entrants surrounding the centre?

  Isn’t that just a sacrifice?

  He contemplated the rules of the trial:

  - The target changed every 2 minutes.

  - 200 minutes is enough to make all 100 entrants a target.

  - The 4-hour time limit is equal to 240 minutes.

  That meant everyone would become a ‘sacrifice’ within four hours…

  This trial isn’t about points.

  It’s about building a strong team - or killing everyone.

  Kai glanced at the noble girl in the ill-fitting armour. Could he trust her not to betray him?

  His gaze fell on the barely clothed man sitting in the middle of the bloodshed. Could he trust that lunatic?

  Could he kill everyone and defend the centre of this maze by himself?

  His body trembled.

  A bead of sweat threatened to emerge from his forehead. A bitter sense of dread came over him.

  Then a distinct chill pulsed within him.

  A peaceful chill. A ruthless chill. An inevitable chill.

  I am the heir of death, aren’t I?

  What is dread to me? Isn’t he my big brother?

  What is death to me? Isn’t he my Father?

  Kharon said I was weak. But didn’t he send me here anyway? Doesn’t that mean I’m stronger than I thought?

  Or is this another test I need to pass against all odds, even after death?

  Either way, the choice was the same for Kai.

  I must survive.

  He had no offensive ability…except, maybe, the claws he had summoned earlier. But using his claws would lead to everyone playing hunt the Demon before returning to their regularly scheduled murder game.

  He had limited options.

  But…didn’t he have a bodyguard? If he could swindle the naked madman, he’d have two bodyguards.

  Kai glanced at his body and wondered if the boss of the Serpent Mob had a suit as exquisite as his.

  Wasn’t it his goal to get revenge and take over the mobs?

  His resolve strengthened.

  I have to make allies.

  Kai didn’t move from the corner of the grey wall.

  He had no desire to fight a madman who could butcher three Marked while sitting naked like a peaceful monk. The bare-chested man looked amiable enough.

  His eyes were closed; a slight smirk played on his lips. His facial features were soft - almost feminine. He was thin, but muscular.

  More like an average student than a powerful Marked. And more handsome than Kai was willing to admit.

  Though the dismembered corpses surrounding him - and his strange lack of clothes - gave Kai pause.

  The naked man opened his eyes and glared at Kai.

  Kai forced a calm smile.

  The naked lunatic offered a single, sharp nod, and Kai thought he saw the man’s eyes gleaming with…approval?

  The naked lunatic’s eyes moved over Alira and hung there. His brows raised, he nodded again.

  The naked lunatic spoke in a tone tinged with excitement:

  “I am lucky!”

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