"Alright! I think we've reached the end," Wade said with a frozen tone, gazing ahead.
She halted and stood firmly on the vast stretch of sand.
However, her statement left Hector feeling unsure, while Violet remained completely unfazed.
"What do you mean?" Hector asked, scanning the surroundings with a trace of confusion.
All he could see was an endless desert, with no sign of any real "end."
"This is the endpoint. You can't perceive it because everything before you is simply an illusion," Wade replied.
"But don't worry. I located it using my own method," she added, glancing at her cousin with a flicker of emotion in her eyes.
"Um, so… where does it lead?" Hector asked, scratching his head awkwardly.
At that moment, a wave of unease washed over him. He felt he should know something important—but couldn't recall even the slightest clue.
It was deeply unsettling, and doubt slowly crept into his thoughts, unraveling what he believed to be true.
"I don't know," Wade said with a grin. She turned toward Hector and added, "Everything depends on your fate."
With that, she stepped forward and took Violet's hand, who had silently followed behind.
"Don't die too soon…"
With those final words, both gradually vanished into the empty space, leaving Hector standing alone, awkward and lost.
"This is crap! I don't understand a thing you said!" Hector snapped in frustration.
"I hope we never cross paths again."
"Once was enough!"
With those parting lines, Hector also walked into the illusion ahead, without a hint of hesitation.
***
The world around him turned into a vast sea of white, featureless and still—but not for long. Wisps of black cloud gathered quickly, drifting across the sky.
Then, a colossal arena materialized before him. Towering at nearly one kilometer and spanning two kilometers in width, it was built from sharp, jagged stone.
It resembled a colosseum—only far larger and more surreal.
The space where Hector stood had now solidified into something real.
He glanced around, emotions churning within him.
Suddenly, a sound echoed in his head.
"Ting!"
A large screen appeared before him.
---------------------------------------------------
System Announcement: The first challenge has begun.
Mission: Satisfy the Kings.
---------------------------------------------------
Hector's expression shifted into a blend of amusement and relief as he looked at the System screen.
"Yeah! That's it." He chuckled.
"I know this mission. It's the protagonist's first task."
This protagonist had been his perspective while reading the novel. If things hadn't changed, he would have appeared soon.
Basically, the objective was to fight with everything you had—battle to the death without flinching. Only then could the Kings be pleased.
As long as one's actions entertained them, the trial would be complete.
Naturally, pleasing the Kings would result in generous rewards.
"If memory serves, the main character, Kevin, passed this challenge without a scratch."
It sounded absurd, but it was true. He merely slept in the arena. No one touched him, as though he didn't exist.
In the end, he still earned the ultimate prize by amusing the Kings.
It was downright cheating. He didn't lift a finger. Strangely enough, everyone avoided him, as if he were some untouchable beast.
He seemed to radiate a presence—an aura—that made him appear indomitable.
People saw that... but Hector knew the real story. In truth, Kevin had been so terrified, he fainted on the spot.
Clearly, Hector had no plans to imitate such stupidity. He had no desire to die early—after all, he was just a side character.
However, this unfairness didn't upset him. On the contrary, he should be glad—if everyone else joining turned out weak and foolish, it would only work in his favor.
He intended to aim for the highest reward possible.
Then, he reached into his pocket.
"I only have two Keith grasses left," Hector sighed, recalling the fight with Violet's pet.
"But they'll do."
After that, he surveyed his surroundings with sharp focus.
"So many humans… and monsters too. Looks like candidates from both worlds are participating."
"I'd better get moving."
Moments later, Hector slowly blended into the massive stream of people heading toward the arena.
***
"Move!" a lizard-like monster bellowed, its voice laced with fury. "If it weren't for this place's rules, you'd already be dead beneath my claws."
A pale young man merely shot a glare at the creature, ignoring the provocation. He muttered a curse under his breath.
"You'll be the first to die, you damn lizard."
Without another word, he strode swiftly toward the arena's entrance.
Like many brief altercations that had sparked earlier, this one ended with nothing more than heated glares and sharp words. Physical combat was strictly forbidden—anyone who initiated it would be executed on the spot.
Most of the participants appeared young, save for the monsters, whose grotesque features made it difficult to gauge their age. In fact, many seemed like beasts merely cloaked in human skin. Though silent, their presence exuded raw, terrifying power.
With agile bodies and animalistic strength, they were already dangerous. In addition to that, the natural enhancement from mana, though, was prohibited for this challenge.
That restriction placed humans at a clear disadvantage.
As the crowd lingered inside the arena, a thunderous voice boomed across the field.
"Fucking slaves, listen well!"
Atop the crumbling, jagged walls, a King appeared—draped in gaudy attire and gripping a golden scepter. He sat on a throne, his fat face shifted in disgust as he scanned the crowd beneath.
"Entertain me," he spat, rubbing his large belly with endless contempt.
Gasps rippled through the crowd at the King's vile proclamation.
Suddenly, a green-skinned goblin with a lute strapped to his back shouted back in defiance. "Hey! You fat bastard! I'll slice off that belly blubber and roast it for your dinner!"
"Why don't you get down here and fight, huh? Coward!"
Grinning, he glanced at those nearby and gave an exaggerated wink.
"Right? Am I right, folks?"
At first, the others hesitated. Then, one goblin raised his voice.
"Y-Yeah! He's right!"
Encouraged, more joined in—voices rising, confidence building.
"Get down here, you bloated freak!"
"Your mom must've been twice your size to give birth to a pig like you!"
"Fat sack of dung!"
"…!"
Insults poured from a growing portion of the crowd, though many still remained silent, wary.
Meanwhile, Hector stood frozen, mouth slightly open as chaos erupted around him.
"What the hell... this wasn't supposed to happen," he thought. "This whole story's gone off-track. None of this matches the novel. Maybe… maybe I never should've trusted it."
"Shit... I can't even trust my own perk anymore. What now?" he muttered, eyes fixed on the King, hoping for a clue.
Then, he noticed something strange.
The King was smiling.
"Is it… working?" Hector whispered, brow furrowed.
Scanning the crowd, he realized more people were catching on, emboldened by the King's reaction.
But Hector's instincts screamed otherwise. An uneasy feeling twisted in his gut, warning him that something was off.
"Fuck you, pig!"
"Come down and fight like a man!"
...
Hector still kept his eyes fixed on the King's face until, suddenly, the King burst out laughing in amusement.
"It's really working," Hector sighed in relief, thinking perhaps he should also join in.
"F—"
But before he could finish his insult, all the noise in the arena abruptly ceased. A deafening clap of thunder echoed, wiping out every voice in an instant.
Hector clutched his ears, face twisted in pain.
Several seconds later, the rumbling faded. Hector slowly lowered his hands and tried to make sense of the scene, though his head was still spinning.
"...."
As his vision cleared, his expression shifted.
Of course, it wasn't good.
Those who had mocked the King now lay dead, lifeless, charred by the thunder's scorching fury.
It all happened in a blink, leaving the remaining crowd frozen in fear.
"Interesting."
Hector immediately looked up.
The King remained on the wall, chin resting on his fist, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
"But you miserable slaves... You said I don't have hair."
…
Silence.
Five seconds passed, tension thickening the air.
Then, the King's smile twisted into rage, and electricity surged within his eyes, distorting the space around him.
He bellowed,
"It's not a joke!"