The void was endless—a vast expanse of pure white, stretg beyond prehensio, amidst this emptiness, there was ohing that stood out.

  The Watcher.

  Its radiant form hovered at the ter of them all, a sphere of light that pulsed softly, its preseh otherworldly and serene. Despite its ck of physical features, its very existence exuded a strange gracefulness, as if it carried an a wisdom beyond mortal uanding.

  Ahe most uling part was how calm it made them feel.

  No fear. No tension. Just… an unnatural peace.

  Even the most hardened person among them—felt it in their bones. A soothing presence, like a silent whisper telling them everything was as it should be.

  But not everyone was affected the same way.

  The Watcher’s voice resohrough the void, ethereal and deliberate.

  “I thank you all for accepting my invitation. Some of you seem to have already acquainted yourselves. Now, let us begin the presentation for the events to e.”

  But before the Watcher could tinue, one individual had already lost patience. A sharp gust of wind cut through the stillness as the beautiful woman unched herself forward, moving faster than most could react. With a single powerful leap, she soared several meters into the air, her fist ched, her muscles coiled like a spring.

  And then—

  She struck.

  Her punch aimed directly at the Watcher, a fearless dispy of raw defiance. But it failed spectacurly. The moment her fist ected, it simply phased through—passing into the Watcher’s radiant form without resistance. For a brief sed, it was as if she had punched air itself.

  Then, just as effortlessly, she nded ba the smooth, pristine floor—her breathing steady, her stanwavering, as if the attempt had taken nothing from her. The entire group stood in stunned silence.

  Billy the Kid’s eyebrow twitched, a slow grin creeping up his face as he watched the se unfold. Miyamoto Musashi remaiill, his sharp eyes abs every detail of the iion. The others? They were too busy trying to prehend what the hell just happened.

  “Did she just—”

  “Did she just try to punch the Watcher?!”

  “Was she insane?”

  The Watcher—a being capable of bendiy itself—had spoken barely a few sentences, and she had already attacked it. She’s crazy.

  Billy the Kid ughed suddenly, loud and urained.

  “Hah! Get that piece of sh*t!!” he hollered, clearly enjoying the show.

  Then—

  A brilliant arc of electricity surged from the Watcher’s form, crag through the air like a divine judgment before it struck the beautiful dy dead on.

  A single moment of pure light and sound. Her body vulsed, her muscles log up instantly as the electricity coursed through her. Her teeth gritted as she absorbed the impact, her body refusing to crumble despite the overwhelming force.

  Then—she dropped. Her form hit the ground, but she did not colpse entirely—she caught herself at the st sed, kneeling, her breath ragged but trolled.

  The Watcher pulsed softly. Its voice remained as calm as ever, utterly unfazed by what had just transpired.

  “Miss Fu Hao, I hope you will behave for the remainder of the presentation.”

  A simple statemeher angry nor desding. Yet, something in its tone carried an undeniable finality.

  Billy the Kid let out a low whistle, shaking his head.

  “Damn, she actually tried it.” He grinned, having his hands back of his head.

  “What a goddamn idiot.”

  Miyamoto Musashi, however, saw something different. His eyes narrowed slightly, watg Fu Hao carefully.

  “She reacted before the lightning even hit her…”

  It was subtle, but he had noticed it. The slight shift in her body, the way she tense her muscles a fra of a sed early, preparing to absorb the impact.

  This wasn’t recklessness. That was instinct. Fu Hao had anticipated the terattack, even if she hadn’t been able to dodge it.

  “Impressive. But still—what had she been expeg?

  Surely, she must have known that attag something like the Watcher ointless. Unless…

  “Was she testing it?”

  Miyamoto Musashi’s thoughts were interrupted as the Watcher spoke again.

  Its tone remained unged—detached, unwavering. Yet there was something in its words that felt… off.

  “Attempting to harm me does not warrant severe punishment.”

  The way it phrased it—not warranting further punishment—implied something else.

  That it could punish them. That it had a limit to its patience. And more importantly—That if it wao, it could end them all instantly.

  A quiet tensioled over the group. Fu Hao, still kneeling, gritted her teeth, flexing her fio shake off the lingering numbness. But despite her failure, she did not look ashamed. If anything… She looked satisfied.

  Billy sighed dramatically. “Alright, so we ain’t pun’ the god-orb. Lesson learned. we get to the part where you expiuation now?”

  The Watcher pulsed again.

  “Yes. Now… let us begin.”

  Without warning, a massive projector s materialized above them, its presence sudden and unnatural. The s flickered for a moment before stabilizing, dispying an intricate, three-yered ft world.

  Each yer was distinct, its size decreasing as it asded—a vast bottom yer, a medium-sized middle, and a smaller topmost stage.

  The bottom yer showcased a dense forest stretg along the coastline, where the lush greenery met the deep blue sea. Rivers wove through the ndscape, and t trees cast long shadows over the terrain. The sheer size of it suggested it would be the rgest of all stages.

  The middle yer sisted entirely of small isnds, scattered across what seemed to be an endless o. Some were barely rge enough to stand on, while others housed ruins and structures, hinting at a civilizations long lost. The waters between them carried a mysterious depth, hiding unseen dangers below.

  The top yer erhaps the most surreal—a realm of floating isnds, suspended in the sky like fragments of a shattered world. The isnds varied in size, some ected by natural bridges of rod s, others left isoted, f the group to find ways to leap or cross through the air. The Watcher’s voice resohrough the void, guiding their attention to the dispy.

  “This is the location of your battlefield.”

  The words, though calm, carried an unshakable weight. The battlefield was not just a pce—it was a challenge.

  The Watcher tinued, its tone unwavering.

  “Each stage corresponds to a natural enviro, though certain modifications have been made.”

  There was something uling about the way it said “modifications.”

  “Each stage is also inhabited by creatures… monsters… that are natural to their respective enviros.”

  A few in the group te this revetion.

  This was not just a test of skill against one a was a battle against the very world itself. The s shifted, highlighting three golden fragments, each shaped like a part of a circur medallion.

  “Yoal is simple: to reach the top. Each of you must collect three pieces of gold, which, when assembled into a full circur shape, will grant you access to the stage.”

  Billy the Kid let out a low whistle.

  “So, we’re not just fightin’ for survival—we gotta find these things too?”

  The Watcher pulsed.

  “Correct. Only those who obtain their full medallion will advance.”

  Miyamoto Musashi crossed his arms, his mind already w through the strategy.

  “It’s not simple at all. This forces us into frontation. Only by trag the gold thing or whatever it is not much easier and while trying to survive the trials of ead. Will we be able tress?”

  This implication was clear—not all of them would make it to the top.

  “Once you have pleted your trial, you will receive your reward. For the ce of a new life.”

  A siletled over the group as the realization sank in. This was not just a battle. This was a war for survival. The massive proje s remained suspended above them, dispying the field in intricate detail. The Watcher’s voice still lingered in the air, its presence a silent foring over them.

  As the group absorbed the information, a handsome man stepped forward, his silver-white hair swaying slightly as he studied the s with sharp, dising eyes.

  “So… this is the trial.” His voice was quiet, but there was a certai behind his words.

  He let out a thoughtful exhale. “I already guess that we easily die in this pce… but I have a question.”

  He turo face the Watcher directly. “Wheer, where do we enter?”

  The Watcher pulsed faintly before answering.

  “Yroup will be pced randomly within the first yer. I should also mention that each floor is divided into four quadrants—North, South, East, a. After colleg yold medallion pieces, you must find a gate that will allow you to advao the level.”

  Billy the Kid raised an eyebrow, tilting his head. “Hold up. ‘Group’? What’s that supposed to mean?”

  The Watcher responded without hesitation.

  “Correct. A total of 18 partits have been gathered. You have been divided introups. However, you are not required to work together—though it is highly reended.”

  Billy the Kid let out a dry ugh. “Heh, so we don’t have to trust each other, but we might o?”

  “That is for you to decide.”

  At that moment, Billy the Kid crossed his hand back of his head, an almost mischievous smile pying on his lips.

  “Well, whether we work together or not, we should at least introduce ourselves, don’t you think?”

  Miyamoto Musashi g him, immediately reizing the strategic move behind his words.

  “He's gathering information on us.”

  The handsome man had a simir thought.

  “A calcuted move, but I see nothing malicious in it. Still… if he knows of me, this could be iing.”

  tally, many of them shared the same thought but didn’t object.

  Fu Hao smirked. “Since you’re the one asking, why don’t you go first?”

  Billy the Kid let out an exaggerated sigh. “Well, sh*t. Guess I gotta set an example.”

  He threw his hands behind his head, grinning. “People call me Billy the Kid. I was your typical outw in the Wild West—pretty famous, too.”

  His grin widened. “Killed some tards, got chased by the w, had a good time doing it. Now you lot turn!”

  The room fell silent. Miyamoto Musashi simply crossed his arms.

  “I am Miyamoto Musashi. I am a swordsman from Japan. That is all.”

  Billy the Kid blinked before bursting into ughter. “hat a storyteller!”

  Miyamoto Musashi’s gaze darkened. “I’ll rip your mouth off your face if you keep talking.”

  Billy the Kid held up his hands. “Alright, alright, no need for murder… yet.”

  Another voice spoke, calm and posed.

  “I am Jeanne d’Arc, from Domrémy--Pucelle, France. I was sent by God sword lord Michael to end the Hundred Years’ War between the British and the French. I ter perished in that war unfulfilled” She bowed her head slightly. “It is a pleasure to meet you all.”

  The silver-haired man suddenly stiffened. His heteroatic eyes widened in surprise.

  “Jeanne d’Arc?”

  She turoward him, curious. “Y-You know of me?”

  He nodded. “Of course. You were highly respected. After your death or i suppose to say your near death you became the saint of the church”

  Jeanne d’Arc eyes widened in disbelief. “A… a saint?”

  The others exged fused gnces.

  Fu Hao scoffed. “Well, if we’re doing this, I might as well go !” She took a step forward, pg a fist on her hip.

  “I am Fu Hao, queen and general of the Shang Kingdom! I served His Majesty, my great husband Wu Ding, and led armies to tless victories!”

  Billy the Kid whistled. “Whoa, royalty! hought I’d meet one!”

  Fu Hao smirked proudly. “That’s right! You should all bow before me and show respect!”

  Miyamoto Musashi let out a small snort. “Heh. If you were that important, why haven’t I heard of you before?”

  Fu Hao’s smile instantly vanished. Her eyes bzed with fury.

  “What did you just say, you bastard?! Are you insulting my kingdom and His Majesty?!”

  Miyamoto Musashi met her gre with an apathetic stare.

  Billy the kid nudged Jeanne d’Ark. “And there they go.”

  Jearies to stop from esg. A new voice cut through the air.

  “If you don’t mind, I will introduce myself .”

  The room went silent as the silver-haired man took a step forward. His posture was straight, regal, and anding.

  “I am Gee Washington, the first President of the Uates of America. I led my people in the fight against the British during the Revolutionary War.”

  Billy’s jaw dropped. “Holy sh*t. Yee Washington?!”

  Gee Washingto out a small chuckle. “It seems I am well known.”

  Billy the Kid straightened up immediately. “No sh*t you are! Oh—uh—sorry, Mr. President.”

  Fu Hao fumed. “And why am I not treated with admiration?!”

  Miyamoto Musashi smirked. “Look how fast he ged. Doing a 180.”

  Billy the Kid gred at him. “Hey, it’s different! This is freakin’ Gee Washington!”

  Fu Hao muttered under her breath. “Hmph. I’ll remember this.”

  Billy the Kid turned back to the group. “Well, that seems like everyone. Are we missing anyone?”

  They all turoward the huge man, still seated on the floor, arms crossed, eyes closed. Sleeping.

  Billy the Kid scratched his head. “Should we wake him up?”

  Gee Washington shook his head. “Let us not bother, our time is precious. We 't be careless, we should focus on surviving.”

  Gee Washington turo the Watcher. “Do we o be in groups to advance?”

  The Watcher pulsed.

  “As I have stated before, each of you must attain a plete piece of the medallion. How you choose to do so is entirely up to you.”

  Miyamoto Musashi narrowed his eyes. Each of them knew what that meant. They would all have to fight each other eventually.

  Fu Hao sighed. “Another question—where are the other partits?”

  “You are the first group I have summohe others will be arriving soon.”

  Billy the Kid groaned. “What? We have to wait?”

  Fu Hao crossed her arms. “God dammit. Let’s just get this over with.”

  Miyamoto Musashi smirked. “A foolish person rushes to die. A wise person waits for the right opportunity.”

  Fu Hao’s eyes twitched. “What the hell does that mean, you bastard?!”

  Miyamoto Musashi smirked. “Just stating the obvious.”

  The two gred at each other, invisible sparks flyiween them while Jeanne d’Arc tried to calm them down.

  Billy the Kid just ughed.

  “Alright, alright. O question—these creatures in the area. What are they?”

  The Watcher pulsed again.

  “That is for you to discover.”

  An intense silence overcame them.

  “Are they strong?” Jeanne d’Arc asked worriedly.

  “Some. Not all.”

  Miyamoto Musashi grinned. “Good.”

  Billy the Kid and Fu Hao sighed in unison. “You’re a battle-obsessed idiot.”

  Miyamoto Musashi’s eyes twitched. “The hell did you just say?”

  The versation was cut short when a sudden shift in the air. It was subtle—so subtle that none of them had noticed it at first. But the moment the huge man stood, the void itself seemed to react.

  The atmosphere, oneutral ay, now felt heavier, darker, suffog. The others watched in silence as the t figure slowly turned, his massive frame moving with deliberate ease. Each step he took echoed through the soundless space, as if he carried the weight of aire battlefield with him.

  The man’s sheer presenihe void, his tribal tattoos gleaming uhe Watcher’s glow, his golden jewelry refleg the faint pulses of light. His long, u onyx hair framed a face of pure stone-cold resolve—a warrior who had seen tless wars and emerged victorious each time.

  Then, at st, he came to a stop. And faced the Watcher. The others stood frozen, instinctively brag themselves—though for what, they did not know. Then, he finally spoke. His voice was deep, steady, carrying a weight far heavier than mere words.

  “I have a question.”

  Then, Lapupu spoke the words that should not have been asked.

  “What is your true purpose iing this gra?”

  A silence so absolute, so suffog, that it felt as though the entire universe had stopped breathing. The moment the words left his lips, a cold shudder ran through the group.

  The air turned frigid, and for the first time, the endless white void felt small—as if it were suddenly closing in on them.

  Billy the Kid instinctively pced a hand on his empty holster, though he k was useless a. Jeanne d’Argers twitched slightly, gripping the hem of her cloak. Miyamoto Musashi’s eyes sharpened, his battle instincts screaming at him—danger. Fu Hao, arms crossed, let out a quiet exhale. Even Gee Washington, usually posed, felt it—a shift icher’s presenbsp;

  Jeanne d’Arc felt her heartbeat slow. Gee Washington furrowed his brow. Billy the Kid's usual grin vanished pletely. Miyamoto Musashi remaiill, but deep inside, something primal told him that this was not just another battle. Fu Hao's sense of danger is arming at a rapid rate.

  And then—

  The Watcher reacted. The sphere of light, which had remained calm, serene, almost f, suddenly dimmed. Then, it pulsed.

  Once.

  Twice.

  The light flickered erratically, shifting from its pure white glow to something… darker. For the first time, it felt like the Watcher was no longer an observer.

  It was aware.

  Watg.

  Studying.

  Then, it spoke. And its voice—cold, detached, devoid of warmth—pierced into their very souls.

  “Simple.”

  Fu Hao took an involuntary step back. Jeanne d’Argers ched. Gee Washington inhaled sharply, his instincts telling him this was beyond anything he’d faced before. Musashi’s body remaiill, but deep inside, something about this moment reminded him of standing before an oppo far beyond his level.

  Billy the Kid swallowed. “Sh*t.”

  Then, the Watcher spoke again.

  And this time, it was worse.

  “I wish to see something.”

  A single, hauntieno eboration. ails. Just that. And that alone was enough. Because somehow, they all uood. This was not a mere game. This was not just a test. This ectacle.

  A performance for something beyond their prehension. And they were not just partits. They were eai. A cruel realization sank into their bones, chilling them from the i.

  Miyamoto Musashi closed his eyes for a moment, processing the words carefully.

  “It does not seek victory. Nor power. Nor survival.”

  “It only seeks to watch.”

  Billy the Kid let out a quiet breath. “Well, f*ck me sideways.”

  Jeanne d’Arc swallowed hard, f herself tain posure. “This isn’t just a trial… is it? Was I tempted by the devil? If so, may the lord five me.”

  The Watcher did not respond.

  And that, in itself, was the ahe tension hung over them, suffog. No one dared to break the sileno one except the one man who had asked the question in the first pce. Lapupu turned slightly, his white eyes surveying the group. Then, he simply nodded.

  “I see.”

  His voice was steady, unwavering—as if he had already accepted whatever truth y behind the Watcher’s words.

  Then, slowly, he exhaled. The suffog weight in the air began to lessen, the Watcher’s pulsing light returning to its inal state. And with that, Lapupu faced the group, as if nothing had happe all.

  “Then… when do we begin?”

  Silenbsp;

  And just like that, the tension was shattered. The others let out quiet exhales, some realizing only now that they had been holding their breath. But before anyone could respond, Lapupu spoke once more.

  “Oh, and apologies for the te introdu.”

  His massive frame cast a shadow over the group as he straightened his posture, his presendeniable.

  “My name is Lapupu.”

  A warrior.

  A man who had oood against an empire.

  And now, he would stand against whatever this trial had in store.