So players imdiately stiffened, understanding dawning on their faces while the others blinked, confused.
Seraphiel frowned slightly at the slower processors, then quickly replaced it with another dazzling smile. "I admire that so of you have brains," he said lightly. "As for the rest... well."
’Well... This is just fun...’ I thought, already crying internally.
"And just so we’re clear," Seraphiel added casually, "the unlimited respawn ti already began the mont I revived those two idiots."
The two "idiots" flinched.
Across the field, tension cracked like thin ice.
So players began backing away from others.
So ford tight groups instantly.
Seraphiel looked pleased. "Anyways," he concluded smoothly, "that is all."
He snapped his fingers.
And just like that—
He disappeared.
The players scattered almost imdiately after Seraphiel disappeared.
Groups broke off in different directions—toward the tundra, the jungle, the volcanic cliffs. Clearly, no one wanted to linger here any second longer.
"This platform’s a ss," I muttered, scanning the chaotic landscape. "The ti is a ss, the portals are a ss, and even the admin is a ss, so we should hurry—"
I didn’t get to finish when I saw Akali moved first.
There was no warning. No countdown. No "ready?"
She simply stepped forward and plunged her claw blade straight into Dagur’s chest.
Once.
Twice.
Three tis.
Again and again, tal puncturing his flesh like she was testing how many tis she could hit the sa spot before boredom kicked in.
Dagur’s toxic blood splattered across her arms and face.
It began eating at her skin instantly, hissing and smoking where it touched.
Instead of screaming, Akali laughed.
Dagur grabbed her by the shoulders and drove his fist into her head with brutal force.
There was a wet crack.
Her head separated cleanly from her body.
It hit the ground with a dull thud.
Dagur collapsed seconds later as the corrosion from his own blood finished eating through Akali’s exposed flesh.
Both of them died.
Laughing.
I blinked.
"Damn you! Thorne hasn’t even said start!" Dagur’s voice rang out and he was standing again where he died.
Akali reappeared a split second later, stretching her neck like she’d just woken up from a refreshing nap.
"Who the hell fights with a referee anyway?" she scoffed.
Then they went at it again.
This ti Dagur lost an arm.
Akali lost an eye.
Dagur crushed her ribs.
She sliced off his leg.
They bled.
They died.
They respawned.
Over.
And over.
And over.
I just stood there. "What the hell... am I witnessing?"
Ghost watched for a full minute, expression blank as always. Then, as if deciding this spectacle wasn’t worth his emotional investnt, he simply looked away.
Seth, on the other hand, crouched down with academic enthusiasm.
He pulled a small vial from his inventory and began carefully collecting the toxic blood pooling on the ground.
I did not ask why. I still value my ntal stability.
Thorne crossed his arms, looking genuinely offended. "Oh co on! I haven’t even started gathering the bets yet!"
"Hey Thorne, try dying!" Dagur called cheerfully after respawning for what had to be the fifth ti. "It’s fun!"
"Yeah!" Akali chid in, wiping blood from her cheek that imdiately began dissolving her skin. "You feel the pain right before dying, and then—poof! Nothing! Then you’re back!"
"Why the hell would I—"
Akali stabbed Thorne directly in the chest.
He stared down at the blade protruding from his body.
Then up at her.
"You fucker—"
He died.
Respawned.
And stood there for half a second.
Then irritably sighed and joined them.
Within monts, the three of them were brutally murdering each other in a chaotic, laughing pile of limbs and flying blood like they’d discovered a new recreational sport.
I slowly turned my head toward Kairos as he t my gaze.
For a mont, neither of us spoke.
"Let’s go," he said simply.
Behind them—
Akali scread in delight as Dagur ripped her arm off.
Thorne yelled sothing about odds.
Seth asked if anyone could bleed in a more controlled direction.
I nodded numbly. "Yeah," I muttered. "Before they decide to include us in their bonding activity."
Kairos turned and began walking toward the forested edge of the platform.
And instantly—
The three maniacs stopped.
No more laughter.
No more self-dismbernt.
They straightened up like children who’d been caught setting sothing on fire as they fell into step behind Kairos without another word.
Dagur stretched his neck like he’d just finished a light workout instead of ten consecutive mutual executions.
Akali wiped blood off her cheek.
Thorne brushed nonexistent dust off his coat.
Seth corked his vial with visible satisfaction.
Ghost just trailed behind.
And I didn’t move.
"You guys can go first."
Six heads turned toward .
"Eh?" Dagur blinked.
"Typical loner," Seth muttered, not even trying to lower his voice.
"I heard that."
"But we just got reunited!" Akali wailed dramatically, already lunging toward with arms wide open. "And you’re leaving again? Remi, you heartless cutie creature—"
I sidestepped smoothly as she hugged the air. She stared at , looking betrayed.
"What are you going to do this ti?" Thorne narrowed his eyes at .
"I just have sothing to do," I replied.
That was technically true.
"Hmmm." Thorne didn’t buy it for even half a second.
"Don’t worry," I added, forcing a small smile. "I’ll chase after you guys soon."
Akali pouted, Dagur looked mildly disappointed, Seth looked interested, which was never a good sign, and Ghost didn’t react at all.
Kairos studied quietly then he nodded once. "If it’s you, I’m sure it’ll be fine," he said. "We’ll go ahead first."
Relief flickered in my chest. "Thanks, boss."
"But she—" Thorne began, clearly ready to argue.
Kairos simply looked at him.
Thorne imdiately straightened. "What did I say? Let’s go!" he barked, turning dramatically as if this had been his idea all along.
They moved north, boots crunching against frost that gradually blended into volcanic ash.
I watched until their figures grew smaller against the stitched horizon.
Only then did I move.
I turned and sprinted toward the jungle section, weaving through trees and vines until I found one tall enough to give a clear vantage point.
I perched on a thick branch and scanned the field.
I was looking for one person.
Damian.
My jaw tightened. "I need to find this bastard before he—"
"Who are you looking for?"
I stiffened. The voice ca from directly behind .
My body moved before my mind caught up.
I twisted sharply, dagger flashing into existence from my inventory, and pressed it against the speaker’s throat in one smooth motion.
The blade kissed skin.
One slight push and it would break.
The man didn’t flinch.
He didn’t even blink.
He just looked at with calm, unreadable eyes, hands raised slightly but he was smiling.
"Impressive reflexes," he said lightly, as if we were discussing the weather.
My heart was hamring.
’How did he get this close without sensing him?’
I studied him quickly.
He’s the sa guy who was with Damian. A shadow that wasn’t supposed to exist in my original plot. A variable that never showed up in my drafts. A man who felt like soone had edited him into reality without asking for my permission.
He appeared out of nowhere.
One second the branch behind was empty.
The next—
His hand rested casually on my shoulder.
A chill crawled down my spine so fast it felt physical. Every nerve in my body scread the sa thing:
Leave. NOW.
"Who are you looking for?" he repeated softly.
I didn’t answer. Instead, I jumped down from the tree without hesitation. The air rushed past my ears as I dropped, landing in a crouch on the forest floor.
I thought he would leave alone but a second later, he landed beside .
Perfect balance.
"Good landing~" he applauded lightly, like we were in so gymnastics competition instead of a death arena.
I straightened and started walking, straight up ignoring him.
"Hey," he said, falling into step beside as if we were longti friends taking a stroll through a murder bio. "You should answer when soone asks you a question."
Silence.
"I’ll ask again," he continued, tilting his head slightly. "Who’s the bastard you’re looking for?"
I didn’t realize I’d attracted a persistent, mysterious fly.
And the worst part?
I knew almost nothing about him.
"You want to know who?" I said flatly.
He blinked.
Then stared at more closely.
"Wait," he said, squinting slightly. "You’re a girl?"
"..."
I turned my back on him and continued walking.
"Wait, wait!" He hurried to catch up, stepping lightly over roots and fallen branches. "Now I’m curious. Tell !"
I stopped and slowly turned my head just enough so he could hear clearly.
"The one you’re babysitting."
His brows lifted in understanding. "Ahh. That brat you fought?"
So he knows all along. I removed the Jester’s Mask. "...Do you really need to ask?"
The air between us shifted.
"I’m looking for him," I corrected coldly. "So I can kill him."
For the first ti—
The guy’s smile faded.
The playful glint in his eyes dimd into sothing sharper and colder.
Without breaking eye contact, I summoned my daggers.
One.
Three.
Ten.
Steel glinted under the filtered jungle light.
I didn’t take a stance yet but I was ready.
His gaze dropped briefly to the blades.
Then returned to my face.
For a second, sothing dangerous flickered there.
Then—
His smile ca back as if it had never left. "You’re bold," he said softly. "I like that."
I didn’t relax.
Didn’t blink.
The respawn window was still active here.
That ant he could die and co back.
But that also ant I could test him.
Or—
He could be testing .
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