The Sovereign flicked her fingers, and time itself seemed to ripple. The players felt something shift, though none could explain it. Dransart's wives suddenly sat down, their legs numb. Olivia explained, "You performed dual cultivation with us. Our feet are numb, yet you ask what happened." The players realized—time had flowed without trace, their consciousness sealed and unlocked at the Sovereign's whim.
The Sovereign announced, "Five routes await. Each route has obstacles. The game is a three-legged race. Choose your partner in one minute and thirty seconds."
Dransart's wives shouted, "If you team up with Shanmu, we will kill you!" Their jealousy embarrassed him in front of the other players.
Terbol quickly joined Dransart. "Let's form a team. Together, we can win."
Dransart asked, "Why me, when so many players remain?"
Terbol answered, "Because you are the only one who used your real name without hesitation."
Dransart thought, So I could have changed my name at the start, but I stayed true. Perhaps he has another reason—maybe to increase his catastrophic skills through mine. He accepted.
Other teams formed:
- Schemer joined Dew.
- Blue paired with Riden.
- Palate partnered with Protogonaist.
- Vazor reluctantly joined Shanmu.
The Sovereign's power silenced any doubts. Each team was counted as one unit for elimination.
The Race Begins
The first obstacle appeared: an old man near the hospital, blind and deaf, asking for directions.
Blue acted first. He grabbed the old man's hand and guided him, making him draw a map to the hospital. The old man reached safely.
Vazor, impatient, sliced the hospital in half with his skill. The building slid apart, dropping the old man into one half. He stumbled inside, technically reaching his destination.
The crowd gasped at the brutality, but the Sovereign remained silent.
Thus, the three-legged race begins.
Each team faces obstacles that test not only skill but morality. Some guide with care, others force solutions with violence. Dransart and Terbol prepare for their turn, knowing the Sovereign watches closely, ready to eliminate those who bore her.