What was going on? The store was just here. I rubbed my eyes as hard as I could. Is this real?
Is this a dream? I wanted to believe it, but no, it wasn't.
I whirled around and squirmed through the crowd. As I was in front, the view was clear. People were becoming what I was thinking, some sort of creatures, while some remained covered in that light.
The sight was kind of chaotic. People were cringing back; they had that grim face and conspicuous bewilderment on their faces. That was a natural reaction.
I was slightly shocked myself. Had such things people expected in life? I mean, think about it. In our life, such things happening always seemed like a dream.
But this was a nightmare.
The longer I looked, the more I began to realise. This... Did my story become a reality? That was an absurd thought, but the possibility was close to ninety per cent.
"What's happening to me, Morita?"
"Save me, save me!"
"What is this thing around me? Am I going to die?"
"Hey, hey, tell me I'm not going to become like them?"
That was utter chaos. I observed the transformation and came to a conclusion.
My novel has turned into reality!
Should I be happy or terrified? I didn't know yet, but this belief became more solidified the second I heard the dialogue.
"Everyone, please take a hold of yourself."
This feminine voice belonged to a ginger-haired woman with grey pants and a white shirt, orange lips and those enormous orange eyes. It's definitely her, the first leading star. And yes, my novel had turned into this new reality.
The star novel didn't have a main character; instead, they had leading stars. Unfortunately, they never had plot armor to save them, meaning they can die.
If that happens, then someone else takes the role and continues the story. It is until all of humanity dies out. They did have plot armour but not to the best.
However, the stories don't end. It continues, even after humanity dies out, but from the start. Each restart will bring them back to life.
The only difference this time will be their action. Unlike the last time, they wouldn't take the same path as the last time.
Well. I did that to make the readers kind of curious as to what happens next with different actions and named the next life 'The Regression', but without memories or abilities.
I wonder, which regression would this be for the leading stars?
Never mind... What was important was before me.
Unlike the bluish light encompassing people, Maya Blake was encompassed in orange light. That indicated she was special, a leading star.
As an author of this character, should I look at her like she's a character or a human? It was a strange question.
Suddenly, I felt something strange with my body and noticed the light encompassing my body; it was blue. Kind of disappointing for an author who wrote the story. Just a typical blue color.
Anyhow, I was still delighted.
The expressions on the people's faces, whether the people with wings, who were called Jins, or normal humans, all were looking into the air with confusion.
Before their eyes, by now, a screen must have appeared. It contained their stats and attributes, and the last thing, their Guardian.
I didn't look surprised; this was something they would get. Maybe within this crowd of people, someone might have read a novel with people having a system.
Even the Jins have a system.
[You all must be glad to see what you have.] A voice echoed in the vicinity.
Every head lifted skywards and in the mid-air, smoke began to appear and within that black smoke emerged a man. He was clad in red pants and a red hoodie with its hood covering his face.
Immediately, I knew who he was.
A being so strong that he could make the whole world dance on his fingers. His powers were unfathomable. The being, called Hell-fair, was floated in the sky.
On his shoulder sat a small creature; his head was bigger than his body, with those round red eyes. Small horns protruded from his head; internally they were burning. This was a Crospeya (Meaning: The Host).
Now that I was seeing him in real time, he was indeed terrifying. Just looking at him gave me goosebumps. Originally, it was the Crospeya that was supposed to appear but in later regression, I began to add Hell-fair to the story.
That confirms it wasn't the first restart.
"What are you?"
"What kind of prank is this?"
"Turn me back or else I will kill you!"
People were berating Hell-fair. However, I wasn't worried about people who will eventually suffer; rather, it was something else. Something scarier than these two.
[Watcher 'Hero of Hundred Worlds' is staring at you.]
[Watcher 'Kind Devil' is staring at you.]
[Watcher 'Selfish Pig' is yawning from boredom.]
[Watcher 'Golden Moon Light' is wondering about you.]
[Watcher 'The entity of Arcane' is looking at you with curious eyes.]
I always wanted an audience to watch over my actions, my moves and laugh, applaud for me. However, in reality, such a thing wasn't possible.
So for my characters, I made watchers to have someone watch over them. These beings watched over characters. However, these watchers could be vile. The worst thing, and at the same time, they can be good too, but those were hard to see in the world of cruelty.
It was funny that I was writing their destiny yesterday, and now they will write my destiny. Huh? Don't you think it's worse?
Ironic, isn't it?
The clamor of people disappeared the second Hell-fair snapped his finger.
[You humans are so damn loud?]
He folded his arms, and the grin returned to his face.
[Alright, that's better. Now, let's get to the point. Cosmos Universe has selected this world as its new protective vessel.]
What he meant was that we have become their toys. What else do you expect from him?
[How long will you live that boring life? Working from morning to night without having a rational purpose. Let us give each single one of you a purpose in life.]
"What are you talking about?"
"Hey, turn me back to normal!"
Ignoring those voices, Hell-fair snapped a finger. A large panel appeared in the air and one before the people.
[Game: 1st
[Information: Kill until the light doesn't turn green to deactivate the bridge barrier to enter the next city {Brusalus}
Failure: Death
Difficult: Mid
Reward: 500 Points]
There appeared a giant light that was in red. Hell-fair was explaining to everybody what the rules were. While I, on the other hand, was trying to open my system panel.
As the author of the novel, I would at least get a decent attribute, which would be the best thing for me.
However, such the dream shattered. When the system panel appeared.
[Empty]
What? No, no. This can't be. Let me try again.
[Empty.]
After trying the third time, the result was the same. The panel was completely empty. More than considering it as empty, it was as if someone had frustrated the stats so I couldn't see them.
I furled my fingers, forming a fist. It was bad, really, really bad. Come down, Author. It's not really that bad. I'm the writer of the story; I will find a way to solve this problem.
I closed the panel and focused on Hell-fair.
[Let me demonstrate to you what will happen to you if you fail.]
With another snap of his finger, a drunk man sprawled on the ground exploded. Blood splattered on the ground and on the people that were near him.
People tried to scream but their voices were struck in their throats.
[Try anything stupid and You will all die.] It was a hollow threat but it did work.
[And the second thing, you must kill somebody or else you wouldn't be passing the bridge.]
A timer appeared in the air.
Once the timer ended, people that will be in this city will all die. Fortunately, it wouldn't be a problem since we had an hour.
[Oh, the last thing: you can't escape the city until you complete killing people.]
Alongside the panel, another panel appeared.
[0/9200]
That was the amount we had to kill before the bridge opened.
[Whether your friend, sibling or parent. You must kill if you want to survive.]
With that he disappeared, leaving people in the crospeya, Zaradus, hands. He was watching over us with his cartoonist and innocent-looking face. Don't be a fool, and never trust that face; it was the devil with an angel's face.
The count started with each second passing; it made a ticking sound. Letting people know time was running.
The civilians glanced at each other; there was no waiting. They had to kill nine thousand and two hundred people.
People clashed with each other; the Jins with their sharp metallic hands were ripping the skin off others while those with the system weren't all weak. They had abilities; not everyone did, but many did.
Albeit, they were new to this thing. They basically fought with bare hands or with whatever item they could find around them.
I was looking at them, frozen in one place.