There were too many questions swirling in his mind, as if every thought was trying to push itself to the front, but he barely had any answers.
However, something else captured his attention — a small screen floating right in front of him.
[Viewers: 1]
"…What… is this?" he muttered to himself, still unable to fully grasp the situation.
His eyes remained fixed on the upper corner of the interface, completely puzzled.
Suddenly, a fleeting idea crossed his mind… and in that exact moment, his confused face was captured on the broadcast.
[Viewers: 5]
The number startled him. Five? Since when had it increased?
Before he could process it, a small chat window materialized on the screen.
‐[Blackrose: Whoah!（๑♜д♜)]
‐[Bella: You're gorgeous! (∩˃о˂∩)♡]
‐[Moonspire: Look over here! (๑￫ܫ￩)」]
"…What's… going on?" he whispered, growing more and more confused.
"Why does it feel like… I just started a livestream?"
His mind filled with new questions, but there wasn't enough time to answer them all.
At that moment, he remembered something crucial: today was the entrance exam for the Academy.
His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately pushed aside the strange situation.
"Arsidius Imperial Academy" — one of the three most prestigious institutions in the world, specialized in training heroes.
It was also the main setting where the events of the game Eternal Clash took place.
Should I attend… or just run away?
That was the question.
There were far too many complications with attending the Academy, but also too many opportunities to ignore. Among all its advantages, one outweighed the rest: the Arsidius credential.
That document was more than just an ID — it validated your status as a hero candidate. In a world plagued by monsters and dangers, it was practically a gold mine: it granted you legal access to low-rank dungeons, the right to hunt creatures, and the ability to earn experience without too many restrictions.
Of course, there was always the alternative of becoming a mercenary… but it was a far less viable path. Mercenaries had to go through endless protocols every time they wanted to enter a dungeon, and they carried an awful reputation on top of that.
Finally, there was a third option: living an ordinary life. Tempting, yes… but after thinking it through, it was impossible. Eventually, the entire world would descend into chaos, and lacking the skills to defend oneself would be a death sentence.
I tried to calm my thoughts and think carefully, but in the end, my decision leaned to one side.
I had to take the exam.
***
The Magnetic Leviathan — a long, sleek steel carriage with smooth, curved edges designed to reduce air resistance — floated majestically above the rails.
This masterpiece of magical engineering was a common mode of transportation in this world, built to travel the greatest distances in the shortest time possible.
In terms of my previous world, it was similar to a maglev train.
"…What a shame," muttered the hunched old man sitting in front of me, his gaze locked on the screen of his computer. "When will we ever win something?"
"Honey, honey!" the woman beside him suddenly exclaimed, her tone a mix of reproach and affection.
The old man slightly raised his head, still without looking away from the computer.
"Oh, come on, dear! When you travel, don't spend the whole day glued to that damn screen," the woman complained, frowning.
"Bah, don't exaggerate, woman!" the old man grumbled, waving his hand dismissively. "I'm just checking the sports updates. Why don't you go grab me a beer instead?"
The elderly woman stared at him for a few seconds before giving him a cold smile and smacking him hard on the back.
"Ouch, my poor bones!" the old man cried out dramatically, as if he were on the verge of death.
"One of these days, you're going to finish me off, witch!"
The woman slowly crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"…What did you just call me?" she asked softly, her voice calm but laced with menace.
The old man immediately shrank into his seat, lowering his shoulders as if trying to make himself invisible.
"N-nothing, darling… I didn't say anything," he muttered, quickly turning his gaze toward the window.
"Haa… how I wish I had a beer…" he sighed silently to himself.
The woman clicked her tongue in annoyance and shook her head.
"Stop being so stubborn, old man. Remember, the doctor strictly forbade you from drinking alcohol."
The old man scoffed under his breath but didn't dare argue back. He simply sank deeper into his seat, shoulders slumped in silent defeat.
From the seat across, I watched them quietly, slightly confused.
The peaceful old couple seemed to be enjoying their train ride, and for a moment, the scene reminded me of one of those romantic comedies I used to watch in my previous world.
Lost in thought, I almost forgot about my worries, until…
Tring!
A notification suddenly flashed across my screen:
『Bella has donated 50 coins』
〔You're so handsome! (❀❛ ֊ ❛„)」ᥫ᭡.〕
Coins?
I frowned, surprised. Could it be some sort of exchange system?
I stared at the highlighted words on the interface for a moment.
"…It really… is similar to a livestream," I whispered to myself.
I decided that once the exam was over, I would investigate this strange ability further.
It was then that I noticed the old woman — still arguing with her husband — watching me closely, as if she had sensed something unusual.
"Excuse me… young man, are you alright?" she asked cautiously, and without giving me time to answer, added:
"I have some medicine in my bag. Would you like to take one?"
I looked at her silently, unsure of how to respond. I didn't feel particularly unwell, just distracted; maybe my expression had confused her.
Before I could explain, the old man interrupted:
"Hmm! You can take it, kid. Sometimes it's okay to accept a little help. What's the point of a young man being so stubborn?"
"You're not exactly the best person to give that advice," I thought, holding back a smirk.
The old woman gave me a warm look, then opened her bag and gently took out a small glass bottle, offering it to me softly.
It was a simple act, yet completely selfless. For an instant, I felt something soften inside me.
However, seconds later, I composed myself and stared at the bottle, hesitant.
Perhaps sensing my discomfort, the old woman waved her hand lightly.
"If you feel uncomfortable, you can refuse it," she said calmly. "When I was young, I also avoided accepting gifts from strangers."
I stayed silent for a moment, then finally reached out my hand.
"…Thank you," I murmured.
The old woman smiled gently and placed the bottle on my palm.
But then…
Thum…!
A loud, dry bang echoed through the carriage, followed by a violent jolt that threw my body forward.
The train came to an abrupt stop with a sharp screech that rattled through the halls.
The bottle slipped from my fingers, spilling its thick liquid onto the floor.
The warm, peaceful atmosphere from seconds ago instantly shifted into a suffocating tension.
The murmurs of the passengers turned into complete silence… until the sound of heavy, firm footsteps came from the adjoining carriage.
Clang!
The sliding door burst open.
Two armed men stormed inside.
They wore dark vests reinforced with steel plates, half-face masks, and carried cold, piercing gazes that seemed to cut through anyone daring enough to meet their eyes.
At that moment, my heart skipped a beat, my vision blurred, and a cold sweat ran down my back.
The air felt razor-thin, the surroundings heavy with tension, and then… a sharp ringing sound echoed in my head as my vision began to distort.
DING!
A semi-transparent panel appeared in front of my eyes, overlapping reality itself:
┌────────────────────────┐
│ [DIMENSIONAL BROADCAST] │
├────────────────────────┤
│ ► Event Detected: SURVIVAL
│ ► Threat Level: HIGH ⚠️
│ ► Reward: ???
│
│ Current Viewers: 15
└────────────────────────┘