As the dozens of apostle offers flooded in, I didn't accept any. I needed to learn more about what being an apostle truly meant in the Universal World. For all I knew, accepting something right away could hinder my growth in the future, which was the last thing I wanted.
Instead of making a rash decision, I simply ignored the offers.
It didn't come without consequences. Some of the Watchers retracted their offers, claiming they were insulted and humiliated. I couldn't care less. There would always be more offers.
A new message appeared.
[Once you go to the Universal World, all contact with the Watchers will be cut off.]
[You will be teleported in 3…2…1]
My vision blurred, then turned completely dark. The next moment, a strong light appeared before me, blinding me entirely. I could no longer distinguish my surroundings, but I could still hear. Voices surrounded me, though they were distant, muffled. I struggled to make out their words, as if I was underwater.
"…Seems like we wasted our time on those recruits."
"Seems like it. Why would the system choose them? They look so weak and pathetic."
"Humans, out of all races. They're the weakest of them all. The system has wasted yet another batch of arrivals."
The light gradually subsided, replaced by an overwhelming blue. It took me a few seconds to realize I was looking at the sky.
I groaned, shifting slightly. My body ached. More than I had expected. The adrenaline from the last battle had numbed most of the pain, but now that it was gone, every inch of my body felt like it had been through hell.
"Any of them have potential?" a distinct voice asked.
"Hard to tell. They're only new players."
I straightened my back, pushing through the discomfort, and looked toward the source of the voices. A group of people stood nearby, openly mocking us.
Just where the hell did I end up?
"Ah! One of them seems to have woken up," the same voice from before said.
A figure loomed over me. Long strands of blonde hair fell across his face, and sharp blue eyes met mine. His ears were pointed, almost unnaturally so.
An elf.
"Welcome, young man. Congratulations on winning your first match," he said with an easy smile.
I barely nodded, still taking in my surroundings. I wasn't the only one here. On the ground beside me, Ruby, Serena, Jake and many more lay unconscious, their bodies completely still. They must have been affected more heavily by the teleportation.
I shifted my gaze beyond the elf. We had arrived in the middle of an arena. In the stands, dozens—no, hundreds—of people watched, observing our every movement. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to disdain, as if they were evaluating livestock.
The elf extended his hand toward me. "What's your name?"
I didn't respond immediately. My eyes lingered on his features, taking in the sharp lines of his face, the way he carried himself with confidence. There was something strange about him, something I couldn't quite place.
"Is something wrong with my face?" he asked, amused.
I shook my head. "No, it's just the first time I've seen an elf."
I reached out, taking his hand. The moment our palms touched, something rushed into me—an unfamiliar energy coursing through my body. Mana. I could feel it, though I lacked the skill to fully grasp what was happening.
The elf's expression changed in an instant. His friendly curiosity twisted into something else entirely. Shock.
"You… how do you have a Mana Core?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I frowned. "I made it in the waiting room before our first game. Why?"
His eyes widened further. "You managed to create a Mana Core inside of the waiting room? Did you have knowledge of mana before being chosen by the system?"
I shook my head. "No. I never had any."
His astonishment didn't fade. Instead, he grew more excited, his hands twitching slightly at his sides. He turned abruptly, calling out toward the stands.
"Chief! I think I might have found a talent!"
I followed his gaze toward the upper levels of the arena. The spectators were a mix of various races—elves, dwarves, and other beings I didn't recognize. Strangely, I saw no humans among them. Only creatures from fantasy stories.
But among them all, one man stood out.
The chief.
His presence alone commanded attention. The way he sat, the subtle movements of those around him—it was clear he was a figure of power. Even those seated closest to him held themselves with careful restraint, leaning slightly away, as if intimidated by his mere existence.
The chief's gaze settled on me. His eyes were unreadable.
"What's his talent?" he asked.
The elf beside me responded immediately. "He created a Mana Core on his own in under one hour."
The moment the words left his lips, the once-murmuring crowd erupted into chaos.
"Impossible! A human could never do such a thing!"
"Even the most talented have never managed something like that!"
"He's lying!"
I smirked. It was always the same. People couldn't accept what they didn't understand. They would rather dismiss it than acknowledge that someone else was better.
Some things never changed.
"Silence," the chief said.
His voice wasn't loud, but the effect was instant. The arena fell into complete stillness.
He leaned forward slightly. "Speak, young man. Is what he said true? Did you create a Mana Core in less than one hour?"
I met his gaze without hesitation. "Yes."
Another wave of murmurs rippled through the arena, though this time they were more subdued.
I continued, "But I had help from one of the Watchers."
The chief's expression darkened slightly. "Which one?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. He remained anonymous."
For a moment, the chief said nothing. He rubbed his chin, deep in thought, before speaking again.
"Young man, how much do you know about this world?"
I kept my expression neutral. "I didn't know it existed until a few hours ago. I know nothing."
He nodded slowly, as if expecting that answer. "Do you know why we are gathered here to welcome you, the new players?"
I shook my head.
He smiled slightly. "We are here to find individuals who show promise. Talent. The ones who prove themselves worthy are invited to join our guild. Those who do will have access to weapons, potions, skill books—all the resources necessary to grow stronger. To put it simply, joining us will give you an advantage as you climb the ranks."
His gaze sharpened. "With that said, would you like to join our guild?"