Death Game
Alison's smile sent a chill down Shin's spine. "The first Dream will test your strength and determine if you're worthy to be a Dreamer. You'll each receive a knife. Kill each other to collect soul shards. One kill is enough to pass, but greed can get you more."
She scanned the crowd, her gaze lingering on the hesitant faces. "Ready?" With a clap, the white void transformed into a dense forest, and everyone was teleported to a barren field.
Shin's clothes morphed into battle gear: a brown leather-like tabard, breastplate, shoulder guards, and a knife gripped tightly in his hand. He stood frozen, still processing the situation.
"Let the games begin!" Alison's voice was a distant echo as chaos erupted.
A middle-aged man shouted, "Why kill each other?" Alison's expression darkened. "You'll participate in 25 Dreams. One winner takes all. Do what I say, or face my wrath."
The crowd fell silent. Alison added, "Entertain the Gods, or suffer the consequences." She vanished, leaving a countdown timer: 2 hours, 15 seconds.
Murmurs spread like wildfire. "Gods?" someone whispered. Shin's thoughts swirled. Gods were watching... so what?
Screams pierced the air. A tattooed man, black and white hair, purple eyes, licked his knife, standing over a corpse. "Let's get this show on the road. Don't disappoint the Gods."
A light beam enveloped him, and a holographic window appeared: "Soul Shard obtained. Continue? YES/NO"
He grinned maniacally, "No, I can do more." The light released him.
"Who's next?" he sneered.
Panic set in. Some fled, others stalked prey, and some wept. Shin's eyes darted around, "Is this it?"
A hand clamped his shoulder. "Got you," a voice snarled. The boxer from earlier loomed, knife raised. "Die."
Shin's thoughts froze: "Am I really going to die?"
To Be Continued...