"I'm in Space?!"
[Affirmative.]
At the answer, Xein stumbled down and fell on his butt on the floor, his breathing accelerated as he tried to grasp his chest for air. Ever since he was a child, he always had an irrational fear of heights; as such, learning of his current location made him into a sorry mess.
'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!'
[Please calm down. Breathe slowly, Master Xein.]
The robotic voice resounded in his ears, yet regardless of its efforts, Xein continued to hyperventilate. He tried his hardest to get it together, but his body continued to tremble, and his vision started to get dizzy.
Then, suddenly, the system's robotic voice changed, and a mature woman's voice resounded in Xein's ears.
[It's okay, it's alright, calm down, breathe slowly, everything's fine, Master Xein.]
"Haaa...haa...haaa..."
Xein, still in a mess, slowly tried to calm his breathing, inhaling and exhaling at a steady pace. He closed his eyes and focused himself.
'Calm down, it's alright, Xein...yeah, everything's alright...'
[Everything's Alright, Master Xein.]
With the system's soothing voice, Xein slowly got his act together, leaning towards the wall as he remained seated on the floor, his breathing still fast but just enough for him to keep it together.
"Thank you..."
[It is nothing, Master Xein.]
The reply Xein received was now the same robotic voice that the system had in the beginning.
Paying no mind to it, Xein looked around the room. Beside the window, on top of his head, showing the view outside, there was a bed on his side seemingly connected to the walls; on top of it was a change of clothing.
There was also a chair, a desk, and what looked like a mini fridge. There was also the door that seems to lead outside of the room, but as Xein stood up to try and open the door, it didn't even budge.
It doesn't even have a doorknob, just what seemed to be a hand scanner in place.
'Locked, huh?'
[As I said, Master Xein, candidates aren't allowed to go outside of their rooms at the moment.]
"What about our meals then?"
[Rest assured, Master Xein, that mini fridge isn't your ordinary appliance; it can generate cooked meals and any drink that you can imagine. You can also make it generate raw ingredients if you desire to cook your own, and that desk on the side is also freely customizable, turning into any kind of cooking tool from a stove to an oven.]
[Other tools and items are also provided; just touch the wall, and anything from plates and utensils to pans and pots will be created. Also, it is not limited to just kitchen equipment; you can also create clothing and any other essential items.]
"Well, isn't that convenient."
[Of course, the Terra Arena ensures that the participants of the Selection are at their best performance by giving them all of their needs.]
"I see. How about entertainment?"
[It is also included, Master Xein.]
In the next moment, on Xein's side, the walls began to transform into a flat-screen TV.
[On your planet, this tool is one of the most common sources of entertainment and news as well. This TV in front of you, Master Xein, is connected to billions of different channels all over the universe. Channels on Earth are also included, of course. Just think of what channel you would like to see, and the device will follow suit.]
"Wow..."
Xein can only exclaim in amazement; this kind of convenience is unheard of after all. He then decided to check on the other door within the room.
Unsurprisingly, the extra room was a bathroom. Stepping inside of it was a completely furnished bathroom with state-of-the-art components in terms of Earth standards; it was completely different from the bathrooms Xein had experienced during his entire life.
'For once in my life it seems I can finally use a decent toilet; the ones at the orphanage were absolute shit, and those in prison were no different, and finally, I won't have to worry about dropping...Ahem!'
'Anyways, it's nice.'
[...]
As he finished looking around the bathroom, Xein stepped out of it and returned to his main room.
'With these kinds of conveniences, I can only imagine what will happen in the Selection...'
"Say System, what exactly is the 'World Ruler Selection'?"
[Once a planet with living intelligent life forms reaches a certain population, the Terra Arena alongside the admins is sent towards that planet to begin the 'World Ruler Selection'.]
[It is a tournament of sorts, in which you and all of the other candidates chosen by the admins, are to play a number of games until only one candidate remains.]
[The kind and number of games vary for every different selection, and these are based on what the admins desire.]
[After only having one candidate left, that candidate will take on the final challenge to prove themselves worthy of bearing the crown of 'World Master'.]
"Hmm, after a 'World Master' is selected, what's next then?"
[That is outside of my capability to answer, Master Xein.]
'The chances of the WRS (World Ruler Selection) not being the end of all this certainly isn't low.'
Xein rubbed his chin in contemplation, then his eyes caught the clothes placed on top of the bed. Curious, he approached it, lifting it up. It was a black high-neck jacket with a short cloak-like cape extending to the waist, and underneath it were black pants to match.
"System, what is this?"
[It is the uniform for all WRS participants. I suggest wearing it immediately, including the boots under the bed. It may look ordinary, but it has special features; it can adjust the temperature for the user's body, as well as adjust its size to match your comfortability. Not only that, but it has its own self-cleaning enchantment attached to it as well. Also, if the color is not to your taste, you can freely customize it on your own.]
"Wow, that's impressive to say the least."
Xein praised with a smile as he looked under the bed and found a pair of black boots; taking them out, he placed them on top of the bed alongside the jacket.
Then he looked at himself, still in his orange prison uniform, and with a slight sniff, he already knew that he stank.
"I need a bath."
As Xein said so, he immediately began to undress and threw the prison uniform away; then, touching the wall, he created a towel as he covered himself up and immediately went to take a shower.
"Ahhh~ That's nice~ I haven't felt like this since forever~"
'I wonder, do they monitor every room in here? If they do, does that include the bathroom?''
'No way, right? Ah, whatever~'
[...]
________
In a certain luxurious room around the Terra Arena, a man with a spade mark on his cheek was watching a hologram projection of a certain room; in that room, its only occupant started to undress himself. Seeing this, the man watching hastily closed off the projection with an uneasy expression and let out an awkward laugh.
"Haha..."
__________
In another luxurious room, a woman stared fiercely at the hologram projection in front of her; it was surveillance of a certain man taking a shower, and near him on the floor was a dirty orange prison uniform.
'It's big...'
"Achoo!"
"Huh? I'm an admin, I'm not capable of getting sick...ahhh whatever."
The woman ignored the sneezes and returned back to watching the projection.
__________
After a while, Xein stepped out of the bathroom, dried himself up, and put on the WRS uniform. As he did, the clothes immediately adjusted to his size, making him comfortable. He didn't bother to change the color.
Then, transforming a part of the wall into a mirror, he stood on top of it, and he looked at himself: neatly combed short black hair, a cleanly shaved face, and a decently built body.
"Heh, I look good."
[Indeed.]
"Oh, thank you~."
After a few more minutes of looking at himself and doing childish poses, he immediately went to his bed and lay down to rest.
After a while not being able to sleep, Xein started to get bored and decided to talk to the system instead.
"Hey System, you said that if there is only one candidate remaining, they will still have to take a final challenge, right?"
[Yes, that is correct.]
"What happens if they fail?"
[Then the planet will have no 'World Master' and will be sold, alongside its inhabitants, to the highest bidder.]
"What…?"
The answer startled Xein, taking a few moments to process what he just heard.
[The answer I can give you, Master Xein, is limited, but should there be no 'World Master' at the end of the WRS, then this planet and its people will be sold to other 'World Masters,' either those that just have interest in this world or those that want to expand their own kingdoms.]
"And if there are none that will buy our planet?"
[That is outside of my capability to answer, Master Xein.]
'...Damn it.'
Xein heaved a deep sigh; the stakes just continue to grow higher and higher.
'This whole WRS thing isn't as simple as I looks...'
*Sigh*