The colossal palace hall was supported by towering jade pillars, each reaching tens of thousands of meters high, evoking an imposing and majestic feeling that could make one's heart tremble.
At the end of the hall, a throne was positioned high up, with a man in his thirties seated upon it. He was smiling, yet the fierce aura emanating from him was enough to send tremors through heaven and earth.
He was none other than the supreme ruler of existence.
The Cosmic Emperor!
The Cosmic Emperor was handsome and outstanding in bearing. However, the crimson shade emanating from his pupils granted him a fearsome visage. His cold, unfeeling eyes darted downward, gazing at the group of thousands of mortals.
"Mommy, where are you... sob sob." A little girl's pitiful cries echoed, her tears cascading down her cheeks like a trail of shimmering pearls.
"Shut up!" A naked man curled up nearby shouted furiously, his face twisted as his hands tried to cover his crotch. "Fuck, I can't hold it in any longer. I need to take a shit!"
The little girl glimpsed the naked man and was momentarily stunned before wailing even louder. In normal times, someone would have rushed to console the child. However, at this moment, not a single soul dared to move an inch.
The situation below was extremely chaotic, resembling a fish market. Considering these mere mortals had been living mundane lives just moments ago and were now abruptly teleported to an unknown place, it was only natural for them to feel scared, confused, frustrated, and somewhat curious. If they weren't, it would have been truly peculiar.
"Mortals are truly ants, but they have some use when utilized adequately," the Cosmic Emperor spoke, boundless might stirring with his voice.
"What did you just say?!" A hot-blooded youth immediately rebuked.
"Hmm, aren't you a lively one," the Cosmic Emperor chuckled as his gaze landed on the noisy youth.
In an instant, the boy's cries turned to dreadful silence. His lifeless body sprawled motionless on the cold floor, a ghastly wound on his forehead gushing fresh crimson. Blood sprayed into the air as the heads of other mortals started to burst open.
They were the ones who had protested against the Cosmic Emperor, as well as those who had screamed or gone wild. Anyone who caused the slightest fuss had their head blown. Suddenly, the palace became a scene of gruesome bloodshed.
More than half of the people present perished, leaving the heavenly palace filled with headless corpses.
Now, no one dared to scream. Like primitive apes facing a formidable predator, everyone just watched the Emperor with unprecedented terror.
"Today is the luckiest day of your pitiful lives, so rejoice," the Cosmic Emperor said with a cold and callous smile. "It happens to be my great-great-great-granddaughter's sixth birthday, and she has generously decided to bestow upon you mortals from the lower plane an opportunity to break free from your mundane confines. Isn't that great?"
"But this is merely an opportunity, whether you succeed or not relies solely on your resolution, intellect, and strength. If you wish to attain something, it is only natural to pay a price. Isn't that right?" Saying this, the Cosmic Emperor snapped his fingers.
In front of everyone's eyes, a mysterious small window materialized, radiating an eerie blue light.
***
[The system trial has arrived!]
Clear Conditions: Survive the given time limit. There can only be ten inheritors remaining at the end of the trial.
Time Limit: 45 minutes
Rewards: ???
Failure: Death
***
The Cosmic Emperor smiled faintly and spoke leisurely as his body turned transparent, slowly vanishing into the void. "Then, good luck to everyone, and do remember to put on an entertaining show."
A deathly silence gripped the palace before it erupted into pure chaos. People reacted differently, some attempted to flee the palace, while others frantically used their cell phones to call the police. Their efforts were futile, nothing they did mattered.
Out of nowhere, a mechanical voice resounded in everyone's minds simultaneously.
[The trial begins in ten, nine, eight... two, one.]
[Beep! The trial has begun!]
In an instant, the text on everyone's screen underwent a rapid change.
[Trial ends in 44 minutes, 59 seconds]
[Please enter the name of the weapon of your choice: _______ (Note: Explosives, guns, military vehicles, and weapons of mass destruction are prohibited)]
"What the hell is happening?! Someone, please save me!"
"Shit, the trial has begun! Which weapon do I choose? Why can't we choose guns?! Goddamn it!"
"I choose the sword! It's the best weapon for me. I've played countless fantasy games, and not to mention, swords are cool as fuck!"
"Can I use my grandma's undies?"
While everyone was busy picking a weapon, a nineteen-year-old youth dressed in a black hoodie quietly made his way toward the center of the crowd.
Samuel had snow-white skin that complemented his sharp facial features. His deep blue eyes looked like two marbles made of ice, shrouded in a thin layer of coldness.
Samuel quickly moved toward what seemed to be the most secure spot. Here, he would have a layer of defense around him while he took his time to observe the situation carefully.
'The trial has commenced, but as of now, there are no changes,' Samuel thought.
Most individuals had armed themselves with swords, katanas, sabers, spears, sledgehammers, and steel rods. However, Samuel disregarded the sense of urgency; instead, he patiently waited for the right moment, cautiously examining the area. Time quietly slipped by, seconds turning into minutes.
[Trial ends in 39 minutes, 44 seconds]
Five minutes passed without mishap. The atmosphere remained calm, but most people were still on guard, tightly gripping their weapons. Only a few brave individuals acted in a carefree manner.
"Good, it seems there has been a problem with the organizers. Take all the time you need, Hahaha!"
"Yeah, it would be fantastic if we could pass this trial without any difficulties."
Despite the calm, Samuel frowned. 'This is strange. Why hasn't there been an irregularity yet? That godly figure's words suggest it can't be this straightforward. I must be missing something. But for now, I'll keep waiting.'
By now, everyone except Samuel had chosen a weapon, making him stand out in the crowd for all the wrong reasons.
[Trial ends in 28 minutes, 54 seconds]
The tension had improved significantly. People were casually chatting, and only a handful remained vigilant. Everything seemed strangely normal.
Samuel's expression grew increasingly dark. His eyelids drooped as he pondered the scenario.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up as a wild theory surged within him. After thinking for a few seconds, his gaze turned cold and malicious. Without hesitation, he chose his weapon and took several steps toward the defenseless little girl standing near him.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
Upon hearing the sound, the girl blinked in surprise. It was the revving of a chainsaw—a sound full of arrogance and dominance. The little girl barely had time to look at the source before her face froze in terror.
Samuel unsympathetically raised the chainsaw and swung it like a silver axe. The blades rotated violently as they slashed toward the girl's waist. The metal entered the flesh as if cutting through butter.
As Samuel flicked his wrist, blood and meat sprayed across the floor. The girl's spine was shattered and her organs ground to a pulp.
The little girl's upper half was thrown into the air while her lower half remained on the spot.
Plop.
She stared with wide eyes at her lower half, dying in extreme shock.
The chattering ceased instantly. The palace was engulfed in silence as all eyes turned toward Samuel. He was covered in blood, with flesh still sticking to his clothes. The chainsaw's edges were still rotating with a ferocity that forced others to look away.
[+1 Origin point gained from killing participant #987]
[1 Origin point automatically used to increase weapon-body constitution!]
'As expected.' Samuel glanced at the glowing screen. He turned to the furious crowd, his lips curling into a cruel smile.
"Hahaha! Let the crimson flower of life bloom while we dance to the tune of death!" Samuel laughed loudly. Then, without hesitation, he charged into the herd with a maniacal expression.
Buzz!