Chapter: Chapter 027: Burning brazierThe noise of the arena faded the moment the gates opened again.The maze trial was over and they were expecting another one.Kael stepped forward with the other contestants, their boots crunching against the dry earth. The tournament grounds were massive—larger than anything inside the palace walls—carved into open land that sloped slightly downward before leveling out again.And then kael saw it.The marker.A burning brazier kept at the far end of the field, mounted on a tall iron pole. Flames licked upward despite the wind, bright and burning.Even from this distance, the heat shimmered faintly around it.There was no mistaking the goal.Reach that.Around him, the remaining contestants slowed down, their eyes tracking the same point, including Lysera—who sat tall on the ground, looking at the tournament.Kael’s gaze flicked to her automatically.She looked focused. Calm. Like this was something she’d already decided she would survive.Above them, on a raised platform carved into
Last Updated: 2026-02-06
Chapter: Chapter 027: Burning brazierThe noise of the arena faded the moment the gates opened again.The maze trial was over and they were expecting another one.Kael stepped forward with the other contestants, their boots crunching against the dry earth. The tournament grounds were massive—larger than anything inside the palace walls—carved into open land that sloped slightly downward before leveling out again.And then kael saw it.The marker.A burning brazier kept at the far end of the field, mounted on a tall iron pole. Flames licked upward despite the wind, bright and burning.Even from this distance, the heat shimmered faintly around it.There was no mistaking the goal.Reach that.Around him, the remaining contestants slowed down, their eyes tracking the same point, including Lysera—who sat tall on the ground, looking at the tournament.Kael’s gaze flicked to her automatically.She looked focused. Calm. Like this was something she’d already decided she would survive.Above them, on a raised platform carved into
Last Updated: 2026-02-06
Chapter: Chapter 026: second bestRykal entered the maze with his jaw tight and his pride already burning through his clothes.He would win the tournament, he knew he would.The gates slammed shut behind him, the echo rolling through the stone corridors.Good.He welcomed it.Unlike the others, he didn’t hesitate. Didn’t pause. Didn’t breathe in the atmosphere like some poetic fool.He stepped forward immediately.He had not trained his whole life to fear shadows and fog and loose to his sick brother.The maze was narrow, cold, silent. Stone walls rose high on either side, cutting off the sky, cutting off everything. The air felt heavy, like it pressed against his skin.This was just a test.That was all this was.He smirked.They thought this would break him?He hadn’t gone far when the maze shifted.The corridor ahead shimmered, then distorted.Suddenly, he wasn’t in stone halls anymore.He stood in the palace.Not the current one.The old one.The one from his childhood.His breath hitched.He knew this place.Ever
Last Updated: 2026-02-02
Chapter: chapter 025: IllusionsThe moment Kael stepped into the maze, he knew this trial was not built for the body.It was built for the mind.The gates sealed behind him with a heavy clang, the sound echoing for too long, too deep. The air shifted instantly—thick, cold, heavy in a way that had nothing to do with weather. Fog crawled along the ground like it was alive, wrapping around his boots, climbing slowly up his legs.He exhaled slowly.Stay calm.That was always the first rule.Around him, towering stone walls rose high enough to block the sky. No landmarks. No direction. Just narrow paths stretching into the maze.The captain’s voice from earlier replayed in his head:“This maze adapts to you. It will show you what you fear. What you hide. What you deny.”Kael adjusted the leather straps on his gloves and started forward.At first, it was silent. Too silent.No traps. No movement. Just the sound of his own breathing and the soft crunch of frost under his boots.He hated it.He’d rather face blades than th
Last Updated: 2026-01-26
Chapter: Chapter 024: The Maze of TruthWELLDONE CONTESTANTS, ITS TIME FOR TRIAL TWO THE MAZE OF TRUTHThe captains voice travelled over the field and all the contestants were teleported to s new field, it had a large maze in front of them THE RULE IS SIMPLE, GO IN AND COME OUT BEFORE THE MAZE CLOSES YOU IN PERMANENTLY This trial will test not just your skill, but your fears. Your truths will be shown. Only those who face them can advance Good luck Everyone looked around, Lysera looked at Kael and he nodded, she watched him walk in, before she walked in tooLysera’s heart pounded as she stepped into the maze. The walls were high, slick with frost, and mist curled at the ground like smoke.The first trial had been physical; this one was… different. She could feel it the instant she entered: the air was heavy, almost sentient, pressing against her mind as well as her body.The captain’s words echoed in her memory: “This trial will test not just your skill, but your fears. Your truths will be shown. Only those who face
Last Updated: 2026-01-22
Chapter: Chapter 023: Gauntlet of elements TRIAL ONE The captain stood in front of the contestants “Contestants, the first trial is here, this is a test of strength and mobility, thread carefully” The contestants looked around the field The arena stretched before them like a challenge written in stone, wood, and ice. Raised platforms jutted out over jagged rocks. Rope bridges swayed in the wind. Frozen streams crisscrossed the lower levels, and patches of slick ice gleamed in the sun. Hidden in the corners, kael could see mechanical obstacles—swinging logs, pivoting gates, and contraptions that would test the strongest of arms.Kael ran his fingers over the hilt of his sword, flexed his hands. One wrong step and everything he had fought to build could collapse.From the high balcony, King Alaric and Queen Selara watched, their faces calm and measured. Elyra leaned slightly over the edge, her eyes wide with concern. Kael have her a small nod in acknowledgment, then turned his attention to the other contestants.They
Last Updated: 2026-01-20
Chapter: Chapter sixty five: The final stageThe metallic doors of the central hall slid open with a whisper, and a cold, hollow light spilled across the remaining thirteen survivors. The floor shimmered like liquid steel, reflecting their exhausted faces back at them. The air vibrated faintly, as if the chamber itself were alive, waiting for something. The System’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.“Survivors. You have reached the threshold. The Final Stage of the Deadly Game System is now unlocked. Only those who prove mastery will live. Only the strongest, smartest, and most adaptive will advance.”A murmur rippled through the group. Claire’s fingers tightened around the edge of her dagger, Sky’s eyes darted to the corners of the hall, and Bim pressed her hands together in a silent anticipation. Even Marcus, standing off to the side, seemed quiet, his usual arrogance gone by the gravity of the announcement.Ethan’s gaze swept over them all. Thirteen. Just thirteen remained from the original fifty. Every face bore
Last Updated: 2026-02-02
Chapter: Chapter sixty four: Together we standThe system was evil. The players had come to realize that when they were taken from their homes, schools, workplace and brought into a new world where they had to fight to survive every single day. Group one was wiped off because they refused to bow to the system and fight each other. Most of them lost their lives from the trial with the Reptilian monsters, Out of 53 players only 13 were left Ethan, Sky, Claire, Bim, Trace,Pip,Fenn,Ash,Lani, Paz,Rami,Lyra and Professor Lorne Lyra lost her twin, she lay on the battlefield clutching her dead body as she cried.The players all moved to the dining and ate their food solemnly before moving to their bunks “How do you feel sky?“ Claire asked “I'm ok Claire don't worry about me” PLAYERS WELCOME TO THE FINAL STAGE ONLY 13 HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR, YOU HAVE TWO FULL DAYS OF RESTTrave scoffed “Rest?, what fucking rest” she screamed at that system, kicking everything and hitting her hands “Doing all that won't change anythi
Last Updated: 2026-01-20
Chapter: Chapter Sixty Three: I choose no oneThe field stretched endlessly, a jagged wasteland of blackened rock and blood everywhere, Claire’s hands shook as she knelt beside Sky, whose body was sprawled on the ground, a gash across his side bleeding faster than any healing could stop. Ethan was farther ahead, the faint sparks of his reinforced blades cutting arcs through the air. Monster after reptilian monster dropped before him, each strike sending sprays of ichor and bone fragments across the scorched ground. He fought hard, striking and striking after the monsters to keep them from harming Claire while she tried to heal Sky. “I don't choose anything” Claire screamed at the system “You've taken so much from me and you won't take any more” she yelled YOU REJECT THE OFFER? The system asked YES Claire yelled. Her voice raw from all the screaming and shouting,She pressed a strip of her own shirt over the wound, the fabric already soaked in blood. Her knuckles whitened around the edges as she gritted her teeth, t
Last Updated: 2026-01-13
Chapter: Chapter Sixty two: Save skyThe field was still in chaos. Players were screaming and fighting. The monsters hissed in the distance, their reptilian eyes glowing through the haze like embers. The world was falling apart around them—again. But Claire didn’t see any of it. All she saw was Sky—bleeding, shaking, barely breathing. Her hands pressed over his wound, but her healing light refused to ignite properly. It flickered weakly, then sputtered out like a candle fighting wind. “Come on,” she whispered. “Please—please work—” She tried again, pouring everything she had left into the light, but the system’s invisible barrier stopped her cold. A mechanical hum echoed faintly, as if mocking her effort. “Claire!” Ethan’s voice cut through the noise. “Don’t stop! I’ve got you covered!” He turned, slashing at one of the reptilian creatures that lunged for them. His movements were raw, desperate. The sword in his hand cut cleanly through scaled flesh, black blood splattering across his arm. He didn’t ca
Last Updated: 2026-01-12
Chapter: Chapter Sixty one: Comfort meClaire sat with her back against the cold metal wall of an abandoned corridor, her knees pulled to her chest, and her eyes unfocused. She hadn’t meant to run this far. But after everything—after the trial, the choice, the humiliation of realizing she hadn’t been chosen—her body had moved on instinct alone. Away from Sky. Away from the stares. Away from the ache in her chest that refused to settle. Her hands were clenched tightly in the fabric of her sleeves. She had almost convinced herself that she was fine. Almost. Footsteps echoed down the hall. Claire stiffened instantly. “Claire.” Ethan’s voice. She didn’t look up. He stopped a few steps away, giving her space. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t awkward—it was heavy, respectful. “You disappeared,” Ethan said quietly. “So?” Her voice was small. Too small. “So I came to find you.” She swallowed. Her throat felt raw. “You shouldn’t have.” “Why?” She hesitated, then finally
Last Updated: 2026-01-11
Chapter: Chapter Sixty: Choose your squad mate Sky closed his ears as heard the gunshot TEST TRIAL COMPLETE The system said, He looked up and Claire was still alive, her face a mask of pain and disappointment. Their ropes were cut and she and Bim fell to the ground. Bim got up looking at him with a strange look, while claire just say frozen.The atmosphere was heavy, the silence almost suffocating.Claire stumbled along the uneven ground, knees trembling, hands shaking from the adrenaline that hadn’t yet left her veins. She had expected the worst, had expected the system to take everything, and yet she was alive. Bim, the girl Sky had chosen, stood a few meters away, unharmed, safe. And that simple fact ignited a firestorm inside Claire that she hadn’t anticipated.Her legs faltered, and she collapsed onto a fallen log, staring at the two of them—Sky, his face taut with guilt, Bim smiling nervously, unaware of the depth of the damage.“How… how could you?” Claire’s voice cracked, high and raw, echoing across the empt
Last Updated: 2026-01-10
