The next day, as Stage 0 concluded, a system text message popped up, and a large screen floated in front of them.
[Trial Stage 0 had concluded]
"Hello, humans. I see quite a lot of you have survived and listened to my advice about using the pills, but now you're on your own. You've experienced a few days with the C Virus, but hell's about to break loose now, hahaha!"
Verismon's laughter echoed from the screen, his twisted face filling it. Before Tilus could process the words, the ground beneath them shook violently.
Verismon's smile sent a chill down Tilus's spine, the sinister glee unmistakable as he loomed over them. It felt like the air itself had turned colder in his presence. The screen flickered, showing the capital—Ha Noi—engulfed in flames. The inferno swallowed entire streets, skyscrapers collapsing like sandcastles under a giant's foot. The iconic Hoan Kiem Lake was ablaze.
Tilus wanted to tear his eyes away, but he couldn't. The terror was too real. The whispers from those around him blurred together—someone gasping, another stifling a sob. The ground beneath them trembled.
More images flashed across the screen. A monstrous tree uprooted itself, its enormous roots destroying everything in their path. Thăng Long Imperial Citadel—he remembered visiting it with his parents before. Now, it was crumbling.
William yelled out, "No, my hometown, my family! What did you do?"
But Verismon didn't answer.
Jasmine muttered in a frightened tone, "That's my parents' company. It's... crumbling." She dropped to the floor
So, it had truly begun. Exactly like the Journal said.
Verismon's cold voice sliced through the panic.
The screen flashed again, showing images of the Statue of Liberty in America, the Pyramids in Egypt, the Eiffel Tower in France, and Japan's Mount Fuji erupting with fire as people fled for their lives.
"As you can see, the world is in chaos right now. I hold no grudge against you; this is simply inevitable," he said, feigning regret. "However, there is a way to save the world and yourself by passing through the Stages we've been preparing for you. You might find the power to save this dying world at the end of that journey."
"Aren't that great news?" he mocked.
Tilus and his friends stood in silence, watching as Verismon's figure appeared on the screen once more.
"Also, one more thing—the pills you've been given are not a cure; they only suppress the virus. You can obtain more by entering the Stages before the virus consumes you entirely. Now, let's move you to the main Stage."
With that, a light wrapped around them, transporting them away before Tilus could even think.
When he opened his eyes, they were surrounded by fire. His friends were nearby, one by one, but they weren't just his friends. Over a hundred people were gathered around. They were in a forest—no, it was more like a park—but he couldn't tell exactly where they were.
"Welcome, everyone, to the first Stage. Your very first test" came a voice from above. It was Verismon, fully manifested this time. His sinister form—a twisted bear in a jester's suit—floated lazily in the air, giving me the creeps.
"What is this?"
"Where am I?"
"Released us"
Verismon stretched lazily as if the chaos was nothing more than entertainment. "Oh, my dear humans. So many questions. So little time." His grin widened.
Shouts erupted everywhere. A man stepped forward.
"Hey, you! Do you know who I am?" A man in his 30s wearing a tank top and shorts shouted at the creature. His arms were covered with dragon tattoos.
"A puny human?" Verismon giggled.
"I'm part of the Two-Headed Dragon, the biggest gang in Vietnam. You think you can mess with me?"
Stop it. You're going to get killed. Before I could open my mouth to intervene, the shouting escalated.
"Yeah, why are you bringing us here?"
"Send us back!"
"Somebody call the police!"
"What are the military even doing"
"As a member of the Two-Headed Dragon, I demand—"
"A dragon? How quaint," Verismon interrupted, eyes gleaming with amusement.
He didn't raise a hand. He didn't even move. The man's voice cut off abruptly, his body stiffening. For a heartbeat, nothing happened—until his limbs twisted unnaturally, as if invisible threads were pulling his bones apart. A sickening snap echoed through the air, and he crumpled like a discarded puppet.
Screams erupted everywhere.
"Now then, everyone... shut up." Verismon's eyes gleamed at the crowd.
More screams followed as some bodies twisted and fell, lifeless piles of flesh and blood.
Jasmine almost screamed, but William quickly covered her mouth.
Everyone fell silent. I could still hear sniffling from nearby.
"Good. Now, back to the topic. Since Stage 0 has concluded, Stage 1 is ready for you. Get ready to survive, humans." Verismon's cold voice rang out.
A small window appeared in front of everyone's eyes.
"Shit, it's happening."
[Commencing Main Stage]
[Stage 1: Test of Survival]
The world has been turned upside down. However, there is still hope for humanity to clear the Stage and get rewards to become stronger. The world is rampaged by the infected.
To survive, you must face the darkness within. Will you turn into what you fear most, or rise above it? Infected life must cease before the hourglass runs out."
Type: Main
Difficulty: F
Clear conditions: Kill one infected being
Time limit: 1 hour
Compensation: 100 coins per life and seven pills of Life for clearing the Stage
Failure: Death
"Mom, I want to go home,"
"Mom is here, sweetie. Everything will be fine,"
Here's a revised version of your scene with a third-person limited perspective while keeping it immersive and intense:
A heavy tension settled over the crowd, thick and suffocating. Panic surged like wildfire. People scattered, clutching their phones, desperate for a lifeline, frantically dialing numbers that no longer worked. The grim realization spread quickly: they were trapped, and there was no escape.
Among the chaos, a man tightened his grip on his daughter's hand. "Everyone, stay calm! Calm down, maybe the military is mobilizing."
A cold, mocking voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Funny you should say that," Verismon sneered, his tone dripping with amusement. "This is happening worldwide. If you think someone's coming to save you, let me show you something."
A massive screen flickered to life above them. The images that followed shattered whatever fragile hope remained—cities in ruin, people fighting, killing, blood soaking the streets. Chaos, pure and unfiltered.
"Can't we just get out of here?" a voice pleaded, hope cracking at the edges.
"Throw yourself into the fire and burn alive if you think that's an escape," Verismon mocked.
And just like that, the thin veil of order was torn apart. Shouts morphed into furious roars. Fists collided with flesh. The once-frightened mass became a writhing, violent mob—every soul a spark in the inferno of despair.
Amid it all, Tilus gripped the journal, his heart pounding. He had known this moment would come, had read it on these very pages, but that didn't make it any easier to witness. He took a sharp breath. There was a way out—if they could keep their heads.
"HEY! William, Jasmine, Leon, Ben! Over here!" His voice cut through the chaos.
His friends rushed over, their faces pale, eyes darting wildly between the surging mob and Tilus.
"What now?" Jasmine demanded, panic laced in her voice.
"We have one hour. We're splitting into two groups. Me, Jasmine, and William. Leon and Ben, you're Group Two."
Leon's eyes widened. "Are you insane? That's suicide!"
"No. The condition for this stage is simple—'kill one infected living being.' It doesn't have to be human. We find insects, small animals. Avoid people at all costs," Tilus said, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him.
Silence. Then, reluctant nods. They scattered.
Tilus's group found an ant nest quickly. The ants were different—larger, their tails glowing an eerie red. He exhaled sharply. No hesitation. His foot came down hard.
[You have killed an ant.] [You are the first to commit a murder. 100 coins have been added as a reward.]
Jasmine and William followed suit, stomping on the infected insects with grim determination. It was a small, hollow victory, but they had passed the stage.
Still, Tilus's mind was elsewhere. His eyes flicked to the horizon. The Turtle Tower stood in the distance. Hanoi. His stomach twisted. He had lost everything back in Ho Chi Minh City. Now, he was stranded in the North, far from home, far from any semblance of control.
A beehive hung low on a broken lamppost nearby, its inhabitants glowing red. Tilus picked up a stone and hurled it. The hive crashed to the ground, landing in a smoldering fire.
[You have killed a large number of infected living beings. Coins are being calculated.]
William shot him a look. "Why?"
Tilus shrugged. "Bees can be dangerous."
Jasmine frowned. "You're surprisingly calm."
He forced a half-smile. "Maybe I'm just used to chaos."
Then, movement.
Tilus's breath caught. A woman shielding an elderly grandmother from an attacker. A scene straight from the journal. His pulse thundered in his ears. Violet.
The Phantom Reaper.
He knew what she would become—feared, ruthless, decisive. But right now, she was vulnerable. Unarmed. Struggling.
"Hold on," Tilus said sharply, catching Jasmine's arm before she could run in.
Violet wasn't weak. But she was outmatched. The man swung at her with feral desperation, his knife slashing inches from her throat.
Tilus's mind raced. If she died here, everything would change. The timeline would break. His plans would collapse before they even began.
He moved.
Charging forward, he slammed his weight into the attacker, sending him stumbling. The knife clattered to the ground. For a split second, Tilus thought it was over.
Then the man straightened. His eyes, wild with fury, locked onto Tilus.
And so Tilus already threw the dice for his gamble "EVERYONE, LISTEN UP!"