The eerie silence that followed the gods' mocking announcement was suffocating. The golden runes in the sky pulsed ominously, their divine energy pressing down on everyone's shoulders like an invisible mountain. The entire battlefield was filled with an indescribable tension as countless warriors clenched their fists, their bodies trembling—not in fear, but in sheer rage.
Su Chen's sharp gaze swept across the sky. "A game, huh?" His voice was cold, carrying an edge that made even those beside him shiver. "They see us as nothing more than entertainment."
The golden runes shimmered again, and another message descended from the heavens.
"Let us set the rules of this game. You, the mortals, shall struggle to survive. Every trial you pass, you will be rewarded. Every failure... well, it will be entertaining for us."
A deep, resonating chuckle echoed across the skies. The gods weren't even trying to hide their amusement.
Then, in an instant, the world itself seemed to shift. The ground beneath their feet trembled violently, cracks forming as if reality itself was being rewritten. Blinding light filled the air, and one by one, the warriors around Su Chen began to vanish.
"No!" Wang Jun shouted as he reached out, but his hand grasped at nothing.
Su Chen felt an immense force pulling at him. He tried to resist, but this wasn't a mere teleportation spell—this was divine interference.
The world went dark.
---
When Su Chen opened his eyes, he found himself in an entirely different place. The sky was blood-red, filled with swirling storm clouds, and the land beneath his feet was barren, covered in cracked stone and dying embers. The air was thick with the scent of iron and something far more sinister.
A voice echoed in his mind.
"Trial One: Survive."
Before Su Chen could react, the ground exploded.
A monstrous figure rose from the cracks—a towering creature of shadows and flame, its body wrapped in writhing chains inscribed with divine symbols. Its eyes burned like molten gold, locking onto him with a hunger that made it clear—this was no ordinary enemy.
"A Tier 11 creature... No, it's more than that." Su Chen's breath hitched as he analyzed the being before him.
The gods weren't playing fair.
A voice—deep and cruel—filled the air.
"Show us what you can do, mortal. If you survive, we'll make things... more interesting."
Su Chen narrowed his eyes.
"Fine. Let's play your game."
He raised his hand, and a violent storm of mana erupted around him.
The battle had begun.
Will Su Chen survive the first trial, or have the gods already stacked the game against him?