The eleven players stood before the Sovereign, each path stretching into thick, living grass mazes.
Catastrophe warned, "They come from different times. Do not ask about controlling time—it is only available at selection and critical moments. Focus on the competition."
The Catastrophe Sovereign declared, "Welcome, my eleven players. One of you will become the Catastrophic Hero, marry me, and rule this realm."
The players muttered among themselves:
- One boasted, "My mission never gave me a wife. I'll grab this chance."
- Another sneered, "Players with women always die. Look at that guy with nine wives."
The Sovereign silenced them. "Ten rounds. Each round eliminates one player. In the end, only one remains. You may use any means except injuring or killing others. Pain will be restored, but only I can kill."
Blue added, "The most important thing is the Painkiller Bracelet."
The Cunning Witch handed it to Dransart. "Take it. Return it when the game ends."
Protogonaist and Nobel argued, "That item should be mine!" Their rivalry deepened.
The Sovereign explained, "Your normal skills are disabled. Only catastrophic skills remain. Strategy is your weapon. Begin."
Acts of the Maze Trial
- First Act: Terbol unleashed his skill, flattening the grass maze.
- Second Act: Palate devoured the tough grasses, carving a path to the goal.
- Third Act: Blue slipped through the maze unaided, reaching the end.
- Fourth Act: Riden passed like a ghost, untouched by obstacles.
- Fifth Act: Dew lifted his hand, crushing grasses with sheer aura. Fear spread among the players.
- Sixth Act: Protogonaist and Light entered together. The Sovereign explained, "Light praised Protogonaist as the true protagonist. He begged to join him." They found a floating map and reached the goal.
- Seventh Act: Shanmu's path flattened beneath her steps, allowing her to pass.
- Eighth Act: Vazor sliced grasses instantly with a crafted Swiss blade.
Ninth Act – Dransart's Trial
Dransart entered his maze. Unlike the others, his Last-Minute Luck skill was disabled—the realm itself healed him, preventing its activation. He was cornered, the grasses tightening around him, thicker and stronger than those faced by the others.
The Sovereign's eyes gleamed. This is the true test. Without luck, will the Advanced Emperor endure?
Dransart clenched his fists. I cannot rely on chance. I must rely on catastrophe itself.
Thus, the ninth act begins.
Dransart faces the maze without his greatest skill, forced to prove his worth through raw catastrophic power. The other players watch, knowing one will fall, and the path to becoming Catastrophic Hero grows ever narrower.