Max (or Rin Poo, as the game called him) stood, his head spinning as the weight of the new reality hit him. The world around him was dazzling in its complexity, the air thick with the uncertainty of what was to come.
K's throne, perched high above the rest of them, was the only steady thing in sight. The host's smile stretched wide, fan fluttering in his hand as if nothing had changed.
"Players, attention." K's voice echoed, commanding the space with an ease that felt almost too natural. "I, K, your host, am here to inform you of a few... extra rules before round two begins." He grinned, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Listen closely..."
Max—Rin—tried to keep his focus as K's voice continued.
"When round two starts, you may form teams of up to five players. You will no longer be summoned in assembly like this. Instead, you will each pursue your task and live as your assigned persona demands." He paused, letting that sink in. "It won't be like round one. The tasks will be more... demanding."
Rin exchanged a glance with a few other players around him, wondering who would be his teammate. This wasn't going to be a solo game anymore. K wasn't done.
"Oh, and players, you can sell your items via the system board, or store them—whatever you want. It's your choice." K paused, then leaned forward slightly. "And if you decide to form a family and live out your life here, well, the system will allow it. Reach a stable status with an NPC or another player, and you're free to leave this game... forever. But..." K's eyes glinted, his voice dropping a shade darker, "you won't be returning to your original world."
Max felt his stomach drop. He couldn't decide if that was a promise or a trap.
"One last thing..." K waved his fan lazily. "You are not allowed to tell anyone your real name, but everything else is fair game. Have fun... and goodbye."
The air shifted as K vanished, his final words hanging in the air like a dark cloud.
Max stood frozen, processing everything. The players around him were already starting to move, whispering to each other, forming groups. He barely registered it as the clip in his hand flickered.
Golden White Lily Clip—100 coins and 2 diamonds.
He stared at it for a long moment. The price was steep for a small trinket.
He quickly checked the Coins exchange Shopfor more. Prices were absurdly high, way more than he could afford at this point. And such clip only was giving 100?!
A small doubt occurred in his mind, "Was the princess poor?" Tom shakes his head in denial-no way such a beauty wears fake gold or not good value ornaments.
He frowned. This system feels a little rigged... he thought. It was designed for some to win big, but it looked like others might get trapped by the odds.
The items in the Diamonds Section was slightly more reasonable, but not much. How was he supposed to gather that many diamonds with the meager amount of tasks he'd completed?
"I could probably talk a vendor down to 500 coins for this." He muttered, annoyed. He wasn't interested in playing by the system's rules. He'd bargain his way through this place if he had to.
System Help Hint: You can store unlimited items in the ring on your left index finger.
Max glanced down at the simple ring on his finger. A faint light flickered at the top. Without thinking, he tapped it. The ring responded, opening a small, glowing space. The Lily clip dissolved as he placed it inside.
"Space-friendly," he muttered, slightly impressed. But even this small convenience didn't lift the weight of his frustration. He wasn't sure whether this was a blessing or another twist in the game's never-ending series of rules.
The other players around him were already making decisions, sizing each other up. Teams were forming, alliances were being made. But there was one player who caught Max's attention. A man, tall and imposing, with a brown beard and scarred face, wearing a torn but aesthetic cloak. His hands held a strange weapon, its weight clear from the way he gripped it.
Max's gaze lingered. A name appeared above the man's head as he tapped on the icon.
Name: X Plus
Sex: M
Species: Human (with unnatural strength)
Ability: Dragon Claws + Super Strength
Rank: 1st in completing Task the fastest
Round 1 Task Assigned: Kill the dragon and bring its head.
Max swallowed. That was... unsettling. X Plus wasn't just any player. He had the strength of a beast, and the task he'd just completed made him one of the top contenders. His aura was dangerous.
The countdown on the screen blinked to life, snapping Max back to the present.
"60% of players are ready. Round starts in 10 seconds." The voice was neutral, but the tension in the air was palpable. Every player around him was getting ready for the next round.
"10... 9... 8... 7... 6..." The countdown continued, but Max's focus narrowed. He glanced around, noting a few other players' nervous glances. Some were brimming with confidence; others looked like they might freeze at any moment.
"5... 4... 3... 2... 1..." The final second felt like an eternity.
"0."
The world around him shifted again, and everything was about to change.