The men's questioning did not merely echo within the virtual space—it pierced through the screens, striking directly at the hearts of everyone in the real world.
The countdown began.
"60 — 59 — 58 —"
The red and green orbs on the screen pulsed violently, like a heart on the verge of exploding.
"Quick! Pick green! Green means you pass!"
Inside the virtual space, a wealthy man who had completely lost his sanity to fear charged toward the green light like a madman.
He didn't read the prompt.
He relied only on the "visual instincts" he had honed through years in the business world.
He truly believed—this was a loophole left by the divine, a hidden path meant for the "clever."
"No! Don't pick green! Read the words! READ THEM!"
The young programmer roared, his voice tearing apart from desperation.
But it was too late.
The lawyer's lips twitched slightly, as if he had already seen the ending.
The instant the man's fingertip touched the green light—
The green flames around him erupted.
They were no longer flames, but living parasites—burrowing through his fingernails, crawling beneath his skin, writhing wildly.
Wherever they passed, hardened, grotesque scales burst outward—layer by layer, like those of a pangolin.
Blood. Pus. The stench of burning flesh.
In one shrill scream, the transformation tore him completely out of the category of "human."
"AHHH—!"
—Why?
He didn't understand.
Those nearby could feel the searing heat radiating from him, but no one dared approach. They scattered instantly.
With the horror of his fate, the remaining thousands finally broke.
They stared at the red orb—the one that clearly represented the "correct answer"—yet instinctively recoiled from its blood-like color.
The lawyer sneered.
"Idiot."
The young programmer glanced at him instinctively—
and froze.
In the lawyer's eyes, red and green had already merged into something deep… something incomprehensible.
His heart pounded uncontrollably.
—
In the real world, billions watched.
From the expressions and reactions of those inside the virtual space, it was obvious—the rich man's fate was far from merciful.
—[He… he mutated?!]
—[What an idiot! Anyone could answer this question!!]
—[He still got it wrong??? Is he blind?!]
—[Well… no one will mess it up now, right?]
Everyone knew the answer.
But they also knew—
they could not choose it with a clear conscience.
Hands—some wreathed in red flames, others in green—reached toward the red orb…
Yet none dared to press forward.
—[The answer is right there—why won't they click it?]
—[Because admitting "they're not wrong" means admitting "we are guilty." That's harder than death.]
To them, the red light was like a pool of boiling beast blood.
Each step closer was a direct assault on the last remnants of their pride as a "superior civilization."
Their hands trembled, suspended before the red light.
Those who once saw themselves as creators…
now faced surrender at the deepest level of their souls.
—
The lawyer watched silently.
In his hollow eyes, red and green twisted into a grotesque vortex.
He was no longer a participant.
He was observing.
Like a man watching animals before slaughter.
He understood them all.
Human rights above all.
Reluctance to submit.
Refusal to yield.
But humans—
Were creatures that pursued advantage and avoided harm.
All bustle in the world is for profit.
All chaos in the world is for gain.
That—
Was humanity.
Only this time—
The scale itself had been shattered by a god.
Time did not stop.
Life did not pause.
"30 — 29 — 28 —"
The countdown continued.
But now—
Everyone had made their decision.
Their hands slammed forward—
All at once—
Onto the red light.
In an instant, the red glow erupted like molten lava, engulfing every one of the once-proud elites.
Above each of their heads appeared a silent symbol—
A massive "X."
Seeing this, "New Su Qiang" and "New Mad Dog" let out a cold scoff in unison.
"So… you can choose after all?"
Their laughter was filled with mockery.
They mocked humanity's hypocrisy.
Mocked their contradiction.
Mocked the fact that—
They had always known what was "right."
They just preferred, until the blade reached their throat—
To let others kill, to sit above it all, and to taste the profits… still dripping with blood.
—
The final second passed.
Before anyone could breathe—
A heavy metallic clanging shattered the silence.
"—CLANG!"
Then—
A voice.
Calm. Certain.
"Your answer… is correct."
"But you… never intended to be correct."
"What you chose… was never the answer."
"It was survival."
The one who spoke—
Was the lawyer.
No one expected it.
Not even the young programmer who had been watching him.
—
Judgment activated.
Those who bore two "X" marks—
Their red flames twisted into rusted iron chains, snapping around their wrists, extending down into heavy shackles at their ankles.
Those who bore one "O" and one "X"—
The opportunists, the hesitators—
Their symbols warped, forming cold green collars around their necks.
From the back of each collar extended an impossibly long chain—vanishing into the void.
As if held… by a god.
—
"What is this?! Didn't we choose correctly?!"
"Let me go! What is this thing?!"
Screams erupted.
But this place—
Was not one that listened.
—
Those wearing collars—including the already "dehumanized" tycoon—were violently expelled back into reality.
Those bound in chains—
Collapsed.
Falling into deep unconsciousness.
Their bodies dissipated into mist… fading from existence.
—
The lawyer—
The only one bearing the fused symbol—
Gave a slight nod toward "New Su Qiang" and "New Mad Dog."
Like the last steward of an old era—
Passing on the authority.
He turned, stepping into the rippling void.
Before disappearing, his voice resonated globally—
"God has already given you a chance."
"From this moment on—humanity loses its right to 'interpret' nature."
—
The space dissolved.
Only the two executioners remained, standing in the silent red glow.
—
In the real world—
Billions witnessed everything.
Confusion. Fear. Collapse.
Emotions spread like wildfire.
The president of the Three-Blue Lion Nation shot to his feet.
"What is going on?! Where is Lawyer Hans?! WHERE DID HE GO?!"
No one answered.
—
At last—
The red clouds that had loomed for days broke apart.
A torrential rain poured down.
It could not wash away sin—
But it nourished something long withered:
Conscience.
—
Those who had been immobilized by the dream trial—
Awoke.
And almost every single one of them—
Did the same thing.
They reached—instinctively—for their necks.
There was nothing.
But when they looked into mirrors…
or their phone screens…
or reflections in water—
They broke.
A glowing green collar mark—
Like a tattoo—
Burned clearly into their skin.
Though the chain was invisible—
They could feel it.
Every movement—
Pulled.
—
They understood.
From this moment on—
They no longer had freedom.
No longer had ownership over their own lives.
They no longer qualified—
To call themselves human.
They had become—
Livestock.
Raised by a god… within the ruins of civilization.
—
And then—
The collars lit up.
The green glow shifted—
No longer just a mark—
But something activating.
—
In an instant—
All marked individuals froze.
Their pupils unfocused.
Their souls—
Paused.
—
Then—
Information flooded in.
No sound.
No image.
Yet undeniable.
Like commands.
Like rules.
Like something—
Written directly into their souls.
—
Their bodies trembled.
Fingers tightened uncontrollably.
Some opened their mouths—unable to speak.
Some tried to resist—unable to even form the thought.
They could only—
Accept.
Completely.
Passively.
—
Loaded.