The air suddenly changed.
A strange pressure filled the surroundings.
Stefan stopped.
Nami froze.
Even Andrew looked up slightly.
Then—
A voice appeared.
Not outside.
Inside their minds.
Cold.
Clear.
Absolute.
> [SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
All of them stood still.
Listening.
> [GAME RULES INITIALIZED]
Nami whispered—
Nami: "…It started."
Stefan stayed silent.
Focused.
Then the messages began.
---
> [RULE 1]
KILLING HUMANS OR TAMING BEASTS WILL INCREASE YOUR LEVEL
Andrew smirked slightly.
Andrew: "So it's a survival ranking system."
Stefan clenched his fist.
More killing.
More power.
---
> [RULE 2]
FAILURE TO COMPLETE A SYSTEM ORDER WILL RESULT IN INSTANT DEATH
Silence.
Heavy.
Nami's expression changed.
Nami: "…So we don't get a choice."
Andrew nodded slowly.
Andrew: "No disobedience allowed."
---
> [RULE 3]
GAME START TIME UPDATED: 1 MONTH
TIP: BECOME STRONG TO SURVIVE
Stefan's eyes narrowed.
Stefan: "…It was three months."
Andrew looked serious now.
Andrew: "They moved it forward."
Nami's grip tightened.
Nami: "Then we don't have time."
---
> [RULE 4]
MOST USERS CAN TAME BEASTS AND USE THEIR POWER
A FEW USERS HAVE UNIQUE ABILITIES
Silence.
Stefan understood immediately.
His mind sharpened.
Stefan (thinking): So I'm not the only one…
That changed everything.
Danger just increased.
---
> [RULE 5]
ANY USER CAN CHALLENGE ANOTHER USER
THE TARGET MUST ACCEPT OR FOLLOW THE CHALLENGER'S CONDITIONS
THE TARGET CAN EXIT BY ISSUING A COUNTER-CHALLENGE
Nami frowned.
Nami: "That's… dangerous."
Andrew nodded.
Andrew: "That's control through force."
Stefan stayed calm.
Thinking.
This rule could be used.
---
> [RULE 6]
IF A USER ACCEPTS DEFEAT AND AGREES TO CONDITIONS, KILLING THEM IS PROHIBITED
Silence.
A strange balance.
Cruel…
But controlled.
Nami spoke softly—
Nami: "…So there are limits."
Andrew shook his head slightly.
Andrew: "Not limits… rules for entertainment."
That line stayed.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
---
The voice faded.
> [END OF ANNOUNCEMENT]
Silence returned.
But everything had changed.
Stefan looked ahead.
The world wasn't just dangerous now—
It was structured.
Controlled.
Designed.
Stefan: "…This isn't survival anymore."
Nami looked at him.
Nami: "Then what is it?"
Stefan answered calmly.
Cold.
Clear.
Stefan: "…It's a game."
Andrew smiled slightly.
Not happy.
Not relaxed.
Just… understanding.
Andrew: "And we're already playing."
The wind moved again.
But now—
It didn't feel natural.
Because somewhere—
Something was watching.
Waiting.
For them to move.