Stark sat on the museum steps, eyes locked on the crimson sky, which had grown darker since the timer appeared.
The clock counted down, second by second, showing just under an hour left.
Whatever the [Grand Initiation] was, it loomed closer with every tick.
Around Termina, the remaining participants waited, each feeling the weight of the impending event.
Stark thought back to the ominous announcement: “This will change the entire world.”
The words gnawed at his mind, a sense of dread settling in his chest.
Yet even as Stark’s nerves frayed, he knew he couldn’t afford to lose focus.
He was one of the few domination users left, and this [Grand Initiation] would likely push them all to their limits.
After all, even in the real world, what actually was the number of domination users who survived until the third trial?
Maybe less than 1%.
…
Elsewhere, in a dark alley across the city, CEO paced, eyes darting between the timer in the sky and the buildings around him.
For once, even he seemed to understand that this event was bigger than any scheme he’d devised.
“So, the halfway point… if they’re revealing this to the world, then everything we’ve done here… it’s going to mean something outside, too.” He clenched his fists, determination flashing in his eyes.
“Just you wait, all of you,” he muttered to himself. “I’ll survive this, and then I’ll become the richest man alive…”
…
Meanwhile, Clever, an old yet sharp-eyed participant, observed the sky from the shadows at a quiet corner of Termina.
His calm demeanor hid a mind constantly analyzing every detail.
The moons had hinted at something big coming, and he knew that the battle ahead would be unforgiving.
“Let’s see if you young ones are ready for what’s coming…” Clever murmured, leaning back against the wall.
…
The timer dropped to 30 minutes.
Stark shifted his focus to the door of the museum, where Sora and Lilith lay resting in the museum’s safe zone.
He knew he had to plan not only for himself but for the two of them as well.
That is if they didn’t wake up.
It would be bad if they didn’t, though.
But after getting hit by Hugo’s attacks, it was normal anybody would feel down.
With only ten minutes left on the timer, a low, ominous hum vibrated through the sky.
Stark and the others all froze, sensing that something massive was about to happen.
And then…
BOOM!
A deafening crack split the air as a colossal rift opened above the [Hollow Tower].
It looked like the sky itself was tearing apart, revealing swirling blackness beyond.
The three crimson moons reappeared, larger and more terrifying than before.
Their voices echoed across the city, chilling every participant to the bone.
“Welcome… to the end.”
The words resounded within their minds.
Stark gritted his teeth, looking up at the moons, his fists clenched. He could feel it—this was just the beginning.
As the timer reached its final seconds, a new message appeared in bright red text across the sky:
[The Grand Initiation has begun.]
1:00…
0:59…
0:58…
The countdown continued, but as it did, a series of panels appeared in the air.
[Since the beginning of it all, the “Domination” class was always the secret one.]
[No one except a select few and those that have it know of its existence.]
[But it is time for it to change.]
“Huh?”
“What?”
[The Grand Initiation of the world to the Domination class will begin once the timer hits zero.]
[You will all be participants of this game, watched by the entire world.]
[Are you ready?]
[The descent of the Godless Demon is happening soon.]
“Mhm,” Clever nodded, smirking.
“???” CEO raised his eyebrows, confused. “What?”
“Descent of the Godless Demon?” Artist climbed out of his makeshift bed, startled.
And finally…
“YES! YES! THE WORLD SHALL WATCH AS WE KILL ALL OF THEM!” Follower was on his knees, crying tears of joy. “THE WORLD WILL FALL!”
10…
9…
8…
Stark watched as the timer neared its end, a deep sense of foreboding settling over him.
He didn’t know exactly what was coming, but he knew he had to be prepared.
7…
6…
5…
Reveal the Domination class to the whole world? How? And why?
Why were they suddenly players in a game? Weren’t they already in a deadly trial?
Or maybe it was another one of those massive events that could kill them all?
4…
3…
2…
1…
And when would the [Godless Demon] descend?
Stark braced himself.
0!
FWISH… BOOM!
The entire trial seemed to explode upon itself.
And every participant suddenly felt a piercing headache, even Follower and Stark.
“What the…?” Stark clutched his head, trying to resist the pain, his vision flooded by shadows and images he knew weren’t real.
[Welcome.]
[To the Grand Initiation.]
[Your fates are now sealed.]
Inside the museum, Sora and Lilith woke up, both clutching their heads in agony.
They’d each had a nightmare—a vision of a massive demon, its voice urging them to wake up and not miss the [Grand Initiation].
Sweat dripped from their foreheads, fear gnawing at them.
For Sora, this fear was even greater than any she’d felt before, it was more than the one she had against the warden of the second trial.
“Did you… see that too?” Sora asked Lilith, her voice trembling.
“…Yeah.” Lilith nodded, eyes wide.
“Can’t be a coincidence. Let’s go outside.”
Stark’s ultimate clone, who had been guarding them, noticed they were awake and gestured for them to follow it toward Stark.
They made their way through the museum’s wrecked halls, stopping at the entrance where Stark stood, looking up at the sky.
The pain in their heads dulled, but as they lifted their gaze, they saw something they could never have imagined.
In the sky, the figure of a colossal demon materialized, its two crimson eyes locking onto them.
Its overwhelming aura filled the air, making them all feel weak.
A single second of inattention would result in them being knocked out again.
[Domination users.]
“…”
“…”
“…”
[The entire world is watching you now.]
[Do whatever you feel is right.]
With those simple words, the creature faded away.
But in that brief glance, it seemed as if it had directed its disgust of the human race particularly toward Stark, as if his mere presence was offensive.
“What did it mean by ‘the whole world is watching us’?” Lilith asked, still shaken as she looked up at the sky.
Silence.
Stark didn’t respond, his gaze fixed above.
“Hello?” The two girls approached him, trying to catch his attention. “HOLY—!”
They flinched, recoiling from the intense hatred radiating from Stark’s aura.
His body seemed cloaked in a crimson energy, his white pupils shaking with fury.
“It meant it literally,” he finally spoke, his voice a low growl. “The whole world’s watching us. The Domination secret is out.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
Across the city, every other participant was coming to the same realization.
This trial was but a game to the apostles and godless demon.
That is why they organized this whole [Corpse Festival] thing: they enjoyed seeing those that could defeat them kill one another.
Stark didn’t know who was making these trials, but it seemed that they were now cooperating with the godless demon.
[Every trial needs to be fair.]
That is what Stark remembered, and the probable reason why they weren’t just instantly killed.
There were rules to follow, and now, this twisted game of death would be watched by everyone.
