When the bell tolled, its sound was heavy, mighty, and ghostly.

As if that was Death’s knell, promises of its damnation being carried by the wind. We waited at the center plaza, an empty wood stage in front of us with golden ropes separating the people from whatever would take place on the stage.

Hildr grabbed my hand with trembling fingers. I held them tight, trying to melt her frozen, scared gaze with the warmest smile I had.

“Hey, you guys can trust me. If you stay close, I will protect you; I need my two informants, after all.”

Some of the fear did lessen from her eyes, yet not enough to make her smile back. Hal was by his sister’s side, focused on that stage. The young boy stared at the empty space with an ominous gaze, as if the boy knew that whatever would happen here would not be good—would not be kind.

For a child to have such a look in their eyes…it made me think these children not only were aware of this kind of situation, but they had lived through it. Lived amid despair, death, and chaos. And that thought made me shiver.

The plaza was like a place removed from a Renaissance fair, with the wood stores surrounding it, the stone floor, and a medieval vibe. This made me question where exactly were we. Was this an extension of Earth? A different planet? A whole new dimension?

What, exactly?

A loud bang startled the crowd, purple smoke coming out of the center of the stage. There were some murmurs and whisperings within the mass, their anticipation and anxiety swelling as the mist took its time to dissipate.

With the passing seconds, whatever appeared on the stage began to take shape within the smoke, its form getting clearer and more defined.

「Huh...can…can you hear me? Is everyone comfortable, from where you are standing?」

There were so many things jarring with that voice. Though it didn’t sound natural in any way, I could not identify any robotic or “fake” sounds. All I knew for a fact was that it did not belong to a human.

「I am the responsible for this area, I-I’m the Squire. Nice to meet you all.」

Finally the being stepped out of the smoke. And I had no idea what that was.

It was a small creature wearing a full-set armor, the metal a pale red. Its face was completely covered by shadows, with only two bright eyes being shown from within the helmet. It had very short legs and arms, almost in a cartoonish way, as if it were a mob from a video game.

Even from the back I could see it well, yet the same could not be said for the twins. And by the way Hildr grasped my hand, I didn’t think they wanted to see it.

「To all the new Selves that are present here, right now, we will now co-commence the Benefactor selection.」

There was a lot of uncertainty and shyness in its voice, the glowing eyes displaying a sad frown on its shadowed, round face.

Sure enough, it didn’t take long for my peers to exploit its lack of authority.

“Stop blabbering about that and tell us where the hell are we!”

“How can we go back? Do you know what happened to my children?!”

“We want to return to our world, you sick psychopaths!”

The small squire started to fidget on the stage, its hands clasped tight together as more and more people raising their voices, going from nasty curses to genuine and desperate questions. Questions I had myself.

「If-if you let me explain, I will get to that part...let me speak, please.」

The voices only got louder, shouts overlapping each other. For a few seconds, I swore the squire would burst into tears and flee the stage.

Yet what happened was worse.

The red metal got darker, the color of blood, a small sword materializing on the squire’s hand. The creature got a bit taller, its armor dragging forth an aura that was menacing and vile.

Something ripped open in his face, sharp teeth giving the shape of a mouth, twisted in a sickening and appalling way as an indigo smoke coming out from between its teeth.

「I’M STILL TALKING, YOU FUCKING MAGGOTS!」

The newly transformed squire pointed the sword toward one of the loudest groups, around twenty men and women clustered together. None of us had any time to react properly as a black beam shot out of the sword, striking the tallest man among them.

For some reason, it was as if I saw the scene in slow motion. During the first seconds nothing happened, yet that man must have known the moment he was hit. I couldn’t see his expression, since all of them had their backs to me, yet it was something about the way he stood there, frozen, with his shoulders slumped and hands shaking. That man knew—

He was already dead.

“Hal, cover her eyes.” I had the time to whisper before it happened. I did not have time to see if the boy complied.

Flames exploded from his body, spreading to the people surrounding him with not only speed but hunger, as if those flames had a conscience of their own and their one purpose was to burn and consume flesh.

The flames grabbed and swallowed people like they had mouths and claws, forcing them to engage in their wicked dance. People immediately tried to run, tried to get as far away from those black and red flames. A good number of them succeeded.

Many didn’t.

When the last flames burned out, only bloodless and black scorch marks were left as proof. Proof that, at some point, there had been a living person standing there.

「SHUT THE FUCK UP!」

It took a few seconds for the screams to turn into weeps and murmurs.

I finally glanced down, Hal’s hand covering his sister’s eyes as the tears ran down her face, her lips trembling alongside her hands and body while the boy stared at the flames with a distant, harsh gaze. When he looked at me, I did not see a child.

I saw a wounded soldier.

「All of you shitty Selves, thinking you are some hot shit only because I was talking nice.」

The squire held the sword above its shoulder, its glowing eyes glaring at the crowd with pure hatred.

「Now you louts are behaving like good boys, isn’t that a treat?! Perhaps I should do it again.」

I tensed up, my legs getting ready to run and jump if I had to. All around me people cowered and whimpered, making the squire's mouth curl in a malicious smile, revealing all its sharp, pointy white teeth, a dark red tongue passing along them as if it wanted to eat us.

「That’s right, this is how maggots should behave! You have no authority here. In here, your worth is less than a vermin’s.」

There was a sound, like something fizzing out. With a pop, the squire's body returned to its previous color and size, the teeth disappearing into the darkness of its face.

It was back with the scared and anxious gaze, hands scratching the back of its helmet with a tremor resonating in its voice.

「We-well, seeing you are all comfortable now, I will start explaining how the selection works. An-any questions any of you may have, I can answer them afterward. You simply have to be p-polite...」

There was a frozen, rotten smile on my face as one of my eyes twitched.

Hah.

Were those guys fucking with us? Were they having fun shitting on our faces to later calls us dirty?

Questions?

They could bet their sorry asses I had questions, lots of them.

After throwing us into these challenges with no proper explanation and then demanding us to behave like trained animals—

As Park Eun-Woo, I felt indebted to whoever or whatever had given me the chance to live this new life. Yet there was no way I would behave like a lapdog.

「The Benefactors are the ones responsible for bringing you all here. Th-they are also the ones organizing this entire event.

During the pre-trial, some of you may have attracted enough interest from one of our Benefactors to mo-motivate Them to offer you a contract, so don’t forget to p-pay your respect later. 」

That piqued my interest.

Justice had helped me during the Trolley challenge, so there was a good chance they would offer me a contract, right?

「Before the Trials officially start, you will have a few minutes to choose your Benefactor. If you don’t receive any offers at this moment, do not feel discouraged. Y-you will all have plenty of opportunities to please our Benefactors and make Them interested in you.」

A new window appeared in front of me, the title ‘1# Benefactor Selection’ glowing briefly.
[New Self Park Eun-Woo, the following Benefactors wish to enter into a contract with you:]

I had to blink a few times, even touch the window to make sure it was working properly. The message clearly said that, however—

My list was completely blank.

Was that another joke?

There was nothing on that list! Was it a system failure or—

The window glitched thrice; the letters mixing, reversing, duplicating until they finally disappeared. At last, new words appeared in the window, the letters in the title corrupted and almost unreadable.

[A Benefactor wishes to offer you a ‘Soul Contract’]

0 - Fool

[Will you accept?]

I furrowed my brows, not sure of what was being proposed. There was a ‘+’ icon on top of ‘Soul Contract’ and when I clicked on it, a new smaller window appeared.

[A Soul Contract is a soul-bound pact between a Benefactor and a Self. By accepting this contract, the new Self will be permitted to: ]
1- Use the Benefactor’s powers and traits as their own.
2- Increase their statuses faster by sharing the Benefactor’s Vis.

[A Self bounded by a Soul Contract is not allowed to: ]
1- Interact with or disrespect other Benefactors through direct means
2- Abandon The Trials
3- Manipulate, plan, set up or terminate Trials
4- Leave the Island’s domain
5- Disclose this contract to other Selves or Benefactors
6- Accept other Benefactors
7- Break the Rules

[A Self is Obliged to: ]
1- Do their very best to advance in the Trials
2- Grant one favor to the Benefactor Fool

[A Soul Bond cannot be revoked.]

I could feel my head hurting as I read it—it was pretty clear who was the Gap and who was the Eul on that contract*. Should I simply decline? I had no idea if that was good or bad.

「You be-better choose soon. Once the time is over, you won’t be able to pick a Benefactor until later Trials.」

I could see the Squire fidgeting, moving from one side to the other at an anxious pace.

I glanced below me, watching as the twins whispered to each other in inaudible murmurs. Hal met my eyes once, something dark crossing his eyes as he turned his attention back to his sister.

Even the kids are serious about this…

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. The power Giorgio used on me back at Jolly Train, as well as the skill I got from Justice… They were good. Too good.

If most people chose a Benefactor, even by possessing one crappy skill, they would already be at an advantage over all the others who had no support or powers apart from the things acquired at the Store, and their statuses.

However, there was a tremendous difference between a Benefactor called ‘Justice’ and one called ‘Fool’.

「You all have fi-fifteen seconds left.」

If the squire wanted the crowd to hear it, it should speak louder than that.

I opened my eyes, letting out a sigh as I passed my fingers through my hair.

What would you choose, Hana…?

I closed the description window and pressed one of the buttons in the selection window. A new phrase popped up.

[Once chosen, you cannot go back on your decision]
[This is a one-time, special offer]
[Are you, new Self Park Eun-Woo, certain of your choice?]

I confirmed with a shaking finger, not sure why I felt so nervous.

[Congratulations!]
[New Self Park Eun-Woo has formed a Soul Contract with Benefactor Fool]
[Starting ‘Transfer Process’]

Whatever I felt at that moment was ineffable.

Even if I knew all words from the world, I do not think it would be enough to describe. The pain I felt, not only was it unbearable, it was all kinds of pain striking me at the same time.

A pain that was freezing, burning, cutting, slashing, plundering, poisoning, stabbing, shooting, piercing, digging, crawling, melting, drying, pushing, revolting, bludgeoning—everything at once.

And that pain, I cannot know how I knew yet I knew for sure, was coming from was my soul.

Something that belonged to every single cell and part of my body and at the same time, it belonged to nothing at all. Something that was part of my mind and heart, yet was nothing like them.

And as I felt that pain spreading and pulsing within me, I sensed a hand tugging and pulling my soul as if to catch its attention. The hand went deeper, and when it finally had a hold on me-

I saw the entire universe expand and implode within my eyes.

Then everything else turned white, and I saw nothing else.