{T/N: A new fic related to this one is out... Check 'Anime Apocalypse' on my Profile}
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[First, let me tell you all that this is a dimension under my control. You can think of your current situation as a form of time travel, or perhaps a spatial displacement, or even both... Compared to your previously boring lives, this place might just fulfill the desires in your hearts.]
At this moment, upon hearing the Supreme Deity's words, everyone present wore expressions of disbelief.
Unlike Haruya, who had been 'chosen', these people were likely here because they had clicked ‹YES›, right?
What surprised Haruya was that he had originally thought he would be acting alone, but now there were so many people here.
Before anyone could raise a question or even have the chance to saying anything, the Supreme Deity continued speaking from above.
[Do you want to experience a life you've never lived before? Now is your chance to experience it, and at the same time, it's your chance to survive in this world.]
This statement made everyone tense up.
The chance to 'survive'... the implication was that if this chance slipped away or was lost, it would mean 'losing the chance to survive', and the consequences were obvious...
[Alright, let me explain in a more humanized way. The world you're about to face will be one filled with danger. Running away is your only option, but I know that as humans, your hearts are kind. Of course, the standard of kindness varies from person to person. Killing one person to save a hundred, such a situation falls somewhere in between. Without a doubt, the previous question was a Schrödinger's problem. Ah, let's get back on topic...]
The Supreme Deity's monologue wasn't over yet. As 'He' spoke, Lingchuan who was standing next to Haruya suddenly interrupted.
"Rather than your meaningless ramblings, I'd prefer if you got straight to the point. My life has already been disrupted by you. Do you know about chaos theory? In an orderly life, even the smallest changes can lead to vastly different outcomes."
[Sigh... You're aware that someone interrupted me prior, and witnessed their subsequent punishment... but you quite interesting... So, shut up.]
The Supreme Deity's tone sounded a bit displeased.
Lingchuan, who wanted to say more, was stopped by Lianyue beside him.
Haruya also clapped his hands and walked over to Lingchuan, "It's better not to talk back right now."
"I know he has god-like powers, but this is a matter of principle." Lingchuan coldly replied to Haruya, letting Lianyue go before continuing to play his game.
[The rules are simple and can be understood by anyone. Of course, you can also choose to give up on the game, but you should know the consequences, right?]
It wasn't so much a threat as it was an absolute refusal to let anyone decline…
[Rule 1: In the game, you cannot abandon someone when you have the ability to help them, thereby indirectly causing harm to others... Rule 2: Those who break the rules will be punished with brain shattering... Rule 3: Fun is the most important thing... As long as you complete the assigned tasks, you can survive.]
Haruya didn't quite understand what the Supreme Deity meant by these words.
Indirectly harming others? Must follow the rules? Does this mean the tasks aren't just about completing what the Supreme Deity assigns?
Unlike what he had imagined, this was likely the Supreme Deity's 'new experiment', which was why these strange rules were added.
There were only two actual rules, and while Haruya didn't fully understand their meaning, he could still follow them.
However, these rules seemed changed the initial goal of the Supreme Deity's 'game', where one would do anything to survive.
From this, it was clear that if everyone wanted to survive, they would have to learn to cooperate.
"I have a question. Rule 1, what exactly does it mean?"
The one who asked this was a short, bespectacled boy with a pale complexion, standing in a corner.
Hearing this question, the Supreme Deity's light dimmed slightly, as if joking.
[I won't tell you.]
Then...
[This is your game. If you want to survive, figure out the meaning for yourselves. Let me see the interesting side of you humans.]
Following this, the Supreme Deity announced that there would be three minutes of preparation time before the game began.
"Although this sentiment might be a bit rushed, please take care of me from now on."
Haruya extended his hand to Lingchuan, but the latter coldly refused.
"I'm not wearing gloves. I don't want to shake your hand."
"Still sticking to your germaphobia at a time like this?"
"I absolutely have to... It's a matter of principle. Matters of principle have nothing to do with the current situation. Even if the world were to end in the next second, it would be the same."
Lingchuan turned his body slightly, continuing to play his game as he spoke, "Of course, I don't dislike cooperating with others. It's also a chance to understand the gap between others and myself."
"I, I, I…" While Lingchuan was speaking, Lianyue reached out and grabbed Haruya's hand.
Her hand was cold and trembling, clearly still unable to accept the current situation and feeling anxious about the future.
At this moment, just as Haruya had imagined, with so many people gathered in an unknown and dangerous situation, arguments broke out.
"Hey! You just looked at me with disdain, didn't you?!"
"No, I didn't."
"You did! You bastard!"
A well-dressed man who seemed drunk grabbed the collar of a skinny man, and a fight was about to break out. It was clear that the latter would lose.
Before everyone could find partners to rely on, a countdown appeared above.
[10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Begin!]
In the next moment, the ground beneath their feet shattered.
The surroundings changed in an instant, and as the afterimage effect faded, the square was replaced by streets, stone buildings, smoke, and blood.
Screams, crashes, and rumbling sounds filled the air. Massive boulders fell from the sky.
The sunlight was blocked by the black smoke above, and a map and a task prompt appeared in Haruya's mind.
[Task 1: Reach Point A]
On the map in his mind, a red dot marked Point A appeared.
"It's begun… this world, a crazy and cruel world…"
Behind him, a colossal Titan blocked out all the sunlight.
"W-what is that?!!!"
Many people let out screams of terror.
*Boom!*
A Titan's foot stomped on the ground, sending rocks flying and drawing everyone's attention.
The Titan grinned, bent down slightly, and then grabbed the drunk man who had been picking a fight, biting down…
*Crunch!*
Blood splattered, flesh torn apart.
From the initial thirty-one, now thirty remained...
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{T/N: I wonder if anyone caught the little reference I threw in somewhere in this chapter...}