Quickly, Alissa stands up, already with her bow and quiver on her back, and rushes after Foster.
I don't waste time and follow them.
As soon as we step out, we spot a group of at least ten humans of different species. Most seem to be from my kind — I see several beast-men.
"At last, we've found the False Paradise…" says an old man, ironic and sarcastic, but with a firm, muscular body, holding a sickle in his left hand. "I thought you'd already had enough fun here, twin brothers, Alissa and Foster!"
"You can't just show up and take over this place. After all, we got here first, and you're the ones who refused to join us before, Alex!" Alissa replies firmly.
"What idiots you are!" he continues with contempt. "In this death game, do you really think we'd team up with two rookies who don't even know how things work? If you knew your weapons mark the gateways, the story would be different!"
"Because of you, over 50% of us have died facing different zones!"
"You bastard!" Foster growls, pointing his sword at Alex.
But Alissa holds him back, worried.
"Calm down, brother. We're few against ten of them."
Foster mutters irritably. She is serious, tense. Their number is greater, and the threat is real.
I noticed her sharp gaze fixed on the intruders. For a moment, her eyes glowed light green when they met mine.
Curious, I wondered if I might have something like that too. I decided to try.
I focused my eyes, releasing a blue energy, almost invisible to anyone not looking straight at me up close.
I could see their inner power: a pulsating white light vibrating at different intensities.
It was the strength level of each one, so to speak. I compared it with Foster and Alissa. The leader, Alex, was the only one stronger than them—but still far from matching me.
An enigmatic smile formed on my face.
Noticing my boldness, Alex sneered.
"Looks like you've got a pretty interesting prisoner friend!" Alex commented, then laughed and added, "You really think smiling with that face of yours will make us stop? Haha!"
All his followers laughed, joining in the joke.
At that moment, Alissa and Foster are surprised. I step forward in front of them.
Foster tries to stop me, but Alissa interrupts him, so I stop, right before them.
Honestly, I have no clue how I ended up here or what's happening around me, but one thing I know: I won't live lamenting and blaming myself like before.
Fuck it all—after all, no matter where you are, the law is always the same: survival of the strongest!
"Interesting, laughing as if you don't know the disadvantage you're in right now!"
From this moment on, I will survive and be the strongest at any cost!
That enigmatic smile grew on my face again.
Noticing my daring, Alex throws me a look of disdain.
"Looks like you've got a pretty interesting prisoner friend!" he says, laughing mockingly. "You think that smile will make us stop? Haha!"
The laughter of his followers echoes around, a wave of scorn and confidence.
Alissa and Foster exchange surprised glances, and I advance without hesitation, passing by them.
Foster tries to stop me again, but Alissa interrupts with a firm gesture.
I stand there, right in front of them.
I have no idea how I got to this point, nor fully understand what's happening around me. But one thing I know: I'm tired of lamenting, of blaming myself.
Fuck it all!
Here or anywhere else, the law is always the same: survival of the strongest.
"Interesting," I say firmly, "laughing like this when you don't even know the disadvantage you're in."
And from now on, whatever comes, I will survive. And I will be the strongest, no matter the cost.
Suddenly, my body bursts into swarms of ravens—the ten are shocked, including Alex.
Some beast-men can't believe what they see.
"A prisoner like us, on this board? From the Bestial Foundation kingdom?!" one of them asks, incredulous.
"Can't be! Since when does someone from our species reach such power? He's already one with his animal!"
But my black wings don't stop.
In synchronized movements, my ravens tear through the air and enemy bodies with insane speed—razor-sharp blades cutting flesh and bone before they can react.
"Incredible speed!" Alex exclaims, retreating and blocking blows with his fists and sickle, but some hits land, breaking through his defense. "Surely, his cultivation is greater than mine… that's why I couldn't measure his mana flow!"
His companions beside him are practically inert, unable to resist.
I approach, hovering over them like an angel of death.
I pick up a sword from the ground—one of theirs—and stare at Alex, who now trembles, begging:
"Please, forgive me! I didn't know you were so strong! Please, forgive me!"
I raise my sword calmly.
I could easily spare his life. But this world always oppresses those who hold to principles, like I did in my past life… or maybe even this one. I don't know anymore.
I won't be the same.
I prepare a precise, lethal strike, but Alissa's voice stops me before the blade falls.
"LL, please, stop!"
I freeze. Foster is in shock, watching everything.
I look at Alissa and ask:
"He's not your enemy?"
She answers firmly, though confused.
"Yes, he is… but he's also a condemned like us in this hell. I believe that if he's loyal, he can help us get out of here. After all, he's been here longer."
It makes sense, but I don't want to regret trusting someone with bad intentions. I want to understand this puzzle I got myself into. I don't want to feel the pain and despair of dying again.
So, I lower my sword.
Alex falls to the ground, gasping, and looks at Alissa with a mix of gratitude and respect, as if she were the only salvation in that hell.