The notification of the first scenario appeared before all the survivors scattered throughout New York's underground network.
And with it came the tense silence of those who understood that the tutorial was over.
Liam calmly read the scenario information.
'It hasn't changed.'
Due to the recent anomalies he had been experiencing, he thought he would also see some changes in the main scenarios.
However, they were the same as all his regressions.
At least for now.
He wasn't sure if the next ones would be too.
But that wasn't the immediate problem.
"Hmm... where were we, huh? Yeah, like I was saying... I didn't want to kill them; I just wanted to go to the bathroom."
"..."
Liam's former partner stared at him for a moment, but kept the same calm smile.
"But those two men were our guardians against the monsters attacking the station."
[The exclusive skill Instigator, Lvl. 3 has been activated]
The man glanced at the survivors surrounding them.
One by one, they began to rise.
"It's true! They were the ones who kept us safe!"
"How are we supposed to defend ourselves against those monsters now?!"
"Damn you! I wish you had died with them!"
"Bastard..."
The voices overlapped, filled with fear, anger, and a desperate need to point the finger at someone.
Liam watched them silently.
He saw how fear turned into hatred.
It was easier to blame one person than to accept reality.
'Should I kill them all?'
The thought crossed his mind, but it would be helpful in this scenario.
Besides, he knew that monsters couldn't enter this station.
Which means that his former partner, Kael, was responsible for the monsters entering the station.
[The constellation "Hell Dragon" wags its tail, with an evil smile.]
[The constellation "Maid of Orleans" does not like Kael.]
Kael waited for Liam's reaction; if Liam killed some of them, he could use it to his own advantage.
But what happened next was different from what he expected.
"As I said from the beginning, I just want to use the bathroom."
"... Eh?"
Kael's smile froze; he hadn't expected this response.
"Why the surprised look? I said from the beginning: I killed them because they wouldn't let me go to the bathroom."
Liam draws the sword from his waist.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
Everyone takes a step back when they sense Liam's murderous aura.
"..."
Kael grits his teeth in frustration, but there's nothing he can do, and he clicks his lips.
"Well, if that's the case, you can use the bathroom without any problems."
He gestures for him to go to the bathroom.
Liam calmly walks past him, feeling the survivors' murderous stares.
...
After using the restroom, he washed his hands, opened the store, and purchased two items.
[You have purchased "Rainbow Mushroom" and "Ash Key."]
[800 coins have been deducted.]
[Coins owned: 10,400 C.]
Two mushrooms and a rusty key, similar to those used in the Victorian era, appeared in Liam's hand.
[Item: Rainbow Mushroom.]
Rating: E.
Description: The Archive identified a strange mushroom found somewhere in the Sirius system.
[Item: Ash Key.]
Rating: ???
Description: ???
He puts the key in his pocket and then eats the two rainbow mushrooms.
[You have consumed "Rainbow Mushroom"]
[Your body has been detoxified]
[You have consumed "Rainbow Mushroom"]
[Your body has been detoxified]
"Uff..."
Liam let out a sigh, feeling relief wash over his body, especially his lungs.
Now he decided to improve his stats.
[2,700 coins have been invested in 'strength'.]
[Strength Lvl. 1 -> Strength Lvl. 10]
[Your strength level has increased dramatically!]
[Muscle durability has increased dramatically!]
He felt the change in his body; he clenched his fists tightly.
[1,300 coins have been invested in 'agility'.]
[Agility Lvl. 6 -> Agility Lvl. 10]
[Your agility level has increased dramatically!]
[2,000 coins have been invested in "Magic Power."]
[Magic Power Lvl. 4 -> Magic Power Lvl. 10]
[Your magic power level has increased dramatically!]
"Hmm..."
Liam stretched his body after the improvements. Now, finally, he was at the starting point.
He finished stretching his body.
And he opened his attributes window.
[Name: Liam Tubor.]
Age: 24.
Constellation support: None (currently, 12 constellations are interested in you).
Personal Attribute: Eternal Solitude (Legendary)
Stigma: Returner [Infinite] (Mythic)
Exclusive Skills: Unusual Adaptability Lvl. 4, Sea Without Light Lvl. 1
General statistics: Endurance Lvl. 10, Strength Lvl. 10, Agility Lvl. 10, Magic Power Lvl. 10
...
About five minutes later, Liam came out of the bathroom, shaking the water off his hands.
The stares hadn't disappeared.
They were still fixed on him, heavy, laden with fear, resentment... and something more dangerous: expectations.
Liam walked past them without paying them any attention.
And, without meaning to, he remembered his old partner.
In past regressions, Kael had joined his group around the third stage, introducing himself as the strategic mastermind.
Always with a calm smile.
Always with the right words.
He rose quickly. Too quickly.
He eliminated internal rivals without getting his hands dirty and accumulated influence until he became indispensable.
And then, in the final stages, he betrayed him.
Not out of fear.
Not by mistake.
But because of the constellation that sponsored him: "Demon King of Injustice."
Liam never knew the exact reason.
Only his betrayal was linked to that constellation.
But now...
That no longer mattered.
Neither did Kael.
Nor his reasons.
Nor the constellations observed from above.
Liam looked down for a moment.
'I just want all this to be over.'
And, when there are no more stages left…
'To finally be able to die.'
[GyaHahaha... it seems like you've been very comfortable these past few days, don't you think?]
Leaning casually against one of the passenger information screens, a Stage Moderator appeared.
He had a pair of reindeer antlers protruding from his head, fluffy brown fur, and wore a perfectly pressed suit with shoes so polished they reflected the dim light of the station.
His appearance was almost elegant.
Almost.
The contrast with the twisted smile he wore made the survivors' blood run cold.
They instinctively backed away.
[They have been too calm. Too confident.]
The moderator looked over the survivors, one by one, as if evaluating livestock.
[Our viewers have been bored stiff.]
[But don't worry.]
His smile widened.
[That's about to change.]
"W-Why now…?"
Someone stammered.
"Our guardians have just died!"
"Sir, please!"
"Give us at least one more day to prepare!"
"I don't want to die…!"
The pleas mingled, chaotic, desperate.
The moderator watched them silently.
Then he tilted his head, as if he had just heard something curious.
[Get ready?]
He let out a low laugh.
[What a funny idea.]
The sound echoed throughout the station.
[Well then, without further ado...]
He snapped his fingers.
The air vibrated.
A notification popped up before everyone, shining with a cruel light.
[A subscenario has been created!]