"Grey Wolf, you're the tallest among all the monsters. Why don't you share your understanding of this phrase?"
The Gnoll leader, Grey Wolf, looked utterly bewildered. After stammering for a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence:
"Master, does it mean that if we sniff around the roads in the morning, we'll find dead bodies by nightfall?"
"Utter nonsense!"
Wotru's sinister dragon face twisted in disdain as his sharp claws scraped against the rock, producing a piercing screech.
"Listen up, all of you! What it means is: if someone knows the way to your house in the morning, then by nightfall, you'd better be dead!"
"Got it?"
The monsters suddenly looked enlightened, their gazes toward Wotru filled with reverence. They erupted into cheers, each in their own unique way according to their species.
As Wotru basked in the adoration of the monsters, a row of glaring red text accompanied by an urgent alarm appeared in his vision:
[Notice]
[Players are descending. The location of the Novice Village has been confirmed.]
[World rules are being generated.]
[Rule 1: All players will descend in designated regions worldwide. Novice Villages will have a one-week self-protection period.]
[Rule 2: During the protection period, any indigenous creatures entering the Novice Village will be teleported out, and related memories will be erased.]
[Rule 3: Treasure chests will begin to spawn globally. Humans can open these chests to obtain loot. The more dangerous the location, the rarer the chest, and some may even have guardian monsters.]
[Sakura No. 1 Novice Village has spawned near the Morrigan Plains, adjacent to the Silvermoon Forest.]
As soon as the glaring red text disappeared, Wotru felt a flash of light before his eyes. With a loud "clang," a massive golden treasure chest landed right in front of him.
Damn it, am I the guardian monster for this chest?
And I'm only worth a single golden treasure chest?
Wotru's claws crushed the rock beneath him in frustration, nearly laughing in exasperation.
...
Meanwhile, on Earth, Sakura Island.
"Yamamoto-kun, p-please stop hitting me. I really don't have any more money. Sob...sob... I've already given you everything I had. I can't even afford the cheapest rice ball anymore..."
In a restroom at Fujimoto High School, four or five yellow-haired delinquents were mercilessly beating up a chubby boy.
Yamamoto Nanjirou sneered disdainfully. He despised cowards like this the most. If Haruta Motono, lying on the ground, had the courage to fight back even a little, he might not have beaten him so badly.
After all, Yamamoto Nanjirou, the undisputed delinquent king of Fujimoto High School, was no ordinary thug.
"How boring."
Yamamoto sneered, stepping onto a urinal with one foot. He looked down at the filthy, trembling Haruta Motono and threatened:
"Hey, fatso. Next time I see you without money, I'll strip your pants off, take pictures, and post them on the school bulletin board. Got it?"
"Heh, tui~"
Yamamoto spat on Haruta Motono's face before leaving the restroom with his gang, leaving the chubby boy sobbing on the floor.
[You have been chosen.]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in Haruta Motono's mind.
[The World Gamble Game has begun.]
[As a player, you will invade another world. If you succeed in conquering it, that world will replace Earth as the sacrifice.]
[If you are expelled, Earth will take its place as the sacrifice. Warning: Sacrificed worlds are often destroyed.]
[Time limit: 10 years in Earth time.]
"Who's there? Is it Hanako-san from the toilet?"
Haruta Motono curled up in a corner, his fearful eyes darting toward the stalls as the cold, mechanical voice continued:
[Game Rule 1: Players cannot exit the game until death. After death, they will wait for resurrection in the World Plaza, with one opportunity to return to Earth each month.]
[Game Rule 2: The longer you survive and complete missions, the more Invasion Points you earn. Invasion Points can be exchanged for items, necessities, or resurrection time. They are also tradeable.]
[Game Rule 3: Treasure chests will randomly spawn in the game world, containing rewards such as Invasion Points and equipment. Rewards are tradeable.]
[Game Rule 4: Resurrection times double after each death. The first resurrection time is 5 seconds. Cherish your life.]
[Game Rule 5: Time in the game world flows ten times faster than on Earth. Survive well. Death in the World Plaza is considered permanent.]
[Countdown begins.]
The mechanical voice faded, but a thunderous roar echoed across the sky. Every human on Earth heard it.
They looked up in shock to see a massive blood-red hourglass surrounded by swirling dark clouds appear in the heavens.
The red sand within the hourglass trickled down slowly, and beneath it was a rectangular digital timer displaying: [315359998s].
Then, a booming voice resounded in everyone's ears:
[Chosen Ones, please enter the game.]
[Those not chosen may spectate the game from the stands and await the next selection.]
With a hum, the selected individuals from various countries vanished in flashes of white light, including Haruta Motono, who was cowering in the restroom, utterly bewildered and terrified.
...
In Sakura No. 1 Novice Village, Haruta Motono reappeared amidst a golden glow.
All he felt was a moment of darkness and dizziness. When he came to, he found himself in an entirely new place.
Surrounding him was an open plain, lush with green grass swaying gently in the breeze. The azure sky above was dotted with clouds as large as small hills, seemingly within reach. The fragrant scent of grass filled the air, soothing the soul.
Looking into the distance, he saw dense tropical jungles on the horizon, and beyond them, majestic snow-capped mountains that seemed to touch the heavens.
"World Gamble Game?"
"Invading another world? A game?"
Haruta clenched his hands, feeling the familiar strength in them. It felt just like reality, without the artificiality of virtual reality games.
"World map, forums, party system, sensory adjustment, quest system... No logout button!"
"It's all real. An actual otherworld has been turned into a game!"
Haruta was shocked. What kind of omnipotent existence could possess such power?
As the golden glow continued to flash, more and more people from Sakura Nation appeared around Haruta. Among them, he spotted Yamamoto Nanjirou.
Haruta shrank back, hiding himself within the crowd.
In that instant, countless thoughts raced through his mind. He thought of his ordinary appearance, his mediocre physique, his humble family background, the massive hourglass piercing the heavens, and the countless games he had played.
He was a despised fat loser, a high schooler who drowned his sorrows in games after school, a loner who found love in games with his 2D waifu, but also a skilled gamer who had conquered countless challenges.
"Will I continue to be a coward and be bullied in this game?"
Haruta questioned himself, casting a hateful and venomous glance at Yamamoto Nanjirou, who was curiously looking around.
No way!
This is his domain.
Here, he could achieve anything he desired, become stronger than anyone else, and never be a victim again.
"Those who bullied me, mocked me, and scorned me... Just you wait."
"I don't care about this World Gamble... The world's destruction has nothing to do with me."
"But I will be a player, an invader. Now, it's my turn!"
With that thought, Haruta raised his swollen hand, adjusted his glasses, and his eyes gleamed with madness.
[Sakura No. 1 Novice Village player deployment complete.]
[Note: You have seven days to build your Novice Village. The green area on the map is a safe zone for free exploration. After seven days, the safe zone will disappear.]
[A sturdy Novice Village is your hope for survival. Enjoy the game.]
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
New chapter live! Patreon updated to Chapter 67
Join for exclusive content: patreon.com/BZDXG
Thank you for your support!