Hearing that there would be five, not just one Angel Seal, was the final push needed to create the perfect death game, exactly what Elton had been working toward all this time. She smiled as she watched the different expressions spread across everyone's faces.

Aren understood the game immediately.

If there had been only one seal, everyone would have backed off and allowed one of the S-Tier or the A-Tier participants to claim it. But now that there were five, everything changed. Even after the S-Tier and A-Tier took theirs, there was still a chance, however small, that anyone else could seize one of the remaining seals.

A free chance.

An opportunity for anyone desperate enough to take it.

And that was all Elton needed to plunge the trial into chaos.

Elton smiled as she watched their expressions shift, pleased that her plan to plant discord among them had worked perfectly. Now that she knew the next part of the trial would unfold exactly the way she wanted, she continued explaining the details.

"The next trial consists of wave-by-wave attacks from different monsters. Your goal is simple: survive. There will be 10 waves in total.

"Underneath you is a platform made of black and white patterned squares. Each square is only large enough for one person to stand on.

"The black squares are the only safe squares. The white squares are not. Stepping on a white square results in immediate elimination, and death.

"You must stay on a black square no matter what, regardless of the monster you face.

"As each wave passes, the number of black squares will drastically reduce, leaving only a few safe squares and a majority of deadly white ones."

She smiled wider as she finished.

"With that being said, the second stage of your first trial will begin in one minute. Prepare yourselves and get ready. Good luck."

And just like before, she vanished.

Everyone quickly rushed toward the black squares. Aren moved to one as well, standing at the center of it and scanning the arena. There were plenty of black tiles now, spread all across the platform, but he already knew that wouldn't last long.

It was easy to see the plan behind this.

Soon, the black squares would become scarce. Whites would dominate the floor. And there would be far more people than safe spaces. When that happened, they would be forced to kill each other just to free up enough squares for the next wave.

Another twisted game by the angel Elton, forcing them into chaos and bloodshed. And now, with the angel seals in play, they had even more motivation to tear each other apart.

Greed and desperation would drive them mad.

"Tsk." Aren clicked his tongue. "These trials are doing everything possible to turn us into monsters," he muttered. Then he took a deep breath. "It doesn't matter, Doom. I'll make sure I survive this."

He needed that reminder.

The stage didn't say anything about summons, which meant Fang was still usable. And if Fang could step on the white tiles safely, then Aren would have a massive advantage, Fang could attack freely while Aren stayed on the black squares.

To test the theory, he summoned Fang.

He was tense, if Fang touched a white tile and died… or dragged him down with him… it could be over right then.

He waited, watching the countdown.

As the clock hit zero and the first wave began, Fang stepped forward and touched a white square.

Nothing happened.

He was completely safe.

But Aren knew he couldn't do the same. This difference meant something huge:

Fang could move anywhere.

Fang could fight without limits.

Fang didn't care about the rules of the squares.

Aren exhaled slowly.

This advantage… was massive.

A few seconds passed, and the first wave of monsters appeared.

Everyone watched as goblins, three feet tall, carrying rusted weapons and glaring with red, glowing eyes, materialized across the platform. This was the first time many of them had seen a real monster up close.

Their puke-green skin, elongated ears, and bald heads made them look sickly and twisted. They were dressed in rags and bits of broken armor, letting out disturbing cackles as they moved. Their mouths opened wide, revealing rows of yellow, rotten, razor-sharp teeth.

The moment they fully formed, the goblins launched forward, sprinting all at once as they locked onto their targets.

The entire platform was instantly thrown into chaos as everyone began battling the goblins. Screams, metal clashes, and guttural growls filled the air.

Aren's attention snapped forward as a goblin rushed at him, swinging a rusted sword wildly.

Without hesitation, he commanded Fang.

Fang leapt forward like a blur. His jaws opened wide as he lunged straight for the goblin's neck. The creature swung its blade, but Fang twisted his body nimbly around the attack and sank his teeth into its throat.

One bite.

Instant kill.

A notification echoed in Aren's ears.

[You have gained 10 soul fragments]

Black, viscous goblin blood splattered across the tiles as Aren registered his first kill of the stage.

Seeing that the goblins weren't too difficult for Fang to handle, Aren decided to lend a hand. He activated his Wolf Guard, darkness wrapping around his right arm until it formed a gauntlet, pulsing with power.

He lowered his stance, eyes sharp.

He was ready to fight.

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