MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Thirty hours passed in the blink of an eye, with no one succumbing to the need for sleep.

Instead, they immersed themselves in silent meditation, their focus unwavering.

As the time drew to a close, the camp stirred to life.

Tents were folded with quiet efficiency, those seated on the ground rose gracefully, and the ones who had hovered in meditation descended lightly to the earth.

From within the cottage, Anthony, Lucian, and Aaaninja emerged simultaneously, their steps synchronized as if by some unspoken agreement.

Their gazes met briefly, a mutual nod serving as the only acknowledgment before they continued toward the outside world.

Though their paths had crossed only hours earlier and they had shared a roof for the night, their brief exchange had not yet forged camaraderie.

They were not allies, yet neither were they enemies.

Each carried an unshakable confidence in their own overwhelming strength, a silent assurance that set them apart from ordinary beings.

Anthony, ever composed, needed no flourish to demonstrate his mastery of Quantum Manipulation.

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As his feet touched the ground beyond the threshold, the cottage began to unravel.

Wood, stone, and fabric disintegrated into fine particles, scattering into the wind as though acknowledging his command.

As the final second of the thirty hours ticked away, space itself seemed to quiver.

A ripple spread across the air, and the Overseer stepped forward, his presence radiating an oppressive authority.

"I trust you've rested well"

He began, his tone dripping with mock concern.

"Not that it matters to me, of course. You'll need every ounce of your strength for what comes next"

His grin widened, a hint of malice gleaming in his eyes.

"Now"

He continued, his voice reverberating like thunder.

"We move on to the final game. And this time, you will do what you all excel at"

He paused for effect, letting the tension build before delivering the single word: "Fight"

The declaration hung in the air, a spark igniting the gathered crowd.

Smiles broke across countless faces, anticipation gleaming in their eyes.

The prospect of battle awakened something primal within them, a chance to unleash their power, to prove their worth.

Finally, the time had come.

They would fight.

The Overseer's grin widened as he observed the eager expressions of the crowd.

"Ah, I see the excitement on your faces"

He said, his voice laced with amusement.

"But this time, it will be different. You won't be fighting each other, at least not now"

He let the words sink in, pausing deliberately before continuing.

"Instead, you will face hordes of beasts and monsters. A relentless tide of predators designed to push you to your limits"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, curiosity replacing some of their earlier anticipation.

"You will each be transported to a unique location once I finish speaking"

He explained, his tone turning sterner.

"And now, for the rules of this game"

The Overseer raised a hand, and the air around him seemed to solidify with his authority.

"Once you are dropped at your designated spot, you will be confined to a radius of five hundred meters. That boundary is absolute. Not even a strand of your hair may cross it"

The crowd tensed, the weight of his words settling in.

"Endless waves of monsters will come at you from every direction, their numbers and strength escalating with each passing moment. Your goal is simple: survive. Use whatever means necessary to ensure that you remain within that five hundred meter boundary. No exceptions, no mercy"

His grin turned wicked, his gaze sweeping over the participants.

"Prepare yourselves. This will not be a game of skill or strength alone, it will test your endurance, your wit, and your resolve. Let's see who truly deserves to move forward"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as the Overseer's words settled in.

The excitement of battle had dulled slightly under the weight of the restrictions.

Five hundred meters, it was nothing to them. An insignificant span they could cross in a blink of an eye.

Yet, being confined within such a small radius while facing endless waves of monsters from all directions felt suffocating.

The whispers grew louder as participants weighed their chances.

Although many were skilled, this challenge posed new concerns.

Some stood unfazed, their confidence in their adaptability and rigorous training unwavering.

These warriors had long mastered the art of fighting under unfavorable conditions.

The Overseer's voice sliced through the low din like a blade.

"This game, like the Ascension Mirage, will last twenty four hours. You are forbidden from using anything that isn't your personal ability. There's no need for me to list the rules, you already know what counts as cheating"

His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment on a few individuals.

Then, with a cruel smirk, he added.

"And let me make this clear, I won't be saving anyone. If you find yourself overwhelmed, use your treasures, your artifacts, or whatever means you have to escape. Don't stand there and die waiting for me to intervene"

A tense silence followed.

"Now, any questions before the disqualifications begin?"

The Overseer asked.

Whispers rose again, many participants falling into deep thought.

The questions in their minds were unspoken but loud: 'Could their stamina and mana truly last for twenty four hours without a break?'

The sheer endurance required loomed large over them.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

And what of the monsters? What ranks would they face? Would the monsters' strength vary based on their own mana ranks, or would everyone battle creatures of equal power?

Despite the tension, no one spoke.

The gravity of the challenge demanded complete focus.

The Overseer chuckled darkly at their silence.

"Well then"

He said, his voice tinged with mockery.

"Since there are no questions, I wish you the best of luck. Not that it'll help"

With a sharp clap of his hands, space warped around them, and in an instant, they vanished from their current location.

___________________________

Lucian scanned his surroundings, the endless sand dunes rolling across the horizon.

The oppressive heat shimmered in the air, and the golden expanse seemed to stretch infinitely.

Even with his sharp vision, he couldn't detect a single soul.

A faint breeze carried with it a dry, ominous stillness, as if the desert itself was holding its breath.

He squinted at the horizon, muttering to himself.

"Not a single person in sight. Just like they planned"

Far away, Aaaninja stood amidst an ancient forest.

Towering trees rose like sentinels, their leaves forming a dense canopy that only allowed fragmented beams of sunlight to pierce through.

Mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks scraping the sky.

The forest floor was alive with faint rustling, as though unseen creatures moved just beyond the edge of his perception.

He stretched his senses, but like Lucian, he found no sign of other champions.

"This environment... too perfect to isolate us"

Aaaninja murmured, his expression calm but calculating as he ran a hand along the bark of a massive tree.

Meanwhile, Anthony stood in a chasm that seemed to defy logic.

Massive walls of jagged rock stretched high above him, their faces etched with faintly glowing runes.

Narrow stone bridges spanned the abyss, connecting small, precarious platforms.

Below him was an endless void, dotted with faint, ghostly lights drifting like lost souls.

The oppressive atmosphere pressed down on him, each echo magnifying into a ghostly wail.

Anthony's sharp eyes swept his surroundings.

"This place…"

He muttered, stepping forward cautiously.

The sensation of being watched was inescapable, as though the chasm itself was alive.

"It's as if we've all been transported to entirely different planets"

Suddenly, a timer appeared above each of them, glowing faintly in the air.

The Overseer's voice echoed in their minds, cold and detached.

"You will begin once the timer starts. When the timer stops, you will be teleported out automatically"

The champions glanced at the timer hovering within their confined five hundred meter radius.

The tension was palpable.

For a moment, the stillness lingered.

Then the timer flickered, and they all felt it.

A shift in the air.

A hidden pressure, deep and primal, surged around them.

It was as if the world itself had finally unveiled its secrets.

And then, a single word thundered in everyone's minds, shaking the very essence of their surroundings:

"BEGIN"