The Devil's invite

Aarav stood frozen like ice, but his mind was racing. He was trying to understand the strange system that had suddenly appeared before him. He looked at the glowing interface, which was just out of his reach. He read:

Aarav Routala – Level 1

Strength: 2/30

Intelligence: 7/30

Skill: 0

Frie: Kill O

He blinked, trying to make sense of it. "What is this?" Aarav muttered under his breath. "Frie 'Kill O'? What does that mean?"

His eyes drifted to the bottom of the screen, where some cryptic text was flashing—sometimes visible, sometimes vanishing. Aarav shook his head. "I don't have time to figure this out right now."

Before he could think further, a crowd gathered around him, their faces filled with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Then, a voice sliced through the noise, echoing in his ears.

"Rudra!" A man shouted aggressively. "Have you come to worship me?"

Aarav narrowed his eyes and saw the man—Rudra—walking toward him. The tension in the air thickened, and Aarav felt a surge of anger rise within him.

"I'd rather die than worship you," Aarav replied in a sharp, unwavering tone.

The crowd stirred—some smirked, amused, while others held their breath, watching the confrontation unfold. But Aarav didn't care. He wasn't going to be anyone's puppet.

Rudra let out a mocking laugh and turned away. "Your arrogance will be your downfall."

Just as Aarav turned back toward the strange system, a dark shadow loomed in the sky. The ground trembled beneath them, and all eyes turned upward.

Suddenly, a massive, distorted figure appeared in the sky—its form was demonic, and its eyes glowed with a terrifying red aura. The entity spoke, its voice reverberating across the entire area.

"Welcome to God's Playground," it boomed. "Here, you will all play 'Kamboto.' In this game, you will face trials and challenges that will test your limits. You will have to fight, strategize, and survive... or perish. But do not fear; with each challenge, you will grow stronger."

Aarav's stomach clenched. This wasn't just some twisted game. It was a battle for survival. And he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.

The demon continued, "In this game, you will all be marked, tested, and evaluated. Strength, intelligence, and skill will determine your fate. Will you rise to the top, or will you perish like those who came before? The choice is yours."

Someone in the crowd shouted, "What if we don't want to play?"

The demon's blood-red eyes locked onto the voice, and the air grew colder.

"You will obey the rules of the game," the demon thundered, his voice dripping with menace. "If you refuse, you will face consequences worse than death. The choice is not yours. This is how the game works."

Another voice from the crowd challenged, "What happens if we refuse to follow your laws and rules?"

A small group rebelled against the demon. In response, it unsheathed its massive scythe and, with a single swing, slaughtered thirteen people instantly.

A haunting silence fell over the crowd. The weight of the demon's power was undeniable. Some stared in shock at the lifeless bodies, while others trembled. But everyone learned the most crucial lesson—the demon's threats were not empty.

Yet, laughter echoed through the air, a stark contrast to the horror that had just unfolded.

Rudra mumbled, barely audible, "Is he insane? After everything, why is he laughing?"

Aarav slowly turned his head, his eyes narrowing. The man who was laughing had a wild look in his eyes and a grin that suggested he had lost all reason. His laughter echoed through the tense atmosphere, unfazed by the demon's brutal display of power.

The demon's voice once again filled the air, cold and unwavering. "Ah, yes, where was I? The rules... so simple, yet so complex."

All eyes were on him once more.

"There are seven living gods here. Six can be found in this world, and the seventh... well, you'll need something special to defeat him." He paused, surveying the crowd. "To win this game, you must either kill two of the six gods or defeat the seventh god—though that won't be an easy task. I warned you, this won't be simple. There will be monsters, strange creatures, living plants, and a civilization that won't hesitate to kill anyone who isn't one of their own."

The demon's grin widened as the fear among the crowd deepened.

"One more thing," he continued, his voice dropping lower. "Soon, you will all choose a weapon, and those weapons will be ranked. Some will be far more powerful than others. But don't forget—the real test comes after that, when you face the gods and the horrors of this world."

He straightened, exuding an air of authority. "I am Argos, your overseer. If you need anything, you will have to come to me... but remember, everything comes with a price."

Without waiting for a response, the demon vanished, leaving behind a chilling presence in the air.

For a moment, silence hung over them. Then chaos erupted. People shouted, panicked, and tried to make sense of what they had just witnessed.

Rudra turned to Aarav, his face pale. "This is madness. We have to kill gods?"

Aarav's gaze was distant, uncertainty and fear clouding his mind. "I don't know, Rudra. But one thing is clear... this is now a fight for survival."

Just then, the man who had been laughing suddenly stood up, staring at them with crazed eyes.

"Are you scared?" he asked, his grin widening. "You should be! But don't you feel it? The thrill!" His excitement only grew. "This is a chance to prove ourselves! You either fight... or you die!"