Chapter 3

The world was frozen.

Nicole moved through the silent streets, her footsteps echoing in the unnatural stillness.

People stood like statues mid-step, conversations halted mid-sentence.

A man was caught in the act of lighting a cigarette, the flame frozen just shy of his lips.

Birds hovered motionless in the sky, and even the rustling leaves seemed suspended in time.

It wasn't just people—animals, cars, even the flickering of neon signs were locked in place, like the entire world had hit pause.

But what unnerved Nicole the most were the bars.

Every single person had four glowing bars above their heads: a red bar for Health, a green bar for Stamina, a blue bar for Mana, and a yellow bar for EXP.

Each person had numbers beside their bars.

Children had low numbers between 5 and 30, while adults' numbers were higher, often in the hundreds.

The fit and healthy had higher numbers in their green and red bars, while those who were overweight or sickly had noticeably less.

The people in high-end jobs had significantly higher numbers next to their blue bars.

It was like some bizarre health meter ripped straight from a video game.

By the time the world was sent back into motion, Nicole was far from the hospital.

But she knew it wasn't far enough. Sooner or later, they would find her.

---

She spent hours asking around, trying to find the address on Axel's card.

But every person she spoke to gave her the same puzzled look.

"That place doesn't exist," they'd say.

The more she heard it, the more convinced she became that this was some twisted dream.

Maybe she was still in the hospital, unconscious, her mind playing cruel tricks on her.

Frustrated, Nicole slumped onto the curb, staring at the card. This is stupid. She gritted her teeth and began to tear it in half.

Before the card could rip, a hand snatched it from behind her.

"You looking for this place, huh?"

Nicole spun around. The man was tall, with dark skin and neatly braided cornrows.

He wore all black—casual, but there was something sharp about him, like he was ready for a fight at any moment.

He studied the card intently before handing it back to her.

"Axel gave you this?" he asked, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Nicole nodded slowly. "Yeah… but everyone's telling me it doesn't exist. None of this makes sense. Why would—"

"Go to that alleyway," he cut her off, pointing to a narrow gap between two buildings. "Stand in the center and say, 'I have arrived.'"

He started to walk away but paused, glancing back with a grin. "Hope to see you there, cupcake."

Before she could ask what he meant, he melted into the crowd, disappearing like smoke.

---

Nicole stood at the mouth of the alley, heart pounding in her chest. This is insane. But curiosity clawed at her, stronger than fear.

She stepped into the alley, the walls pressing in on either side. Taking a deep breath, she whispered, "I have arrived."

The moment the words left her lips, the alley's exit behind her flared with an intense, blinding light, sealing her in.

Then, a glowing prompt appeared in front of her, floating in mid-air.

Nicole's breath hitched. How does it know my name?

A text box materialized before her, displaying strange information:

Name: Nicole Rose

Age: 25

Health: 160

Mana: 100

Stamina: 210

Level: 1

Class: Assassin

Job Title: Slave

Her head spun. Assassin? Slave? What is this, some kind of sick game?

The text box vanished, and the bright light at the end of the alley faded, revealing something impossible.

On the other side wasn't the city.

It was a town. But not just any town—a medieval village straight out of a history book.

Cobblestone streets, wooden carts, people in tunics and cloaks.

Blacksmiths hammered at anvils, vendors called out in unfamiliar tongues, and children chased each other through the dusty streets.

Nicole's heart pounded in her chest. This… this isn't Earth.

She stumbled forward, disbelief clouding her mind. She pinched her arm hard, expecting to wake up.

Pain shot through her.

This was real.

---

"Excuse me, contestant."

Nicole spun around, startled by the tiny voice.

Hovering beside her was a small, glowing figure—barely the size of her hand.

A fairy, with iridescent wings and piercing green eyes, floating effortlessly in the air.

"Who… who are you?" Nicole stammered.

The fairy gave a graceful bow mid-air. "My name is Ruby.

I'll be observing your progress and serving as your guide."

"Observing?" Nicole echoed, her voice sharp with suspicion. "What do you mean, observing?"

Ruby's eyes sparkled mischievously. "I'll be monitoring whether you succeed… or die. Allow me to explain why Master Axel invited you here to his world."

Ruby fluttered around Nicole, and with a snap of her tiny fingers, a glowing text box appeared.

"This world is called Revelation," Ruby began. "A creation of Master Axel's making, blending together different eras and challenges. We're currently in the Northern Sector, inspired by the medieval age."

She flicked her wrist, and a map appeared, floating in the air.

"The Eastern Sector is based on the Shinobi era," Ruby continued, pointing to a lush, green region. "The Western Sector thrives on steampunk technology." The map shifted to reveal towering metal structures and gears. "And the Southern Sector? A pirate's paradise—endless seas and scattered islands."

Nicole stared at the map, overwhelmed.

Each region looked like it belonged to a different world altogether.

But Ruby wasn't done.

With another flick of her finger, a new image appeared—a glowing hallway bathed in golden light.

"This," Ruby said solemnly, "is the Hallway to Happiness. Once certain conditions are met, you can enter. And if you reach the end… Master Axel will grant you a miracle."

Nicole's breath caught in her throat. "A… miracle?"

Ruby nodded, her smile widening. "Anything you desire, with no limitations."

Nicole's mind raced back to Axel's words. A better life with Emily… Could this be what he meant?

"How… how do I get into that hallway?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Ruby held up three fingers. "There are three paths to happiness," she said. "One, reach Level 999 and claim your place as the strongest. Two, defeat twenty legendary figures scattered across this world. Or three…" Her smile turned dark. "Kill all the other contestants."

Nicole's blood ran cold. Contestants? How many people were dragged into this?

Before she could ask, another text box appeared in front of her.

Ruby hovered closer, her green eyes gleaming. "So, Nicole… Do you want to reach happiness?"

Two buttons blinked in front of her: Accept or Reject.

Nicole stared at them, her heart pounding in her chest. Axel's words echoed in her mind. You'll see Emily again.

Her fists clenched. "All I want… is for my daughter to be happy again. If there's even the slightest chance to give her a better life…"

She pressed Accept.

Ruby's laughter chimed like bells. "Let the show begin."