This easily?
* * *
As I continued to clear the hallway, a sudden movement from the far end caught my eye. Emerging from the furthest classroom was a girl who seemed to glide effortlessly into view. Her eyes were sharp and cunning, resembling those of a fox, and a confident grin spread across her face.
She raised her hands, palms open and non-threatening. "I'm the king," she announced, her tone carrying a mix of amusement and resignation. "And I surrender."
The declaration hit like a bolt from the blue. My combat team, who had been steadily advancing behind me, froze in disbelief.
I had defeated the 3rd and 4th floors. This easily? I had expected a grueling battle, but instead, here was this girl surrendering without a fight.
I took a moment to process the situation. My instincts told me to remain cautious. This was too easy, too clean. The girl's sudden surrender was suspicious, and I had to be wary of any tricks or hidden agendas.
She continued with an almost playful tone, "You are strong, and I don't think I can defeat you. That's why I'm surrendering."
As she spoke, a system window popped up in front of me:
---
[System Notification]
You have dominated Floors 3 and 4 of Server 05-a3
---
[King System]
Name: Erebus
Number of Subjects: 589
Current Territory: Server 05-a3
---
I scanned the girl with a scrutinizing gaze. The surrender seemed genuine, yet my mind raced with questions. Why had she given up so quickly? Was there a hidden motive behind her sudden capitulation?
Her demeanor was relaxed, almost too relaxed for someone who had just faced a formidable opponent. It made me wonder if there was a larger strategy at play, or if she simply knew something I didn't.
"Why surrender now?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. "What's your plan?"
The girl's grin widened, and she tilted her head slightly, her eyes glinting with a mix of challenge and curiosity. "You'll find out soon enough. For now, it's clear that you're the one in control."
* * *
Back at class 2-1, the atmosphere was tense. The girl, who had surrendered—the former king of the 3rd and 4th floors—sat on a chair, casually, as if she were sitting on a throne. Her eyes darted around the room, landing on me, Yunji, Jake, and Aiden, who were watching her closely.
"So," I said, breaking the silence. "What do you want? Why surrender so easily?"
She smiled, her fingers interlocking as she leaned forward, eyes sparkling with a manic light. "Do you know how I became the king of the 3rd and 4th floors?" she asked, her voice taking on an almost sing-song quality.
I stayed silent, wary of her demeanor. Her grin widened, almost maniacally.
"When this game started, it felt like I was given a divine right. Power and control were suddenly within my grasp, and it was glorious!" Her voice grew more animated, her words spilling out faster. "I've always wanted to rule, to have everyone look up to me, follow my orders. This was my destiny."
Her words filled the room with an unsettling energy. "When the 4th floor opened—the teachers' floor—I didn't hesitate. I killed every single one of them," she continued, her tone shifting between pride and insanity.
Yunji's expression twisted into one of disgust and horror, her lips pressing together as she tried to process the girl's confession.
"Every single teacher?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yes!" she exclaimed, almost gleeful. "They were the ones who held us down, controlled us. I couldn't let them ruin my kingdom. We have to create a new power structure! This is a gift from the gods, a chance to rewrite the rules!"
She leaned back, her eyes wide and fervent. "I surrendered to you because I saw your power. You destroyed those soldiers like it was nothing. With you, I can gain even more power than I ever could alone."
"So, what do you want?" I asked, my voice calm and measured.
She leaned forward, a grin spreading across her face. "Give me a high position in your kingdom."
A position, I thought. I already had a straightforward command structure in place. Yunji led the non-combat members, ensuring everything behind the scenes ran smoothly. Jake was head of the combat team, organizing defenses and battle strategies. Despite my reluctance, I'd given Aiden a role to support the 1st-floor survivors due to his crucial part in our previous victory.
Now, this girl wanted a place among us.
I considered her request. She'd survived three rounds, just as I had. There was no denying her intelligence. Her decision to surrender had demonstrated quick thinking and a pragmatic approach. She had a mind for strategy, recognizing when to fight and when to ally.
I couldn't help but smile at her ambition. In a new world, new rulers would indeed emerge. "Okay," I said, nodding.
"What?" Jake and Yunji exclaimed in unison. "But—"
I cut them off. "You can be in charge of our strategies and politics. Help us decide how we should act toward other groups."
Her smile widened, and she leaned back, clearly pleased with her new role. "Thank you. You won't regret this," she said confidently. "I'll ensure we make the right alliances and stay one step ahead of any threats. Together, we'll build something incredible."
She was clearly ambitious and possibly unhinged, but that same energy might prove invaluable in the chaos ahead.
"And one more thing," I added, leaning back in my chair. "Before you get started, I'll need all your karma."
Her smile faltered for a moment, but only briefly. She nodded, understanding the need for trust and loyalty in this new hierarchy. "Of course," she replied, her grin returning. "Consider it a down payment on our future success."
The others watched her closely as she transferred her karma to me. It was a significant gesture, showing her commitment to our cause. With this added power, we'd have more resources to strengthen our position and prepare for the challenges ahead.
"Good," I said, feeling the surge of energy from her contribution. "Welcome to the team."
* * *
I stood alone in class 2-4, the headquarters, staring out the window. The sky was a deep, ominous red, casting an eerie glow over the city.
Below, the streets were filled with people, some wandering aimlessly, others scavenging for resources. Among them were the inevitable corpses, reminders of the battles that had already been fought and lost.
The fifth round, known as the Battle of the Street, was one of the most chaotic parts of the novel. Up until this point, the battles had been between two opposing groups, but the fifth round changed everything. Instead of facing a single enemy, we would now have to deal with multiple groups, each vying for control of the street.
This round was chaotic because it wasn't just about fighting one king or leader. Instead, every building on the street became a potential enemy. Each group wanted to claim as much territory as possible, and the streets connecting the buildings became the battlegrounds.
Even more challenging was the fact that people who were on the street when the game began also got involved. These individuals claimed the streets as their territory, making it dangerous for anyone else to enter. Just stepping outside our building meant entering their domain, risking a confrontation with whoever controlled that area.
I knew from the novel that surviving the fifth round required not just strength but also diplomacy. Kings had to navigate alliances, betrayals, and sudden shifts in power dynamics. Trust was a rare commodity, and any misstep could lead to a swift and brutal downfall.
I glanced at the King System.
---
[King System]
Name: Erebus
Number of Subjects: 402
Current Territory: Server 05-a3
Current Ranking: None
---
A ranking system had appeared, just like the novel. A ranking system ranks groups based on factors like population, fighting power, and supplies. My ranking was none, meaning our group wasn't even in the top 1,000.
I expected as much.
The real main character of this world was Hiroko, the protagonist of the novel A Hero's Rise to Power in Hero's Hero, the novel I'd read.
Hiroko had the unfortunate luck of starting his first round at the Azabudai Hills tower in Japan, in which they had to go on a field trip to, which had 64 floors.
For the fourth round, they had to fight for a massive building, with over a thousand people and even then, their initial ranking was below 100.
Thinking about Mike and Hiroko, I couldn't help but laugh at how they were faring now, scrambling to survive and win.
I hope to meet them soon, hoping that our paths would cross in this game.