Humans tended to default to their baser instincts upon the collapse of law and order.

I’d seen this myself, having lived through a global pandemic.

None of that prepared me for the madness in the homunculus’ eyes as they leaped straight at me.

I backpedaled in shock, slipping across the narrow footholds. The attacking Homunculus could pass as my doppelganger in every way, but they had probably been a much larger person in the real world—if the way they moved was any indication.

They misjudged their reach, lunging with arms that were too short for what they intended. The action left them open to retaliation from me. A strong sweep sent them tumbling down the slope.

The homunculus retained enough of their bearing to grab onto a handhold. Loathing bloomed in their gaze, focused squarely on me. They braced their shoulders, intent on returning to battle, only to be interrupted by a tendril whipping up from the mist.

The cloudy appendage latched onto the homunculus’ neck. A single tug yanked them into oblivion.

Time remaining: 00:08:41.

Homunculi remaining: 12/1000.

All around me, various homunculi grappled each other in fierce tussles. One duo sailed over the edge, neither able to gain the upper hand over the other.

The counter plummeted.

I turned in time to see an attacker rush up from behind me. I swung my fists, striking nothing but air.

The attacker opted for pragmatism and halted their advance. Pale, yellow eyes sized me up, taking my measure. The homunculus raised pale fists in declaration of a challenge . . . only to topple off the ledge as a punch blindsided them from around the corner.

I abandoned my position and inched along the side of the rim. The homunculus who had knocked out the first attacker chased after me. Another person approached in the opposite direction, fleeing a fight.

All three of us slowed to a stop.

This is bad. This is really bad.

The gears turned almost audibly in pallid heads as both homunculi calculated their moves. Stuck in the middle as I was, death had become a certainty.

Don’t do this, guys, I pleaded, but where was the mouth? My current dilemma wouldn’t end without a fight. I could stay in place and wait for both to tackle me. Or I could strike and force the proceedings to play out on my terms.

The homunculus behind me advanced. I moved forward a few paces, putting me within jumping reach of the other who shortened the gap.

Crap. I wasn't getting out of this the easy way. Full speed ahead then.

I ran toward the foremost Homunculus and waved my arms in a display of suicidal intent. This one proved more timid than the other, as predicted. They stiffened at my charge and backed out of reach.

But, I was only baiting.

I halted the next instant and crouched into a ball. Roaring internally, I leaped backward and slammed my crown into the jaw of the pursuing homunculus. The latter tumbled down the slope without much fanfare.

For one precarious moment, my foot slid out into the air. The evil mist swirled idly, urging me to fall. I threw myself against the pane of force. Panic darkened my vision.

The second homunculus lingered still in proximity. If they attacked now, anti-gravity boots wouldn’t suffice to save me.

Or so I thought. However, the coward had lived up to their nature. They fled the instant I killed the other and vanished around the corner in terror. The counter ticked downward by one shortly after.

A few more ticks followed in rapid succession.

Current quest: [Survive 03].

Time remaining: 00:03:50.

Homunculi remaining: 2/1000.

Warning: If more than one candidate survives to the end of the count, you would die.

Reward: [Migrant Soul].

Two survivors remained. Two out of a freaking thousand. And I, Damien, numbered among them.

My head swam at the implication. Whether by luck or providence, I had made it this far. Yet, relief was the farthest thing from my mind.

It would have been a mercy to die while the odds were still insurmountable. This close to the goal, however, with salvation at my fingertips, the fear of failure threatened to cripple me.

One person would emerge alive from this clusterfuck. And, it had to be me.

It had to be me.

The enemy most likely felt the same. Where were they anyway?

My side of the pyramid bore no other takers, and the lit brazier hampered my view of the surroundings.

I needed a visual at the very least, before I picked my next course of action. A small voice stirred in my head.

Really, Damien? Really? You’re doing this? You intend to kill one more person?

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I ignored the voice.

What makes you think you are more deserving of life than they are? Why does this need to be your story?

It didn’t, but at the same time, I didn't want to die. Not after everything I’d endured. The other homunculus wasn’t innocent anyway. They’d killed people to get here, just like me.

Sure, we both danced to the tune of powers we couldn’t comprehend, but that only increased my desire to see this through to the end. I needed answers . . . About this. About everything. And I wouldn’t get those if I fell into the mist.

My suffering would be for naught.

I shuffled along the ledge to a corner of the pane of force and peeked around it. The area beyond stood empty. Another trek brought me to the next corner.

Crap. This ought to be an ambush. I’d timed my footfalls as carefully as possible, but the lack of noises indicated the other homunculus was also doing the same. Nevertheless, I had recorded better results from forcing confrontations and wasn’t about to develop cold feet.

I peeked around the edge.

The surviving homunculus noted me with weary, yellow eyes. They sat in the middle of the ledge, legs tucked beneath their chin. Their gaze held mine for a few tense seconds, and then they ignored me, in favor of staring out into the mist.

I gaped at their gall.

Hey! That wasn’t the way things worked.

Didn't they get the notification about the consequences of finishing the quest with more than one survivor? The fallen homunculi wouldn't have attacked with such ferocity if they had a choice.

This person knew what would happen in the event of failure. Why had they chosen to sit still rather than claw for their life?

Time remaining: 00:02:15.

I gestured at them: Get up.

They refused.

I narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists. Get up.

The homunculus studied me. For a half second, an elderly man sat in their place, eyes sad and knowing. The image vanished soon after it appeared, but my resolve . . .

Heh.

I had been a twenty-six-year-old loner before my transportation to this hellscape. Soft-spoken. College dropout. A resident of the chaotic city of Lagos. A good day for me consisted of a twelve-hour shift at work, two servings of beans, and a slow night spent reading web novels.

Murderer, I was not—at least, not of my own volition. The pyramid had changed me, but not enough to suppress my revulsion at the thought of wanton violence.

What was so special about life that I clung to it above all else? Sure, reincarnation sounded impressive, but if this game was any indication, I wanted none of what its creators were selling.

I had lived a shitty life anyway. Might as well be less shitty in death.

Time remaining: 00:01:07.

I settled down on the ledge.

The other homunculus graced me with a nod and resumed his watch over the landscape.

I nodded in return. Hurray for humanity and all that jazz.

The content creators could go find a goat to bless with reincarnation. Or a Roomba.

Definitely, a Roomba.

Time remaining: 00:00:10.

I closed my eyes and counted in tandem with the timer. It spiraled down, each tick sounding more ominous than the last.

Five . . .

Four . . .

Three . . .

Two . . .

One . . .

You have failed to prove your worth as a candidate for reincarnation.

Quest: [Survive 03].

Time remaining: 00:00:00.

Homunculi remaining: 2/1000.

Quest failed.

Now applying consequences . . .

The breath withered in my throat.

Or at least, that is what would happen if we followed the old way.

Lucky for you, we don't!

The [System] will now choose a candidate at random.

Please, stand by.

My eyes widened, mostly because of the sudden turn of events, but also due to the unexpected shift in tone.

Two tendrils shot up from the mist. They dived for our location, even as we scrambled to our feet.

The tendrils veered at the last second and snapped around my companion. He managed a horrified look and struggled against the noose. And then, he was gone. Dragged off into the deep and whatever lay below.

No!

A new message blocked my vision.

You have proven your worth as a candidate for reincarnation.

Quest: [Survive 03].

Time remaining: 00:00:00.

Homunculi remaining: 1/1000.

Quest complete.

[Migrant Soul] has been added to your traits.

What? I'd already made my peace with dying. Random chance? What the heck was that?!

The transparent walls guarding the brazier receded. Notification boxes leaped out of the fire and expanded above the pyramid. I got a single look at them before the brazier imploded. Suction waves tugged me into the warp.

The agony that followed was like nothing I’d ever experienced. It disintegrated my nerves and burned off my skin. Messages poured into the gap behind my eyelids.

The [System] has selected you for reincarnation.

User name: Damien Njoku.

Available traits: [Born of Affinity], [Against the Odds], [Migrant Soul].

Selecting preregistered race . . .

Selection: Dark Elf.

Selecting compatible affinity . . .

My brain exploded.

Multiple affinities detected:

User has demonstrated talent in Fear (49%), Pain (23%), Wrath (11%), Despair (11%), and Contrition (6%).

You may pick an affinity.

The noise went off like a gong in my head.

You may pick an affinity. If nothing is chosen, the highest compatible affinity will be selected.

Screw you, I said through nonexistent lips.

The [System] messages paused.

. . .

Affinity selected.

Selection: Fear.

Due to the nature of the trait, [Born of Affinity] has combined with your selection.

[Born of Affinity] has transformed into [Born of Fear].

More haptic buzzes.

You have received a Legacy Quest!

New quest: [Heroic Adventure].

You have been transported from another world! Gather strong allies and avert the Apocalypse.

Allies: 0/10.

Time remaining: 364 days.

Reward: 10,000 spirit orbs. Complete each milestone to unlock extra rewards.

[System] Error: Quest has already been assigned.

[System] Error?

A plethora of new screens bombarded me, red this time, unlike the former blue. Emergency signs hovered over them, blinking in urgency.

Reincarnation failed. [System] Error has been detected. The process will now be terminated. The current candidate will be destroyed.

A new kind of anguish engulfed me. It left me no time to ponder the text, which had taken a dangerous slant.

Blue screens suppressed the red.

Hold on just a minute!

Termination halted. Employing override protocols . . .

Reincarnation will now proceed as intended. Please, stand by.

I swirled around in a pool of darkness. The last thing I saw before blacking out was a forest of vivid green . . .

And nine hundred and ninety-nine souls who had perished so I could win.