The stifling cell was a grim tableau of the dead and wounded, and each breath filled the air with scorching heat that seemed to sear away what little oxygen remained.

“I’LL KILL YOU!” shouted a grotesque figure just a meter away from me. I thrust my Spiritual Weapon into the carcass, forming a barrier behind me with a swift semicircular motion.

This madness had erupted fifteen minutes ago, triggered by the cryptic proclamation of the Caretaker: “The winner is the one who saves as many Spiritual Stones as possible.” The implication was clear; victory would require a brutal contest, but where were these coveted stones? There was no glimmer of their radiant presence, nor a hint of their energy.

Suspicion rippled through the cell as wary eyes darted between one another. One of us, had seized the Spiritual Stones. Understandably, this cast a shadow of suspicion upon everyone. As at the Redemption Plaza, the Caretakers had offered no hints or guidance, leaving us in disarray.

“I arrived just an hour ago. No one took any stones in front of me,” hissed a snake-like creature with twisted horns, its tail tapping the ground like an impatient drummer.

“A small group, including me, arrived nearly a day ago,” chimed in a long, shadowy creature. It extended its palms, revealing small mouths bristling with sharp fangs. “Spiritual Stones were still unallocated.”

“And me...”

Many struggled to assert their innocence. If conflict were to erupt, it was far better to confront one or two creatures rather than an entire horde.

I couldn’t recall who had been the first to impale a two-headed dog with a bone sickle in a fit of rage. Nevertheless, the fact remained – the fighter had fallen, and a conflict had erupted anew.

“Who did that?!” The beast growled, its long tail lashing in a furious display of its wrath.

“Calm down,” a slimy figure emerged from the crowd, slowly drifting toward the dog’s lifeless form. “If we base our actions on grudges, we’ll miss our chance to survive. What did the Caretakers say? The one who saves the most Spiritual Stones wins, right?”

“I think so...” a creature with ears pinned to its temples and tattoos adorning its bare skin chimed in. An earring jingled from its left side, swaying in time with the speaker.

“That’s right,” drawled the slug-like creature, peering at the lifeless eyes of the dog, “And if there are no Spiritual Stones, shouldn’t we use our own?”

“Our own?”

“Is that even possible?”

“I don’t have any stones, anyway. Someone arrived early and took all the loot. Coward, show yourself!”

“Who arrived earlier than the rest of us?”

Speculations and accusations flew as panic gripped the minds of the creatures. I kept a close eye on the slug; It seemed reluctant to move far from the dead dog, circling it continuously.

“It was you!” Accusations transitioned from abstract pondering to pointed blame.

“I arrived after you, you moron. I was just tucked away in a corner, probably you too small to notice.” The creature, with grotesque growths sprouting from its back, sneered, but beneath its facade, fear and dread lurked in its bloodshot eyes.

“Am I really that inconspicuous?” The beast shifted into its full form, growling as it pressed the smaller creature against the wall with its massive paws. “Prepare yourself for your end if you won’t yield those stones.”

The creature emitted guttural sounds for the first few seconds, then exploded under the ferocious onslaught of the beast, its foul remnants falling to the ground at my feet.

Frowning, I made my way to the center of the ceiling.

“I implore you, don’t act recklessly!” the slug interjected smoothly, leaving behind a glistening trail of slime.

“What will you do? Find the thief?” muttered the beast.

“No, but we’ll at least settle things with some bloodshed.” the whitish figure responded with a toothless smile.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The conflict ebbed and flowed, sometimes erupting into violence, and sometimes allowing the combatants to catch their breath. Occasionally, I found myself targeted, but fortunately, such instances were rare.

Some cunning creatures looted corpses, stripping them of armor, weapons, and a small number of Spiritual Stones stored in spatial bags. This was surprising, given that many had consumed stones to enhance their strength, or at least buying Elixirs.

In the end, as the physically and mentally frail met their demise, only the restrained survivors remained, exchanging cold glances that promised impending slaughter.

The floor became a grisly mosaic of flesh, blood, and putrefied remains, redolent of an impending bloodbath.

“No one has confessed,” the slug broke the silence, slowly crawling over the corpses with a mournful exhalation. It surveyed the carnage with a sense of melancholy. “The thief still hides among us. What a waste of critters and beasts to be trapped in such a dreadful situation.”

“Perhaps it’s you?” suggested a beast with a narrow fox-like muzzle, casually throwing out the accusation. “The guilty one always shouts the loudest.”

“What? Me?” The pale-skinned figure broke into a smile. “I arrived quite recently. They can vouch for it.” He paused, surveying the surviving creatures, then chuckled, “Gyrhaarharha... There doesn’t seem to be anyone left to testify otherwise.”

To my left, I sensed a malevolent aura. My gaze locked onto a brown-furred beast that had remained aloof until now. Danger emanated from its very presence.

Swiftly, I stepped back, finding myself in another part of the cell.

Moments later, a brutal melee erupted in the space where I had stood, as anticipated. The living slime showed no mercy and left behind only fresh corpses.

Was it devouring their Original Essence?

I fired Poisonous Arrows at the slug’s back, then immediately faced a retaliatory onslaught in the form of bone projectiles from the freshly slain.

“What are you doing? I’m trying to help you with all my generous heart,” the slime feigned supplication, the corners of its lips downturned.

Its whitish form undulated like jelly and materialized before me, its slit-like eyes stretching impossibly wide. Looking down, I saw a Spiritual Weapon embedded in its stomach, and its face contorted into a raisin-like mass of wrinkles.

“I had considered keeping you alive, General, but it appears it’s time for you to plunge into the void.”

Expending all my endurance, I evaded the slug’s attacks using the remains of the deceased, which it absorbed into its elongated body and then shot forth from its gaping maw. The abhorrent mixture of entrails and decay filled the cell, corroding the walls, floor, and ceiling with a foul, sulfuric stench. It patched its wounds with fragments of meat, skin, and bones, forming a grotesque, ever-evolving body that resembled a moving landfill. The creature relentlessly smashed through heaps of corpses, desperately attempting to reach me.

Aside from the two of us, no more than twenty creatures occupied the cell. Some lounged casually, others watched the skirmishes, and a few were locked in combat.

“The second stage of selection has commenced. The primary objective is to save as many Spiritual Stones as possible. The allotted time is five hours.”

A trapdoor in the ceiling swung open, releasing several hundred stones that tumbled out, shimmering with filth.

First-Class Stones.

The remaining creatures swiftly converged at the center, while the slug lunged at them, feasting on corpses whenever possible and launching projectiles at those who dared approach.

I vaulted onto the slug’s back, slashing its neck with my sword and tearing its torso into several grotesque pieces.

One of the creatures managed to capture just under half of the stones and encased itself within a thin, steel barrier.

I targeted the first one with Poison Arrows, attempting to reach the creature. But soon, it detected the menacing energy surging through its skin and sprang aside.

The pallid form of the slug darted in front of me like an arrow.

Not dead yet?

It slammed against the barrier, gnawing at the steel. The creature within was momentarily stunned, but then, employing a newly grown horn, it escaped from its protective enclosure and lunged at the slug.

The slug swallowed its assailant, causing a radiant spot to spread throughout its massive form before resuming its repulsive appearance.

“Gah. This is challenging,” the quivering white slug cried out, its black eyes wide open. “HOW CHALLENGING IT IS! I CRAVE MORE! GIVE ME MORE!”

Launching assaults on the others, it devoured everything in its path. Soon, only three of us remained, aside from the voracious slug.

An unusual turn of events.

The beast, resembling a nightmarish deer with human teeth, growled at the approaching menace, locking onto it with predatory intent.

Two succumbed to the slime’s onslaught, while the slender, bony creature lay on its back, barely clinging to life.

It was time.

I accessed my inventory, retrieving the needles coated with rare insect eggs, and inquired of the slime, “Do you want these?”

“I WANT THEM! GIVE THEM TO ME! GIVE THEM!” The whitish figure surged toward me. Standing atop a mound of lifeless carcasses, I grinned.

“Observe my generosity.”

I thrust dozens of needles into the creature’s flesh, observing with inner satisfaction the voracious delight of the living trash.

“WHERE? WHERE IS IT?! HA-AAH...”

The creature burst into a flurry of small white threads.

The insect larvae consumed flesh and bone, ballooning in size at an astonishing pace.

As I passed by one of them, I heard a raspy whisper.

“How... How could I lose...”

A minuscule slug, no larger than an index finger, wriggled out from within the ravenous larva.

“Because I wanted you to,” I nudged the tiny creature toward the carnivorous larva with the steel tip of my boot and grinned. “Generosity becomes a curse when it goes too far.”

“Gyayaya...”

With one final, feeble cry, it perished.

The gravely wounded creature had also met its end.

I stood as the sole survivor, having collected hundreds of High-Grade Spiritual Stones and absorbed fragments of Essences, augmenting the power of my soul.

“The victory belongs to Kai Theron. Congratulations. In a minute, you will be directed to the residential areas of the Third Level.”