The warriors inside the house remained tense and wary, keeping a safe distance from each other. The skinny man, seemingly indifferent to the atmosphere, calmly cleaned the bodies of the fallen warriors and the spilled blood, using a cloth and a bucket of water. He uttered not a word, nor did he cast a glance at anyone in the room.

Abruptly, a holographic window materialized in the air, displaying a message in bright red letters:

[ The breach has been fixed.]

Confusion and alarm swept across the faces of the warriors as they exchanged uncertain glances. Another message appeared:

[ The challenge has started. In each house, you have to complete quests to gather experience points while trying to survive from the traitor among you. The mission will continue until the players find the traitor or when the traitor kills all the players. The traitor can use any means to eliminate the players, and the monster won't attack the traitor.]

As the weight of the situation pressed upon them, doubt and fear crept in. Before they could fully comprehend the circumstances, individual windows appeared in front of each warrior, revealing two distinct types.

[ You have been assigned as a player. Your goal is to survive, discover, and eliminate the traitor before they eliminate you. ]

Meanwhile, one person received a different message:

[ You have been assigned the role of a traitor. Your goal is to eliminate all the players before getting caught. You have the authority to cut off the light for a short period and the power to spare one player's life if you win the challenge. The Guard won't attack you.]

(G- Guard? Does that mean the monster outside?) Rin, his expression stoic, pondered. He turned his eyes to Casper, only to find him with a distant look, focusing on a young woman among the eight other warriors inside the house.

The woman Casper was observing stood out in a corner of the dimly lit room. She wore a hooded cloak that partially concealed her features, but her face was exposed to the wary gazes of the other warriors.

The hoodie framed her countenance, revealing sharp eyes that gleamed with a mixture of determination and mystery. Strands of dark hair escaped the confines of the hood, in her grasp, she held a black scythe, its sleek blade catching what little light permeated the room.

Rin asked, "Do you know her?"

"I'm not sure, but she looks very familiar, like..." Casper mumbled, an unfamiliar look on his face.

After not getting any interesting response from Casper, Rin quickly lost interest and, without dwelling on or caring about Casper's state, he redirected his attention to the other warriors.

The room brimmed with nervous energy as each individual grappled with the uncertainty of their roles in the treacherous challenge. Contemplating his next moves,

. . .

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Back in Fray's house, all ten players gathered around a substantial table, recognizing the necessity of discussing their strategy despite the lack of trust among them.

"So, how are we going to deal with this?" The tall woman in green, her voice measured, inquired.

"So, there's a traitor among us? I think we should start by proving our innocence," Lisa, her expression contemplative, proposed.

"And how are we going to do that?" A man adorned in a unique armor, featuring a helmet resembling a lion's head, his voice gruff, interjected.

"What about starting with getting to know each other!?" The skinny man chimed in. Dressed in a simple brown leather armor with a hood covering his hair, he sported a friendly smile and a curious expression.

"What do you mean?" A man with golden armor and flowing golden hair questioned.

"We should take off the helmets to see each other's faces and introduce ourselves," the skinny man confidently suggested. Reaching for his helmet, he pulled it back, revealing short black hair and sharp eyes. With a healed scar painted under his eye, he stated, "My name is Ferit, and I'm from the northern Iron Castle of Lionar Kingdom."

Fray thought calmly, (Ferit, the firstborn of the Iron Castle, and one of the most talented among the young generation of Lionar Kingdom. I didn't expect to meet him here.) The surprise echoed among the others as they realized why Ferit had been able to defeat four opponents single-handedly.

The others regarded him with a mix of surprise and suspicion. All of them hesitated to reveal their identities.

In a world where individuals possessed incomprehensible powers, far surpassing the capabilities of others, the human continent bore witness to a history replete with tales of simple misunderstandings leading to the disappearance of entire families. Given this grim reality, it became customary for warriors to conceal their identities and faces, a precautionary measure against inadvertently making formidable enemies.

The directive to remove their masks and expose their identities in the current challenge elicited hesitation among the warriors. They were well aware of the risks involved, understanding that making enemies in the Old Continent could prove catastrophic. Yet, as seasoned warriors, they also recognized the wisdom in the skinny man's counsel. Survival in this perilous challenge demanded unity and the imperative to prove each member's innocence.

Following a moment of contemplative silence, the tall woman draped in green took off her helmet, revealing a well-defined face framed by long black hair and expressive brown eyes. Breaking the quietude, she spoke, "I'm Shila, a mercenary from Foran Kingdom."

Then the man setting beside her with a black helmet and a red visor took off his helmet, revealing a circular face with brown hair and fierce brown eyes. "You can call me Red, and I'm from the same mercenary squad as Shila."

The man with the golden armor and hair scoffed as he removed his crown and helmet, exposing a handsome face and a confident smirk. "I'm Alex, the heir to the throne of Alaria City. I'm here to prove myself as a leader and a warrior. And I don't trust any of you."

Awe and anger flickered across the group as they recognized him from the news and rumors, with some angered by his arrogant demeanor.

Lisa then introduced herself, "I'm Lisa, and this is Mya."

"Nice to meet you all," Mya added with a smile.

"We don't wear masks, and I'm sure some of you already know that we're from the Guardians' team. I'm also from the ancient Ronal family," Lisa continued.

Upon hearing the name of the Ronal family, a sudden tension swept over the expressions of the warriors. It was a gaol for most of them to use their positions, backgrounds, and power, intending to instill authority and fear. However, the prominence of an ancient family like the Ronals overshadowed any comparisons, leaving the warriors in a state of unease.

The two remaining warriors exchanged a brief glance before simultaneously removing their helmets. Revealed before the assembled group were a striking pair of twins, a brother and sister, each possessing unique features that set them apart.

The boy, had short silver hair that seemed to glisten in the subdued lighting. His sharp, ice-blue eyes exuded a sense of keen observation and strategic intelligence. His facial features were finely chiseled, and an air of calm confidence emanated from him.

The girl, with cascading auburn locks that framed her face. Her eyes, a vibrant shade of emerald blue, held a spark of curiosity and determination.

The young man his voice calm anounced, by "We are twins. My name is Kael, and her name is Kyla. We are from the Niram Empire."

Following the revelation of the twins, Kael and Kyla, the room held its collective breath as the only remaining warriors who had yet to unveil their identities were Fray and Elisa, two of the renowned members of the Merciless Clan. The gaze of every warrior fixated on them, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Shila's voice cut through the silence, her eyes piercingly fixed on the duo. "It's your turn," she declared, intensifying the suspense in the room.

A moment of silent communication passed between Elisa and Fray before she calmly shook her head, "No, we will not be revealing our faces." The declaration sent a ripple through the room, turning the once warm atmosphere decidedly tense. Unease etched on the faces of the surrounding warriors.

Amidst the brewing tension, Alex's eyes burned with rage, his hand slamming on the table as he bellowed, "Do you think you have the right to refuse?"

"..." Fray

. . .

The strategy of face reveal and introductions wasn't exclusive to Fray's house; it was a tactic adopted by many groups. Seated around a table with nine other warriors, Lila's expression remained calculated as she disclosed, "I am Lila Knox, from the Dark Hollow. I'm the sole successor of the Dark Blood Magic."

Seated across from her, beside Rin Casper's usually smiling face contorted into a complicated expression as he looked at Lila suddenly memories that he sought to bury started to resurface.