Babyface threw himself wildly around his cloud as it floated above the arena as he asked the questions one after another.
The questions focused on many of the essential information players were expected to know in order to join a guild, and each one was covered by his instructors.
Shin locked in his victory with little ease as he answered the first ten questions before his [Heavenly Battle Meditation] wore off.
Despite successfully answering ten of the twenty questions, the round was not over, and Babyface continued to read the questions.
Despite his advantage vanishing, Shin maintained his dominance and answered the following nine questions successfully, leaving Babyface to ask the final question.
"You and your party are all hardcore participants. You find yourself trapped in a dungeon, and there is a risk of a break.
Your party is on the verge of collapse, unable to proceed further, and as the leader, it's your job to ensure their safety.
The typical rescue time is two days after a dungeon break, leaving 72 hours to survive, but your team will last at most thirty hours. What do you do?"
Unlike the previous questions that required a verbal response, the final question allowed all twelve participants to answer via a single written sentence.
This was the singular question not included by the top guilds but instead was provided by CyberNexus themselves.
The question was an unfair one without any correct or wrong answers. In fact, the question itself posed no risk to the participants, and each player would receive credit for their response.
"Tch!" Shin clicked his tongue as he read the question after hearing it. Moments later, students began submitting the answers as the timer slowly counted down.
"Just put something… anything!" Director Kim whispered without moving his mouth, but Shin shook his head.
"I can't... There isn't an answer." The young man whispered back. Unfortunately, their hushed conversation was noticed and immediately interrupted.
"Of course there is!" He hissed, shaking his head, "Look around you! Everyone is writing their answers."
"Oho!" Babyface exclaimed, rushing over to Director Kim and Shin, floating inches from their faces before he broke out into hysterical laughter.
"It seems the dominant giant from UFGA has reached a roadblock!" He yelled into the microphone, jumping and nearly falling off the cloud.
The headmistress beside Director Kim covered her mouth with her hand as she laughed just loud enough to be heard, eliciting a deathly stare from him.
"Silence you third-rate educator from a second-rate school!" Kim hissed at the headmistress.
"Am I really from a second-rate school?" She countered, shrugging her shoulders with a smirk, "If my math is correct, we have three who took first place, and right now, you only have one."
"Youuuu!!!!" Director Kim growled as the two headmasters pressed their foreheads against one another, angrily staring into each other's eyes.
"Alright, alright!" Babyface exclaimed, floating between the still-bickering pair and separating them, "Now, now, Director Kim, Director Ashley, you two know better! This is a battle between graduates, not teachers!"
"Hmph!" Both headmasters huffed in frustration simultaneously, crossing their arms over their chests and turning away from one another.
A beautiful woman stepped out from the shadows of the cubiculum. She wore pristine white robes, intricately designed with golden trim, and her entire body was adorned with countless golden jewelry.
The spectators burst into hushed voices as they watched the grand empress with awe before bowing their heads and prostrating before her.
The grand empress was not a player but also not a typical NPC. She was created to behave like an AI but not have complete freedom.
Even the headmasters, other students, and Babyface followed suit, leaving Shin the sole person standing beside the empress.
"Young man." She called out, her mesmerizing voice echoing throughout the Colosseum and expanding beyond the Beginner Village.
A mysterious force overwhelmed Shin, forcing him to his knees as he bowed before the empress, and she spoke, "You refuse to answer my question. I wish to know why."
"Don't do it, my boy!" Director Kim hissed to the ground as the mysterious power released Shin, and he returned to his feet.
The young man wiped the beads of sweat that appeared on his forehead, staring up at the empress incredulously and slightly bowed, "I apologize for any disrespect at you, Your Highness; please forgive my impudence."
"Your apology is noted. Now answer." The empress coldly replied, her fierce gaze piercing his soul as she glared down at him, "I do not repeat myself."
"The answer itself is not fair, ma'am." Shin nodded, replying, returning the fierce gaze back to the empress.
"Life is not fair, child. Fairness is a fantasy of the weak." The empress countered, raising her golden staff and slamming it against the ground as a massive pair of golden wings appeared over the Colosseum.
A divine bell rang out, echoing across the entire continent as she vanished from the imperial box and reappeared in the arena, standing before the young man.
"Now, I will not ask again." She said, her heavenly voice replaced with the ethereal demonic sound as she glared into his eyes, "Give me your answer."
"I…" Shin sighed, his eyes fixated on her golden irises, and slumped his shoulder, relaxing his body, "I would clear the dungeon."
"The parameters of the question do not allow for this." She responded.
"I would force them to allow it." He resolutely said, shaking his head, "If the question is unreasonable, then the only correct answer must be unreasonable."
"That's paramount to cheating!" The empress exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock at the young man's audacity.
"If that's what it takes to win, then so be it; I'll cheat and win your silly no-win scenario." Shin nodded as a smile spread across his face, staring into the empress' eyes.
"You impudent soulless know no bounds." The empress spat, anger flashing across her eyes.
The soulless are what the NPCs call players, as no matter how much they resist and fight against them, it is futile, as even if they kill the players, they return.
"I'm no soulless." Shin countered, stepping forward as he threw his arm out, "Just like every inhabitant of Themiscrya, if I die, I will not return."
"Oh?" She muttered, her eyes glowing brightly as she inspected him before she slightly smiled and turned around and, in a split moment, returned to her imperial box.