"Max you bastard!" A black-haired male yelled his eyes red with rage and hate as he stared towards his with a sharp glare.

"I'm sorry Mr.Hayden your services are no longer required" Max a blonde-haired man dressed in a black suit holding a dagger that had blood dripping from the tip replied his eyes staring at Zac with excitement while a sick smile grew on his face.

"Who sent you to do this? What did I ever do?!" Hayden asked his eyes teary as he shakely held a pair of daggers, it was clear that he had no will to fight.

"Well, the target wasn't particularly you... I guess you were just unlucky to be involved" Max replied his face not showing any sign of remorse as he spoke. He then began moving towards Hayden at a slow pace making him subconsciously take steps away from him.

"Tsk, Fuck you!" He clicked his tongue at Max before rushing towards him only for his target to suddenly disappear from his sight.

'Huh?' Before Hayden could get a grip on what was going on, he saw his right arm falling on the floor leaving him in a perplexed state for a while before he finally screamed.

"Ahhh!!!" Hayden let out a spine-chilling shout as he stared at his right arm which was now on the floor dripping out blood.

Max who had appeared behind looked at him with a sick grin as he raised his arm to taste the blood on it.

"I love that expression!" He said with an expression of clear bliss on his face as he stabbed his dagger towards Hayden's throat.

-Puu!

Blood leaked out of Hayden's mouth as he stared at Max with eyes that expressed his pure hatred for him.

'Only if I was stronger...'

That was the only thought Hayden had as his body dropped to the floor with blood continuously leaking out of his throat.

'I wish I had another chance... It wouldn't have ended like this!' His view became blurry as he took a last glance towards Max who slowly walked away.

[You have successfully met the requirements]

[You have received an invitation to enter the 'Playing ground' Will you accept?]

[Yes/No]

'What is this...' Hayden stared in confusion at the message with his eyes half closed, he was suspicious but he knew he didn't have much time left to contemplate whether to accept or not.

"Y-yes..." He managed to mumble although his vocals were badly hurt, he knew a decision like this might not present itself again hence his decision.

[You will be transported to the 'Playing ground' shortly]

With that message, a bright golden light enveloped Hayden as his consciousness then faded.

...

After some time had passed Hayden opened his eyes to find out that he was in some type of dark space.

"Huh?" Hayden let out as he stared around only to meet nothing but resounding darkness.

"Where am I?" Hayden questioned but was not expecting an answer since he was the only sign of life in this space.

[You are in the Enlightenment space]

"Enlightenment space? What is that?" Hayden questioned seemingly not startled by the reply and the blue interface, confusion evident in his voice.

[The Enlightenment space is an expanse created to teach new players the basic information of the 'Playing ground' and how to survive in it]

"Wait... W-who are you?" He suddenly asked startled by the voice, he was deep in thought when it first replied to him but now he was fully conscious.

[I am your guide, responsible for teaching you all the basic information needed to survive in the 'Playing ground'. Note you have a limited time of 03:00]

Hayden was still stunned but he knew time was not on his side, he needed all the information that this guide had to offer.

"Okay... So first of all what's this 'Playing ground' is it some sort of game?" Hayden questioned patiently waiting for the guide to give him a reply.

[Well in a way yes, the 'Playing ground' is a world created to entertain the Gods, it is a world where beings from across the world who are now addressed as players fight each other until only one person survives.]

[The last being standing will be granted any 3 wishes he or she wants as the star prize]

[Players have to meet certain conditions before they are given the invitation to enter the 'Playing ground' hence the limited amount of players]

Listening to the explanation of the guide Hayden had gotten a better understanding of the 'Playing ground', 'It seems that not only humans might be present there' He thought staring deeply at the interface.

"How do I survive in such an environment?" Hayden questioned knowing his chances of survival as a normal person were next to nothing.

[All players will automatically be able to access an interface known as a system which will help them level up, grow stronger, and monitor their development apart from that everyone will be given skills that will greatly boost one's chance of survival]

[Note that already unlocked skills are innate skills solely based on the player's character or trait]

"This sounds just like a game..." Hayden mumbled his eyes staring deeply into the darkness.

[You have only 59 seconds left!]

[Do you have any more questions?]

"No" He replied without thinking twice, to him he had gotten all the basic information he needed and that was enough for him to begin his new journey.

[Ok then, please patiently wait for the timer to end before you are transported to the 'Playing ground']

[00:45]

[00:32]

[00:19]

[00:09]

"Oh wait how do I access the system?" Hayden suddenly asked waiting hesitantly for a reply before the timer went out.

[To access the system, just swipe your right finger up in the air]

[00:03]

[00:02]

[00:01]

[00:00]

[You have reached the limit in the Enlightenment space you will how to be transported to the 'Playing ground']