The ground beneath them trembled as a radiant light began to shimmer around the 500+ players gathered in the chamber. The High One's ominous words had barely faded from their ears, and now, with no time to absorb what had just happened, they found themselves ascending. Slowly, their bodies began to lift off the ground, as if drawn by some unseen force.
A low murmur spread among the players, some looking around in confusion while others clutched their weapons or their sides, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"A light?"
"Oh no, it's starting isn't it?"
Kael, ever the optimist, looked around with wide, excited eyes, his voice carrying over the growing noise.
"Holy shit, are we flying?!" he shouted, laughing loudly as he spun in the air like a child on a roller coaster. "This is insane! I swear, this has to be some kind of insane dream. I mean, look at this! We're floating!"
Alina, hovering nearby, shook her head. "Kael, once again this isn't a dream. This is real, and we're about to be sent into another nightmare. Can't you feel it?" Her voice trembled with fear, her pale face etched with concern.
Kael grinned, his carefree attitude unshakable. "Nah, I don't know, Alina. I've had weirder dreams. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"
Alina shot him a look. "You mean besides all of us dying?"
Hovering near the back of the group was Dante, his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he examined the shimmering light surrounding them. Unlike the others, Dante wasn't amused or excited. His sharp mind was already racing with possibilities, theories, and plans. He ran a hand through his disheveled black hair, his expression tense.
"They're sending us somewhere," he muttered to himself, his voice low but deliberate. "But why? What purpose does this serve?" He adjusted his glasses, his gaze flicking to the other players as they floated higher and higher. "Fools, all of them. They don't see the bigger picture. This isn't about survival—it's about control. They're manipulating us, moving us like chess pieces."
Sorin, the silent one, floated wordlessly beside Dante, his expression unreadable. Dante glanced at him, his eyes narrowing. "What? You think I'm wrong?" he asked, though Sorin didn't respond. "Of course you don't. Because I'm not. They're playing us, and we need to start thinking three steps ahead if we're going to survive this."
Sorin shrugged.
Dante rolled his eyes, "Hmph. You probably lost your memories in the first card game. I passed it with ease."
"Congrats," Sorin mumbled.
Dante pointed at Sorin, "Ah! You talked!"
Ren, nearby, said to Dante, "Oi, can you shut up?"
"Who even are you?" Dante answered.
"Making my head hurt, I'm trying to focus on how I'll kill this bastard."
"Useless thoughts."
"What was that?!"
"You're acting like that barbarian kid that attacked the goddess. That psycho kid."
"Him? Don't compare me to him. I'm staying as far away from him as possible."
"Precisely. Something we can agree on. That kid would be the cause of our demise with his decisions and hot blooded attitude. Foolish."
Alina, heading them, said, "He may be useful, we can't really judge him..you know?"
Dante said to her, "Oh please. After seeing the stunt he pulled, and how he easily took the life of another player, he's a loose cannon."
They were talking about Judex.
As the light grew brighter, Kael drifted over to Judex, who floated near the edge of the group, his eyes distant and his face set in a stern frown. Judex had been silent ever since the confrontation with Garron, his thoughts still swirling with the newfound power coursing through him.
"Hey, Judex, right?" Kael said, floating closer with a grin. "Man, that was pretty insane back there with Garron. You're, like, super powerful, huh? Wanna be friends? I feel like we could totally team up and kick some serious ass together."
Judex didn't respond, his eyes still distant, as if he hadn't heard Kael at all. He was lost in thought. Kael tilted his head, his grin faltering slightly. "Uh, Judex? You good, man? You still with us?"
Judex's eyes flicked toward him, cold and unyielding, "I don't wanna team up."
"Hm? Why? You hate teams?"
"I don't work well with other people. I don't even like people."
'Getting close to anyone here will only result in disappointment. What if I get close to anyone, having a friend or anything, and they die? Then I have to live with it. No point in getting attached. Can't lose my head here. Fuck, I'm used to not having friends anyway, I'm used to being alone, this won't be any diffrent. I may seem like an asshome to them, but it's for my own mental health that I'm discarding all relationships. Yeah sure, using them during a boss fight or something could be helpful, but getting close with anyone? Out the window.'
Kael blinked, taken aback for a moment before he chuckled. "Right, right. You're the strong, silent type. I get it. No big deal. I'll just… be over here, I guess. Just know if you're looking for a team, then I'm your guy!"
The light intensified, becoming almost blinding. The players shielded their eyes as they continued to rise, the shimmer engulfing them entirely. Panic began to set in among the nameless players, their voices rising in confusion and fear.
"Where are they taking us?"
"What the hell is happening now?! We can never get a break!"
"I don't think I'm ready for this."
"We're going to die, aren't we?!"
Espen, by herself, thought, 'This is it. It's happening. I can easily use Judex. I'll just do what every man falls for. Their own lust. He won't be able to resist. If I can use him to survive..then I can make it home.'
Even some of the other players began to exchange worried glances, their earlier bravado fading in the face of the unknown. Alina clutched her arms to her chest, her eyes wide with anxiety. "This isn't good. I can feel it. Something terrible is coming."
Talia, ever the leader, tried to remain calm, but even she was struggling to keep her composure. "Stay calm, everyone. We don't know what's happening yet, but we need to be ready for anything. Keep your wits about you."
Suddenly, the light reached its peak, and with a flash, the players were gone.
The first thing Judex noticed was the cold wind against his skin. It whipped through the air, biting and unforgiving. He blinked, his vision adjusting to the sudden change in scenery. Gone was the shimmering light of the High One's domain. Now, they stood in the middle of a sprawling, apocalyptic city—a twisted, nightmarish version of a once-great metropolis.
(Vordheim)
(Realm of the War God)
The rain clouds overhead loomed ominously, though no rain fell. The air was thick with the scent of smoke, blood, and decay. Skyscrapers, some crumbling and others still standing tall, lined the horizon, their windows shattered, their walls pockmarked with bullet holes and scorch marks. In the distance, the faint sounds of gunfire and explosions echoed through the streets.
'Medieval stuff mixed with modern stuff…super weird. That must mean this war god made an impact through the ages. Obviously. Gunshots through the air, and in the distance…should use my foresight ability? It hurts every time I use it, and I feel sinister...but it'll come in handy. I don't want to be caught off guard.'
Judex's gaze swept across the scene, taking in the crumbling castles that stood beside modern skyscrapers, the medieval siege engines that rolled through the streets alongside crashed helicopters and rusted-out tanks.
But then, he noticed something else—something far more immediate.
They were all naked.
A collective gasp echoed through the group as everyone realized their state of undress. Shocked cries and panicked yells filled the air as the players scrambled to cover themselves, their faces flushed with embarrassment and confusion. Breasts swayed, and manhood was covered, everyone's flustered attitude got the best of them. It was expected anyway.
"What the hell?!"
"Why are we naked?!"
"This can't be real! This can't be happening!"
"Don't look at me!"
"Everyone calm down! Focus on the situation at hand! We're in the realm of an enemy god—!" Talia tried to say but everyone was focused on the fact that they were naked.
They were distracted.
Kael's laughter rang out above the chaos, his usual carefree attitude shining through even now. "Well, this is certainly unexpected! I mean, I don't usually dream about being naked in war zones, but hey, there's a first time for everything!"
Alina turned bright red, trying to cover herself with her arms as she shot Kael a glare. "This…This isn't funny, Kael. This is very lewd, and not right.."
Talia raised her hand, "Guys, can we please focus—."
"It's a little funny," Kael replied, grinning as he tried to use his hands to cover his modesty.
Ren scoffed, "Bastards! I'll rip that High One's head off!"
Talia, nearby, covered herself, "Stop staring at me..and focus!"
"I'm not even looking at you!"
Dante said, "Bunch of children afraid of how people see them. All of you look the same naked anyway."
Kael whispered to Dante, "Aye, that's a weird thing to say, ya know?"
"Hmph. It's the truth. More importantly, we need to figure out what's going on here. Where is this god we were supposed to kill?"
Espen, however, was less panicked than the others—at least outwardly. She moved quickly, slipping behind Judex, her body pressing up against his back as she leaned in close, her breath warm against his ear. Her bare breasts rubbed against his arm, her nipple sliding off of his arm, as she whispered seductively, "Why do we have to be naked? This is so embarrassing… Make sure they don't look at me."
Judex's muscles tensed as he felt her body against his, a faint flush creeping into his cheeks despite his best efforts to remain composed. He shifted slightly, trying to move away without making a scene, but Espen stayed glued to him, her soft laugh barely audible as she teased him.
"I'm serious," she whispered, her lips brushing his ear. "Don't let anyone see me."
Judex said nothing, his dark red eyes fixed ahead as he tried to focus on the situation at hand. He wiped his black hair with a hint of nervousness, But Espen's presence was undeniably distracting, and he silently cursed under his breath.
'The touch of a female…something I never felt…it feels awesome…no! This isn't the time, not right now. I'm not a horn dog. I'm not a horn dog. A matter of life and death is at stake here. No getting close to anyone. I can't lie and say it's not emptying..before, no one wanted to even get close to me.'
Judex said to Espen, "Why are you on me? I'm not your bodyguard."
"I'm Espen by the way."
"…Judex."
Suddenly, the sky above them shimmered, and large, cursive words formed in the clouds, glowing faintly against the darkened sky:
"Chapter 1: The War God"
The words loomed ominously, casting a shadow over the group as they read the message. And then, as if on cue, the ground began to rumble.
Players said:
"A chapter?"
"I'm still wanting to know why we're naked.."
"Like we're in some sort of story..a book even..weird shit."
Espen said to Judex, "What kind of story would this be? A revenge story, maybe? World domination? The High One wants to kill all gods in existence to be the last one standing? And you know if you ever need someone to exchange information with, trying to figure this all out and stuff, I'm here. I'm kinda smart. I have glasses and stuff. That means I'm smart. I won't be a crutch in your side—."
Judex moved away from her, saying, "I'm not planning on making teams with anyone." He moved her away, standing off to the side.
'No one's listening, but Talia is right. We're in the middle of a warzone..no one is focused on the fate of our very lives. I should move away from them, do my own thing. Even if they die without me, what are they to me? They'll get me ripped apart. I'm leaving, I'm gonna find this war god and get it over with, deliver his heart to the High One.'
Espen thought, 'Oh, he's a tough one to crack. I'll try harder.'
Suddenly, One of the players, a young man with wide, terrified eyes, let out a scream as his body began to convulse. His skin rippled and bulged unnaturally, his bones cracking and reshaping themselves as he fell to the ground, writhing in agony.
"What… what's happening to him?!" someone shouted.
"H-help me!" The player screamed.
The man's body twisted grotesquely, his flesh melding with the weapons that littered the ground around him. His arms fused with the rusted remains of a medieval sword, his legs contorted into the barrel of an old rifle. His face, once human, was now a twisted mask of horror, his eyes glowing red as blood poured from them.
Ren scoffed, "No way.."
Talia exclaimed, "Watch your backs!"
And then, with a guttural roar, the newly transformed abomination lunged at the nearest player, slicing them apart with a single swing of its blade-arm.
Blood sprayed across the cobblestones as the player's body crumpled to the ground, split in two. The other players screamed, backing away in terror as the abomination roared again, its bloodlust insatiable.
All around them, more of the players began to transform, their bodies merging with the weapons around them, becoming grotesque killing machines. Chainsaws sprouted from arms. Guns fused with flesh. Swords replaced limbs. The air was filled with the sound of metal grinding against bone, of screams and blood splattering across the ground.
Judex darted ahead, avoiding attacks as his right eye was glowing red and was bleeding, using his ability to evade attacks. He then saw that Talia was about to die in three seconds.
'I'm no hero. I don't know these people, why should I save them?'
Judex dashed over to her despite his thoughts, trying to form a weapon made out of blood, saying, "Get the fuck down—!"
Talia, trying desperately to maintain order, shouted, "Everyone, stay together! We need to—"
Her words were cut short as a grotesque figure, a civilian—its arms replaced with chainsaws, its eyes bleeding red—rushed forward and sliced her in half. Her body fell to the ground in two pieces, blood pooling beneath her as the other players screamed in horror.
"Talia!" Alina cried, her voice breaking as she backed away, her eyes wide with shock.
Judex stopped, thinking, 'I wasn't fast enough! Why did I even try and save a stranger? Whom I don't even know? What if this was all planned?! Sent here to be naked to throw us off guard, knowing we would be caught off guard with it? But why do it? To test us? To cut out the weak-minded? To make us embarrassed?! It made us distracted for a few seconds, and I couldn't even focus even with my foresight. I realize My ability awakened during my first card game, and now I can activate it whenever I want. But only when I'm in conflict it seems. The High One..he's smarter than he looks.'
The players scattered, their fear overwhelming any attempts at organization. Some tried to fight, swinging fists and makeshift weapons at the abominations. Others ran, their naked bodies stumbling through the ruined streets as the abominations pursued them, cutting them down in bloody displays of violence.
Out of the cut, civilians in this domain burst through buildings and underground, some fused with guns and blades and medieval weapons, shooting and slicing each other up brutally, screaming as the rage of war filled their bodies.
Some even screamed, "Help us!"
"Please help us!"
They couldn't stop themselves, they were on a rampage.
Kael, his usual humor gone, grabbed Alina's hand and pulled her away from the chaos. "We need to move! Now!"
"But Talia—"
"She's gone! We have to run!"
Ren conjured chains around his fists and body, and they were covered in flames, and he said, "Screw this! I'm not getting slapped by these bastards!"
At that moment, more corrupted civilians blasted through the crowd of players near Judex, slamming down on them hard with violence, which blasted everyone away from one another, splitting up.
"No!"
"We need to stay together!"
"Use your skills!"
More players were being ripped apart, shot, stabbed, and dying left to right. Judex rolled over and over on the ground, his head already bleeding from the impact, he was out on a road by himself, watching civilians slaughter each other in an endless rush of war and rage.
The city itself is alive with conflict. Buildings crumble under artillery fire, while helicopters buzz overhead, dropping bombs on the ground below. Siege engines from the medieval era roll through the streets, launching flaming stones at both players and enemies alike. The environment is constantly shifting, forcing players to adapt to the chaos.
Alina was running away, not wanting to fight, crying, "I'm getting out of here! I-I can't do this!"
Ren yelled at her, "Get back here! You don't know if you'll be killed anyway just for running!" Ren was punching down corrupt civilians left and right, his fists were covered in flaming chains, his blows pounding heads into the ground and the air, but he was shot multiple times, and even stabbed through the hip, and he was slashed right through a wall.
Ren, coughing up blood, said, "I'm not done yet..not yet!"
Elsewhere nearby, Sorin, already wounded and blessing everywhere, was on the ground, wielding a shield made out of shadows, and he was using it to hold back corrupt civilians as there were at least 7 of them trying to kill him, weighing down on him.
"Aghhhh!" He yelled. His arm was broken already, but he pushed with all he had.
Judex, getting up from the ground, thought, 'So this is the war god's power…he's the embodiment of it, making people suffer from his nature! I have to kill him, and fast. How much time do we even have to kill a god or goddess?!'
As the chaos unfolded around him, Judex's attention was drawn upward. The sound of roaring engines filled the air, and he looked up to see thousands of warplanes streaking across the sky, their engines deafening as they flew in perfect formation, all heading in the same direction.
And then, high above them all, standing impossibly in mid-air, was Aresoth.
Aresoth, the god of war, was a towering figure, his body rippling with muscle and power. His skin was a deep, obsidian black, etched with glowing red tattoos that pulsed with energy. His face was a mask of fury and savagery, his eyes glowing bright yellow, with intricate war patterns painted across his cheeks and forehead. His dreadlocks, long and thick, glowed with an eerie, golden light, each strand seeming to pulse with raw energy.
He wore a patchwork of ancient and modern armor—pieces of medieval plate mixed with futuristic technology that hummed with power. His left arm was covered in glowing, runic symbols, while his right hand gripped a massive warhammer that crackled with electricity.
"You…" Judex said angrily.
Aresoth's lips curled into a cruel smile as he surveyed the scene below, his voice booming across the battlefield.
"Oh?" he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "A new batch of sacrifices?! Haha! This will be fun…"
"New batch? What are you talking about? You know something.."
"Hmmm. You have the Eye of the Mad God..now this is interesting. I want it. But I wanna earn it, and you have to earn a duel with me."
"I don't care! I don't care about any of that! Fight me!"
His laughter echoed through the streets, a dark, mocking sound that sent chills down the players' spines.
Judex's fists clenched at his sides as he stared up at the war god, his blood boiling with a mixture of fear, anger, and something darker—something primal. The fight was coming, and Judex knew, deep down, that this was only the beginning.
'Why am I not going insane right now like before when I used my foresight skill?'
And then, with a deafening roar, Aresoth lifted his warhammer, and the sky itself seemed to split open.
Judex's right eye burned, blood trickling down his face as his vision blurred for a moment. He clenched his fists, steeling himself against the pain. He winced at it, his head throbbing, but he needed those few seconds of foresight. When he would go insane, not knowing why, the pain didn't affect him, he didn't even feel it. But now, it's different.
Aresoth's mocking laughter still echoed in his ears, and with a deep, primal growl, Judex summoned the power he had gained in the previous trials. His right hand glowed a deep crimson, and from the blood pooling in his palm, a weapon began to form — a scythe, its blade jagged and wicked, made entirely of blood and shadow.
The weapon hummed with power, and as Judex twirled it in his hand, it left streaks of red light in the air. His gaze hardened, fixed on the spot where Aresoth had just vanished. The god of war was playing with him, taunting him, daring him to act. But Judex wasn't one to be toyed with.
With a sharp motion, he slammed the butt of his scythe into the ground, summoning a behemoth from the depths of his soul. The ground trembled as the massive form of a Minotaur emerged, its towering body covered in thick, blood-red fur, its eyes glowing with rage. In its hands, it held two enormous axes, each blade etched with runes that shimmered faintly in the dim light.
The Minotaur let out a deafening roar, its axes raised high as it awaited Judex's command.
'They said our decisions in the first card game shapes which god we face….was it my decisions? I get the feeling it was, but how? No, stop. I get easily distracted. I have to kill this guy, I say it over and over, and haven't attacked yet. Am I scared? Me? As many people I've bullied and beat down before I got here..there's no way I'm scared. At all…'
He already felt weak, he wanted to sit, but he kept standing, blood dripping down his body.
"I'll destroy all of you.." Judex said.
Judex's right eye flared with pain again, and he could feel his vision shifting. The world around him slowed, and for just a moment, he could see three seconds into the future. He saw the swarm of civilians, their bodies merged grotesquely with weapons, rushing toward him in a wave of destruction. Chainsaws buzzed, guns clicked, and blades scraped against the ground as they charged, their twisted forms dripping with blood and oil.
But before he could act, Aresoth's voice rang out again, this time directly in his mind.
"You want to fight me, owner of the Mad God's Eye?" Aresoth's voice was deep and mocking. "Very well. Find me, if you can. For someone like me to give you a fight of war, I must see your rage."
Judex's eyes darted around, trying to locate the war god, but Aresoth was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the battlefield seemed to shift, warping around Judex as Aresoth's form flickered in and out of existence — one moment, he was a shadow in the corner of Judex's vision, the next, he was a cub lain, a weapon fused with a twisted civilian, then a discarded blade lying in the rubble. He was everywhere and nowhere, his presence a constant, taunting reminder of the overwhelming power Judex was up against.
'Great, he can vanish and change his form. Only into weapons..'
Suddenly, the sky above them shimmered again, and more cursive writing appeared, glowing faintly in the clouds:
"Two hours. Kill the god… or die."
"Two hours.." Judex said that in way like he wanted to cry.
To him, that wasn't enough time.