Ash opened his eyes and found himself no longer within the confines of Broken Lake Prison.
He had truly left.
Even his interface confirmed it with a notification:
"You have now exited the Broken Lake Special Service Zone. Welcome to the Kaimon Service Area. Reply 'KM' for the latest Kaimon City tourism information."
But he hadn't fully escaped.
The ominous silhouette of Broken Lake Prison loomed just ten paces behind him.
The geography only made it stranger. The prison was known for its absolute isolation, perched in the middle of an inland sea. As Ash glanced downward, he saw the black, mirror-like surface of the lake far below, reflecting the blood moon above. The sight was breathtaking, awe-inspiring even—enough to make one wax poetic.
But Ash's legs were trembling too much to appreciate the beauty.
He stood on a precariously small platform, barely large enough to support a single person, suspended dozens of meters above the water.
"AAAAH! WHY AM I HERE?!"
A nearby convict screamed, his voice shrill with panic.
"Take me back! Take me back!"
"I was just leaving the dining hall!"
"This isn't where the Blood Moon Trials are supposed to take place!"
"I want to file a complaint! This is a blatant violation of convict rights!"
As the group of death row inmates erupted in chaos, a familiar, dreaded voice rang out from behind them:
"Ladies and gentlemen, convicts, good evening. The time is now 8:00 PM, Kaimon Standard Time. I am your overseer for tonight, Nagu McMillan."
The convicts turned toward the illuminated observation deck. Nagu stood at the edge, but his attention was fixed on six glowing, fiery eyes suspended in midair.
Even though Ash had never seen them before, he instinctively understood—they were the cameras.
"Welcome to tonight's Blood Moon Trial," Nagu announced with eerie calm. "For those tuning in, you can focus on any convict's face to view their profile. To change viewing angles, simply focus on one of the surveillance cameras. Anyone may access this broadcast by silently reciting 'Kaimon Channel One.' Trial rules are displayed on the right side of the screen."
Everyone…?
Ash thought for a moment, then silently uttered "Kaimon Channel One." Instantly, his interface displayed a live feed of the trial.
In the corner of the feed, he saw someone craning their neck awkwardly to look behind them. It took a moment for Ash to realize—it was him.
Nagu's voice pulled him back to reality.
"Tonight's mode is a new addition: Repentance on the Wire. Details are as follows."
1. The Lake of Death:
"This is the breeding season for Finger Sharks, which swarm Broken Lake during this time of year. Currently, there are an estimated 35,000 sharks in these waters. Anything that enters will be devoured instantly. For our viewers, please note that this month's fishing competition will not include Finger Sharks due to their overabundance."
Nagu casually kicked a dead pig into the lake.
The moment it hit the water, the surface erupted as countless finger-sized sharks attacked in a feeding frenzy. Within seconds, the pig's body was gone—no flesh, no bones, nothing remained.
Ash felt his knees buckle.
2. The Tempestous Sky:
"Due to tonight's storm surge, the northeast Kaimon region is temporarily a no-fly zone. Storm faction mages are advised to avoid wearing metallic items while entering virtual realms."
Nagu tossed a small metal shard into the air.
CRACK!
A bolt of lightning struck it with deafening force, obliterating it into nothingness.
3. The Executioner's Flame:
"Once voting begins, the Executioner will manifest on each convict's platform. Tonight's Executioners are equipped with the Purge Flame augmentation. While this flame causes no physical harm, it will relentlessly burn the souls of the guilty, purging their sins."
Nagu smirked. "However, rest assured, only the truly guilty—or the unrepentant—will feel its effects."
Ash froze.
His pulse quickened as he realized something: I'm not really Ash Heath. I'm an innocent soul! This flame shouldn't work on me!
4. The Tightrope to Redemption:
"Each convict has a steel wire extending from their platform to a larger safe zone. The safe zone contains an assortment of weapons—blades, firearms, even heavy artillery."
Spotlights illuminated the thin, treacherous wire stretching across the abyss. At the far end, Ash could just make out an arsenal of weaponry scattered across the platform.
5. The Blood Moon's Judgment:
"As per tradition, the convict with the highest votes at the end of the round will receive the honor of redemption. If any convict reaches 50% of the votes before time runs out, the voting phase will end immediately, and the execution will proceed."
Nagu's voice grew solemn. "Each vote empowers the Executioner, transforming the collective will of the people into righteous judgment. The Executioner will deliver the convict's soul to the mercy of the Blood Moon."
With a snap of his fingers, Nagu concluded, "Let the constraints be lifted."
Ash's interface flooded with notifications:
"Virtual access enabled."
"Mana output restored."
"Attack restrictions lifted."
For the first time since his arrival, Ash felt a strange lightness—a sense of freedom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the voting phase has officially begun! Cast your votes now and become the guardians of justice!"
The temperature plummeted.
Behind Ash, the blood moon's light began to writhe and take shape. It coalesced into a crimson, monstrous figure wreathed in ethereal blue flames. The Executioner loomed, its jagged, fiery silhouette casting a dreadful glow over Ash's pale face.
He instinctively stepped back—
And nearly lost his balance. His heel teetered on the platform's edge, the abyss below threatening to swallow him whole.
Why me?!
Ash's silent plea was answered by the glowing interface in the live broadcast:
"Current Leader: Ash Heath, 49 votes."