Eve Grabbing Sam's arm tighter, her voice trembling "Sam... she just... she just killed him. What are we supposed to do?"
Michael Holding their mother close, his face pale "She's not joking, is she? This isn't a drill."
Sam Takes a deep breath, steadying himself "No, Mike. It's not. That was a warning—one we need to take seriously."
Mrs. Barlow Whispers, her voice shaking "This can't be happening... Sam, what do we do?"
Sam Looking each of them in the eye, his tone firm but calm "We survive. That's what we do. Look, I don't know how bad this is going to get, but I've been preparing for years, and I swear I'll protect all of you. But you have to trust me. Listen to what she says. Follow the rules. That's how we make it through this."
Eve Wipes her eyes, trying to steady her voice "You really think we can survive this?"
Sam Grins faintly, gripping her shoulder reassuringly "We've got something the others don't—me. And I don't plan on dying here. Neither will you."
Michael Nods reluctantly, standing taller "Alright, Sam. We'll follow your lead. Just don't get us killed."
Sam Turning back toward Lilia, watching her with sharp focus "Not a chance."
After the fairy's display of power, the random man who had dared challenge her was swiftly and brutally taken out as an example. She meant to instill fear and seriousness in the participants, but the result was far from what she expected.
Instead of quieting the crowd, the killing only sparked greater chaos. The air was filled with frantic screams as people began running in every direction, desperate to escape the fairy's wrath. But no matter how fast or far they ran, they soon found their way blocked. A translucent barrier wall, invisible but tangible, stood in their path, stopping them from going any farther.
Panic spread like wildfire. Some tried to punch or kick the barrier, hoping to break through, but the invisible wall didn't budge. The realization that they were trapped hit like a ton of bricks, sending many into further madness.
A few people, completely losing their sense of control, fell to the ground, curled up and screaming as though the world was collapsing around them. Others, frantic and desperate, tried to silence the screams of those around them, terrified that any noise would draw the fairy's attention. They knew what had happened to the man, and they feared their loved ones would be next if they made too much noise.
The air was thick with fear and confusion, as the illusion of safety vanished, and the harsh reality of their situation began to settle in.
In the center of the chaos, all that remained were Sam and his group, along with a few hundred others who seemed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. They were quiet, observing the fairy closely, carefully considering their next move.
The fairy, on the other hand, was stunned by the unexpected reaction from the humans. She stood frozen for a moment, her usual composure faltering. "I've been doing this job as a tutorial guide for humans for almost a thousand years. Never has anything like this happened before. Usually, humans surrender, beg, or even call me 'goddess'... Why are they acting like this?" She thought, her confidence shaken.
After a long pause, the fairy's expression shifted. Her thoughts gathered, and she made a decision. Rising above the frantic scene, she raised her hand high and made a gripping motion in the air. In an instant, the people who had attempted to flee were lifted off the ground, as though invisible hands were pulling them back toward the center. Their bodies floated unnaturally, held in place by an unseen force.
The fairy's body glowed with an eerie blue light as she spoke, her voice now calm yet commanding, slicing through the panic-stricken air.
"Calm," she said, her voice resonating like a bell, carrying an otherworldly authority.
As the word left her lips, the atmosphere seemed to shift. The tension in the air thickened, but somehow, the panic in the crowd lessened, as if the fairy's very presence forced an unnatural stillness upon them.
The fairy cleared her throat, an almost playful sound before she declared, "Ahem, let's start again, then." Her voice was calm, unfazed by the chaos that had just erupted, as if the previous scene had been nothing more than a minor hiccup.
With a casual flick of her finger, she pointed toward the headless corpse of the man who had dared challenge her. Time itself seemed to stretch and twist in response to her command. Slowly, the body reassembled—blood reversed, the skull and brain returning to their rightful place, and in a matter of seconds, the man's head was restored.
His eyes snapped open, terror flooding his expression as he gasped for air. The man was wide-eyed, his mind struggling to process the horrific return to life. He instinctively began sucking on his fingers, sobbing uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face as if he were a child frightened by a nightmare.
The crowd fell into a stunned silence, watching the impossible unfold. But as they saw the man breathe again, a flicker of something changed in the air—a shift from pure terror to a strange kind of hope. The survival instinct in each of them stirred. They understood now that they had been given another chance, that the rules had changed, and the stakes had been made painfully clear.
The fairy observed the reactions with a satisfied smirk. Her method had worked. She had broken them, pushed them to the edge, and now they would respond. The spark of desire to survive, to adapt, to learn—it was igniting in their hearts. She had tested them, and now they would be more pliable, ready to follow her lead through the tutorial she had set in motion.
Her smile widened, pleased with the results. The game had begun in earnest.
The fairy looked over the crowd, her voice carrying an almost regal tone as she spoke again. "I will start the explanation about the tutorial and why you are here. Any questions will come after I am finished, understood?"
The crowd, still recovering from the earlier chaos, remained silent, their attention now fixed on the fairy.
She nodded and continued. "You are now in the Tutorial World, a specially designed realm where newly integrated planets send all living beings capable of accessing the Soul Record. Its purpose is to accelerate adaptation and prepare its inhabitants to combat the looming invasion of chaos. This process doesn't just involve humans—animals with a certain level of self-awareness also participate under the directive of the [Inhabitants Life Protection Protocol]."
As she spoke, the fairy gestured with her hand, and a translucent screen appeared in the air before her, visible only to her. Her expression shifted as she began to examine the data presented on the screen.
"Wait a moment, let me see the data," she muttered to herself, her eyes scanning the information in awe.
After a brief pause, her voice broke the silence again, this time with a hint of surprise. "Wow, your planet is really something. Your human population alone has been assigned to over 1,500,000 Trial Zones! And the total number of trial zones for your planet exceeds 10,000,000 zones! What kind of planet is this? With so many Soul Record accesses... it's unlike anything I've seen before."
The fairy's tone was filled with both admiration and intrigue, clearly impressed by the scale of the records from this planet. She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered the implications of such vast numbers. The crowd watched, still processing her words, as they began to realize the true scale of the situation they had found themselves in.
The fairy's voice rang out once more, this time with a commanding tone as she continued her explanation.
"I will explain the tutorial to you. You have now been assigned to the trial zones for those who are capable of becoming fighters. The goal of this trial zone is to transform you into powerful soldiers, prepared to combat the invasion of chaos. As for what chaos is, I will not explain it to you now. Let us focus on the tutorial rules first."
She raised her hand slightly, and a holographic screen appeared beside her, displaying information as she spoke.
The fairy's gaze swept across the crowd, her voice unwavering as she delivered the grim message.
"The tutorial will last for three months in terms of time on your home planet. The minimum goal to pass the trial is for participants to complete one of the designed trials and reach at least Tier 1, level 30. If you fail to achieve this, the only result will be death. Simple, isn't it?"
A chill ran through the crowd at her blunt words, and the reality of the situation began to settle in. The fairy continued, her voice cold but firm.
The fairy's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, her tone cool and calculated.
"Your trial zone has been assigned with 5,000 participants—healthy, fully grown humans."
She raised her hand, gesturing as if to outline the scope of their challenge.
"The trial will consist of three stages, each lasting one month. The first stage is called 'The Survival.' The rules are straightforward: your goal is to reach the Tutorial Towns, located in one of the four cardinal directions from this starting point. The exact distance? That's for you to discover.
"Your journey will lead you through the forest terrain, teeming with monsters. These creatures are not only your obstacles but also your greatest resources for progression. Their defeat will aid your growth, so do not shy away from confronting them. I strongly recommend that you reach at least Tier 1 before attempting to enter the town—unless, of course, you wish to meet an early demise.
"If you fail to reach the town within one month, you will fail the trial. Be warned: as time progresses, the forest will grow more dangerous than you can possibly imagine. The choice to survive or perish lies in your hands."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.
"The details of the next stage will be revealed once you complete this one. Any questions?"
The crowd was silent, some looking around nervously while others steeled themselves for what lay ahead.