If one were to ask, "What is the most dangerous living creature in the world?" Many would likely point to wild animals like tigers, lions, or other predators.
However, what most fail to realize is that the most dangerous and destructive creatures are, in fact, humans.
Not only are they ravaging nature and slowly destroying the Earth, but they are also inflicting cruelty upon one another.
Yet, most are unwilling to admit this. Well, that's hardly surprising, considering humans are, after all, selfish and hypocritical beings, right?
...
"Where am I?" Merlin inquired hoarsely, slowly opening his heavy eyelids.
His head throbbed with pain, and his vision was blurred. After a moment, his sight began to clear, and he gasped at the sight before him—a vast, white hall.
The hall was filled with towering golden pillars that seemed to stretch endlessly. In every corner stood ten-meter-high statues of various shapes—dragons, phoenixes, and other unfamiliar mythical creatures.
What truly astonished him, however, was that he wasn't alone—over five hundred people shared his confused expression. Moreover, each of them had a unique and somewhat strange appearance.
Some were dressed in military uniforms, noble clothing, space suits, and the most striking of all, someone was clad in medieval-style garments. If Merlin wasn't absolutely certain he was awake, he might have thought this was a hallucination.
"Damn it! What the hell is going on? Where am I? Why am I here?" Merlin wondered, his mind spinning with confusion.
He still clearly remembered being at the edge of a deep gorge, surrounded by hitmen intent on finishing him off. In that desperate moment, a mysterious woman's voice had suddenly echoed in his mind, promising to help him.
Yet now, after following her instructions to jump into the gorge, he found himself in this strange place, surrounded by unfamiliar strangers whose origins he couldn't even begin to fathom.
"Was I deceived by that voice?" Merlin muttered to himself, narrowing his eyes in thought.
He wanted to convince himself that he had been tricked, but as he sensed the steady beat of his heart and pulse, his doubts faded. After all, that was proof he was still alive—just as the woman's voice had promised.
As his confusion deepened, a golden streak of light suddenly appeared in the sky, slowly descending toward the front of the hall.
The unexpected phenomenon immediately captured the attention of everyone in the hall, and they watched warily as the light approached.
Moments later, the golden light grew brighter before it transformed into an exquisitely beautiful woman.
She was draped in a flowing golden gown, her long golden hair cascading gracefully down to her curvaceous hips.
Her golden eyes radiated an extraordinary allure, captivating anyone who gazed at her, as if they were drowning in her beauty. Resting atop her head was a sparkling golden crown, adorned with exquisite red, gold, white, and blue crystals along its edges.
Even Merlin, who had encountered many beautiful women in his life, had to admit that this woman was the most stunning he had ever seen. Her beauty was so otherworldly, it seemed as though she was a goddess—impossible to compare to any mortal being.
"Welcome, destined ones. I am Quinella, messenger from the palace of the gods, and I greet you all with the utmost joy," the woman said, her lips curving into a faint smile.
Her voice was soft and delicate, yet to their ears, it felt like thunder rumbling inside their minds.
"Who are you? And why am I here? Did you kidnap me?" A burly man suddenly stepped forward from the crowd.
The man had a formidable presence and a terrifying appearance, radiating a sense of menace with every glance.
The beautiful woman, however, remained composed, unfazed by his fierce appearance, and retained her serene smile.
"I know you're likely confused about why you're here," the woman said in a calm, soothing voice. "But rest assured, I have no intention of causing you harm. I ask that you listen to what I have to say first. Is that alright?"
Her gaze swept across the crowd, and the people still wore expressions of wariness and caution.
The woman was about to speak again but was immediately interrupted by the burly man.
"Damn it! I don't care about your nonsense! Send me back to where I was, or don't blame me for using force!" He shouted, his tone threatening.
Probably irritated by the man, the woman's gentle expression and beautiful smile gradually faded. She fixed him with a cold, indifferent stare, as if regarding a fool.
"Do you really want to leave this place?" she asked, her voice steady.
"Yeah! I want to go back to where I belong!" the man retorted stubbornly.
The woman was silent for a moment, then let out a small sigh before pointing toward a door—a golden gate that appeared far off in the distance.
"If you wish to return to your place, you can pass through that gate. However, I must warn you: once you do, I will not intervene if something happens to you—such as an accident, or worse, your death," the woman explained, offering a subtle warning.
"Humph! Do you think I'll be afraid of your threats?" the burly man retorted arrogantly.
Without a second thought, he strode confidently toward the gate.
The beautiful woman shook her head and smiled dismissively. Turning her gaze to the crowd before her, she announced, "If any of you wish to leave, now is the time. But remember this: if you lose your lives, don't blame me."
Upon hearing her offer, some people appeared intrigued and eager to leave. None of them understood why they were there and clearly longed to return to their homes.
After a moment, two people stepped forward and said, "We want to go!"
The choice of the two drew the attention of many, and one by one, others began to follow suit. Before long, more than a hundred people had decided to join the burly man.
The woman fixed them with an intense gaze as she asked once more, "Are you sure?"
They all nodded resolutely, and the woman said nothing more. Without hesitation, the hundred people followed the burly man toward the golden gate.
Merlin, who had been silently observing, narrowed his eyes and watched them with a look of pity.
"They truly are fools," he muttered softly, shaking his head slightly.
It was clear they had all been brought here for an unknown purpose, and there was no way the beautiful woman would simply let them go. Yet, those fools had so easily fallen for her words, and Merlin was certain their end would be a miserable death.
*Buzz!*
As the hundred people, including the burly man, reached the golden gate, it trembled slightly before swinging open on its own.
An intensely bright white light radiated from the gate, obscuring whatever lay beyond.
The burly man grinned with delight and arrogance. With a confident stride, he stepped forward and vanished from sight. The hundred people quickly followed.
*Buzz!*
Moments later, the golden gate slowly closed again, plunging the hall into an eerie silence.
"Um... Can I ask you something? Did they really return to their places?" A woman of average appearance posed a question, her voice laced with nervousness.
At this, the beautiful woman offered only a faint smile, though the cold glint in her golden eyes was impossible to conceal.
"No, they have died."