Alex had made up his mind. After reaching Level 8, he decided it was time to head back to the city. He knew he needed supplies, and a break from the forest was long overdue. But as he walked through the thick trees, heading toward the city, something felt off. His instincts tingled.
He stopped and scanned his surroundings, his senses heightened. A faint rustling came from the bushes behind him. Someone was following him. Alex's lips curled into a smirk as he found a thick tree nearby and climbed it with practiced ease. He nestled himself between the branches, peering down at the path below.
It didn't take long for him to spot the group—ten people in total, moving carefully through the forest. They were trying to remain hidden, but their lack of experience was obvious.
Alex noted their levels as they passed: the leader was Level 4, while the others ranged from Level 2 to Level 3. None of them seemed particularly strong, and Alex wasn't concerned. But he was curious. Why were they following him?
After they moved past the tree, Alex dropped silently to the ground. He stood tall and stepped into their path. The group froze, their eyes wide as they saw him.
"What do you want?" Alex's voice was low, almost a growl.
The leader, a man with a smug look, stepped forward. "You're the one they call Shadow, aren't you? My young master, Jonathan, has ordered you to come with us. You should know your place, peasant."
Alex raised an eyebrow, amused by the man's arrogance. "I don't take orders from anyone, especially not from some spoiled noble who thinks he owns the world."
The leader sneered. "You don't get to choose, scum. We're taking you to Master Jonathan. You'll regret crossing him."
Alex's eyes flickered with cold amusement. "You sure about that?"
Without warning, he surged forward and extended a single finger toward the leader. The man barely had time to react before he was sent flying back, crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud.
The group stared at their leader, who groaned in pain, barely conscious. They looked back at Alex, eyes wide with fear. But their arrogance hadn't fully faded.
"You... you'll pay for that!" one of the bodyguards yelled, drawing his weapon.
Alex simply watched them, his expression calm. "Are you all done talking?"
The battle that followed was short and brutal. The group attempted to surround him, but their attacks were clumsy and weak. One by one, Alex dispatched them with precise strikes, his movements effortless and fluid.
A few of them tried to threaten him with their "connections," invoking Jonathan's name, but Alex wasn't swayed. To him, strength was the only thing that mattered in this world.
In the end, only one bodyguard remained alive. He was the one who had tried to call for reinforcements. He knelt on the ground, shaking with fear.
Alex approached him, his voice cold. "Go back to Jonathan. Tell him I'll be coming for him soon."
The man nodded frantically, not daring to speak. He scrambled to his feet and ran back toward the city, disappearing into the trees.
Alex turned away, walking toward the city. His mind was already occupied with the next step. As he approached the gates, he noticed a strange, almost foreboding feeling in the air. He couldn't shake the sense that something was about to change.
The bustling city was alive with noise as Alex entered. He found an inn, rented a room, and immediately set to work selling the loot he had gathered from the battle. He kept his transactions discreet, not wanting to draw attention to himself. Afterward, he visited a shop to sell the mana stones he had collected over the past weeks.
The shop was crowded with adventurers and traders, but Alex slipped in unnoticed. He sold only a few stones, ensuring not to attract too much attention. He knew the last thing he needed was for people to start asking questions about where he'd acquired them.
As he made his way through the city, a sudden, booming voice echoed in the air, freezing him in his tracks.
"Welcome, Earthlings. The Supreme Observer has granted you an opportunity to prove your worth. The Battle of Supremacy will begin shortly. Survive, and you will be rewarded beyond imagination."
Alex's heart skipped a beat. The words were chilling, their weight heavy in the air. He wasn't the only one who had heard it. Across the city, people stopped dead in their tracks, staring around in confusion and fear.
Government POV
In the heart of the city, government officials rushed into their command centers, scrambling for answers. Phones rang off the hook, and the entire building buzzed with frantic activity.
"This is a global issue," one official said, slamming a fist onto the table. "We need to mobilize the military. Get a hold of the global leaders. Now!"
Another official shook his head, his eyes wide. "But what are we dealing with? This... this doesn't make sense."
"Doesn't matter," the first official snapped. "We deal with it, or we lose control."
Civilian POV
On the streets, panic swept through the crowds. People were shouting, some crying, others frozen in place, unable to comprehend what was happening.
"Are we going to war? Is this an invasion?" one woman shouted, gripping her child tightly.
"We need to get to safety!" another man screamed, pushing through the crowd.
Social Media POV
Social media exploded with theories and speculation. Posts flew across screens at a rapid pace, hashtags trending worldwide.
@FearfulEarthling: "Is this a joke? The Battle of Supremacy? What is going on?!"
@ObserverWatcher: "This is it. The Observer has chosen Earth."
@ConspiracyGuru: "It's a test. They want us to fight for our survival. This is the real deal."
The world shifted. People found themselves blinking in confusion as they stood in unfamiliar surroundings. Some were in dense forests, others in open fields, some in barren deserts. No one could make sense of it.
Alex stood still, his heart racing. He was no longer in the city, no longer in his world. Around him, other people were appearing, each looking just as confused as he was.
Then, a figure appeared before them all. A woman, ethereal and striking, her wings glowing with an angelic light.
She held a strange device in her hand that resembled a microphone, but something about it felt otherworldly. Her presence commanded attention, as if the very air around her bent to her will.
Her voice rang out, clear and commanding. "Welcome to the Battle of Supremacy. I am Camilla, the Herald of the Supreme Observer. You are here because you have been chosen, Earthlings. Prove yourselves worthy, and you will be rewarded."
Her gaze swept across the crowd, a smug smile curling her lips.
"I must say, I find it curious," she continued, her tone dripping with disdain. "Why did the Supreme Observer choose your planet? You are all so... insignificant compared to the other races. But I suppose the Observer enjoys watching the weak fight for survival."
Alex's mind raced. He had heard of beings like this, but this was different. This wasn't just some game. This was real. And the stakes were higher than he had imagined.
Ranking Board POV
At the same moment, the Ranking Board flashed in front of everyone's eyes.
The top six names were displayed clearly, their talents known to all.
1st: Alex (Shadow)
2nd: Celestina
3rd: Carl
4th: John
5th: Jonathan
6th: Eric
Each of the top-ranked players watched the board with different expressions.
Celestina, the second-ranked, remained calm, her confidence unwavering.
Carl, ranked third, was excited, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
John, the fourth, furrowed his brow, thinking carefully about his next move.
Jonathan, fifth-ranked, was busy, his thoughts racing to figure out what this new world meant for him.
Eric, ranked sixth, remained composed, his mind calculating his next steps in silence.
The Battle of Supremacy was about to begin, and they all knew it.