Chapter 14

Back on Earth, a hand tore through the sky in front of us, a sight as incredible as it was frightening. Mizuki, like me, was stunned by the colossal size of this entity. Beside us, other participants began to hurl insults at us, blaming me for what was happening.

I gave them a cold look. "If you want to survive, you'd better take Lyra as your Asterism. It might come in handy..."

The disapproving murmurs persisted, but I didn't care about judgements. "Do you think it's my fault? There's something wrong with this game, and rather than wasting your time criticising me, you'd be better off finding solutions to protect yourself."

A scornful voice rose from the crowd. "You can't even understand what's going on here, and you claim to give advice? Pathetic."

Ignoring the provocation, I turned to Mizuki. "We'd better stay focused on our objective..."

Mizuki nodded.

The other participants remained torn between disbelief and frustration. In this new world every decision was crucial, and we couldn't afford to overlook any possibilities.

I decided to leave the other participants to deal with their own problems. Chaos reigned, but I couldn't afford to dwell on every quarrel. However, I did have an idea in mind. If a member of the finder's group was eliminated, it could cause confusion among them, weakening them from within.

While the participants argued and tried to organise themselves, I discreetly moved away to approach the S-class monster that was threatening the Imperial Palace. A massive figure, a terrifying creature, but I had to neutralise it.

As I got closer, the reality of the game became more and more oppressive. Screaming, crying, cursing, all mixed together in a chaotic cacophony. It was a battle for survival, with everyone on their own.

When I arrived in front of the colossal monster, I felt a surge of adrenalin. I had negotiated with Lyre to reduce the challenge to an acceptable level, but facing a creature of this scale was still a major challenge.

One of the participants, braving the imposing threat of the monster, decided to rush into the arena. He shouted to the sky, asking Lyra to grant him her power. The stars briefly lit up, and he entered into a fierce battle with the S-class monster.

The valiant participant, sword drawn, took a determined step towards the colossal monster. Roars echoed around the arena as the fight began. Sparks flew with every impact, illuminating the macabre scene.

The first exchanges were rapid, a frantic dance of swords and claws. The hunter aggressively avoided the monster's attacks, his blade slicing through the air with remarkable agility. However, the S-class creature retaliated with brutal force, each blow carrying a deadly threat.

The ground shook under the power of the clash, creating visible shockwaves. The stars of Lyra shone brightly, giving the hunter temporary strength. His movements were accentuated, and he managed to inflict a few wounds on the monster. However, the battle was taking a worrying turn.

The monster unleashed a fearsome attack, sweeping its huge claw in a sinister arc. The hunter narrowly dodged, but the force of the impact threw him violently against a wall. The group of participants held their breath, anxiously watching the titanic struggle.

As the hunter tried to get up, the monster prepared for a final attack. Its cry resounded with fury and determination. It was a critical moment, a fraction of a second before the fatal impact. The question remained: would he manage to get up and overcome this ordeal, or would the rampaging creature seal his fate in the darkness of this virtual world?