109: Murdureous Intent thick in the air

Prince Charming turned to face Jack, his eyes stern. "This isn't just a game," he said in a deep voice. "It's a trial. A test of your strength and will to survive."

Jack frowned, his hands balling into fists. "But why?" he asked. "Why does it have to be this way? There are other ways to test our abilities and determination, aren't there?"

Prince Charming's expression didn't waver, showcasing life was as cheap as cabbage to him. It didn't seem weird, as he wasn't a human, but rather a monster, a being who was foreign to the concept of kindness. 

"Only the worthy are allowed to ascend the tower," he said. "The ones who possess the skills, cunning, and ferocity to outsmart and vanquish their opponents, despite their ties. The rest, well, they deserve to be disposed of."

"So inhumane."

"What did you expect from a monster."

The crowd let out a collective gasp, and Prince Charming chuckled softly.