In the Depths of Alhonce.

As I crossed my legs, I propped my spiked tail on my knees, and reclined against the back of the chair. Absentmindedly soothing my grumbling stomach, I observed the frenzy of creatures clamoring with their questions.

"Damn," I muttered under my breath.

The fourth bowl had been a mistake.

One creature with a narrow mouth and bulging eyes spoke up, scratching at a scar that trailed along their thick neck. "What about the Bosses? If they keep getting stronger, we won't stand a chance. I barely survived against that bat, and they didn't even offer me a moment's rest."

Roma, still calmly stroking the wings adorning his cane, responded, "You should have familiarized yourself with the basics before settling into your homes. As for the Bosses, after the First Level, if you cannot defeat a Boss and choose not to die, you have the option to give up. In that case, you will be sent to a lower level."

A chorus of voices erupted in response. "How does that work?"

"It's quite simple," Roma explained, pointing with the blunt tip of his cane towards the tokens. "If you hadn't defeated the Esteemed Dragon Maledictus you would have been plunged into a treacherous ravine teeming with deadly plants. However, here in the Arena, you have the opportunity to relinquish your token and exchange it for your own life, starting from level 2."

His gaze shifted among the crowd, emphasizing the gravity of his words. "The caretakers will then transport you to a level five floors below, but only once a month and no more. However, I strongly advise against such a course of action. Falling down the ranks again is an extreme circumstance, one that should be avoided if possible."

More questions quickly followed:

"Where can we acquire Spiritual Stones?"

"Where exactly is the brothel located in the green zone?"

"I'm famished. Is there no dining area available?"

"Cursed be this place! They're squeezing our hard-earned money. Why can't we kill outside the Battlefields? What if the itch to unleash our primal instincts becomes unbearable?"

"Who's to say we must follow these rules? We are Creatures, and laws are not written for us," someone declared defiantly.

The room buzzed with discontent as the creatures voiced their frustrations and grievances, seeking answers to their concerns and expressing their rebellious nature.

---

The onslaught of questions continued unabated. Roma, after waiting for a moment, inhaled the fog emitted by the tower and snapped his fingers. In an instant, a book materialized and landed on my knees, while others hovered in the air, suspended by an unseen force.

All eyes turned to the aged bindings, yellowed with time. Some creatures opened the books, their eyes silently scanning the delicate pages of the manuscripts.

"The map and other intriguing information can be found within the Records of the Second Level," Roma announced, a sly grin spreading across his alligator-like face. "And now..." The spiders scuttled forward, serving herbal tea to each individual, their movements synchronized. "Welcome to Alhons."

"Bart," I finally managed to speak, my tongue feeling like it was stuck to the roof of my mouth after holding back for so long. "I need your assistance.

"The lion nodded knowingly, pointing resolutely towards the smooth columns. "Straight ahead and turn right towards the light," he directed me.

Quickly stashing the book in my inventory, I prepared myself for the task ahead.

---

The sound of steaming liquid filled the air, creating an unbearable melody. Before I could express my gratitude, one of the goblin-like creatures suddenly dropped to his knees, retching onto the plush carpet.

Gripping the soft fabric with my toes, I sucked in a breath, feeling an urgent pressure build within me. As I darted towards the columns, the other creatures began to realize something was amiss, freezing in place with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Ceramic bowls clattered onto the pristine whiteness of the carpet. Bart continued pointing in my direction, urging me forward. Stepping onto the cool marble floor, I realized the columns stretched endlessly before me. The spacious corridor was bathed in a luminous white glow, causing a double vision effect.

"WHERE'S THE TOILET?!" someone cried out, desperation evident in their voice.

Claws scraped against the beige floor as time grew scarce. A noisy hum emanated from behind me, and when I glanced back slightly, I saw creatures with blue faces and tongues protruding, rhythmically slapping against their bodies.

"HURRY UP!" the giant bellowed, pressing his massive forehead against a column, the force of his horns creating a hole in the solid surface.

The voice reverberated through my thoughts like thunder.

Oh no. I can't believe I actually drank five cups at once. Why am I such an idiot?!

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" someone shouted, attempting to push me. Reacting instinctively, I veered to the left, causing the creature to lose balance and fall to the floor. Groaning, he no longer held back and found relief right where he was.

The foul stench didn't reach my nostrils, for I was already sprinting with my turbulence mode activated.

"BASTARDS!!!" the fallen creature cursed, its words laced with colorful obscenities. Those unfortunate enough to have been in the path of the excrement bomb unleashed even more creative profanities.

Finally, the columns came to an end, revealing intricate drawings on the walls.

And there it was, the long-awaited light, shining from the right.

A mixture of relief and panic flooded my mind, creating a chaotic mess.

Could it truly be the light at the end of the tunnel?!

Oh my, I feel like I'm being reborn.

I felt weightless, my wings unfurling as my torso muscles tensed for a moment, but that was all it took.

Clutching my stomach, I dropped to all fours. I refused to give up.

Reaching out towards the light, my eyes moistened with desperation.

THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!

Suddenly, an indistinct silhouette emerged from the side.

Someone had almost reached the finish line. With no other choice left, I clung onto the runner's wings with a death grip, and we both found ourselves in a spacious restroom.

The air was heavy with stench and steam, with carcasses floating out of wooden stalls. Dozens of barrels filled with waste hung from beams attached to the walls. Creatures emerged from doors that seemed to be everywhere—on the ceiling, on the sides.

It was a nightmarish scene, a place that would haunt my dreams.

There were no curtains or barriers; everyone was shamelessly relieving themselves in this public space.

My brain struggled to comprehend the madness unfolding before me.

But I didn't care...

---

The corridor had been cleaned by spiders, and almost everything had been restored to its original state.

Still feeling a sense of abomination, I spent 15 points to buy a pair of slippers, which I promptly put on. I stomped my way towards Bart, determined to put this horrific experience behind me.

Thoughts spun within my soul, urging me to speak the truth as it was. The creatures surrounding us were enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere, seemingly ready to resort to lawless means.

"It's a great honor," Bart said with a grin, accompanied by his escorts. They sought some hint of nostalgia in our faces. "Welcome to Alhons, a place where you'll find yourself either at the table or at the latrine barrel. Ah-ha-ha..."

---

Leaving Alhons behind, I cast a final glance at the feathered alarm system and couldn't help but grin.

What a hectic day it had been.

Ahead of me loomed unusually constructed structures. The houses perched on wooden piles did not reminiscent of mountains, but most likely the creations of a mad artist.

"You can stay here after conquering the First Floor," one of the escorts spoke up, putting an end to any further questioning. "By the way, one day here equals 3 Spiritual Stones, and you'll have to pay a week in advance."

His words hastily interrupted the mood of the creatures, including mine.

"We're in the white zone," the two-meter beast with metal armor informed us as we walked towards a triangular building. He pointed to a waterfall adorned with statues of two fighting lions. "Our first attraction—a place filled with romance~"

As the goblin emptied his stomach again at the sight of the intertwined carcasses, I couldn't help but wince.

"There's an Eternal Wall here," the beast continued, indicating the gray barrier composed of small squares of light that barely concealed the ominous Dark-Maroon Forest beyond. "Beyond this wall lies the Nightmare Forest, but you're not allowed to pass through. Do you know why?"

"Can we hurry this up?" one of the critters interjected. "By the way, we've already experienced a 'heroic' near-death encounter in a heavenly place after the battle. I don't want to know what kind of adventure YOU have in store for us this time."

Ignoring its comment, the beast pressed on, "The Eternal Wall has no gaps and never loses its energy. A mere touch will sever your connection to this world." To demonstrate, he brought his finger close to the barrier, and without making contact, acrid smoke emitted from the fur. "You see."

[Participant 137, a proposed mission has appeared: Catch The Escapee?

Would you like to know the details?

Yes. No.

Allotted time: 24 hours 59 minutes.]

[I'll consider it later.]

[As you wish. The timer will notify you every two hours.]

"These are the game buildings," the beast explained. "For those who have a particular inclination for gambling, my advice is to leave your Spiritual Stones at home, or at least reserve them for necessities like food." Towering skyscrapers loomed one after another, and what I initially mistook for the sun turned out to be a shining blue ball.

"Wow. Aren't those Spiritual Stones inside?" a newcomer exclaimed, flicking his forked tongue. Indeed, heaps of shimmering Spiritual Stones were visible within the ball.

"Yes, those are the ones," the beast confirmed without delving deeper into the topic and proceeded towards another location...

We had absorbed a wealth of new information, and by the end, my legs felt as though they might give way.

The creatures around us were already bursting with impatience from the meticulous explanations.

After 7 hours, we finally concluded our tour of the White Zone.

"Well, and now in..." the beast began, but before he could finish the sentence, everyone, including myself, shouted in unison, "NOOOO."

The beast's ears drooped for a moment before perking up again.

"What a pity, I was looking forward to introducing you to a popular place," he said, winking mischievously as he pointed towards a massive door... leading underground.

"The Pavilion of Flower Fairies."

While the interests of some were undoubtedly piqued, I followed the others...

Approaching the entrance of a particular skyscraper, Bart asked for forgiveness, saying, "Simon is always enthusiastic when it comes to sightseeing. You'll see the rest on other days. I beg your understanding."

The glass door creaked open slightly, releasing a fragrant scent of incense.

Stepping into the hall, I was enveloped by a sense of relaxation mingled with the sight of unsightly silhouettes scurrying about. Living plants seemed to follow the creatures with enthusiasm, and even the seats, stairs, and floors exuded an air of opulence.

"Upstairs, you'll find the game halls, but we won't be going there," Bart informed us.

Turning left and walking a short distance, we passed through another set of glass doors.

Ahead of us were three queues, each filled with dozens of monsters. The queues led to dark, oval-shaped podiums, adorned with stairs etched with ancient runes. Creatures entered the platforms, and for a moment, the darkness engulfed them.

"The first queue leads to the Cash Register. There, you can exchange your tokens for the Spiritual Stones you've won. The second queue takes you to the Battle Chamber, where you can select the day of your battle. The third queue is for payment of specific rooms and access to the training fields. Make sure to always have your token with you in any situation," Bart explained.

Without hesitation, I joined the first queue...

Standing on the podium for a brief moment, a chilling sensation washed over me as I became weightless. In the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to a dimly lit room, permeated with the scent of a swamp. Ahead, a faint blue glow illuminated a sturdy table, behind which sat a skeleton. Its bony fingers deftly grasped my token and began conjuring magic, tracing ethereal runes in the air. Suddenly, an exact replica of myself materialized beside the skeleton. Its empty eye sockets met mine, and with a nod, the skeletal figure acknowledged my presence. Then, it retrieved a black bag and meticulously counted out my winnings.

A small bag was handed to me, and I carefully placed my Spiritual Stones inside.

The tally of stones I had won amounted to 16—a significant number, perhaps due to my relentless exploration of the entire floor, including facing the Boss, without taking any breaks.

Before I could even lift my head, I was already stepping over the podium line, moving onto the next stage of the process.

I joined the second queue and selected a battle date five days from now. The room I entered was similar to the previous one, but instead of a bag, there was a scroll on the table. The skeleton handed me back my token and, with the distinctive sound of "kacha-kacha," sent me back to the spacious hall teeming with creatures.

With Bart and the others already gone, I decided to explore the new surroundings on my own.

However, amidst the bustling crowd, I spotted a familiar figure—a fellow newcomer, just like me.

Drawing closer, I greeted it with a smile. "Where are you headed?"

"To the Forest of Nightmares," my interlocutor replied, their face concealed by a cloak that reached up to their neck, muffling their voice.

Shrugging my shoulders, I suggested we venture there together.

[The Mission to Catch the Escapee is being launched.] A mechanical voice announced:

[The target is moving in your direction. Collisions in 10, 9, 8...]

As the mechanical voice issued its report, the rumbling sound from the street outside grew louder...