My heart pounded relentlessly. Cold sweat trickled down my temples, and my body trembled at the thought of the game I was about to face.

  "Frey, how about you just withdraw from the game?" Jessica suggested, her voice filled with worry.

  "That's a good idea, but how do we find the overseer?" I replied, deep in thought.

  "What if we ask Victor?" Darren suggested, already scanning the area for him.

  I joined in, searching for Victor. However, no matter how hard I looked, he was nowhere to be seen. Amid my confusion, a worker approached and said, "I heard you're going to play 'Tiles of Fate.' Good luck."

  "Excuse me, have you seen Victor? Or do you know where I can find the overseer? I want to withdraw from this game," I asked hopefully.

  The worker gave me a serious look. "Withdrawing means death. Once you're registered, there's no way out."

  His response made my breath catch. "So, searching for the supervisor is pointless?"

  He nodded. "Your only option is to play and survive. If you want to live, you have to win."

  I stood frozen at his words. My body felt weak, but my mind started steeling itself. "This is Victor's fault," I muttered in frustration. "Why did he report that I was challenged to play this game?"

  But I tried to shake off the negativity. "Didn't Elio play this game and survive? I can do it too. I have to believe in myself!" I slapped my cheeks with both hands, trying to boost my confidence.

  A few moments later, Darren and Jessica ran up to me. "Sorry, Frey. We couldn't find Victor," Darren said regretfully.

  "It's okay," I replied with a faint smile. "I'll play the game."

  Jessica looked at me anxiously. "But Frey... the stakes are life and death. Losing means dying."

  "Yeah, I know. But if I withdraw, I'll still be executed. So, isn't it better to at least try?" I reassured them.

  Jessica and Darren's faces were filled with worry. Their concern was obvious. Just then, a loud announcement echoed.

  "Attention! Workers, please enter the door on the right if you wish to watch the 'Tiles of Fate' game. Contestants, please proceed to the door on the left."

  My friends gave me their final words of encouragement before heading toward the right door. Their cheers faded as I walked toward the left door.

  "Alright, it's my turn," I muttered softly. I walked forward with a heavy heart until I reached a room where the Shade overseer was already waiting for me.

  "When your name is called, just leave this room and walk straight until you find the exit," he explained briefly.

  "Where are the others? Why am I alone here?" I asked, confused.

  "They're in separate rooms. They've been waiting there from the start," he replied casually.

  "Alright... may Lady Luck be on your side," Shade said with a slight smile before leaving me alone.

  On the other side, Jessica, Darren, and the workers had arrived at a massive arena. The place was filled with rows of spectator seats. The center of the arena was dark, without a single light.

  "What kind of game is this? Why are there square patterns like that?" Jessica asked, puzzled by the silhouettes in the middle of the arena.

  "We'll find out soon. Just wait for the lights to turn on," Darren replied, taking a seat.

  A giant screen above began to light up, displaying several silhouettes in luxurious clothing watching from a distance. Two spotlights focused on a door that slowly opened. From there, the Head Overseer entered the arena.

  "Welcome, my dear mining workers, and esteemed VIP guests," he declared loudly.

  "I, Grumford, the Head Overseer, will be your host for this special game."

  "I hope you all enjoyed the previous 'Hunt and Survive' game. Now, this special game will be just as thrilling, as you get to participate by giving quests to the players!"

  The audience roared in excitement. "This game is called 'Tiles of Fate,' "Grumford continued, pointing to the center of the arena, which was now being illuminated.

  As the lights fully lit up, a massive game board resembling Snakes and Ladders came into view. However, instead of snakes, the board featured dog heads, dog tails, treasure chests, question marks, and ladders.

  "Before I explain further, let's welcome the contestants who will be playing this game!"

  "Here they are-the three troublemakers who requested this special game to be held. They are Brant, Orian, and Liam! Give them a round of applause, everyone!" Grumford announced enthusiastically.

  Thunderous applause filled the arena as the three men stepped inside. Their faces were tense, reflecting the immense pressure they felt from being forced into this deadly game.

  "And the next contestant-a young newcomer who dared to accept the challenge right away. Here he is... Frey!"

  I stepped into the arena, my heart pounding. The cheers of the audience filled the air, but not out of support-only for their entertainment. The warm welcome felt cold and piercing, reminding me that this was nothing to be proud of.

  "And lastly, a man known for his drinking and gambling habits. He is... Victor!"

  The crowd erupted in cheers once more. I was stunned to see Victor appearing as one of the contestants.

  "Victor?!" I muttered in disbelief.

  Brant, filled with rage, immediately stormed toward Victor and grabbed his collar roughly.

  "This is all your fault! We're trapped in this insane game because of you!" he snapped, his face red with fury.

  Victor gave a faint smile, seemingly unfazed. "Just enjoy it. I joined to take responsibility, didn't I?" he replied casually, as if this situation was nothing serious.

  "You-" Brant raised his fist, ready to strike Victor, but an overseer quickly intervened.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "My apologies for this minor disturbance," Grumford said in a calm tone. "Remember, any violence outside the game's rules will result in immediate execution. Wouldn't it be better to settle your grudges through the game?"

  Brant let out an irritated snort before stepping back to join his two companions. They began whispering among themselves, occasionally glancing in my direction.

  "What are they planning?" I wondered anxiously before finally approaching Victor.

  "Victor, why did you join this game? Isn't it too dangerous?" I asked.

  Victor simply chuckled. "Life itself is a gamble, Frey. Besides, isn't this exciting?" he replied nonchalantly, leaving me even more confused.

  Before I could respond, Grumford spoke again. "Alright, let me explain the rules of 'Tiles of Fate' for those who are unfamiliar. Listen carefully-every step in this game could determine your life or death!"

  Grumford continued in a firm voice, explaining the rules one by one:

  1. Each contestant will be given a command handle, a control device shaped like a pistol with a large button on top to roll the dice and use special items. Two smaller trigger buttons are used for navigation.

  2. The game resembles Snakes and Ladders, but with several differences:

  Dog's head: Reduces 2 HP.

  Dog's tail: Provides an option to jump to a specific tile by sacrificing 1 HP (optional).

  Treasure chest: Contains rare items that can be used for personal advantage or to trap opponents.

  Question mark: Triggers a challenge from VIP spectators. Refusing the challenge reduces 1 HP, while completing it grants a special item.

  Ladder up: Moves the contestant to a higher position.

  Ladder down: Moves the contestant to a lower position.

  3. Each contestant starts with 5 HP. If HP reaches zero, the contestant dies.

  4. Only two rare items can be held at a time. If a contestant obtains a third item, they must discard one.

  5. Rolling the same dice number twice in a row is forbidden. The penalty for this violation is HP reduction and loss of a rare item, or worse if repeated multiple times.

  6. If a player goes beyond tile 100, they must return to the starting tile.

  7. The game lasts only 40 minutes. Anyone who fails to reach the finish line will be executed.

  Grumford concluded his explanation with a loud voice, "The winner will receive an exclusive dinner invitation with the VIPs. Of course, this is a very rare opportunity!"

  I could only frown. "What kind of prize is that? What's the point of risking our lives just for a dinner?" I thought bitterly.

  The crowd's cheers grew louder. "Without further ado, let's begin 'Tiles of Fate'!"

  Thunderous applause filled the arena, marking the official start of the special game. The spectators' cheers echoed throughout the place, creating an atmosphere that was both tense and filled with anticipation.

  "Now, all five participants, roll your dice to determine the turn order! The highest number goes first!" Grumford announced loudly, guiding us through the initial phase.

  We all pressed the large button on our command handles. The giant screen in the arena displayed spinning dice, slowly revealing the results:

  Brant rolled a 6.

  I, Frey, rolled a 4.

  Orian rolled a 3.

  Liam and Mr. Victor both rolled a 2.

  "Since two contestants got the same number, roll again," Grumford instructed firmly.

  Liam and Mr. Victor pressed their buttons once more. This time, the screen showed:

  Liam rolled a 5.

  Mr. Victor rolled a 3.

  "With that, the turn order is decided! Brant, with the highest roll of 6, will go first!" Grumford announced, accompanied by the crowd's cheers.

  Brant stepped forward reluctantly to the starting tile. He pressed his dice button, and the giant screen displayed a 5. Brant then walked five steps forward, stopping on a ladder tile. The ladder immediately transported him to tile 12, a fairly lucky start.

  Before my name was called, I had already stepped onto the starting line. My gaze swept across the game board, trying to analyze its patterns and potential dangers.

  "With such enthusiasm, contestant Frey steps forward without even being called! I hope the other participants are just as eager!" Grumford exclaimed, eliciting small laughter from the audience.

  I swallowed hard, carefully considering my next move. "The best floors for this first turn are 3 or 6. Rolling a 2 means getting a treasure chest with a rare item, while rolling a 5 means climbing the ladder to tile 12. But rolling a 4... that lands on a question mark tile. Too risky," I murmured.

  With my heart pounding, I pressed the dice button and prayed. The giant screen displayed the result... 4. A loud cheer erupted in the arena. I let out a heavy sigh.

  "Why did it have to be a 4? There were better options," I muttered under my breath. With hesitant steps, I moved forward four spaces and stopped on the question mark tile.

  "Here we go! Our first contestant has landed on the Quest Floor! The VIPs will randomly select a challenge for the contestant. Remember, you can accept or decline, but refusing will cost you 1 HP!" Grumford announced, fueling even more anticipation from the spectators.

  The giant screen spun, and the challenge was revealed: 30 push-ups. Some of the audience looked disappointed, perhaps expecting something more exciting.

  I sighed again. "Alright," I muttered, preparing myself. I dropped down onto the arena floor and began doing push-ups. Although exhausting, I completed them all. As I stood back up, the screen displayed an opened treasure chest. From within, a rare item emerged: Position Switcher.

  "Position Switcher? An item that allows a player to swap positions with anyone of their choice. This could be useful," I thought, trying to stay calm.

  "Alright, next up is contestant Orian! Roll your dice!" Grumford announced, continuing the game.

  Orian stepped forward confidently and pressed his dice button. The giant screen displayed a 2. He grinned widely as he realized he had landed on a treasure chest tile.

  "Lady Luck is always on my side!" Orian cheered enthusiastically as the screen showed an animation of the treasure chest opening.

  Inside the chest was a Position Switcher, the exact same support item I had just obtained. Orian smirked, then glanced at his teammates with a meaningful look, as if they had already planned something.

  "Next contestant, Liam," Grumford called out, his voice echoing through the room.

  I watched Liam, who seemed confident as he pressed the dice button. "At the start of the game, they looked scared. But now, they're getting bolder. It feels like they're hiding something," I thought warily.

  The screen displayed 5. Liam moved forward, climbing the ladder to tile 12, where Brant was already waiting.

  "Next up, our final contestant, Victor!" Grumford shouted excitedly.

  Victor pressed his dice button. The screen showed 1, moving him to the first empty tile ahead.

  "Looks like luck isn't on my side yet," he said casually, with not a trace of fear on his face.

  The four players remained remarkably calm. No panic. No signs of fear. In fact, the three of them exchanged glances and small smiles, as if sharing a secret understanding.

  "What are they planning? And why is Victor so composed?" I wondered. My heart started pounding again. I couldn't stop thinking about the worst possibilities-what if I lost all my HP before reaching the finish line? What would happen if time ran out and I was still behind?

  "Round two begins!" Grumford announced, his voice brimming with excitement.

  Brant rolled a 5, moving forward to tile 17. Then it was my turn. I took a deep breath, hoping for good luck. The screen displayed 1, allowing me to climb the ladder to tile 12.

  Everything still seemed too normal. None of our HP had decreased yet. Orian rolled his dice and got a 4, advancing to tile 7. Then it was Liam's turn. The dice showed 1, taking him to tile 13, which was another quest floor.

  "We have our second quest floor! Let's see what challenge Liam will face!" Grumford announced, pointing at the giant screen above the arena.

  The screen revealed the challenge: 30 sit-ups. The spectators eagerly counted along as Liam performed them with ease. His reward was a rare item: Golden Dice, which allowed him to roll two dice at once and choose the better result.

  It was Victor's turn. He rolled a 4, moving to tile 6, then climbed the ladder to tile 12-where I was.

  "Victor, this game seems pretty easy as long as we can avoid the dangerous tiles. Even the quests aren't that hard," I said, trying to shake off my nervousness.

  Victor gave a small smile. "Don't feel relieved too soon. The real game starts in the third round," he replied, glancing sharply at Brant, Orian, and Liam.

  A bad feeling crept back into my mind. What exactly are they planning?

  "Round three begins!" Grumford announced enthusiastically.

  Brant was the first to press his dice button. Rolling a 3, he moved to tile 20, where he found a treasure chest containing an Anchor Seal-an item that could stop another player from advancing. Brant smirked with satisfaction and exchanged a small nod with Orian.

  I watched them both in confusion. That look... it meant something I didn't understand.

  Then, it was my turn. I rolled the dice, and a 3 appeared on the screen. Excitedly, I began stepping toward tile 15, where I would receive my second support item. However, just as my foot touched tile 13, something unexpected happened.

  Zap!

  A jolt of electricity surged through my body. I gasped, the pain feeling like a thousand needles piercing my skin. My balance was lost, and I fell back to tile 12.

  "What the hell?! This is my turn! Why can't I move forward? What does this mean?!" I panicked.

  Meanwhile, Brant and Orian looked even more satisfied. Their faint smiles hinted that they knew something I didn't.