Scott leaned in his seat, his gaze fixed on the ten-man party. Five were humans, while two others had humanoid features, except for their luminous, glassy eyes. The remaining three were unmistakably demon folk, their curved horns, reddened skin, and black wings revealing their lineage.

  The group encircled Scott’s bench, and the bear-like man in fur clothing stepped forward, eyes narrowed. “How the fuck did you get here before us—and alone at that?” he demanded.

  Scott simply chuckled, lazily watching the champions.

  “You think this is funny?” a demon folk woman growled, her eyes narrowed.

  “Yes, very much so,” Scott replied with a smile. “What were you expecting? That I’d cower and answer all your questions?”

  The champions’ expressions darkened. “Do you realize who you’re talking to?” a human warrior threatened.

  “Ah, another classic,” Scott scoffed. “Let me guess—you’re blah blah blah, and you’ll blah blah blah if I don’t blah blah blah.” His smile widened. “Did I miss anything?”

  “You’re a real smartass, aren’t you?”

  Scott turned to the speaker—a man clad in sleek leather armor, a long, ornate spear resting in his grip. Unlike his companions, he wore a gentle smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

  “This isn’t some isekai bullshit, buddy,” the man said, stepping closer until he loomed over Scott. “You seem like a smart guy, so I figure you know what’s good for you. What’s your level?”

  Scott raised an eyebrow. When was the last time someone even bothered asking about my level? Now that I think about it, no one from my timeline really cared.

  The man continued before Scott could respond. “The lowest level among our crew is 54,” he said, retreating a step and placing a hand on the bear-like man’s shoulder. “And Boris here is level 73. Trust me, you don’t want to piss off a domain user. Do you even know what domains are—”

  Scott’s laughter cut him off.

  The man’s smile didn’t waver. “Don’t make unnecessary enemies when you can make friends.”

  “I’m good, thanks,” Scott replied softly. “You and your people can fuck off.”

  The man chuckled, a sinister grin spreading across his lips. “Friendly advice—don’t think you’re safe just because we can’t attack you yet—”

  “Oh, finally dropping the pretense?” Scott shot back. “Should’ve done that from the start.” He glanced briefly at the timer before continuing. “You won’t have to wait long for the trial to end, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You’re going to regret this, asshole,” a woman spat, her hand resting on the dagger at her waist.

  “I can’t wait,” Scott retorted.

  The champions scoffed, palpable tension thickening the air, but no one attacked. They backed away, but only by a few meters, their bloodthirsty eyes still locked onto him.

  Scott remained seated, yawning indifferently. I wonder how these bastards would react if they saw my level, he mused, suppressing a laugh.

  Then again, how did a weak group like them get here first? Were they lucky enough to spawn near the Silent City? He traced circles on the bench’s armrest as he pondered.

  Judging by their reactions earlier, they were aiming for the first-place reward—and gunning for a record finish at that. Could the reward actually be worth it? Scott couldn’t say. From his experience, Akas’ Runestone wasn’t anything special for someone of his level. But for others, he could see why it would be worth fighting over.

  The guardian’s reaction to the item was another mystery. Scott sighed as he glanced at the timer. There’s still so much time left before this trial ends. I wish I could fast-forward time.

  Minutes passed as he remained in place, the time ticking down. More champions arrived by the second. At first, many celebrated, believing they had arrived first—until they noticed Scott and the ten-man party. Their joy quickly turned to hostility.

  To Scott’s amusement, the ten-man party wasted no time informing the new arrivals that he had beaten them all to the city. Though some were skeptical, the group even displayed their system notifications as proof. That was all it took—soon, every bit of hostility was redirected toward Scott.

  As time crawled on, more and more champions appeared. The once-desolate streets became crowded with warriors from different races and timelines. Some arrived in pristine condition, while others were barely clinging to life. Some collapsed in tears, overwhelmed by their journey, while others bellowed defiant shouts into the sky.

  One thing all champions shared, however, was that no one dared to attack another. No matter the provocation or enmity between them, they simply sheathed their reservations.

  Scott, still seated in the same position, lazily stared at the timer. Only twenty minutes left... I wonder how many people have made it into the city? he pondered, shifting his gaze toward the crowded streets.

  Champions of familiar and unfamiliar races moved about, captivated by the sheer size of the majestic city. Amidst the throngs, Scott easily spotted Boris and his companions, along with several other early arrivals.

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  They're not even bothering to hide their hostility, he giggled, shaking his head. If their brains are working, they should be wondering why I’m not scared of them. Or do they think I’m faking it?

  Regardless, Scott didn’t concern himself with the champions. He occasionally scanned the new arrivals for familiar faces, but all were strangers.

  His attention drifted toward the temple a few meters away, watching the champions argue about its unique properties. In the last hour, three people had been sent away through the temple, yet he alone remained restricted from climbing it.

  Was it because he had used it before? Because of his encounter with the mysterious guardian? Or something else entirely? He couldn’t say, and the uncertainty irked him—though the feeling was fleeting.

  Scott suddenly stood, and several champions in the crowd stirred.

  Look at these guys, he suppressed a laugh. He stretched his limbs from side to side, ignoring their scrutinizing gazes.

  It’s been over an hour, and none of the judges have reported anything unusual. And not a single one has reached the end of the city. How big is this place? he mused, before taking his seat once more.

  His watchers relaxed, settling back into position, still silently observing him.

  Another fifteen minutes passed in a flash, and even more champions arrived. Unlike their predecessors, many bore fresh wounds—both physical and psychological. Naturally, no one paid them any attention.

  Less than five minutes left. I should get ready for whatever’s next, Scott thought, rising to his feet again.

  The champions observing him tensed, but he remained indifferent, his gaze shifting from side to side. Silence would soon blanket the city when the next trial began, and a bloodbath would likely follow.

  Scott moved, and his watchers followed. He walked toward the temple at an unhurried pace. The crowd that had gathered there had long dispersed, leaving only a few curious or wounded champions. Some rested on the steps, while others conversed without attempting to ascend beyond the thirteenth step.

  Scott passed the temple, his feet carrying him toward a district of buildings partially reclaimed by nature. Like much of the city, a significant number of champions lingered here, some even taking shelter within the structures.

  Veterans, Scott noted. They knew better than to draw attention.

  I can’t believe none of the judges have reached the city’s end yet. He knew how fast they could fly, how much ground they had covered—yet the city sprawled endlessly, with no visible borders.

  Only two minutes left... Scott turned his head to the right.

  He locked eyes with Boris, who flashed a deathly grin. Scott chuckled, offering a warm smile in return. His gaze swept over the other champions stalking him, none of whom looked away.

  Weaklings, he assessed. The real strong ones are in hiding. Like me, they have no interest in this stage of the trial.

  Then, something caught his attention—a strange procession a few feet ahead.

  You've got to be fucking kidding me.

  A group of champions in mismatched blue-red outfits and red boots had gathered. Each one wore a bright clown nose, their hair—if they had any—dyed blue, white, or green. Some carried multicolored bats, others comically oversized knives or daggers.

  Clowns? Scott struggled to believe his eyes. They were undeniably dressed like jesters, their faces covered in heavy makeup and adorned with a crimson laughing-clown tattoo on the right cheek.

  One of them locked eyes with him and skipped forward, giggling. Unlike the others, she wore tight-fitting clothes that did little to conceal her natural beauty, despite the outlandish attire and garish makeup.

  Scott watched as she stopped directly in front of him.

  "Psst," she whispered, leaning in closer. A sweet scent of raspberries filled his nose as her soft voice brushed against his ears. "You realize you're being followed, right?"

  Scott didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he met her gaze, silently demanding more.

  "For the right price, I can take care of them for you. What do you say, baby boy?" She teased, her fingers lightly tracing up his arm in slow, deliberate motions.

  Scott’s lips curled slightly. "And what exactly do you consider the 'right' price?"

  She beamed, parting her lips to respond—but before she could speak, a system notification rang in his ears.

  Time suddenly froze.

  A new notification manifested in front of him.

  Scott barely spared the notifications a glance. His gaze shifted toward the crowd, scanning the countless champions around him.

  They were frozen.

  Why the hell is everything paused?

  He turned toward the group that had been tailing him—they were locked mid-sprint, unmoving. The woman in front of him stood still, her lips slightly parted as if she were about to speak. He reached out and touched her arm. No reaction. No movement.

  An eerie silence settled over the city.

  Scott exhaled sharply and returned his attention to the notifications. Over a million survived this time… but that still doesn’t explain why everything stopped.

  A new message flashed before him.

  Scott’s brows shot up. Well, that’s unexpected.

  Scott frowned. Is that supposed to be tempting?

  Before he could think further, another notification appeared.

  Scott stiffened, his smile fading. Is the system seriously trying to bait me?

  There was something oddly deliberate about this.