"IT HAS BEEN DECIDED BY THE COUNCIL OF GREAT JUDGES TO GIVE THE ROOKIES A PROPER ORIENTATION BEFORE YOU SET YOUR SAILS. AND I, LAYLA, HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO OVERSEE THIS REGION OF ROOKIES.

"ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME TO THE GOLDEN AGE. THIS IS A REALM OF BOUNDLESS VOID WHERE LAND DOES NOT EXIST, AND EVERY PLAYER STARTS WITH A SIMPLE ISLAND.

"THE RULES ARE SIMPLE; CONQUER ENEMY ISLANDS AND DEVOUR THEM TO EXPAND YOUR TERRITORY AND GROW STRONGER. THE WEAK HAVE NO PLACE IN THIS WORLD AND WOULD ONLY SERVE AS STEPPING STONES FOR THE STRONG TO ASCEND.

"YOUR ACTIONS ARE BEING RECORDED BY THE SUPREME SPECTATORS, AND IF YOU’RE FOUND WORTHY IN THEIR SIGHT, YOU SHALL BE REWARDED WITH THEIR LEGACY, AND YOU SHALL BE CALLED CHAMPIONS OF THE GOLDEN AGE!" Layla bellowed with an amused smile and paused as she moved her face closer to the projection.

Across the islands, Human and Nonhuman, Men and Beastmen, Elves and Dwarves. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the projection in the sky with a mix of varying expressions: fear, rage, anxiety, indifference, amusement, pride.

These were players from all walks of life. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The Global/Server chats were eerily quiet as if the world had ended. And the smartest players who were of level and knew to livestream the event had the highest view counts at that moment, with exploding comment sections—just like Liz’s.

Layla remained silent for a moment, taking in the players’ reactions and letting her words sink into their skulls.

"NOW, FOR THE MAIN COURSE OF THE EVENT THAT TRIGGERED THIS ORIENTATION: AS A RESULT OF THE DIFFICULT AND UNFAIR START OF PLAYER BATCH #2658, THANKS TO THAT ONE PLAYER WHO’S BEEN GIVING US SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND SOME OTHER VARIABLES, THESE ADJUSTMENTS ARE BEING MADE UNDER KELSEY’S LAW AND WILL TAKE IMMEDIATE EFFECT." Layla paused as her expression receded from cheerful to businesslike.

"FROM THIS MOMENT ONWARDS, ISLANDS WHICH DON’T MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF FIVE INHABITANTS... WILL BE DISBANDED."

The once-silent Server chats instantly exploded with a series of messages as the players panicked. Many had lost one or a few of their members. Some players began to outright protest in agitation at the projection in the sky.

[SERVER CHAT #101]

"Does disbandment mean certain death?"

"Why should I die because my teammates were weak and incompetent enough to let themselves get killed?!"

"I never asked for this life!"

[SERVER CHAT #307]

"What does it mean to be disbanded?"

"Are we gonna die?"

"Guys, don’t worry. I’m sure everyone has lost at least one teammate, so are they gonna disband us all then?!"

[SERVER CHAT #513]

"Are we going to be the reason everyone is going to die?"

"Who’s we?"

"I WANNA GO HOME~ I WANNA GO HOME~"

"Please tell me we can recruit and be recruited by players now. Mr. Anonymous, please adopt me! I’m just a girl!!!"

"Guys, I just woke up. What’s going on? Who’s that cute loli in the sky? (Drooling emoji)"

—

"ISLANDS THAT HAVE LESS THAN FIVE INHABITANTS, BUT AT LEAST FOUR, ARE IN THE YELLOW ZONE AND WILL HAVE A RANDOM PLAYER WITH THE MISSING CLASS ASSIGNED TO THEIR ISLAND WITHIN 24 HOURS TO MAKE UP THEIR NUMBER.

"THREE? YOU’RE IN THE RED ZONE AND AT RISK OF GETTING DISBANDED. AND IF NOT, TWO RANDOM PLAYERS WITH THE MISSING CLASSES WILL BE ASSIGNED WITHIN 24 HOURS TO MAKE UP YOUR NUMBERS.

"TWO OR LESS? START PACKING.

"IN ADDITION TO THIS, A RANKINGS BOARD FOR LEVEL, EQUIPMENT, AND COMPANION BEASTS WILL GO LIVE BOTH GLOBALLY AND FOR GREENHORNS LIKE YOU UNDER LEVEL 100." Layla stated calmly before her expression switched back to her cheerful demeanor.

"WITH THAT BEING SAID; IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO KEEP THEM TO YOURSELF." She clapped her hands as she spun around, then paused.

"OH, I ALMOST FORGOT. IF YOU LOOK BEYOND YOUR ISLANDS NOW, YOU SHOULD SEE THE FAINT OUTLINE OF OTHER ISLANDS," she giggled mischievously. "THAT’S BECAUSE WE MOVED Y’ALL TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK!" she said with a devilish grin.

"ONE LAST TIP: SAIL EAST... IF YOU EVER WANT THAT DREAM OF HAVING A SPECIAL MEET-AND-GREET WITH ME TO COME TRUE!" She waved ecstatically at the projection. "SEE YAH!!!"

The projection disappeared with a flash.

The Server chat immediately exploded as players began ranting about their feelings, while Felix slowly looked at the party, subconsciously taking a headcount even when he knew they were more than complete.

They weren’t.

Arc had disappeared at some point.

And just like Layla had said, beyond their island were the faint outlines of other islands spread across the void, breaking through the clouds in their path.

Liz spun around when she couldn’t find Arc and quickly left the party behind, disappearing into their island after she ended her stream.

But what she didn’t know yet was that she wouldn’t find him even if she turned the two islands upside down.

A few minutes ago, Arc had left, returning to the island after he understood what was going on. In his previous life, none of this had ever happened, but the host had helped him confirm it was his actions behind the change in the course of time. And as for the variables she spoke of, he wanted to believe they had something to do with the Authority Devil he’d clashed with.

He wasn’t sure which of his actions had affected time in that direction, but there were likely more of them in the starter zone now.

"Lilith, we need to talk. Now."

Just as those words left his lips, Arc paused and turned to see the white-haired lady standing in the dark corner of the room before she slowly stepped out.

She didn’t have her usual cheerful demeanor and wore a poker face that meant business. It was like whatever was happening had affected her in some way.

"I’ll let you go first; shoot," she spoke.

Arc didn’t have much to ask now. In fact, he didn’t have any questions to ask except one. The host had confirmed that legacies could be passed down from Supreme Spectators to players, who would then be known as Champions. That explained the Malefic Bloodline.

"I only have one question for you," Arc said in a serious tone.

"Oh?"

"Why did you choose me?" Arc asked sharply.

He now knew he probably later became a Champion of Lilith’s, hence his memories of her from his past life. He only wanted to know what had changed now. Why she had chosen him much earlier in this lifetime, and her reply would determine how he’d survived his past life.

"Quite simple. You weren’t special in any way and were, in fact, recommended to me by someone I never thought would reach out to me, even though they knew my purpose in seeking a Champion," Lilith replied steadily.

Arc frowned upon hearing that.

He was recommended to her by someone at the peak of his regression? Was this someone behind his regression, and what purpose did Lilith have for him that attracted this Being’s attention?

"What is this purpose that you speak of? And... who is this someone?"

Lilith remained silent for a moment.

"I need a God-Slayer assassin to kill two people for me," she said coldly as she raised two fingers in the air.

"Namely, the leader of the Great White Faction: Goddess Zemira." She slowly lowered one finger. "The leader of the Great Demonic Faction: the Dark Lord." She slowly lowered the second finger.

"And as for who recommended you to me because they believed you were that guy..." her lips curled.