Suddenly, the light radiating from the platform intensified.
In a matter of seconds, the deep darkness around them was illuminated by the intense glow. After a few moments, the light dimmed, revealing an empty platform.
Elias, Lyrac, and the others had disappeared into thin air.
***
Somewhere, on a floating pile of islands within the vast expanse of space, amid the small viewing channels resembling a TV screen, a small animal resembling a polar bear with white glistening fur and feathered wings on its back lay on a plush white couch, its eyes fixed on Elias's and the others' screen as they dissapeared from the platform into thin air.
Somehow, its eyes seemed capable of encompassing all the viewing channels floating and stacked against each other within the endless expanse of space.
He was a 'Sentinel', one of the administrators of the viewing channels and trading, working to oversee this entire zone of newbies. It was his duty to identify outstanding talents capable of achieving long-term success, bringing profit to the games and enabling viewers to invest in them.
The Sentinel picked up a bright red fruit from a small basket on the ground before him and took a bite, chewing slowly before swallowing. He licked his lips.
"Delicious! What an interesting guy! He's only Level 13, yet he managed to defeat the beast guarding the Special dungeon. The others are also interesting. Such unique and strange abilities. However, he's unlucky and probably won't last long because this is a multiplayer game. He'll be overtaken by others soon enough. Hopefully, he can at least serve as a short-term interesting channel for our viewers."
Beside him was a live chat, distinct from the numerous small viewing channels. The footage was being live-streamed to a massive audience of unknown origin across countless dimensions, from interdimensional beings to mysterious entities.
These beings each possessed a certain privilege that allowed them to watch from their own dimensions, territories, or separate planes. They communicated with one another through the live chat forum.
Across dimensions, this was the number one entertainment capable of bringing these beings together. For some whose worlds had also gone through the apocalypse and had obtained the privileges to view such channels, this was one of the ways they found solace in a world filled with destruction and chaos.
With it, they could watch awakeners from worlds ravaged by the apocalypse, and bet or invest on whether they would survive or not. In other words, it was, in simple terms—
Interdimensional Death Matches!
The Sentinels were one of the races that had uncovered the secrets of the Akashic Records, allowing them the privilege of accomplishing such feats. No other individual or race, even among those interdimensional deities from the upper realm, could dare to claim such an achievement.
As such, if there were a ranking of the top races in existence, they would certainly be among the top ten from this feat alone, and the top three in wealth.
Still, all of these things were done in secret, far from the grasp of the Akashic Records, constantly avoiding being caught, or else they would be severely punished, and everything would be rectified, dissipating their channels and rendering their efforts in vain.
"Strange… according to this information, Sunshine's world's apocalypse started three hours after the others began. Shouldn't they all begin at the same time to give everyone an equal starting point? Did the Akashic Record encounter an issue?" the Sentinel muttered with furrowed brows.
"No. I shouldn't be thinking about it. It's too above my pay grade. I'll save the information for later and give it to the others. Perhaps they'll uncover something interesting for me." The Sentinel shook his head, putting the thought aside.
[Live Chat — Special Dungeon Dimensional Thread #9983 | Audience: 12.4 Trillion Connected]
[VoidEater]: Sunshine is only Level 13? (*_*) Yeah, he's not making it past this dungeon alive.
[NebulaFox]: I like this Sunshine kid. Hope he lives long enough to do something cool before he dies.
[EternalDuneWraith]: Imagine being Level 13 and walking into a multiplayer death special dungeon. I'd cry.
[WhisperOfTheDeep]: I'm only here because the thumbnail said 'multiplayer dungeon gone wrong.' Clicking was mandatory.
[ ChaosOverlordJr]: If he survives, I'll bet my own sibling. (≖‿≖)Screenshot this.
[ChaosOverlordJr'sBrother]: (º□º!)BRO WHAT?!
[BoneCollector]: This chat is too negative. I'm rooting for Sunshine. He has protagonist vibes.
[RiftScientist]: I'm actually curious, how did his world's apocalypse start 3 hours late? The Records have never made such a mistake.
[CinderBite]: Real talk. I'm also curious.
[DimensionJunkie]: WHO CARES?! LET'S GOOOOOOO BLOODSPORT TIME!!!!
The Sentinel glanced at the chat forum, reading the new comments with a chuckle before turning his focus back to the viewing screen before him.
"Very well then. Everyone, place your bets. Who among the Awakeners of the Special Dungeon #9983 will emerge victorious? Who will be the first to make it into the Potential Starlets? Who will emerge alive or dead? What is the probability that Special Dungeon #9983 will be conquered?" the Sentinel said.
"The forum is open. Let the game begin."
***
"Heroes from another world, please save—"
Meanwhile, Elias found himself standing on a platform along with the others within a huge hall illuminated by bright glowing lanterns. Elias's gaze snapped toward the voice that had just spoken.
It was an old, frail, pale-skinned man dressed in a white robe adorned with golden embellishments, lying weakly on the ground in a pool of blood emerging from his chest. His wide, hollow eyes and expression, filled first with excitement, then horror, then defeat, stared at them blankly.
He was dead.
Behind him was a strange, humanoid, tree-like being with a face resembling a mask with two holes indicating its eyes. Both of its hands were shaped like thorn-like swords, dripping blood onto the white marble floor.
"Status," Elias muttered.
[Thorn Juggernaut — Elite Monster]
[Level: 15]
[Strength: 420]
[Mana: 260]
[Constitution: 650]
[Agility: 140]
[Traits: +25% Poison Resistance. +20% Pierce Resistance. Locked.]
[Skills: Locked.]
The skills of the Stone Bear were self-explanatory to an apocalypse enthusiast like Elias, so he hadn't bothered trying to see if he could read the full details, especially since he had been in the heat of battle.