In a large but noisy conference room, the heavy atmosphere seemed to squeeze every breath. The surrounding walls were submerged in thick darkness, giving people the feeling that there was no way out. In the center of the apartment, there was only a pale light from an old ceiling lamp that shone directly onto a long table covered in a layer of dust, creating a lonely light in the middle of an endless sea.
Around the table, eighteen people were sitting silently. Their postures were slow like statues, only their eyes occasionally caught a mysterious look in the darkness. The weak light was only enough to illuminate the edges of their robes or their loose hair, but it was completely unable to outline their facial features, making each person seem to blend into the darkness, both real and illusory.
The ticking of the clock's hands rang out alone, stirring the silent space beside him. The atmosphere at this moment was different from any water surface before a great storm: calm, but hidden beneath were countless waves waiting to explode.
Suddenly, without warning, a figure appeared at the edge of the light.
It was a young woman, about twenty years old, standing out with her soft, shiny pink hair that fell loosely over her shoulders. Her figure was plump, her curves soft but firm, exuding both a seductive and confident aura. In her hand she held a thick stack of documents, carefully held under her arm.
The air in the room seemed to freeze as she stepped into the circle of light. Stopping in front of the table, she raised her head, her eyes sparkling with gold under the light, her voice clear and majestic:
"I am Houliu Van Besten, sent down by 'from above' to solve the problem related to civilization in the 'area' that you are governing."
Her voice echoed in the dark room, not loud but enough to stir up that suffocating silence.
The young girl gently placed the document on the table, her slender fingers lightly flipped through each page, the rustling sound of paper resounded coldly in the quiet space.
Her voice was even, without any emotion as she began to read:
"Atlas civilization: 187 points.
Beates civilization: 185 points.
Jickle civilization: 176 points.
Dogmatika civilization: 159 points.
Vortex civilization: 145 points.
Tardis civilization: 142 points.
Caros civilization: 122 points."
She paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the room before she spoke, coldly adding:
"All the remaining civilizations... are below 100 points."
Every word she uttered was like a hammer hitting the minds of the people sitting there. The air suddenly became so thick that it seemed like even a heavy breath could shatter it.
Not letting the silence last too long, she gently folded the document, the sharp sound of the paper colliding echoed in the room.
Her expression became more solemn, her voice lowered, cold as a knife:
"You all... know what will happen next, right?"
Amidst the suffocatingly heavy atmosphere, a deep voice spoke from the darkness, mixed with indifference:
"I don't really care."
Those words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up the simmering undercurrents.
Houliu Van Besten tilted her head slightly towards the person who had just spoken. A faint smile, almost mocking, flashed across the corner of her lips. Her eyes were as cold as steel as she replied, her voice still sweet but containing a cold murderous intent:
"Ah, of course.
You will be wiped out — along with the civilization you rule."
She emphasized the two words "wiped out", each word seemed to pierce straight into the heart.
There was no room for confusion. There was no way back.
The lights flickered once, as if signaling a great storm was quietly approaching.
Another voice rang out from a hidden corner, this time carrying a hint of doubt and unease:
"I remember... the standard score is 200 points.
Then... we'll all be wiped out?"
Houliu Van Besten curled her lips slightly, as if she had been waiting for that question for a long time.
Her eyes were sharp, her voice decisive, leaving no room for hope:
"Of course it's true."
The air in the room seemed to sink into another layer of ice.
Houliu kept silent for a few breaths, letting despair gradually seep into everyone's hearts.
Then she tilted her head slightly, her pink hair falling lightly, and spoke, this time carrying a faint ray of light:
"However...
The people above have decided to give you all one last chance."
She paused, as if deliberately prolonging the suspense that was tightening the atmosphere.
"You will be allowed to participate in their 'game'.
If you win... the civilization you represent will be allowed to survive.
If you lose..."
She laughed coldly, the sound as vague as a death knell:
"...then you will be wiped out — as per the rules."
Suddenly, a figure stood up from his seat, his movements so decisive and powerful that the chair behind him moved back a little.
As he entered the dim light, his figure gradually became clearer: a creature with a humanoid shape but with a strange green tint to its skin, a pair of horns growing from its head that curved slightly backwards, looking both majestic and dangerous. Behind him, a pair of pure white wings spread out, sparkling with light as if carved from the purest rays of light.
His face — in complete contrast to the heavy atmosphere of the room — glowed with innocent excitement like a child who had just been promised a favorite game.
He spoke, his voice deep and resonant, carrying a clear excitement:
"That's good!
I'm starting to feel interested. It's been a long time since I've gotten my hands dirty...
What are the rules? When do we start?"
Houliu tilted her head slightly to observe him, her lips curling into a slight smile, as if she had expected someone to react like this.
Her voice was clear but distinct, each word nailed into everyone's minds:
"Um, as for the rules, it's like this:
You will have to choose the five strongest individuals from the civilization you represent.
Those five people will be put into the game designed by the person above.
And... the last survivor — the last one standing — will become the winner."
She paused, her eyes flashing with an icy coldness:
"Only one civilization... will survive."
The green-skinned man with horns frowned slightly, waving his white wings in dissatisfaction.
He grumbled, his tone half mocking, half sulking like a child who had lost his favorite toy:
"Oh, so we can't fight directly? How boring...
But never mind, I'll win first place."
Houliu chuckled lightly at his frankness, but her expression immediately returned to seriousness.
She added gently, her voice adding fuel to the smoldering fire of ambition in the room:
"In addition to saving their civilization...
The final winner will also be granted a wish — directly fulfilled by the person above."
Just that one sentence caused the originally cold and silent room to suddenly become noisy.
The once gloomy gazes now glowed with ambition, calculation, and suspicion of each other. No one dared to take this game lightly anymore.
Houliu smiled, both arrogant and cold.
She didn't say another word, just silently turned around and walked out of the light.
When she reached the threshold of the room, she threw out one last sentence, her voice as light as the wind, but enough to make everyone shiver:
"The deadline... is one week from now.
Whoever wants to escape... go ahead."
After saying that, she disappeared into the darkness, as if she had never existed.
The darkness swallowed the room again, leaving only eighteen silent and burning eyes — each of them had silently made their own determination.