The Creatures that We Are

No, it was Luqi—no, Clear Mirror’s Judge!

The realm felt different from before—discreet, gentle, almost imperceptible. Even his system had failed to sound an alarm, proving something had changed.

Ring.

The bell's resonance surrounded him, meandering through space.

[Warning: You have entered a realm with special rules.]

[Luck points acquisition increased to 1-15000 times.]

What kind of system message is this? It could mean anything from harmless to catastrophic.

Before Gao Yang could analyze further, Clear Mirror's voice cut through the air like ice.

"Eyes of just, heart of fairness. A balanced blood trial, a harmonious soul ritual. Killing intent rises, contract forms. The winner will live, the loser will lose. No victor, no end to the judgment."

The second toll sent the world spinning. Darkness claimed him.

...

Gao Yang jerked awake into a domain that defied physics. Above, a pure black sky hung like a painted ceiling, devoid of texture or depth. Below, an endless white plain stretched to infinity. The two met at an impossible horizon that seemed both distant and immediate.

The space felt crushing—the black sky pressed down, barely above his head. In every direction, the domain extended without boundary or landmark, just the stark meeting of void and light.

Gao Yang tried to move, but couldn’t.

Golden chains bound him to what at first appeared to be a cross, but revealed itself as an immense golden scale. The chains wrapped his arms and torso, securing him to one arm of the balance. On either side of the beam hung delicate golden plates.

When he attempted to break free, the chains responded like living things—thin serpents tightening their grip, gradually siphoning his energy without inflicting pain.

On the left plate, a golden energy weight materialized. On the right, a crimson one took form.

What does this mean?

The moment the question formed, knowledge flooded his mind. The scale was converting his energy and his very life force into measurable weight. This was the fate of all who entered the domain of judgment. Here, under the sacred will of this realm, one’s power, energy, and life became substance, transformed to serve the rules of what was to come: a battle that claimed to be "fair and just."

Gao Yang looked up. Five cross-shaped golden scales had materialized across from him, each restraining one person: Sir Jiang, Qin You, Void, 0618, and Liao Liao, arranged from left to right. All had regained consciousness before him, their scales already weighted with golden energy and red life force.

His delayed awakening made sense—his superior strength had required more time to process.

Their faces told different stories as the sacred will forced understanding into their minds.

Sir Jiang's scowl deepened. Clear Mirror's ambush had caught them off-guard, taking advantage of their conflict with Gao Yang. Yet his eyes gleamed with calculation. This could be an opportunity.

In a normal fight, we wouldn't stand a chance, Sir Jiang thought. The Divine Scion's growth is terrifying—he nearly rivals Qilin now. But these rules... these rules might change everything.

Qin You's expression shifted from confusion to shock, then settled into grim understanding. Clear Mirror's facade of fairness was precisely that—a facade. Every rule revealed the judge's true bias.

Clear Mirror wants us all dead, but this is meant to destroy Gao Yang above all else, Qin You realized, or the rules wouldn’t have so obviously set Gao Yang to fail. Jaw clenching, he thought, I won't die here, Nan Feng. Watch me have the last laugh.

0618 and Void had pushed past their initial terror, eyes darting as they searched for escape routes, for any chance at survival.

But Liao Liao hung limply from her scale, head bowed in crushing regret.

When Sir Jiang realized Gao Yang's trap, the laboratory door had already been sealed. They sprang to break in, only to find their Talents stripped away. Liao Liao had sensed the danger instantly. She'd had one chance to escape Judge's domain, but her body had moved before her mind could stop it, shoving Ting Ting and Cold Cicada to safety. Then the will had seized her, and darkness followed.

What the fuck is wrong with you, Liao Liao? Her thoughts spiraled frantically. You could have run. Why save them? Why be stupid when it mattered most?

This battle won't end until one side is annihilated.

Against Gao Yang, the Divine Scion, how can we possibly—

You're dead. DEAD. Is this what you wanted?

But why? You worked so hard. Stayed careful. Made no enemies. Did nothing wrong. You just wanted to live.

Why must it be you?

Whywhywhywhywhy—

Her head snapped up, eyes wild with tears and madness.

"KILL GAO YANG!" The scream tore from her throat. "I won't die here! Not in this cursed place!"

She thrashed against her chains. "You prideful, arrogant dogs, tearing at each other's throats—you're lucky to have me! You'll listen to me! I'll lead us to victory! DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Silence fell. This wasn't the Liao Liao they knew—or perhaps it was her truest self, finally revealed.

"Haha." Sir Jiang's laugh held genuine pleasure. "Good. That's exactly the kind of drive young people need.

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