Blue Star, April 1, 2026.
The universe's deep-black curtain was torn open by a tremendous, silent force.
It was neither the destruction of a star nor the birth of a nebula, but a pure, ominous rift.
It stretched across the space beside Blue Star's orbit.
From the depths of that scar, endless, viscous gloom poured forth.
It writhed and spread, gently enveloping and devouring all of Blue Star.
The light vanished.
The entire world was plunged into absolute darkness for a full twenty-four hours.
People called that day the "Sunless Day."
Then came a long night that lasted a whole month.
It was as if the sun had never existed, while the moon and stars became forgotten myths.
Fortunately, the glow of electricity still stubbornly pierced the eternal midnight.
Cities became isolated islands, their fragile flames of civilization flickering in a sea of darkness.
The internet became humanity's only spiritual lifeline—and the perfect breeding ground for panic and despair.
Doomsday theories blazed across every forum and chat group.
People frantically scrambled for supplies, and the order they had barely managed to stabilize crumbled completely over the course of that month.
Until May 1.
At that moment, every screen across the world—whether a giant display in a shopping mall, a television at home, or a phone in someone's pocket—lit up at once under the force of something incomprehensible and overbearing, regardless of whether it was plugged in or already broken.
A figure appeared on every screen simultaneously.
It was shrouded in dense, roiling black mist. Its features were indistinct, and its exact shape impossible to make out.
Only a voice remained: cold and flat, devoid of any emotion a living being should have. It rang out in every corner of the world through every phone speaker, loudspeaker, and pair of headphones.
"Survive, or be destroyed."
"Starting today, your world will be connected to ours, and you will take part in a 'game.'"
"Every year, one person from each of your countries will be chosen at random as a 'player' and sent into our world."
"You will watch everything the 'player' does through a livestream."
"Survive, and buy your country a chance to catch its breath."
"If the player dies, the livestream will be shut down forever, and your country... will face its reckoning."
The screens went dark the instant the voice fell silent.
The gloom surrounding Blue Star dispersed as well, and the sun shone over the Earth once more!
But the rift remained.
Just as that mysterious entity had said, people were chosen and summoned away every year from then on.
Those chosen came from all walks of life.
Some were top-tier agents, others were battle-hardened soldiers, and still others were ordinary people who couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag.
The beings from that unknown and terrifying world on the other side of the screen came to be known by one name among Blue Star's people: the anomalous.
They possessed supernatural powers beyond the comprehension of mortals, and their very existence mocked the laws of physics.
For the beings of the anomalous world, however, this kind of "game" had long since become routine.
They followed a "Master" of unfathomable power, carrying out an unknowable will.
For countless years, they had connected with one living planet after another.
Sometimes they chose to kill outright, devouring the planet's resources and civilization completely.
Other times, they chose this crueler game, savoring the "pleasure" of watching their prey struggle in despair as they slowly consumed an entire civilization.
But the planet called Blue Star seemed to be different.
They had spent far longer here than on any other planet.
Their "Master" seemed to be deliberately slowing the pace of the devouring...
Chu He's hair stood on end under Xia Yan's stare.
His hands, which had been resting on Xia Yao and Kachi's waists and not-so-subtly caressing them, quickly pulled back.
He forced an impossibly bright smile onto his face.
"Heh heh..."
A low rumble rolled from Xia Yan's throat.
"Hmph!"
He couldn't make sense of it.
He really couldn't.
Two days.
A mere two days.
How had a human he could crush to death with one hand managed to turn Xia Yao and Kachi—two SSS-Class beings with eyes and ambitions set sky-high—into what they were now?
He had watched them fight so fiercely over this man that the heavens and earth seemed to crumble, then watched them make up in an instant for his sake.
That kiss...
Could one kiss really make an SSS-Class anomalous being fall so completely, and develop a love that would endure until death?
This was no mere charm ability.
A chill suddenly ran through him.
This world, ruled by the anomalous for countless ages, treating myriad civilizations as both food and playthings...
This seemingly eternal, rigidly tiered order...
Could it undergo an upheaval beyond anyone's prediction because of the small, seemingly harmless variable standing before him?
And when he thought of that, he found himself looking forward to it a little. He had nothing but contempt for humanity's own fighting strength. They were far too weak; he could wipe one out with a single blink.
But Xia Yan deeply admired human civilization, especially Dragon Country's culinary culture. It was profound and diverse, with endless variety—a supreme pursuit for him as the Ghost Chef. Many of his proudest dishes were now adaptations of recipes from Dragon Country.
Forget it.
If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't think about it.
The rage and frustration slowly drained from Xia Yan's rugged face, leaving behind a deep weariness.
He picked up the ingredients his Multi-armed Monster subordinates were carrying and let out a low roar.
"It's almost noon. Time to eat!"
At twelve noon, the sun blazed overhead.
The school cafeteria was abuzz with people, and eerie figures crowded the room.
The surviving human students stood among anomalous beings of all shapes and sizes, creating a scene straight out of a fever dream.
When Xia Yan's mountain-sized figure appeared before them, every sound abruptly ceased.
The entire cafeteria fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Xia Yan's expression was grim.
His mountain-like presence swept over the room, and everyone—human or anomalous—who met his gaze immediately lowered their head in fear.
Everyone except Chu He and the others.
He barked, his voice filled with unquestionable authority, ringing out in the depths of every soul.
"Whatever you saw or heard on the sports field today, keep it buried in your stomach!"
"If even a single word of this gets out..."
He paused, his gaze turning vicious.
His two Multi-armed Monster subordinates had already carried over a huge chopping board more than half a meter thick.
The board was made from the bones of some unknown black giant beast, and was incredibly hard.
Xia Yan snatched up the huge bone cleaver, heavy as a door panel.
The blade rose, then fell!
Crack—!
A sharp report rang out, making everyone's teeth ache!
His single blow split the thick bone chopping board down the middle, leaving a cut as smooth as a mirror.
"Let this be your example!"
Before you continue