Game

Young man, knowing when to keep a low profile was naturally a good thing. But some things were destined not to stay quiet. If you didn't do anything arrogant and unruly when you were young, you'd have no interesting memories to look back on later...

In his previous life, Chen Qiang had seen a saying like that online. Back then, he was still young and had also dreamed of doing something that would make the world take notice.

But as he grew up, Chen Qiang realized that had only been wishful thinking. The world would teach you that the ordinary life was the real one. It would tell you that you weren't any different from anyone else. It would make you understand what it meant to be the bird that stuck its head out and got shot.

But things were different now. Since he had crossed into this world, what was the point if he still kept his head down like he had in his previous life, letting everything happen as it would?

So, after arriving here, Chen Qiang had pondered what he should do with his life. It wasn't until he saw those slaves that he understood. He knew what he had to do.

He had crossed into this world because Heaven had given him the chance to change everything. Since this world had already rotted away, why not let him smash it to pieces and let a new world rise from the ruins?

Soon, Chen Qiang made his way through the amusement park. It didn't take him long to find someone who knew the roads there, and that person led him to where he wanted to go.

A place with a Den Den Mushi capable of broadcasting to the entire city.

"Testing! Testing! Testing! Looks like this really works!"

At that moment, the city had fallen silent after Chen Qiang's battle with Toby. Suddenly, the loudspeakers on every street blared to life.

"Hello, everyone! I'm Chen Qiang. That's right, the same Chen Qiang who took part in the Summit War."

As everyone in the city, whether slave or slave trader, was drawn in by the voice, Chen Qiang spoke again through the loudspeakers.

"Chen Qiang? The one who took part in the Summit War?"

"Chen Qiang the Undying? Wasn't he fighting Lord Toby?"

"Why is he using the broadcast? Could it mean Lord Toby lost?"

"..."

After hearing the introduction over the loudspeakers, people throughout the city began talking, looking toward Toby's Playground in disbelief.

But whether they were shocked, frightened, or anything else, the voice on the broadcast didn't stop. He kept speaking.

"Of course, whether you know who I am or not doesn't matter. I'm here to announce two things!"

"First: I've officially taken over this city. From now on, I'll make all the rules!"

"Second: Since this city belongs to me now, I've decided to celebrate by playing a game with everyone in the city. It'll show how happy I am."

At this point, Chen Qiang paused before continuing.

"After taking over the city, I got a rough idea of what it's like here. Aside from the slaves, it's full of slave traders and businesses that buy slaves. In other words, there are hardly any good people here."

"How can my city have no good people in it? So I've decided that everyone will take part in this game. It doesn't matter if you're a slave or some other kind of trash. Participation is mandatory. Whether you want to or not, you have to play."

"Now, let me explain the rules!"

"The rules are simple. I'll have someone wait in the amusement park's plaza with the keys to the slave collars, handcuffs, and shackles. Any slave who makes it there can get help for free and have their restraints removed."

"Once your restraints are off, any slave who wants to leave can have one of the ships in the harbor. But it won't be free. To get aboard, you'll need a ticket: the corpse of a slave trader or a slave merchant in the city."

"Of course, there are only about a third as many slave traders and slave merchants as there are slaves in this city, so I've decided that each corpse will get you two tickets. Children can go for free, naturally. I consider myself a good person, after all, and respecting the old and caring for the young is part of being a good person!"

Chen Qiang's words continued to ring out over the broadcast, making everyone in the city uneasy. They didn't want to play any damned game.

"Who does he think he is?"

"And he's forcing us to play?"

"He must have lost his mind!"

"..."

After hearing Chen Qiang's rules, the slave merchants and slave traders began to panic. They roared furiously, threatening to join forces and hack him to death.

But that was all they did: talk. Not one of them acted on their threats. Most of them instead ran toward the port outside the city, hoping to escape before Chen Qiang sealed it off.

"I can already hear the cheers from the city. Everyone thinks this game is great, right? It took me a long time to come up with it."

"All right, I now declare the game underway. It'll last one day. At this time tomorrow, I'll destroy this city completely, in my own way. So, slaves who want to be free, get moving!"

"I'll say one more thing. Listen up, all you slaves. Whatever the reason you were captured and made into slaves, I've given you a chance now. Do you want to keep living as slaves until you die, numb and unfeeling? Or will you stand up and fight, risking everything for your freedom? That choice is yours."

"I'll leave you with one last thought: If you can't live free, why not choose to die free? At least in the moment you die, you'll be free! Hahahaha! And now, the game officially begins!"

As soon as Chen Qiang finished speaking, he split himself in two with a slash. One copy remained in the middle of the plaza, while the other raced through the city to the entrance of the harbor.

After hearing Chen Qiang's words, the people in the city didn't know what to say. The entire city fell still.

All the slave traders looked warily at the slaves beside them, while their hands began searching their clothes for the controllers for the slave collars.

But the slaves' once-numb eyes slowly regained a glimmer of light. Something called hope appeared in their eyes. Their breathing grew heavier, and their gazes toward the slave traders beside them began to turn fierce.