"The game begins."
Araki Itsuki brought his hands together in a seal, and a phantom image of Karma sitting cross-legged appeared over the black barrier.
Purple-black light flickered across the barrier spanning tens of thousands of kilometers, offering the option to withdraw and a chance to live.
Within Sakura Country.
Countless people trembled in fear as catastrophe loomed.
An unprecedented, terrifying shadow stood high above them in the sky.
It seemed poised to annihilate the world and bring utter destruction.
"An alien invasion?"
"What are we supposed to do?!"
A middle-aged man who had nearly strangled himself earlier sat slumped in the road, drenched in sweat and beyond caring how he looked.
He leaned against a white railing, gasping for breath.
"Ah, shit! I just bought a new house and got married! Dying now would be a total waste!"
"Help! I'm not ready to leave my warm bed behind!"
A young man beside him broke down crying at those words.
He had just gotten into college and hadn't even had a chance to enjoy slacking off. After all that hard work, his life was about to end.
"I just downloaded Wallpaper!!!"
"I haven't even put my favorite wallpaper on my new computer yet! Boo-hoo!"
Of course, some people had long since grown weary of life, and relief mingled with the fear on their faces.
"Let it all be destroyed. I've hated this world for ages anyway."
As countless people reacted in countless different ways.
Araki Itsuki's calm voice crossed space and appeared directly in everyone's minds.
Even those with hearing impairments understood him perfectly.
Information about the coming war entered everyone's awareness and memories, helping them understand what was happening.
"Sorcerers, curses, cursed spirits..."
A young man with an unreadable expression murmured as he rapidly absorbed the knowledge.
He stood