The countdown in the sky burned brighter as it ticked down, each number a searing reminder of the stakes. The glowing digits pulsed with an unnatural rhythm, their light casting sharp, flickering shadows across the faces of the newly gathered players.


    One by one, they materialized out of thin air, bodies shimmering into existence like static clearing from an old, broken screen. Some collapsed the moment their feet touched the ground, gasping as if they’d been holding their breath for an eternity. Others stumbled forward, their knees weak and their faces pale with shock. The few who stood tall wore masks of forced composure, though their darting eyes betrayed the panic they fought to suppress.


    And then there was Kagetsuki Rin.


    She stood apart from the chaos, her posture relaxed, arms crossed. Smoky gray eyes scanned the crowd like a hawk surveying prey. Every face she saw was a potential obstacle, a stepping stone—or dead weight. Unlike the others, her sharp mind was already at work, processing every detail of her surroundings, every flicker of movement, every whispered murmur.


    “Ah, the faces of the newly damned,” a voice crooned, dripping with theatrical delight.


    The players froze as the jester appeared above them, perched on nothing but air. His mismatched outfit was a dazzling, chaotic riot of swirling colors and clashing patterns, and the small bell at the tip of his hat jingled with every exaggerated movement he made. His grin stretched impossibly wide, sharp and gleaming like a predator’s.


    “Welcome, my dear, unfortunate players, to the Selection Maze! A place of wonder, danger, and oh, so much fun!” He threw his arms out wide, his voice booming with glee.


    The ground beneath the players’ feet trembled, rippling as if it were alive. In an instant, the barren void transformed. Towering walls erupted from the earth, snaking their way into a labyrinth that twisted and turned as far as the eye could see. The walls were alive, vines pulsing like veins along their gleaming surfaces, their faint glow casting an eerie light. The air grew dense, thick with the hum of something ancient and watchful.


    “Your goal, my little pawns, is delightfully simple,” the jester continued, his voice laced with mockery. “Survive. Reach the center of the maze before time runs out. Only the first 200 to arrive will advance. The rest...”


    He leaned forward, his grin growing impossibly wider, his sharp teeth glinting. “Let’s just say you’ll be unmade. Erased. Poof! Gone, as if you never existed. Doesn’t that sound... exhilarating?”


    A ripple of panic spread through the crowd. Players began to murmur, their voices rising in frantic whispers. Some turned on each other, shoving and shouting as if desperate to establish dominance before the game even began.


    Rin remained still. She watched the chaos unfold, her expression unreadable, her sharp eyes noting who crumbled first. The frantic ones would fall quickly; the arrogant ones would follow shortly after. She had no intention of being either.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    “Oh, but that’s not all!” the jester’s voice rang out, slicing through the rising noise. He leaped into the air, landing effortlessly on an invisible platform. “The maze is full of surprises. Solve puzzles, find treasures, form alliances—or betray them. It’s all part of the fun! But beware, my dears... the maze is alive, and it loves to play with its food.”


    The jester threw back his head and cackled, his laughter echoing like a symphony of madness. “And with that, I bid you good luck! May the smartest—or the luckiest—win.”


    With a dramatic bow, he dissolved into a flurry of shimmering confetti, leaving the players to face the sprawling maze.


    The countdown in the sky ticked down to zero.


    <hr>


    A deafening hum filled the air as the maze came alive. The walls shifted and groaned, pathways opening and closing like the jaws of a great beast. The ground trembled beneath their feet, sending several players sprawling.


    Chaos erupted.


    Some sprinted forward without a second thought, their movements frantic and uncoordinated. Others hesitated, their gazes darting between the maze’s shifting paths as they tried to decide which direction to take. A few clung to the safety of the starting point, frozen by indecision.


    Rin stood at the edge of the crowd, her eyes narrowing as she observed the maze’s movements. The shifting patterns weren’t random. The walls followed a rhythm, a logic she could almost feel if she focused hard enough. She remained still, her mind racing, while the others wasted precious energy panicking.


    A voice cut through the commotion nearby. “Out of my way!”


    A tall man with sharp blue eyes and shoulder-length black hair shoved past a cluster of players, his tone cold and commanding. His movements were quick and efficient, his gaze locked onto the shifting paths ahead.


    Not far from him, a petite woman with bright red hair glared at anyone who came too close. Her amber eyes burned with defiance, and she gripped a jagged piece of metal like a weapon.


    Further back, a bespectacled girl with shoulder-length black hair stood trembling, muttering under her breath. She adjusted her glasses with shaking hands, her gaze flickering between the maze and the players around her.


    Rin’s gaze flitted between them, her expression unreadable. Allies or threats? Time would reveal their roles.


    <hr>


    Rin chose her path carefully, slipping into a corridor as the crowd thinned. The walls pulsed faintly, the air thick with the hum of something alive. She moved with deliberate steps, her ears tuned to the distant sounds of screams and cries for help. She ignored them. Survival wasn’t about sentimentality.


    The path twisted and turned before opening into a small chamber. At its center stood a massive, glowing door covered in symbols that shifted like liquid light. Above it, an inscription glowed faintly:


    "To pass, you must give what you cannot regain."


    Rin tilted her head, studying the door. The symbols weren’t random—they followed a pattern. She was piecing it together when footsteps echoed behind her.


    The black-haired man appeared, his sharp eyes narrowing as he saw her. “What’s the holdup?”


    Rin gestured lazily to the door. “Be my guest.”


    He frowned but stepped forward, examining the inscription. As he reached out, a slot opened near the door’s center, revealing a sharp blade.


    “What the hell?”


    The door’s voice boomed, cold and emotionless: “Sacrifice a memory to proceed.”


    The man hesitated. “Sacrifice a memory? What does that mean?”


    Rin’s smirk widened. “Why don’t you find out?”


    Glaring at her, he pressed his hand to the blade. Light flared, and his face twisted in pain as something intangible was drawn from him. The door creaked open, and he staggered forward, his eyes unfocused.


    Rin watched him go, her expression thoughtful. “Sacrifice a memory... interesting.”


    Without hesitation, she approached the blade, her smoky gray eyes gleaming. Pain flared briefly, and a faint warmth left her body. The door opened fully, revealing the path ahead.


    Rin stepped through, her lips curling into a faint smile. The game had begun, and she intended to win.