Chapter 9: The hopeless game begins

“Look at this thrilling scene!”
The man in a black-and-white crow-like mask stood on the roller coaster tracks, shouting loudly.
He raised both hands high, his body trembling slightly.
The panicked movements and terrified screams of the crowd brought him immense pleasure.
A three-meter-tall, tiger-like pollution entity swung its massive claws, smashing everything in the amusement park to pieces.
Bai Yao pulled Bai Feifei along, running with the crowd toward the park’s exit, the chaotic throng like a raging river.
A man rudely shoved between them.
“Move!”
He roared coarsely, pushing Bai Feifei aside, breaking the sisters’ clasped hands.
“Feifei!”
“Sis!”
The space between them widened as the crowd surged behind the man.
They were completely separated, pushed farther apart in opposite directions.
For a moment, Bai Yao was furious, instinctively wanting to transform into a witch.
But she held back.
Witches were seen as omens of disaster, despised by all.
She couldn’t become a witch!
“We can’t get out! Why can’t we get out!”
“Something’s trapping the amusement park! We’re all going to die here!”
“Let me out! I’ll never come back to this place!”
“…”
A despairing truth hit the crowd: the amusement park was enclosed by an invisible barrier.
No one could leave.
The masked man on the tracks watched the panicked, despairing crowd below.
A sense of unparalleled joy welled up in his heart.
Nothing in the world was more entertaining than watching people drown in despair.
If there was, it was what he planned to do next.
“Want to live?”
“Want to leave this place?”
“Want to reunite with your loved ones?”
The man shouted, offering a glimmer of hope in their absolute despair.
Didn’t that make the drama even more exciting?
“Answer me! Do you want to live?!”
His voice echoed through the amusement park, like a demonic chant pouring into everyone’s ears.
Death was terrifying.
No one wanted to die.
“Yes, I want to live! Let me out, I beg you!”
Someone began pleading, kneeling and groveling lower than a beggar.
“Hm, then you may leave. I always respect personal wishes. Since you want to go, go.”
“Thank… thank you!”
The man scrambled up and rushed toward the amusement park’s gate—he actually got out!
Seeing his success, others followed suit, kneeling and begging the masked man to let them leave.
“I want to leave too! Please let me out, I’ll be grateful!”
“Me too, please!”
“Sir, let me go! I have a wife and kids to care for!”
Many voiced their pleas, but the masked man’s tone shifted.
“Want to leave? But I already gave you your chance earlier. Your requests now are too late.”
His words crashed into their hearts like a massive boulder.
“No, you said you respect personal wishes! I want out, why won’t you let me go!”
Someone shouted in protest, answered by a loud “bang.”
Their body suddenly exploded, blood and flesh splattering the crowd.
“Ah!!!”
Terror-filled screams swept through the amusement park again.
“Hmph! I, Augustus, hate being questioned the most!”
“I gave you a chance, and you didn’t take it, yet you dare question me?”
Augustus, furious, crushed the protester on the spot.
Killing one to warn the rest.
No one dared speak, their fear reaching its peak.
Above, the mysterious masked man Augustus; below, the tiger-like pollution entity.
No way to heaven, only a path to hell.
“But I’m a kind person. You missed the first chance, so I’ll give you another.”
“Next, we’ll play a game. Win, and you can leave.”
The terrified crowd stirred, their desperate will to survive prompting one to ask.
“What happens to those who lose?”
“Good question!” Augustus’s voice grew excited. “We’ve all played games. What happens to the character you control when they lose?”
He scanned the crowd, hoping for the answer he wanted.
They didn’t disappoint; someone replied.
“Death?”
“Exactly! Death!”
Augustus immediately responded to the woman who answered correctly, delighted someone understood him.
So he decided to give her a small reward for her correct answer.
“Woman, you answered correctly. You may leave.”
“…Thank you, thank you!”
Stunned, the woman thanked him repeatedly and hurriedly left the amusement park.
Two had now escaped, and the remaining crowd felt less despair.
If they won the game, they could leave!
Who cared about others’ lives when their own was at stake?
A ruthless glint flashed in everyone’s eyes.
To survive, they’d become utterly crazed.
Augustus looked at the pocket watch in his hand, its gold dial gradually turning black.
The black had overtaken half; soon, it would fully consume the gold.
“Negative emotions are about halfway collected. Once I create a pollution entity strong enough to defeat magical girls…”
“A seat at the Arcana table will surely be mine.”
Augustus muttered to himself, his excitement uncontainable. He couldn’t wait to start the game!
“Let the game begin!”
“The game is simple: push-ups.”
“The first to complete one hundred push-ups wins and can leave the amusement park.”
Augustus was touched by his own kindness; he hadn’t made them fight to the death.
Just a simple physical exercise.
Sigh, he was too kind.
“I’ll go first!”
A robust man spoke up, making Augustus thrilled.
“Good! You start!” Augustus looked at him. “I like proactive players. You can choose your opponent.”
The muscular man scanned the crowd; no one dared meet his gaze.
His arms were thick with muscle—if chosen as his opponent, they were doomed!
“Sorry, lady, I don’t want to die.” He pointed at a woman nearby. “Sir, I choose her.”
“No, don’t pick me!”
The woman broke down; she rarely exercised, how could she compete with him?
A despairing game, cloaked in hope, began.