The Crown Game

"I spoke with the test director before coming here, and he instructed us to provide you with a bonus game," Lero Ro announced, eliciting sighs and expressions of annoyance from the regulars.

They had already completed three tests in a short period, and now they were required to take another one. Where was the fairness in that?

"Don't worry, the bonus game is unrelated to the tests," Lero Ro added. "It's up to each team to decide whether to participate. There is no penalty for opting out."

The regulars sighed in relief upon hearing that participation was optional. Many of them were exhausted, and facing another test would have likely led to their elimination.

"But the winner of the bonus game gets to advance to the next floor," Lero Ro added, swiftly changing the minds of most regulars who initially didn't want to participate.

"What is the bonus game about?" a regular inquired.

Lero Ro turned toward the hallway. "The game is called 'The Crown Game.' I'll explain the details once we arrive at the location," he said before departing.

All the regulars intending to participate swiftly ran to follow Lero Ro. Gojo gestured to his teammates, and they followed him along with the other regulars.

Elsewhere on the second floor, they found themselves in a vast golden chamber adorned with cells and a massive golden throne at its center, where Lero Ro was seated.

Lero Ro picked up the crown from the armrest. "The Crown Game is essentially a crown-stealing competition. The last team holding this crown will be the winner," he explained.

He proceeded to explain the intricate rules of the game. Once everyone was clear and confident about the rules, they were each placed inside a cell with their respective team members.

"Additionally, another team from a different test area is participating. It's a long story," Lero Ro mentioned briefly.

Some regulars were surprised to learn that another team from a different site was participating, while others felt anger, though they concealed their emotions.

Their anger was indeed justified. What if that team was powerful enough to defeat everyone here? It wouldn't be fair, considering they weren't originally part of this test.

Meanwhile, Gojo found himself in a dilemma, torn between two choices.

On one hand, Gojo faced the choice of not winning the game to stay with Bam and gather information about his world. On the other hand, he could choose to win the game and continue ascending the tower to explore further.

After a brief period of consideration, Gojo's curiosity and eagerness to explore the tower surpassed his desire to gather information about Bam's world.

Ultimately, Gojo reasoned that he would gain power regardless, and as Bam was an irregular, they were likely to meet again. Furthermore, winning this game would spare him from enduring any more of these seemingly pointless tests.

"Going last will be most advantageous for us. Don't press the button until then," Serena commanded, directing her words mainly at Gojo.

Knowing Gojo well, Serena was confident that he was considering entering in the first round. As for Laure, she acknowledged his laziness but believed he wasn't foolish enough to go first.

"We're not going first, but we aren't going last either," Gojo announced, surprising both Laure and Serena.

Laure had no issue with the prospect of going first, given that Gojo was on his team. In fact, he anticipated Gojo volunteering for the first position based on his character.

"Why wouldn't we go last? It's the best timing, as going earlier means having to defend for a lo~nger time," Serena argued persuasively.

"Wrong answer, little girl. Your first thought should have been, 'let's go first since we have sir Gojo with us!'," Gojo teased, provoking Serena, who began yelling at him in response.

"In all seriousness, the best position for our team would be going second. We'd gain a significant advantage once we secure the crown, as most teams plan to go later in the rounds. This means we'll have more participants protecting us than fighting us," Gojo explained his strategic reasoning.

Serena started to see Gojo in a new light after hearing his explanation. She began to feel useless and unsure of her role on a team with such teammates.

She gritted her teeth in frustration, thinking to herself, 'Nothing's ever going to change!'

"I had the same idea. I just assumed you would want to go first, considering you're the strongest," Laure remarked.

Gojo grinned broadly. "Seems like my reputation precedes me!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with pride.

After the first two teams finished their battle, the victors emerged: a regular guy in a purple jumpsuit, a black-haired swordsman, and a green lizard.

When the countdown began, Gojo pressed the red button. As their cell opened, they found that another team had also pressed the button simultaneously.

As they made their way to the center, Laure grabbed Serena's arm.

"Wait here, let him handle them," Laure said.

She pulled her hand free from his grip. "Absolutely not! He'll lose if he fights them all alone! The team with the crown is extremely strong; he needs our help!" Serena asserted as she walked toward Gojo, but paused when Laure spoke again.

"I know he has a huge ego, but his strength backs it up. Earlier, I wasn't kidding when I said he was the strongest," Laure explained.

Reluctantly, Serena stayed with Laure. She realized she might not make a significant impact in the fight, but she was determined not to feel more useless than she already did. She wanted to contribute something to the team, even if it wasn't much.

As Gojo approached, Hatz, the black-haired swordsman, observed him closely. "While you're gearing up for a life-or-death battle, one of your teammates is sleeping, and the other is just watching," Hatz remarked pointedly.

Hatz sighed in disappointment. "I don't understand how trash like them get chosen in this tower," he said, unsheathing his sword.

Gojo's friendly demeanor instantly shifted to a more serious and threatening tone. "You should be thanking my buddies for holding back, otherwise this battle would be over before it even starts. Although, that's already the case," he stated firmly.

Gojo's sudden words caused the entire area to fall silent. His ego was oozing from him, which earned him disdain from certain regulars who wished for his swift elimination.

"To give you six a chance, I'll let you all have ten free hits, and I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity. Don't be like the other guy," Gojo proposed, presenting an unusual idea.

A large, bald-headed man with four eyes stepped forward confidently. "I'll take you on alone, and with the skills of the King's army martyr, I'll defeat you in under ten blows," he declared boldly.

His fist began glowing red as he unleashed a powerful punch that sliced through the air like tofu.

Everyone expected Gojo to be defeated by that punch, but to their surprise, his fist stopped just a few inches short of impact.

"What's he doing? Why'd he stop?"

He began sweating profusely. For some reason, his fist stopped short before it could reach Gojo, as if an invisible force were blocking him.

"I did that to demonstrate the power of the king. If you don't surrender now, I'll unleash a real attack," he threatened, hoping that Gojo would for some reason surrende.

When Gojo responded with a smile, the man inwardly felt like crying. He prepared to launch an all-out barrage of punches, hoping that whatever had stopped his fists earlier was just a fluke.

Each of his punches, capable of demolishing giant boulders, was halted one after another, despite Gojo not visibly doing anything.

"That's ten blows, now it's my turn." Gojo said.

The man attempted to flee in fear, but Gojo appeared before him in the blink of an eye. With a swift movement, the man's body was sent flying, crashing into the throne and landing right beside the green lizard.

Anak, the green lizard, widened her eyes significantly, her expression turning serious.

'I didn't even see him move…'

He looked at the remaining five, "Next."

Shibisu's face was covered in sweat as he spoke up. "I hate to say this, but we have to attack him together," he suggested to the other team, who agreed.

They all launched their strongest attacks at Gojo, but their efforts proved futile. Just as Gojo was preparing to counterattack, a massive green sword descended upon him with a loud boom, engulfing the area in smoke and debris.

When the smoke cleared, everyone was surprised to see that the attack had actually landed. However, they were even more astonished to find that it hadn't damaged Gojo in the slightest.

Gojo was taken aback by encountering something so early in the tower that managed to bypass his infinity.

He smiled. "Interesting, that weapon of yours. I like it," he remarked. In the next moment, he appeared right beside Anak and swiftly took the weapon from her hands.

She didn't even have time to react as it all happened in an instant. "Anak!" Shibisu shouted in alarm.

She attempted to punch and kick Gojo, but he effortlessly blocked all her attempts with only his right hand, making it appear as though he was effortlessly fending off a child's attacks.

Suddenly, she felt an immense pressure bearing down on her body, as if it were trying to crush her into a pile of mush.

Gojo halted his examination of the weapon when suddenly, Anak managed to break free from his pressure. "Oh? You're pretty decent, green lizard. Even that asparagus couldn't move," he remarked with a hint of admiration.

She coughed out blood and struggled to stand up, her body clearly weakened from the intense pressure she had just endured.

"Try and block this," Gojo said, as a ominous tiny red ball materialized before his finger.

The entire place was transfixed by the red ball, a sense of dread washing over them as if they were facing an otherworldly power. All the regulars felt a profound sense of powerlessness in its presence.

Especially Anak, who was confronting the power head-on. Her entire being began to shake, overwhelmed by fear. In a moment of complete terror, she scrambled back into her cell and huddled in the corner, shivering uncontrollably.

"She retreated! Why are you still attacking?!" Shibisu shouted, desperately trying to get Gojo to stop his attack.

"Cursed Technique Reversal: Red!"

Gojo's attack launched in the direction of Anak, who fell back onto her buttocks, the sensation of impending death closing in on her with each passing moment.

When the attack reached the cell, it detonated with a deafening boom, sending shockwaves rippling through the area and beyond. The entire room was enveloped in dust and debris, obscuring the vision of everyone present.