The SSS Beast King: Rebirth of the Legendary Predator
Chapter 48: The Choice Of Destiny

Chapter 48: The Choice Of Destiny

Everyone who had survived gathered around a blazing fire. Every person here had rightfully earned their spot, even if for some, it was by the skin of their teeth. I stared at the smoke of the fire, and the heat scorched my skin as I fought my boredom. Next to me, an overexcited child was wiggling her feet near the flames. ’Kids shouldn’t play with fire.’

The others were sitting quietly, awaiting a message from the system that had completely ghosted us. Among the silence, you heard the occasional cry for those who fear this place, and the laughter of the sociopaths who think they will survive no matter what. It was like the sides of a coin.

As I was about to give in and let myself falter into the world of dreams, the system appeared.

[Welcome! To the elimination round. If you are picked, you’re going to need more than luck! So with that, Jacob Moon and Anri Ashcroft, the winners of the first game, please nominate the seven teams that will compete in the elimination game.]

I sighed as I realized that a piece of my humanity would still haunt me for eternity. The system calls me by my human name.

"Who do you think we should nominate?" The child turned to me with a nervous face, it was strange that someone who had decided to join The Core would be so nervous at such an easy task.

It’s just choosing seven random teams, nothing personal, just eliminating competition, not sure how anyone could feel guilty when it’s your goal to reduce the number of people. After all, these shows aren’t made to create friendships, but to entertain the viewers. They don’t care for those inside the games, only those outside.

I turned away and stared at the spring of the great fire. I wondered what could fuel it, as there was neither any coal nor wood.’Why are you so nervous, it’s not like we’re the ones who are at risk of dying.’ I stood up, stretching, as I had gotten stiff from sitting on the chair all day waiting for The Core. ’Don’t tell me it’s because of all of the eyes staring at you.’

Meanwhile, you couldn’t see them, their presence was clearly felt through the hair on your arms. Endless gazes, waiting, for the littlest error to make fun and demoralize you.

These gazes have multiplied since the system announced that the winners would make the decision of who lives and who doesn’t.

"It’s not that! I...I just don’t think we have the wight to do this! To those who will nevew see theiw families again." Her hand gripping her pants, as she tried to hold in the tears of mercy that were actively trying to escape her tired eyes.

’Anri, think of it this way. If we don’t eliminate anyone, do you think the same will happen when someone else wins? Or do you even think our decision of mercy matters, the system can just nominate the teams itself?

The truth hurt, and I’m sure most accepted there’s no escaping, only a quarter of us will survive, and that’s it, no buts. We couldn’t let the chance of eliminating the competition go to waste, it was just too bright of a gem to be sold at a pawn shop.

She tried arguing, but looking at my eyes, she realized that there was nothing she could ever do to convince me. And with that, it was time for the judging to begin.

A screen appeared in front of my eyes, with every team alive and all their members. I scrolled through all of them, trying to find what team could cause me the most problems later on.

But what would cause me trouble? A tough question to answer as there wasn’t enough information to go by. The first game was entirely focused on luck and calculations. But that doesn’t mean that none will require physical interaction. Which would mean I had to choose between risking it and nominating the teams who looked physically strong.

Or play it safe and choose those that I think are mentally strong. But even that is hard. I don’t have anything to help me predict who’s a genius and who’s not. Meanwhile, I was able to feel the amount of coins in the chests last game, but I wasn’t able to see by who they were deposited. As [King’s Authority] is only at level one.

But, you know what they say, a genius knows a genius best, so if I went with my gut I would at least nominate some, but was I going to risk this? Nominating the physical teams would be easier than mental ones.

I felt Dusk’s gaze linger on me, had he also chosen to admire my power? No, he was probably just trying to intimidate me, maybe a strategy to make me not pick him? Who knows maybe it worked.

I rested my head in my hand, letting the possibilities swirl in my mind. But as the tension in the room was at its highest, with no one saying a word, just staring at me, it looked like I had to make a decision. I sighed, as I raised my head from my soft palm.

My decision, both. I was going to nominate three physical and three mental teams. It was the safest answer, picking for both parties meant I would at least eliminate some of each, meaning whatever the next game is, indifferent of what it’s about, there will be less competition.

As I chose, I could fell fear coming from the teams that were picked. I tried not to pay attention, but what was really making it hard for me was Anris’s face, which unlike me wasn’t as cold-hearted, and whose skin had turned green from the guilt.

And now, I had the last team, lucky number seven. I knew from way before who I would choose for this position, I was just waiting for them to let their guard down for even the minuscule second.

’For my last team, I nominate... team 66, Dusk Sovereign and Eclipse Sovereign.’ Behind that mask of your Dusk, I now see a great typhoon of frustration, hatred, and overall madness, all bottled up for one person, was that me? Didnt think I angered you that much last night. I laughed, as I heard the crowd murmur between themselves. Some didn’t believe they had gotten away, while some seemed disappointed.

But why? Did they think participating in more games would raise their chance of becoming the rulers of the scenario after it ends, and that they would gain that sword? That’s just stupid, the system definitely wouldn’t do something so ridiculous. But who knows, it has surprised me lately, so maybe I’m wrong.

As the nominees were told to exit the room, the tension evaporated, and the crowd went into chaos. Now, there was nothing to fear. Nothing to make you break a sweat. I saw how even those who while I was choosing, were clenching their teeth, their posture straight like an arrow, and their face drowned in sweat, laughing like they had won the lottery. Well, they have won something greater than any lottery, their lives.

I was now powerless. It felt quite good, being the one who controls the game, even if I didn’t have as much control as I think I had. I just nominated, not chose the game, nor have I eliminated a team, and neither do I decide who survives the game and who doesn’t. It felt more like I was used by the system than me being the one in full control of what happened.

I turned to Anri, my eyes pausing on her shaking hands. Maybe I should have told her to move away or close her eyes. I need to think about others sometimes, even if I don’t like it. I need my teammates in the best conditions, and she clearly didn’t fit in that ideal.

I tried speaking to her, but she shut me down. I had broken beyond the line and had upset her. Though I understand her, meanwhile not for the same reason, I also would have hated me if I was in her place. But like I said different reasons, I don’t care about who dies and who doesn’t this round.

As I wasn’t unlucky, I looked at the screen that had appeared in the far right of my eye. Its black color confused me, and so I tried touching it to see if something would happen. But that was all for nothing, as it turned out, this screen was where we would watch the elimination round.

A tall tower stood in the middle of all the contestants, its aura was terrifying. If I was in the place, I don’t think I would have been able to win, since this is most likely a physical game, the type of game I lack in.

[Welcome to the elimination round. The changing tower! As the name suggests, you will have to climb to the top of it meanwhile its structure changes every five seconds! The first team that has both of its members of top wins and the others are eliminated. Oh and, you can push people off. Good Luck!]

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.