The start of the tests

I’m exhausted. I never thought I’d end up confiding my problems to this guy. My only friend—a huge, muscular giant who spends most of his time at the gym. Even if he was the one who noticed something was wrong, it still felt strange opening up to someone.

“So, you’re saying they fired you by writing your resignation letter themselves?” he asked after listening to my story.

“Yeah,” I replied with a sigh after taking a sip of water.

“And now what are you going to do? You lost your job, and if this keeps up, you won’t have a single penny left,” he said while staring at me, waiting for an answer.

“I don’t know yet,” I said as I stood up, “but I’ll figure something out. I’m sure of it.”

I looked at him, and a smile spread across his face as he stood up as well.

“That’s what I like about you—you never give up,” he said while stretching. “Alright, break time’s over. We’re getting back to my workout. The gym waits for no one.”

Then he suddenly started running.

“Wait a second, you crazy bastard!” I shouted as I chased after him.

After that, we spent the rest of the day eating and having fun, though every now and then, that lunatic still found a way to force me into exercising.

When night finally came, I left his place, and for some inexplicable reason, he insisted I take the pedestrian overpass on my way home.

When I reached the bridge, I stopped and stared at the dark sky for a long moment. Just as I was about to leave, I accidentally bumped into a girl without realizing it.

“Sorry about that,” I said as I turned around, but there was no one there.

“What…?” I muttered just as a violent tremor shook the entire bridge. I barely managed to keep my balance.

A light suddenly appeared above the bridge, and within a fraction of a second, a tall girl emerged from it. Her skin was unnaturally pale, two red horns protruded from her head, and she wore a black dress. Behind her swayed a tail that never stopped moving. A terrifying smile stretched across her face.

“What’s going on?” people around me wondered aloud, though no one seemed able to understand the situation.

“Oh? Judging by your faces, you all look like a bunch of ants who have no idea what’s happening,” she said with a laugh.

“Hey! Who the hell are you?” a drunk man shouted while holding a bottle in his hand.

“That’s a good question,” the floating girl replied with the same eerie smile. “I am a Kiori, a being whose existence is beyond your comprehension.”

“But let’s not waste time,” she continued while touching her throat. “Humans… insignificant creatures. You exist only to wallow in filth, eat, sleep, and repeat the same meaningless routine until it bores you to death. But don’t worry—now it’s your turn to entertain the all-powerful beings through trials.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? ‘All-powerful beings,’ my ass!” the drunk man yelled before hurling his bottle at her.

The bottle struck her dress.

“Oh, I thought this was some kind of holo—”

Before he could finish, the bottle exploded violently, spraying blood everywhere. Some of it splattered across me as well.

Screams erupted all around us, and in that instant, I felt it clearly—the world was about to change, and not for the better.

“Really?” the Kiori asked. Her expression changed completely, revealing a face so horrifying it froze my blood.

“You people truly have no manners,” she said while playing with her hair.

“How was I supposed to know…?” someone muttered in terror.

“Ah, right,” she said, smiling once again. “From this point onward, you will all face trials. Fail them, and punishment will be delivered.”

“You think we’re just going to obey?!” some people shouted.

“We won’t submit to this!” others yelled.

But Kiori paid them no attention.

“Since we can’t simply leave you helpless, we’ll provide each of you with a Mini Kiori to assist you on your journey,” she declared before snapping her fingers.

At that moment, I saw a tiny Kiori appear beside me.

“Hello,” the Mini Kiori said cheerfully.

“H-Hello…” I replied in shock before noticing something strange about the others.

I can’t see anyone else’s Kiori, I realized as some people around me acted oddly. And the worst part is… I can’t understand what’s happening at all.

It began with those who refused to participate.

“That’s fine. Since you don’t wish to join, we’ll leave you alone,” Kiori said while tilting her head.

“What? Seriously?!” some people cried out joyfully.

“Well then…” Kiori continued with a smile. “It’s time for you to die.”

She snapped her fingers.

The bodies of those people exploded instantly beneath the delighted gaze of that monstrous being.

“You may begin now,” Kiori said before disappearing.

The Mini Kiori beside me snapped its fingers as well, and suddenly small fish-like creatures carrying weapons appeared, alongside strange bipedal merchants.

Then, out of nowhere, a glowing blue screen materialized before me.

On it were written the words:

First Trial: Survive.