The most pleasant surprise of that last night was that, thanks to the large number of illustrations, I managed to finish the last book faster than expected.

  As I turned the last page, I noticed something unexpected: it was still nighttime.

  I was surprised.

  My calculations were wrong. I had underestimated how much the illustrations would speed up my reading.

  This time, the mistake was welcome.

  "Great… there's still time to sleep."

  As I lay there, I could still hear distant moans echoing through the hallway.

  Some were still betting everything on the 1%.

  I understood.

  The pleasure was tempting.

  But betting all my chips on a single statistical basket? That wasn't for me.

  I closed my eyes and forced myself to sleep.

  "Bahhh… Bahh… Gentlemen, please report for breakfast and preparation. Gentlemen, rep—"

  I woke up to the automated call.

  I had slept just over three hours.

  Even so, I felt refreshed.

  Today was the day.

  This time, I didn't wear my usual clothes.

  Not because they were dirty — though they were.

  But because we would finally be wearing the standard uniform of the Chamber of Lords.

  The outfit was black, gleaming like obsidian.

  It fit the body like a second skin.

  The outer surface was made of overlapping scales, similar to those of a fish. Rigid to the touch, yet surprisingly flexible.

  Cutting-edge technology.

  Strong enough to withstand a rifle shot at close range, thanks to an internal impact-dissipation system.

  On Earth, this would have been an absolute luxury item.

  In Oasis?

  Starting gear.

  Disposable.

  The claws and bites of the creatures were stronger than bullets.

  Even so, the sense of security the uniform provided — combined with its ventilation system — was almost addictive.

  "My sister would have loved this."

  Beyond the sleek aesthetics, there were also practical features.

  The uniform had a compartment for the tablet.

  Once connected, the device was absorbed into the suit's structure. A translucent projection appeared before the user's eyes, visible only to the one wearing it.

  They said it was impossible for anyone outside to see what you saw.

  And the tablet was the last component to run out of battery.

  Practical.

  Essential.

  Almost comforting.

  In the cafeteria, everyone was already dressed in the same gleaming black uniform.

  The same woman from the first day appeared briefly to address the group.

  "Gentlemen, I see that everyone is present. After breakfast, please make your way to the final lecture hall. The tower master has a few words to say before you are directed to the capsules."

  Finally.

  Explanations.

  Although the transport had existed for decades, the process had always been kept secret. Theories ranged from dimensional portals to wormholes.

  Nobody knew for certain.

  My excitement was evident.

  I finished eating far too quickly and was the first to arrive at the hall.

  I waited.

  And waited.

  When half the group was already behind me, the door finally opened.

  And then…

  I understood what "Leader" meant.

  "Ok… this is impressive."

  The man who appeared before us was not merely large.

  He had been modified.

  Tall. Athletic. Slightly golden skin.

  His eyes were feline.

  His hands ended in articulated claws.

  But the most striking feature…

  Were the wings.

  Four wings.

  Folded against his back, they began at shoulder height and extended almost to his feet. They were not ordinary feathers — they looked like overlapping blades, both organic and metallic at the same time.

  It was like beholding an archangel… with claws in place of mercy.

  And his legs…

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  There was something there too. A denser structure, as if built to withstand forces greater than Earth's gravity.

  "Everyone feels that. I'll give five minutes for the latecomers."

  His voice was calm.

  Deep.

  Dominant.

  Genetic modifications were not uncommon.

  There was, naturally, a system of exchanges between the lord and the summoned Heroes — as complex as it was secretive. In the end, only upon entering Oasis would an individual gain full and unrestricted access to the answers. It was a way of leveling the playing field for everyone… though I doubted that the nobles lacked additional information.

  The truth, however, was simple and tragic: humans started at the bottom of Oasis's hierarchy.

  Fragile bodies.

  Bipedal.

  No extraordinary natural strength.

  It was said that most partner civilizations lived under gravity three to five times greater than Earth's.

  They were natural tanks.

  We…

  Were weak, inexperienced, ignorant, and naive.

  But we were also adaptable.

  The man before us clearly understood that being merely human was not enough.

  Perhaps that was why he had at least four visible modifications.

  Eyes.

  Wings.

  Claws.

  Leg structure.

  He was not just a survivor.

  He was someone who had thrived — and greedy enough to become an abomination in the name of something greater than mere existence.

  "I believe everyone is here."

  He crossed his arms.

  "My name is Thomas. But you may call me Leader."

  His eyes swept the room.

  "I read in the report that many of you chose to exchange fluids during these past days."

  Some faces went pale.

  "Foolish choice."

  Direct.

  Without mercy.

  I agreed.

  If it were 10%, maybe.

  But 1%?

  A waste.

  "I won't waste time on what you already know. My goal is to demonstrate and explain the conversion process."

  Conversion.

  Not transport.

  Conversion.

  He explained it simply.

  We would be taken to the top floor.

  Placed inside technological capsules.

  And, by "magic" — his words — transported to Oasis.

  No black holes.

  No grand theories.

  A process that was simply incomprehensible.

  One that always worked.

  The doubtful looks, even after the explanation, led the large man to take a curious course of action.

  "I think it's better to show than to explain. Shall we?"

  This time, we quickly ascended the floors until we reached a restricted area.

  "Welcome to the Hive."

  The top floor was colossal.

  Over forty meters high.

  Capsules arranged like a honeycomb.

  One above the other, separated by two meters of vertical space.

  Hundreds.

  Perhaps thousands.

  Autonomous gliders floated through the space, inspecting units and performing maintenance.

  The place was fascinating.

  And terrifying.

  "As you can see, the capsules are responsible for the transport."

  Thomas produced a small metal cube.

  "Upon arrival, you will have in hand a subspace compartment like this one."

  He turned the cube.

  A massive object materialized out of nowhere.

  Some stepped back.

  "Relax. Five by five meters of internal storage space. This preserves the initial materials for construction. Of course, you will only have enough material to start one of three options."

  He looked at us.

  "I imagine many of you have already decided which one to choose."

  My heart raced.

  Castle.

  Temple.

  Iron and Steel House.

  It was not merely a choice.

  It was the only choice that mattered.

  Thomas gave a slight smile.

  "Each of you will have the necessary materials for only one option, so I strongly suggest you choose with extreme care and seriousness."

  I felt something different from fear.

  Anticipation.

  The cube still intrigued me.

  It was small. Light. Too simple.

  And yet, it contained an internal space five by five meters wide.

  Inexplicable.

  But I was already beginning to grow accustomed to the word that justified everything.

  Magic.

  "In addition to the cube, this will be another object you will receive."

  Thomas raised a small metal rod.

  "The Lord's Staff."

  The object looked simple — small enough to fit in one hand.

  But once activated, it extended, transforming into a banner.

  "During the initial period, it will function as a creature repellent within the protected area. After that, it will serve as an attribute amplifier for summoned soldiers and heroes."

  Buff.

  The word wasn't spoken, but that was exactly what it meant.

  "It is a unique item. If it is lost or destroyed… you will no longer be able to enjoy its benefits."

  Silence fell instantly.

  "The market value of one of these exceeds billions, but thanks to Oasis, everyone is entitled to at least one for free."

  Some eyes went wide.

  "And there is one important detail: the effects of the banners also bring benefits to the Lord. And best of all… they are cumulative."

  That meant that if two Lords faced a creature together, the bonuses would stack…

  Strategic cooperation.

  Or organized warfare.

  "The bonuses are random. But they anchor themselves to the latent potential of the bearer."

  Dog tags.

  That was where they came in.

  Genetic potential influenced the outcome.

  Makes sense.

  In the beginning, nothing was more important than the banner.

  "Finally, the tablet has been integrated into the uniform."

  Thomas crossed his arms.

  "This uniform will not hold up against almost any relevant creature. But you will depend on the information it provides, so protect the uniform — and especially the tablet inside it."

  He explained a few more things — nothing I hadn't already learned from the books.

  "Apparently… he's trying to help."

  Just like the woman from the first day, despite the brutality, there was an intention behind it. He wanted to minimize losses.

  "Eat. Rest. The process begins in six hours. Dismissed."

  Lunch was the most subdued of all.

  Nervousness had finally overtaken desire.

  I observed the people around me.

  Some were pale.

  Others trembled quietly.

  But there was a group… different.

  Calm.

  Even smiling.

  Nobles.

  Makes sense.

  What the books hadn't made clear was that the mortality rate was not uniform.

  For those who did not come from farms, the mortality rate remained below 50%.

  They knew what to expect.

  They had probably prepared for this their entire lives.

  For me…

  It was simply a forced adaptation.

  But for them, it was the fulfillment of everything they had been raised and trained for since birth.

  No complaints.

  No noise.

  "I think what Thomas said affected everyone."

  Six hours later, I was rested, fed, and ready.

  When we returned to the capsule floor, the scene was different.

  Several were already open.

  And Thomas was not there.

  In his place…

  A woman.

  Were it not for her intense red eyes and slightly elongated canines, I would have mistaken her for an ordinary person.

  But those details…

  Meant a great deal.

  "A vampire…" someone whispered beside me.

  Yes.

  In the Book of Temples and Heroes, there was a record of a rare summoning: that of a vampiric race. Acquiring the power of such a creature was something extremely coveted.

  After all, aside from the thirst for blood, there was no clear distinction between a human and a vampire — the differences were subtle. Red eyes could be concealed with contact lenses. Elongated canines could be hidden.

  In the end, only the benefits remained: beauty, power, and above all, longevity.

  Furthermore, it was even possible to purchase the summoning of a hero — but it was expensive.

  That meant that woman had either been very lucky… or was simply not an ordinary woman.

  At first, I couldn't understand why she was present during the process. The Leader had already explained everything, and there was certainly staff capable of conducting the procedure without the need for someone powerful to supervise it.

  But then I understood why she was there.

  "Sister… thank you for coming."

  The voice came from a young girl standing before her.

  "How could I let my sister leave without seeing her?"

  The vampire replied softly.

  "I'm giving you something to help. Unfortunately, I cannot do more than that."

  She handed her a small ring.

  The object was absorbed by the black uniform before I could properly examine it.

  External assistance was prohibited.

  But there were always loopholes.

  The loopholes were expensive.

  Very expensive.

  Other nobles present likely had hidden advantages as well.

  I wanted to know what that ring was for.

  But once again, my eyes betrayed me.

  "You… with the white hair."

  Her tone of voice was soft.

  But dangerous.

  "Where are you looking? Get into an open capsule. Now. Unless you want me to put you in there myself."

  The vampire smiled.

  Her canines grew almost three centimeters.

  That was not theater.

  It was a warning.

  I knew it was forbidden to harm the candidates.

  But I had no intention of testing the limits of the system.

  "I apologize, ma'am."

  I stepped into the first available capsule.

  Inside, it was comfortable.

  And claustrophobic.

  The structure recognized my DNA the moment I lay down.

  The capsule, together with the Tag, became my beacon.

  That was what made my return possible.

  If I survived.

  The scan took a few seconds.

  I watched the surrounding capsules close.

  Then it happened.

  A white mist rose inside the neighboring units.

  When it dissipated…

  The body was simply no longer there.

  No light.

  No explosion.

  No spectacle.

  Only absence.

  I swallowed hard.

  The lid began to close over me.

  The mist began to rise.

  "Oasis…"

  If this was conversion…

  I was about to find out where I would be sent.

  And then…

  Everything went white.