I watched the words float before my eyes, then glanced down. I knew I should’ve collapsed to the ground, my blood running cold after the fight.

  But something held me in place. I took a deep breath—and noticed it didn’t hurt. I was being healed.

  It was the system’s healing, so it numbed everything.

  What do I wanna call it? I wondered, realizing I was inside a box. My claustrophobia crept in, even through the system’s warm magic. But as if it understood me, the box expanded and shifted, making it seem like there were no boundaries between me and the outside world—except I couldn’t see anyone but myself and Max’s lifeless body beside me.

  I thought about our journey to the peak of the mountain, what had driven us there. How we carved out that victory, and how Tress’s prophecy had come true in such a strange and unexpected way.

  I reflected on the number three—how I and the gods made three, the three fires, and the three races that came to this show, fighting either for their people or for themselves.

  “Triad,” I muttered.

  Are you sure?

  [Y/N]

  “Yeah, I’m sure,” I replied out loud. The system confirmed the town’s creation.

  Congratulations! You are now a City Leader. You'll soon gain access to the city menu.

  Reminder: Physical violence isn’t permitted within city boundaries. You can’t be overthrown by another unless you're killed outside the city and your City Stone is taken. You’re free to exchange the City Stone with another candidate, but you can’t be coerced into doing so. The system will detect any coercion.

  These rules will be enforced for all competitors.

  This is the third city conquered in this segment of the Ascension Games. There are hundreds of other segments, each competing for hundreds of cities. This is a privilege earned by only a few—and with it, you’ll receive a reward worthy of the achievement.

  Everyone you chose to bring into your town as a member of your city will be presented with the opportunity to assist three individuals from your planet. Additionally, based on the composition of the city leader’s party, a major upgrade can be granted to your planet—if you see fit.

  You can choose to ignore this part of the process and instead receive a reward solely for yourself.

  I reread the message a couple of times.

  How dire was the situation on Earth? How badly did they need my help? I wondered, as the system read my thoughts and projected images before my eyes.

  It felt like watching from a distant satellite. Lights flickered across the continents, but the number of lit areas was far less than before.

  Scattered across the parts of the globe I could see, massive machines pierced through both the atmosphere and the earth, reaching deep into Earth’s core.

  They were extracting minerals from the planet.

  The images zoomed in to reveal coastal cities—some entirely destroyed, others submerged underwater.

  Anger boiled inside my chest before the system began speaking directly into my ears—this time, it was the hostess.

  “Everyone in danger zones was either transported to other locations in the multiverse, assigned to various jobs, or is still alive back on Earth,” she said smoothly, her voice soft and meant to soothe me. “People’s lives down there aren’t easy right now. I know it feels unfair, but that’s why you’re here.”

  “What can I do?” I asked.

  “Your planet will continue to exist until our extraction ends. Even as it becomes less viable for life, everything you earn here will help them in the long run. Right now, you have three choices: Food and Water Resources, Shelter Resources, or Technology Resources.”

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  “And if I choose any of them, will people receive the gifts immediately?”

  "Yes and no. It'll all depend on the number of people who conquer cities and towers—and which people they represent. Let’s say you choose Food and Resources, but no one else does. It’ll make it easier for folks to find certain types of food on the planet, but it won’t change the overall situation. Now, if you and many others choose it, there’s a good chance a new species could be introduced to the planet, one that helps keep people fed and hydrated. You’d be amazed by the tech we've discovered."

  "And if I want the reward for myself?"

  "We’ll give you a rare full set of armor, just like in your video games. It’ll be custom-tailored to fit you, and we’ll give you an edge in the next dungeons and towers." She sounded excited about that possibility, but I only cared about what others would gain. That other option didn’t even feel real to me.

  "So, if I choose Food and Resources now, it'll help all three planets, since my party includes members from all three races?"

  "Yes."

  "That would've probably saved a lot of lives..." I muttered.

  "But it wouldn't have been nearly as fun!" she said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. I could almost feel her presence beside me as I stared at the screen floating in front of my face. "The public wants you to discover things along the way, and we try to keep things fair by not hiding what could literally kill you—like not telling you when you’ve got a unique class. But other stuff... that has to be uncovered."

  Now, some grudges had already run too deep. It didn’t matter if being in a multiracial party had benefits—the system had made sure we hated one another from the start. Still, there was a sliver of hope, a slim chance that all of this wouldn’t devolve into one giant bloodbath.

  They’d at least hinted at that before.

  "So, I choose Food and Resources. What happens next?"

  "Now, you can choose up to ten people to help directly."

  "I’m sure you’re aware of the people closest to me. Are they alive?" I asked, my heart thudding against my rib cage as I waited for her response.

  "I’m afraid three of your protégés died. Tina, Louis, and Matt are still alive, along with many of the other children. Your friend Leo is alive. Your friend Barry is alive, too. And so is your mother. They’re all still on Earth."

  The information took me completely by surprise. Just as I started to boil with the news that some of the kids had perished, she hit me with the fact that Barry—and my mother, of all people—were still alive.

  I’d seen that man on the brink of death, searched for him for years, and yet he was still alive and well? My mother too? She hadn’t even crossed my mind today, just an afterthought. A reminder that, even though some people from my past still existed, I still had reasons to fight.

  She was the kind of person who clouded my vision, while the kids and Barry were the ones who gave me hope.

  “What can I do for them?”

  “At this moment, you’ve only got one option: shelter and food. But it’ll be one place for all of them, and they’ll live better than 95% of the people still on the planet.”

  “That’s going to become a serious problem once more people start benefiting. You’ll create even greater economic inequality.”

  As a former law student, that term had been dissected in countless class hours, and what she was suggesting would only deepen the divide in a world already under extreme stress.

  I couldn’t see her, but I could’ve sworn she just shrugged beside me.

  Still, there wasn’t another option. Just like in the competition here, back on Earth, some would suffer, and others would benefit.

  I named four of the kids from St. Jerome’s and one of the sisters who’d taken care of them, then Leo and his parents. That left me with two spots. I gave both Mary and my mother one each—not just because I needed to see them again, but for completely different reasons.

  “What now?”

  “Now, watch as the city grows before your eyes. You’ll have to choose who’s allowed inside and who’s not. Each of them will also be able to choose three people to benefit, just like you did, so I’d use that information wisely.”

  She gasped and followed it with a soft shush, like she’d just shared something she shouldn’t have.

  “Tonight, you’ll rest and watch the show after making your decisions. Tomorrow, the city menu will be available—as well as... some surprises.”

  Her voice faded slowly from my ear, and I imagined she’d truly vanished this time.

  A flash of white light hit my eyes, and suddenly the city stone was in front of me—I was holding it. I had no memory of picking it up, but there I was, standing in front of some kind of raised platform.

  As I took in my surroundings, I saw my companions slowly walking toward me through the veil, while Max’s party remained on the outside.

  Apparently, they weren’t allowed to enter, but they didn’t try to leave either. They just stood there, staring in my direction—some with anger, a few with unreadable expressions, but most looking starved and desperate after a full day of brutal combat.

  As my mind drifted, wondering what to do next, the landscape began to shift before my eyes, and new messages started to appear.

  But one of them made me freeze.

  Your class is merged.