"..."

Latanya could only blink a couple of times as a stuttered breath persisted to come out of her mouth. She even wiped her eyes to see if she was seeing clearly, but no matter how much she opened and closed her eyes, the people were still not saluting towards her.

​​

...They were all looking at Van. "W… wait," once again, Latanya could only stutter as the shock completely covered her entire body.

"We don't even know our new President's name!"

"It's--"

"Evans."

Before Latanya could even utter a word, Van's unusually deep voice echoed throughout the spacious room.

"President Evans!" Once again, the people stomped their feet on the floor. There were almost a hundred of them, including those who were in the corridor and hallways; causing the very floor itself to shake, enough to send shivers into someone's spine.

Hearing his name being called with reverence, Van could not help but close his eyes and nod in satisfaction. It was as if he was reliving one of his childish dreams when he first knew that he had a System; for his name to be called by everyone, cheering for him as their hero.

Although this was a bit different, he would take it in stride.

"W… wait, no." Latanya, on the other hand, could still not believe what was happening. She could only whisper as she watched Van slowly make his way to the desk, slowly sitting in the chair that was supposed to be for her.

The previous president was quite a tall man, so Van's feet almost didn't reach the floor as he sat on the soft chair.

"..."

But still, with the sunlight permeating from the window and lining up to the silhouette of the chair, his body filled with the blood of conquest, and two beautiful ladies by his side; the people could not help but think that their new President made a more striking figure than their previous President ever was… even if more than half his body was covered by the desk.

Seeing the looks of awe in the people's eyes, Nisha almost let out a chuckle as she thought of how simpleminded the Locals are. If it was like this in the real world, then the Circle would probably not even exist.

Latanya was still at a loss as to what to say. She was supposed to be the main character of this usurpation, but now, she was just a supporting role, reduced to a mere groupie.

She was quite jubilant that they were able to capture the seat of Presidency without even as much as a sweat-- mostly thanks to her brilliant plan, of course.

But to think that… Van's name would be the one that the Locals were calling right now. Her eyes widened as she remembered a bit of their past… throughout their history, there has never been a woman President.

Was… was that it? And now, even Latanya's thoughts were starting to stutter.

She could only turn her wide eyes slowly towards Van. And as soon as their eyes met and landed on each other, Van quickly patted his legs; imitating what Latanya did to her when she took the seat of the Chief from Eugene back in the Village.

Latanya's eyes once again started twitching uncontrollably when she saw the condescending look in Van's eyes.

Just… what is with this development!?

***

"H… huf… huf."

Xinyan's once colorful robes were now covered in red, her cracking breaths almost drowning the sound of her heavy steps as she forced her legs to continue running.

She was being escorted to a ship so she would be able to return to China. But why would she ever return to a country that sold her and her comrades? Her brother also died brutally right in front of her eyes; that was something that she would never forgive, not until every last person that caused their deaths suffered for eternity… along with their family.

And so, she escaped. She successfully escaped while she was embarking by delaying the ship, freezing the water below it.

She was chased, however. Luckily it was not the superhumans that the Circle made that followed her; she was sure that she would definitely not be able to escape them.

It has been 3 weeks since then and no one seemed to be chasing her anymore, but still, she ran. She was now surrounded by the remnants of the past civilization, with their broken towers littered around her.

It was probably the best place to hide and recover her strength, but still, she ran. What if someone was hiding in one of the fragmented buildings? She thought.

And so, she ran, now finding herself in the middle of what seemed like a desert, filled with craters and dust. Perhaps it was safer here, the Circle would definitely have people in the cities.

The Circle was and is everywhere. If there were people, one of them would surely be a part of the Circle…

...Nowhere is safe.

Thanks to her being a Mage-type capable of summoning the elements of ice, she was able to survive without any food all this time. But after 3 weeks of this torture, any energy she had left in her body was starting to leave her.

She was afraid to sleep and rest, however, as she thought that she might not wake up again. She must not die, at least not until she has avenged her comrades.

But alas, even with her will to live, her eyes which were resolutely staring at the horizon started to fade, her vision shifting as she felt her legs giving out on her. She tried to splash herself with ice to wake herself up, but alas, even her System was no longer following her.

"B… brother," she whispered as her vision completely turned black.

"..."

"..."

"Hey, look… is that a human?"

"Really?"

"Oh shit! You're right, bro!"

Xinyan slightly woke up as she heard the voices of men.

"She's covered in blood! You think a loose monster got her!?"

"Shit, this country is going to ruins with everything that's going on."

"No… wait, look at her face!"

Xinyan started to struggle, but all she could do was groan as she felt her body being turned around.

"She's Asian! Where did she even come from!?"

"...You think she's the one the Circle has been trying to find?"

"You… you could be right."

Hearing the name of the Circle being mentioned, Xinyan tried her best to get up; but alas, her hunger had already caught up to her. "S...stay...a...way."

"Oi, she is saying something!"

"Ching chong ching chong!?"

"Stupid fuck, she's speaking in English!"

"What… what do you think we should do now?"

"Let's… put her in the Dome first?"

"That's probably for the best, who is on duty now?"

"Bretman and the others."

"...Let's say she's a Prisoner for now so that we won't have to share the rewards?"

"Hehe… That's a good idea, let's go!"

Xinyan could feel herself being lifted up from the ground, she wanted to struggle, but the only thing she could move was her fingers.

Where… just where are they putting her? She thought, as her consciousness once again faded. She opened her eyes once more, only to find herself surrounded by darkness.

"..."

"You know, now that I see it… these Asians are quite beautiful."

"Psh, what are you even saying. Wait here while I try to find someone from the Circle in the barracks."

"Wait! Let's alert the Circle later… I want a taste."

"What the fuck are you saying, bro?"

"C'mon, I am only going to have this chance once…

...besides, she's probably one of the Rebels. Why else would they be finding her?"

Xinyan's breaths were starting to get heavy as the tone of the men started to change.

"That--"

"I will pay you all my debts, just stand and watch for me… it's dark anyway, you won't have to do anything!"

"Tch… fine."

Once again, with those words, Xinyan found her consciousness drifting. She was, however, clearly woken up as she felt something slithering around her waist. "W...wait… stop…" she whispered.

"Hoho, your skin is very soft."

And soon, Xinyan heard the sound of a metal unbuckling, she slowly turned her eyes towards the sound, only to see a guard undressing.

No… was she going to be… by a westerner!? Xinyan's eyes quickly traveled around the darkness, searching for anything that could help her escape this dangerous and disgusting situation.

Her eyes did not need to journey far, however, as a white light reflected on them.

"That's… a Portal?"

An escape!

Suddenly, as if all the blood rose up from her, her body lifted itself from the ground.

"W… wait!" The guard, who was currently entangled by his own clothes, tried to make chase. But alas, before he could even take a single step, Xinyan already threw herself into the Portal.

"...Oh shit."

"Oi, what is going on!? What was that noise!?"

"The… the Asian ran through the Pit."

As soon as he heard his friend's words, the man could not help but almost want to pull his hair out, "What!? I told you not to fuck around!"

"What are we going to do now!?"

"...Did anyone see us bring her here?"

"...Just Bretman and the others."

"...Do they know that she might be the one the Circle is looking for?"

"...No."

"Have you already alerted someone from the Circle?"

"...No."

"No one has to know then?"

The two looked at each other in the eye, before letting out their respective nods.

...Nothing happened here.

***

"What the fuck!? Why did you suddenly jump out like that!? I almost smashed you into pieces!"

Xinyan felt her skin grazing the ground as she passed through the Portal. Her eyes could not help but squint as a bright light suddenly blanketed her face.

"It's been weeks and they've only sent one!? How are we even going to escape this place? What is that beggar even doing!? I thought we were going to escape…

...Hey, woman, are you alright? What's happening out there?"

Feeling someone tapping her face, Xinyan slightly opened her eyes that were sore from the sudden brightness that pierced them.

However, she once again could not help but squint her eyes as she saw a bright golden hair being reflected by the sun in front of her.

A Portal inside a huge Dome…

...It all made sense now, she thought. There could only be one place fitting that description anywhere in the world-- A Pit. And if there was a place in the whole world that there weren't any members or devout followers of the Circle… it would be here.

Hope slowly shone in Xinyan's eyes. It would seem that fate was on her side.

"S… save me." She whispered.

"..."

"...Save yourself, I already have enough problems."