Round 1
* * *
A system window popped up in front of me.
[Domination Game Round 1 Begins]
The classroom doors swung open with a creak, and the anticipation was palpable. I quickly reviewed the layout of our school in my mind.
The building was shaped like a giant "H," with corridors on each side connected by a large central hall. There were three grades in our high school:
The first floor housed the 10th graders, with classes 1~4 on one side and 5~8 on the other. The long corridors felt like endless labyrinths lined with lockers and doors.
The second floor was dedicated to the 11th graders, mirroring the layout below but with a slightly more worn feel due to its age.
The third floor was where the 12th graders spent their final year, with the same setup as the other floors but imbued with an air of finality.
The fourth floor was reserved for the teachers and administration, where authority and order were meant to reign.
For the first round, I figured the battlefield would probably be limited to the first corridor on our side of the building... classes 2-1 to 2-4.
The Domination Game starts with small, confined areas but expands with each round, eventually encompassing buildings, streets, cities, countries, and even continents.
Determined, I quickly led my class out of the room, and we made our way straight to class 2-3, which was directly next to ours.
My classmates followed closely behind, their fear palpable and their steps hesitant. I could sense their trust mingled with apprehension, a fragile line we all walked.
I kicked open the door with a loud crash and raised my gun, its weight comforting and powerful in my hand. Inside, students erupted in screams, their faces masks of terror. Desks scraped against the floor as they recoiled in fear.
"If you do as I tell you, you'll live. If you don't, I'll kill you," I shouted over the noise, my voice firm and commanding. I knew it was best to keep as many people alive as possible, especially for the 5th round. Dominance wasn't just about control—it was about strategy.
"Who is your king?" I demanded, scanning the room. Silence. Nobody answered, eyes wide and breaths held. Tension crackled in the air like a live wire.
I pointed my gun at a student—a boy sitting at the edge of the class—and pulled the trigger. The crack of the shot echoed off the walls. He fell to the ground, blood spreading rapidly across his shirt, and the class erupted in shock and horror. The smell of gunpowder and fear permeated the air.
Just as I killed him, a new window popped up.
[You killed a person]
[10 Karma was awarded]
It was just like the novel. 10 Karma for each person killed. But I didn't have time to think about that.
"I'll ask one more time. Who is the king? I won't kill you. Just answer." My voice was a lifeline thrown into their chaos.
A small girl at the back of the class slowly raised her hand, her eyes wide with fear. Her movements were hesitant, as if she were lifting a heavy weight.
"Say that you surrender," I ordered, keeping my gaze locked on her. The girl stayed quiet, unsure of what to do. Her indecision was a palpable thing, a struggle visible in her trembling hands.
I shouted again, "Say that you surrender!"
Scared and with her voice quaking, the girl repeated after me, "I surrender."
A system window immediately popped up.
[You have dominated Territory Class 2-3 of Server 05-a3]
[King]
Name: Erebus
Number of Subjects: 56
Current Territory: Class 2-3, 2-4 of Server 05-a3
As soon as I saw the message, I turned on my heel and headed for class 2-2, urgency driving my steps.
Just as I was about to leave, someone grabbed my hand. I turned around to see Yunji, her face pale and eyes wide with disbelief.
"You... you killed someone!" she stammered, visibly shaken. Her grip on my arm was tight, as if trying to anchor herself to reality.
"Did you not notice?" I replied, trying to keep my voice calm despite the situation. Her shock was understandable but potentially dangerous.
"W...what?" she asked, confused and horrified, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He was hiding a cutting knife behind his back," I explained, the memory of it clear in my mind. "He was about to lunge at one of our classmates. So I did what I had to do."
"But... but still," Yunji protested, her voice breaking, "you could have immobilized him or warned us or... or—"
"Yunji, I don't think you understand yet," I said gently, cutting through her protest. "This isn't the world we knew before. It's a world where you have to kill or be killed. If I let that guy live, who knows what he would have done later. We can't afford to take chances."
Tears streamed down Yunji's face, each one marking her struggle to comprehend our new reality. "But I don't want to do this," she sobbed, her words raw and filled with despair.
I pulled her into a hug, feeling her body shake against mine. I wanted to shield her from this world, from its harsh truths and unforgiving rules. "I know," I whispered, trying to comfort her with my presence. "But we have to survive. And I'll do everything I can to protect you. Trust me."
She clung to me, her grip desperate and seeking solace. In that brief, tender moment amidst the chaos, I promised myself that I would make this new world bearable for her, even if it meant embracing its darkness.
* * *
As Yunji and I stood in our embrace, trying to find a moment of calm amidst the chaos, the door to class 2-1 swung open.
I instinctively pushed Yunji behind me and pointed my gun toward the noise. A guy emerged, towering over us. He was unusually big and muscular for an 11th grader, his presence both intimidating and commanding.
"Whoa, whoa, I'm not here to fight," he said, raising his hands in surrender. His tone was calm and non-threatening, which eased some of my tension. "I surrender."
A system window immediately appeared in front of me.
[You have dominated Territory Class 2-1 and 2-2 of Server 05-a3]
The guy continued, "I used to be the king of class 2-2. I heard you when you went to class 2-3. While you were busy with your friend over there, I went to class 2-1 and got their surrender. Now I surrender to you."
"But why just surrender?" I asked, still wary of his intentions.
"Because I can't beat you," he replied honestly. "Seriously, you have a gun. What can I do against that?"
His straightforwardness was disarming, and I found myself lowering the gun slightly. "My name is Jake," he said, holding out his hand with a friendly smile. "I hope we get along well."
I stepped forward and shook his hand, respecting his practical approach to the situation. "Same with me," I replied.
* * *
[King]
Name: Erebus
Number of Subjects: 112
Current Territory: Right Corridor, Floor 2 of Server 05-a3