Her confession was to surreal to digest, and they genuinely hoped she’d pull a plot twist and fool Namjoon. But the biggest idiots were the ones who had trusted the werewolf. Upon a closer look, they realized the weird writing magically appearing on her forehead—a symbol of loyalty to the dark king. She had been a part of his code all along.   “Why?” Baekhyun nearly whimpered, pushing his cheeks against the steel prison bars. “Why are you serving him? We were supposed to be on the same side.”   “Are we, truly? You would’ve killed me after Namjoon was defeated, because only one race could win if we play by the rules. Isn’t that right, Yeonji?” A cynical smirk twisted Jihye’s lips.   Yeonji knew when to stay quiet. Arguing with Jihye would only escalate to unwanted commotion. Jihye wouldn’t accept other opinions at this point, especially not here.   “That is the fault in our governing system. We castrate other races, act more superior, and eventually start to discriminate. Why can’t we all coexist?” Jihye asked, raising her voice. She was no longer meeting their eyes when her vision crystallized through her tears.   “I wouldn’t have lost Myungsoo if it weren’t for this stupid system. I could’ve stayed at the monastery with him. I could’ve learned the ways of the werewolves without having to leave the elves I grew up with. We could’ve been together without society’s condemnation,” Jihye continued. Her voice amplified into an unstable quiver through her lips. Her hands were clenched tightly for revenge, but her mental state weakened at the memory.   “Don’t give us any of that nonsense!” It was Hoya who exclaimed, surprising everyone. He was usually the patient one with seldom any words of opposition, but her talk triggered him.   “Even if it were taboo and even if you’d be condemned, if he was worth your affections, you’d be able to endure those oppressions together. If you truly loved him, you would’ve fought to stay with him!” Hoya shouted. He gnashed his teeth together, and through his fury, it almost seemed like he had grown fangs. A bright golden ray flickered through his eyes again. “Clearly, you did not think Myungsoo was worth it.”   Deep wrinkles sunk in Jihye’s forehead, and she took on a fighting stance, ready to charge at them. Jangmun flashed worried looks, having an internal dilemma whether to stop her or not. Whether it was the hypnosis effect or out of his own conscience, he had promised to protect them. Therefore, he couldn’t let Jihye hurt them.   “Stop.”   Never had they been so relieved to hear Namjoon’s soothing voice. Without any hypnotic abilities, he managed to calm down the werewolf according to his will. The wendigo king turned to the three prisoners, conceding the smile on his face. He paced out to them, the crown upright on his head as golden as the shiny keys dangling from his belt.   “Excuse her behavior, fine gentlemen and a very special lady,” Namjoon bowed before them in his usual polite and charming demeanor. He raised his head, meeting their eyes in the malicious glint they had come to expect from him. “But Jihye was speaking the truth. Allow me to introduce you to the new world order.”   The ones in the cage stayed silent, some parting their lips with the uncertainty to form a reply. They had to be extremely careful with Namjoon and tried not to offend him.   “It is a new system whereby we throw away the old segregation among different races and coexist as one under my rule,” he continued. The way he said it made the idea sound so delightful, like the description of the ultimate utopia.   “By killing those who refuse to join?” Yeonji interrupted, always the realistic one.   “Indeed. We need a fresh new start by getting rid of everyone who threatens this new ideal,” Namjoon said.   At this, Jihye glared at Jangmun. She had received information about his betrayal. One look, and she realized Jangmun was eyeing the keys dangling from Namjoon’s strap. Was he trying to free the others?   “That would make this new world no different from a tyranny. If you truly wanted us to coexist, you would let us live despite our clashing opinions. The same way the forefathers forced us to be segregated, we will now be forced to worship a wendigo,” Baekhyun yelled.   “Ah, I don’t see a problem with that possibility.” Namjoon smiled. Thinking about the future excited him impatiently.   “Why aren’t you giving us a choice? That way, people could choose to follow you out of respect, and not out of fear,” Baekhyun tried again, the persuasive nature of a goblin was very distinct in his voice. But Namjoon’s determination ran higher.   “You misunderstood my intentions. I do not need respect. I live off their fears.” He wiggled his long and sharp finger, stiffly shaking his head with broken movements. “You are either for me, or against me. Tell me, what is your choice?”   The rest stared at him dumbstruck. Was the sick psycho actually thinking they would join him? They had never considered the option and weren’t planning to. Hoya was the one who felt strongest about it.   “Throughout the contest, we were encouraged to kill other players. And with every death, we lose more than we gain. So why are you opting for ways where one will only lose?” Hoya asked, not realizing he had started his statement softly, only to end it with a shout. His fingers tightened the grip around the bars, and for a brief moment, it almost seemed like there was some indent in the sturdy material. As he shouted, the fangs in his mouth became more visible.   Namjoon cocked his head sideways, calmly enjoying the view. He did not flinch or stand surprised at Hoya’s sudden outburst. It was too delightful, and for putting up such impeccable entertainment, he’d applaud them with an answer.   “One cannot lose anything when everything has already been lost.”   Their surprise made him ecstatic, and he buried it behind his growing smirk. He paced closer towards the cage, noticing their eyes unconsciously lurking towards the keys. He picked it up between his hands, teasing them with the unattainable.   “You must all be aware that to posses dark powers, one must sacrifice what was most dear,” he said, beginning to pace around in circles. “I was a very ambitious person and decided that to become the strongest, I had to give up everything I had. My family, my possession, and my soul, I gave it all up.”   The ones in the room gasped, including Jihye. Jangmun was the only one whose facial expression remained unchanged at the revelation. He kept watching the key, realizing Namjoon didn’t gesture his hands a lot when speaking.   “But it still wasn’t enough, and I realized that to become the strongest, I had to unite with the strongest. Since you all made it this far, I consider you the strongest of your race. Congratulations.”   Namjoon began applauding, every clap resonating loudly through the chamber of hell. No one clapped along, except for Jihye.   “Therefore, I shall ask you one more time,” Namjoon let his silly laughter die down, staring straight at the prisoners as he linked his arms behind his back. “Are you for or against me?”   The answer was obvious, but there was something magnetizing about Namjoon that almost made them want to join him. Whatever illusionary pull he had on them, Jangmun’s sudden movements broke it. He was running towards