"This escalated more than I thought," the feudal lord said, his eyes on the dead city lord. His tone, however, was laced with relief.

"But it's better he died. Who knows how many more people would have suffered." He included himself in that thought, knowing he had almost lost his own life.

Ray, with no regrets about the killing, asked, "What now, my lord? He's dead, and his men have been arrested. What do you suggest?" He hoped his question wouldn't lead to more chaos.

However, the feudal lord's words stunned him. "This city simply needs a new city lord. Someone who can look after the people. So, young man, how about taking up a challenge?"

Ray's eyes widened. "You don't mean..."

"Yes," the feudal lord nodded. "As a feudal lord, I have the right to choose the new city lord in the absence of the old one, and I choose you, Astban."

Ray had not expected this outcome, but his life had taken another unexpected turn.

The news of the city lord's death and his crimes was already a hot topic, but then another piece of news spread like wildfire: the feudal lord had named a new city lord, and it was none other than the stable boy, Astban.

The next day, Astban was crowned the new city lord. The very same day, all those who were complicit in the city lord's conspiracy were sentenced to death by the feudal lord.

"This is goodbye, Astban—no, I mean City Lord Astban," the feudal lord said with a smile. "Don't forget your promise." With that, the feudal lord departed.

Everything went back to normal. The city was calm, the people were happy, and Astban was now the city lord. With his life's purpose in this world fulfilled, the time for Ray to leave was upon him.

[Congratulations! You have completed the quest: Trial of Manoban]

[You have created the best happy ending to ever exists.]

[You'll return back to the safe zone in 1 minutes]

The door opened, and Ray saw Manoban running toward him. Without a word, she embraced him. "Thank you for everything, Astban!" she said, hugging him tightly.

Ray knew this was all an illusion, a mini-game he had just cleared, but his heart felt heavy. The emotion was something he couldn't express, not even to her, but tears began rolling down his cheeks.

[Time left: 30 seconds]

He watched the world crumbling into small particles. Everything that had been his reality for the past few days now ceased to exist. Manoban looked at his face, wiping away his tears.

"Thank you," she muttered with a smile, though her own eyes were filled with unshed tears.

"M-Manoban!" Ray whispered as the world around him began turning black.

Manoban's body started to disintegrate into small particles as well. "Ray..." she spoke one last time, and then she was gone.

Ray, still crying, found himself back in the safe zone, but he felt lost, like he no longer belonged in this world.

Just then a notification from the System suddenly sorted out the world that existed between reality and illusion for Ray.

[Player: Ray]

[Level: 11]

[Health: 100/100]

[Mana: 100/100]

[Skill: Scavenger One]

[Passive skill] -Pocket Dimension -Restore -Modification -Search -Lucky one

[Five hundred thousand coins have been credited to your account.]

[Balance: Six million, eight hundred seventy-two thousand, eight hundred (6,872,800)]

…

It jolted Ray from his thoughts, but something in his heart felt connected to the world he had just been in, to the lives of Astban and Manoban, which had become part of his existence.

Looking around, he hardly saw a few people, but ignoring them, he left the scene, knowing that he might have solved the problem for Manoban and Astban, but his own actual problem still needed to be solved.

"I hope somewhere, in another timeline, you will have a happy life with the one you loved, Manoban," he muttered, pushing her memories to the back of his mind.

He didn't know how many days he had been inside the game, nor did he have any idea if there was time dilation.

He looked at the time shown on his status screen; only four days had passed. But if he clearly remembered his time inside the game, it had been eight full days and half of another day when he returned.

"It means two days there took me one day here."

With four days gone, he first chose to look into his pocket dimension.

[You have logged out].

He found himself materializing back inside the pocket dimension, realizing he no longer needed a headset to enter the game. Though the game still worked the same for him, including the pop-up notification he saw when logging off.

Once back, he approached Rohan, Ahana, and the others. "I'm late."

"Huh?" Rohan replied, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"You were inside the game for four days straight!" Rohan exclaimed, a flicker of anxiety in his eyes.

"We were getting worried, especially after you went to meet that unknown person. How did the meeting go?"

Ray shook his head. "I couldn't meet him. That person has some restrictions which made him unable to meet me, but I'll meet him once I challenge the next few mini-games."

"Brother Ray, you don't mean you were challenging mini-games for four straight days?" Ahana asked, her voice filled with concern. "I know some mini-games take a long time, but this long?"

Ray smiled. "It was only four days. I've been inside for weeks before."

"I don't doubt that," Rohan said. "So, what's the plan then? We've been a little lost since you disappeared."

"For now, just keep challenging the mini-games and increasing your levels," Ray answered. "I'm doing the same thing." He then turned to Rohan's father. "What's the situation here? Any problems?"

"No," Rohan's father replied, his voice a little sad.

"But many people are concerned about the world outside. You could call it homesickness, or maybe they're just worried about other people who might get caught up in the apocalypse."

"Father, let me tell him," Rohan interrupted, stepping forward. "Ray, it's about Mother."

Ray nodded in understanding. He knew Rohan's mother had divorced his father years ago, but it seemed he was still concerned about her, even after she had left them.

"Ray, I know how difficult things are now," Rohan continued, his voice softer.

"And with the government looking for you, it's better we take things slowly. I'll convince Father to give up on this for now."

Ray shook his head. "This might not just be a problem for your father. There are probably more people with loved ones still out there. It's true, I can't save them all."

He paused, a new idea forming in his mind. "Do you know anyone you can contact from inside the Apex Survival? If so, that might be a solution, but... there's a problem."

Ray's expression turned stern. "Once they know about the apocalypse, it will create chaos, and that could cause damage even before the apocalypse itself."

"This!" The others hadn't thought about that problem. They had all been consumed with thoughts of themselves or those they cared about, without considering that their actions could create chaos or even harm the very people they wanted to save.

"Brother Ray, then there's nothing we can do," Ahana said, her tone timid, as she saw no solution in sight.

"There is a solution," Ray said, "It's just that we have to wait and then try it."

"What is it? Tell us quickly! Don't keep it to yourself!" Rohan asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Ray thought for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then spoke. "First, I need to challenge the next mini-game."

Their faces fell, and Ray quickly continued. "Listen carefully. Once I meet with that person, I'm one hundred percent sure it will create solutions for our problem. Only then can we continue with our plan. So before that, we won't contact anyone outside of here or tell them about our situation, especially the apocalypse."

"What about the apocalypse itself, Ray?" Rohan asked. "Do you have any idea when this is all going to happen?"

Ray nodded. "It's not confirmed, but the apocalypse is close. Within a month, that's what I found out during my conversation with that man."

"Within a month? That's too close," Ahana exclaimed, her voice filled with alarm.

Ray nodded, a grim look on his face. "Sadly, that's true, and we have a lot to do before then."

He stood up and looked at the other people resting around the safe zone with their families.

"Listen, everyone," he said, his voice carrying clearly. "You know for yourselves that saving everyone isn't possible. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't do it alone, and we can't do it together, either. But I'll make sure to keep saving those who I—no, who we can."

The others listened intently. To them, Ray was a saviour. After spending days in the safe zone, they realized how much he had risked for them all.

He then turned to Rohan and the others.

"I'm going back into Apex Predator. For those of you who are ready to risk your lives and save others, go play Apex Predator.

I'm sure your skills will come in handy one day." They all nodded with serious expressions, understanding that the situation was becoming much more grim.

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