A clear voice was ringing out through speakers installed everywhere.
Soon, someone’s image appeared on a large screen.
The host was also wearing a ridiculous, unidentifiable doll mask.
The people started to stir as the host appeared.
“What the heck is this? The Zodiac Race?”
“This place looks too much like an amusement park for a magic realm.”
“Are you kidding me?”
As if trying to dispel the doubts of such people, the host continued speaking cheerfully.
[Now, before we start the Zodiac Race, let me give a brief explanation for those who don’t know!]
The screen on the scoreboard changed with a cheerful voice.
There were tiny animal characters swarming around, as if they were from a children’s animation.
[Do you know about the legend of the twelve zodiac signs?]
At those words, people looked at the screen as if asking what was going on.
The host continued his explanation regardless.
[Once upon a time, the Jade Emperor called twelve animals and had them compete in a race.]
Rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog, pig.
Twelve animals were seen standing at the starting line.
A scene was shown of animals entering in order, starting with a rat.
[As a result, the order of the animals was determined based on the order in which they ran first. And the years of the animals returned in that order!]
A screen showing the mouse that won first place standing with a happy face.
And then the screen turned black and the host appeared.
[You all know the story of the 12 animals, right? But if the race were to be held again, who would win?]
[This time, the Great Demonic Cult will recreate the old Zodiac Race! Everyone, please check the missions!]
As soon as I finished speaking, a notification window appeared before my eyes.
[The second great demonic sutra begins.]
[Participate in the Zodiac Race and achieve high scores.]
[Time limit: 5 hours]
The content of the second Mahakam Sutra is a running race.
The faster the order of arrival, the greater the reward.
Although there were checks and balances and friction between people in the process, it was not as dangerous as the first Great Demonic Cultivation because there were eyes watching from all sides.
[This time, the Daema-gyeong will be broadcast live with the help of the twelve zodiac signs! It will be broadcast live nationwide!]
There were numerous camera drones and monitor drones floating around us.
Our images were reflected on electronic boards installed everywhere.
The second Great Demonic Ceremony is a kind of event where the twelve zodiac signs make themselves known.
As the activities of the Hunters and the Manshins are relayed here, the status of the gods also rises.
Those who were listening to the explanation spoke curtly.
“This will eventually be monopolized by the gods.”
“Isn’t this really hopeless?”
The lower-ranked Awakened ones were grumbling.
The host added an explanation as if he had heard that.
[For those of you who think you’re weak and can’t get first place, don’t give up! If you look, everyone will be wearing name tags!]
As the host said, people were already hanging up their name tags.
My nameplate had a cute picture of a white rat.
[There are special rewards for 1st to 12th place, and additional rewards will also be given to those with the same zodiac sign as 1st place!]
[If the person who passed first place has a Rat zodiac sign, then all participants born in the Year of the Rat will receive a reward!]
In other words, it meant that it was both an individual and a team competition.
Even if I am weak, I can get good rewards if I help someone of the same zodiac sign.
People’s eyes lit up at those words.
[Fighting is fine, but since we’re broadcasting, overly violent combat is a problem! Of course, killing is not allowed.]
[Communication items cannot be used in this Demon Realm! Contact with the outside world is also blocked!]
[In this Magic Realm, the effects of abilities, items, weapons, etc. related to the twelve zodiac signs are maximized! Use them well.]
[The event starts in 30 minutes, so please prepare before then! Good luck!]
With a cheerful voice, the scoreboard changed to the number 30:00.
The group looked at their nameplates.
Yun Gyeo-ul said as if she felt regretful.
“Except for me and my sister, everyone else has a different zodiac sign?”
As the saying goes, everyone except the twins had different zodiac signs.
Shin Soo Ah is a tiger.
Yoon Bom and Yoon Gyul-woo are talking.
Jang Tae-heon is a snake.
John is a chicken.
Yuharang was a pig.
Yun Gyul-woo scratched the back of his head and spoke as if he was troubled.
“Oh, this is getting ambiguous. I thought it was a group mission.”
“I like this too. I also wanted to have another go at it with you, hyung. Hyung! Let’s make a bet on who will win!”
Jang Tae-heon looked so excited that he wanted to start racing right away.
Shin Soo-ah also nodded.
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“This time, it’s being broadcast, so it won’t be too dangerous. It seems like it’ll be fun to fight like this.”
When Shin Soo-ah agreed, the rest of the members nodded as if they had no choice.
Yoon Bom said, observing the situation.
“I’m sorry, Master. I want to help you, but I received a revelation telling me to get first place… … .”
It seemed like Yun Gyul-wool and Yohan were in similar situations.
I nodded slightly and said.
“It doesn’t matter. Then this time it will be an individual exhibition. Each of us can do our own activities, and Yuha can hang out with me.”
I glanced at Yuharang.
Yuharang said with a happy smile.
“Good! This body will carry you!”
… … I don’t know when I learned to say something like that.
Did Yoon Gyul-woo teach you that?
I spoke to another person who had not yet received the Holy Spirit.
“Shin Soo-ah, would you like to come with us?”
“It’s okay. I want to try it by myself too.”
She spoke in a calm tone.
I’m a little worried about leaving him alone, but I don’t feel any trace of murder, so I guess it’ll be okay.
I nodded and said to Yuharang.
“Then let’s go together. Yuha and I hide the name tags inside our clothes.”
Before I knew it, people were walking around busily, looking for people with the same zodiac sign.
There were also people who were watching me.
Not wanting to get entangled with other people, I hid my name tag and dispersed with my group.
As I was walking through an uninhabited area, an unexpected person caught my eye.
I approached him.
“Team Leader, why are you here?”
Among the people, Team Leader Princess stood with her bare face.
Although he was wearing plain clothes, he stood out in many ways because he was wearing a suit.
Team Leader Princess looked at me with a strange gaze.
“… … It’s been a while, Seo Kang-rim. I’ve been hearing the news.”
He still looked regretful that I hadn’t entered the protectorate.
I ignored that fact and asked him a question.
“What brings you here? Is something going on?”
Generally, the messengers do not participate in the conquest of the Demon Realm.
If the Protectorate’s envoy becomes the first to attack, there will be a lot of talk about it.
Team Leader Princess answered my question in a calm tone.
“I just participated from a personal standpoint, so I hope you’ll pretend not to know.”
He said only that and quickly left the place.
No matter how I looked at it, it was suspicious.
Kang Do-hyeon might know about this situation, but as of now, there was no way to contact him.
[The race is about to start! Participants, please prepare!]
After hearing the announcement and looking at the scoreboard, I saw that there were less than 3 minutes left.
As we headed to the starting line, there was already a long line of people.
I whispered softly to Yuharang.
“If you’re in a hurry, grab it and run.”
“I can run on my own feet now!”
“Okay. If you’re in a hurry.”
I felt sharp eyes on me from all around.
I have a lot of bad relationships in many ways, so I will probably be a target in this Daema-gyeong too.
Before we knew it, everyone was standing at the starting line.
The camera was capturing the minister standing in a row with hundreds of people.
The numbers on the scoreboard began to decrease as the air was filled with excitement and tension.
The moment when the numbers change from 3 to 2, from 2 to 1, and from 1 to 0.
[-The race begins!]
People rushed out of their seats with a loud noise.
It was like watching a horse race.
The sound of footsteps shaking the ground, the dust rising.
And then the voice of the host, full of excitement, was heard.
[The Zodiac Race has begun! It’s a fierce battle from the start! The player in the lead is―!]
My image was reflected on a monitor floating in the air.
[―Seo Kang-rim and Yu Ha-rang!]
I was running as fast as I could while holding Yuharang in my arms.
I glanced back and saw a fierce battle going on between people.
As soon as we started, it seemed like there would be a lot of dropouts.
[A fierce battle has broken out between the upper and middle ranks! Is it their intention to eliminate them first?]
Hundreds of people were tangled together and struggling.
As the host said, there may be an intention to take down the rival, but… … .
Bottlenecks occur severely in the early stages of the race.
At the starting line, it’s okay for hundreds of people to stand side by side, but soon the course’s width is reduced to less than a third.
As the road narrows, a fight is bound to break out.
To avoid that fight, you’d better strike quickly or, better yet, stay at the back.
And I chose the former.
You can be the sole leader, so there’s no need to run at the back.
[The road is blocked by people fighting! In the gap, the leader is getting ahead… … Huh?]
-Whoaaaaah!
As soon as the guide’s explanation ended, a huge tree appeared on the monitor screen.
A huge tree trunk stretched out above the people fighting.
And the person running alone above it.
[Player Shin Soo-ah! Running through the air!]
Shin Soo-ah was chasing me with movements like a flying tiger.
The host shouted excitedly.
[When the road is blocked, a new road is created in the air! Shin Soo-ah quickly threatens to take the lead!]
If we only consider agility, Shin Soo-ah was slightly more capable than me.
Truly tiger-like movements.
Before I knew it, she was near me.
When their eyes met, Shin Soo-ah smiled brightly.
I guess you have no intention of looking at this.
I can’t give up the lead like this.
And in the meantime, the back seemed to have been cleaned up.
[We are fiercely chasing the leading group in the middle ranks! As soon as things settle down, we are accelerating quickly!]
Leaving the fallen people behind, several hunters were chasing after them at the speed of the wind.
Some people chose to fly.
Those who are likely to stand out in this race are those with abilities in acceleration and flight.
Even if someone’s ability is lower than mine, their ranking may change depending on their special ability.
Before we knew it, quite a few people, excluding me and Shin Soo-ah, had gotten close to the lead.
[If we continue like this, it won’t be fun, right? The leading group is entering Course 1!]
Before I knew it, the color of the floor had changed.
Large, colorful tiles.
At that moment, when I stepped on a tile, my body froze for a moment.
[The ‘Fate Card’ is activated!]
