Ranking System

With Strong Woman's demise, I halted the monster's assault. The remaining four prisoners were visibly relieved to have escaped the clutches of death.

"Now that there are four of you remaining, it's time to proceed to the final stage," I declared, moving on with my city's defense.

"Hey! Give it to us straight. What are our odds of not making it through the next stage?" Hot Hands demanded, frustration evident in his tone.

I replied candidly, "I'm anticipating that half of you will survive. The most optimistic outcome would be for all three of you to make it."

As we descended the stairs to the third room, I contemplated whether to share my thoughts on who might survive this stage. Succumbing to a hint of sadism, I decided to voice my assessment.

"Among the four of you, that slime over there seems to have the best chance of making it through," I remarked, adding an extra layer of tension to their predicament.

To my astonishment, the slime responded with a thumbs-up, which took me by surprise. I hadn't expected the slime to exhibit such a level of comprehension.

"Well, perhaps I underestimated the slime. While I have underestimated it, it has as much chance of survivability as the rest of you." That wasn't a good thing. The thumbs-up from the slime had immediately disappeared, replaced with a face full of horror.

The final trial seemed to be more of an emotional challenge. My earlier assumption had been that the slime didn't possess a significant range of emotions, which led me to believe it had a higher likelihood of surviving. However, I was beginning to realize that I might have misjudged the slime.

"It's time for the final trial to begin. Goodnight to all of you!" I declared. Before anyone could respond or question me further, the four individuals fell into a deep slumber, ensnared within the confines of a dream sequence.

"City leader, could you please clarify the nature of the last challenge?" asked the commander, who remained unaffected by the dream sequence, his confusion evident.

"The final test is but an illusion, a mirage that compels one to decide between the courses of life and death. It's an emotionally demanding ordeal, particularly for those with heightened sensitivity."

"However, there's an additional layer to this ordeal. Those who manage to survive the trial will find their memories completely erased, and they'll bear an extra curse." I paused, waiting for the commander's inquisitive gaze to prompt me to continue.

Observing my demeanor, he couldn't help but compare me to one of the enigmatic creatures we had encountered in the labyrinth earlier.

"The curse they shall bear resembles a binding contract of servitude. Those who emerge from this trial will revere me as a deity, and any foes who venture into this ordeal will be transformed into loyal soldiers in my service. The purpose behind creating this trial was to amass a greater army, and individuals with lower emotional resilience will be least inclined to recall their prior memories." What I said shocked the commander.

"..."

The city's defense mechanism was nearly impenetrable, and successfully overcoming the third and final trial signified a level of mental prowess beyond ordinary comprehension.

"As we near the conclusion of this test, I'm eager to hear your thoughts. Do you have any suggestions for improvement?" I inquired of the commander, who gazed at me with a mixture of astonishment and uncertainty.

"No, I don't think any changes need to be made. We can bring our men to the mine without worrying."Those were the words that I was waiting for. Now that I have his approval, less troublesome matters could happen.

Although I didn't need his consent, there could be complications if a soldier were to express concerns about the choices I intended to pursue.

With the conversation concluded, we remained in anticipation of the events unfolding for the inmates. It wasn't long before the initial prisoner experienced a development.

Hot Hands, the person I know the most, tragically took his own life. Among the group of four, he was the most expressive and talkative. His passing didn't come as a surprise to me, and all I could manage to say was, "Rest in peace."

The next individual was the Barrier Girl, possessing abilities that I myself would have found valuable, much like Hot Hands. Tragically, she also took her own life.

"Master, thanks to you, I have been reborn," Shock Wave Man declared after completing the trial and finishing the memory-wiping process within thirty minutes.

As he knelt before me, I could sense his allegiance and the mark of loyalty he bore. With this, the testing phase was now complete, leaving only the slime as the remaining element to deal with.

"From this point forward, you shall be known as Pawn One," I declared, addressing Shock Wave Man.

"You are the pioneer of your kind, and your rank will ascend with your accomplishments. I trust you won't let me down."

I had carefully considered the ranking system for these individuals, envisioning them as chess pieces with their value corresponding to their rank.

"Yes! I won't let you down," Shock Wave Man affirmed, showing his commitment to following my commands. He remained silent, awaiting my next instruction.

I decided to be patient for a few more minutes, but I found it intriguing that the slime was the last to undergo the trial. Being within this illusion hinted at the possibility that the slime had surpassed the age of a hundred.

Ten minutes later, the slime began to stir. It fixed its gaze on me and swayed its body, indicating that it was now alert and awake.

"As for you, you shall be known as Pawn Two," I stated, addressing the slime.

"The one before you is Pawn One, and he will be your senior. If you outperform him, you will assume his rank." The slime acknowledged my words with a nod, demonstrating its comprehension. With the defense test concluded, it was now time to prepare for battle.