Chapter 1
616words
In this game, those chosen are called tributes. Each tribute receives a special ability before being transported to the arena where we must kill each other.
But in the end, only one survivor can remain.
The other tributes chose combat powers and supernatural abilities. I was the only one who chose infinite wealth.
Everyone laughed at me. "Money is useless in a death game," they sneered.
They didn't realize the real danger...
wasn't the arena, but the powered tributes standing right beside them.
...
A cold electronic voice echoed through the sterile white chamber.
"Please select your initial ability."
On the screen before me, countless options flickered with tempting light. "S-class Lightning Control," "A-class Teleportation," "B-class Flame Projection"...
Everyone around me had gone wild.
They scrambled frantically, faces flushed with excitement as they fought over the most powerful abilities.
My fingertip, however, hovered over an inconspicuous option at the bottom of the list.
"F-class Ability: Infinite Wealth."
I clicked confirm without hesitation.
A single gold coin dropped into my palm, cold against my skin.
The entire chamber fell into stunned silence.
Then, deafening laughter erupted.
"Wealth? Is she insane? This is the Beautiful New World Battle, not a damn shopping spree!"
"The poor rat from District 12 probably hasn't seen real money in her life. No wonder she's so impressed by a shiny coin!"
A man in designer clothes sauntered toward me, his chin held so high he might as well have been inspecting the ceiling.
Above his head floated a line of text: District 1, Cain.
His chosen ability: "S-Class Mind Control."
Cain glanced at the gold coin in my palm and snickered.
"Hey, District 12 trash, who exactly are you planning to kill with that coin? Or are you trying to bribe the system to let you die first?"
I met his gaze without flinching.
"Wealth is the ultimate power."
He burst into laughter as if I'd told the funniest joke he'd heard all year.
"How pathetically naive. I'll make sure you understand that against true power, your pathetic money is nothing but paper and metal."
He turned and walked away, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
Just then, a subtle floral scent drifted my way.
A young woman in a simple white dress approached, her doe-like eyes carrying a hint of shyness.
District 4, Luna.
Her chosen ability: "A-Class Love Cocoon."
The moment I saw her, alarm bells rang in my mind. Every instinct I had screamed danger.
Her gaze fell on the gold coin in my hand, her eyes flashing with curiosity and something else—something calculating.
"Um..." Her voice was honey-sweet. "May I see it?"
I closed my fist around the coin, feeling its edges dig into my palm. "Back off."
Luna's smile faltered for just a heartbeat before she recovered with an apologetic look.
She turned and walked away, her white dress swaying like a dandelion seed in the breeze—deceptively fragile and harmless.
...
I stood in the center of the crowd, surrounded by three hundred tributes whose eyes held mockery, pity, or naked greed.
I was the outlier. The anomaly.
The cold system voice cut through the noise, silencing everyone.
"All tribute selections complete."
"The 75th Beautiful New World Battle officially begins."
The electronic female voice continued, her tone as emotionless as before.
"All tribute selections complete."
"The 75th Beautiful New World Battle officially begins."
"Training period: one year."
"Rule: Please note, this game has only one winner."
At these words, expressions around me grew tense.
Those who had already formed alliances exchanged wary glances.
In this beautiful new world, there are no friends—only temporary allies and future corpses.
