The ground convulsed violently. Cement surfaces spiderwebbed with cracks before collapsing, plunging candidates into a lightless chamber. Twelve ancient monoliths formed a sinister circle, their carvings glowing faintly around a central altar.  

    "What's happening? Where is this?!" San Yin clutched his bleeding scalp.  

    Yu Yi rolled to his feet as Su Luan lay motionless nearby, golden hair fanned across stone. "Kids shouldn't play with knives," he muttered, pocketing her fallen dagger. Fresh blood dripped from reopened wounds onto a moss-cloaked stone slab inscribed: *Only when all stand in ordained positions shall the gate open.*  

    A mechanical interface materialized: [Side Mission 1: Escape the Altar - Attributes Unlocked]  

    The rabbit-headed steward materialized behind him, velvety ears quivering. "Complete this trial within 10 minutes." A crimson countdown ignited above the altar - 10:00……9:59……  

    "Twelve altars, twelve candidates. Simple." Shi Yi's Bible thumped against his chest as candidates scrambled to numbered platforms.  

    Yet when Yu Yi took position 12, the timer read 7:00. Prismatic beams converged……but the gate remained sealed.  

    "Thirteen souls dwell here," the steward purred, ruby eyes gleaming.  

    Panicked gazes swept the chamber. "The monster counts itself!" He Zhi spat.  

    Screams erupted as a girl collapsed. "We have to eliminate someone!" San Yin brandished a shiv.  

    Steel flashed. Su Luan's blade arced through darkness - *thunk*. The steward's head rolled.  

    [Lifeform eliminated]  

    The decapitated body melted into sludge……then reconstituted. "No cheating~" The resurrected steward licked bloodied claws. [All abilities disabled]  

    Factions formed like sharks circling. Shi Yi's clique whispered near altar 2. The orange-haired bully cornered Yu Yi's group.  

    "Eliminate the weakest!" San Yin leered.  

    "By lot," Shi Yi proclaimed, producing paper slips. One marked with death.  

    The timer bled to 3:00. Somewhere, a dagger scraped stone.