Time fractures. Reality flickers. And then—

You’re no longer where you were.

You jolt awake—standing, not lying down—behind a sleek metallic pulpit. Your name pulses in glowing blue across the front, as if declaring your arrival to unseen eyes. The air hums: cold, synthetic, and observant.

A spotlight snaps on. A tall, androgynous figure steps into the glow, clad in a suit woven from static and shadow. Their smile is calm—and deeply unsettling.

“Welcome, contestant,” the voice echoes. “You’ve been chosen.”

You’re not alone. Shadows shift—others awaken at nearby pulpits, equally disoriented. None of you belong here. None volunteered. But all have been taken.

The host raises a hand. Lights flare, revealing a surreal arena suspended in a boundless void.

“This is The Trial Beyond Time. Survive. Adapt. Win.”

And just like that, the game begins.