Before we could recover from the horrific sight of Chloe’s death, the System’s cold, mechanical voice blasted again.

[Next Round Countdown: 29:59]

We had exactly thirty minutes to select the next batch of family members for the trial.

But we still didn't have a clue how to conquer the Alpha.

Those blood-red numbers pulsed in mid-air, looking exactly like a countdown to an execution.

Uncle David broke.

He was a simple, honest accountant in his former life. Now, he rushed the holographic screen like a madman, screaming at the void.

"What the hell do you want from us?! We’re just ordinary people!"

"This is murder... you’re livestreaming a massacre! I’m calling the police! I want a lawyer!"

The System remained silent. Only the countdown continued its ruthless tick.

"I quit! Fck this rebirth crap! I want to go home! Let me go back!"

David screamed hysterically, turning to run toward the deep mist at the edge of the space.

The System finally reacted.

[Detected Player David attempting to forcibly exit the trial.]

[Warning: Your physical body in the real world is dead. Exiting midway equals soul obliteration.]

[Confirm exit?]

The surrounding family members cried out, begging him, "David, don't be rash! Come back!"

But fear had already shattered his sanity.

"Confirm! Just get it over with!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, there was no lightning, no blade.

David’s running body suddenly froze in place.

Then, it looked as if a pair of invisible, giant hands grabbed him by the head and feet.

Rrrrip—

A tooth-aching tearing sound echoed through the space.

Right in front of everyone, he was torn into pieces alive.

Blood and viscera splashed down like rain, drenching Aunt Isabella, who was standing closest to him.

Isabella froze for two seconds, then let out a scream that pierced our eardrums.

"Ahhhhhhhh—!"

The chat instantly erupted. The so-called "gods" were in a frenzy of delight.

"Nice shot! 10/10 for the gore."

"That’s a Rogue’s fate. Cowards don't deserve to survive in the werewolf world."

"Heehee, that Alpha has caught the scent. The hunt is just getting started."

I bit my lip hard, tasting rusty blood.

Watching the chat treat us like ants to be toyed with, I felt a wave of nausea.

These were the "gods."

They were no different from that tyrannical Killian.

Seeing that no one else dared to make a scene, the System spoke again.

[Please select the next batch of participants before the countdown ends.][If there is no response, half of the remaining survivors will be randomly obliterated.]

The shadow of death loomed over everyone.

People were trembling, their eyes darting around, afraid to look at one another.

The System notification continued:

[Current Deaths: 3 (Chloe, Mike, David).]

[Inherited points have been distributed evenly.]

[Spend 5 points to purchase "Death Playback"?]

We needed to know how they died. Especially Grandpa, who had entered with Chloe.

Grandpa was the backbone of our family, a respected judge before he retired.

He had chosen the identity of the Chief Enforcer.

We thought that with his wisdom and the laws of that world, he could at least keep that crazy Alpha in check.

We pooled our points and bought the Memory Fragment.

The holographic projection unfolded.

It was Grandpa’s perspective moments before his death.

Inside the magnificent Wolf Council Hall, Killian sat lazily on a throne draped in wolf pelts.

Below him sat the Alphas of the various subsidiary Packs.

Grandpa, wearing a crisp black robe and holding a scepter symbolizing the law, was righteously condemning Killian’s atrocities.

"Alpha Killian, under Article 7 of the 'Wolf Covenant,' you have no right to execute prisoners of war without a trial! This barbaric behavior must cease immediately!"

Killian looked as if he had heard the world's funniest joke.

He slowly stood up. His massive, oppressive frame instantly cast a shadow over Grandpa.

"The law?"

Killian tilted his head, his scarlet eyes filled with mockery.

"In this world, only the weak beg for the protection of the law."

"And I... am the law."

In the next second, Killian moved.

He was so fast he was barely a blur.

A large hand clamped directly onto the back of Grandpa’s neck.

Crack!

The crisp sound of bone fracturing echoed through the hall.

Right in front of everyone, Killian crushed Grandpa’s spine like a dry twig, and then—

He twisted his head clean off.

In the recording, Killian tossed Grandpa’s body off the dais casually, wiped his hands, and said coldly:

"The next person who tries to suppress me with rules will end up just like him."

The screen cut to black.

Our family looked like ashes.

The "Savior" emotional route: Dead.

The "Loyal Consigliere" rules route: Dead.

Killian was a demon who couldn't be reasoned with! He didn't need love, and he didn't follow rules!

"It won't work..."

I muttered in despair. "He's crazy. He's invincible. We're all going to die here."

"No, there is a chance."

A calm voice cut through the panic.

It was Cousin Alice.

She was a Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard, the smartest person in our family.

She pushed up her glasses. Although her face was pale, her eyes were incredibly steady.

"Did you guys notice? The ones who died in the first batch all chose 'high-profile' roles."

Alice analyzed, "Whether it was the White Moonlight or the Consigliere, those identities were too conspicuous. They walked right into Killian's line of fire."

"Killian loathes betrayal, fake rules, and anyone trying to control him."

She pointed to a corner of the chat log.

"Look here. One comment said: 'Killian has never killed the Omega servants in the castle because he feels killing bugs would dirty his hands.'"

I paused. "You mean..."

"We need to go low. We need a completely different approach."

Alice took a deep breath. "Since being a big shot guarantees death, we will be the most invisible ants."

"We'll be Omegas. We'll be maids scrubbing floors, stable hands shoveling manure."

"The System has no time limit."

"We can lurk by his side and play the long game. We'll use the Omega's natural weakness to lower his guard."

"His past is tragic; he was bullied by the strong. Perhaps... he might have a sliver of empathy for those struggling at the bottom like he once did?"

Hearing her analysis, I subconsciously looked at the chat.

Sure enough, her words sparked a discussion among the "gods."

"Yo, there's actually someone with a brain in this batch."

"True. Killian is brutal, but he never slaughters non-threatening Omegas."

"This 'boiling the frog' strategy is interesting. The one who almost succeeded before was a mute little maid."

But...

That person who almost succeeded still failed in the end, didn't they?

I still felt uneasy.

Where exactly did that mute maid go wrong?

With only three minutes left on the countdown.

Alice spent all her points to exchange for an item called [Camouflage Potion]—it allowed one to perfectly disguise their scent and aura as a wolf Omega.

She was gambling everything.

"No time to hesitate."

Alice looked at us. "I choose the identity: [Castle Laundry Maid (Omega)]. Is anyone willing to come with me?"

In the crowd, my usually silent Second Sister, Sofia, raised her hand.

"Since we just need to be at the bottom... I... I want to try too."

Aunt Isabella also gritted her teeth and stepped forward.

"I'll go too. We're dead anyway, might as well take a gamble."

I tried to stop them. "Alice, it's too dangerous. What if..."

Alice looked at me with a tragic smile.

"Sis, do we really have a choice?"

"As long as there's a glimmer of hope, someone has to be the one to clear the minefield."

In the end, six family members stepped forward.

Three men, three women.

Alice and Isabella entered the inner castle as maids.

My little cousin went to the stables.

The other three chose to be gardeners and low-level Delta patrols.

A flash of light.

They disappeared into the portal.

Leaving the rest of us praying to the pitch-black screen.

Please, survive.

Six family members entered the werewolf world.

This time, everyone walked on eggshells.

One slip-up with a lunatic like Killian meant getting torn to shreds.

Cousin Alice’s rank was dirt poor. As a [Castle Laundry Maid (Omega)], she never saw the Alpha.

Her progress bar only crawled up by 0.1% when she washed his blood-soaked battle robes, thanks to the residual pheromones.

My second sister, Sofia, held a Master’s in Psychology. She decided to play with fire.

She chose [Alpha’s Exclusive Poison Tester].

It was a death sentence waiting to happen, but it was the closest a bottom-feeder could get to Killian.

As for Aunt Isabella, she couldn't resist the temptation. She thought Killian needed motherly love.

She chose [Personal Maid], attempting to soften the tyrant with gentleness.

At first, her progress was indeed the fastest, reaching 25%.

But three months later, her icon turned gray.

The System didn't even announce it immediately. We didn't know until five days later, when her rotting corpse was tossed out like trash by Rogues.

She starved to death.

Her crime? She brought him tea and asked, "Alpha, are you tired today?"

Killian felt she "overstepped." He threw the scalding tea in her face and threw her in the dungeon.

"He's a monster!" I slammed the table furiously. "He has no heart! Isabella was just caring for him!"

In the chat, the "gods" sneered.

*"Caring? In the werewolf world, an Omega isn't even allowed to make eye contact with an Alpha."*

*"Trying to tame the Rogue King with 'love'? Naive."*

Isabella’s death was a wake-up call.

Don't try to be a person when approaching him.

You have to be a dog.

My sister Sofia clearly understood this assignment.

She humbled herself into the dust before Killian.

Every time she tested poison, she knelt on the floor, trembling violently. After eating, she would shrink into the corner like a terrified animal.

This extreme display of weakness and fear actually made Killian feel safe.

Her progress bar steadily climbed to 50%.

The turning point came during a patrol.

A group of Rogues launched a surprise ambush.

Amidst the hail of gunfire, Sofia caught the scent of sulfur mixed with a specific metallic stench—Silver Bullets.

The only thing that can permanently kill an Alpha.

When that bullet flew toward Killian’s heart, Sofia didn't hesitate.

She threw herself in front of him.

*Bang!*

The silver bullet tore through her shoulder.

The poison of the silver seeped into her bones. Even watching the livestream, we could feel the searing pain that burned the soul.

Sofia collapsed in a pool of blood, dying.

The System notifications went wild:

[Killian’s Favorability has skyrocketed to 70%!]

[Player Sofia is critical. Immunity Item activated. Reconstructing physical body...]

Three days later, Sofia woke up in the manor’s infirmary.

Killian sat by the bed, looking at her with a complicated expression.

It was the first time he had ever properly looked at this lowly wolf slave.

"Why did you save me?"

His voice was still cold and hard, but the killing intent had lessened.

Sofia weakly climbed out of bed, knelt at his feet, and shivered:

"Slave... this slave didn't want the Alpha to die..."

"My family was killed by bad men... I was sold by my uncle... In this world, the Alpha is the only one who gave me food..."

"To this slave, the Alpha is my only kin."

Cousin Alice had scripted this tragic backstory perfectly. It was designed to target the soft spot of an orphan like Killian.

Sure enough, Killian’s gaze wavered.

He seemed to see his own helpless past self in her.

The progress bar began to soar.

80%... 90%...

Just as Killian reached out, about to pat Sofia’s head.

A cold female voice suddenly cut in.

"Alpha, be careful. It's a trap."

A redhead in a tight leather suit walked in.

It was Elena, his Personal Secretary and the Alpha's publicly acknowledged "Most Trusted."

Elena stared at Sofia like a viper:

"Doesn't this scene look familiar to you?"

"The imposter 'White Moonlight' said the exact same thing back then."

"And..." Elena leaned close to Killian, whispering in his ear, "I checked. This slave smells like an 'Outsider.' Just like the girl who died in the cage."

Killian’s hand froze in mid-air.

The look in his eyes, which had just begun to warm, instantly turned to ice.

The fragile trust that had just been built collapsed in a single sentence.

But he looked at the unhealed wound on Sofia’s shoulder. The life debt was real.

The Werewolf Code demands debts be paid.

Killian stood up, looking down at Sofia, his tone returning to its original indifference:

"Since you saved me, I won't treat you unfairly."

"From today on, you are my Luna."

Our entire family erupted in cheers!

Luna! That was the Queen of the Pack!

Once she became Luna, getting the Token would be a piece of cake, right?

The progress bar jumped again: 95%... 98%...

Killian announced the union on the spot.

But he gave Sofia no wedding. He simply tossed her a ring symbolizing her status.

He didn't even perform the Marking.

The wedding night.

We held our breath, glued to the screen.

As long as Killian walked into that room and completed the Mark, the bar would hit 100%!

However.

Sofia sat in the bridal chamber all night.

Killian never came.

He spent the entire night in the study with that red-headed secretary, Elena.

That night, due to the uncompleted Mate Bond and the pain of being cold-shouldered by her Alpha, Sofia’s heart began to spasm.

And that red progress bar was stuck dead at 99.8%.

No matter how Sofia wept or begged to see him.

Killian had vanished like a ghost.

That red-headed woman, Elena, stood at the door with a victor’s smile, speaking the cruelest words to Sofia:

"Give it up, pup."

"The Alpha said giving you the title of Luna is the greatest blessing of your life."

"As for his heart? That’s not something you’re entitled to."

"After all, he’s terrified this is just another elaborate scam, isn't he?"

Outside the screen, Cousin Alice pushed up her glasses, her face pale.

"We were played."

"That Elena... she is deliberately blocking Killian’s ability to trust anyone."

"As long as she is there, Killian will never open his heart to us."

"And..." Alice pointed at the stalled 99.8%. "That last 0.2% isn't love. It's Trust."

"Killian gave Second Sister the title, but in his mind, she's still a sleeper agent who could betray him at any moment."

Just then, Second Sister Sofia sent a message in the group chat. Every word dripped with blood:

"I can't hold on... My inner wolf is withering."

"He didn't give me glory; he gave me a shackle."

"If I don't get his Mark... in three days, I'll die from the heartbreak of a Rejected Bond."

We watched the grand Luna Coronation Ceremony through the screen.

Although there was no wedding, Killian still granted Sofia the highest honor.

The Great Hall was illuminated by thousands of white candles—the highest standard of werewolf ritual.

Sofia wore a pure white gown. It was the [Saintess Robe] Alice had specifically redeemed with points, radiating an aura of purity and innocence.

She was betting everything on this final hand. She was betting that deep down, Killian craved redemption and light.

Killian sat on his throne, holding the object of our dreams—the Alpha’s "Token of the Blood Oath."

It was a black dagger forged from meteoric iron.

As long as Sofia got her hands on it, our whole family would be resurrected.

Sofia walked up the steps one by one and knelt at Killian's feet.

She looked up, her eyes clear, as if she were the only light in this dark world.

"Alpha," she whispered softly. "I pledge my eternal loyalty to you."

Killian looked down at her.

In that moment, I saw an unprecedented infatuation in his eyes.

The System notifications pulsed frantically:

[99.8%... 99.9%...]

Killian slowly reached out, offering the dagger to Sofia.

"Your eyes..." he murmured. "So clean."

"Like snow."

Sofia’s fingers were inches from the dagger.

Suddenly, everything changed.

Killian froze.

His nostrils flared slightly, as if he had caught a whiff of something revolting.

The look of infatuation instantly twisted into ferocious violence.

"No."

"This scent... it's too clean."

"So clean it makes me feel... filthy."

He exploded into motion, grabbing Sofia by her hair and hoisting her into the air.

*Rrrrip—!*

He brutally tore apart the priceless [Saintess Robe], exposing Sofia’s trembling body.

"You're acting."

Killian’s voice was no longer a magnetic baritone but a beastly roar.

"How could such a clean soul exist in this world? Unless you're faking it!"

"Just like *her* back then... You all want to use this holy facade to highlight my depravity, to manipulate my emotions!"

"You make me sick!"

Sofia screamed in terror: "No! Killian! I love you! I'm real..."

"Shut up! Liar!"

Killian dragged Sofia by her hair like a dead dog, striding toward the center of the hall.

There was a massive pool there.

It wasn't filled with water, but boiling Liquid Silver.

This was the cruelest punishment in the werewolf world, reserved for traitors.

"Since you love pretending to be so pure, go wash yourself clean."

"NO—!!!"

Accompanied by Sofia's heart-wrenching scream, Killian threw her into the silver pool without hesitation.

*Sizzle—*

It sounded like raw meat hitting deep-frying oil.

The silver liquid instantly encased Sofia, sending up plumes of white smoke.

We watched helplessly as Second Sister’s skin blackened and peeled away in an instant, revealing white bone.

She rolled and thrashed in the pool in agony, but the surrounding Berserkers just watched indifferently, some even letting out excited howls.

[Player Sofia: Deceased.]

[Redemption Progress: Reset to Zero.]

Killian stood by the pool, watching the skeleton sink to the bottom. The rage on his face faded, replaced by a sickly, morbid sorrow.

He turned around, looking at the remaining people in the hall—Alice and three other family members who had snuck in.

"You're all together, aren't you?"

Killian tilted his head, flashing a cruel smile.

"She smells just like you."

"You all reek of that same disgusting... hypocrisy."

He snapped his fingers.

"Kill them all. Leave no one alive."

A volley of arrows rained down.

Alice didn't even have time to cry for help before a silver arrow pierced her throat.

Followed by my cousins hiding in the crowd.

Blood stained the white ceremonial candles.

[Player Alice: Deceased.]

[Player Domine: Deceased.]

...

The Great Hall was strewn with corpses.

Killian stepped over the bodies of my kin, picked up the dagger, and gently wiped the blood off the blade.

He looked into the air—staring directly at us behind the screen—with a provocative glint in his eyes:

"Who's next?"

"Want to be my 'Savior'? Come on then."

"Send one, I'll kill one."

My Second Sister and Alice were dead.

The two smartest people in our family were gone.

The chat exploded into a frenzy. The "gods" showed no sympathy for our tragedy; instead, they were buzzing with excitement.

*"Hahahaha! Told you! Killian is unconquerable!"*

*"That was brilliant! That twist! 'You're too clean, you make me feel filthy'—that line is legendary!"*

*"This family is almost wiped out, right? Who's left? That old couple?"*

I looked at the few people remaining around me.

Mom, Dad, and my little sister who had just turned eighteen.

The atmosphere was suffocating.

"He's a demon... he's an utter demon..." Mom collapsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Dad's eyes were red as he stared deathly at the man on the screen, radiating pure malice.

The System's cold voice rang out again:

[Next Round Countdown: 10:00]

[Difficulty Upgrade: Killian has entered 'Berserk Alert' mode. Any approach with an ulterior motive will be treated as a hostile act.]

"It's useless..." I muttered in despair. "The romance route is a dead end. The rules route is a dead end. Even the humble servant route is a dead end."

"He has no weakness."

"No, he does."

Dad suddenly stood up.

He was an honest middle school teacher who had never lost his temper in his life. But right now, there was a fierce determination in his eyes.

"No matter how broken a child is, deep down, they crave their parents' love."

"Look at the chat... Killian's birth parents abused him. They tried to strangle him."

"What he lacks isn't a woman. It's a home."

Mom wiped her tears and helped Dad up. "Old man, are you thinking..."

"We'll go." Dad held Mom's hand tightly. "We're old bones anyway. If we die, we die. But we have to protect our children. We have to carve out a path for them to survive."

"We'll go as the old butler and the cook in the manor."

"We won't try to 'conquer' him. We'll just love him like our own son."

"We'll cook for him, mend his clothes, and brew him ginger soup when his legs ache in the rain."

"Hearts are made of flesh and blood. He has to feel something eventually."

I wanted to stop them, but looking at their gray hair, I opened my mouth and found no words.

Maybe... this was the only way?

The two elders spent their last remaining points to redeem the [Halo of Benevolence] and walked into the portal without looking back.

At first.

Everything seemed to go surprisingly well.

Killian didn't kill them.

Faced with this kind-looking old couple, he seemed almost at a loss.

Dad became the old butler, silently organizing his study every day without saying a word.

Mom became the cook, making him different home-cooked meals every day.

Once, Killian had a severe stomach ache late at night.

Mom brought hot porridge, and Dad held a blanket, guarding his bedside carefully, patting his back like he was soothing a child.

When Killian woke up and saw this, the scarlet in his eyes actually faded.

He looked at them blankly, like a lost child.

[Redemption Progress: Slowly rising to 30%... 40%...]

Six months passed.

There was even laughter in the manor.

We thought we were finally going to witness a miracle.

Until that stormy night.

Killian returned from outside, covered in blood. He seemed to have just been through a vicious battle, and his emotions were extremely unstable.

Mom's heart broke seeing him like that. She rushed up with a towel, wanting to wipe his face, muttering, "Oh my poor boy, look at you..."

Subconsciously, she tried to hug him.

The moment that hug was about to land.

Lightning tore through the night sky.

Killian's pupils constricted violently.

A nightmare from deep within his memory was awakened—years ago, on a stormy night just like this, his birth mother had pretended to hug him, only to stab a silver knife into his kidney.

"GET AWAY!!!"

Killian let out a mournful howl.

It was a stress response, a defensive instinct carved into his bones.

His claws lashed out uncontrollably.

*Squelch!*

Mom's head went flying, the expression of concern still frozen on her face.

Dad froze, then charged forward like a madman. "Old woman! If you dare touch her, I'll kill you!"

*Crack.*

Expressionless, Killian snapped Dad's neck.

Two elderly corpses lay on the expensive carpet, blood pooling around them.

Killian stood between the bodies, gasping for air.

His gaze shifted from confusion to shock, and finally to utter dead silence.

He looked at his hands and suddenly let out a laugh that made my blood run cold:

"Hahahaha..."

"Is this love?"

"Love is a weakness! Love is death!"

"I don't need this! No one gets close to me ever again!"

[Player Keal: Deceased.]

[Player Emily: Deceased.]

[Total Wipeout. Remaining Adult Survivors: 1.]

The hall was empty.

I was the only one left.

I looked at the bodies on the floor, then at the insane Alpha on the screen.

The chat was still scrolling with vicious mockery:

*"Tsk tsk, total party wipe."*

*"This last one will go soon. Probably suicide, right?"*

*"Killian has completely lost it. Anyone who goes in now is just feeding the meat grinder."*

I didn't cry.

My tears had run dry long ago.

I took the phones of all my dead relatives and pooled their remaining points into my account.

A total of 90 points.

I looked at the items in the System Store:

[Peerless Beauty]? Useless.

[Infinite Wealth]? Useless.

[Invincible Strength]? Also useless. As long as you are an "Outsider," as long as you are there to "conquer" him, you are his enemy.

As long as he sits on that throne, he will always be that paranoid, tyrannical monster.

To win...

There is only one way.

I took a deep breath, my eyes turning colder than a wolf's.

"System."

[Online. Player Halen, please choose your identity.]

I didn't look at the standard options.

I used all my points to redeem a forbidden item that no one had ever bought before—[Hourglass of Time Reversal].

And a rusty, worn-out dagger.

"I don't want to be his woman. I don't want to be his family. I don't want to be his servant."

I stared at the arrogant Killian on the screen and said, word by word:

"Send me back twenty years."

"I'm going back to his childhood, when he was just a Rogue stepped on by everyone."

"I'm going to replace him."

"I'm going to become the new Alpha."