Tower of God: Overpowered MC

"Chosen Regulars, did you have a good rest?" Lero-Ro asked as he approached. His tone was polite, but his presence caused an immediate stir.

The last participants hadn't even gotten ten minutes of rest. Their exhaustion was clear in their faces and sluggish movements. In contrast, those who had passed earlier were visibly more relaxed—and luckier. Still, Lero-Ro's sudden appearance could only mean one thing:

Another exam.

"You've probably guessed why I'm here," he said, a sly smile curving his lips. "The truth is... I came to bring good news."

"Good news?" someone muttered, skeptical.

"The director has decided to hold a bonus game—for everyone."

Shibisu, the bald guy in the bloodstained tracksuit, raised his hand. "Excuse me, administrator… If the number of games keeps increasing, isn't that bad for those of us still in the exams?"

And he was right to worry.

Earlier, Shinso's fake exam had not only weakened certain participants but directly caused some to fail the Shinso barrier. If extra tests kept being added on top of the already brutal pace, the examinees would eventually collapse—physically or mentally.

So far, they had taken four official exams. Add Shinso's fake one, and that made five. Now a sixth?

Lero-Ro understood their concern. That's why he raised a hand to calm them.

"I know what you're thinking—but don't worry. This is a bonus exam. It's optional. You may participate or sit it out. Regardless, it won't affect your standing for the next official test."

Shibisu let out a relieved sigh.

"But," Lero-Ro continued, voice rising, "the winner of this bonus game will receive maximum points for every test on this floor. On top of that, they'll earn the right to proceed directly to the next floor."

A collective gasp followed.

Some eyes gleamed with greed. Others narrowed in caution.

"Wait… does that mean we can skip the rest of the tests?" Shibisu asked.

"Exactly."

"Then this is our chance! If we win—"

"Heh, keep dreaming." Someone cut him off with a slap of cold reality. "You're forgetting who the strongest one here is. If they decide to participate, we're done for."

Silence followed.

Everyone understood. If Shinso's team joined the bonus game, the outcome would be inevitable. Even if all the other teams worked together, they couldn't stop him. It would be a slaughter.

"This is ridiculous… Isn't that unfair?"

More silence. Tension built.

Lero-Ro had anticipated this reaction. If Shinso's team were allowed to compete, the rest wouldn't even bother. No one wanted to fight a battle they couldn't win—especially against a monster like him.

"Relax," he said. "The administrator made a deal. In exchange for awarding Shinso's team extra points, they're banned from participating in this bonus exam. Of course, they'll still have to take the remaining tests individually."

A collective sigh of relief followed.

Even if it was slightly unfair, no one dared to complain. Honestly, many were wondering why Shinso was even allowed to be here. Couldn't they just send him to a different floor?

"So, what kind of exam is this, Administrator?" someone asked.

"The bonus game," Lero-Ro announced, "is called the Crown Game."

"Crown game? "Someone murmured.

"The rules of this game are simple…" Lero Ro paused, his eyes scanning the gathered Regulars. "The Crown Game is all about stealing the crown."

"Out of all the teams here, you must fight. The last team in possession of the crown will be declared the winner."

He continued, "The game is played over five rounds, each lasting ten minutes. In each round, only five teams can participate. The team that possesses the crown by the end of the round wins and automatically advances to the next round."

"In the following round, new teams may also enter—again limited to five—and the winner of the previous round will defend the crown."

"After five rounds, the team holding the crown will be the final victor."

Additional Rules:

*Any team wishing to join a round must press the buzzer. It's on a first-come, first-served basis. If multiple teams press simultaneously, priority goes to the team that pressed more frequently.

* Even if a team loses a round, they can still try again in later rounds—if they manage to secure a spot.

* Although each round lasts 10 minutes, it can be extended only if the crown bearer sits on the throne before the first 5 minutes end.

Crown Possessor Rules:

* The crown bearer cannot leave the throne.

* Their teammates are tasked with defending them from incoming attacks.

* If the bearer abandons the throne or loses the crown, their team is disqualified.

* If the throne is vacated, the crown becomes free for anyone to grab.

"Urgh… So even if we win early, we'll be at a disadvantage in the next round? " Khun muttered.

"That's correct! " Lero Ro nodded, which caused Khun to flinch. "The winner of each round is at a major risk in the next."

"…Wouldn't it be better to only participate in the final round? "Someone said.

"Hehe… That's true," Lero Ro chuckled, amused. "But if you keep delaying, the game might end before you even get the chance."

"…"

He was right. There were only limited slots per round, and the number of participants wasn't going down. But rushing in early was a terrible idea—unless you were overwhelmingly strong.

Luckily, Shinso wasn't participating. If he were, he'd likely brute force his way through, knocking out Regulars to prevent them from entering future rounds. If more came, he'd just do the same. A simple, effective method—but only for someone absurdly powerful.

"You don't need to overthink it," Lero Ro said, casually spinning the crown in his hand. "Just steal the crown and win. That's all."

"Oh, right—I almost forgot," he added with a grin. "There's one more team that can participate in this game."

"A team from a different district?" someone mumbled. They only pay little attention to them.

"Okay then! LET THE GAME BEGIN! "

Inside a cold, dimly lit yellow cell sat a young bald boy wearing a tracksuit and sneakers. He wasn't particularly handsome or strong, but he had something rarer—brains and an uncanny streak of luck. His name was Shibisu, inheritor of death arts and certified underdog.

"Going out at the start carries a huge risk. It's better to wait a little longer…" he muttered confidently to himself. "After all, our team is the strongest in this competition! "

Or so he thought.

"…Let's go."

"Huh?! Why are you guys heading out already? " Shibisu called out, watching his teammates walk away.

"Stop lazing around! Come on!"

Shibisu sighed, resigned. He had predicted this outcome, and yet—what could he really do?

"What are you worrying about? " Anaak said, glancing back with a smirk. "Against these losers, this match is a piece of cake."

"She's right," Hatz added with a nod.

"Can't you guys at least take it easy? " Shibisu muttered, though he followed them out. He was many things, but a coward wasn't one of them.

Team Shibisu arrived at the center platform, confident that no one would be foolish enough to challenge them. But then—out came another team of nobodies.

"…Seriously? " Shibisu blinked. "I can't believe there's actually a team dumb enough to take us on." He rubbed the back of his head and groaned. "Too late to regret this now…"

"Heh. That's funny," one of the challengers said, grinning boldly.

From a distance, Shinso shook his head as he watched the confrontation unfold.

"This round's already over," he muttered.

"Huh? Over? What do you mean? " Yihwa asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That kid…" Shinso nodded toward Anaak. "She's not only physically capable—she's holding a cheat-like weapon." His eyes narrowed on the glowing green blade. "Other than her teammate Hatz, maybe that alligator and the blue-haired kid, no one else here stands a chance against her."

Yihwa frowned. "You're jumping to conclusions. There are a lot of powerful Regulars down there."

"Well," Shinso said casually, "you'll see soon enough."

And as Anaak Zahard stepped forward, eyes locked on them.