This is a lifeline, and the temptation is undeniably strong. Indeed, after hearing Waldo’s words, Tristan didn’t hesitate for a moment. He immediately knelt down and bowed.

"I, Tristan, am willing to become a slave, acknowledge Waldo as my master, obey all commands at any time, and never betray. Otherwise, I’ll die immediately!"

Very decisive, without any hesitation. He knew this was his only chance to survive. Otherwise, there was only a dead end.

"Okay, since you’re willing to become my servant, I’ll spare your life," Waldo said casually. Then, with a cold gaze, he glanced at Tristan and said, "However, let me remind you in advance. You must completely and unconditionally obey any of my orders, without any intention of rebellion. Otherwise, once I find out, I’ll make your life worse than death!"

As he spoke, the temperature around them suddenly dropped. Tristan swallowed hard. At this moment, he had a sense of heart-pounding fear.

His instincts were highly sensitive, even more so than animals. As an orc, he was keenly aware that he couldn’t possibly be Waldo’s match. In front of this humanoid behemoth, he might not withstand a single blow.

However, as fellow challengers, why was Waldo’s strength so much greater than theirs? It didn’t make sense!

Nevertheless, he didn’t dare to dwell on these thoughts. Immediately, he bowed to Waldo, expressing his submission.

"I absolutely won’t entertain any thoughts of betrayal. I will serve my master wholeheartedly, with no second thoughts. Otherwise, may the heavens strike me down and cut me to pieces!"

Waldo, satisfied with this display of submission, nodded. He could clearly sense Tristan’s extreme fear, and with his strength, he had no fear of any potential betrayal.

If there’s genuine betrayal, Waldo is confident that he can thwart any attempts and execute the traitor on the spot! In fact, he initially planned to kill Tristan and Ulva together.

However, considering the presence of a formidable entity outside and the possibility of other threats in the dark, going solo might be a bit challenging. Having an extra person could prove more convenient.

Waldo mused on his decision. He spared Tristan not out of mercy but after careful consideration. After subduing Tristan, Waldo’s expression suddenly changed. He noticed a countdown appearing before him!

"What’s this?" Waldo was taken aback.

[Ten!]

[Nine!]

[Eight!]

...

[Two!]

[One!]

Before Waldo could comprehend what was happening, his mind suddenly buzzed, as if thunder had exploded. Simultaneously, the system’s voice echoed in his mind.

"Challenger Waldo, ranked seventh, becomes the first to hunt fellow challengers, completing the hidden task. Earns ten survival points! System update in progress. Host, please be prepared!"

After that, Waldo’s mind flickered, and he saw an attribute panel before him.

[Challenger: Waldo]

[Number: 7]

[Survival Points: 10]

[Main Task: Survive for one hundred days!] 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

[Caution: Despite being in a safe room, your situation is not entirely safe. Outside your door, there is a roaming monster.]

[Caution: Your time is running out. Please exit promptly, eliminate the monster, and find supplies to survive!]

[Monster Introduction: This is a challenger corrupted by darkness, thoroughly fallen. Currently, its strength is several times greater than yours. It’s a formidable opponent. Killing it will grant you one day’s worth of food.]

Waldo was puzzled. Had the system undergone an update?

At first, Waldo was a bit slow to catch on. However, soon after, he reasoned it out. After all, this foundational system seemed to be created by the supreme rulers, available to everyone.

Now that he was in the Eternal Kingdom, undergoing trials, a system upgrade was reasonable. Although it felt a bit unfamiliar initially, he got the hang of it soon enough.

Excitingly, he gained valuable information about the mysterious creature outside. He even learned about its weaknesses and vulnerabilities, which was crucial for Waldo at the moment.

He had to deal with this monster quickly. "I had a tough fight earlier, and my stamina is running low. If I don’t find supplies soon, survival will be challenging."

Waldo glanced at Tristan, who looked pale and worse for wear. Having endured two consecutive battles and sustaining injuries, coupled with the influence of a mysterious force, Tristan’s stamina was on the brink. Within an hour, his strength would begin to decline.

Clearly, Tristan was aware of his situation, urgency evident on his face. Waldo pondered for a moment and asked, "Has your system upgraded too?"

"Yes," Tristan nodded, a hint of urgency in his tone. "Master, my time is running out. My strength is depleting rapidly. The system warns me that within an hour, my power will start diminishing. By then, I fear I won’t be of much help to you!"

Waldo understood. The system upgrade wasn’t exclusive to him—it applied to all challengers.

Moreover, everyone should be able to receive the system’s mainline tasks and information about the monsters, just like him.

With this in mind, Waldo instructed, "Listen to my commands. If I tell you to open the door, you open it, understood? I’ll handle the monster, and you don’t need to do anything else. Clear?"

"Clear!" Tristan nodded repeatedly. When he first arrived, he had a somewhat domineering demeanor, a natural attitude from being invincible in his own world and holding a high position.

Changing that mindset was difficult at first, but within an hour, Waldo had managed to make Tristan obedient. Now, he seemed like a child who had made a mistake, nodding in compliance like a timid little chick.

Seeing this, Waldo couldn’t help but smile inwardly. It seemed like Tristan had been effectively subdued and dared not act out.

However, Waldo wasn’t entirely at ease and maintained a hint of caution. Afterward, Waldo gave further instructions to ensure that the two of them could cooperate without any mistakes. Soon, he adjusted his state.

Boom!

Flames erupted all over his body. Golden-red flames twisted around him, emitting an extremely terrifying high temperature.

Even Tristan’s complexion changed slightly, surprised as he glanced at Waldo multiple times. At this moment, Waldo resembled a fire god.