Chaos spreading in the arena. Val, who had defeated Barkon and attacked the referee, now stood at the center of it all. She stared coldly at Princess Lyra and Princess Kyla. The guards quickly surrounded the princesses, trying to protect them. However, because of the magical seal that had covered the entire arena, they couldn't escape.
No one could leave. No one could enter.
As Val's cold gaze stayed locked onto the princesses, something even more terrifying happened.
From the ground, strange and horrifying monsters began to rise. Their bodies were twisted and strange, their faces looked wrong, and their eyes burned with hunger. No one could recognize these creatures , they were not beasts seen before. They were completely unknown.
The monsters roared and immediately started attacking the crowd. Screams filled the air as people rushed to escape, but the seal blocked their way. Some people, especially the adventurers and fighters, stood up to defend the crowd. Among them were the Rising Heroes. They quickly took out their weapons and fought the monsters without hesitation.
Magic spells lit up the battlefield. Swords slashed. Arrows flew. The monsters were strong, but the adventurers were skilled and brave. One by one, the monsters started falling under the attacks. For a moment, it seemed like the heroes were winning. But something strange happened.
The monsters that were defeated , those that were lying dead on the ground , started to move again. Their bodies began to heal. Wounds closed. Broken limbs reattached. And within seconds, they were standing again, ready to attack once more. The adventurers realized with horror that defeating the monsters was not enough. The monsters could regenerate. No matter how many times they were beaten down, they would rise again, stronger and angrier.
The battlefield turned into a nightmare. People fought desperately. They started to understand that this battle was not just about strength , it was about survival.
---
Meanwhile, Val, standing calmly in the middle, finally moved.
With a small step, she crossed the distance and reached the area where the princesses were being protected by the guards. The guards bravely attacked her, swinging swords and casting spells. But Val , or whoever she was , toyed with them. She moved like a ghost, dodging their attacks easily. She barely needed to defend herself. It was like she was dancing among them, mocking their efforts.
In just a few moments, she pushed through the guards and stood before the princesses. Princess Lyra and Princess Kyla, realizing they had no choice, tried to defend themselves. They used their magic, combining their powers to create barriers and attacks. For a short while, they were able to hold Val back. But it wasn't enough.
Val smiled , a wicked, chilling smile , and easily broke through their defenses. Just as she was about to strike one of the princesses with a deadly blow, Drakar appeared.
He was flying in the air as he was holding Lila by one hand, and with all his strength, he launched her towards Val. Lila, using the force from Drakar's throw, raised her sword and aimed directly at Val. It was a desperate and powerful attack. But Val noticed her easily.
In a shocking moment, she leaned forward and bit the sword with her mouth. Her teeth crunched down, and the sword shattered into pieces. Lila's eyes widened in fear. She saw Val's real face for the first time , the deathly pale skin, the monstrous smile, and the cold, deadly stare.
Fear froze Lila's heart. Her body refused to move. Instinct took over, and using her water magic, she pushed herself away from Val as fast as she could. Drakar quickly came to Lila's side. She was panting heavily, unable to even speak or stand properly. Her whole body shook in terror. Drakar took a defensive stance in front of her, protecting her.
But Val moved again. In an instant, she appeared behind Drakar. Before he could react, she kicked him hard with her back heel, sending him crashing to the ground. As Drakar struggled to get up, Val stepped on his back and stomped him down again. Blood spilled from Drakar's mouth, but Val didn't stop. She continued stomping him mercilessly, laughing softly as she did so.
Lila watched, helpless. Tears filled her eyes. She wanted to move. She wanted to help. But her body was frozen with fear. It refused to listen to her heart. Val, while continuing to stomp Drakar, slowly turned her cruel eyes back towards the princesses.
Suddenly, Adrian appeared. He charged at Val, swinging his sword with precision. Val tilted her head slightly to dodge, but Adrian quickly adjusted and moved the sword closer. He managed to make a small cut on her cheek.
At the same time, part of the cloak Val wore was torn away. The crowd gasped as her true appearance was revealed. Her skin was unnaturally pale. Her eyes were blood-red. Her sharp teeth showed as she grinned wickedly.
She was not human.
She was a ghoul.
Val laughed, a dry, cruel laugh, and spoke for the first time. "I am not Val," she said, her voice filled with hunger and madness. "I am Lilith. The Gluttony." Frustrated by the cut on her face, Lilith attacked Adrian with full force. Adrian quickly raised his sword to block, but the sheer strength behind her attack sent him flying backward. The princesses ran towards Adrian, concerned for him.
"Are you okay?" Lyra asked, her voice trembling. "You don't have to push yourself so hard," Kyla added. Adrian wiped the dirt from his face, forcing a small smile. "You two stay behind and look for a way out," he said firmly. "I'll manage here."
Lilith chuckled darkly.
"I compliment your bravery," she said, tilting her head mockingly. "Or should I say, your foolishness. But it all ends now." She launched a furious barrage of attacks at Adrian. Swords clashed, magic flared. Adrian managed to dodge most of the blows, taking only small hits here and there. His body ached, but he refused to give up.
Each time he evaded an attack, Lilith grew more frustrated. But at the same time, she seemed to enjoy it , like a cat playing with a mouse. Then, with a quick and sudden move, Lilith pushed Adrian aside and targeted Princess Kyla. She attacked with incredible speed.
Kyla tried to defend herself, but she wasn't fast enough. Lilith's attack sent Kyla flying through the air, crashing heavily onto the ground. Adrian, seeing this, rushed forward. Lilith, smiling darkly, gathered magic in her hand and prepared a deadly punch aimed directly at Princess Lyra. Seeing no other choice, Adrian threw himself in front of her. Lilith's magic-filled punch struck Adrian's hand.
He felt the bones in his left hand shatter instantly under the pressure. He didn't even have time to scream. Lilith clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Why are you trying so hard to play hero?" she asked, frustrated. Adrian's body was thrown backward from the impact, landing heavily near Kyla, who was unconscious and badly injured.
For a few moments, there was silence. Lila and Drakar could only watch helplessly. They wanted to move, to help. But their bodies refused to listen. Then, something changed. Adrian, despite his broken body, stood up.
He held his sword tightly in his remaining good hand. His left arm hung uselessly at his side, broken badly. But his eyes , his eyes burned with fury and magic. They lit up brightly, filled with rage and strength.
Adrian had snapped.
And he was ready for the real fight to begin...