The sun hadn't even risen yet when I opened my eyes. Rain still pattered against the window from the storm that had carried through the night, but today felt different. Heavy.
I stood, pulling on my black combat gear, adjusting each strap and buckle. My mask slipped over my face, hiding the uncertainty in my eyes. As I reached for my weapon rack, my hand hovered over Elarion's swords… then stopped.
I exhaled. Not today.
Instead, I picked up the sleek dragon daggers Lucien had given me. Their silver-blue blades shimmered faintly, a pulse of faint heat humming through their edges as if alive.
Lucien's words echoed in my head:"they're gonna help you in the future."
I sheathed the daggers at my waist and stepped out of my room.
In the hotel lobby, Astrid was already waiting. Her silver hair shimmered under the soft lighting, arms crossed, her usual composed expression fixed firmly in place.
"Morning," she greeted.
"Morning," I replied, voice low. "We need to talk. It's about Kuro."
Astrid tilted her head. "What about him?"
I glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned in closer. "There's something or someone targeting him. He's gonna be marked. A sigil—a curse."
Her eyes narrowed. "He'll be—"
"—a vessel," I cut in sharply. "For a Demon King."
Astrid's composure faltered for just a second. "You're sure about this?"
I hesitated. "Somebody told me. And as much as I don't fully trust him… it lines up with what I've seen."
Astrid's gaze flickered briefly. "If you're right, then…"
Before she could finish, the arena intercom blared:
"PHASE FOUR CONTESTANTS, REPORT TO THE STADIUM!"
The stadium was roaring when we arrived. Thirty-two of us stood on the arena floor—half the size of yesterday, but every single one sharpened by survival.
The announcer emerged from the ground in his usual dramatic fashion, fireworks exploding overhead as he threw his arms out wide. His brown suit gleamed, and his tall hat tilted slightly as he grinned.
"Welcome back, my glorious warriors!" he boomed. "From 1,000 hopefuls to just 32 titans standing tall! You've clawed through chaos, blood, and death to be here—"
The crowd screamed in response, stomping their feet.
"But today," the announcer continued, voice dropping darkly, "today, we raise the stakes. Today, Phase 4 begins: THE DUO TRIAL!"
Gasps rippled across the arena floor.
"Duo?" Astrid muttered beside me.
"That's right!" the announcer laughed, pointing his cane at us. "For this round, you will form a team of two. No exceptions. Fail to secure a partner, and you are automatically eliminated."
He paused, letting the tension boil.
"Oh—but that's not all!" His grin widened dangerously. "Once paired, you and your partner will be bound by soul-contract. If one dies, the other dies too. Your fates… are one."
The crowd erupted in chaos, cheers and shouts clashing together.
Astrid's expression hardened. "They're forcing cooperation…"
I clenched my fists. A soul-contract? That means if one of us falls, we both go down.
"And finally!" the announcer declared, his voice cracking like thunder. "Each duo will be dropped into The Shattered Labyrinth—a shifting maze crawling with predators, traps, and other teams. The only way to advance? Reach the center alive."
My blood ran cold.
"Time to pick your partners!" the announcer chimed cheerfully.
Immediately, chaos erupted on the floor. Fighters scrambled, forming alliances, calling out names.
Astrid glanced at me sharply. "Tarek, we pair up. It's obvious."
I nodded. "Agreed. We'll survive this together."
But then—
"Oi, Tarek!" Kuro's voice boomed from the stands. He leaned over the railing, grinning, waving his arms like a madman. "Pick Astrid, you two are unstoppable! I'll cheer for you both!"
Even now, he was still… him. Carefree. Supportive. Oblivious.
But soon he get marked with The sigil curse.
Before I could dwell on it, Astrid grabbed my arm. "Focus," she hissed. "We'll deal with him after Phase 4. Right now, surviving comes first."
I exhaled sharply. "Right."
"Thirty seconds left!" the announcer chirped.
Astrid and I clasped wrists, and then the announcer slammed his cane down to put the put the contract on all of us. The soul-contract burned bright across our forearms, binding our fates together in a blinding flash.
then started phase 4.
"Welcome to the Shattered Labyrinth!"
The ground rumbled violently. Stone walls erupted around us, twisting and shifting like living things. Massive gates slammed shut, locking us inside.
And then…
ROAR.
From the shadows of the labyrinth came a monstrous beast's howl.
The announcer grinned, teeth sharp.
"Oh, I forgot to mention," he said gleefully, "you're not alone in there. The labyrinth has its own guardians—yokai beasts that even I wouldn't want to face. Good luck!"
The gates slammed shut.
And Phase 4 began.