The arena looked like a Roman colosseum,
Rays of sunlight that were certainly fake shown down onto the group.
Realistic technology that makes it look like your in an entirely different place in the world.
Ace truly began to wonder how much technology had advanced.
'Just another reason to get out.'
Ace then looked over to David. He had a small smirk, basking in the light with his hands on his hips. He turned and looked at Ace as well.
"It's fine. I have a good feeling about this tournament anyway. You and Alex do well
And so will I."
David walked over and raised his hand.
After they high fived Alex jumped in as well.
Everyone just sat at the edge of the battlefield, watching. The first 3 matches were fine.
It was whena certain person got onto the battlefield that things got interesting nick daniels,
He had the ability of density manipulation. The moment he threw a punch, he could increase it's weight, multiplying damage potential. He could also make himself super light to increase speed.
His opponent was nelson love. Nelson had the ability of beast transformation on a small scale.
He could turn his feet into hawk talons and turn his arms into hawk wings for flight.
Nick Daniels bounced on his toes, his sneakers squeaking against the polished arena floor. Nelson Love crouched low, his arms already elongating into feathered wings—not fully
transformed yet, but close. The instructor blew the whistle.
Nick lunged first, his fist swinging in a deceptively slow arc—until impact. The moment his knuckles grazed Nelson's shoulder, the density shift hit. Nelson's collarbone cracked audibly as he was flung backward, skidding across the floor like a ragdoll. The crowd gasped. Nick didn't wait; he lightened his body and blurred forward, aiming a knee at Nelson's ribs. But Nelson rolled, his legs twisting grotesquely into talons mid-motion. He kicked upward, raking claws across Nick's thigh. Blood spattered the white floor.
Nick staggered back, pressing a hand to his bleeding thigh. His grin never wavered. "Nice trick," he spat. Nelson wobbled upright, one wing hanging limp where his collarbone had shattered. The crowd's murmurs turned to uneasy silence.
Nelson's remaining wing flared out, feathers ruffling with tension as he launched himself into the air—just as Nick's fist blurred forward again, missing by inches. The air rippled where Nelson had been, Nick's density-enhanced punch tearing through empty space with a sound like a cannon shot. Nelson banked hard, talons outstretched, aiming for Nick's back—but Nick twisted at the last second, catching Nelson's ankle and *squeezing*. The snap of bone was drowned out by Nelson's scream.
Ace leaned forward, fingers digging into his knees. This wasn't training. This was *butchery*. Across the arena, instructors stood motionless, clipboards in hand, scribbling notes like this was some kind of lab experiment. Alex muttered something under his breath, and David's easygoing smile had vanished, replaced by something grim.
Nick then got on top of nelson and began punching him. "IS THAT ALL YOU GOT BIRD BOY!?"
The instructor's whistle finally pierced the air—three sharp blasts—but Nick didn't stop. His fists kept rising and falling in a wet rhythm until two guards yanked him off Nelson's limp body. Blood streaked Nick's knuckles, his breath coming in ragged bursts. Nelson didn't move. A medical team rushed in with a stretcher, their faces unreadable behind visors.
"Im winning this competition. Just keep me here and watch me tear through all of these losers."
The silence in the arena was thick enough to chew. Nick wiped his bloody knuckles on his shirt, grinning at the stunned crowd like a predator sizing up its next meal. Ace felt David shift beside him, his usual relaxed posture coiled tight now.
"Psychopath," Alex muttered under his breath, knuckles white where they gripped the edge of the bench.
This was it. This was how they planned to keep the kids from rebelling. Constantly pitting them against one another, making them hate eachother.
The medical team hauled Nelson's limp body away, leaving a smeared trail of crimson on the pristine floor. Nick cracked his neck and smirked at the remaining contestants, his gaze lingering a beat too long on Ace. "Who's next?"
He looked at nelsons teammate. It was someone who hadn't unlocked her abilities yet. She obviously was going to forfeit. "Better luck next time."
Outside of the "arena" that was really just a dome from the outside were a bunch of administrators, instructors and one of the people who ran this facility.
A woman in a suit walked up to him in heels.
"What do you think of this batch Mr Erwin?"
"I think that it is hard to believe a twelve year old child had just done that. And that is what i am looking for. Ruthlessness like that allows for the perfect soldier to be molded." He had a charming smile.
The woman chuckled. "lets hope it doesn't just end with him then."
The arena lights flickered, casting long shadows across the bloodstained floor. Ace watched Nick swagger back to his seat, the other kids shrinking away as he passed.
"Another thing we'll have to worry about. How lovely."