The crowd was still buzzing from the last battle.Vendors scrambled to refill drinks, the announcer waved to children, and fireworks sparkled overhead.
But in the shadows—Whispers.
The announcer spun once more with theatrical flair, his hat flying off and catching itself in midair.
"AND NOW—my beautiful bloodthirsty audience—we return to the next set of Phase Two matches! We still have 118 contestants remaining, and the hunger for glory has never been higher!"
"Up next! A duel of fury and finesse: Tess of the Thousand Eyes versus Garrel Bonegrinder!"
Gasps fluttered through the crowd.
"One's mind sees all… the other's body burns like fire incarnate!"
Match: Tess vs. Garrel
As the ground shifted into a jagged obsidian arena, Tess stepped out, her face covered by a veil of cloth and mirrors. Her hundred eyes glimmered across her arms, neck, back—even under her hair. They all blinked in eerie synchronicity.
Opposite her stood Garrel, shirtless, covered in glowing tattoos that pulsed like lava veins. He bowed.
"I will end this quickly," garrel said calmly.
Tess simply whispered, "Let's see if your soul is fireproof."
The flag rose between them. The timer glowed faintly, waiting.
BEGIN!
The moment the match started, garrel launched like a rocket, flames trailing from his fists.
Tess didn't move. Not at first.
Then the eyes on her shoulders blinked—just once—and her arms bent in an unnatural way, avoiding Garrel first strike by a hair.
It was a dance between fire and sight.
Every time Garrel struck, her thousand eyes predicted his motion.
Every time Tess countered, his flame shield erupted in defense.
Finally, with a blinding flash of fire, Garrel blasted toward the flag, grabbing it—
But Tess's eyes had already seen it.
She redirected the flame using a mirrored lens in her veil, bouncing the fire into his back, knocking him forward—straight into the wall.
The crowd exploded.
Tess held the flag.
Sixty seconds ticked. Kalos stood… and bowed.
"You're not human," he whispered.Tess smiled behind her veil. "Neither are you."
Backstage: Whispers in the Dark
Meanwhile, below the arena…
In the tunnels beneath the coliseum, a cloaked figure walked quietly. His eyes glowed faint gold. His shadow moved differently than his body.
He opened a sealed metal door.Inside were robed figures gathered around a blackstone table.
"We need to prepare," the leader whispered. "The blood moon is only weeks away. The Crimson Child is here. The city burns in his steps."
Another figure raised his hand. "But the girl… Astrid. She's interfering. She's not in the prophecy."
"Then we break the prophecy."
The air in the chamber turned cold.
A statue in the back—one of a horned deity with six arms—began to bleed from its eyes.
Back in the arena stands, Jae Hoon's eyes scanned every winner.
Tess. Loka. Varn. Astrid. Even a brutal masked brute named "Maul," who tore through his opponent in seconds.
But something didn't sit right.
"Too many of them are too strong."
He looked up—expecting to see Jay—but the balcony was empty now.
He felt a strange warmth behind his ribs. The Crimson mana… pulsing.
"Something is brewing."
A kid beside him tapped his shoulder. "Hey, you're Tarek, right? You're next right?"
I shrugged slowly.
he said"I'm ready."
But even he wasn't sure what he meant by that.
Deep inside a tower overlooking the entire coliseum, Jay sat alone.He painted quietly — black ink on parchment — the image of the arena from memory.
He stopped for a moment… dipped the brush again… and this time painted a Crimson flame at the center of the drawing.
He stared at it.
"You're close, Jae Hoon.""I hope you're strong enough."
He stood… and behind him, the shadows shivered.
To Be Continued...