With fast and erratic steps, on uneven ground full of rocks and grass, Freeze makes his way through the dense trees. His breath is nearly gone, his heart pounding violently as if begging for a quick death.
His gray eyes are bloodshot, and his face is soaked with salty water—he can no longer distinguish… are they tears or sweat? His nose runs in a grotesque comedy, groaning with a strangled voice from his stiffened throat.
"They're still behind me!!... The monsters are still behind me!!"
The sounds chasing him grow louder, like a symphony of hell. Trees scratched, branches broken, growls reeking of bloodlust. He darts left and right like he's in a green maze.
He loses focus on his footing, but his legs refuse to stop. In the blink of an eye, the last glimmer of hope vanishes as he trips over a large rock hidden between the trees—perhaps waiting just to lead him to doom.
He falls face-first into a muddy puddle. Ignoring the shock, he pushes himself up with his arms, but his legs betray him—they refuse to stand. The sounds grow louder as he looks between the puddle, now mixed with the blood from his injured legs, and behind him.
He turns his head left and right with a terrified, expressionless face. The tangled branches remain as they were moments ago.
Then, to his right, he spots a tree a few meters away with a dark hollow in its center, like a space of hope needing to be filled. He crawls like an infant, leaving a trail of blood behind with every inch gained.
He gets closer as the pain in his legs intensifies, his wounds burning like a volcanic eruption. He glances at his leg to assess the damage worthy of such agony… His skin has been peeled off over an area larger than his palms due to the small rocks, on top of old wounds worth mentioning.
Returning to his goal, he grips the edge of the hollow with his right hand, straining every muscle in his body to pull himself inside with all his strength in search of salvation. At last, he enters the hollow.
He leans his back, tilting his head forward as strands of his medium-length black hair fall gently, one of them hosting a clinging ant he hadn't noticed—perhaps on a reckless adventure to its doom.
His face faces the hollow's entrance, fingers interlocked, knees resting in the gap made by his arms—like a child curled in his mother's womb awaiting birth. But Freeze awaits an exit from life.
His breathing devours the surrounding air. He tries to calm himself, but the tears keep flowing like a waterfall from fear. The sound draws closer—just meters away from the end...
Moments later: "Don't you want to meet your family!!... In hell, hahaha!!"
A loud shout and a mocking laugh. That's what Freeze heard. Every sense in his body froze for a moment.
"Weren't those the monsters chasing me?!"
He said in a whisper, eyes wide open. His mind detached from reality—caught between fear of the unknown, naive glimpses of hope, and the words that served as an additional push to never lower his guard. There's no difference now between monsters and men...
Freeze's thoughts wandered for a moment. Then he noticed a line drawn in the middle of the hollow—done skillfully with his own blood. The sight alone was enough to worsen his expression.
"Everyone… there's blood on the ground. Follow it."
"Commander, perhaps it's just a predator dragging its prey, nothing more!"
"And does a predator remain still while we're on its turf?... Obey the order without argument. If he escapes, it will ruin everything!!"
Freeze heard the conversation like an arrow piercing his exhausted heart. His whole body trembled—not from cold, but from the truth of the fate awaiting him.
Through hazy eyes and a confused mind, he saw a faint glimmer outside. It took him a moment to realize it was a sword, the blood on it dulling its shine.
His eyes wide open, jaw slack, lips parting involuntarily—he could only watch.
The sword bearer follows the blood trail, stepping steadily and confidently. He flicks the blood from his sword with a strong, short motion. The sound of his steps echoed in Freeze's mind—each one calling for death.
He saw the blood trail end at the tree where Freeze hid. The darkness inside the hollow required closer inspection. In the midst of Freeze's breakdown, now resembling a lifeless corpse—
[Do you accept the guardianship of King Zero? Yes or No]
Glowing words appeared—visible only to Freeze, reflecting in his eyes. Hallucination? Or another false hope?… But there were no other choices left, even if it was a delusion invented by his mind.
He immediately pressed "Yes." Freeze spoke the word at the same time, confirming to the pursuers he was there. The sword bearer rushed toward the hollow.
He arrived and leaned his head inside, his wounded and bloodied face twisted into a victorious grin—which quickly vanished upon inspection. There was nothing inside the hollow but an ant.
"Are ants this noisy? Hahaha."
He laughed mockingly, crushed the ant underfoot, and his expression turned cold in an instant. Turning to the others, he barked loudly: "Find him!!!!"
…
Freeze opened his eyes in shock. His vision was blurry. Lying face-down on the ground, he tried to lift himself up to stand.
He stood.
"Wasn't I just a moment ago in… uh…."
He looked down at his feet in surprise.
It took him less than a second to realize that his injured legs were now healed—and he stood steadily on them. The vision remained blurry…
Or rather, blindingly white. Wherever he turned, all he saw was white—above, below, and all around. It made no sense anymore. It was as if he were inside a cloud.
He wandered the space calmly, walking slowly, eyes searching, waving his hands in every direction, hoping to feel something—anything—to guide him. The silence was so deep he could hear his own heartbeat.
Then, amidst the stillness, a window appeared:
[Welcome to King Zero's Arena]
[Alert… This is the first and last time you will be admitted into King Zero's Arena without prior authorization or a verbal request]
With a bewildered and disbelieving expression, Freeze took two steps back.
The message continued:
[Information]
Name: Freeze
Species: Human
Age: 16 years
Po
wer: Not yet calculated
Exit eligibility from King Zero's Arena: Conditions not yet determined