To my surprise, her hand held a paper with a doodle on it. In the middle of the page, there was a simple stick figure, while behind it was a doodle of a towering building. In front of the figure, there was a captivating formation resembling an inverted mountain. It appeared as if the stick figure was leaping towards the inverted mountain. Out of the blue, two women entered the room, dressed in elegant silk gowns. Their long, red curls flowed down their backs, and their flawless, milky white skin seemed almost otherworldly. But what caught my attention were the blindfolds tightly wrapped around their eyes. Each woman held a bag in her hands, adding an aura of mystery to their presence. They reached out their hands towards me, and I took hold of them as they guided me out of the prison. As we made our way towards freedom, I couldn’t resist stealing one final glance at the prison, filled with numerous faces peering through the bars, their hopes resting on my triumph. When the women
As my senses came back to me, I couldn't help but notice the strange condition of the horses. They were not only completely bald, but they also had deep cuts next to their ears. It was clear that something was wrong. As I focused on the track ahead, I was shocked to see a massive wall stretching from left to right. It seemed impossible to go around it, and my attempts to turn the horse were useless. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew my cape away and it wrapped around a champion's face, causing him to stumble and fall. With no more distractions, I fixed my eyes on the formidable wall in front of me. Summoning all my strength, I stood up on the horse's back, which was incredibly challenging. The wall looked deceptively thin, almost like glass, but it was covered in menacing spikes. Despite the difficulty, I managed to keep my balance as the horse got closer to the wall. Without hesitation. I took a daring leap, with the dive my hands held the top of the wall as I cartwheeled and gracefu
Near the entrance of the room, there was a closet. My curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to open it. To my surprise, it was completely empty. However, there was a small note stuck to the door that said, "Say the word!" Confused, I turned to the girls and asked, "What word?" One of them responded, "You have to say what you want to wear!" Without any hesitation, I said, "I need the most comfortable dress that I can sleep in!" As soon as the words left my mouth, the lower board of the cupboard sank in, revealing a deep, black hollow. I squinted in confusion, but then an entire wardrobe interior appeared and fixed itself as if it had always been there. Everywhere I looked, there were silky soft fabrics and countless clothes. However, my eyes were drawn to a loose tank top and shorts. Without thinking twice, I decided to wear them. As I turned around, I suddenly remembered that there were two girls with me. I took out two more dresses and handed them to the girls, telling them
We headed towards the gate we used to exit the previous round, only to discover that it had undergone a complete transformation. The ground was now adorned with vibrant square tiles, each one with a glowing border. The area was vast, stretching out in both width and length, with multiple layers of stairs and countless people. Enormous screens displayed the action, and the crowd erupted in cheers, calling out the names of every champion except mine. However, amidst all the excitement, I couldn't help but notice a few fearful glances directed my way, even if they were fleeting. Once the cheers subsided and the lights dimmed, confusion washed over me as I assumed it was just a technical glitch. I looked around and to my surprise, the outlines of the tiles began to materialize before my eyes, forming a path. It suddenly dawned on me that this was all intentional - a path had been laid out specifically for me. Without any hesitation, I made up my mind to follow it, stepping on the illu
Meanwhile, the man I had clashed with earlier in the corridor had different intentions. When I told him to cross, he sarcastically remarked, “After you, ladies first.” Ignoring his comment, I sprinted towards the gateway. However, as I leaped, he grabbed my foot and yanked me back, causing me to fall onto the glass, which started to crack. His plan to make me plunge into the lava was unsuccessful though. I swiftly regained my balance and he retaliated with a punch. I defended myself and seized his wrist, swiftly attacking to strike him with my elbow. The sound of shattering glass filled the air as we fought relentlessly. However, he suddenly grabbed my throat, blocking off my air ways with his wrist, and pressed my head against his chest. Desperate to break free, I struggled to pry his wrist away, but my attempts were in vain. As I gasped for air, I finally lost strength to fight, I was fainting but the man I had saved earlier shot the man who was strangling me, rescuing me from ce
But it was too late. Before I could react, he vanished with a glitching effect, descending towards the ground. "Alright!" I took a deep breath and followed suit. As I leaped out, I closed my eyes, and suddenly, I found myself standing in the middle of the same stage where we had arrived for the tournament earlier. "Where are the other competitors?" I asked, noticing Kai standing next to me, and a few more contestants. The crowd erupted in cheers, with many people shouting my name to show their support. However, the injuries we had suffered were undeniably real, and it became painfully clear that the lives lost in this twisted competition were treated as nothing more than mere plot to entertain. It didn't matter if you were a man or a woman, we were all just pawns in their sick game of entertainment. Enzo's words about everyone being a victim started to make sense to me, and I began to understand their true meaning. As his words replayed in my mind, a wave of nostalgia washed ove
Frustration welled up within me, and I gritted my teeth. I started running along the edge of the wall, hoping to find an opening before the gate shut completely. The timing of these mechanisms was tough. Like the other gate that leads to the actual main gate, this one kept opening and closing and I knew that if I continued walking on the wall I would fall once this gate opened. Feeling confused and helpless, I made the decision to climb down and rush towards the gate. I anxiously waited, and finally, the door opened. Without wasting a moment, I sprinted forward and discovered bars that I could swing from, with sharp spikes beneath them. I ran and swung from the bars, once, twice, thrice, and on the fourth swing, I landed on the ground. However, a tingling sensation coursed through my palms and feet. It was an electric shock. Determined not to give up, I sprinted towards the door, but I was only a few feet away when it closed. Exhausted, I bent over, placing my hands on my knees, an
"Hello?” Bella interrupted, her voice filled with sarcasm. “They’ve invented flying elevators and movable mazes. Are you underestimating them?” she questioned. Ella held my hands tightly. “Now do you understand why I was warning you? They put on this whole show to make you suffer until you die!” She pulled up my shirt, revealing scars on my body. “This is how you were electrocuted. I should have realized that suit meant something,” she turned sad, pursing her lips. “So it wasn’t really about that bracelet, huh?” I glanced down at my wrist, feeling a mix of emotions. “Don’t blame yourself,” I reassured her, taking her hand in mine. Despite my smile, I couldn’t help but feel angry at the president. Just then, a soft bell chimed as the door opened upon my invitation, and Kai walked in. “How are you?” he asked, taking a seat beside me. “I’m doing well,” I replied with a smile. It was difficult for him to meet my gaze, but he mustered up the courage to continue. “I’m sorry, I... seein