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
As Jennifer struggled to reach Enzo, the tension was visible. When she finally succeeded in connecting with me, her voice brimmed with a mix of joy and nervous energy. “We’re finally connected to the system!” she exclaimed, her excitement spilling through the static of our communication line.A grin spread across my face, and I turned to Kai, who immediately understood what had happened without needing an explanation. My expression said it all.“Enzo?” I called out, trying to connect with him directly. The line was dead silent. My smile vanished as quickly as it had spread, and an uneasy weight settled in my chest. My pulse quickened, each beat echoing in my ears as I glanced nervously at Kai. “He’ll be alright,” he reassured me, his voice steady but strained. Before either of us could take action, a deep, echoing hum filled the air, overpowering even the sound of our racing hearts. The noise was overwhelming, drawing our attention toward the city gates. With the restored power, the
He pressed himself against the wall, trying to steady his breathing. The ground beneath him groaned, a sharp reminder of the fragile state of the entire building. He couldn’t afford to stop now—not when so much was at stake.Pushing forward, Enzo reached a junction where the stairs split into multiple paths. Consulting his mental map of the city’s layout, he chose the left corridor, knowing it led directly to the control room.As he advanced, the air grew colder, and the flickering lights overhead cast dark shadows.Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his side. Enzo stumbled, clutching his rib as he gasped for breath. He had hit a loose beam that swung down unexpectedly, narrowly missing his head but cutting through his torso.Blood trickled from a small cut, staining his shirt. Ignoring the pain, he pressed on, his strong will fueling his determination.The corridor opened into a vast, open space—the control room. The room was a chaotic mess of shattered consoles, broken screens, and
“No, we can’t retreat!” I shot back, my mind racing. “If we fall back now, we’ll just be leading them to the survivors! Who knows what these things are capable of if they breach the bunker?”The immortal army was unstoppable, their unsettling faces and wide-open mouths still screaming as they marched forward. The situation was dire, and every second felt like we were inching closer to doom. Then, an idea struck me. “We’ll lead them somewhere else instead! Somewhere they won’t follow the others!” Without waiting for a response, I took off running toward the right, motioning for the others to follow.“There are plenty of ruined buildings to the east,” Kai called after me, sprinting to catch up. “We can find cover there, maybe even set a trap!”"Exactly! We just need to buy the rest of the team some time to regroup and bring the right equipment,” I agreed as we bolted toward the Ferric Burg, a place that had once been a bustling district but was now reduced to crumbling ruins after the a
I yelled for everyone to move. "Run!" I shouted, leading the charge as we turned and sprinted away from the impending disaster. But we were too close. The ground shook violently beneath us, the force of the lab’s landing sending a powerful jolt through the battlefield. The shockwave hit us hard, like a giant hand swatting us aside. We flew, bodies tossed into the air like ragdolls, crashing to the ground in a brutal cascade.I groaned, feeling the sharp sting of pain from the fall. My vision blurred for a moment as I pushed myself up, dirt and debris filling the air around me. Many of us survived the impact, but not everyone was so lucky. As I looked around, the grim reality hit me. The number of those who fell, the martyrs—was far greater than the survivors.I pushed myself up from the debris, my body aching as I limped up to my feet. Dust and rubble filled the air, and the sight before me was nothing short of devastating. Those who hadn’t made it halfway to the bunker were crushed,
The battlefield was chaos. Screams, explosions, and the endless rain of arrows and bullets filled the air. Bodies fell, and for every enemy I took down, two more seemed to replace them.As soon as Kai entered the control room, Veronica—rushing toward Kai. Her face was pale, eyes wide with panic, clearly overwhelmed by the chaos. She knelt beside him, but he waved her off, his voice hoarse but steady. "I'm not important right now! Get the guns in position, switch their directions, now!"He delivered my message without caring for his own condition.He gripped her shoulders firmly, but not harshly, guiding her to sit down on the seat. His eyes were intense, but his voice softened as he leaned in close, whispering in her ear. "I know this is overwhelming, but you’ve got this. You can do this."Veronica’s hands trembled as she began to adjust the machine gun controls, rotating the turrets to face the incoming enemy forces. It wasn't the first time she was facing a situation of war, but see
"This thing has a heartbeat!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with unease, her eyes fixed on the screen.I felt my stomach knot, the tension rising with every second. "What if it’s a human? Someone innocent?" My voice cracked, panic creeping into my words."No!" she snapped, her gaze darting between readings. "The heartbeat is… off. Abnormal. It's clocking in at 250 beats per minute. No human, even with a severe condition, could sustain that while moving this fast. This... this is something beyond what we’re ready for." Her fingers hovered over the screen, absorbing more data.Then she froze, her eyes widening. "It’s six feet tall, and only an inch from the barrier!" Her voice wavered. "It... it looks like a plane."I leaned closer, trying to make sense of the silhouette on the display. "A plane? But at that size? Who the hell would build a plane so small?" The shape on the screen did resemble an aircraft, but it was no larger than a child’s toy. Something was very, very wrong.Pan
“No, Zaria! It all happened right before our eyes,” Kai said, his voice thick with disbelief. The weight of the moment pulled us together in a tight group hug, but the shock left me frozen. How could this be real? Why would anyone kill Bella? She wouldn’t hurt a soul."No..." I whispered, the denial clawing at my throat. "This can't be happening!" My voice broke into a yell. "How could they kill her? How could—" But my words faded, leaving me breathless, my mind spinning as if the very air had been stolen from me.I pulled away from them, my body trembling. “Prepare! Prepare for battle. We’re going to make him pay!” I demanded, wiping my tear-streaked face with the back of my hand. My rage boosting my strength with every second. I nodded, more to myself than anyone else, as the reality of the situation sank in.“Zaria!” Ella’s voice was soft, her steps cautious as she approached, concern evident on her face. But I reached out first, gripping her shoulders, forcing her to look into my
I dropped everything I was doing and bolted after her, my heart racing. Something had to be wrong. Jennifer was tough, not the type to panic easily. I followed her down the winding path to the bunker, the cool, damp air filling my lungs. As we reached the entrance, a crowd of people had gathered, making a path for me to pass through.“Zaria!” A familiar voice rang out. My dad. He stood there, cleaned up and looking far better than the last time I’d seen him, though his face was still covered with worry. “Thank goodness you’re alright,” he said, pulling me into a quick embrace before stepping aside to let Jennifer lead me deeper inside.“This way,” Jennifer urged, her voice low as she guided me toward a dimly lit corner of the bunker. She stopped in front of a large, rusted wheel embedded in the circular wall—a giant mechanism that looked like it belonged to an old bank vault.“I don’t think Veronica knows anything about this,” Jennifer whispered, her gaze fixed on the wheel. “But it’s
“You’ve deceived everyone, even your own kind,” Jackallion spat, dodging the attack from Libianca. “You’re nothing but a coward hiding behind lies and manipulation.”Libianca’s eyes blazed with rage. “You think you can judge me? I’ve done what I must to survive!”Amelia, taking advantage of Libianca’s distraction, aimed her crossbow and fired. The bolt struck Libianca’s shoulder, forcing a howl of pain.She moaned, giving Jackallion the opening he needed. He jumped forward, driving his blade deep into her chest.Libianca gasped, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. “No… this can’t be…”“It’s over,” Jackallion said coldly, twisting the blade. “You’re finished.”Libianca crumpled to the ground, her body twitching as the last of her life drained away.Jackallion stepped back, breathing heavily. Amelia lowered her crossbow, her face displayed a grim satisfaction.Jackallion stood over Libianca's lifeless body, breathing heavily. The remaining creepers gathered around, their eyes wide w