Chapter 9: Tournament Of Terror 2

The crowd kept cheering,  

"Hazen! Hazen!"  

Hazen smiled, waving at them.  

"Because he killed that beast, they're all hailing him," someone whispered.  

Hearing this, Hazen turned to meet the gaze of a bald man and a few others staring at her with disdain.  

"Ooo, looks like they're jealous," Amoris said, noticing their scowls.  

Hazen furrowed her brow. "Jealous? Why? Did they want me dead?"  

Amoris chuckled. "Look around. They wish they were in your position."  

Hazen glanced back at the cheering crowd. "Whatever. They're pathetic," he muttered, turning away.  

Commander Kyle stepped forward, the energy of the crowd abruptly silenced by his presence.  

"I never expected him to kill the beast," Commander Kyle said, eyeing Hazen with a faint smile. "Thanks to his actions, many of you have moved on to the next round. But brace yourselves—the final round is ahead. You will all be blindfolded, and the arena will be plunged into darkness. Survive until the lights are turned back on, and you'll earn your spot in the army. Do your best to stay alive."  

Kyle gave the commentator a subtle nod.  

"Alright, contestants! Are you ready?" the commentator asked as the fighters reached for their blindfolds.  

"We'll kill him first," the bald man whispered to his group, all glaring at Hazen.  

Hazen met their eyes, her expression innocent, but her gaze flickered crimson. The air around her shifted as a sinister smile crept across her lips.  

"Ben, did you see that?" one of the men asked, fear creeping into his voice as he nudged his comrades.  

"See what? Don't be a coward. He's just a kid," Ben retorted sharply.  

"No, there was something—"  

"Oh, stop it. You're imagining things," Ben snapped.  

Hazen smirked as she watched them bicker, aware they were planning her death.  

"We'll start with Ben, then toy with the bald one a little," Amoris suggested, his gaze predatory.  

"Affirmative," Hazen responded, her voice calm but filled with malice.  

The commentator's voice rang out, "Let the tournament begin!"  

The contestants quickly secured their blindfolds, and the arena plunged into total darkness.  

---

"He was on the left! Let's get him!" Ben shouted as he lunged in that direction, swinging wildly.  

"Am I?" Hazen's voice seemed to whisper through the air like the wind.  

"Where are you?! Stand still, you coward!" Ben yelled, flailing his arms to defend himself.  

"You're no fun," Hazen's voice purred from behind as she grabbed Ben, her claws slicing through his throat with ease.  

Ben gasped, struggling to speak. "Ahh… gu... ys... here..." Blood filled his mouth, cutting off his words.  

Hazen moved silently through the arena, listening closely to every breath and footstep around her. One by one, she dispatched the other three men without a sound.  

"Now for some fun," Hazen whispered to herself, her tone gleeful.  

The commentator's voice echoed through the arena, "The smell of blood is everywhere! Will anyone survive this tournament unscathed?"  

---

"Oh, Baldy," Hazen teased, her voice right by the bald man's ear.  

The man froze. "Who's there? Hazen? Is that you?"  

"Who else?" Hazen asked, her tone filled with mock amusement.  

"Look, kid... just let me go. I know you've killed the others. Spare me, please," the bald man's voice shook with fear.  

Hazen chuckled darkly. "Oh, I almost forgot—you were the one who pushed me toward the beast. What was your plan, huh? Well, too bad for you. You'll die by my hands instead."  

The bald man gritted his teeth. "Then I'll fight until my last breath!" He lunged wildly toward Hazen's voice.  

"Yes! That's what I want! Fight me!" Hazen exclaimed, easily dodging every strike.  

"Stay still, damn it!" the bald man screamed, swinging at shadows.  

Hazen let him struggle for a while, bored but entertained by the desperate attempts. Finally, he sighed.  

"I've let you play long enough. Now, it's my turn." Hazen's voice shifted, taking on an eerie, almost demonic tone.  

The bald man froze, chills running down his spine. "Who... are you?" he stammered.  

"I am Amoris," Hazen replied, his voice echoing with menace.  

The man's eyes widened. "You... you're the one who killed the Crimson Gorgoroth, not Hazen?"  

"Obviously. Does it matter?" Amoris replied lazily.  

The bald man clenched his fists. "Hazen's a cheat! I'll report this to the authorities!"  

Amoris sighed, his tone turning cold. "You idiot. Do you really think I'd let you live after telling you who I am? Instead of begging for your life, you're wasting your last moments on threats."  

"You can't kill me!" the bald man shouted, enraged by the idea of dying to someone like Hazen.  

Hazen—or Amoris—moved swiftly, clawing into the man's side, exposing his ribs.  

"Boring," Hazen muttered. "I don't even know how I should finish you off. Rip your head off? Or maybe tear out your heart?"  

The bald man stood trembling, unable to move, as Hazen traced a claw lightly across his throat.  

"Goodbye, Baldy," Hazen whispered, plunging her claws deep into the man's chest.  

The bald man screamed in agony, his body tensing before going limp. Hazen watched with a twisted smile as blood poured from his victim's mouth.  

"And that's that," Hazen said, sighing with satisfaction.  

---

The commentator's voice rang out, "Get ready! No more fighting—the lights are coming back on in five, four... two, one."  

The lights flickered on, revealing the bloodied bodies strewn across the arena floor. All eyes turned to Hazen, standing alone, her petite frame soaked in blood, surrounded by the hulking corpses of her enemies.  

"He... he did it again! Hazen is still alive!" the commentator shouted in disbelief. "No one thought this young man would survive to the end!"  

The remaining men in the ring rushed over, hoisting Hazen into the air, cheering.  

"You did it, little guy!" one of them said, as the crowd roared Hazen's name.  

---

Commander Kyle watched Hazen, a knowing smile tugging at his lips as Hazen grinned brightly, her white teeth and dimples visible beneath the bloodstains.  

"Not bad," Commander Kyle muttered under his breath.