The Grim Dance of Life and Death. (49)

Red and blue numbers continued to flash across the field, indicating the victories and defeats. The lifeless body of the opponent I had vanquished was marked in red, while my own victorious numbers shone in blue. It seems through this display that they determined the outcome of each battle.

A moment of silence hung in the air, followed by a chorus of surprised exclamations and applause.

Surveying the aftermath of the battle on the ruined field, I tilted my head slightly, feeling a sudden craving for chicken.

As if in response to my idle thought, another set of numbers illuminated the screen next to the timer: 10,256.

Then, the portal opened, revealing a slender figure cloaked in a tattered robe and a wide hood concealing their face. The enemy stepped into the wreckage, scanning the surroundings with bright, piercing eyes. I wagged my tail, poised to summon my threads at a moment's notice.

Blonde strands of hair were matted and disheveled, weary gait accentuating the fatigue of a creature.

Swaying from side to side, after a few steps, the creature stumbled and fell onto the sharp stones, supporting themselves with trembling palms. Gasping for breath, its respiration grew more rapid, as if after a long and arduous run. From the long sleeves of the dark robe, almost human-like fingers with broken nails were visible, and scarlet blood oozed from the scratches. The metallic scent of something unfamiliar wafted through the air, reaching my sensitive nose.

"AND THIS... Wait... Is this real?" exclaimed the announcer, his voice filled with uncertainty.

The timer remained frozen at 5 minutes and 2 seconds from the previous battle, while the screen sparkled with a static blue hue. It felt as if the entire space had come to a halt, suspended in time.

In silence, I locked eyes with the familiar gaze, which held nothing but pain and disappointment. Somewhere deep within, a part of me marveled at the vulnerability conveyed through those wide, pale eyes, momentarily calming the inner beast.

Separated by a vast expanse of distance and the gaping divide between our races—human and critter—I made an effort not to betray any emotion on the surface.

The audience whispered among themselves, and the announcer refrained from initiating the start of the battle.

My opponent spat out thick blood, a smile flickering across their face as they struggled to rise on unsteady legs. I summoned my threads to offer support, momentarily forgetting that a human is far more fragile than a critter or beast.

Dark threads dug into the tattered cloak, almost piercing through the tender flesh beneath. A cry of agony pierced the air, and in the nick of time, I canceled the summoning.

The body slumped forward, giving the impression that I had attacked the defenseless figure, despite my intention to lend a helping hand.

I anticipated an angry glare or heated words, I was surprised to find no trace of resentment directed towards me. Instead, I saw a plea for assistance etched on the wounded woman's paling face.

Her hand, marked with red scratches, reached out to me as I cautiously took a step closer. She clenched her fist tightly, with only a thin thread protruding from her grasp.

The pitiful appearance of my opponent had concealed something significant from prying eyes. As she raised her hand, whispered soundlessly, her words resonated thunderously in my head. Her bloodstained lips murmured incomprehensible dialects, piercing my consciousness. For a brief moment, I stood in stunned silence, before a surge of needle-like bones surged forth. My body was under her control. I couldn't fully comprehend how, but I was unable to command myself at that moment.

"SAVE THEM."

The Caretaker of the First Level silently shouted to me. The hood slipped from her head, revealing her visage. Half of her face had been stripped of skin up to the scalp, leaving only the lips with a semblance of intactness, devoid of teeth and, it seemed, a tongue.

Sharp bones pierced through the fabric, puncturing the tender flesh beneath, as crimson blood cascaded from the woman's wounds.

The bloodless limb became immersed in a pool of scarlet.

"THIS THING ATTACKED A MAN! LOCK HIM UP!"

"HOW DARE YOU EXPOSE A DEFENSELESS PERSON TO THESE VILE CREATURES?!"

"OH NO, TAKE HIM AWAY! HE'LL DEVOUR THE POOR SOUL!"

"Don't look, honey. Close your eyes."

"THE CREATURES ARE ATTACKING PEOPLE! I ALWAYS KNEW THE ARENA WAS BREEDING ENEMIES AGAINST ALL OF HUMANITY!"

"BURN IT! BURN IT!"

...

I refused to lend an ear to the nonsensical clamor of the crowd. Drawing nearer, I touched her pale hands and accepted what she had yearned to give me.

Tears trickled from her bloodied, lidless eyes as she exhaled, relinquishing the tension in her limbs. A life slipped away from my hands, an indescribable sensation pricking at my side. Clenching my fingers, I extended my claws. The pain momentarily subdued the turmoil within me.

Skeletons emerged, filling the Battlefield, urging everyone to calm down.

Above my head, the first inklings of a magic circle materialized in the air. I grinned and unleashed the full potential of Ignition, consuming the remnants of my Endurance.

If they perceived me as an enemy, then I would behave as one.

If they wished to kill or torment me, I would add them to my blacklist and exact revenge when the time came.

[Participant 137 is attacked by enemies, sustaining 200 points of damage.]

But what if the entire world stood against me?

Pinned to the ground, an unbearable weight bore down on my shoulders. Skin and muscles contracted, as all fluids seeped out through minute pores. I was bleeding, approaching death, the inevitability of my fate hanging heavy in the air. My eyes felt on the verge of bursting under the intense pressure, and as I exhaled, I accessed the system interface.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, taking 350 points of damage.]

My legs contorted at an unthinkable angle. The likelihood of death grew with each passing moment. Spitting blood, I caught a glimpse of an invisibility cloak in my iventory from the corner of my eye.

The dust settled...

The audience continued their agitated murmurs, expressing their discontent with the outcome of the battle.

The remnants of the battle lay scattered on the empty field, a haunting reminder of the violence that had unfolded.

The skeletons stood motionless, their empty gazes fixed on the desolate field strewn with shreds of flesh and scattered bones.

Suddenly, a portal materialized, its swirling energy drawing in the remains with a chilling efficiency. Piece by piece, the scraps of meat and bones were teleported away, destined to become sustenance for the insatiable carnivorous plants that awaited their macabre meal.

A sense of finality washed over me as I glanced at the timer and the screen. The red numbers indicating a simultaneous loss for both sides. With a sigh, I closed my eyes, embracing the weight of the moment. It felt as if I were plummeting into an endless abyss, suspended in a state of weightlessness where time seemed to stretch infinitely.

In the midst of this surreal descent, my mind wandered, retracing the footsteps of my life. Memories flooded back, each detail vivid and poignant. They say that before death, one's entire life flashes before their eyes, and in that moment, I comprehended the truth of that saying. From the earliest moments of my existence, all I had known was a ceaseless cycle of evading danger and engaging in battle.

Images of a life spent constantly fleeing and fighting flickered through my mind's eye. It was a cycle of relentless struggle, a journey defined by survival.

In this suspended state, I felt an unexpected surge of liberation, momentarily forgetting about the system that governed my existence.

A question surfaced in my mind, breaking through the chaos of my thoughts.

[The main goal is to finish the Arena in 10 years, right?]

[...Yes.]

Slowly, my legs began to regenerate, preparing for the impact that awaited me.

Finally, I collided with something slippery and living.

Startled, I turned my attention to the source of the disturbance.

Dark green leaves parted, revealing a terrifying visage of a creature plucked from the darkest corners of a child's nightmare. Just a meter away, a plant resembling a grotesque pear with razor-sharp teeth extended its grasp, holding onto the tip of the spine I still clutched in my right hand.

Lowering my fingers, I watched as the ravenous plant eagerly devoured the bones, its burgundy tongue sluggishly moving amidst the gruesome feast. A rustling sound emanated from the surroundings, and towering silhouettes emerged, encircling the feeding plant. Their mouths opened wide, yearning to taste the delicacy.

Amidst the incessant slurping, they failed to notice the splash that accompanied my landing.

I rolled away from the Dark Threads, collapsing onto the ground.

Huddling into my hood, I stifled a curse in response to the searing pain that persisted in my left leg, still in the process of recovery.

The abyssal creatures vied for another morsel, tearing at each other's share. Soon, not a trace of the skeletal remains remained. The plants resumed their dormant state, cocooned within their thick leaves.

Grateful for my night vision, the darkness that enveloped my surroundings offered minimal visibility, only punctuated by faint light that spilled through the spatial doors from which critters and beasts tumbled.

Biting my lip, I watched as a struggling creature was torn asunder by three ravenous plants.

His hand flailed in the air, bulging eyes seeking an elusive thread of salvation. Wheezing and fighting against the insatiable plants, he failed to evoke any response from them, for they were driven solely by hunger.

With a heavy heart, I ended his suffering, swiftly cutting his throat with the Dark Threads. Blood seeped from the small wounds, and his lifeless form hung limply among the awakening carnivorous plants.

Turning away, I scanned the bottom for any signs of an open area, only to find the relentless carnivores lurking everywhere. Soft curses escaped my lips as I trudged forward, resolute in my determination to find an escape.

Time was running out, with less than three hours left until the invisibility cloak would deactivate.