The air inside the Death Game Arena vibrated with raw energy and the electric hum of anticipation.
Enclosing the grand battlefield was a colossal, transparent dome pulsing with counter-waves that formed an impenetrable shield around the fighting ground.
Beyond this shimmering wall lay tiers of audience seating filled with thousands of screaming spectators, while the hundred worthy contenders were housed in subterranean holding bays built deep beneath the stadium floor.
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the ultimate test of survival!” the Host’s voice reverberated over the heavy PA system, setting off a deafening roar from the crowd.
“One hundred elite fighters have entered this tournament, but only the strongest will survive!”
The Host floated up on a hover platform, gesturing wildly toward the glowing boundary wall.
“Before we begin, a crucial reminder of the ground rules!” the Host yelled.
“The rules of combat here are brutally absolute! A battle ends under only two conditions: either a player clearly states they wish to ‘abort,’ or they are rendered entirely incapable of speech—whether through loss of consciousness or death! Furthermore, pay close attention to the defensive barrier enclosing the arena! Any player or attack that makes physical contact with the wave shield will trigger an automatic 1,000-volt counter-shock! The shield scales dynamically to the force of the strike, carrying a maximum electrical output of up to one million volts! Exercise extreme caution, combatants! And remember—players are strictly forbidden from fighting outside the main ring. If you choose to fly or get thrown into the perimeter, your safety is entirely your own responsibility!”
The crowds cheered wildly at the high-stakes setup.
“Are you ready for the very first battle of the tournament?!” the Host shouted, pointing dramatically toward the gates.
“Emerging from the right entrance—HUMA! And stepping out from the left—SANDY!”
Above the arena, giant holographic screens flickered to life, displaying detailed readouts of both fighters’ personal statistics, win-loss records, and current power points.
In this ruthless tournament structure, points shifted with every victory or defeat, and any participant who accumulated three total losses faced immediate disqualification from the games.
Sandy walked onto the dirt, her jaw set with determination, while Huma stepped out casually, a smirk playing across her lips.
Both combatants were young women, but their combat styles could not have been more distinct.
“BEGIN!” the Host bellowed.
Without missing a beat, Huma raised a sleek, high-tech weapon attached to her arm.
Concentrated bursts of energy erupted from the barrel, scorching the earth as they rained down on Sandy.
Sandy scrambled frantically, rolling across the dirt and dodging the continuous volley, completely forced onto the back foot.
“This is going to be far too easy for me,” Huma remarked lightly, keeping her posture completely relaxed as she tracked Sandy’s movements.
“You’re underestimating me!” Sandy spat, ducking under another searing energy beam.
Huma tilted her head, her smile cold.
“Underestimate? I don’t even estimate you.”
Anger flashed in Sandy’s eyes.
Gritting her teeth, she channeled her innate power into her upper body.
With a grotesque, muscular expansion, her right arm swelled into a colossal, armored limb equipped with massive, hardened fists.
The sheer weight of the transformed arm cracked the ground beneath her feet.
Deep in the subterranean holding room reserved for elite fighters, the young prodigies known as the Legends watched the live feed on a wall-mounted display.
“Whoa, look at that arm transformation!” Rihasa noted, leaning forward.
Back in the ring, Huma barely batted an eye at Sandy’s transformation.
“Hmm! Now this is slightly more interesting,” she murmured.
Tapping a metallic bracelet on her wrist, Huma activated a secondary sequence.
Sparks danced along the muzzle as it charged in a split second.
Sandy lunged forward, raising her giant fist to crush her opponent.
But before she could bridge the distance, Huma pulled the trigger.
A massive beam of compressed energy detonated directly against Sandy’s chest.
The impact blew Sandy backward, skidding across the dirt before she collapsed flat on her back, completely unconscious.
The stadium went silent for a beat before the announcer broke the quiet.
“WHAT A DEVASTATING FINISH!” the Host screamed into the microphone.
“Huma renders Sandy unconscious in just a matter of minutes! What an absolute display of dominance to open the Death Games!”
High above the roaring stadium floor, perched within an exclusive VIP viewing room, a enigmatic figure named Trace leaned back comfortably, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
Beside him, mysterious entities holding immense power observed the ongoing matches with quiet, analytical interest.
As the hours dragged on, battle after battle took place within the barrier.
Elemental bursts, martial techniques, and high-tech weaponry painted the arena in flashes of blinding light as contender after contender fell.
Finally, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the stained combat floor, the Host stepped back up to the announcer’s podium.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the final battle of today’s roster!” the Host announced, bringing the audience back to a fever pitch.
“Are you ready for the main event?! Stepping into the ring on the left side, we have the world-renowned pro martial artist, KUMAS! And on the right side, a rapidly rising face trending heavily across Site 1 and Site 2—TEZ!”
The crowd burst into a thunderous roar as the two fighters walked out into the stadium light.
“I have a feeling this match is going to be legendary!” the Host shouted.
Kumas rolled his broad shoulders, looking down at his young opponent with a relaxed, almost pitying grin.
“Hey, kid,” Kumas said, stretching his arms.
“Don’t worry too much. I won’t beat you up too badly if you start getting hurt… just say ‘abort’ before things get ugly.”
Tez stood completely motionless, ignoring Kumas’s speech entirely.
His gaze was distant, his mind turning inward as he recalled the intense training he had undergone under his master.
Remember the inner soul, his master’s stern voice echoed through his memories.
Within every warrior lie the Gates of Evolution.
They are structural locks upon your spiritual core.
If you learn to unlock them, you can access stats beyond your natural limits.
Tez remembered his master’s detailed explanation of the first milestone.
Gate 1: Mana Beginning, his master had instructed.
By unsealing this gate, you force your spiritual flow into overdrive.
Your usable mana capacity doubles instantly, boosting your output from a standard 100% to an overwhelming 200% peak state.
Pivoting hard on his rear foot, Kumas snapped a vicious, high-speed Brazilian kick straight toward Tez’s temple.
The kick generated a sharp crack of displaced wind as it whipped through the air.
Tez’s eyes refocused instantly.
With effortless precision, he leaned his head back just enough for the heavy boot to graze the empty air above him.
“Hmm. Okay,” Tez said softly, stepping back into balance.
“If you die, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”
Kumas’s eyes widened in outrage.
“WHAT?!”
“Blaze Fist!” Tez barked.
In an instant, a swirl of fiery energy ignited around Tez’s right hand.
He stepped inside Kumas’s guard before the martial artist could recover his balance and slammed his flame-engulfed fist directly into Kumas’s sternum.
The explosive force shattered the ground beneath them and sent a shockwave through the air.
Kumas was driven flat into the dirt, his eyes rolled back, knocked completely cold in a single blow.
The entire stadium went dead silent.
“W-WHAT?!” the Host yelled, clutching his headset in disbelief.
“WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?! I think this fight just shattered Huma’s speed record! Tez clears the entire battle in under twenty seconds! The crowd is completely stunned—who on earth is this kid?!”
After a moment of absolute shock, the arena erupted into wild, chaotic cheering.
Thousands of fans jumped to their feet, shouting Tez’s name.
Tez smirked, throwing his arms out wide toward the participant balconies as if soaking in the chaotic energy.
“Bring it on, you losers! All of you at once!” he shouted boastfully.
High up in the VIP box, Trace chuckled, a grin crossing his face as he watched Tez’s dramatic display.
Near him, Dark smiled quietly in approval.
Elsewhere in the contestant areas, dozens of elite players glared down at Tez, taking mental notes on his terrifying speed.
“What an idiot!” Sha groaned back in the holding room, placing a hand over his face.
“Why is he going out of his way to make every single player in the tournament our enemy?!”
In another section of the stands, Huma leaned against the railing, her eyes fixed sharply on Tez.
“This is going to be very fun, Tez…” she murmured to herself, a subtle smile touching her lips.
“And that wraps up today’s opening round of battles!” the Host announced as the arena lights began to dim.
“Don’t go anywhere, folks—come back tomorrow for even more incredible entertainment! The Death Games have only just begun!”
TO BE CONTINUED…