The chamber tightened.
Tension snapping into place instantly.
—
Some faces hardened.
Others paled.
—
Because this—
Was different.
—
Beasts were predictable.
—
People—
Were not.
—
Draven's expression didn't change.
—
If anything—
His eyes sharpened slightly.
—
Interest.
—
Just a little.
—
The voice continued.
Almost pleased.
"Of course…"
"…you are not required to fight."
—
A beat.
—
"But only a limited number of teams…"
"…will advance."
—
There it was.
—
Choice.
—
Or the illusion of one.
—
"Survive…"
"…by any means necessary."
—
The light beneath them began to intensify again.
—
"Round Three…"
—
A pause.
—
"…begins shortly."
—
Draven exhaled once.
Slow.
—
Then spoke.
Quiet.
Flat.
—
"…Good."
—
The boy glanced at him.
"…Good…?"
—
Draven's gaze lingered on the others.
Watching.
Measuring.
—
"…Less running."
—
The boy frowned slightly.
"…Good…?"
—
Draven didn't answer immediately.
His eyes moved across the chamber—
Across the wounded.
The shaken.
The ones already avoiding his gaze.
—
*The more that die…*
A faint pause.
*…the faster this ends.*
—
Simple.
Efficient.
—
Above—
The orb pulsed once.
As if catching that shift.
—
Then—
The voice returned.
Smooth.
Amused.
"Ahh… such enthusiasm."
—
A faint chuckle echoed.
"But before we begin…"
A pause.
"Let's make things a little more… balanced."
—
The chamber stilled.
Attention snapping back instantly.
—
"After all…"
"…not every team returned whole."
—
A few glances shifted.
Subtle.
Toward incomplete groups.
Toward the ones missing members.
—
The boy's jaw tightened slightly.
"…Yeah…"
Low.
"…like us."
—
The fox girl didn't speak.
But her ears angled slightly upward—
Listening.
—
Draven remained still.
—
The voice continued.
Calm.
Measured.
"So, to keep things… fair…"
A faint hum followed.
—
"We will be lifting the mana restriction…"
A pause.
Deliberate.
—
"…for one member…"
"…of each team."
—
Silence.
—
Then—
It broke.
—
"…What—?!"
"…Mana—?"
"…You're serious—?!"
—
The reaction was instant.
Sharp.
Uncontrolled.
—
Because this—
Changed everything.
—
The boy's eyes widened.
"…One person…?"
—
The fox girl's gaze sharpened instantly.
"…That's not balance…"
Quiet.
Focused.
"…That's a weapon."
—
Draven didn't react outwardly.
But his eyes—
Shifted.
Just slightly.
—
Interest.
—
The voice continued.
Almost pleased with the reaction.
"Each team…"
"…will choose one representative."
—
A pause.
—
"That individual…"
"…will regain full access to their mana."
—
Another pause.
Longer.
Heavier.
—
"And as you can imagine…"
A faint chuckle slipped through.
—
"…that choice…"
"…will determine your survival."
—
Silence dropped again.
—
This time—
Heavier.
—
Because now—
It wasn't just about enemies.
—
It was about **who you trusted with power.**
—
The boy swallowed.
Hard.
His gaze flicked—
To Draven.
Then away.
Then back again.
—
"…We don't even need to think about this, right…?"
Low.
Careful.
—
The fox girl didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes stayed on Draven.
Studying.
—
Because this—
Was obvious.
—
And yet—
Not simple.
—
Mana.
—
If he already fought like *that* without it—
—
What would he be—
With it?
—
Draven finally moved.
Just slightly.
—
His gaze shifted—
Not to them—
But to the other teams.
—
Watching.
—
Because he already understood something they didn't.
—
This wasn't just a boost.
—
It was bait.
—
A way to create **kings…**
—
So others would try to kill them.
—
The voice spoke again.
Soft.
Final.
—
"You have a short time to decide."
—
"Choose wisely."
—
The glow beneath their feet dimmed slightly—
Holding.
Waiting.
—
The boy exhaled slowly.
"…It's you."
Flat.
Certain.
—
A faint pause.
—
"…It has to be."
—
The fox girl finally spoke.
Quiet.
Controlled.
—
"…Before we decide…"
A small shift of her gaze.
—
"…we should think."
—
The boy frowned.
"…Think about what?"
—
Her eyes didn't leave Draven.
—
"…What happens after he gets it."
—
Silence.
—
Because that—
Was the real question.
—
Not strength.
—
But consequence.
—
Draven finally looked at them.
—
Calm.
Unreadable.
—
The silence lingered.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
—
"…Don't overthink it."
Flat.
—
The boy blinked.
"…What?"
—
Draven didn't even look at him.
His gaze had already shifted—
Back to the chamber.
To the other teams.
To the ones already arguing.
Already breaking.
—
"…Pick anyone."
—
The words dropped casually.
Like it didn't matter.
—
The boy froze.
"…Huh—?"
—
The fox girl's ears twitched sharply.
Her eyes snapped to him.
"…What did you just say?"
—
Draven's chains gave a soft **clink** as he adjusted his stance.
Unbothered.
—
"I'm not interested."
—
Silence.
—
For a second—
Neither of them processed it.
—
"…You're joking."
The boy's voice came out tight.
"…Right?"
—
Draven didn't answer.
—
Because to him—
There was nothing to explain.
—
The fox girl studied him.
Carefully.
Longer than before.
—
"…Mana would make you stronger."
She said it plainly.
Not questioning.
Stating fact.
—
A faint pause.
—
"…You'd be the strongest one here."
—
Draven's gaze didn't shift.
—
"…Same thing."
—
The words weren't loud.
Weren't aggressive.
—
Just—
Certain.
—
The boy's mouth opened slightly—
Then closed.
—
Because there was no arrogance in it.
No pride.
—
Just truth.
—
"…This is crazy…"
He muttered under his breath.
—
Behind them—
The man quickly held out his hands.
Still stained with blood—
But now holding several glowing crystals.
—
"…T-the ones from the bears…"
"…I kept them…"
—
A pause.
—
"…For you."
—
The boy glanced at him.
Surprised.
—
The fox girl didn't react.
But she noticed.
—
Draven turned slightly.
Just enough to look.
—
Then reached out—
And took them.
No hesitation.
—
No thanks.
—
Just took them.
—
His gaze dropped briefly to the crystals—
Then—
Without a word—
He raised his hand—
And tossed them into his mouth.
—
**Crunch.**
—
The sound echoed.
—
The man flinched.
Instinctively.
—
The boy's expression tightened.
"…You really just—"
—
Draven swallowed.
Calm.
Unbothered.
—
Then looked away again.
Like it meant nothing.
—
Silence lingered for a moment.
—
Then—
The fox girl spoke.
Calm.
Focused.
—
"…Then we decide."
—
Her gaze shifted between them.
—
"…The three of us."
—
The boy exhaled.
"…Yeah…"
Still glancing at Draven.
"…Guess we don't have a choice."
—
She nodded slightly.
—
Then looked at the man.
—
"…Your level?"
—
The man straightened instinctively.
"…I—I'm a two-star mana user."
—
A pause.
—
"…Mostly reinforcement…"
—
The fox girl nodded once.
Then turned—
To the boy.
—
"…And you?"
—
The boy scratched the back of his neck slightly.
A bit annoyed.
—
"…I don't use stars."
—
A faint pause.
—
"…I've got a mana pool."
—
The man blinked.
"…A-what…?"
—
The fox girl's eyes sharpened slightly.
Interest.
—
"…So you're not trained in the system."
—
The boy shrugged.
"…Something like that."
A faint pause.
—
"…I just use it."
—
Silence settled again.