The doors of the Sao Coliseum closed behind them with a deep metallic boom.
For a moment, the noise from outside disappeared.
Akira stood still.
The enormous entrance hall stretched farther than he expected, with massive stone pillars rising toward a ceiling that seemed almost impossible to reach. Hundreds of glowing Tao crystals had been embedded into the walls, filling the chamber with a soft blue light while thousands of Hunters moved through the enormous space.
Some spoke quietly. Others laughed. A few were already arguing. The closer they got to the center of the Coliseum, the more powerful the Tao became. Akira could feel it pressing against his skin.
He looked around at the Hunters surrounding them. "...There's a lot of strong people here."
Lorenzo glanced toward him. "You're only realizing that now?"
Akira scratched the back of his head. "I was distracted by the giant statue."
Jackson laughed as he walked ahead of them, his hands tucked into his pockets.
"Don't tell me you think you're going to lose."
Akira looked toward him. "Nah, I think I got them beat."
Sora walked. "Good, we'll probably be separated."
Akira raised his eyebrow. "Huh."
Jackson raised his phone. "Look."
The screen displayed a message from the Hunter Association.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST REMAIN WITHIN THEIR DESIGNATED AREA.
Below it was another message.
THE HUNTER GAMES WILL BEGIN SHORTLY.
Akira stared at the screen for a few seconds. "So you don't think we'll be able to team up."
Sora shook her head. "No." She closed the book she had been carrying throughout the trip and slipped it into her bag. "That's the point."
The group continued forward.
Eventually, the massive hall opened into the center of the Coliseum. Akira stepped through the entrance and stopped, his eyes widened.
The arena was enormous. Far below them stretched a circular battlefield surrounded by countless layers of stone seating. Massive screens floated above the arena, displaying the faces and Hunter Ranks of participants entering the Games.
The seats were packed.
Thousands upon thousands of spectators filled the Coliseum. Some waved flags, others held signs displaying the names of their favorite Hunters. Every cheer echoed against the walls before returning as a distant roar.
Akira looked around slowly. "This is insane..."
A Hunter nearby raised both arms toward the crowd. The audience immediately erupted.
Another Hunter walked past wearing a full suit of black armor, his footsteps heavy enough to echo across the stone floor.
Akira's eyes followed him.
Then another Hunter walked past.
Then another.
Akira slowly smiled.
"...I like this."
Jackson glanced at him.
"You would."
Across the arena, several enormous screens suddenly flickered.
The entire Coliseum began to quiet.
One by one, the conversations died.
The thousands of spectators turned toward the center of the arena.
A large golden symbol appeared across every screen.
The insignia of the Hunter Association.
A voice soon echoed throughout the Coliseum.
"Welcome..."
The voice was calm.
Professional.
Yet somehow loud enough to reach every corner of the arena without effort.
"...Hunters."
The crowd erupted.
Akira felt the vibration of thousands of voices beneath his feet.
The announcer continued.
"Today, one more than a thousand Hunters have gathered in the Sao Kingdom. Too bad only a thousand will be able to join, the hunters who have the highest ranks will get in."
The massive screens changed.
The screens rapidly shifted through the participants.
Akira caught glimpses of dozens of unfamiliar faces.
His own appeared.
AKIRA YAMATO
HUNTER RANK: — 9,345,294
Accepted
Akira clenched his fist.
Akira looked at Scissors; they all nodded at their own acceptance into the Hunter Games.
"Among the one thousand participants..."The screens behind them turned completely black. "...only twenty-one will advance."
The arena became completely silent."Your goal is simple." A countdown appeared across every screen.
21
20
19
"Survive."
Akira stared at the numbers. The countdown continued.
18
17
16
His smile slowly disappeared. The atmosphere had changed.
Every Hunter Card inside the Coliseum suddenly lit up.
Akira's phone vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled it out.
A single message appeared.
JOIN THE HUNTER GAMES?
Two options appeared beneath the message.
YES
NO
Akira stared at the screen. Around him, the other Hunters began receiving the same message.
"...So this is it." His thumb hovered over the screen. He smiled. And pressed Y