The gate opened.
A deep, grinding sound echoed through the arena as ancient stone shifted against stone. The glowing symbols carved into its surface flickered, then burned brighter.
The air changed.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Every soul around me went silent.
Focused.
Watching.
My heartbeat grew louder in my ears.
"What… is this?" I asked, my voice low.
The man beside me didn't look at me.
"Your first trial," he said.
Before I could ask anything else—
A force pulled at my body.
Suddenly—
The ground beneath me vanished.
My vision blurred.
And in the next moment—
I was somewhere else.
The space around me was different.
Circular.
Like a battlefield.
The ground was cracked stone, marked with deep scars from countless fights. The darkness still surrounded everything, but now it felt contained—like I was inside something.
An arena.
I stood alone.
At least… for a second.
Then—
A figure appeared across from me.
It didn't walk in.
It formed.
Like smoke gathering into shape.
My chest tightened.
The figure slowly became clear.
A boy.
Around my age.
Normal clothes.
Human.
But his eyes—
Empty.
Cold.
He looked at me without emotion.
A voice echoed through the space.
Not from him.
Not from me.
From everywhere.
"Trial 1: Survival."
My breath caught.
"Two souls enter."
The boy took a step forward.
"One continues."
My heart skipped.
"What…?"
The voice faded.
Silence returned.
But this silence was different.
This time—
It was filled with danger.
The boy in front of me spoke.
"You're new."
His voice was flat.
Like he didn't care.
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
My mind was still trying to process everything.
"This is your first fight, isn't it?" he continued.
I nodded slightly.
He exhaled.
Almost… bored.
"Then you'll die fast."
The words hit harder than I expected.
Fear rose inside me.
But something else followed it.
Resistance.
"I'm not planning to die," I said.
For the first time—
His expression changed slightly.
Not impressed.
Just… interested.
"We'll see."
And then—
He moved.
Fast.
I barely had time to react.
His body rushed forward, his fist already coming toward my face.
Instinct took over.
I stepped back.
Too slow.
His fist grazed my cheek.
Pain shot through my face.
I stumbled.
He didn't stop.
Another strike.
This time—
I blocked.
Barely.
The impact shook my arm.
He was strong.
Stronger than me.
"You don't even know how to fight," he said calmly.
I clenched my teeth.
"I'll learn."
"Not here."
He attacked again.
Faster.
Sharper.
I tried to react, but everything felt off. My movements were slow. My body didn't respond the way I wanted.
Another hit.
This time to my stomach.
The air left my lungs.
I dropped to one knee.
Pain spread through my body.
"Get up," he said.
I didn't move.
"Or it ends now."
My vision blurred.
If you can't fight… you won't exist.
His voice echoed in my mind.
That man.
The warning.
I forced myself up.
My legs trembled.
But I stood.
The boy watched me.
Silent.
Waiting.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked suddenly.
He frowned slightly.
"I'm not."
"Then why didn't you finish it?"
For a moment—
He didn't answer.
Then he said—
"Because I want to see how long you last."
Not kindness.
Not mercy.
Just curiosity.
That somehow felt worse.
He stepped forward again.
"This time," he said, "don't just stand there."
My heart pounded.
He attacked.
But this time—
I focused.
Not on his speed.
Not on his strength.
On his movement.
His shoulder shifted first.
Then his arm.
I saw it.
Just for a second—
But I saw it.
I moved.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
His attack missed.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Good."
I didn't stop.
I stepped forward.
And threw a punch.
Weak.
Untrained.
But real.
It landed.
He staggered back slightly.
For the first time—
He smiled.
"Now you're fighting."
My breathing became heavier.
My body hurt.
But something inside me changed.
Fear didn't disappear.
But it wasn't controlling me anymore.
The arena around us seemed to react.
The ground vibrated slightly.
The air tightened.
The fight had begun.
For real.