Bzzt.
The sound of static buzzed in my ears as the scenery shifted.
When the blur faded, I found myself standing in the enormous stadium from the third game.
"Ack! Here again? Shorty! Help!" I spun around, scanning the area for Isaac. No reply.
"Hmm? Shorty? Didn't you hear—" My voice trailed off as I finally noticed. Only four other children were with me. No Rona. No Ronald. No Isaac.
"Huh? Guys? Where are you all?"
Panic surged through me. My eyes darted left and right, searching for any familiar faces. The stadium remained cold and indifferent. A vast, empty coliseum with no answers.
We were separated? Why? Was this planned?
Suddenly, a calm, almost soothing voice echoed from above.
"Oh my... Looks like Munchy will be having a feast tonight. How nice."
I snapped my head upward and saw her. Floating effortlessly above us—an ethereal girl with long, flowing blonde hair, cascading like sunlight, and pristine white wings flapping slowly behind her. Her smile was as dazzling as a divine blessing. The way she sparkled mid-air made her seem almost celestial.
Ouish! She's so beautiful… Like a real angel! I thought, entranced. But then, a creeping thought slithered in.
Wait. Wings? Do humans normally have wings?
I touched my back just to be sure. Nope. Still human. I checked the other kids too. None of them had wings.
So she's different... or something else.
The so-called angel finally stopped mid-air and beamed down at us.
"Hello, dear meat—I mean, beloved children. My name is Angel. Welcome to The Feast—a place where those not chosen by the 10 Masters will be... well, eaten by my little puppy, Munchy."
She giggled sweetly, like she'd just complimented our outfits and not sentenced us to death. Behind her, the bars of a massive cage rattled.
I turned slowly to look.
From inside, a guttural growl rolled across the floor, shaking dust off the stones.
That cage… It's enormous. Why would they need a cage that big? Unless… the photo Mr. James showed us was old. Very old.
BANG!
The metal bars groaned as something slammed into them with earth-shattering force.
The children screamed. I stepped back instinctively.
"Wow! Munchy is huge!" I muttered, eyes wide.
Again and again, the beast threw itself against the bars. The sharp sound of clashing metal echoed in our ears like war drums. One child wet their pants. Another collapsed in sobs. I couldn't take my eyes off the cage. The shadow inside was too big. Too fast. Too wrong.
Angel, meanwhile, watched with a sparkle in her eyes.
She's starstruck… by that?
Whoever named her Angel needs a full mental evaluation.
She clapped her hands cheerfully.
"If you wish not to be eaten by Munchy, I suppose I'll give you all a chance."
She turned her gaze left.
We followed it.
Behind a translucent red curtain, ten shadowy silhouettes watched. Unmoving. Silent.
The 10 Masters... they're watching too?
My pulse quickened. Their presence was suffocating—even behind the veil.
Angel grinned, her smile stretching unnaturally.
'A trap. This is definitely a trap.'
Every memory of Mr. James's twisted games came rushing back. His crooked grin. His "accidental" death traps.
Ouiiiiii. This is a trap. That smile alone is enough evidence. Either she's related to James, or this place really breeds psychos like roaches.
Angel clapped again and declared, "Okay! Now, who wants to start first? How about—"
"Please allow me to go first, Ms. Angel!" a boy's loud voice interrupted her, hand shooting up like a missile.
Angel's expression shifted like someone stepped on her mood. A beautiful, radiant angel seconds ago... now she looked like she just sniffed a rotting carcass.
"...Alright. You may. Please present your points in two minutes."
Oof. Mood swing level: catastrophic.
The boy beamed. "Only two minutes? Why not an hour? No—an hour's not enough. I could go on for days—"
"Starting now," Angel cut him off with a snap.
Oui. He's going to die. He's really going to die.
Unfazed, the boy cleared his throat, turned to the Masters, and began.
"Greetings to the 10 Masters who graced us all with your magnificent presence. I, Mason, am a humble child who has zero knowledge and skills. My only advantage is my skill to observe and analyze the situation at hand. Even my friends at school all agree. Although I lack in many aspects, I have no doubt that once I'm taught properly, I can become the hands and feet of my Master. I will serve them with utmost loyalty."
He finished with a bow and a wide smile.
Oui... He'd make a good conman someday. That was smooth. Too smooth.
I glanced at Angel.
She was clenching her fists behind her back.
Yup. She really hates being interrupted.
Angel forced a sweet smile and clapped slowly. "Well, now that Mason has provided his speech blabbering, it's time for the Masters to vote."
Blabbering, huh? I think she accidentally swapped her speech and thought bubbles around.
Angel floated toward the Masters, nodded at their verdict, then returned.
"Congratulations! It looks like Mason has gotten himself a Master. Please exit through the door behind you. Someone will escort you."
Mason bolted to the door, trying not to look too pleased. The children stared at him, silent and hollow-eyed.
I narrowed mine at Angel.
Something's off. A few minutes ago she was steaming like a kettle. Now she's all cheery angel again?
She turned to us.
"Now, who's next?"
Three children immediately raised their hands, shouting over one another. "Me! Me! Pick me!"
Fists began flying as they devolved into a full-on brawl.
I took a few steps back, quietly slipping out of the danger zone.
This is just sad.
Angel, on the other hand, looked like she was watching the finale of her favorite show. She hovered higher, grinning ear-to-ear.
Then she locked eyes with me.
"Are you not interested in being a disciple of the 10 Masters?"
The other kids stopped. Their gazes turned to me, rabid and bloodthirsty.
I waved my hands furiously. "Nope! Not interested at all!"
The brawl resumed instantly.
I exhaled in relief. 'Thank goodness they're that easy to distract…'
Angel floated behind me, her breath close.
"So you are interested."
I jumped and spun around. "I already said no." I crossed my arms in a big X.
She frowned. "Why not? It's a privilege."
"No thanks. I'd rather face Munchy."
Her eye twitched.
She floated away silently.
Huh? That face… She didn't like that.
Curious, I turned to the massive cage.
Maybe there's something important in there.
I stepped forward cautiously and peered inside.
Empty.
The monstrous aura from before—gone.
"...Where's Munchy?"
I walked through the iron bars. No signs of blood, no scratches, no scent. Just an eerie silence.
Then—glint.
Something shiny on the floor.
I picked it up.
It looked like some kind of remote or device.
A red button.
Huh. If only Iz or Isaac were here. They'd love this stuff.
I pressed the red button.
Nothing happened.
"Meh."
I turned to walk out, then paused.
I saw another button on the ground.
This time it was blue.
...Suspicious, but okay.
I picked it up and casually pressed the blue button.
A snap echoed.
Then—
"MONSTER!"
The children screamed in unison, pointing behind me.
I blinked.
"...Uh-oh."
Me and my itchy hands.