Ace's stomach twisted.
Because this wasn't just any game.
It was a game of deception.
–––––––––––
The ground trembled beneath them.
Ace barely had time to react before the massive table in front of him split apart. The stadium rumbled as the deck of cards shattered into light, forming countless tables throughout the arena, enough to seat every player.
Confusion erupted. People shouted, scrambling to find a spot.
The voice returned, cold and mechanical.
[The rules have changed.]
[This is a game of chance, but also fate.]
[Each group will draw from their own deck. The highest-ranking suit will determine their path.]
Ace exchanged a glance with Mia and Liam as they sat at their table. Around them, eight other players settled in, wary but determined.
A new deck appeared in the center. It was smaller, only ten cards. And something about it felt wrong.
The voice continued.
[Draw one card each. The highest-ranking suit determines your destination.]
One by one, the players reached out. Ace's heart pounded as he flipped his card.
Eight of Diamonds.
Mia drew hers. Jack of Diamonds.
Liam's turn. King of Diamonds.
And then…
The last player flipped their card—Ace of Diamonds.
The deck vanished.
A sharp ringing filled the air.
Before anyone could react, light erupted from the table, engulfing them all.
Ace felt his stomach drop as gravity itself seemed to shift. The stadium, the players, the noise—all of it disappeared.
Ace hit the ground hard.
Sand exploded around him as he groaned, pushing himself up. His vision adjusted to the harsh glare of the sun beating down on an endless wasteland. A barren, cracked land stretched in every direction, mountains looming in the distance.
They weren't in the stadium anymore.
Mia coughed beside him. "Where… the hell are we?"
Liam rolled onto his back, cursing. "This isn't part of the arena anymore."
The remaining players from their group stumbled to their feet, looking around in panic. Some were missing. The game had split them all up.
Then—weapons appeared before them.
Floating in midair, gleaming under the sun, each one unique.
Ace watched as a black sword with glowing blue veins hovered toward him, its hilt cold when he grasped it. It was weightless yet powerful.
Mia grabbed hers—a sleek pair of metallic gauntlets, pulsing with red energy.
Liam's weapon? A massive hammer, etched with golden symbols, electricity crackling at its core.
The others received spears, daggers, and even a whip laced with shadows.
The voice echoed once more—except this time, it was different. Deeper. More sinister.
[Welcome to the Desert Land]
[Survive. Or be erased.]
Then, the ground shook.
And from the dunes ahead, something enormous stirred.
A deep, guttural growl vibrated through the wasteland. The sand ahead rippled like water, something massive moving beneath the surface.
Ace tightened his grip on his sword. The air itself felt heavier, charged with an unseen force.
Then—the ground exploded.
A towering creature erupted from the desert, its body a writhing fusion of stone and molten lava. Its head was featureless except for a jagged, glowing mouth that split open, spewing embers into the air.
The Scorch Titan.
Mia swore under her breath. "Fuck! What the hell?! You have got to be kidding me."
Liam spun his hammer in his hands. "Looks like they weren't bluffing about 'SURVIVING'."
The remaining players were frozen in place, staring at the nightmare creature that now surrounded them.
Then—the voice returned.
[The trial begins now.]
[Slay your enemy. Or be slayed.]
The ground shook as the Scorch Titan rose from the desert, its molten body radiating unbearable heat. Cracks of lava ran along its stone-like skin, and every movement sent waves of embers into the air.
Ace staggered back, gripping his sword tightly. The sheer size of the creature was overwhelming—it loomed over them like a walking volcano.
Mia clenched her fists, the red energy pulsing through her gauntlets. "We're supposed to fight that?"
Liam planted his feet, gripping his massive hammer as sparks flickered along its surface. "Looks like we don't have a choice."
The Scorch Titan roared, the air around it igniting into flames. The ground sizzled and cracked beneath its feet. Then, without warning, it raised its molten arm and swung.
Ace barely dodged in time as the impact sent a shockwave through the sand, creating a fiery crater where he had just stood.
"Move!" he shouted.
The remaining players scattered. Some ran for cover behind jagged rock formations, while others stood frozen in fear.
The Titan raised its other arm, lava dripping from its claws, and hurled a fireball straight at them.
Mia reacted fast. She smashed her gauntlets together, generating a pulse of energy that deflected the blast, sending sparks flying.
Ace took a deep breath. No hesitation. No fear.
They had weapons for a reason.
Time to fight.
Ace charged forward, his black sword humming with energy as he closed the distance between himself and the Scorch Titan. The intense heat made it hard to breathe, but he pushed through.
The Titan swung down at him, lava dripping from its massive fist. Ace sidestepped at the last second and slashed at its arm. His blade connected—but barely left a scratch.
Mia darted to the side, using her enhanced gauntlets to punch the ground. A shockwave rippled through the sand, creating a rock barrier just in time to block another incoming fireball.
"This thing is a walking furnace!" she yelled. "We need a plan!"
Liam gritted his teeth, gripping his hammer tightly. "We hit it harder."
He leaped into the air, his hammer crackling with energy. With all his strength, he brought it down onto the Titan's leg.
BOOM!!!
The ground shook violently as the impact sent a shockwave up the Titan's body. Lava burst from the cracks in its stone skin, and for the first time, the Titan let out a pained roar.
Ace's eyes widened. "That worked!"
Liam smirked. "Of course it did."
But the Titan wasn't done. It stomped down hard, sending out a ring of fire that spread rapidly across the sand.
Ace barely had time to react before the heat hit him like a shockwave. He dove to the side, rolling just as a massive lava fissure opened up where he had been standing.
Mia vaulted over the flames, using her gauntlets to launch herself through the air. She landed on the Titan's arm, gripping onto a jagged stone edge.
"I'm going up!" she shouted.
Liam gave her a nod. "We'll keep it distracted!"
Ace took a deep breath, focusing on his sword. He could feel a strange pulse of energy within it, like it was reacting to the fight.
Maybe… just maybe… It wasn't just an ordinary sword.
He tightened his grip.
"Time to find out."