The lights in the rest area were dim, casting long shadows on the metallic floor. One by one, the participants exited the fog-filled battlefield, their clothes torn, their breaths heavy. Yet in their eyes burned the same unyielding fire — the desire to survive, to prove themselves worthy of being heroes.
Sohan stepped into the room slowly, a bandage now wrapped around his bleeding shoulder. Despite the pain, a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
This test wasn't just about strength. It was about fear, instinct... and growth.
"You did well," a soft voice said beside him.
Sohan turned.
It was Neira, the girl with the daggers and illusions. Her black cloak was scorched at the edges, and a thin trail of dried blood stained her sleeve. But her gaze was calm, focused.
"So did you," Sohan replied. "Honestly, you scared me with those dagger illusions."
Neira gave a faint smile. "Fear is good. It means you're still alive."
Other examinees began trickling in. Some limping. Some silent. Others visibly proud.
Sohan's eyes, however, were drawn to one girl sitting quietly in the corner.
She had long, wavy hair, a slim frame, and an oddly still aura — as if she belonged to a different world.
"Who's she?" he asked Neira.
Neira glanced at the girl. "Her name's Tisha. Rumor says she can create a mental world — like a realm inside her mind that pulls people in."
"Pulls them in?" Sohan raised an eyebrow.
Neira shrugged. "No one really knows how it works. She doesn't talk much. But from what I've heard… her willpower is extremely low. She can't fully control her ability."
Sohan walked toward her.
Tisha sat with her hands folded, her gaze fixed on the floor. She didn't even glance up when he approached.
"Hey," Sohan said gently, crouching beside her. "You okay?"
Tisha slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were clear, but hollow — as if they'd seen too much and felt too little.
"I lost my match," she whispered. "But… they still pushed me to the next round. I don't know why."
Her voice was soft, distant, filled with confusion and something darker — guilt, perhaps?
"I heard about your power," Sohan said. "You can pull people into your own world, right?"
Tisha nodded slightly. "It's not a world I made. It just exists… inside me. A realm of silence. A prison. I don't want to trap anyone there. But when I lose control… they get stuck. And they don't come back the same."
Sohan paused. There was no arrogance in her voice. Only pain.
She's scared of her own power… not because it's weak, but because it hurts others.
Before he could speak again, the screen above them lit up. The voice of Instructor Miran filled the room.
"The next round will begin in one hour. The list of selected candidates is displayed above."
Sohan looked up.
His name was there.
And just below his—
Tisha M.
He turned to her. She had seen it too.
"You made it," he smiled.
Tisha's expression didn't change.
She looked at him, her voice barely a breath.
"Are you… afraid of me?"
Sohan chuckled. "If you ever trap me in your world, just make sure there's tea."
For a moment, the corners of Tisha's lips curled.
Her first smile.
---
Elsewhere… In a Room Cloaked in Darkness
"She made it to the next round?" a cold voice asked.
"Yes," another answered. "Just as you predicted, Devil."
The speaker stood behind a silver chair, where a man in shadows leaned forward. His eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
"She doesn't know we're watching her," Devil said. "Good. Keep it that way."
The other figure bowed. "But… there's another. A boy named Sohan. He's growing fast."
Devil's eyes narrowed.
"If he becomes a threat… I'll deal with him myself."
---
Back at the Arena
Sohan stretched his arms and leaned against the wall. His body ached. His mind was exhausted.
Still, he smiled.
Each test, each fight… was shaping him. Not just into a stronger fighter, but into someone who believed in himself.
Somewhere across the room, Rakib stood with arms crossed, grinning confidently. Sharif leaned against the wall, his massive frame still like a statue. Rajib quietly sharpened a dagger under the dim lights.
And now, Tisha had joined them.
Four out of seven. The bonds were forming.
Sohan didn't know that in the shadows of the world, a brother lost to darkness was watching.
He didn't know that his own blood would one day rise against him.
But for now… he was still just a boy with a dream.
A dream that burned brighter with every battle.
---