The arena walls exploded outward. Massive sections of stone crumbled and fell away, revealing enormous iron cages hidden behind them.
And what were inside those cages made Ben's blood run cold.
There were Beasts. Gigantic and monstrous, nightmarish beasts.
One looked like a cross between a bear and a scorpion, with six legs and a segmented tail dripping something like venom. Its eyes glowed red, and its mouth was lined with rows of jagged teeth.
Another was reptilian, covered in black scales, with wings too small for its body and a head that split open vertically to reveal three massive tongues.
A third was something Ben couldn't even name. It looked like a mass of writhing limbs and eyes and mouths, pulsing like a living tumor.
The cages opened and the beasts roared. Then they charged towards the arena filled with participants and everyone including the audience, screamed with horror.
The creatures tore into the arena and Ben watched as one of the bear-scorpion things grabbed one of the participants, the fairy looking minotaur, by the waist, lifted it up and took a big bite clean in half while piercing it's venomous Scorpion tail into it's back.
Blood splashed everywhere. The man's legs kicked once, he was shaking, and then it went limp, the beast tossed him aside, then ran towards the still body, picked it up and devoured it.
Another beast, something with too many arms and a face like a lamprey, grabbed another participant by the hands and legs, and pulled them apart, tearing the creature in half. It let out a loud horrifying death scream.
The reptilian beast swooped down and snatched someone mid-run, lifting them into the air before dropping them onto the ground. The impact made a sound that made the audience gasp before cheering.
The remaining participants were running and screaming. There was chaos everywhere.
And then, Ben saw it. The Green lights flickered and lit up at several sections of the arena. All separated from each other.
Patches of the arena floor were glowing faintly green, scattered across the sand like small mini islands.
The participants were sprinting toward them, doing the exact funny chicken dance he had done earlier that everyone made fun of. They were shoving each other out of the way, desperate to reach the light. The crowd exploded with laughter and cheered for the successful participants who made it in.
But Ben noticed something that the system didn't explain earlier. And now he understood why it was asking him to hurriedly find one of the green-lit areas and step into it.
Each step they took while performing the dance, lit up green. When they went out of step, it showed red and the green-lit area was no longer visible.
Ping.
< I told you didn't I >
Ben was speechless. If he hadn't trusted his system, he would have been dinner for one of those ruthless beasts, or lunch since the sun was still up.
And to his surprise, the beasts were avoiding the green areas too. Ben's heart pounded. 'Was he safe? Was he...'
He looked down at his feet. "Shit!" He wasn't in one yet. He was still standing just outside one of the glowing patches. He lifted a foot up when he heard something.
He turned. One of the beasts suddenly stopped charging towards his direction. It snarled and increased it's pace.
Ben screamed and dove forward into the green-lit area just as the beast came running with full charge and slammed into an invisible barrier.
He caught his breath.
The impact was like the sound of thunder and the creature recoiled, try to claw at the invisible barrier but it couldn't get through.
The green light flared brighter, forming a dome around Ben. The sight of the beast was so terrifying that Ben felt he might pee in his pants.
He collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air, his whole body shaking as he watched this determined creature trying to break past the invisible barrier to reach him and possibly devour his flesh in seconds.
After several failed attempts, it eyed him and ran away, charging at another target. Ben was trying to catch his breath when he heard his system.
Ping!
< Congratulations >
Ben looked up at the screen. His eyes wide from fear of what could have happened had he not entered this 'safe zone' on time.
< You've survived the Blood Reaping Prologue >
Ben's mouth fell open. "What do you mean...prologue?" He asked. 'This can't all be a 'prologue' can it?' he thought.
< The main event of the Blood Reaping is known as a prologue >
"Hold on. Hold on! Hold the fuck on."
< Ben, >
"I thought you said a thousand enter and only ten leave and emerge as victors! Only ten people succeed, Yes?"
< Yes, and move on to the next level >
< This was just the offering >
Ben's stomach dropped.
< It's like a sacred blood sacrifice to the new gods to sanctify the contest and receive their blessings >
"What? And you're just telling me now?"
< I'm sorry >
< I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, Ben >
The system's words felt heavy. Almost as if it was.... sad. "But still," Ben was short of words.
< Ben, the real contest hasn't started yet >
Ben stared at the screen. His chest was tight.
< But I promise >
< It's much worse that what you've witnessed >
Ben was dumbfounded.
< But, I'll be with you >
< Until the end >
< The very end >
Ben opened his mouth to respond and suddenly a hand clamped over him from behind. His eyes went wide. Before he could react or throw a punch, a sack was pulled over his head and everything went dark.
Ben tried to scream but failed. He tried kicking, but the strong arms, he felt about four of them, pinned him down. He felt a sharp prick in his neck and cold liquid flood through his veins. His vision blurred gradually and soon, he collapsed.
The masked men looked up and eyed the witch. She smiled and nodded at them.
Then they took Ben away.