Previous Chapter Reminder =
In the previous chapter, we saw Manu and Nyra meeting Om. He didn't directly reveal anything about the Reset Button, but he left behind a hint through a song. After that, everyone arrived at the tournament stadium.
NOW NEXT...
Manu (thought) = Om is suspicious. He didn't sing that song without a reason. Was he trying to tell us something?... Manu, you're overthinking again.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Thousands of students were gathered inside the stadium.
But today felt different.
No cheering.
No excitement.
No confidence.
Everyone looked serious.
As if they already knew that many people would be eliminated today.
A giant screen suddenly appeared in the sky.
Golden letters shined across it.
[FINAL ROUND ACTIVATED]
[KING'S HUNT]
The entire stadium fell silent.
Then a mechanical voice echoed through the air.
---
SYSTEM VOICE =
The rules are simple.
Each team will be assigned a King.
King alive = Team alive.
King dead = Team eliminated.
Protect your King.
Hunt enemy Kings.
The last surviving King wins.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
The moment the announcement ended, tension spread throughout the stadium.
Falcon Team was no exception.
Everyone looked at each other.
Then a red light descended upon Falcon Team.
---
SYSTEM VOICE =
King Selected.
Falcon Team King = Manu.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Manu froze.
Nyra froze.
Darius froze.
Even Elira's mouth remained open.
---
Elira Windmark =
WHAT?!
Is this system insane?!
---
Darius =
We're all going to die.
---
Lyra =
Darius!
---
Darius =
I'm just being honest.
If this were a survival competition, I could trust him.
If it were a hiding competition, maybe.
But King?!
He's going to become everyone's first target.
---
Manu =
Thank you, my friend.
You've really boosted my confidence.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Suddenly, the center of the stadium began to crack apart.
The entire battlefield emerged.
Mountains.
Forests.
Rivers.
Ruins.
Underground tunnels.
Everything was being generated inside a single gigantic map.
It looked like the final stage of a video game boss fight.
---
SYSTEM VOICE =
Map Generated.
Timer = 48 Hours.
Good Luck, Challengers.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Every team immediately started moving.
Some headed toward the forests.
Others toward the mountains.
Some rushed into the ruins.
Only Falcon Team remained standing in place.
---
Nyra =
Manu.
Decision.
Now.
---
Manu =
We're running.
---
Elira =
WHAT?!
---
Manu =
This is King's Hunt.
What will everyone expect?
That the King will defend himself.
Hide.
Build a fortress.
Stay protected behind bodyguards.
Correct?
---
Nyra =
Continue.
---
Manu =
Then we're not doing any of that.
---
Darius =
I think his brain damage got worse.
---
Manu =
If the enemy wants to hunt me...
They first need to find me.
And if they want to find me...
I can't be where they expect me to be.
If you still don't understand, then just remember one thing.
You need to think outside the box.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Nyra stared at Manu for several seconds.
Then she remembered Om's words.
«"If power is everything, then you never deserved power."»
---
Nyra (thought) =
He's doing it again.
Everyone thinks in a straight line.
He thinks upside down.
Like some mad scientist.
---
Manu =
Look at the map.
I want to go to the most dangerous location.
---
Elira =
The most dangerous location?!
Do you want to hide or commit suicide?
---
Manu =
Those are two completely different things.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
At that moment, a black mark flashed on one corner of the map.
Above it were the words:
[FORBIDDEN REGION]
[SURVIVAL CHANCE: 3%]
---
Manu =
Perfect.
That's where I'm going.
---
Darius =
I think he's officially insane.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
But Manu was smiling.
That dangerous smile.
The same smile that usually appeared right before disaster struck.
And at the highest tower of the stadium...
Someone was watching him.
---
??? =
Interesting...
So you've finally started moving.
Let's see...
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Manu still had no idea...
That King's Hunt wasn't just the final round of the tournament.
It was the beginning of another game entirely.
On the other side of the map, a woman stood silently.
One of her subordinates approached her.
---
Subordinate =
Eira...
What should we do now?
---
COMING SOON...
Hello, my dear friendly bears.
Please don't ask why chapter uploads have become slower.
I already know.
I used to upload two or three chapters a week.
Now it's only one.
The reasons are simple.
Reason 1 = I often get stuck while writing and don't know what to write next.
And yes... my lazy nature doesn't help either.
Reason 2 = There are many issues happening in my family right now.
Honestly, I barely have enough time to sleep properly.
And one more thing...
I have a new book idea.
It won't be a long-running series.
It's more like a movie-style story.
I'm working on that too.
I would appreciate your support for it.
And if anything feels confusing in future chapters, don't ignore it.
Ask in the comments.
Because this story is actually based on one of my dreams.
With only a few changes.
What was the real meaning behind Om's song?
Comment below and tell me which part made you the most curious.
And brothers...
If you're enjoying the story...
Don't forget to throw a Power Stone.
The red one...