Author's Note: Do Not Unlock Yet
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Aleman narrowed his eyes.
"I don't care. If I'm doing this, we do it my way. That ans no torture, no experints, no treating him like so goddamn test subject."
The two n stared each other down.
Finally, Wright sighed.
"Fine. He'll be placed in a safe facility. No harm will co to him. You have my word."
Aleman turned back to Renji.
"You'll be okay now."
The kid's eyes shimred with hope for the first ti.
"Thank you…" he whispered.
Aleman nodded once, then took a step back.
Renji was led away by gentler officers this ti, ones that weren't ready to beat him at the first sign of resistance.
Aleman watched him go.
Another victim of this insane world.
Another reason to fight.
Detective Wright smirked slightly beside him.
"You know, you might actually make a decent leader."
Aleman exhaled.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
But deep down, he knew—
He had already made his decision.
The war against Oni wasn't over.
And this ti, he wouldn't fight alone.
---
--ss
A Race Against Ti
The city lights blurred past as August's Lamborghini raced down the streets, engine roaring as he pushed the car to its absolute limits.
He was late.
The tournant had already begun.
If he didn't log into Enders Light before the registration window closed, he'd lose his chance to compete.
Derrick was safe. That part was done.
But now?
Now, he needed to be in that tournant.
The tournant was only held once every few years in Enders Light. If he missed this, it would be a lost opportunity like no other.
He swerved onto his street, tires screeching, and barely parked before leaping out of the car.
No ti.
He bolted up the stairs, flung his apartnt door open, and dove into his gaming pod.
The mont he lay back, the system activated.
[ Logging into Enders Light… ]
His vision flickered to black.
---
At the Tournant Venue – The Azure Dominion
Far from Tagharium, in the prestigious Azure Dominion, the Grand Colosseum stood tall—a majestic, floating structure that towered over the kingdom.
The air buzzed with anticipation, banners flapping in the wind as thousands of players and NPCs gathered to witness the battles to co.
Inside, near the registration hall, Lilo, Boris, Ezran, and Gregarious stood together, their party of five waiting for the sixth and final mber—Aleman.
Next to them, Reiner, a heavily armored warrior with a cocky smirk, folded his arms.
"He's not gonna make it," Reiner scoffed. "I say we find soone else before it's too late."
Lilo shot him a sharp glare.
"Shut up, Reiner. He'll make it."
Reiner rolled his eyes.
"Face reality, sweetheart. We've got less than two minutes before registration closes. He's not here. Do you really wanna risk our slot for a guy who can't even show up on ti?"
Boris cracked his knuckles.
"Careful how you talk about Aleman."
Reiner smirked. "Or what? You'll punch ? Big deal. It won't change the fact that your golden boy is a no-show."
Ezran checked the holographic countdown tir above the entrance.
[ Tournant Registration Closing in 1 Minute 30 Seconds ]
His expression tightened.
"I hate to say it, but we need to decide now. If Aleman doesn't make it in ti, we'll be disqualified."
Gregarious threw his hands in the air.
"I refuse to believe he won't make it! He is Lord Aleman! He thrives in dramatic last-second entrances! Have faith, my friends!"
Reiner let out a mocking laugh.
"Faith? In what? A guy who ghosts his own team?"
Lilo's fists clenched.
Boris was about five seconds away from decking him.
Ezran exhaled, preparing for the worst.
Then—
A golden pulse erupted in the air above them.
The crowd gasped.
A figure materialized from thin air, cloaked in a gust of wind and crackling with electric energy.
He landed in a crouch, the impact causing a small shockwave.
When the dust settled, there stood Aleman.
His dark assassin cloak billowed behind him, his helt reflecting the stunned expressions around him.
"Told you I'd make it."
---
The Last-Second Entrance
Lilo exhaled. "You dramatic asshole. You nearly gave a heart attack."
Boris grinned, slapping Aleman's back.
"Cutting it close there, man."
Ezran crossed his arms. "We had about thirty seconds left. What the hell happened?"
Aleman smirked under his helt.
"Had so… unexpected business to take care of."
Reiner scowled.
"Oh, look who decided to show up."
Aleman turned his head slightly.
"And you are?"
Reiner scoffed.
"I'm the guy who was about to replace you."
Aleman chuckled.
"Sha. Would've been a waste of a slot."
Reiner's face twitched with irritation.
Before the argunt could continue, a deep, booming voice filled the Colosseum.
"TOURNANT REGISTRATION COMPLETE! COMPETITORS, PREPARE YOURSELVES!"
The Grand Colosseum gates swung open, revealing a massive battlefield inside.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Lilo smirked, flipping her dagger in her hand.
"Well, boys… looks like it's ti to put on a show."
Aleman stepped forward, eyes locked on the arena.
"Let's win this thing."
---sss
The First Challenge – A Battle for Space
The roar of the Colosseum faded as the competitors entered the massive floating arena, their boots clanking against the stone floor.
Before them, countless circular platforms hovered in the air, each about thirty feet in diater.
A voice bood across the battlefield.
"THE FIRST CHALLENGE—SURVIVAL!"
A holographic ssage appeared in front of each player.
---
[ Tournant Rule: Register Your Five Skills ]
[ Select ONLY FIVE abilities for the entirety of the tournant. Choose wisely. ]
---
Aleman's eyes flicked over his available skills.
He had to be smart. Only five.
He quickly selected:
1. Phantom Blitz (Teleportation for speed & evasion)
2. Thunder Spear (His most powerful offensive ability)
3. Telekinetic Grip (A spell he had mastered recently, perfect for battlefield control)
4. Perfect Veil (His invisibility ability, ideal for last-second survival)
5. Shadow Dagger Throw (A long-range skill for taking out opponents from a distance)
The system locked in his choices.
The mont the tir hit zero, the rules of the first challenge appeared.
---
[ Objective: Stay on the platform. ]
[ Warning: The platform will continuously shrink. Falling ans elimination. Attacking others is allowed. ]
---
Aleman and his team stood together on a single platform, along with about forty other players.
Greg chuckled nervously. "Okay, this is fine. We just stand here, right?"
Ezran smirked. "You really think it's that easy?"
Boris cracked his knuckles. "It's gonna get ssy."
Reiner scoffed. "Just stay out of my way."
Before anyone could react, the platforms began to rise.
And then—they started crumbling.
The outer edges collapsed, sending several players screaming as they plumted into the abyss below.
"SHIT!" soone yelled.
The stampede began instantly.
Panic erupted as players pushed, shoved, and elbowed their way toward the shrinking center.
Lilo sidestepped a rushing warrior and kicked him square in the chest—sending him flying off the platform.
Ezran used a barrier spell, keeping himself from being thrown aside by the chaos.
Aleman remained calm, calculating.
Then—Greg let out a yelp.
"AHHH—SHIT, HELP!"
He had been shoved violently, stumbling backward toward the crumbling edge.
His feet slipped—
And he began to fall.
---
Aleman's Rescue
Just before Greg could plumt—
Aleman's eyes flashed.
A massive invisible force shot forward—Telekinetic Grip.
Greg's body halted mid-air, suspended by an unseen hand.
"Holy—You caught ?!" Greg gasped.
"I got you." Aleman grunted, pulling Greg back toward the center.
Greg landed safely, scrambling back to his feet.
"I'm gonna owe you so many drinks after this."
Aleman barely had ti to respond before two players lunged at him.
They tried to shove him off—
But Aleman whirled around, using his other Telekinetic hand to blast them backward.
The force was so strong that at least ten players were thrown off the platform, screaming as they disappeared into the abyss.
Ezran let out a whistle. "Damn, Aleman, remind never to piss you off."
---
The Platform Continues to Shrink
More and more players fell.
The fighting grew more intense.
Boris headbutted an opponent before grabbing another by the arm and throwing him off the edge.
Lilo twisted out of soone's grasp, flipping them over her shoulder before shoving them over the side.
Reiner tore through opponents, his brute strength keeping him from being moved.
Aleman's eyes darted around.
The platform was now barely fifteen feet wide—and still shrinking.
And then, one of the remaining players locked eyes with him.
A mage in a dark cloak, standing at the edge, grinning.
Aleman imdiately recognized the stance.
A Spellcaster.
And that ant—
BOOM!
A fireball erupted from the mage's hands, hurtling toward Aleman.
He reacted instantly.
Phantom Blitz.
His body vanished into thin air just as the fireball exploded against the stone.
Aleman reappeared behind the mage, grabbing him by the collar—
And flung him off the platform.
The mage scread as he vanished into the void.
"Well, that was satisfying," Aleman muttered.
---
Final Monts of Round One
The platform was now barely ten feet wide.
Only ten players remained.
Breathing heavily, Greg glanced around.
"Uh, guys… This is getting really damn small."
Ezran exhaled. "We just have to outlast the others."
Aleman watched the last stragglers desperately fighting.
He could feel it.
They were seconds away from the round ending.
Then—the platform pulsed.
A loud gong echoed across the battlefield.
---
[ ROUND ONE COMPLETE! ]
[ REMAINING PLAYERS WILL PROCEED TO THE NEXT CHALLENGE ]
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