Corvin found the key in the boss pocket, disappointment and relief mixing in his thoughts. So there's a boss in every stage… great.
⸻
Stage two awaited: a hotel lobby filled with five enemies, one of them the boss. Corvin picked up another wooden sword and prepared mentally.
I'll survive… no matter what. He was
filled with determination entering the next level.
The enemies patrolled the hallways. Corvin hid behind columns, attacking strategically. One enemy fell into the water, another was knocked unconscious. Each strike required perfect timing.
The boss remained. an unknown voice said "Fifteen minutes left", Corvin's heart raced. I have to protect my friends… I can't fail now.
Finally, the boss fell to the floor after a calculated strike to the head. an unknown voice: "30 minutes remain. Proceed to the next stage."
Corvin exhaled, gripping the wooden sword tightly. I'll survive… no matter what it takes.
A cold, echoing voice filled the room.
an unknown voice "For this stage, you have 45 minutes. There are five enemies here, and one of them is the boss. Defeat them all and find the room with the key to advance to the final stage."
Corvin clenched his fists.
Five enemies… that's a lot, he thought. But at least I have more time. And the next stage is the last one… I'm really close.
His eyes scanned the floor and spotted another wooden sword lying there.
The mysterious voice spoke again.
"In this stage, you may use two swords."
Corvin frowned.
I can't really fight well with two swords… so it won't help much, he thought. But I'll take it anyway.
He picked it up and placed it on his back.
Alright… first I need the key. I'll search the rooms.
Corvin began opening doors one by one.
First door. Empty.
Second door. Empty.
Third. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth.
Nothing.
When he opened the seventh door, he finally saw something.
A key hung from the ceiling by a thin string.
But someone stood underneath it.
Guarding it.
So I have to defeat him first, Corvin realized.
an unknown voice echoed again.
"40 minutes remaining."
Corvin immediately rushed forward.
The guard reacted too slowly.
Corvin struck his arm with the wooden sword, forcing him to drop his guard. The enemy tried to retaliate, but Corvin dodged every swing.
Then Corvin swept the enemy's legs.
The man collapsed to the floor.
Corvin grabbed the key and ran.
Okay… three enemies left and the boss.
While searching the next room, Corvin spotted bandages.
Good… I should wrap my injured hand before moving forward.
He quickly wrapped his left hand and continued deeper into the strange hotel.
Soon he reached a bridge inside the building.
Two enemies stood there.
Without hesitation, Corvin sprinted forward.
He slammed into the first enemy, knocking him over the railing.
The man fell straight into the water below.
But Corvin didn't notice the second enemy behind him.
THUD!
A wooden sword struck Corvin's back.
"Why aren't you falling?!" The Enemy shouted in confusion.
Corvin smirked slightly.
"You didn't hit my back," he replied.
"You hit the sword on my back."
Before the enemy could react, Corvin struck him in the stomach, knocking him over the railing as well.
The man splashed into the water below.
Corvin exhaled slowly.
One more… and then the boss.
He climbed the stairs toward the second floor of the hotel.
As he stepped onto the balcony
An enemy appeared.
The enemy charged straight at him and shoved Corvin with his sword.
Corvin lost his balance and fell over the railing.
At the last second, he grabbed a safety pole, barely stopping himself from falling.
The enemy looked down at him with a mocking grin.
"I almost feel bad for you," the enemy sneered.
"You didn't even reach the final stage. You're really weak."
Corvin dropped down to the floor below.
Enemy Four laughed.
"You want to die that badly?!"
Corvin looked up at him, anger burning in his eyes.
"If dying means I can get revenge for my friends… then I'll do whatever it takes!"
Corvin ran up the stairs again and rushed straight at the enemy.
The enemy raised his sword
But Corvin moved faster.
CRACK!
The wooden blade struck the enemy's head.
The enemy collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Corvin breathed heavily.
Only the boss left…
an unknown voice returned once more.
"30 minutes remaining."
Corvin tightened his grip on the sword.
A lot of time left, he thought.
A whole thirty minutes.
A determined smile appeared on his face.
This will be easier than the last stage.
Corbin walked quietly and carefully through the hotel, hiding as he moved. After some time, he finally reached the third floor of the hotel.
He slowly looked down to the lobby below and saw the boss.
The man looked large, strong, and fearless. He had short blond hair and wore a black mask. His clothes were stylish and intimidating skinny jeans, leather boots, and a black leather jacket.
Corbin took a deep breath.
Without hesitating, he threw his second sword from the third floor toward the boss.
But the boss easily dodged.
The sword hit the ground.
"Shit!" Corbin shouted.
The boss looked up and immediately spotted him.
"Come down here and fight me like a real warrior!" the boss yelled proudly. "Let's see what you're capable of!"
Corbin sighed and walked to the elevator. A few seconds later, he arrived at the lobby to face the boss.
The boss was already waiting for him, standing confidently with a proud smile.
"Maybe you managed to defeat the others," the boss said with arrogance, "but that doesn't mean you can defeat me. I am unbeatable!"
Suddenly, the boss rushed forward to attack.
Corbin's thoughts raced.
He's attacking me immediately!?
Confused but ready, Corbin quickly dodged the strike and ran toward a pile of suitcases nearby. With one hand he began opening them quickly, grabbing glass perfume bottles and throwing them at the boss.
The bottles shattered across the floor.
But the boss dodged every single one with style.
Corbin realized it wasn't working.
He turned and ran toward the stairs, escaping to the second floor.
"Running won't help you defeat me!" the boss shouted angrily, his voice filled with arrogance.
Corbin waited silently behind a wall near the staircase, preparing an ambush.
The boss climbed the stairs.
Just as he reached the top
Corbin attacked.
His blade struck the boss in the stomach, knocking him backward onto the floor.
"Surrender," Corbin said firmly. He didn't want to fight without a reason.
"There is no such thing as surrender in the Mafia!" the boss shouted angrily.
He stood up suddenly and punched Corbin hard in the stomach.
Corbin fell to the floor.
"Get up," the boss said in a low, irritated voice.
Corbin didn't move.
"I said get up!" the boss shouted, now sounding both angry and hurt.
Then his voice changed.
"What will you do when someone hurts someone important to you?" he asked quietly. "Will you tell them to surrender… or will you kill them?"
Corbin looked up at him, confused.
"Why do you want me to win?" he asked sadly.
The boss looked away for a moment.
"I used to be like you," he said softly. "And because I was like that… I lost someone important to me."
His voice suddenly grew louder.
"That's why you never give up against your enemies! No matter what they say!"
Corbin slowly stood up.
"I understand," he said, determination filling his voice. "Let's finish this fight!"
Both of them charged at each other with their swords raised, shouting as they ran.
Their blades moved in a flash.
Corbin struck first.
His sword pierced the boss's chest.
The boss collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness.
"I did it!" Corbin shouted with joy and pride. "I won!"
Corbin searched the boss's pocket and found the key.
Holding it tightly, he walked toward the lobby where the next door waited.
Okay… just one more stage, Corbin thought.
I can do this.
With determination burning inside him, Corbin stepped forward into the final stage.
Corbin took the key from the boss's pocket and walked toward the lobby where the sword he had thrown earlier still lay on the ground. He picked it up, gripping the handle tightly, and then walked toward the door that led to the third and final stage.
Okay… just one more stage. I can do this, Corbin thought, his heart filled with determination as he pushed the door open.
The moment he stepped inside, he froze.
The entire room was a maze of mirrors.
What the hell…?
Confusion spread across his face. This was the last thing he expected.
an unknown voice echoed through the room.
"In this stage there is only the boss and one enemy. You have one hour to defeat them."
Corvin thought to himself "only two enemies and an hour, this is gonna be a piece of cake."
Corbin slowly walked through the maze. As he turned a corner, he saw someone.
A man dressed entirely in gold.
Golden armor.
A golden mask hiding his face.
And in his hand a wooden sword.
Without thinking, Corbin attacked the figure
CRASH!
The mirror shattered.
Shards of glass flew everywhere, and one sharp piece sliced across Corbin's cheek.
A thin line of blood appeared.
Damn it! How didn't I notice he wasn't real?! Corbin thought angrily. Only idiots fall for tricks like that…
Ignoring the sting on his cheek, Corbin continued deeper into the mirror maze. Blood slowly dripped from the small cut on his face.
Soon he saw the golden enemy again.
But this time Corbin stopped.
The enemy appeared in every mirror around him.
Which one is the real one…? Corbin wondered, sounding desperate yet determined.
He attacked the first mirror.
CRASH.
Not real.
He attacked the second.
CRASH.
Still fake.
The third.
The fourth.
The fifth.
Each one shattered into pieces, but none of them were the real enemy.
Corbin approached the sixth and final mirror and slashed it with his sword.
CRASH!
Still nothing.
Suddenly
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
A loud mocking laugh echoed through the room.
The enemy was laughing at him.
Corbin quickly turned toward the sound and finally spotted him.
"There you are!" Corbin shouted without thinking.
The moment the enemy realized he'd been found, he ran.
Corbin immediately chased after him.
They ran through the endless mirror maze. Reflections flashed everywhere, making it difficult to see clearly.
Suddenly
BAM!
The enemy slammed into a glass mirror and fell to the ground.
He quickly got back up and kept running.
But Corbin was getting closer.
After a few more seconds of running, Corbin made a decision.
He grabbed the sword from his back and threw it.
The blade flew through the air.
THUD!
It hit the enemy, knocking him down. the enemy wooden sword flew far away but Corvin sword also flew away from him.
Corbin finally caught up to him, he took the sword from his back.
Just as Corbin raised his sword to strike
"Wait!" the enemy shouted.
Corbin paused, confused but curious.
"I… I can take you to the boss," the enemy stuttered in fear. "I-I'll take you to him."
Corbin didn't trust him.
But he was curious.
"Fine," Corbin said coldly. "I'll follow you. But don't think I trust you."
"O-Okay…" the enemy replied nervously.
Then the mysterious voice echoed again.
"45 minutes remaining."
Corbin glared at the enemy.
"You better actually take me to him," Corbin said angrily. "If you're wasting my time… I'll kill you."
"I-I'm really taking you there," the enemy said quickly. "W-we're very close."
Corbin followed him through the maze.
After some time, they entered a room filled with computer monitors.
Several screens showed camera footage of the rooms Corbin had already been in.
Corbin stepped closer, trying to understand why there were cameras watching everything.
But he didn't notice something important.
The enemy was no longer in front of him.
He was behind him.
Suddenly The enemy attacked.
But Corbin reacted instantly and dodged.
"H-how did you dodge that?!" the enemy shouted in panic. "You weren't supposed to escape!"
Corbin didn't answer.
He struck the enemy legs again and again until the man finally collapsed, unable to stand.
Then the mysterious voice spoke once more.
"Congratulations! You have completed all the stages. Go to the computer room to finish the test."
Corbin looked relieved.
But also exhausted.
There wasn't even a boss…? he thought, confused.
Still, he walked toward the door that had opened inside the computer room.
He stepped inside.
In the center of the room was a chair facing away from him.
Someone was sitting in it.
Slowly
The chair turned around.
A man sat there.
He looked elegant and calm. His long pink hair fell over his shoulders, and he wore a sleeveless suit that revealed strong, muscular arms.
"Congratulations on passing the stages," the man said proudly, though his expression remained serious.
Corbin frowned.
"Who are you?" he asked. "And how do you know my name?"
The pink haired man smiled slightly.
"I'm your boss," he said.
"My name is Antonio Bellini."
"What you just did… was the test I told you about."
Corbin's eyes widened.
"But I wanted it to feel real," Antonio continued calmly. "So I told my assistant to kidnap you and bring you here to the entrance exam for our mafia."
Corbin stood there in shock.
He truly believed he might die during that test.
But he couldn't yell at the boss.
Instead, he asked the one thing that mattered.
"…Did I pass?"
Antonio smiled.
"Yes."
He stood up slowly.
"Welcome to the family."
"Welcome to our mafia."