(3 months later)
Beep! Beep!
Beep! Beep!
A dim blue light flickered in the midst of the heavy darkness, casting faint ripples across the cracked translucent walls, as the sharp sound traveled deep into the ears of a silhouette seated in a lotus position, unmoving like a statue..
He had no other choice than to open his eyes and check out the reason why his wristband was making a beeping sound, his eyelids lifting slowly as if weighed down by months of stillness..
It turned out that it was a notification from the Blue Projectile system that he had been credited with 100 points, the faint holographic glow reflecting in his calm but slightly tired blue eyes..
"I thought only champions got 100 points every moment, why do I still get the 100 points after losing the title of the champion?" Socrates asked himself, his brows knitting slightly as confusion settled in his gaze..
Unbeknownst to him, what he lost earlier was just the golden token, and he still remained the champion of the Earth Pavilion recognized by the system..
Meanwhile, there was a self-acclaimed champion who was recognized by everyone, but this champion wasn't the real champion because he hadn't challenged Socrates and defeated him..
Of course, no one knew about this until it was revealed that Socrates had gotten 100 points, which was meant for the champion..
Socrates, who had been holed up in this quiet, dim corridor for the past three months while trying to connect with the ancient sculpture, wasn't even aware of his surroundings.. Thin layers of dust had gathered around where he sat, and faint footprints marked the few times he had moved.. He only left this place when he wanted to eat at night.. His body had fully recovered, his muscles lean and refined beneath the suit, but he had missed out on every training the Earth Pavilion had to offer for the past three months..
"I did my best, Senior, but I can't sense anything.. I'll just give up here then." He rose up slowly from his seat as he stretched his stiff body, his joints letting out faint cracking sounds after months of stillness..
After months of staying holed up.
Socrates was finally ready to start training in the Earth Pavilion..
Now that he didn't have any golden token or title of champion, he believed no one would come for him..
But he was very mistaken, even if he didn't have the golden token anymore.. He still held the title of the champion, which spelt trouble for him..
Socrates took a step forward as he attempted to walk out of the corridor, his footsteps echoing faintly against the narrow passage.. He made to take another step when he suddenly paused, his body going still as his senses sharpened and he sensed some presence lurking in the darkness..
"1, 2, 3, 4.." He counted in his mind as his gaze traveled around him, his eyes narrowing slightly as faint silhouettes revealed themselves within the dim light..
The men weren't just standing in the darkness, but they were blocking the exit of the corridor, their figures forming an unbroken wall..
"What do you all seek?" Socrates asked warily, his tone calm but guarded.. After everything that had happened to him, he had grown deeply wary of people..
"Socrates.. Socrates.. The Son of Trueblood.."
Socrates recognized the voice instantly... It was the man that proclaimed himself to be the Earth Pavilion Champion, defeating others and claiming the title..
The self-acclaimed Champion with a silver token... Niccolo..
"Or should I say the Champion of the Earth Pavilion." Niccolo made another statement, stepping slightly forward, his figure becoming clearer under the faint glow..
"What are you saying? I've lost the golden token.. I'm no longer the champion of the Earth Pavilion.. You're." Socrates replied back, his voice steady though his body remained tense..
"Then how can you explain this, Boy?" Niccolo tapped on his wristband, and a blue system screen flickered into existence, illuminating their faces with a cold glow..
[Credit Points Distribution — Earth Pavilion]
[1. Socrates Trueblood — Champion (100 points)]
[2. Niccolo — 30 points]
[3. Mastrile — 30 points]
..
Socrates' eyes widened slightly... He recalled he had just received a notification that he had 100 points..
'So the system recognized me as champion.. This is very bad..' Socrates folded his fists as his body screamed on alert, every muscle tightening instinctively..
Niccolo wasn't the only one here but three other Gladiators... these were gladiators that had gone through arduous training for the past three months while he did nothing but sit down here without gaining anything.. Their presence alone carried a certain pressure, their stances firm and confident..
"I'll go officially forfeit my position as the champion.." Socrates said to them, attempting to de-escalate, but the men didn't reply him..
"Okay... I'll also give out half of my points.." Socrates added as he still didn't hear anything from the men, the silence growing heavier..
"No.. I want all the points.." Niccolo voiced out, his tone cold and final..
"This..." Socrates gritted his teeth... If he gave out all his points, there was no way he could survive..
"I can give you 70%." Socrates negotiated, his eyes scanning for any opening while speaking.. Niccolo scratched his beard, thinking about it when Mastrile leaned closer and whispered to him..
"He's still the Champion of the Earth Pavilion.. What we are doing now is violating the rule, and if this goes out.. We will be punished severely.. And how aren't we sure he's not going to report us?"
"What do you suggest we do?"
"We kill him and then you can take all the points and become the champion with much ease.." Mastrile replied, his voice low and ruthless, and Niccolo's eyes shone with a dangerous light..
Socrates felt killing intent overwhelm him instantly, thick and suffocating, as he realized he couldn't stay here anymore..
He moved to escape at once, his body reacting faster than his thoughts, but he was flanked by the four men..
The dim corridor, lined with cracked translucent walls and faint flickering light from distant torches, seemed to shrink as their figures closed in, their shadows stretching like claws across the ground..
"You think you can run?" Niccolo's voice came out low and amused, his lips curling into a cruel smile as he took a step forward, the faint glow of his silver token reflecting in his eyes..
Socrates didn't reply.. His breath steadied, his fists clenched tightly as the faint memory of past battles surged within him.. But this time… there was no Mr. Jaggers.. No one to cover his blind spots.. No one to pull him back from death..
Just him.. Alone..
The first strike came without warning..
A fist tore through the air from his right side..
Socrates reacted instantly, raising his arm to block—
BANG..
The impact forced him half a step back, his bones rattling as the raw strength behind the blow surged through his arm.. Before he could stabilize—
Another attack came from behind.. A knee slammed into his lower back..
THUD..
Socrates stumbled forward, his vision shaking violently as pain shot up his spine..
"Too slow." One of them muttered coldly..
Socrates gritted his teeth as he twisted his body, throwing a punch blindly behind him..
BANG..
His fist connected with flesh, forcing one of the men to stagger slightly..
But that was all he could manage..
The next moment—
A heavy blow crashed into his ribs from the left..
CRACK..
A dull sound echoed as his body bent unnaturally, breath escaping his lungs in a sharp gasp..
He hadn't even fully recovered when another strike descended—
A fist smashed into his jaw..
BAM..
His head snapped to the side, blood spraying faintly into the air as his body was sent sliding across the ground..
Dust rose around him..
The men didn't give him time to breathe..
They rushed him again.. Kicks.. Punches.. Elbows..
A relentless storm..
Socrates tried to fight back..
He blocked what he could—
Dodged what he could—
And took what he couldn't..
But it wasn't enough..
Not against four trained gladiators who had spent three months honing their bodies and techniques while he sat in silence chasing nothingness..
His movements began to slow..
His vision blurred..
His body grew heavier with each passing second..
A punch slipped through his guard—
Then another—
Then another..
BANG.. BANG.. BANG..
Each hit drove him further down..
Until—
A final blow struck him square in the chest..
BOOM..
Socrates' body lifted slightly off the ground before crashing back down heavily, the impact sending a dull echo through the corridor floor..
His fingers twitched weakly..
His eyes struggled to remain open..
But the darkness was already swallowing him whole..
His consciousness faded..
And then—
Nothing..
…
"Pathetic." Niccolo spat as he looked down at the unconscious body, rolling his shoulders casually..
"Carry him."
Two of the men stepped forward, grabbing Socrates by his arms and dragging his limp body across the ground..
The corridor returned to silence..
…
(Behind the Earth Pavilion Mountain) ..
The air was dry and heavy, carrying the faint stench of blood and decay.. The ground was uneven, scattered with bones—some old, some not..
The four men arrived with Socrates unconscious body..
I
They didn't hesitate..
They threw his body behind the mountain like trash..
THUD..
Socrates landed among the rocks and dust, unmoving..
"Let the beasts handle the rest." Mastrile muttered..
Niccolo gave one last glance before turning away..
And just like that—
They left..
Leaving Socrates body behind…
Alone…
Waiting for the beast that will come feast on it.