A chorus of screams tore through the air—rage, pain, terror, and excitement collided, to combine into a brutal symphony as the adult slaves lunged at each other—each attack they delivered, filled with desperation for survival.
"D-Die!"
"Yaargh!"
Each adult slave surged forward, wielding whatever weapon they had in their hands. Plasma pistols ignited with a loud bang, large blades, small swords, and crude hammers were lifted high and low.
The sound of energy, searing through flesh, exoskeleton, and armor of different species with a sickening hiss—was combined with the splatter of different colours of blood.
"N-No don't kill me please! I have a dau—" A Rinari's head was split open by a large axe before he could even finish what he was saying.
Cries of pain and rage filled the area into a chorus of savagery.
Within the storm of chaos, a massive four-armed slave wielding four swords was tearing through slaves left and right before he clashed with another massive and burly man—the man's massive beard running across his scar driven chest.
It was Biyo.
Gritting his teeth, Biyo pushed off the four armed slave with his sheer strength before hacking the slave's head with an axe—purple blood splattering towards his face.
"Hahahaha!" Biyo laughed as he relished the battle commencing around him, before pounding his chest.
"Come at me!"
With a powerful leap, Biyo charged towards an area where it was the most chaotic.
Around him, the clash of steel and the sharp zaps of blaster fire formed a chaotic symphony. Sparks danced around him as blades locked into others, bodies falling left and right.
"I live for moments like this!" Biyo exclaimed as he swung both of the axes he held in his hands.
His grip was tight as he struck every slave within his range—their cleaved bodies flying everywhere as Biyo ran and hacked through them effortlessly.
"W-What the hell is that monster!?" one of the slaves stuttered as he looked at Biyo rampaging around.
In the eyes of the civilians of Zeraf, Biyo was truly a strong warrior—his presence and prowess in combat made the civilians go wild.
"Wow, that massive guy is pretty strong!"
"Now that's a warrior if I ever saw one!"
Civilians continued to praise Biyo's actions as the concept of being a warrior is respected in the culture of Zerafhon.
===
Meanwhile, on the other side of the arena—where the children are stationed—the reactions of the civilians had a stark contrast compared to the other side.
"Boo! What are they doing!?"
"Move you squirts!"
A wave of boos rolled at the other side of the arena, their disappointment evident due to the unfavorable actions of the children.
The children stood frozen as the mocking crowd snarked at them. Their small hands wrapped around weapons that they had held for the first time in their innocent lives.
The children's eyes were wide, looking at the faces of other children—like a reflection of themselves, also terrified.
Some blinked with tears as they were paralyzed—unable to move an inch.
Jinn's group meanwhile stayed tight in a defensive position—each member covering each direction—yet no one was attacking them.
"Hey, no teaming you idiots!" exclaimed a civilian near them, as he threw an already bitten tomato at Jinn's group—hitting specifically Orin on her head.
"Shut up fucker—why don't you try to be a slave for change!?" exclaimed Orin as she glared at the civilian who threw the tomato.
"Stay together…stay together…" Kain muttered repeatedly as he held the energy gun within his hand—his chest rising and lowering in anxiety.
A minute had passed yet not one child from Jinn's area had managed to attack as they stood in fear—a completely different scenario compared to the adult's area.
Boos echoed through that side of the arena, the noise began to grow louder and louder—until a single, deafening bang cut through the noise.
One of the children collapsed, their headless body flopping towards the ground as their blood and entrails sprayed across the field.
The devices attached on the children's neck then began to beep repeatedly as if it was a sign to not stay idle.
"Ah! I almost forgot!" The announcer pointed with his hand with a grin. "The system will randomly select anyone who fails to at least eliminate 1… every 30 seconds!"
"You've got to be shitting me" Verhedyn hissed under his breath, before turning his gaze towards Jinn to ask him. "What now Jinn!?"
"No use in waiting." Jinn replied, before his eyes narrowed. "Spread out, but stay within a few meters in case something goes wrong!"
"He's right." Hector replied, before continuing.
"I'll stay near Vox, Kain, and Verhdeyn—the others stay near Jinn."
With a synchronized nod, the group then scattered in different directions.
===
Sprinting eastward, Jinn managed to encounter a child charging at him with a large sword raised up above.
Coming from up above, the massive sword came crashing down towards him—yet Jinn easily dodged by side stepping towards the left.
With a swift snap of his leg, Jinn drove his foot into the back of the child's knee, forcing the child to kneel in pain.
"W-Wait—please!" The child begged for mercy as he instinctively raised his hands to cover.
With a burst of speed, Jinn lunged his sword forward towards the boy's chest
"Tch!"
Yet he stopped mid way—before using the pommel of his sword instead, to strike the child's temple, knocking him out.
The child fell with a resounding thud towards the stone ground as he fell unconscious.
Up above the rising balcony, Venedix was observing each move from Jinn.
"Tsk!" Venedix clicked her tongue at the sight of Jinn sparing an enemy. "What a foolish child!"
Both of her swords made a soft clink as she stood up from her seat to walk towards the announcer, which was just a few meters away from her.
"What is sister Venedix doing?" said Venedix's sibling who was sitting just beside her, her head tilted as her eyes continued to follow Venedix.
"Dunno—don't care" replied the regal man, wiping his large sword with a cloth.
"Mhm." replied by another sibling of Venedix, "Interesting—this is the first time she had acted like this during a slave ritual."
===
Venedix arrived at the announcer's location—making him flinch in fear as he saw Venedix approaching him.
"Y-Yes my lady?" the announcer bowed towards Venedix—his words stuttering in fear.
Venedix leaned towards one of the ears of the announcer before she started to whisper.
The announcer's eyes widened to what he heard before shaking his head.
"M-My lady—isn't that a bit too much—" The announcer stammered before being slapped by Venedix—the force making him kneel.
"Don't make me repeat my words fool—just do it."
Venedix looked down on the announcer with a piercing gaze that sent shivers down his spine.
"Y-Yes my lady, f-forgive me…" the announcer replied before standing up to grab the microphone.
"Ahem! C-Change of rules folks haha!"
The announcer laughed awkwardly as Venedix was standing beside him.
"Those who fail to kill at least five by the end of the countdown… will die. The devices around the slave's necks will detonate. No second chances!"
"Tch!" Jinn clicked his tongue, his jaw tightened as the words of the announcer dawned at him.
"Great—things just got messier."