Chapter 6: Elimination

“This place is enormous…”

The arena stretched out like an endless coliseum. Stone towers, crowded stands, ancient clan symbols carved into the walls. The echo of thousands of voices surrounded him like a hurricane of excitement and pressure.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

Eden swallowed hard as the roar of the spectators crashed against his chest.

“Eden, over here!” Shu shouted from a side hallway.

He ran toward him, visibly shaken.
“I didn’t think there would be this many people…”

“You mean the crowd? That’s normal,” Shu replied with a reassuring smile. “Once word spread that Shun brought someone here, a lot of people started getting their hopes up.”

The murmurs among the participants were like hidden knives in the shadows. Stares heavier than the very air. Suspicion, envy, curiosity.

And then—a lone voice from the stands:

“You can do it, Eden!”

That single cry rattled him. He collapsed to his knees, breath uneven.

“You okay?” Shun appeared immediately, his brow furrowed.

“Yeah… don’t worry… I just… need a moment…”

“I think you’ll need more than that,” Yuki cut in with her usual sarcastic tone. “You look like you’re about to faint.”

“When did the ugly one show up…?”

“I’ve been here the whole time, idiot.”

“You sure you’ll be fine?” Shun pressed, concern in his eyes.

“He’s just now realizing the weight of the expectations on him,” Yuki muttered, arms crossed.

“I see,” Shu added thoughtfully. “So you don’t want to disappoint them.”

“Yeah…”

“Relax,” Yuki said sharply. “Most likely, you’ll be gone soon. All these people already have their eyes on you.”

The words sank deep. More pressure. More fear. More chaos.

“Yuki, that doesn’t help,” Shun reproached.

“It’s good to know,” she replied flatly. “Everyone here has their own desires and goals. If he’s too weak to withstand the pressure, then he’s useless.”

She walked right up to Eden.
“So I’ve got a question for you.”

“What is it?”

“Will you crumble under the pressure… or will you carry it to reach your goals?”

The silence weighed like stone. Eden lowered his gaze. For a moment, he heard nothing else. Only his breath. Only his inner voice.

“She’s right… It’s simpler than I thought. Right now, my greatest wish… is to bring my grandfather back… and defeat those bastards.”

He stood with determination. His eyes were sharp now. Steady.

“Thanks… ugly.”

“…That’s your way of saying thanks?”

“Shu,” Eden said, “I’ve got a question.”

“What is it?”

“What are the chances of getting into GODS?”

Shu took a moment before answering.
“To be honest… this year, I think they’re minimal. But that’s only if you’re just another normal person.”

“I see…”

A pair of horns echoed from the far ends of the coliseum, cutting off their conversation.

“What’s happening?” Eden asked.

“It’s about to start,” Shu said tensely.

From the main balcony, two figures appeared. One of them, more imposing than the rest, raised a microphone of pure energy.

“Hello, hello! Can you all hear me?”
The voice was powerful, theatrical.

“Who’s that old man?” Eden asked, bewildered.

“I really thought you were a little less stupid,” Yuki sighed. “But you’re a complete idiot.”

“That’s Zeus,” Shu clarified with a slight gesture of reverence. “The strongest god in the Greek pantheon… and the headmaster of the GODS Institute.”

Zeus smiled as if he were about to tell the greatest joke in the world.
“Welcome to a new edition of the GODS Institute Trials! It is my pleasure to inform you that this year… there will be a surprise test! I hope you enjoy it.”

A ripple of silence spread across the arena, followed by confused murmurs and uneasy glances.

“A surprise test?” Shu repeated, stunned.

That pink-haired idiot would probably be thrilled right now… Eden thought.

Elsewhere in the coliseum, Shun suddenly sneezed.

“Was this your idea?” Heracles asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Don’t you think it’s more fun this way?” Shun said with a mischievous grin, leaning back in his seat in the main stands.

“You probably told your apprentice beforehand and prepared him for this,” Heracles grumbled, arms crossed.

“Now that you mention it… that would’ve been a good idea.”

“Wait… so it was your idea, and you didn’t tell him?”

“Knowing everything is boring. Surprises are more interesting.”

“That sounds exactly like something you’d say,” Aphrodite cut in, not taking her eyes off him.

“Sometimes I think you make up for your brains with your strength,” Heracles muttered.

“Thank you,” Shun replied without a hint of irony.

“…That wasn’t a compliment.”

Seconds later, Shun’s attention snapped back to the balcony.
“Uh-oh… that’s definitely a bad sign.”

“What’s wrong?” Hermes asked casually.

“The old man is smiling.”

The atmosphere tightened.
“…It can’t be.”

At that moment, Zeus’s eyes blazed with golden light. He fixed his gaze on Eden as if he had just discovered something fascinating. The entire arena was suddenly covered in his divine aura. The ground trembled faintly. One by one, students began collapsing. Even some spectators fell unconscious.

Shu and Yuki dropped to their knees. The air grew heavy, almost unbreathable.

“You okay?” Eden asked, straining.

“I should be asking you,” Shu growled. “Doesn’t your head feel like it’s about to explode?”

“What are you talking about?”

While Eden stood firm, the rest struggled not to succumb. His muscles were tense. The pressure was crushing.

From above, Zeus furrowed his brow.
I expected no less… but even so, this is surprising.

“Old man…” Shun intervened, his tone deadly serious. “I think that’s enough. Keep this up and you’ll kill someone.”

“You’re right…”

The divine energy vanished as suddenly as it had come. A collective sigh of relief spread through the coliseum.

“Hermes,” Zeus commanded without moving a muscle. “Take all those who fainted to the infirmary. When they wake, inform them they’ve been eliminated.”

“Yes.”

“Was this your doing?” Aphrodite snapped at Shun, frowning.

“No, no… this happened because the old man slipped up. Don’t blame me for his mistakes.”

Aphrodite turned her gaze toward Eden, who still stood firm.
“That boy… what’s keeping him so steady?”

“Far more than you can imagine,” Shun replied, his tone unusually grave.

Zeus raised his voice again.
“Forgive the… mishap earlier. That was not planned. Now then, over sixty percent of the participants have been eliminated. We may proceed to the first phase. Allow me to present the first-year instructor: the goddess Aphrodite.”

Aphrodite stepped forward with flawless poise.
“Welcome. The first phase consists of physical trials and challenges to test your Zenka energy. It will be exhausting, so be prepared.”

“With that explained,” Zeus continued, “let us begin.”

The scene turned frantic. Eden and the other candidates ran, lifted weights, dodged projectiles, responded to Zenka stimuli. Each trial was a filter. A promise of glory… or elimination.

Eden fell several times. His muscles ached, his breathing grew heavier. But he didn’t stop.

“Damn it… I’ve barely scraped through these trials. I thought it’d be easier,” he panted, hands on his knees.

From the stands, Heracles watched.
“Looks like your boy’s in trouble.”

“Relax,” Shun replied calmly. “He’ll pass these trials. The real challenge is coming soon.”

“Scares me to think that this ‘surprise test’ was your idea… and Zeus’s.”

“What do you take us for?”

“For two narcissistic egomaniacs who only care about enjoying a fight.”

“Thank you.”

“…That wasn’t a compliment.”

With a list in hand, Zeus spoke once more.
“With the results now ready, those who have passed are: Shu Sagesse, Yuki Tsuka… Naz… and Eden Yomi.”

A murmur of surprise rippled across the arena. Some cheered, others couldn’t believe what they heard.

“Congratulations to all those named,” Zeus announced. “However, as I said before, this year there is a surprise test. It will consist of one-on-one combat. The matchups will be chosen at random. Only half of you will participate. Good luck.”

The whispers turned to chatter. Then to noise. Everyone was speaking at once.

“So that’s the selection…” Heracles muttered.

“Yeah,” Shun nodded, relaxed.

“Not bad, considering it was decided by you two.”

“But you realize your apprentice could face the favorites, right?” Hermes warned.

“Yes. And that makes it even more exciting.”

“…I seriously don’t understand what goes on in your head.”

Meanwhile, among the chosen, Shu scanned the other candidates.
“So… one-on-one combat, huh…”

He turned slowly toward Eden.

And realized something.

Everyone was looking at him.

Not with admiration.

But with hunger.

“Seriously?” Eden muttered, raising an eyebrow as he noticed all the eyes fixed on him.

“Yes,” Shu admitted sincerely. “After all, defeating Shun’s apprentice would give anyone a certain privilege… or at least fame.”

Eden narrowed his eyes.
“That includes you two as well… doesn’t it?”

Shu didn’t answer right away. His eyes gleamed, betraying a contained excitement.
“Yes. I’m sorry, but… it’s a great opportunity.”

“Wouldn’t hurt me to gain a bit of fame,” Yuki added with a defiant smile.

Eden let out a faint chuckle. Then his gaze hardened. His body began radiating an intense aura, almost scorching.
“The one who’s sorry… is me.”

The aura spread like a living flame, shaking the very air around him.

From the stands, Aphrodite rose with a frown.
“It can’t be… Shun, that boy…”

Shun smiled, resting his chin on his hand.
“See? I told you this would be exciting.”

At the center of the arena, a giant box was placed atop a rotating platform. Hera appeared beside it, elegant and solemn.

“Please, step forward one by one and draw a slip from this box. Those with the same number will face each other. The order of combat will also be determined by that number.”

“I’ll go first,” Yuki declared, walking confidently toward the box. She reached inside without hesitation, and when she unfolded her paper, she smiled.
“Number one.”

One by one, the candidates approached.

“My turn,” Shu said, drawing his slip.
“Number two.”

“Make way! The next number one of GODS is here!” proclaimed a haughty voice. A young woman with striking crimson hair stepped forward with confidence and drew her number.
“Number one,” she read aloud.

“Looks like you already have your opponent, Yuki,” Shu noted curiously.

“She won’t be a problem. All she knows how to do is talk.”

“Careful, you’ve gotten awfully arrogant, Yuki,” the newcomer replied, smiling without faltering.

“It’s not arrogance. It’s just… now I actually believe in my power.”

“Then I hope you show it on the battlefield.”

“Oh, I will. And I won’t hold back.”

“I hope so… ugly,” she added with a biting smile before walking away.

Shu tilted his head.
“You know her?”

“Yes… you could say she was something like a comrade. Her name is Naz.”

“At least she’s got good taste—she recognizes the ugly ones,” Eden joked.

Yuki smacked him hard on the arm.
“Don’t you think it’s about time you draw your slip?” Shu reminded.

“Yeah, yeah… I’m going.”

Eden approached the box, stuck his hand in halfheartedly, and pulled out his paper. When he opened it, he sighed.
“Just my luck…”

On the slip, the number two glowed in black ink.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Shu muttered, half surprised, half amused.

“So… against the number one candidate,” Shun commented from the stands, smiling. “Now this will be exciting.”

“Looks like it’s the two of us,” Eden said with a restrained grin.

The last participant drew their slip, and Hera raised her voice:
“With this, the draw is complete. The first participants will have ten minutes to prepare. The rest may watch the fight or wait in their rooms.”

Shu and Eden walked toward the exit.
“Good luck, Yuki,” they said in unison, their faces serious.

“Thanks… but I won’t need it. I’m certain I’ll finish this.”

Shu and Eden walked off as the crowd’s murmurs grew louder.

“You’d better not hold back,” Shu warned as they went.

“Trust me, I won’t,” Eden replied firmly.

The arena fell silent. Only two figures remained at the center, facing each other.

Yuki drew her sword. Its blade, bathed in gold and blue, shimmered beneath the coliseum lights.
“You’d better be ready, Naz.”

Naz clicked her tongue.
“No need to tell me. Today I’m going to eliminate that pampered little girl.”

“Talking about yourself?”

The silence sharpened like a blade.

Naz raised her head. Yuki adjusted her stance.

The sisters were about to clash.

But what weighed between them…
was not just blood.

It was the past.
And everything left unsaid.