Part 1 الأرواح لعبة

Olorun strolled through the bustling market, hands in his pockets, snapping his left fingers—snap—then his right—snap—then both together.
BZZT! His whole body jolted with a weak shock.
"Dang it!" he shouted, smacking his chest. "Of course it didn't work! Why would it work?! It's not like I've been training my lightning or anything. Nope. Just walking around, shocking myself like a dumb scarecrow in a thunderstorm."
He sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up."And where the hell is Eleo? Probably off stealing carrots, or fighting some random old lady, or—oh, I don't know—starting a WAR with the entire market! Man, oh man, why did I even join him?!"
He paused, then softened slightly, muttering under his breath."…I mean, I'm glad I did. Got new friends. Got adventure. Got… well… chaos. But, ugh, part of me misses my old life, too."
He trudged onto a wooden bridge, peering over the railing. His eyes narrowed."…No water. Not even a drop. Man, oh man, where the hell is the water in this place? Who builds a bridge with no water?! What's the point?! Is it for… for sandboats?! Is that even a thing?!"
As he ranted, a small figure walked up—a boy no older than ten, grinning mischievously.
"Hey, mister," the kid chirped, "wanna play a game?"
Olorun stopped mid-rant, glancing down at him with an annoyed face. He cracked his knuckles but kept his cool."No thanks, kid. I'm looking for my idiot leader. Big ears, stupid face, smells like carrots. Seen him?"
The kid tilted his head, smirk widening. "Ohhh, don't tell me you're scared of me."
Olorun blinked, then threw his head back in a loud laugh."Scared?!" He jabbed a thumb into his chest. "ME?! Scared of a pip-squeak like you? Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah. Olorun the Great fears nothing! Except… you know… taxes. And giant sandworms. And uh… laundry day."
The kid crossed his arms smugly. "So if you're not scared, why not play?"
Olorun squinted. "Because I don't waste my time with ankle-biters. I've got bigger things to worry about—like not dying in this desert, thank you very much."
The kid shrugged. "Fine. Guess I won't give you these, then."
He pulled something from his pocket.
Olorun's eyes instantly bugged out of his skull."W-wait… are those—" His jaw dropped. "T-the K-KYJIO cards?!"
The kid grinned, waving them slowly like they were treasure. "Oh? You know about them?"
Olorun's whole body trembled. He leaned in so close his nose nearly touched the kid's. "KNOW them? Kid… I used to collect them! Back in my old life, I had stacks on stacks! I had foils! I had holos! I had the Ultra Shiny Golden Dragon of Eternal Light! …until my mom sold my collection for groceries." His voice cracked, clutching his chest. "I still hear the crinkle of the paper bags when I close my eyes…"
The kid smirked, pulling out one card from the pile.It gleamed under the lantern light.
"Buuky. The Ultra Rare."
Olorun's eyes SPARKLED like two suns. His mouth hung open. "Oh my god… oh my GOD. That's… that's the one! That's THE one! Okay, okay—what game are we playing?! I'll do it! I'll do it right now! Strip poker? Thumb wrestling? Arm-wrestling the devil?!"
The kid deadpanned. "...Rock, paper, scissors."
Olorun froze. Blinked. "That's it?"
The kid nodded smugly. "That's it. But if you lose… I get to take ALL your money."
Olorun blinked again. Then a slow grin spread across his face. He puffed out his chest, chuckled dramatically, and said:
"Ohhh well, guess what, kid? Joke's on YOU."
He bent down so his face was level with the child's and whispered, "I don't even HAVE any money."
He leaned back, cackling. "Ha! Try taking THAT, you little gremlin!"
The kid smirked wider. "Oh, don't worry… I've got other ways to collect."
Olorun's smile immediately faltered. "...Wait. What?"
The kid pulled another card from his pocket. A strange, glowing one, with a symbol Olorun didn't recognize.
Olorun's eye twitched. "…Man, oh man, I do not like where this is going."
Olorun stared at the glowing card in the kid's hand, sweat dripping down his forehead.
"...what did I just get myself into?" he muttered.
The kid grinned wickedly. "So? You in, mister? Rock, paper, scissors. Winner takes all."
Olorun cracked his knuckles, then his neck, then did a few squats. "Pfft. Easy. You're looking at the undefeated, undisputed champion of RPS back in Kiniki Island. Beaches, parties, more beaches—and me, King of Rock–Paper–Scissors!"
The kid raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Cool story. Still gonna beat you."
"Now—shake my hand." The kid added with a smirk
Suspicious, Olorun squinted. "Shake your…? This is already sketchy, but whatever, let's do this."
He clasped the kid's hand—
BOOM!
Chains burst into existence, snapping around their wrists and linking them together. Blue sparks lit the air. Olorun's eyes bulged.
"WHAAAAA—WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" He yanked at the chains, panic setting in.
The kid just grinned. "Welcome to the real game."
Olorun's skin flickered blue—then his whole body turned translucent. He gasped, looking through his own arms like glass. His voice cracked. "I—I can see my veins! And my bones! Oh my god, I'm a ghost! I didn't sign up to be a damn Casper!"
The kid's eyes glowed faintly. "This is Noya's style of rock–paper–scissors. Once we bet something, we turn into spirits so no one else can see us. Then the Chains of the Soul Reaper appear. If you can't keep your bet, or if you lose ten rounds…" He tugged the chain, metal rattling. "Your soul gets taken."
Olorun's jaw dropped. "DUDE! This is a LIFE OR DEATH GAME?! Man oh man, your guys' rock–paper–scissors SUCKS!"
The kid smirked. "Grow some balls, miss female."
Olorun snapped. "HEY! I ain't no female! These are MANLY blue sparks you're seeing!"
The kid balled his left fist, raising it up. "Then stop whining. Let's go."
Inside Olorun's mind:Okay, okay, don't freak out. It's just a kid. A smug little brat. I can beat him. This isn't Eleo I'm fighting—thank god. For some reason that bunny cheats. Not saying he does, but… he totally does.
He clenched his right fist, forcing a grin. "Alright, kid. You're about to get schooled."
The boy smirked wider. "Good. Let's say it together."
They both took their stances.
"ROCK! PAPER! SCISSORS! SHOOT!"
Olorun slammed his hand down—ROCK.
The kid flashed PAPER.
The chains rattled, glowing bright.
Olorun's eyes shot open wide. "OH, COME ON—!"
Suddenly his body lurched upward, yanked by invisible force. "WHYYYY AM I FLYING?!"
The kid pointed upward calmly. "Look."
Olorun tilted his head back. Above them, a jagged barrier of lightning crackled in the sky like a dome.
The kid smirked, tugging on the chain."Every time you lose a round, the chain drags you up into that lightning barrier. Shocks the life outta you, just to remind you this isn't a joke." He leaned in, eyes glowing. "But that's not the real danger. When the game ends, the loser has to pay the bet. If they can't… or if they won't…" The chain rattled, glowing brighter. "…their soul gets taken instead."
Olorun thrashed mid-air. "WHAT?! THAT'S INSANE! That's not even a game! That's—That's TORTURE! That's ELECTROCUTION WITH EXTRA STEPS!"
The kid tilted his head. "It's called حاصد الأرواح لعبة."
Olorun groaned, dragging himself up by the chain. "I don't even know what that means!"
The kid's grin widened, eyes glowing brighter. "It means… Soul Reaper's Game."