The Arena of Blood

Kai stood up as the Master entered the training hall. Without hesitation, Kai stepped forward, extending his hand. The Master clasped it firmly.

In that instant, both minds clicked the same thought:

“He is strong.”

Before the moment could linger, Luthra’s sharp voice rang out:

“Guys, we have to go for our entrance on the ground!”

The Master glanced at his demons. One by one, they rose to their feet. Soon everyone gathered around Luthra, forming a line. Together, they marched down a narrow passage.

The path opened into a massive field—like a cricket stadium, but wilder, the grass thick and untamed. The arena stretched vast and alive with energy.

Crowds upon crowds. Thousands filled the seats, shouting, cheering, stomping. Fifteen contestants stood at the center of the ground, their presence swallowed by the ocean of voices.

Suddenly, silence.

Far above, in a glass-covered royal chamber, the King entered. The entire crowd rose and bowed in unison. The King sat—and as the Master’s eyes found him, the King raised a single thumb, signaling:

“Do well.”

The Master nodded slightly.

A man appeared on a raised stage, holding a hollow pipe in his hands. He shouted through it, his voice amplified like thunder.

“Come on, everyone! Cheer for our contestants!”

The pipe’s strange magic cut through the noise like a blade. The crowd erupted, cheering, eating, drinking, roaring in chaos.

The announcer roared again, his voice shaking the ground:

“Contestants! You will face FOUR ROUNDS!”

“Let me be clear—FOUR ROUNDS!!”

Shock ran through the contestants. They glanced at each other, uneasy.

The man continued:

“The first round is the approval of the King and the audience. You will show a demonstration of your power. If you are approved, you advance. After that, you’ll hear the rules of the second round! Now—please take your seats near the ground’s edge!”

He raised the pipe dramatically.

“And the first contestant is… the Nature Group!”

The crowd’s cheer faltered. From the seats, someone shouted mockingly:

“What kind of weird name is that?”

The announcer snapped back, his voice booming:

“Could you please shut up?!”

The heckler sat down at once.

From the gate, the 10 Forest Eaters walked into the arena. They were the first of the fourteen fighters. Reaching the center, they joined hands, forming a circle. Their eyes shut, a ritual beginning.

The grass within the circle vanished.

One second later, a tiny plant sprouted in the middle.

The crowd’s reaction was weak, mocking. Laughter trickled in. Even the King frowned, then raised his hand in rejection.

The announcer raised the pipe once more:

“I am sorry—but you are all DISQUALIFIED!”

Suddenly, a tall young woman entered from the gate. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-three. She wore a strange green dress, her beauty sharp and regal. The crowd erupted in cheers.

Walking gracefully, dramatically, she approached the Nature Group. Her voice carried across the stadium:

“What a disgusting power. I’m sorry to do this… but I have to.”

She snapped her fingers.

In an instant—ten lives vanished.

The Forest Eaters were gone. Only the blood remained, splattered red across the green field.

The entire arena froze. Silence. Not a whisper.

Then, like a storm breaking, the announcer’s voice boomed:

“OK! The second contestant is—Blade and his crew!!”

The crowd went mad, roaring, chanting Blade’s name.

The Master walked forward, shock and anger burning in his eyes. His voice rang out across the stadium:

“What happened to those fighters?!”

The cheers faltered.

The announcer barked back:

“They went home!”

The Master’s voice rose, furious:

“Quit fooling! There’s blood on the ground—maybe that woman killed them!”

The crowd exploded with laughter, rolling in amusement.

The announcer’s reply cut through:

“Sir Blade, relax. They were teleported home by trap magic. The blood is only the residue of dimensional change. Now—please step forward.”

Embarrassed, the Master walked to the center. But his voice still carried anger:

“Hey! I want somebody to fight me! Let me show my power! I’m not some weird gardener!”

The crowd roared with laughter again, louder, harder.

Moments later, a man entered from the gate.

The Master sighed, unimpressed:

“Hey! I want a serious fight. Can I fight that woman who teleported those guys?”

The laughter doubled, people nearly falling from their seats.

The announcer shouted:

“Are you serious, Sir Blade?! Do you even know who she is?! She’s the daughter of the leader of the Ten Gems!”

The Master stretched casually, replying:

“Yeah, yeah… just proceed.”

This time, the crowd turned serious.

The Master turned to his demons:

“Do not interfere.”

They stepped back at once.

The arena vibrated with energy. The woman entered the ground, laughter echoing as she faced the Master.