Chapter 6: Colosseum of Nightmare (4)
"Eleventh Contestant, step forward."
Aside from the fourth contestant, till now, nobody had survived. It has been a nightmare for everyone. As the fifth contestant stated, killing their opponent is the only way but even when the contestants steeled their hearts to do so, none of them were as quick as the fourth one. And all of them were devoured by reptilian monsters.
The fact that every opponent turned out to be the same kind of monster made others bold. Why wouldn't they? There is a healthy chance that even if they kill their 'loved' one, they might just be monsters in human skin. So for sake of their own survival, they were willing to take the risk.
The eleventh contestant was the last female alive. She wore her flaming red hair in a plait and wore slightly thicker sweatpants and sweatshirt. Given that Reed was going through a terrible summer back at his own place, it was easy to deduce that the girl lived further upto the northern or southern states of the belt continent.
'How will she face them? After her, the twelfth one is the blue-haired guy next to me and then it's my turn. But she looks calmer than others. Well, everyone tried to kill their opponents but before they could even close the distance, a part of their opponents' body would change. It's as if the process had been quickened after the fifth contestant posed his own thoughts,' Reed eyed the girl for a moment.
Just like the girl, he was one of his kind now.
The other two men who were in their underwear were monster dinner now.
'But am I really the only one with a gun?' Reed grew confused. Why would he be the only one with a gun? Is the weapon placement as the last prize completely random?
Soon, the girl's opponent revealed itself in the form of an emaciated old man. He wore a thin white robe, his skin slightly grey and his eyebrows were long enough to droop from the sides. His bald head was filled with wrinkles.
Seeing the old man, the girl's expression turned complicated.
"Young Miss... you have grown up," the old man whispered and his voice was extremely raspy and unpleasant. His smile stretched and tugged on his wrinkled face, making it like a shriveled piece of cloth scrunched together but nonetheless, the girl did not move.
"This is a variant space, Ken. The mastermind is most probably a warlock. Either you live and I die, or the opposite."
The girl whispered softly.
"Hehehe."
Her words made the old man chuckle. He observed the flame-haired girl for a while. His dry gaze revealing a deep fascination and reverence as he slowly lowered his body.
"I know what is going on, Young Miss... this situation is certainly terrible. Sigh, dead should stay dead."
As he spoke, a sigh unconsciously left his thin lips. At this moment, the old man's left arm swelled. His thin, bark-like arm grew scales and his fingers grew thick, destructive claws.
"I meant what I said last time. One lifetime isn't enough for the sins I committed. This is the second life. I hope, the next time I have the fortune of meeting you, I can serve by your side once again."
The old man revealed a cruel expression. But when Reed thought that the girl would definitely die, his eyes widened in surprise as the old man stabbed his own arm inside his chest.
*Spurt*
A fountain of blood splashed from his back as the old man looked towards the screen.
"These... creatures... are kind. Stop... abusing them..." he whispered while looking at the screen but his whisper was too soft. The only reply the old man ever got was the slight shift in the golden screen's hue but none of the surviving contestants noticed it.
"I hope to meet you again."
The girl bowed slightly before her body was pushed back and she was forced to stay in her place.
"Congratulations. You survive."
The words were plain and simple without a shred of mockery. A treatment that the fourth contestant wasn't fortunate enough to receive.
"Congratulations. Twelfth contestant survives."
The words changed once again, making Reed startled. But not only reed, the girl glanced towards the blue-haired youth with a long katana to her right side and frowned.
Why?
This was the question that had others intrigued. But as curious Reed might be, he knew one thing. It was his turn now. And it would be better to keep his mouth shut or who knows what might rub the being behind all this in a negative manner. The memory of the second contestant having his head exploded was still quite fresh.
"Thirteenth contestant, step forward."
With that, Reed's heart shook. He was clearly unwilling to step forward but an invisible force pushed him forever. His bare feet slid over the dusty surface of the arena while his back was already soaked.
As a member of society, Reed was quite ordinary in the way he presented himself. Dark hair parted 3/4 the way to his right, an ordinary build with a flabby stomach, loose muscular structure with no form or shape of training relevant. And multiple 'entertainment' videos made Reed realize that he was quite average in private matters, too.
But never in his life would he have thought that the only person who could confirm his average status in the matters of bed would actually step out of the other side of the arena.
Wearing a pair of blue denim capri pants, the woman had a slender build as shown by the brown crop top. Her short, dark hair reached the nape of her neck and her skin looked slightly tanned.
"Juli?" Reed's lips parted in surprise.
"Reed?" The girl gasped in surprise herself.
"What are you doing here?" both of them exclaimed at the same time before Reed snapped out of it.
He clearly realized his own mistake.
His body grew tense and his hands slowly reached down into his underwear.
"Hey! What the heck?!" Juli growled as she saw Reed's action but as if she wasn't even there, Reed pushed his hand and to Juli, it looked like Reed was grasping something hard.
"Disgusting," she whispered with her eyes turning cold.
"Where am I, freak? Did you do something? Gosh, can't you get over me?" Juli gave a mocking sneer as she began walking towards Reed but much to her surprise, Reed suddenly pulled out a dangerous weapon and pointed the muzzle of the cold-looking steel gun towards her. At her face, to be precise.
"Do not take another step, Juli," Reed gulped.
Now he knew why others couldn't unhesitatingly attack despite having weapons. He was hesitating to shoot Juli and she was just his ex. Others faced their families!
'Wait... why would I face Juli? Could it be that deep down I'm really not over her? It seems a bit ridiculous. And with the gun in my hand... it seems just so... easy...' Reed's gaze turned strange for a moment.
Others seemed to have realized the nature of the thirteenth contestant's and his opponent's relationship and they, too, concluded the same thing.
"W-wait, Reed. Let's talk this out. I really thought our break-up went well. What's all this about?" Juli hurriedly raised her hands slightly as if trying to calm him down but recalling the terrifying claws, Reed only grew more nervous.
"What is the last thing you remember?" Reed turned off the safety and inquired with slight coldness in his voice. It is definitely hard. But he did not want to die. At least, not facing Juli.
"The last thing? I was with Lea and others shopping. Look, I don't know what's going on but if we calm down and talk about this—"
"Lower your hands," Reed commanded.
"What?" Juli was startled.
"I said, lower it!" Reed lowered his left hand onto the base of the handle for support while his right, uninjured arm was alleviated while he aimed at Juli. She wasn't particularly far.
"O-okay. Promise not to shoot," she inquired.
Thinking for a moment, Reed revealed a look of hesitation and then nodded.
'Don't let her turn. Attack the moment it looks like she's going to turn... as the fifth said. It's either her or me. Not to mention the fact that there is a chance that the Miracle doesn't want any of us to live. Or else, why would it supposedly help fifth's sister?'
Reed's thoughts churned. But he had to focus.
The slightest change may cost his life.
"There..." Juli sighed as she lowered her hand.
For a moment, things grew silent and Reed kept his eyes on her face and hands.
"Was it true?" Reed finally inquired.
"What was?" Julia inquired as Reed failed to notice the slight bulge of vein over her ankles while the rest of her feet were covered by shoes.
"That there was no overlap?"
"Yeah... like I said back then. It grew boring between us. And I never cheated on my tests, much less relationships," Julia shrugged.
Hesitating for a moment, she inquired, "What about you? I heard that you didn't attend your university entrance exams."
"Money is a bit tight. But I don't really plan to study any longer," Reed tightened his grip over the handle of his gun. An odd sense of foreboding filled his heart.
"Why am I even here..." Juli's shoulders slumped down but a strange sound instantly made Reed shout, "Stop!"
*Bang*
He pulled the trigger.
As much as he would want to admit that it was an unconscious action, it would be a lie.
He acted in strange calmness.
He pulled the trigger the moment he felt something wrong.
His right shoulder cocked backward and his left elbow ached due to his previous injury and his eyes involuntarily closed up.
*Thud*
A soft thud made Reed suddenly snap his eyes open and his body was covered with cold sweat and a shiver ran down his spine.
He didn't see Juli standing anymore. Instead, she sprawled over the ground on her back with a thin trail of blood flowing down her forehead, making its way through the corner of her right eye before rushing down her cheek and meeting the slowly growing pool of blood beneath the back of her head.
But what attracted Reed's relief and horror was cold, gleaming claws torn through Juli's shoes.
'She really wasn't Juli... but she acted just like her. Even her answers and nature were the same...' Reed's gaze flashed, 'If she was the real deal... would I still feel relieved? Am I feeling relieved that I killed a monster? Even if it isn't Juli, what if I'm forced to fight other contestants? Would I pull the trigger so easily?'
Reed's mood grew complicated while his emotions felt stifled. It felt like a lump was stuck in his throat and he couldn't even breathe properly.
"Congratulations. You survive."
What happened next was of no concern to Reed. He felt slightly hollow. As if a piece of him was torn when he pulled the trigger.
This also failed Reed from noticing the strange glances set towards his gun.
'If you're holding a gun... just keep it in your hands and not over your tool!' The muscular youth next to Reed rolled his eyes. It was his turn now, and his fate unknown.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone