The platform lifted Jen, Liya, and Yuna back up into the arena. Looking around, Jen saw that only five others had made it through the maze - Kaganji, Tenchi, Elain, Zara, and Elara. The rest must have fallen prey to the lethal traps within.

Jen caught sight of Elian lounging against a wall, looking irritatingly relaxed. So he had survived as well. Jen still didn't trust the self-interested mentalist, but they needed all the help they could get if they were going to have any chance of defeating Lizayon.

Speak of the devil - the ethereal being materialized atop his floating throne as the contestants gathered below. "Well done to those of you who survived the first challenge," he said, smiling. "You have proven yourselves worthy of continuing to the next round."

With a wave of his hand, Lizayon made screens appear depicting the gruesome fates of the three fallen contestants: Darien, Bastian, and Turok. Jen looked away as Bastian was crushed by a spiked piston, trying not to let Lizayon get the reaction he wanted.

"Now, for your next test," Lizayon continued. "You will be paired off for duels. The winners will advance. As before, you are free to use any methods at your disposal to defeat your opponent."

Jen tensed. So now they had to directly fight and eliminate each other down to just four. Lizayon was certainly a master at manipulation - turning allies against one another.

Liya leaned over to Jen. "Don't worry, we can find a way around this. We're not going to play his sick games." Jen gave a subtle nod. He had to believe they could outwit the tyrant.

With a snap of Lizayon's fingers, the pairs materialized in different corners of the arena:

Jen vs. Elian

Liya vs. Elara

Yuna vs. Zara

Kaganji vs. Tenchi

Jen eyed Elian warily as they faced off. He didn't know the full extent of the mentalist's powers, but he couldn't let his guard down.

"Let the duels commence!" Lizayon's voice echoed.

Elian gave a mock bow. "May the best man win." His hand moved quickly as if throwing something.

Suddenly, Jen felt a presence invading his mind. His vision swam and distorted. Shaking his head, he tried to resist, but the presence only pressed deeper into his psyche.

You want to surrender the match, a voice whispered in his mind. Just surrender and rest. Why fight it?

Jen's limbs grew heavy, his powers flickering out of reach. Gritting his teeth, he pushed back mentally against the insidious presence. Elian's eyes widened in surprise at the resistance.

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"Nice...try," Jen gasped out. With immense effort, he seized control of his warped reality and flung the mental hold off. Elian stumbled back, looking stunned.

"But not good enough," Jen finished. Drawing on his powers, he visualized chains erupting from the ground to bind Elian in place. In a flash of light, the chains became real, entangling the mentalist.

Elian struggled uselessly against his bonds. "Well...played," he said with grudging respect.

Jen turned away from his defeated opponent, mentally exhausted but triumphant. He surveyed the other duels - Liya had tricked Elara with an illusion while Yuna caused Zara's mech suit to seize up. Tenchi lay crumbled at Kaganji's feet.

Four battles, four victors. The second round was complete. Jen only hoped these small wins meant they were one step closer to their freedom.

Lizayon descended from his throne, chuckling softly as he observed the aftermath. With a wave, he made the chains around Elian vanish.

"Well done on this victory, my players," he purred. "Though not all of you were so fortunate." His gaze lingered on Zara and the others who had been defeated.

Jen tensed, realizing what was about to happen. "You've already proven your point," he said sharply. "Just send them back to Earth with the others, they're no more threat to you."

Lizayon smiled coldly. "Come now, rules are rules. Only the victors advance to the next round. As for the losers..."

He made a twisting gesture with his fingers. Zara and the others suddenly clutched their throats, faces contorting in pain. Within moments, they collapsed lifeless to the arena floor.

"No!" Liya cried. She flung a projection of Zara at Lizayon's feet. "Does this entertain you, monster? Murdering innocents?"

Lizayon regarded the illusory Zara curiously. With a flick, he dissolved the illusion. "I do not require consent to pursue my desires. And your lives belong to me now."

Liya trembled with rage, but Jen put a hand on her shoulder. "He's not worth it," Jen said quietly. "We'll make him pay in the end." As much as it pained him, they could not afford to make reckless attacks - not yet.

Lizayon smiled. "Your end, perhaps. But we are just getting started." He floated back up onto his throne. "You may rest briefly. Then the real games will begin." His mocking laughter echoed as he vanished.

Jen clenched his fists as Lizayon disappeared. The cruel being's disregard for life sickened him. But reacting blindly would only lead to more deaths. They had to keep their wits and wait for an opportunity.

Liya let out a shaky breath, reigning in her emotions. "We can't let him get to us," she said. "That's what he wants."

Jen gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We'll find a way to stop him. For now, let's look out for each other." He was glad to have allies like Liya in this nightmare.

The remaining four gathered together, wary of any further tricks. But the arena remained still. Jen reached out mentally for any surveillance, but sensed nothing. Perhaps Lizayon was allowing them this brief reprieve.

Yuna spoke up first. "Clearly these challenges are designed to make us eliminate each other. But we don't have to play along."

Kaganji nodded. "Agreed. I believe non-violent resistance may be our best strategy for now. Refuse to fight one another. Force Lizayon to alter the games."

It was a risky gambit, but better than slaying their allies. Together, they had a chance of outmaneuvering their captor.

They settled in to plan, but exhaustion soon claimed them. One by one they slipped into uneasy sleep on the cold arena floor, the day's trauma lingering in their dreams. All except Jen, who leaned against the wall on watch for any threats. Someone had to stay alert.

Jen gazed up at the stars beyond the arena ceiling, so strangely familiar. The same stars he had looked to for guidance as a homeless kid on the streets of Neo-Tokyo. He had escaped dire straits before - he could do it again. For his parents, and for all the lives lost today, he had to try.