Jen Kol Uhari sat alone on the rooftop, looking up at the night sky. The lights of Neo-Tokyo glowed all around him, but up here, he felt free. Free from the memories that seemed to haunt him everywhere else.
It had been 10 years since that horrible night. The night his parents died in a tragic accident when he was just 7 years old. He still remembered the sight of the burning car wreckage, his parents trapped inside. The authorities said it was just an accident caused by a drunk driver, but Jen knew there was more to it. His parents had been targeted because of the experiments. Because of him.
Jen had been born with a rare gift - the power to warp reality around him with just a thought. His parents had helped him hone his abilities in secret, not wanting the government to find out. But someone had discovered their work, and now they were gone.
Jen looked down at the snake tattoo on his neck, a reminder of that fateful night. He had been on the run ever since, using his powers to survive on the streets. He kept to himself, not trusting anyone. He had considered leaving Neo-Tokyo to avoid being discovered, but this city was his home. He wasn’t going to let anyone drive him away.
As Jen sat pondering the lights of the city, a strange feeling suddenly came over him. His snake tattoo began to glow faintly. Jen’s senses went on high alert - something was very wrong. He prepared to use his powers to warp away from danger. But before he could act, everything went black.
When Jen awoke, he found himself lying in a stark white room. It was completely empty except for a large metal door on one end. Jen jumped to his feet, instantly on guard. How did he get here? What was going on?
Cautiously, Jen approached the door. As he reached out his hand, it suddenly slid open with a hiss. Jen tensed, ready to warp if necessary. But instead of an attacker, a girl around his age stood in the doorway.
She had long silver hair and sharp green eyes. She was dressed in a black and white jumpsuit, a utility belt around her waist. She seemed just as surprised to see Jen as he was to see her.
“Who are you?” Jen asked guardedly. “Where are we?”
The girl held up her hands cautiously. “Hey, relax. I’m just as confused as you are. My name’s Liya. I was just minding my own business when I suddenly blacked out and woke up here.”
Jen studied her closely. She didn’t seem like a threat. And if she had been taken here too, then they were likely in the same predicament.
He lowered his guard slightly. “I’m Jen. Any idea what this place is?”
Liya shook her head. “No clue. I already searched the whole room looking for a way out or any hints, but no dice.”
She waved her hand through the wall next to her, demonstrating her ability to phase through solid objects. “I can get us out of this room at least. Come on.”
Jen and Liya made their way cautiously down a long white hallway. Everything was eerily quiet and still. It was hard to believe this sterile environment was really somewhere on Earth.
As they approached a junction in the hallway, they heard voices coming from one direction. Jen gestured to Liya, who turned invisible so they could investigate without being seen.
Peering around the corner, they saw a group of people gathered in a larger room. Some sat on beds or chairs, while others paced around restlessly. They all wore confused and frightened expressions.
Jen’s eyes scanned the group, assessing their threat levels out of habit. One man in particular caught his attention - he seemed strangely calm compared to the others. He wore a lab coat and glasses, and kept glancing down at a tablet he held. Jen guessed he was some kind of scientist.
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Suddenly, the man looked up directly at Jen and Liya’s hiding spot, his eyes flashing.
“You two might as well come out,” he called. “Don’t worry, we’re all captives here, just like you.”
Liya reappeared, looking embarrassed that she had been noticed. Jen maintained his guard as they entered the room. If this man could somehow detect Liya when she was invisible, he likely had powers too.
“How did you know we were there?” Liya asked. “Who are you?”
“My name is Kaganji,” the man replied. “Let’s just say I have an enhanced brain that allows me to...pick up on things. But as I said, you have nothing to fear from us.”
Jen studied Kaganji and the others carefully. “Do you have any idea where we are? Why we were taken?”
Kaganji shook his head. “No, all we know is that we blacked out at home and awoke here, just like you.”
One of the other captives, an athletic young woman, spoke up. “We’ve all been discussing our situation. It’s clear we were chosen and brought here somehow. And it can’t be a coincidence we all seem to have...special talents.”
Jen and Liya exchanged a glance. It seemed everyone here had powers like them. Which meant someone had specifically targeted them.
Before they could ponder this further, a hidden door suddenly slid open at the far end of the room. Everyone tensed, unsure what to expect.
A tall, muscular man strode in. He had shortly cropped black hair, piercing eyes, and a large cityscape tattoo covering his right arm. His face was expressionless as he surveyed the room.
Jen shifted into a fighting stance, ready to defend himself if needed. But the man made no threatening moves.
“Welcome, guests,” he said in a gravelly voice. “I am called Raven. I apologize for the manner in which you were brought here. Please, if you’ll come with me, all will be explained.”
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Could they trust this Raven? What awaited them if they followed? But what choice did they have?
Raven led them through a maze of corridors to an enormous arena. The stands were empty, and the arena floor was bare except for a large, floating throne at its center. Seated upon the throne was a thin, pale being draped in red and gold robes. He watched them approach with an amused smile.
“Greetings, players,” the being said in an eerie, melodic voice. “Welcome to my world. I am Lizayon, your host.”
Lizayon extended his arms, and screens appeared in the air around him. Each one showed footage of the people in the group from the cameras in the facility.
“As you have no doubt gathered, I have brought you here, to this planet, for a particular purpose,” Lizayon continued. “You have been chosen because of your special talents. Abilities beyond those of normal humans.”
Jen clenched his fists. What sort of sick game was this Lizayon playing? Abducting people and forcing them to use their powers for his amusement?
Lizayon tapped the screens, and they switched to show a sprawling, war-torn cityscape. Strange creatures lurked in the shadows.
“You now find yourselves on Zaryn, a planet much like your Earth. I created this place to serve as an arena for the Tournament of Talents - a game where your abilities will be tested to the fullest.”
Murmurs rippled through the group. Jen maintained his composure, but internally he was analyzing the situation, looking for potential escape routes and weaknesses.
Lizayon rose from his throne. “The rules are simple. You will all be injected with tracking chips. The tournament will consist of a series of challenges across various terrains and environments. Those who survive the longest will be declared the winners.”
He smiled coldly. “Of course, players may use any means necessary to eliminate each other from the competition. Only the strongest will prevail.”
Jen narrowed his eyes. So that was Lizayon’s intention - to make them fight and kill each other with their powers for his twisted entertainment.
Well, Jen wasn’t about to become a pawn in some intergalactic super-powered Hunger Games. As soon as the opportunity arose, he would warp himself and anyone else he could back to Earth, chips or no chips.
But for now, he had to play along and wait for the right opening. Lizayon clearly had resources and abilities beyond anything on Earth. A direct attack would only end in defeat. Patience was key.
“What if we refuse to participate?” Kaganji spoke up calmly.
Lizayon shrugged. “Then I suppose I have no use for you. Though I would hate to dispose of such unique talents.”
The threat was clear. Comply or die. Of course, cooperating likely only delayed the inevitable. But it did buy them time.
“I will give you an hour to discuss among yourselves,” Lizayon declared. “Then the Tournament of Talents begins. Do not attempt to leave this facility. My associate Raven will be watching.”
With that, Lizayon vanished in a flash of light, leaving the group to try to make sense of their impossible situation.