The world dissolved into a blinding white. Eren blinked, his head pounding like a drum solo performed by a giant. The sterile light gave way to a swirling kaleidoscope of colors, settling on a scene that defied logic.
He was sprawled on cold, grey stone, the air thick with a metallic tang. Towering above him, impossibly high, stretched walls of obsidian, their surface etched with cryptic symbols that glowed with an eerie inner light. The air vibrated with a low, ominous hum, as if the very ground thrummed with a monstrous heartbeat.
Disoriented, Eren attempted to scramble to his feet, a groan escaping his lips. A searing pain lanced through his right ankle, reminding him of the brutal training session with Mikasa just yesterday. But yesterday had been sun-drenched training grounds, not this… this nightmare.
Panic clawed at his throat. Where was he? Was this some elaborate training exercise gone wrong? A cruel joke by Levi?
A whimper escaped his lips as he scanned his surroundings. A figure lay sprawled a few feet away, their celestial mage robes tangled around them. Lucy. Relief washed over him, a fleeting comfort in this alien landscape.
He crawled towards her, ignoring the throbbing in his ankle. Lucy stirred at his touch, her golden eyes fluttering open. Recognition dawned, then morphed into terror as she took in their surroundings.
"Eren? What… where…?" Her voice trembled, mirroring his own fear.
"I don't know," he rasped, the dryness in his throat a stark contrast to the humid air. "But this doesn't look good."
As if summoned by his words, a booming voice echoed through the vast chamber. It seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once, vibrating through their very bones.
"Welcome, chosen ones," the voice boomed, a deep, theatrical baritone that sent shivers down Eren's spine. "You have been brought here to participate in the grand entertainment of the Pantheon!"
Eren exchanged a confused look with Lucy. Pantheon? Entertainment? This was some kind of twisted game, and he wasn't sure he liked the sound of being a 'chosen one' in it.
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A spotlight pierced the gloom, illuminating a raised platform at the far end of the arena. A figure stood there, bathed in the harsh white light. It was a man, impossibly tall and broad-shouldered, clad in golden armor that gleamed like a beacon in the semi-darkness. His face was obscured by a helm shaped like a bull's head, leaving only a cruel smile visible beneath the horns.
"I am Deus," the voice boomed again, "God-King of the Pantheon!"
Deus gestured with a hand encased in a gleaming gauntlet. The oppressive silence that followed was broken only by the rhythmic hum of the arena. Lucy huddled closer to him, her celestial keys dangling uselessly at her waist.
"But where are we?" Eren demanded, his voice surprisingly steady despite the tremor in his hand.
"You are in the Arena of the Pantheon, mortals," Deus replied, his voice dripping with amusement. "A place where the greatest warriors from across dimensions clash for the amusement of the gods!"
A wave of nausea washed over Eren. Warriors? This wasn' t a training exercise. This was a fight for survival, and they were woefully unprepared. He glanced at Lucy, whose eyes were wide with terror. Her celestial magic, her greatest strength, was useless without her keys.
As if sensing their helplessness, Deus chuckled, a sound that echoed through the arena like stones rolling down a mountain. "Fear not, little ones," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I have graciously stripped you of your pathetic magic and weapons. Here, you will fight on equal footing, relying solely on your wit and… shall we say… primal instincts."
Eren's fists clenched. Stripped? His rage, usually a potent weapon, felt hollow, impotent against these unseen forces. A metallic clang echoed around them as a large metal cage materialized around the platform, trapping Deus inside.
His amusement vanished, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. "Let the games begin!" he roared.
The ground shuddered as a massive metal gate at the opposite end of the arena groaned open, revealing a dark tunnel that led deeper into the bowels of the structure. From the inky depths, a low growl rose, sending chills down Eren's spine.
A figure emerged from the darkness, its form obscured by shadows. It was large, vaguely humanoid, but with a hulking frame and an array of wicked claws glinting in the dim light. The creature let out a bone-chilling roar, the sound reverberating through the arena and stirring a primal fear within Eren.
Before he could react, a voice cut through the tension. A young man with dark hair and glasses perched on his nose, emerged from the shadows behind them. He was tall and slender, but his posture radiated an air of quiet confidence that contrasted sharply with the terror etched on Eren and Lucy's faces. His attire was far from what one would expect in a gladiatorial arena. He wore a simple white button-up shirt, the sleeves pushed up to reveal slender forearms, and a pair of dark slacks.
"Well, this isn't exactly how I pictured spending my afternoon," the young man remarked, his voice dry and sardonic. Despite the situation, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Though, giant monster and all, points for theatricality."