When the rays of the sun fell on Eli, Ethan finally saw how Eli looked like. Eli was about 16 year old boy with brown hair. He was skinny and his skin was a little pale. Eli's eyes were closed at the moment.
Ethan was observing his new friend when he heard footstep coming from the corridor. Two guards came toward Ethan's cell. One of them scan his ring on the black screen of Ethan's cell and it opened with a ding sound.
Another guard said coldly to Ethan "come with us to punishment Arena today is judgment day for people who came last 3 places in ranking board. As a newcomer you have to come to the arena to watch. It's one rule here. Now let's go"
Ethan looked at these scary looking guys with varying eyes. He looked at Eli to find what to do. Eli simply nodded to him, indicating that they were saying truth his eyes never opened for a second. Ethan wants to ask Eli why he isn't coming to him, but guard pushed him forward so Ethan start walking helplessly.
They walked through who known how many corridors, then went upstairs to ground floor. The corridors were lit with light stones there was not a single window here. After walking for a while they finally reached the arena. When they reached their there was three more children with them that they picked up on the way. There was a girl and two boys all older than Ethan.
If Ethan says that he was not scared at all then he was lying. But he forced himself to stay calm. Actually, he wants to run from here immediately, but accounting for Eli information it was impossible to leave this place yet. So, Ethan has no choice but follow their rules for now.
When they enter in arena Ethan was blinded temporary from light. When his eyes adjust to light, he saw an arena that was fully lit up by many light stones. Light stones were stones that give light and a little heat naturally they usually found underground and is a common source of light that use everywhere.
The arena was really big it can easily take in hundreds of people without feeling crowded. In the center there was plain ground sealed by 10 meter high walls. The arena was half filled when they arrived. People there were mostly about 12-14 year old.
The guards that came with them stand on the side door. When Ethan saw other 3 have found themselves a seat he also sat down on a corner seat.
Ethan was uncomfortable, there was a feeling in his heart that something bad was about to happen.
They waited about half an hour before a man wearing a white robe came at the platform. He was wearing glasses and his hair was combed neatly.
In his hand was echo relic that helped to raise the voice of the host. "Welcome everybody to punishment Arena, I'm your host Simon" Simon said to the crowd as he look around. "As you know today we gather to see the execution of the people that take last three places in bronze ranking board." When Simon said this crowd erupted in cheer.
When Simon saw crowd can't wait to start execution, he gestures toward his assistant. His assistant gave him a black box. Simon continued "as usual, we will use lot to choose our executor. We will not be heartless and give our unlucky fellow a chance if they can defeat or kill our executor, there life will be spare."
After saying this Simon takes out a ball from the box and read its content aloud "our executor today will be bronze skin monkey" when Simon say this crowd went silent before erupting in cheers again.
Bronze skin monkeys are a tier 0 beast, but these monkeys are ruthless in nature, they like to play with their prey before eating them.
Under the platform where Simon was standing, light barrier was disabled from the door as a giant monkey came out of it. It was about 2.5 meters tall, hairless and have a bronze color skin. Its skin was as strong as bronze. When he came out of the door it roars loudly toward the sky.
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"Now let welcome our first unlucky fellow, who came first from last." As Simon says this light barrier of opposite door disable. From there came a boy seemed too pushed out. When Ethan saw the boy he froze for a moment because the person who just entered in the arena was his new buddy Eli!
When Ethan saw Eli there he stands up from his seat and rushed toward him. He didn't want to see another person that was dear to him dying in front of him. He knows Eli for a half a day, but in his heart he made a special place for himself because of his good nature.
But before Ethan could take a second step toward Eli he was pinched down by a guard. Ethan starts struggling to free himself. People beside him, looked him with disgust and start discussing between them. Newcomers also distance themselves from him.
Because of commotion made by Ethan, Eli looked toward him. Eli saw a 10 year old boy who cannot even protect himself trying to come and save him. There was a warm feeling in his heart. He thought to himself 'it's not bad to see someone trying to save me'
When Eli first brought here he made friend with some people. He trusted them and risks his life for them. He hunts with them and trying to live in this living hell with them. Eli was really outstanding in hunting. He made a sufficient point to always stay in a safe position. When his friends were about to go to the deadline because of insufficient point he always share his points to maintain them to a safe position on ranking board.
But in the end because of jealousy they betrayed him. They left him with a group of beast for his death. He was able to survive from them, but was severely injured in the process. After coming back he used all his points to save his life.
He was able to save his life, but his battle power was sharply decreased because of the hidden effect of the health potion he has taken.
Health potion was able to heal any wound instantly, but there was a side effect of it that was more severe than dying. The consumer can't able to absorb any aura practical from nature and there have also hidden side effect. Higher grade of portion has less hidden side effect. These health potions are banned, but here you can have anything as long you have sufficient points.
Eli is known that after taking health potion he will be not able to absorb Aura particles again, but his desire to live made him to take this step.
Eli didn't know that high grade potion will affect his health. He never heard anyone that after consuming high grade portion their health starts deteriorating. It was symptom from consuming a low grade potion. When he ponder about it, he came realization that he was betrayed again by the person he least expected Amy.
Eli always liked Amy and trusted her the most. When his friends trap him Amy was not there that day so he thought he can only trust her. But who would have known that she also betray him. Back then he was in critical condition so he gave his points to Amy in order to get a high grade healing portion. But Amy gave him the lowest grade potion.
He was able to preserve his life from it, but its side effect was severe. His health starts to deteriorate slowly day by day. It's not like there was no method to stop his health from deteriorating, but he can't afford it.
If not for these events he would not be in this situation. And this beast that standing in front of him should be a piece of cake. But in this place there is no any place for it. He knows he going to die today.
Eli smiled toward Ethan, when Ethan saw Eli smiling, he start struggling more intensely. He has very bad feeling about all of this.
Eli moved his lips as saying something because of distance his voice could not reach to Ethan. But when Ethan saw Eli speaking as if Eli was speaking in his head "stay strong and don't give up, Goodbye my friend."
When these words appear in Ethan mind, Eli takes out a dagger form his trouser and he pierced his chest with it. Everybody was shocked with Eli sudden action. When Ethan saw this, his tears start falling uncontrollably.
Simon said in a disappointed voice "it looked like our fellow doesn't want to be toyed to death by our executor. So he committed suicide." As he was saying this bronze skin monkey leap toward dying Eli and picked him up by his big hands. And rip apart Eli's body from waist in two. As if it didn't satisfied with it, he tosses the Eli's body on the ground and start stomping on it making his body meat paste.
"Looked like our little fellow action made our executor enrage. And now his body does not even recognize able, you cannot even tell if he was a human or no. hahaha" Simon cheerful voice came. Crowd who watched this scene erupted in cheer, as they enjoy this scene.
As for Ethan he stopped crying and looked at the host who was describing the scene again cheerfully and these people who were enjoying the scene. He suddenly recalled Eli's words from last night "In this world only powerful people will remain laughing at the end and weak always lose things that are precious to them." He feels like in his heart something die. His eyes become cold.