Arayn’s grin widened as Darius’s voice echoed in his mind.

“Saria eliminated. You receive 200 souls, 100 for elimination, 100 for first blood.”

The words settled in his mind, and for a fleeting moment, Arayn reflected on Saria’s downfall. Impatience. That was her greatest flaw. She clung to her desire of proving her worth and misplaced bravery, yet it had all led to a pathetic, inevitable end. He found no pity for her, only a cold detachment that underscored his nature. The strong survived; the weak were swept aside.

Turning his gaze back to Eryndor, Arayn taunted, “Did you hear that, Eryndor? I am sure you did. First blood.” He let out a low chuckle. “A little bonus for my efforts. Isn’t that something?”

Eryndor stepped forward, his jaw clenched as he confronted Arayn. Without hesitation, he activated [Corlust Eyes of Future Vision], the air around him shimmering faintly as the ability took hold. A future sight unfurled before him, sharpening his senses. In one harrowing vision, he saw Arayn’s blade slashing across his eyes.

Reacting instantly, Eryndor prepared to leap back, but just as his muscles tensed, his body froze in place. An invisible force gripped him, petrifying him mid-motion.

Arayn’s smirk deepened as he raised his sword, dark tendrils enveloping it. “[Soul Rend],” he muttered. The blade hummed with dark energy as it sliced across Eryndor’s eyes.

The world around Eryndor dissolved into darkness as his vision was stripped away.

Arayn took a step back. “What’s the point of seeing the future,” he mused, “if your body can’t keep up?”

Eryndor’s breathing grew ragged, the searing pain fueling his rage. With a roar, he unleashed a torrent of beam-like arcs from his sword, the radiant slashes tearing through the air.

Arayn tilted his head, his eyes shifting toward the alley where Soren crouched in hiding. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face as he gauged the danger. The wild arcs threatened to carve through the alley’s narrow confines, putting Soren in harm’s way.

With a sigh, Arayn stepped back. “Don't grieve, Eryndor. Losing your vision might be beneficial to you. Having 'assertion' origin means you are a dominator, but you spoil yourself by depending on future vision. If you truly want to assert your dominance. First, assert dominance to yourself. I’ll leave you for now, Eryndor. I’d rather see what you’re capable of when you reach your full potential. Don’t make the mistake of challenging me until then. Next time, I won’t be so merciful.”

With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Eryndor seething and blind amidst the aftermath of his rage.

Arayn slipped into the narrow alley, and Soren emerged from the shadow, his expression calm but expectant.

“Well played,” Arayn said, his crimson eyes locking onto Soren. “Your timing with [Corlust Eyes of Petrification] was impeccable. It’s not every day someone manages to support me so effectively in battle. You’ve earned your place.”

Soren nodded with a wide smile. “I am glad I could be useful to you, Master.”

"So... was the task hard?"

Soren shook his head vigorously. "Not hard at all thanks to your instruction, master!"

Arayn chuckled softly. “I’ll reward you properly for your efforts. I will buy you a magic wand. One that will suit your talents.”

Soren’s eyes gleamed with interest. “I can't thank you enough, Master.” The two began walking toward the mouth of the alley.

---

The gates of Valtheran's manor loomed in the distance, towering and foreboding. Pushing through the entrance, Thalric hurried inside, cradling the unconscious Lyssa in his arms. Her pale face rested against his chest, her fragile state fueling his urgency as he made his way to the manor’s office.

There, at the heart of the room, sat Darius. His brown eyes flicked to Thalric, who dropped to his knees without hesitation, Lyssa still held protectively in his grasp.

“Please,” Thalric began. “Lyssa needs your healing. We will pay after you heal her. Just save her first.”

Darius’s lips curled into a smirk, his aura pressing down like an unseen weight. “A werewolf groveling. How amusing.” He leaned forward. “Tell me, Wolf, weren't you the one who injured her? Now you are begging at my feet to save her?”

Thalric’s fists clenched, but he kept his head bowed. “It wasn't unintentional. I just did what I thought was the best for my master's survival.”

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Darius rose, his presence suffocating as he stepped closer. “Only participants may trade directly with me. You, a mere helper, cannot do that.”

Thalric protested, “Rules can be bent. You’re powerful enough to make an exception!”

Darius’s laughter echoed through the room. “Beast, you are telling me to break the rule that my Lord Sovereign has bestowed upon me?” He loomed over Thalric, his oppressive aura forcing the werewolf lower until his forehead nearly touched the floor. “I forgive you once because demi humans are stupid. You will leave now, or you will not leave at all.”

Thalric’s heart thundered in his chest, his instincts screaming at him to flee. But he cast one last glance upward, his voice barely audible. “Please, I hit her too hard. She would die.”

Darius’s eyes narrowed. “Then let her die. If a participant is weak enough to survive, just die.”

With a flick of his hand, the oppressive aura vanished, leaving Thalric gasping for breath. Darius turned his back, his dismissal clear.

Thalric staggered to his feet, bitterness and helplessness warring within him as he retreated from the room, his mind racing for another way to save Lyssa. Behind him, the door clanged shut, sealing his failure.

"I did it again! I cannot protect someone again!" Thalric exclaimed out loud as he punched the wall.

As Thalric walked away, he nearly collided with Alice in the corridor. She paused, her crimson eyes falling on Lyssa in his arms.

"You look desperate," Alice remarked. "I can heal her, but…" She swept her white hair aside, tilting her head as it cascaded over her shoulder. "It will come with a cost. Dark magic always does."

Thalric hesitated, his grip tightening around Lyssa. "What cost?"

Alice waved a hand dismissively. "A human soul within six days, and she has to personally present it to Mistress Nyx. No exceptions."

His jaw clenched, the weight of the decision bearing down on him, but Lyssa’s shallow breathing spurred him forward. "I’ll pay it. Just save her."

Alice nodded. "Very well. Carry her to my room."

Thalric followed her down the hallway. Inside Alice’s chamber, Alice gestured to a mattress at the center of the room. "Lay her there."

He complied, carefully placing Lyssa down as Alice began her ritual. Dark energy swirled around her hands, a sickly green light pooling over Lyssa’s chest. Moments later, Lyssa’s breathing steadied, color returning to her cheeks.

"It’s done," Alice announced, stepping back with a satisfied expression. "May I ask something now? Why was her soul injured? Normal healing power wouldn't be able to heal her. You were lucky to encounter me."

Thalric bowed at Alice. "First, let me express my thanks. Thank you. I accidentally unleashed my innate talent when hitting her. It was all accidental, but I can't deny that's all my fault."

Alice’s smile turned sharper. "I see. Then, I won't pursue things further. I was just asking as a healer. Now for my personal fee." She folded her arms, eyes glinting with mischief. "Twice the price Darius would have charged. Think of it as a convenience fee."

Thalric’s gaze hardened, but he nodded. "You’ll have your payment. Whatever it takes, I’ll see it done once she wakes."

"Good. You’re far more agreeable than I expected, Lyssa's helper. Let’s hope you keep that promise."

Lyssa's eyes fluttered open, the haze of unconsciousness fading as the room came into focus. She blinked twice, her gaze landing on Alice, who sat nearby with a faint smile. Her cheeks flushed. Relief washed over her, but it was quickly replaced by anger as she spotted Thalric lingering in the corner.

"You traitor!" Lyssa spat, struggling to sit up despite her lingering weakness. "How could you betray Aveline like this?"

Thalric stiffened but didn’t reply, his expression heavy with guilt. Before he could stammer out an explanation, Alice interjected, "Now, now, let’s not get too worked up. He made a choice, Lyssa. Right or wrong, it’s done. You need to focus on recovering. As for you, Mr. Silverfang, you need to leave a room for her to be alone."

Thalric glanced at Alice, then back at Lyssa, his shoulders sagging. He gave a reluctant nod and stepped out of the room at Alice's insistence, the door clicking softly behind him.

Alice turned back to Lyssa, placing a tray on the bedside table. It held a steaming cup of tea and a plate of neatly arranged cookies. "Here," she said warmly, "something to help you relax. I imagine you’ve been through quite a bit."

Lyssa hesitated before taking the tea, the cup trembling slightly in her hands. Tears welled in her eyes. "Saria… she's gone. Lord Observer just informed us. Someone really died in this deathmatch," she whispered. "She was eliminated. Now, I… I don’t know what to do. It all feels so hopeless."

Alice’s expression softened as she perched on the edge of the bed, resting a reassuring hand on Lyssa’s shoulder. "I understand how stressful your situation is, but you’re still here, Lyssa. You still have a chance to fight."

Lyssa’s tears spilled over, and before she could stop herself, she blurted out, "I’m so tired of fighting against my will. It must be nice to live as you, princess. You always live comfortably." Her voice barely rose above a whisper as she clutched the tea tightly. "I wish I was you."

Alice blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then her expression softened into something kind and understanding. "Miss Morgaine," she said gently, "you’re allowed to feel vulnerable, but your opponents won't care about your feelings. You need to focus on regaining your strength first and try your best to survive. If you come out as a victor, I'd gladly take your blame and stress all the time. The future isn’t written yet, and there’s still so much you can do."

Lyssa sniffled, managing a shaky nod. Alice handed her a plate filled with cookies. "Here," she said with a small smile. "Something to remind you that even in the darkest times, there’s still sweetness to be found."

Lyssa received the plate, her resolve hardening as she stood, steadying herself. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice stronger now. "I’ll fight. For her. For myself. For all of it."

Alice gave a small nod. "I'm glad I could offer you a small comfort."

Seeing her beautiful face, Lyssa blushed. "Say, princess, would you be alright if you were engaged with me?"

Without hesitation, Alice replied, "If you become a victor, my life is yours. You can use me as you please. It's my duty to honor the victor of this sacred ritual."

"Princess, I promise I will treat you like a normal person if I become a victor. We will live as a normal couple and have a comfortable life! I swear I will survive to the end!" Lyssa exclaimed.

"Do your best, Miss Morgaine. If my fate is with you, I'd accept it wholeheartedly."

Lyssa's face beamed. "Then I will do my best!" With the plate of cookies in her hand, she left the room, her steps purposeful as she walked toward the unknown, ready to face whatever lay ahead.