“Do you know what this competition is called?” the white-haired figure asked.

The three kept quiet, entirely motionless, pierced deeply by the figure’s heavy gaze. His red pupils appeared like that of a beast, yet his demeanor was gentle and calm. He was truly a lion in sheep’s clothing.

“The cradle of fools,” the figure explained. “Do you know why?” he asked, moving his head forward and opening his eyes.

The man’s question, yet again, was met with silence.

“Because every year people come here and do something foolish,” The man smirked, “In a way, this very place itself is the cradle of fools!” The figure stood up.

Suddenly, the man looked towards Zeke, forcing the boy to feel a shiver going down his spine. He immediately gripped his anti-demon firearm, the same one he previously picked off a dead contestant, hidden in deep the inner pocket of his coat.

“Relax,” the figure spread his arms, spinning in a light pirouette, “Everything will be fine!” he said with his head pointed towards the ceiling.

“So, what do they call you three?” the figure asked, suddenly twisting his head towards the three.

“Haze,” Haze growled.

“Arik,” the man standing closest to the figure said.

“Zeke, Zeke whispered.

“My name is Michael,” the figure smiled. “You all came here to answer my riddle and find out just where it is you need to go for the grand finale,” he explained while pacing back and forth.

“Allow me to take care of these two fools before we continue.” Arik said with an intense look.

Arik stood, short and bulky, built like a house of bricks. He was bald and had a long beard. His face was covered in a wide assortment of scars, the most prominent of which was the one below his right eye, a ghastly burn going across his cheek.

“No,” Michael replied.

“I’m not inclined to listen to you,” Arik growled walking towards Zeke and haze.

“Suit yourself, but there will be consequences,” Michael shrugged.

“’Consequences’”, Arik smirked, “I’m a contractor, I’m not sure what consequences you wish for me to suffer, but I severely doubt that you will be able to do as well as you think against me,” he replied.

Suddenly, a golden chain emerged from the golden gem encrusted in Michael’s palm. It swirled through the air, piercing Arik through the back of the head with Its bladed, metallic point. The chain retracted, pulling another, gray, chain with a red crimson hammer on its tip, along with it. Arik squirmed, his eyes stated twitching, his body convulsed. The two chains hid within Michael’s palm and a single triangular shape lit up red on it.

Arik’s lifeless corpse dropped to the ground.

“I’ll have someone clean that up later,” Michael said, brushing his palms.

“I wonder if I would have been able to dodge that?” Haze thought to himself.

“Now why don’t we get started?” Michel gestured with his hand towards the two.

“Alright,” Zeke approached closer.

“Why have the two of you decided to participate in the cradle of fools?” Michael asked.

“Because I want the contractor king to grant me a contract,” Zeke explained.

“Many come here in search of contracts. What is the reason behind yours?” Michael grabbed his chin.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

“I guess, want to change. I have come to hate this weak and pathetic version of myself. So now, I want to abandon it and become someone else entirely,” Zeke explained, deeply entranced in thought.

“And Haze, what about you? Why did you partake in this competition?” Michael asked.

“I have a disease, a somewhat nasty affliction. Soon I won’t be able to take care of those close to me, so I want the contractor king to take them under his wing.” Haze explained, squinting his eyes.

“Horse shit,” Michael smirked. “Alright, I’ll ask you two one last question. If you lie, I’ll kill you. So you best keep your mouth shut.” He said, with a slightly annoyed expression aimed towards Haze. “Alright,” Michel pulled out a large golden key with a red incrusted gem from the pocket of his coat. “Now tell me what binds you! Tell me your deepest sorrow, that is the price for obtaining this key.”

Haze’s eyes lit up; his face turned pale. His mind wandered off, filled with memories he’s been trying to suppress. His pupils dilated, and breath shortened. A visage opened up before his very eyes. He looked down at his hands, imagining them covered in blood. His body started shaking, and just as he looked forward towards Michael, he saw a faint, sinister smile adorning his face, making him snap out of his trance.

“What is it, Haze?” Michael asked with a warm expression.

“Nothing,” Haze clenched his fist.

Zeke stepped forward, clearing his throat.

“I killed my own mother,” Zeke said with a heavy heart. “I was tired of seeing her suffer. Our house was a mess. She could no longer walk. Her frail body had already started to attract flies. Her arm had become so thin I felt like I could see right through it. I held her arm as tightly as I could through it all. I hoped and prayed, but she wouldn’t budge. She wouldn’t move, no matter what I said to her. All I could hear was her heavy breath echoing throughout the room. So, one day I grabbed a rope and suffocated her. Just as she passed on, she finally looked at me. Not with an angry or sad look, but with a warm, loving smile.”

“Ah,” Michael called out in shock in shock, “Just as I promised, you can have the key,” He approached Zeke and placed the key in his hand.

“But where do I put this?” Zeke asked.

“Press on the red gem once you leave the chapel. You’ll know what to do next,” Michel smiled.

Zeke turned around, approaching the heavy doors once more. He looked back at Haze, staring at him with clear intent. Zeke ran out of the chapel, and just as Haze was about to follow him, he was stopped.

“Wait!” said Michael. “That kid won the challenge, so I might as well have you wait for a few minutes to let him get away,” Michael smiled.

“And If I refuse?” Haze asked, his expression turning angrier by the second.

“You won’t,” Michel smiled on as he approached Haze.

“Now Haze, tell me. Why did you attack Nolan? Why murder his receptionist? Why kill the residents of his hotel? You know who most of them were, right? Influential figures, celebrities, businessmen. All those who are important enough to know about the Undercity without residing within it,” Michael crossed his arms. “Judging from all this, one might begin to think you have some political agenda. So, tell me, what is it exactly that you are doing?”

“Not a clue,” Haze growled, “I’m leaving,” he turned around.

Suddenly, a silver chain emerged from Michael’s palm. In an instant, it wrapped around Haze’s neck, gripping him tightly as Michael extended his hand.

“You’re going to wait,” Michel smirked in a stiff manner.

Haze gripped the chain, feeling it with his fingers.

“I invoke!” Haze screamed out as fleshy tentacles started enveloping his body.

“I reject!” Michael screamed out. The tentacles that started forming into Haze’s armor dried up, turned gray, and within the span of a few moments, crumbledoff Haze’s body.

Haze’s anger shifted to surprise. He took a moment to process what exactly happened. Haze took a deep breath, grabbed his mask and ripped it off his fac, placing it in his back pocket.

He grabbed on to the chain enveloping his neck, examining it further.

“Soul,” he called his weapon to his side.

In an instant, he cut off his own head.

The chain returned to Michael’s hand.

Fleshy tentacles sprouted from his neck, forming into muscles, bones and arteries, reconstructing his brain. As Haze turned around to face Michel, his face appeared completely healed, strangely handsome, devoid of any deformities.

Haze cracked his whip at Michel, by the chain emerged from his palm once again, blocking every attack.

“I’m impressed! I’m a fan of a good dance, but I doubt that you can make take even a single step,” Michel laughed.

“Is that what you think?” Haze smiled.

Suddenly, Michel felt a rumble coming from under the ground. Something inside him screamed out, “Jump,” and so he did, leaping away as a bladed tentacle pierced out of the ground below him.

A line of blades sprouted out of the ground, following Michael’s movement. Michael weaved out of the way of each attack. Michel pointed his finger and immediately, a bladed chain manifested below Haze’s feet, almost piercing him, as he dodged out of the way.

The attacks stopped as Haze started to move. A tentacle could be seen detaching from Haze’s leg.

The two stared at each other as ten chains sprouted from the ground, locking Haze completely in place.

“Now, be a good boy and wait,” Michael said, sitting back down on his throne.

image [https://i.postimg.cc/SKvFxjVb/Name-Alias-X-Species-Demon-Age-80-Height-182cm-Affiliation-Knights-Rank-Special-grade-investigator.png]