CHAPTER 64

The white hall buzzed from early morning as children chatted spiritedly while having breakfast. Their voices echoed through the domed hall, where two rows of long white marble tables were accompanied by white stone chairs. The tables were adorned with rows of delectable food, all beautifully plated, tempting the children to indulge to their heart's content.

At first glance, it resembled a banquet with an excessive amount of food for adolescents. While more nourishment was required for their growth, the sheer abundance and grandeur of the preparations stood out, raising suspicions among the children. Initially puzzled by the sudden extravagance, the children found no one to provide answers. Opting to enjoy the banquet and seek explanations afterward, they quickly returned to their usual selves, engaging in lively chatter and temporarily setting aside their suspicions.

Hirayon observed these events with keen eyes. His calm and collected bluish-violet orbs surveyed everyone until they locked onto pitch-black eyes belonging to an enigmatic but clingy teenager who appeared far more mature than his actual age.

Four years had passed, and Hirayon experienced both physical and mental growth. His body developed muscles in the right places, his height finally reflected his age, and his features became more defined, shedding many childish traits. However, at barely eleven, he still retained the appearance of a child, particularly when standing next to the excessively mature kid in front of him.

If he claimed that four years had matured his body, those same years had transformed Hirang into an adult. His height had surged at fifteen, reaching 180cm, towering over most teenagers despite his slender body. However, the real concern lay on his face.

Four years prior, Hirang consistently wore a dark expression that matched his element - darkness. At that time, it was somewhat tolerable. Yet, now, Hirayon wouldn't be surprised if Hirang confessed that he emerged from the darkness. With pitch-black orbs, white shoulder-length hair, a pale complexion, a lean appearance, and a perpetually cold expression, Hirang resembled a figure consumed by darkness and harboring resentment toward humanity. As he approached adulthood, his gaze grew more menacing, instilling fear in most other teenagers and leading them to avoid him.

In stark contrast to Hirang, Hirayon remained short. At 152cm, he found his height unsatisfactory, even though Savio assured him it was average. Despite convincing himself that he was still young, four years junior to Hirang, he couldn't help but feel envious, especially since the boy always trailed him like a duckling, unwittingly showcasing his height advantage to the insecure child.

"What's wrong?" a deeper voice than usual asked Hirayon when Hirang noticed his calculating eyes. Whenever he saw such blues have that look, he knew that the kid was thinking something out of the ordinary, creating theories and seeking evidence in his little mind.

'Is his voice getting lower?'

"Nothing much. I just think there will be an announcement later on," Hirayon answered, momentarily forgetting about their height difference and focusing on the suspicious amount of food. Despite the various choices available, he opted for his usual two servings of bread, eggs, meat, and soup—a sizable amount that would astonish anyone except those accustomed to his voracious appetite, namely his so-called little group of friends.

"And what announcement is that?" Hirang asked playfully, raising a brow and earning a knowing look from Hirayon.

"You know it as well. It's about time," Hirayon replied meaningfully, not buying into Hirang's act of ignorance about an obvious matter.

Shrugging, Hirang took a sip of his water before responding to the child before him. "It's not difficult to guess. Our trainers suddenly had a meeting, and Eliu was behaving weirdly, so..."

Hirayon nodded, confirming his guess. Then, his gaze met gentle yellowish-golden orbs beside him, curiously watching him and Hirang. The look alone told Hirayon that the individual wanted to know what they were talking about. Beside him was another curious teenager, sassily raising her brow at him, awaiting an answer. When Hirayon's eyes traveled to the seat beside Hirang, he noticed an annoyingly attractive teenager giving him a look, indicating a demand for an explanation.

However, Hirayon furrowed his brows and gave each one of them a glare, confusing the three with his abrupt irritation.

Seated with them were OAR48, OSZ61, and OID76, who somehow managed to endure Hirang's complex character and somehow get along with him. All of them, aged 13 and 14, had hit puberty and now towered over Hirayon. The fact that he was the shortest among them irritated him immensely. Though he felt petty for getting annoyed by something trivial, just like the duckling Hirang, the three had also started hanging out with them, making him appear like a child in an adult group.

Without offering the explanation they were waiting for, Hirayon quickly swallowed the remaining food and stood up, leaving the group astounded with a short farewell.

"What's wrong with him?" OAR48 asked, looking at Hirang, who understood Hirayon best.

Hirang's eyes followed Hirayon as he walked away, and a smirk curved on his lips.

"Puberty."

*****

Savio entered Hirayon's room two hours later, interrupting the resting child. Having just completed his morning training at Opod, Hirayon contemplated what to read when Savio approached him.

"We need to talk," Savio began, his downturned stern eyes looking serious and cold.

Intrigued, Hirayon turned to face his trainer. "What is it?"

"Tomorrow... the games will resume starting tomorrow," Savio disclosed without beating around the bush. Knowing that Hirayon preferred direct communication, he delivered the news without a preamble.

Savio anticipated a surprised reaction from Hirayon, but the kid only gave him a nod.

"You're not surprised?"

Hirayon shook his head. "I thought that was the case since we had a feast for breakfast."

"A feast, huh?" Savio mused, realizing that the organization had decided to provide a lavish meal for the players before the big day.

"Anyway, I'm not worried about how you'll do, but I heard some news. The next games are like no other. If what I heard was correct, the familia will use bots in the next game."

"Bots... that's quite unideal."

"I think so too, and more expensive as well. I don't understand why they suddenly wanted to use robots when we've always used illusion. This would be a first in the entire history of Torneo."

"How about the environment? Have you heard anything?" Hirayon inquired, recalling the disaster that befell them in the last game before the Torneo came to a halt.

Four years ago, Hirayon believed they'd lose the game due to a sneak attack. However, it was the damn insect that ultimately crushed them, literally. When he woke up a few days later, he initially thought they had lost, but in reality, the game ended in a tie, with two groups having three crowns. The reason was that the other group was crushed as well.

Reflecting on it, Hirayon realized how ignorant and inexperienced he was in battles. Not only did he fail to detect a sneak attack, but he also wasted a significant amount of Aura on unnecessary fights, leaving him helpless when the giant insects appeared. They even made a hole, which later turned out to be useless. Even though they could hide from the gigantic insects, the other children could easily detect their location. He felt embarrassed just by remembering his confidence in that game. Upon rewatching it, he saw how he acted like a leader but failed with amateurish plans and decisions.

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However, four years had transformed Hirayon into a capable warrior. He devoted all his time to tireless training in Opod and Core Space, leaving little room for rest. His priority was mastering the elements by utilizing them repeatedly. He sought to understand his elements better and discover all their tricks. While training, he also immersed himself in studying countless books about elements, taking advantage of Aurelius and requesting hundreds of books. Now, his previously empty room could easily be mistaken for a library with rows of shelves.

Excluding the fact that they were kidnapped and used as mere test subjects, Hirayon found his four years with the facility not too bad. He had three meals every day, a place to sleep, and the opportunity to study—thanks to his benefactor, who surprisingly showed devotion by providing him with numerous books.

Hirayon could somewhat comprehend why those residing in the facility were so devoted to the familia members. It was a relatively good place to live; all their needs were within reach, the place was safe from monsters, and the familia provided the hungry and homeless a place to live. It could be considered their salvation from the cruel lives they led outside the facility.

But beneath all that peace and greatness lay the immoral activities that the facility engaged in. Initially, Hirayon wondered how such a crowd could be all right with kidnapping and human experimentation. However, after living there for years, he became convinced that most were brainwashed into thinking that such acts were acceptable. As for some, like Savio, they either remained disinterested or had goals that required immoral means, causing them to turn a blind eye.

Nevertheless, no matter how well Savio and Aurelius treated Hirayon, his goal remained unchanged. He wanted to grow stronger and capable of protecting himself, escape the facility by any means necessary, return to the Water Clan, and eventually seek justice for his mother, clearing her tainted name.

*****

The next day, every player gathered outside the white arena they were highly familiar with. But they've yet to enter as the announcement they received yesterday evening told them to line up outside the arena doors.

Hirayon immediately discerned that the organizers intended to orchestrate a grand entrance. Knowing that they wanted to make the Torneo a spectacle, he was sure they'd utilize anything they could to make it entertaining.

Something that Hirayon couldn't understand.

What's so fun watching people fight for their lives and shed blood? Perhaps he could better comprehend it if the players were willing participants, similar to athletes in a sports competition pursuing their dreams. However, the Torneo wasn't a matter of choice or a dream. They were coerced into striving for award points to regain their freedom.

Surveying the faces of the children he had grown accustomed to seeing in the dining hall over the years, Hirayon noted a mix of nervousness and calmness. Some even seemed poised, much like himself, as if they had been anticipating this moment for a long time.

As cruel as it sounds, Hirayon hated the sudden interruption and would prefer for the Torneo to conclude as fast as possible for him to get out. It also gave a lot of children the chance to enhance their abilities and gain more elements through experiments, making future games more challenging to win.

Though this thought might come across as selfish, Hirayon had learned that the Torneo left little room for kindness and selflessness. All the children were pursuing their own interests, and he had learned this the hard way. The last game, in particular, had taught him that children, no matter how young, could be just as cunning and selfish as adults.

Intrigued by his performance, Hirayon had reviewed the recording of the last game, discovering that the assailant who had attacked them from the rear was not from the current group they were clashing with but from Group 6, the very group they had chosen to release despite Hirang's objections.

Learning this, Hirayon felt a surge of annoyance and self-blame. He didn't regret releasing Group 6 but was somewhat frustrated that he had trusted them and believed they would uphold their end of the deal. Even when OEM129 later approached him to apologize for failing to stop his groupmates, Hirayon decided not to place his trust in others again.

With such thoughts, Hirayon waited quietly until the gigantic doors slowly creaked open, and the arena revealed itself with a bright, well-lit atmosphere accentuated by hundreds of lights. The beat of drums echoed through the space, beating the anticipated sound of audience cheers that Hirayon remembered so well. As the children walked in, each step was accompanied by a resonating rhythm, creating a grand entrance that captivated Hirayon despite his initial reservations.

Upon entering the arena, Hirayon's eyes were immediately drawn to the packed bleachers, filled with oddities cheering wildly for the return of their favorite source of entertainment. Above the bleachers, the private rooms of the familia members loomed, their occupants looking authoritative and imposing, much like the first time.

Hirayon searched for Aurelius and found him sitting cross-legged, his head resting on his right hand, which was settled on the armchair of the sofa. Despite the enthusiastic cheers from the audience, Aurelius wore a stoic and tense expression, mirroring the demeanor of other familia members present.

'They seem too serious. Maybe there's something about this game,' Hirayon pondered before diverting his attention to the most dramatic section of the arena—the stage.

At the center of the arena floated a circular black stage surrounded by clear crystals that shimmered with bright light, casting a dazzling glow. Elevated three feet above the larger stage was another levitating platform, approximately three meters in diameter. At its center stood a throne crafted from transparent crystal, but it paled in comparison to the eye-catching golden crown adorning the seat, embellished with multiple clear crystals.

As all the players gathered at the front of the stage, the massive arena doors closed, the music ceased, and the lights plunged into darkness. The sudden silence hushed the audience, creating an air of anticipation. In the next moment, a soft melody resonated throughout the arena, and the crystals on the platform began to glow with a blue light. The glow intensified, growing deeper and more vivid with each passing second. Subsequently, the throne illuminated the entire arena with a radiant, deep blue crystal light resembling the ocean's depths.

Suddenly, smoke billowed from the middle of the largest platform, spreading outward and enveloping the area in a cold mist. A hurricane-like wind swept through the entire arena, causing the smoke to twirl in the open space on the large platform beneath the throne. As the wind subsided, the smoke dissipated, revealing a tall, slender man adorned in a three-piece red suit that contrasted sharply with the blue light. His clean-cut chocolate hair, almond-shaped brown eyes, smiling lips, and soft features exuded a gentle Aura. With a broad smile, he scanned the entire arena and concluded the opening spectacle with a deep, theatrical bow.

Applause erupted from the audience, and gradually, the lights in the arena brightened, offering a clearer view of the surroundings. The man cleared his throat, and with an invisible microphone, his cheerful voice resonated throughout the venue.

"Welcome, everyone!" he began. Once the cheers from the audience subsided, he continued, "In the absence of the Torneo over the past few years, life has felt rather dull, lacking the vibrant energy that only such an event can bring. I am genuinely thrilled to step into the white arena once again. The excitement on everyone's faces is truly heartwarming and fills me with joy. I'm eagerly looking forward to starting the game for everyone's enjoyment. But before we immerse ourselves in the thrill of the game, allow me the privilege of extending a warm introduction to those players with whom fate, in times past, regrettably kept me apart."

Hirayon cringed at the flowery introduction of the host he had never seen before. Savio had informed him that Tedie wouldn't be hosting the next games due to the rotation in Torneo's schedule, but now he found himself missing the beastly man after hearing their new host speak.

"Esteemed ladies and gentlemen, and all those in attendance, I, Dolla, stand before you once more, ready and honored to be of service," he declared, bowing theatrically.

The audience erupted in applause, and some even cheered for the host. However, the players remained stoic, unconvinced by the performance unfolding before them.

"Before we start the game, I am delighted to unveil a regal spectacle for all present—a resplendent crown and throne, radiant with beauty and grace," he said, pointing dramatically at the crown behind him.

"After four years, notable changes have swept through the corridors of our facility, including such wonderful revisions to the Torneo's rules. For our game today, the triumphant victor, the top-ranked contender, shall be crowned and seated upon the splendid crystal throne. Isn't that something truly wonderful?" he queried, his gaze lingering on the throne with a hint of yearning.

"Ah, the allure of a crown! It seems to beckon, promising regal splendor and the joy of reigning as a king. Just imagine, with a crown atop my head, I could envision myself amidst mountains of wealth bestowed upon me by my loyal subjects," he mused with a sad smile, his thoughts dancing with the fantasy of royal prosperity, earning him a strange gaze from a few of the youngsters.

"Would you, esteemed individuals, fancy the notion of donning a crown?" he suddenly asked the players with a hopeful smile. Even Hirayon could tell he was expecting someone to reply to his question. But with the confusing, strange behavior, the players remained tight-lipped, offering no response.

Realizing that no one was inclined to answer, Dolla's mouth formed an 'o' as if in shock. "Were you guys too enamored by me to speak?" he laughed. "Ah, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Forgive me for indulging in my humor," he followed up with a cutesy smile.

Extremely weirded out, Hirayon frowned at the man and let out a silent sigh. He couldn't believe they would have such a host from now on. FORT685 mentioned to him that each host was unique, and apparently, he was right. If Tedie was unique with his beastly appearance, then Dolla was unique thanks to his eccentric personality. He seemed kind and gentle at first, but the more he talked, the more his gentle smile appeared bizarre... and annoying. He even had to think hard just to understand his words.

"Beyond the splendid offerings of crown and throne, the occupant of the coveted first rank shall be granted an additional boon—a 'Choice.' This unique privilege gives them the power to decide whether to gracefully skip the ensuing game or embrace it with a strategic advantage. Is this not an extraordinary and exciting proposition?" he asked again. But learning from experience, he continued his spiel.

"Now, with no more delay, permit me to unveil the next enthralling game."

A massive blue hologram appeared above the stage, displaying the title of the next competition in bold letters.

"The Auveast Hunt!"

R E H I L I Y A