Elvis’s voice was dark and flat, cutting through the chaos with an unsettling calm. “Just go.”

Hitomi, overwhelmed by the sudden and brutal turn of events, found herself moving on instinct. Her mind was too clouded with confusion and shock to process the situation fully. The immediate priority was clear: she needed to report the dire situation to their team leader. She took off at a brisk pace, her thoughts a jumble of concern and urgency.

As Sozen’s body slumped to the floor, a purple aura began to emanate from him, a sign of his immediate termination from the trials. The once vibrant and capable fighter was now a casualty, his participation abruptly ended.

Satoshi, his frustration palpable, turned to the dark figure who had executed the fatal shot. “I needed more time with him, Shahid,” he said, his voice tinged with irritation.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Elvis, however, chose to ignore Satoshi’s complaint. His focus was solely on Sozen’s limp form. He knelt beside the fallen fighter, his presence a grim reminder of the harsh reality of their situation.

“Listen,” Elvis said, his voice low and urgent, “this isn’t as personal as you think it is.” He made sure to speak clearly, ensuring that Sozen could hear him despite his fading consciousness.

Sozen, struggling through the haze of pain and disorientation, managed to murmur, “Elvis… why…”

Elvis’s expression remained inscrutable, his demeanor unchanged. “You’ll know with time,” he replied, his tone devoid of emotion.

Sozen’s resolve hardened as he lay there, his frustration and pain mingling into a steely determination. Even as the darkness closed in around him, he swore to himself that he would survive. He vowed to find Elvis again, to confront him, and to extract the answers he so desperately sought. The betrayal he felt would not be forgotten.