Trey's mind went back to Sophia's warning about avoiding the 10 blades at all cost. But how could he? If he didn't enter the tournament, that girl would definitely die. She'd die, with all those chains around her because of some entitled bastards. She'd meet the same fate Trey almost met all those years ago.

Trey threw the man he held aside in frustration. This was just his luck, the one time he joins a tournament this had to happen.

"No need to be so violent man!" The man got up rubbing his throbbing butt in the process.

"Come on Tim let's just go. If that guy wants to act tough. Let him do that infront of Mei. Let's go remove ourselves from the participant's lists right away."

The two walked away, leaving Trey alone with his thoughts.

He started pacing up and down the room as he weighed his options. Either he continued with the tournament and risk death or he just avoided participation and the girl died.

It took a few seconds, before he finally made up his mind. "Its just one person I can do this."

To Trey the rest of the participants weren't anything to worry about, so he just had to focus on beating Mei. He made a big exhale before he trudged foward to the waiting room.

He found numerous warriors sharpening their tools. What caught his attention. Was an old man with a black beard.

He was naked only wearing a piece of underwear to cover his private part. He held a spiked weapon and the scars on his body told the story, he was seasoned beast.

Trey looked around the room and there were many participants similar to that man. He knew right then and there it wasn't going to be as easy as he once thought.

The room smelled of sweat, others did their final exercise routines. It was a very cramped space. There was a shining ball attached to the ceiling of the room. It was silver and many people were looking at it, as if expecting it to do something.

Trey found an empty spot and grabbed himself a seat. The act alone, threatened to break many of his bones.

"You're participating in the tournament too Mr?"

Trey turned around to meet a young boy next to him. He had purple hair and wore a black shirt and pink shorts. He held a red spear with his right hand. His frame was thin but there were signs of training throughout his body. His muscles were definitely developed. He had a flashing smile directed towards Trey.

"Yea... why is a kid like you going around participating in a tournament like this?"

"I'm 14 I think I'm old enough, I've fought many people older than me. I don't fear the competition." His confidence radiated out of his body.

"Didn't you hear a member of the 10 blades will be participating? Don't throw your life away kid." Trey warned him with the most sympathetic eyes he could master.

"Sorry Mr but I don't care who I have to defeat I just can't loose this tournament." The boy swung around his spear, showcasing his skills to Trey. For a boy he certainly wasn't bad.

"My mother's sick you see, she has contracted a serious disease. Since there's no one who can treat her, I need to win this tournament. It's more than just pride and bragging rights for me. It's a matter of life and death"

"Do you think your mother would want you throwing your life away like this?"

"I'm not throwing it away, I'm definitely strong!" His eyes showed his determination to prove Trey wrong.

"Do whatever you want, don't say I didn't warn you kid." Trey looked at the shining ceiling. His eyes threatened to invite the gentle embrace of sleep. Maybe a little nap would do him some good.

Trey's eyes drifted away for a few minutes before he heard a loud voice which sent a shocking blast to both his ears. He reluctantly had to open his eyes, he tried to listen despite how uncomfortable he felt. The voice came from the silver ball on the ceiling.

"There's been a change in the tournament schedule, instead of having a two bracket tournament. Where a winner of one bracket will face the winner of the other. There will now be a free for all battle royal!!"

Cheers and celebrations echoed the room. They all chimed in at exactly the right time, almost as if they couldn't wait for the announcer to shut up.

Their voices and clapping were giving Trey a headache. He couldn't help but wonder why such a drastic was change was made, but it didn't matter. If this was going to speed up the tournament. The better.

"The battle royal will start in five minutes get your final preparations in!" The announcer concluded.

Everyone reached for their weapons and their joy was evident in their smiles. More and more contestants flooded the room after the announcement.

"I won this tournament last year, it's going to be a breeze again this year."

The voice belonged to a blonde haired man holding a red rose. From his white shirt to his shining silver boots and even the beautifully decorated blade on his waist. The man was elegance personified, at least that's how he viewed himself.

He'd move his hair around by blowing it back gently, while he stared at his reflection using a crystal ball.

"My beauty and elegance have guaranteed me victory"

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He was clearly not popular with the people in the room. Many of the warriors present were looking at him with intense eyes. He didn't seem to care however.

Trey shifted his eyes away from him and they landed back to the boy next to him. His knees were shaking and he had curled himself up and his face was barried by his arms.

"I don't want to die.."

He mumbled to himself repeatedly. Ever since that announcement the boy was not the same. His confidence had gone down the drain. He believed in himself when it came to one on one fights but when it came to a battle royal, that was something else entirely.

"Warriors get ready! Make your way to the stadium. The battle royal begins in 2 minutes!!"

The warriors exited the room one after the other.

Trey got up to move as well, he saw the tears that flowed from the boy as he tried to get a grip on his blade.

"I'm sorry mother... I don't think I can do this." the boy would repeat to himself, with his trembling voice.

Trey stood infront of him, "Hey kid."

The boy raised his head to get a better look at Trey. Instead of seeing Trey's face, he saw a punch that collided against his nose. It shattered them immediately. The punch sent most of his teeth flying and just like that, he lost consciousness.

"Sleep tight kid" Trey said as he left the room.

He left the poor boy alone, leaving him in a bloody mess.

As he exited the room and walked down the hallway to the stadium. Everything was quiet, he was the last one to leave the room so there was no one there with him. All he could hear and see were his gentle steps that pressed against the hard crystal floor and his reflection that reflected off the purple walls.

His heart couldn't stop racing as he got closer and closer to the stadium, this was a foreign feeling for him. At least it was a feeling he hadn't felt in a while. He couldn't tell if it was excitement or if it was something else entirely. It didn't really matter, it was too late to turn back at that point. He just had to walk up there and make sure he won.

As he got closer to the stadium, he could hear the crowed cheering wildly. Their whistling and screams were relentless attacks to his ears. But even so, he sauntered foward. With a firm grip on his blade, his eyes had returned to their usual calm and collected gaze. He reminded himself that he wasn't the same boy from six years ago, he was far stronger.

When he stepped out the hall, he was blessed by the sight of the stadium.

The entire stadium was orange, and it had thousands of seats and it was packed to the brim. It shined beautifully as its crystal state reflected the sun. People of all ages shouted in excitement. They all wore normal clothing. No white robes, it was a nice change of pace. Trey's eyes saw Vivi somewhere in the crowd. He nodded at her, before he kept walking.

The ring for the battle royal itself was wide enough that even with 500 people on it, it still had enough to room to accept 500 more if it was needed.

Trey entered the circle as well and everyone looked at each other cautiously. They were waiting for the announcer to begin the battle. The tension in the air was palpable as even the crowd died down in anticipation of what was to come.

Just as everyone was ready to begin.

Footsteps echoed the entire stadium cutting through all the silence. With each step they grew louder and louder. They came from the center of the ring. A woman stood there alone, with a blade resting on her left hand.

Her figure wore an elegant black dress that reached her ankles. She wore lengthy heels and her black stockings ran down her legs. Her black gloves firmly gripped the handle and a black straw hat completed her attire.

"Man I thought this tournament was never going to start. You know this is one of the major reasons I even came to this city you know?" Her voice drew everyone to her figure. Her black hair ran down her shoulders as she spoke. The red feather on her hat was the cherry on top.

"Announcer!!" Her voice echoed the stadium.

"Yes, Miss Mei?" The announcer's voice sounded uncertain on how to respond.

Mumbling and whispering filled the stadium.

"It's her? That's miss Mei?" A man in the crowed questioned.

Many people In the crowed were as uncertain as he was. This uncertainty even reached the warriors om the stage, they were looking at each other in confused expressions. Others smiled at the sight of Mei, others laughed. It was a completely mixed reaction from everyone in involved.

"I know I'm the one who asked for this battle royal.." when she spoke everyone, immediately stopped talking. They all waited in baited breath, listening to what she had to say.

"I thought a battle royal could he fun but I just thought of a new idea, that could be a thousand times more fun. Instead of having a battle royal. I want it to be everyone in this stage vs me. It won't be fun for me if they start killing each other without me getting in on the act. This way they'll have to attack me, and I'll get a chance to cut down every single person here." Her laugh was both sweet and chilling.

When she finally composed herself she continued with her proposition. "If any of you gets to land a single scratch on me I'll consider it your victory and give all of you 200 000 gold pieces."

The murmurs and whispers in the crowd intensified but once again they faded when she was ready to speak.

"If you fail to do that, consider yourselves dead"

The crowd went wild after she finished her proposition and everyone jumped off their seats.

"You're heard her yourself folks. For the first time in the tournament's history. It's going to be a 499 vs 1 encounter!!"

The crowd raged after the announcement.

"Don't get cocky Mei, you don't think you can beat all of us do you?"

The naked bearded old man spoke. His weapon was raised above his head.

"No I don't think I can beat you.." in a single step, Mei appeard behind the old man.

"I know I can." As she finished speaking, the man screamed in pain as a gaping hole manifested In his chest. His body tumbled to the ground. Blood leaked out from his form. As he laid there, lifeless.

A second of silence took place as they all took in what just happened.

It didn't take long for everyone on the stage to charge at Mei all at once.

"I'll be famous! I'll slay one of the Ten blades!"

"You're mine Mei!"

"I'll slash you as elegantly as possible!"

Many warriors laid bare their intentions as they charged towards Mei.

Mei just smirked welcoming their advances.

"That's great! let's have some fun!"

She charged to meet all of them and elegantly her figure weaved past all, her sword glided with her in a gentle rhythm. With each step she took screams followed. Bodies were sent flying out of the stage.

The crowd was so engrossed In what was happening they were completely silence with only the screams bringing the stadium to life.

Trey just stood there as he watched a massacre take place. By the time one minute had passed. All 498 challengers were on the ground. Mei stood at the center with a sadistic smirk written all over her face.

Her attire had taken a crimson color and her sword dripped blood. She wiped the blood on her cheeks before she licked it. The taste brought her taste buds unbelievable joy. She couldn't help but laugh.

Trey saw the victims on the ground. Some missing heads, others limbs. Everyone was killed in the most painful way imaginable. Something else caught Trey's attention.

All the victims shared a similar scar. They all had the initials M.Y on their faces and foreheads. That's when Trey's face grimaced.

"Do you know Sophia?" his voice cut through Mei's laughter forcing her to pay attention.

"Huh?" Mei hadn't realized that someone was still alive.

"Sophia.." she seemed to be thinking long and hard, "oh yeah, I remember her. That coward of a warrior. How could I forget her."

"You killed Sophia's friends, do you know how much she's hurting right now?"

Trey's black mana leaked out his figure as his glare shot directly at Mei's direction.

"That's what happens when you're weak!" She took gentle strides towards Trey.

"Do you want revenge for her? I don't mind.." Mei's own twisted gaze locked with Trey.

"If you're going to come after me. You better be strong"