I woke up on a cold, jagged rock in the middle of a lake, the fog rolling off the water like ghosts from another world. Groggy and disoriented, I struggled to sit up, the chill of the stone seeping into my bones. The eerie stillness was broken only by the distant cry of a hawk, its sharp eyes no doubt watching me from the sky.

Despite the disconcerting quiet, I managed to push myself to stand. Sharp pain shot through my leg, like fire searing my flesh, immobilizing me. The rustle of leaves on the distant shore and the splash of fish jumping sounded like mocking laughter, a chorus of inevitable doom.

"Of course," I muttered through gritted teeth, tasting blood on my tongue. "Stranded on a rock in the middle of a lake.” I glared at the water, squinting against the rising sunlight. "Whoever designed this Arena has a twisted sense of humor."

This was my third trial in the enchanted wilderness, and it was turning into a true nightmare. After barely escaping one danger after another, my body was a tapestry of pain, marked with cuts and bruises that ached with every movement. Now, demonic creatures were surely lurking beneath the water, their eyes gleaming with hunger as they prepared to strike.

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"It's just another arena fight," I whispered, trying to stay calm. "We're protected by enchantments; if I die, I will respawn." The forest’s magic was harsh, but it ensured that failure wasn’t final—”only the fear and agony were real. Still, the thought of those creatures dragging me under was terrifying, no matter how many times I reminded myself

Suddenly, the surface of the water broke, and monstrous fish with razor-sharp teeth lunged towards me. The sound was like tearing fabric, sending a jolt of panic through me. Instinct took over, and I gripped my dagger tightly, feeling its familiar weight and balance. With a surge of desperate energy, I lashed out. The first creature fell back, a blur of scales and blood, its body sinking into the depths. The second met the same fate moments later, its death cry a gurgling echo. Relief flooded me as their lifeless forms disappeared, but my heart still hammered in my chest like a war drum.

Before I could catch my breath, a sudden noise behind me made me whirl around. I spun, dagger raised, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. My heart, still racing from the fight, skipped a beat as I came face to face with a smirking stranger, mere steps away. His appearance was so sudden, it was as if he had emerged from the mist itself.

"You want to choose how you go?” His voice was low and menacing. ‘My blade,’ he tapped the hilt hanging at his side, “or my arrows?”Gesturing towards the quiver strapped to his back, the gleam of the tips caught the light.