Kara had curly dark hair that framed her face beneath a veil, and her clothes were reminiscent of ancient Egyptian belly dancers, though with a modern twist. She wore a loosely wrapped scarf around her hips, a gauzy fabric that hinted at her form beneath. A sliver of her belly showed just below her top, which matched the deep purple of the silk that clung to her curves. Golden embellishments—rings, bracelets, and a circlet across her brow—accentuated her allure, drawing out the warm tones of her soft, chocolate-brown skin.

Only her blue-gray eyes showed above the veil that covered her lower face, but even they seemed to glimmer with intent, an aura wrapping around her like a second skin.

Bells chimed softly with each movement. Her breath was accompanied by quiet power. This was Kara Halim, the picture of sex appeal, and a member of the Undead Troupe. I kept that knowledge to myself; she was as dangerous as she was likely to be useful, and I didn’t plan on revealing her background to anyone here. She hadn’t come for me—of that, I was certain.

Knowing the Troupe’s style, she’d likely been sent to establish a foothold within the Hunter’s Association, hoping to exploit the organization’s resources with herself as the access point. How they intended to pull that off, I had no idea, but I could imagine several ways how they might achieve it.

I inclined my head in the old gesture, my hand at my chest, fingers spread just so. Kara’s eyes widened for a moment, a flicker of her past self piercing through the veil of indifference she wore so well. Her reaction was brief, and her expression soon hardened again, her gaze sharp as she watched me rise from the respectful bow.

"It is an honor, truly," I said. "A lady of your standing gracing us with her presence—"

She cut me off with a dismissive wave, her brows knitting together in irritation. “A commoner,” she reminded me, her voice flat, cool. “There’s no need for these unnecessary pleasantries. My status is nothing in this world; I’m just another face, another aspiring member of this... Association.” She said the word with a strange mixture of disdain and reluctance, as though it tasted sour in her mouth.

I smiled, not quite able to hide my amusement. “If that’s what you wish to believe,” I said softly, letting my tone slip into something a touch playful. “But we both know you’re far from ‘just another face.’ The Undead Troupe chose you for a reason, didn’t they?”

Well… I was a fickle man… and it wasn’t like I broke my own word. I said I wouldn’ reveal her name to anyone else, but that didn’t stop me from mentioning it to the person herself. While Selena did hear my words, she only showed a look of mild interest, which I was thankful of.

The mention of the Troupe elicited another frown, but this time it was tinged with something else—was that a hint of annoyance, perhaps even resignation? She must have realized how well-informed I was about her background, about her standing within the Troupe. That I knew her history, the lineage that once traced her back to ancient royalty. And that I was wise to her purpose here.

“The Troupe,” she murmured, her gaze shifting away from mine. “We all have our parts to play, I suppose.”

“And what role are you playing now, exactly?” I asked, feigning casual curiosity.

Her eyes locked onto mine, dark and unyielding. “I would tell you, but then you’d be in deeper than you’re prepared to go.” The bells at her waist jingled softly as she took a single step forward, the faint aura around her seeming to thicken, growing more tangible. “And I wouldn’t want you to get too… entangled. You are cute, by the way…”

It was a veiled warning, though her words were cloaked in flirtation. But even as she tried to deflect, I could sense the truth unraveling beneath her words.

To be frank, I’d established several truths from her actions thus far.

First, my mention of her connection to the Troupe had caught her off guard. The Undead Troupe went to great lengths to obscure their pasts and affiliations, which explained her reaction. She hadn’t expected me to know about her involvement at all. This suggested that the Troupe was still in its formative stage, growing quietly in the shadows, still in the process of recruiting. Even with my meta-knowledge, I hadn’t anticipated they were still so fresh in their organization.

Second, there was likely only one reason she’d approached me at all: recruitment.

Kara’s gaze softened, her voice slipping into a low, inviting tone as she tilted her head. “What do you think about joining the Troupe, handsome?”

The third truth I gleaned from Kara’s behavior was perhaps the most revealing: the Undead Troupe was no longer in league with the Elsewhere Cult. If they were, Kara wouldn’t be here trying to sweet-talk me; I’d have faced a much different kind of reception. She might have used manipulation, blackmail, or something far darker. Instead, she was here, playing nice, laying on the charm like we were old friends.

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"You're wasting your time," I said, allowing a smirk to tug at the corner of my mouth. "And you can stop the flirting. I am already a married man."

Kara's gaze slid over to Selena, who had been lingering just at the edge of the conversation, looking a mix of curious and concerned. Kara’s eyes narrowed with a knowing glint, and a small, amused smile crept over her lips.

Selena’s face flamed red, her hands fluttering nervously as she stammered out, “I’m not—I mean, I’m not his wife! Not the one he’s talking about, anyway!” Her voice pitched slightly, her blush deepening as she looked from Kara to me, utterly flustered.

Kara’s smirk only widened. "Not the one he's talking about, hmm?" she mused, glancing between us as if seeing something that wasn’t there. “Well, it seems I’m late to the party on more than one front.”

Funny…

The announcer’s voice crackled back to life, booming overhead. “Hope you folks are well-rested because the next stage is gonna be a doozy. Welcome to the Third Stage—the Dealer Stage!”

The walls around us began to rumble, crumbling in a cascade of dust and stone. As they fell away, they revealed that we were in a larger, enclosed arena, far grander and more imposing than where we’d been moments ago. It reminded me all too much of the elimination round, with high steel and concrete walls.

Other contenders emerged from their own boxes scattered across the arena floor, each one looking as disoriented as we were. Some wore expressions of grim determination, others just barely concealed the flicker of fear in their eyes. This stage had a new intensity to it, something more daunting and visceral…

The announcer’s disembodied voice echoed around the arena, giving the impression it came from everywhere and nowhere at once.

“Let’s play a game I call Conquer the Territory! A hundred circles have been laid and hidden out across the floor and they will shut down for every five minutes. But worry not for more will spawn in another five minutes,” the voice explained, each word dripping with the thrill of a challenge. “If a team of five manages to stay within one of these circles for a full five minutes, they’ll advance to the next stage! Be reminded, I will be playing this game too… like playing a very refined and larger scale of whack a mole~!”

I scanned the arena floor, my eyes locking onto the faintly glowing circles scattered across the expanse. Some were close to us, others sprawled further away, but every single one pulsed like a countdown, marking where safety—and progress—awaited.

The announcer continued, excitement creeping into their voice. “Teams, you’ll need coordination, balance, and some sharp strategy if you hope to hold your ground. There are no freebies here. And for those without a team… well, you’re at a disadvantage, but remember, five’s the magic number.”

Kara arched an eyebrow at me, clearly entertained by the setup. “Hope you have some friends in mind, handsome. That five-minute clock won’t go easy on stragglers.”

I cast a glance at Selena, then at the swarm of contenders moving into defensive stances around us, assessing their own teammates. “Wouldn’t have shown up without one or two,” I replied, giving a half-smile to throw her off guard. But the truth was, this was going to be a problem. Five was a lot more than the two of us.

The announcer’s voice returned, sharper now, full of energy. “In the count of ten—prepare yourselves! Make your alliances if you haven’t already. Time waits for no one!”

I felt my pulse quicken. We’d have seconds to find a group and claim a circle, seconds to make alliances in a place where loyalty was as fickle as luck.

Nine.

I spotted a couple of contenders nearby who looked equally on edge but potentially willing.

Eight.

“Think you’re ready to play team, Kara?” I asked, keeping my voice steady but feeling the tension rise.

She gave a sly grin, shrugging her shoulders. “I’m nothing but adaptable.”

Seven.

I turned to Selena, giving her a quick nod. “Stay close.”

Six.

The arena began to feel smaller as contenders sized each other up, forming quick partnerships and staking their claim over circles in every corner.

Five.

A circle pulsed nearby, just a few feet away—empty, unclaimed, and within reach. I pointed to it, giving Kara and Selena a look that said I wasn’t waiting.

We reached the circle just as the countdown hit zero, managing to dodge and weave through the frenzied crowd of hunters. I brushed against as many of them as I could, feeling the slight tingle as I made the necessary physical contact for my power. Then, with a steadying breath, I activated my Soul Link. Our auras linked seamlessly, their frequencies aligning and harmonizing until a series of near-identical aura signatures rippled across the battlefield, each an echo of the other, almost impossible to distinguish.

Kara snapped her finger cymbals together, their sharp metallic chime slicing through the noise of the crowd. In an instant, a barrier of wind and sound swirled around us, creating a shimmering veil that muffled outside noise and distorted the air. It would ward off any blunt attacks and prevent others from slipping into our circle without a fight.

Beside me, Selena clapped her hands in a focused, ritualistic rhythm—three sharp claps, resonating through the air. As she finished, I noticed a faint shimmer settling over us like a veil. She gave a quick nod, her eyes alight with satisfaction.

“We’re invisible—and forgettable,” she said with a sly smile, her voice soft but confident. “Anyone looking in our direction won’t be able to pinpoint us. We might as well be shadows.”

“Impressive work,” I replied, surveying our cloaked space.

We were layered with defenses now: my aura replication to throw off trackers, Kara’s barrier to block any physical entry, and Selena’s cloaking spell to keep us hidden in plain sight. We’d made ourselves the perfect mirage.

It was impromptu work, but it sure was effective.

I could see some of the other contenders darting glances in our direction, their confusion clear as their eyes skated over our circle, then moved on, unable to lock onto us. The beauty of Selena’s spell was that it didn’t make us entirely invisible; it simply nudged anyone’s mind who looked at us to keep moving, to look elsewhere, as if they’d forgotten what they were seeking in the first place.

The countdown timer began its slow, grinding five-minute descent. I could feel the tension mounting as other contenders scrambled to hold their circles against encroaching enemies. Shouts, clashes, and bursts of energy flared across the arena, but we remained untouched, undisturbed within our protective cocoon.

Kara glanced over at me, “So any ideas about what’s next?”