Ty leaned his head back against the wall, his thoughts drifting. He didn't know how long they would last in this arena. He didn't know what awaited them in the next round, or if they would even make it that far. But for now, they had survived. For now, they had a moment of quiet.
But even in the quiet, the creature stirred.
The sky outside was darkening, the last remnants of daylight fading into the horizon. Ty's eyes fluttered open as he heard the soft hum of a drone outside. It was barely audible, but he could sense it—a reminder that they were still being watched, still part of the spectacle.
Suddenly, there was a faint beep, and one of the drones hovered just outside the window, its red eye glowing as it relayed a message.
"Attention. Funds have been transferred to the sponsors of Squad 2: Assassination Squad. Current balance: 127,000 credits."
