The captives were led into a massive arena carved out of the red sands of Korriban. The space was vast, its floor covered in coarse crimson sand that shimmered faintly under the dim light filtering in through high, jagged openings in the stone walls. The arena's edges were lined with ominous stones, each carved with intricate red markings-the same ones Ali had noticed along the corridors.
These symbols glowed faintly, pulsating in a rhythm that seemed to resonate with the heavy, oppressive energy in the air.
The Sith Master circled behind the group, his boots crunching against the sand as he walked with deliberate slowness. His dark cloak swayed with each step, the only sound breaking the tense silence apart from the slaves' nervous shuffling.
He finally came to a stop on the far side of the arena, standing tall with his hands clasped behind his back. His mask concealed much of his expression, but his posture radiated authority and cruelty in equal measure
.
"When I give my signal," he began, his voice sharp and commanding, "you will all start fighting until I say stop." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "Killing is allowed, of course."
His tone was casual, almost disinterested, as though he were discussing the weather rather than ordering a group of desperate captives to slaughter one another.
"No, wait!" a voice trembled from Ali's right. One of the players stepped forward, his body shaking with visible fear. "Master-there's been a misunderstanding! I'm in the wrong batch... Please, I-"
The Sith Master turned his head slowly, his hidden gaze locking onto the trembling player.
His hand rose with an elegant motion, silencing the man mid-sentence. "So, you're not supposed to be here?" he asked, his voice calm, laced with mockery.
'Fool, Ali thought coldly as he glanced at the terrified player.
The player nodded frantically, a glimmer of hope sparking in his eyes. He truly believed he might escape this nightmare. That hope was snuffed out in an instant. With a mere flick of his hand, the Sith Master sent the player flying backward as if an invisible hammer had struck him.
The man's body collided with one of the jagged stones lining the arena, the impact producing a sickening PLACK. Blood and gore splattered across the rock's surface as the player's body crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
The Sith Master turned his attention back to the group, his voice calm yet cutting.
"Anyone else?" he asked. No one dared to answer.
Without another word, he stepped back, giving the captives space to begin the grim task he had assigned them. The silence that followed was thick with fear.
The group of captives stood frozen, their breaths shallow, glancing at one another with wide, panicked eyes. A few muttered prayers under their breath; others simply stared at the Sith Master, hoping for some kind of reprieve that would never come.
That oppressive quiet shattered moments later with a guttural, animalistic growl from the far side of the group. Ali turned toward the sound and saw the source-a massive, rhino-like alien standing on two muscular legs.
Its thick, Purple skin was marred with old scars, and a single jagged horn jutted from its forehead. Its blood-red eyes burned with primal rage as it opened its wide mouth, revealing rows of sharp, uneven teeth.
The creature wasted no time. With a violent motion, it reached out and grabbed two smaller insect-like aliens, one in each hand. It roared, a deep, primal sound that sent a chill through the group, before slamming their heads together with a deafening CRACK.
The captives around it screamed in terror as green blood splattered across the sand and onto the rhino's face.
"NO! HELP ME!" another of the insect-like captives screeched before its body fell limp in the alien's massive hands.
The group erupted into chaos. The captives nearest the rhino scrambled to get away, stumbling over one another in their panic. Ali remained still, his cold black eyes scanning the unfolding carnage with detached interest. To his left, the female player stood frozen, her body shaking violently.
Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the snot dripping from her nose as she clutched her trembling hands to her chest.
Ali turned toward her, stepping forward with a measured calm. He placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to flinch at the unexpected contact. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with terror, her voice a trembling whisper. "Please... don't—".
"Blame your luck," Ali said, his tone flat, devoid of sympathy or hesitation. His other hand shot out, gripping her chin. With a quick, brutal motion, he twisted her head sharply.
CRACK.
The sound of her neck snapping echoed in the chaos. Her body fell limp, crumpling to the ground with her head twisted at an unnatural angle. A notification flashed in Ali's interface.
"Killed a Player: +1 Paradise Coin"
"Paradise Coins: 139"
Ali dismissed the notification without a thought. Around him, the remaining captives descended into a frantic brawl, fighting with fists, claws, and whatever makeshift weapons they could muster.
Ali's eyes locked onto an insect-like alien a few feet away. Its blade-like forearms gleamed as it stabbed and slashed at nearby captives with ruthless efficiency.
Ali moved swiftly, closing the distance with a single step. He kicked the creature's knee with brutal force, the sharp CRUNCH of its joint giving way under his boot.
As the alien fell to the ground, Ali turned his body slightly and delivered a devastating punch to its neck. The blow decapitated the alien cleanly, sending its head rolling across the sand.
Gasps erupted from the nearby captives, who instinctively backed away from Ali, their faces pale with fear. Ali crouched down, ripping the alien's blade-like arms from its body with a sickening tear.
He rose, holding the severed limbs like makeshift weapons, testing their weight in his hands.
Across the arena, the rhino-like alien continued its rampage. Its massive feet crushed captives into the sand, their screams silenced by the sound of snapping bones and splattering blood.
It clashed violently with a hairy, beast-like alien nearly its equal in strength. The two titans traded blows, shaking the ground with each impact. Eventually, the rhino gained the upper hand, impaling its opponent on its horn and slamming it into a stone wall with a thunderous BOOM.
Ali moved methodically through the chaos, his movements efficient and calculated. He stabbed a human captive in the chest and stomach, silencing their screams with a flick of his improvised blades.
Another alien turned to flee, but Ali slashed its Achilles tendons, sending it collapsing to the sand. Its wailing screams were cut short as Ali stomped on its head, crushing its skull beneath his boot.
Blue blood splattered across the sand, staining his shoes.
The number of captives dwindled rapidly, their bodies littering the arena floor. Ali stood amidst a pile of corpses, his cold expression unchanged as he observed the scene. Only a handful of slaves remained, and most were desperately trying to avoid the rhino's rampage.
The rhino, breathing heavily, turned its attention to the last remaining opponent-a light blue-skinned alien woman with twin tails extending from her head.
She wielded two small knives, her movements quick and precise as she darted around the battlefield. She had already killed several captives herself, and now she faced the towering beast with determined eyes.
The woman charged, her knives flashing as she darted toward the rhino. It roared, opening its massive arms to grab her, but she flipped gracefully over its reach, landing behind it and throwing one of her knives. The blade struck the rhino's thick hide, barely drawing blood.
"Damn it!" the woman hissed, clicking her tongue in frustration as the rhino turned to face her, its red eyes burning with rage.
The two fought fiercely, the woman using her speed to deliver shallow cuts to the rhino's arms and legs.
But the Rhino was relentless, its powerful strikes creating shockwaves through the sand. Steam hissed from its nostrils as it grew more enraged, its movements wild and erratic.
Sensing an opportunity, the woman lunged for a decisive strike. She aimed for the rhino's throat, hoping to end the battle in one swift motion. But the rhino, feigning exhaustion, exploded into motion. Its massive hand shot out, grabbing her leg mid-air with terrifying speed.
"AAAAAAAAH!" she screamed, her voice piercing as the rhino's grip crushed her leg with a sickening CRUNCH.
With a feral roar, the rhino swung her body upward before slamming her into the ground with bone-shattering force. CRASH. Her mangled form lay twisted in the sand, blood pooling around her broken body. She groaned weakly, her final breaths rattling from her lips before her body fell still.
Ali sat silently on the ground, his fingers running through the red sand, as though testing its texture. His black eyes flicked toward the Sith Master, who stood far away with his hands clasped behind his back, watching impassively. He showed no sign of stopping the fighting.
'It's not over yet', Ali thought coldly, rising to his feet. Only he and the rhino remained now.
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