Takada's heart hammered in his chest as he frantically tried to lift himself on his severely injured legs, each movement searing with pain. Yet, in a twist of fate that he could barely process, he lost his balance in the last possible moment. His foot slid out from under him, sending him stumbling to the side, and in that unintended misstep, he narrowly escaped the lion's deadly blow.
The lion's enormous claws slashed through the air, just missing him, instead colliding with a bone-rattling force against the stone wall beside him. The impact reverberated, and sand rained down from the wall as the beast's claws dug in deep.
Takada crashed back down into the ground, his body collapsing into the sand, his breath ragged as he lay helpless, gazing up at the monstrous creature.
There he lay, weak and utterly vulnerable, the mere sight of the lion's savage power draining what little energy remained in him. The lion's eyes, glowing with a ruthless hunger, locked onto Takada once again, fury burning within as it prepared for a second strike.
It was as though nothing could temper its deadly focus—it wanted him, and it wouldn't stop until it had him.
With a furious snarl, the lion crouched low, its powerful limbs coiled, ready to spring once more.
The glint of wild hunger in its eyes only grew brighter as the crowd above them roared, swept into a frenzy by the scene below. The spectators, intoxicated by the raw display of danger, threw their hands in the air, shouting with feverish excitement, "The Prey For The King!" "The Prey For The King!"
Their voices echoed through the arena, rising in fervor, the words reverberating like thunder as the lion surged forward, jaws wide and aiming for Takada's throat.
But then—just as the lion's gaping maw was about to close around him—the lights suddenly cut out, plunging the entire arena into darkness. The once chaotic arena was now silent, the roaring energy snuffed out like a flame. The only sounds remaining were the soft crunch of the lion's paws shifting in the sand and the low, predatory growl that sent chills down everyone's spine.
"The lights… th-they went out? Oh no… the lion… it's still right here, right beside me…" Takada whispered to himself, his voice barely a breath. Fear flooded his body, his mind reeling from the loss of sight. He was utterly blind, disoriented, helpless in the darkness. If he so much as moved, he feared the beast would hear him and pounce.
"Think, Takada… just think," he muttered in a shaky whisper to himself, his pulse pounding in his ears. He remembered his training, advice from survivalists on how to handle a close encounter with a predator: stay calm, breathe shallowly, don't make a sound.
With every ounce of effort he could muster, he tucked his mangled legs beneath him, curling his body tightly into a ball, trying to become as small as possible.
He placed both hands firmly over his mouth, desperate not to let even a gasp escape. His heartbeat felt like a drum, loud and insistent, yet he willed it to quiet, to be silent in this perilous moment.
The lion prowled closer, its heavy breaths filling the dark. Takada could hear the crunch of sand under the lion's massive paws as it circled, scanning the area.
It seemed to hesitate, its steps uncertain, and that's when Takada began to understand—its sense of smell must be weaker here.
Any other lion, with its powerful instincts, would have pounced on a nearby target, light or no light. Yet this one appeared… confused, unable to pinpoint him.
The lion's slow, deliberate pacing continued, each footfall dragging out a suspense that was nearly unbearable. Meanwhile, Takada remained completely still in his corner, his entire body shaking, the pain in his wounded legs pulsing, throbbing, yet he refused to move, refused to make a sound.
"Please… God… please save me… I'm begging you," he pleaded silently, his thoughts a mess of fear and desperation.
Then, abruptly, the audience above resumed their chants, undeterred by the darkness. Voices rose, loud and strong, chanting once again, "For the King! For the King!" Their shouts filled the air, booming across the arena in powerful echoes. The chants rattled through the cage, bouncing off the walls, resonating in a cacophony that was impossible to ignore.
The lion, startled, lifted its head, ears twitching, its focus diverted by the barrage of noise. With a fierce and frustrated growl, it sprang toward the iron bars of its cage, latching on with its massive claws. Its muscles strained as it began to climb, furiously pressing a paw through the narrow gaps in the bars as it tried to reach the source of the maddening noise.
The audience, seeing the beast so close, erupted in terrified screams, many leaping from their seats, the organized spectacle now thrown into utter chaos.
With the lights still out, pandemonium swept through the stadium as spectators scrambled, cries of fear mixing with the lion's frenzied growls. The enclosure that once held excitement now swarmed with hysteria, all amplified by the furious roars of the enraged lion as it continued to claw its way up the cage.
Then, as suddenly as they had gone out, the lights flared back on, illuminating the lion mid-climb, clinging to the bars, its golden eyes scanning the crowd with a vicious glare. Its body tensed as it assessed the chaos before it, but realizing the futility of its position, the lion slowly climbed back down, its frustration clear.
Its gaze turned, settling back on the center of the arena where Takada lay. In the silence that followed, it stalked forward, creeping toward its prey. Each step was slow, precise, the lion's body low to the ground, its eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger that sent a shiver down Takada's spine. Drool dripped from the lion's open mouth, glistening over its massive fangs, the silent promise of the carnage it intended to unleash.
As the lion prowled closer, Takada remained curled on the ground, his body trembling as the beast's heavy breath brushed against him, its shadow looming. He barely dared to breathe. But then, in a heartbeat, the lion lunged, its claws slashing toward his face.
Takada flinched, instinctively rolling to the side, and the claws met only empty air, missing him by inches. The lion let out a
frustrated roar, landing heavily on its feet and baring its teeth, furious with its prey's narrow escape. Takada knew he couldn't survive much longer like this—his body was too weak, his strength almost completely drained.
The lion circled back, crouching low as it prepared to attack again, their golden eyes never leaving Takada. It lunged a second time, its claws tearing through the sand just beside him. Takada scrambled backward, narrowly dodging once again, but his limbs were shaking, and his vision swam from the pain in his legs. It felt like only a matter of time before the lion's sharp claws would find their mark.
Suddenly, one of the spectators watching the show threw a flaming torch that made the lion feel the sting of the flames. The beast snapped its gaze toward the person who had thrown the torch in its direction.
After the lion's fierce eyes drifted away from Takada, he felt a wave of confusion and instinctively turned to see who had dared to hurl fire at the animal.
To his utter shock, Takada recognized a familiar face. A shock of bright red hair peeked out from beneath a cap, atop a tall, lean frame with piercing eyes—it could only be Ryuen. And in an instant, Takada remembered why he was in this terrifying situation: Ryuen. If not for him, Takada would never have snuck out of his house to slip a note of complaint in the library.
Back in the arena, Ryuen had only just thrown the torch at the lion. With an enraged snarl, the lion bounded forward, hurtling toward the bars and reaching a massive claw through the iron cage, straining toward Ryuen. Yet Ryuen stood completely unfazed, staring down the snarling beast without a flicker of fear. Even with the cage as a barrier, it was a harrowing sight—few could stand as calmly as Ryuen in the face of such raw power.
A chaotic ripple swept through the room, filling it with frantic screams and the thunder of footsteps. Ryuen, still locking eyes with the furious lion, suddenly darted off toward Takada's bullies and the cruel zookeeper, a man dressed in an expensive tuxedo.
"That kid...! Catch him! I know exactly what he'll do if we let him get away!" yelled an elderly man with a white beard, his voice filled with panic and command. He was adorned in a white suit, gleaming with gold accessories, directing his order at his assistants. Behind him stood the three bullies who had tormented Takada.
A dozen of the old man's assistants charged toward Ryuen, creating a thunderous collision between twelve men and a single, relentless high schooler.
One of the assistants flew backward, crashing to the ground after his head collided fiercely with Ryuen's knee. Not stopping there, Ryuen ducked low, weaving like a serpent through the crowd of assistants. With lightning speed, he launched a devastating punch into the elderly man's stomach, sending him sprawling backward in his chair.
In a swift, practiced motion, Ryuen flipped open a small cover on the control panel and pressed a button.
Suddenly, the cage swung open. The lion leapt into the arena, but by then, the audience had already managed to flee to safety. Only Takada, Ryuen, and the old man's group remained in the room.
No sooner had Ryuen released the lion than the eleven remaining assistants and the three bullies charged at him from all sides. As fists flew from every angle, Ryuen ducked low, slipping between one of the bully's legs, and swept his foot in a karate kick that sent the thug crashing down to the floor.
Ryuen rose to his feet, delivering a brutal punch to another bully standing nearby, who staggered back and fell into the rows of chairs behind him. With a deadly precision, Ryuen advanced, a striking serpent hunting its prey.
The last bully threw a punch toward Ryuen's head, but Ryuen deftly sidestepped, letting the fist fly through empty air. Wasting no time, Ryuen drove an uppercut with explosive force under the bully's chin.
"THUD!"
The sound of the hit echoed throughout the room, leaving the elderly man and his assistants stunned. They could only watch in horror as their fiercest bully collapsed onto the cold floor, defeated, his limbs sprawled as he slipped into unconsciousness.
"Senior R-Ryuen-..." Takada whispered in awe. He watched the entire scene unfold, barely able to process the strength and bravery of his friend. Ignoring the pain in his own leg, Takada could only stare, captivated by Ryuen's unstoppable ferocity.
Back to Ryuen he stood there, his eyes swept over the eleven assistants left sprawled on the floor, their faces etched with terror. The old man's face twisted in frustration as he glared at his remaining assistants.
"What are you doing, idiots?! Kill that boy now!" he roared, livid.
In the next instant, Ryuen's gaze, which had been sharp and calm, flickered with a shock. Every remaining assistant drew firearms, and without a moment's hesitation, they began firing recklessly at Ryuen. The first bullet struck his right shoulder, a searing pain erupting through his body.
With barely a second to react, Ryuen grabbed a nearby chair, holding it up as a makeshift shield that bought him only two seconds of precious time. He sprinted toward the nearest assistant, swinging the chair down hard on the man's head, knocking him to the ground.
Bullets continued to fly, forcing Ryuen to keep moving, ducking and weaving as he jumped from chair to chair, finding cover wherever he could. He flung another chair toward them, which they easily dodged, but as they looked up, they realized his real intention was something far more terrifying.
A low, menacing growl came from behind the assistants. They froze, turning around to see the lion stalking closer, saliva dripping from its jaws. The gunfire stopped as the assistants went deathly still, caught between the predator behind them and the terrifying high schooler before them.
Now, danger pressed in on them from both sides = Ryuen, standing tall with fierce, blazing eyes and blood dripping from his wounded shoulder, like a wounded beast ready for the final strike. And behind them, the lion, an actual beast, eyes fixed on them with nothing but hunger and violence.
The assistants began to shake, realizing they'd emptied their clips every bullet had been wasted trying to kill a single, fast-moving teenager with their terrible aim. Now they were out of ammunition, and they were trapped.
From opposite ends of the coliseum, Ryuen and the ferocious lion charged toward the center with unrelenting ferocity and fervent determination. The assistants, realizing their predicament, cast aside their weapons and braced themselves to combat the onslaught from two devastating fronts, pouring every ounce of their strength into the desperate struggle.
Blow after thunderous blow, Ryuen's fists landed with an almost animalistic rage, each strike more devastating than the last. His raw strength sent the hapless assistants flying like ragdolls, their bodies twisting midair before crashing to the ground. The lion, equally savage, tore through the fallen with its powerful jaws, rending flesh and crushing bone without hesitation or mercy.
The dynamic between Ryuen and the lion was terrifyingly effective. Together, they resembled an executioner and his accomplice, one paralyzing their prey with overwhelming power, the other delivering a brutal and inevitable execution. The ten assistants, despite their best efforts, succumbed one by one, each left either severely injured or rendered unconscious.
Finally, Ryuen seized the last standing assistant by the hair, his grip unyielding. With a swift and brutal motion, he delivered a devastating punch to the man's face, leaving him sprawled on the ground, utterly senseless.
With the assistants neutralized, Ryuen stood amidst the wreckage, surveying his surroundings with a sense of urgency. His sharp eyes scanned the arena until they fell on a grim sight—Takada, trapped in the pit beneath the coliseum, gravely injured. Without wasting a moment, Ryuen sprinted to the edge of the pit and looked down. His heart clenched at the sight of his battered and bloodied comrade.
"Takada! Hang on down there! I'll find a way to get you out!" Ryuen's voice echoed with a mixture of panic and determination.
"B-Barely... hanging on..." Takada's weak reply drifted up from the depths. His voice was faint, the life seemingly drained from him due to the profuse bleeding from his injured leg.
After confirming that Takada was still conscious, Ryuen turned his attention back to the arena, his mind racing to find a solution. Unbeknownst to him, however, a shadow loomed behind him.
"Grrr..."
The low, menacing growl of the lion shattered the silence. Ryuen froze momentarily, his instincts screaming at him to turn. As he pivoted, his eyes locked with the predator's piercing gaze. A fleeting moment of dread washed over him, but Ryuen steeled himself, gripping his resolve tighter as he stared the beast down.
For what felt like an eternity, neither Ryuen nor the lion moved. The air between them grew thick with tension, each second stretching endlessly. Then, without warning, the lion broke eye contact. Its predatory gaze shifted, and with a graceful leap, it descended into the pit where Takada lay.
Takada, hearing the heavy thud of the lion's landing, froze in terror. The beast approached him with deliberate, predatory steps. Stricken with fear, Takada clasped his hands together in a desperate prayer, shielding his face with trembling hands. He braced himself for the inevitable attack, his mind filled with images of impending doom.
But the lion merely passed him by, as though he were nothing more than a phantom. Without even a glance in his direction, it slipped into the dark curtain concealing its lair. The only trace of its presence was the faint trail of pawprints left in the sand.
As soon as the lion disappeared, Ryuen sprang into action. His eyes darted around the arena until he spotted a length of sturdy rope hanging from a nearby storage rack. With swift precision, he yanked it free, the rope unraveling with a sharp crack.
"Snap!"
The sound of the rope echoed through the coliseum as Ryuen hurriedly returned to the edge of the pit. He threw the rope down with urgency, his voice cutting through the stillness.
"Takada! Grab hold of this rope and climb up!"
"Th-Thank you... Senior Ryuen..." Takada replied faintly, his voice barely audible. Using every ounce of strength he had left, he dragged himself forward, gripping the rope tightly. With painstaking effort, he began pulling himself upward, gritting his teeth to endure the searing pain in his injured leg.
Ryuen watched anxiously, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of trouble. After what felt like an eternity, Takada finally reached the top. With careful hands, Ryuen hoisted him onto his back, his movements gentle yet deliberate. Without wasting any more time, he began carrying Takada out of the coliseum.
As they navigated the grim labyrinth leading out of the arena, Takada's body trembled uncontrollably. His teeth chattered, his mind consumed by the horrors he had just endured. Sensing the younger man's distress, Ryuen spoke softly, attempting to ease his troubled thoughts.
"Hey, Takada," Ryuen began, his voice calm yet carrying an undercurrent of firmness, "Talk to me. I can tell your mind is swirling with questions, and keeping them bottled up won't help."
Takada hesitated, his lips trembling slightly as he searched for the words he wanted to say. His voice, when it finally emerged, was barely louder than a whisper. "Why were you there... Senior Ryuen?"
The two of them walked in silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the dim and desolate corridor. The air was heavy, thick with tension and unspoken fears. Ryuen sighed deeply, his breath carrying the weight of his thoughts. When he finally spoke, his tone was low, tinged with regret and a hint of something darker.
"I attend the Lion King's Offering every year. It's... a grim tradition in this place, one that's been carried out for as long as I can remember."
Takada's expression grew troubled, his brows furrowing as he tried to process the information. He couldn't fathom why anyone would willingly participate in such a horrifying event. After a moment, he pressed further, his voice carrying a mix of confusion and frustration. "But... does the lion really have to be fed a living human every single year? Why would they do something so... monstrous?"
Ryuen's response was cold, almost detached, as though he had long since come to terms with the harsh reality. "For money, Takada. The organizers of this spectacle secretly broadcast the event to an underground network. Every victim fed to the lion becomes a spectacle for shadowy audiences who pay exorbitant amounts to watch. Each death brings them more fame, more viewers, and more profit."
The horrifying revelation hit Takada like a blow to the chest, leaving him momentarily speechless. He had always known there were dark corners of the world, but hearing this firsthand left him shaken to his core. His lips moved as though to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he followed Ryuen silently, his thoughts racing.
As the two emerged from the coliseum's shadowy confines, a new and equally shocking sight awaited them. The world beyond the arena was a stark picture of degradation and despair. The streets were lined with dilapidated houses that seemed ready to crumble at the slightest touch. The air was thick with the acrid stench of waste, mingled with the overpowering odors of sweat and alcohol. Shadowy figures loitered in the corners, some hawking illegal goods while others engaged in hushed exchanges, their intentions as murky as the smog that hung over the area.
Takada's gaze wandered upward, and his eyes fell on a towering signpost that loomed over the chaotic streets. The bold letters etched into the worn wood read:
"The Underground City of H'oun"
"W-Wow..." Takada murmured, his voice barely audible as he took in the scene before him. His wide, unblinking eyes roved over the unfamiliar surroundings, his mind struggling to reconcile what he was seeing with the world he thought he knew.
Ryuen, noticing the younger man's awe-struck expression, couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "First time seeing an underground city like this?" he asked, his tone laced with amusement.
Flustered, Takada stammered, "Y-Yeah... I've never seen anything like this before. It's... it's overwhelming."
Ryuen offered a faint smirk but said nothing more, his focus shifting back to the task at hand. He adjusted Takada's weight on his back to ensure the younger man wouldn't fall and continued navigating through the oppressive labyrinth of filth and shadow.
Eventually, they reached the edge of the chaotic settlement, where a massive staircase stretched upward. The towering structure seemed to rise endlessly, its destination a single, weathered door perched at the top. Without hesitation, Ryuen began the arduous climb, each step echoing softly in the oppressive silence.
Midway up the staircase, Takada broke the silence, his voice hesitant and tinged with disbelief. "S-Senior Ryuen... how can something like this exist without the police stepping in? Don't they know about this city and everything happening here?"
Ryuen's reply was steady, but his tone carried a weight of bitter resignation. "The people who run this city wield more power and influence than the police. They operate in a world beyond the reach of law and order. To the authorities, everything that happens here is perfectly 'legal.'"
Takada fell silent again, the weight of Ryuen's words settling heavily on his shoulders. The journey upward continued in somber quiet, the two of them ascending step by step. At last, they reached the door, and Ryuen pushed it open.
To Takada's astonishment, the door led directly into a public circus. The bright, lively atmosphere of the circus stood in stark contrast to the grim, oppressive world they had just left behind. The cheerful music, colorful tents, and bustling crowds seemed almost surreal after everything Takada had witnessed.
"A circus?" Takada thought to himself, his mind swirling with confusion. "This world keeps getting stranger..."
------------------------------------------------
Several days later, Takada lay confined to a hospital bed, his legs tightly wrapped in thick bandages. The sterile smell of the room and the soft hum of medical equipment were a far cry from the chaos of the underground city. It had been five days since he had last been to school, and his days had passed in a blur of rest and recovery. One quiet afternoon, his mother entered the room with a warm smile. "Takada, your classmates are coming to visit today. Make sure to welcome them with a smile, alright?"
"W-What?! But Mo-"
Before Takada could muster a response, the door to his room burst open, and a lively group of students flooded in. Their cheerful voices filled the room, breaking through the stillness like a burst of sunlight.
"Takada!!!" they shouted in unison, their excitement palpable.
Unfamiliar faces immediately filled Takada's view, and he was struck with disbelief. He had never imagined that a group of classmates he didn't even know would come to greet him so enthusiastically, as if they had eagerly awaited his return to school.
"W-What…?!"
Takada's voice trembled with panic as he stammered, his eyes darting around the room in frantic confusion. He felt overwhelmed by the lively atmosphere and the sudden influx of people crowding his hospital room. Just as his gaze moved from one unfamiliar face to another, he froze. Amid the sea of strangers, he spotted someone unmistakably familiar—a face he could never forget.
It was a girl with long, golden-blonde hair that shimmered like sunlight. Her flawless, fair complexion was accented by a soft blush, and her lips, a delicate shade of red, curved into a gentle, heartwarming smile. But what stood out the most were her eyes—vivid amethyst orbs that sparkled like rare jewels, drawing all attention to her.
The moment Takada recognized her, a deep flush spread across his cheeks. His heart began to pound erratically in his chest, and he could feel heat rising to his face. He blinked rapidly, trying to process what he was seeing, but there was no doubt in his mind. He knew exactly who she was.
The girl smiled warmly at him, her expression radiating kindness and an almost ethereal charm. As if to complete her greeting, she lifted her hand gracefully, giving a small wave in his direction. The simple gesture sent Takada into a spiral of emotions. His breath caught, and he instinctively turned his face away, his hands shooting up to cover his now-burning cheeks.
In a voice barely above a whisper, he muttered to himself, his tone tinged with disbelief and nervousness, "Erin Schuwald… What is she doing here?!"
-To Be Continued..