Two hours later, all the men present for the tournament, including Hazen, lined up to enter an underground chamber.
Hazen scanned the vast circular space, its rough-hewn stone walls towering around them. Tiered seating made of dark, polished wood loomed above, while ominous music pulsed through the air. Flickering candles and lanterns cast eerie shadows, and the metallic tang of armor and weapons hung heavily in the atmosphere.
"Welcome to the Shadow Pit," Commander Kyle announced as he stepped out from the gallery. "Below lies the Crimson Gorgoroth. Its skin is nearly impervious to cutting. Whoever kills it will advance to the next round. And this is the beginning of Round 1." He rang a bell to signal the start and took his seat among the other officials.
Amoris let out a low chuckle. "You said you could handle this. Why do I hear your heartbeat?"
"Why are you monitoring my organs, Amoris?" Hazen thought back, irritation creeping into her mind.
"I was trying to catch some beauty sleep. Your anxiety was rather disturbing," Amoris replied cheekily.
"A demon doesn't need beauty sleep. Why not just sleep and never wake up?" Hazen shot back.
"My dear, I'll always wake up," Amoris countered, amusement lacing his tone.
"Whatever, well, how hard can it be, really?" Hazen shrugged, trying to mask her unease.
The first contestant, a tall, muscular man, stepped forward with boldness.
"Release the beast!" he shouted, unwavering.
Immediately, a pair of glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness from the underground. The gates swung open, revealing a towering creature over twelve feet tall, its muscular, scaly body resembling a nightmarish mix of dragon and hydra. Razor-sharp claws glinted ominously, and venomous fangs dripped with lethal intent. The air thickened with dread as it approached, letting out a thunderous roar that reverberated through the chamber.
Hazen felt her skin crawl. "They want to kill us!" Her eyes widened in fear. "No, I can't stay here! I can't be next!" She tried to turn wanting slip back into the crowd.
"Stay calm, boy," a deep voice rumbled nearby.
Hazen turned to see a muscular bald man standing beside her. "There's no one here I can beat," she muttered, resigned, and turned back to face the beast, accepting her fate.
Commander Kyle's gaze fell on Hazen, who wore a mask of fear. He smiled faintly. "I can't let this one die," he murmured, his attention lingering on Hazen before he turned away.
In an instant, a gunshot rang out. The beast lunged at the man who had called for its release, moving with blinding speed. Before anyone could react, he was torn into pieces.
"Damn, it's fast!" Hazen gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
… .
Commander Kyle, noting Hazen's fear, stood up. "Everyone has witnessed the power of the Crimson Gorgoroth. You may leave now if you're not prepared to face it," he offered, hoping to give Hazen a chance to escape.
Hazen looked at him like a knight saving a distressed prince. "An opportunity to leave…" she murmured, half-tempted to turn away.
"You're going nowhere," Amoris interjected, his aura freezing Hazen in place.
"I can't face this beast! I'll be dead in seconds!" Hazen protested angrily in her mind.
"Keep calm," Amoris replied, his tone smooth.
Commander Kyle frowned slightly. "Does he not realize he can leave, or is he simply foolish?" he wondered, watching Hazen. "Let the tournament continue," he said with a frown, walking back to his seat. "If he wants to die, so be it."
"Go already!" the bald man urged, giving Hazen a push.
"Amoris, where are you?" Hazen muttered desperately.
"I see you, Hazen. You said you could handle this," Amoris teased, a smirk in his voice.
The beast charged at Hazen, and Commander Kyle felt a chill run down his spine. Hazen dashed away, running for her life.
"Such a coward! He can't even fight back!" someone jeered from the crowd.
"If he wanted to play, he should've stayed in the woods!" another scoffed, eyebrows knitted in disdain.
Hazen sprinted up a wall and landed on a ledge, the beast following closely. "It climbs!" she shouted, backflipping to the ground.
The onlookers watched him, half-amused, half-impressed by her agility as she evaded the Crimson Gorgoroth.
"Amoris!" Hazen called, urgency spilling over in her voice as the beast closed the distance.
"You said you could handle it," Amoris replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Take control now!" Hazen yelled as the beast loomed closer.
"With pleasure," Amoris replied.
In an instant, Hazen's eyes flashed scarlet, and Amoris seized control. Hazen moved with newfound speed, abruptly halting to face the oncoming beast.
"Ooo, the little man is angry, huh?" she taunted, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
As the beast charged, Hazen sprinted up the wall again, performing a backflip to land on its back.
"Yippee!" she cheered, riding the Gorgoroth like a wild horse.
The creature roared, the ground trembling with its fury.
"Aww, you don't want to play?" Hazen pouted, feigning disappointment.
In a swift motion, she leaped into the air, eyes glowing scarlet, elongating her claws. Before she landed, the Gorgoroth's head rolled away from its body.
The atmosphere froze, then erupted into cheers from the crowd, the sound deafening.
"Who would've believed this innocent-looking man possessed such strength? He managed to rip off the head in one go!" the commentator's voice echoed.
Breathing heavily, Hazen stood triumphantly over the Gorgoroth's severed head. "I'm alive!" she shouted, joy radiating from her as she lifted the head for the crowd to see.
"Thanks to me," Amoris muttered smugly.
"Narcissist. Yeah, yeah, I'll become stronger so you don't have to bother too much ," Hazen replied, grinning brightly.
"Relax; we don't know what the next stage will bring. No need to get too excited," Amoris cautioned.
"Hey, don't kill the fun!" Hazen retorted playfully.
… ..
Commander Kyle watched from his seat, a faint smile breaking across his face. "Not as weak as I thought," he murmured, observing Hazen as she entertained the crowd with the Gorgoroth's head.