As one of the knights lunged, I dropped low, barely dodging the swing as the sword cleaved the air where I'd just stood. The cold steel whistled above me, close enough that I could feel the faint breeze it stirred. My heart hammered in my chest, adrenaline flooding every nerve.
I had no choice but to use my size to my advantage, darting through the ranks of knights with a mix of desperation and raw instinct. I weaved and ducked, their heavy, armored frames moving with a deadly precision that left no room for error. Their eyes—cold and unblinking beneath polished visors—tracked me relentlessly, as if I were a pest to be exterminated.
The timer loomed in my mind, each second pounding in sync with my heartbeat. I couldn't afford to let them corner me. I had to survive. I had been given a second chance—this strange, dark opportunity to prove myself—and there was no way I was letting it slip through my fingers.
Another knight swung at me from my left. I dropped, rolling low to the ground as the sword swept just inches above my head. As I sprang back to my feet, I pushed past him, gripping my small pocket knife. It felt pitiful in my hand, barely more than a toy against their towering figures. But it was all I had. If nothing else, I could try to use it as a distraction.
Doubt crashed over me like a wave. Would my small size be enough to keep me safe? Would agility alone help me dodge the strikes of these relentless enemies? Time was running out, the knights were closing in, and I couldn't keep this up forever. My breath came in ragged gasps, my legs beginning to burn as I darted and dodged.
Yet, as exhaustion threatened to slow me down, a renewed sense of determination flooded through me. I pressed forward, weaving through the nightmarish arena, each breath a reminder that I was still alive, still fighting. But then—a strike caught me across the arm. I cried out as pain exploded through my limb, sharp and searing. Another hit landed square on my side, and it felt as though my ribs had turned to dust. I staggered but forced myself to keep moving, unwilling to go down without a fight.
Memories from my previous life flashed through my mind—my cousin sitting smugly on the couch, watching the boxing matches I'd only been able to catch glimpses of as I scurried around doing chores. I had absorbed the moves by watching, imitating footwork in secret, determined to one day prove I could be strong too. Now, I tried to replicate those moves, shuffling and pivoting as I'd seen boxers do. Sometimes it worked, and I slipped past a knight unscathed. Other times, I misstepped and was punished with another brutal blow.
But I felt a spark of confidence—if I could just use my knife correctly, maybe I'd stand a chance. I lunged forward, aiming for the nearest knight. The blade sliced through the air and connected... but passed through his body like it was made of smoke. My heart dropped. Panic surged as a warning window flashed before my eyes:
**WARNING: THE PUNISHERS ARE UNTOUCHABLE. ONLY DEFENSE REMAINS.**
Anger and frustration surged within me, and I threw the knife away. Useless. Just as I did, the timer ticked down, the final twenty seconds flashing in bold red. The knights pressed in, their swords raised, shimmering in the ominous light. I stumbled back, my heels catching on uneven ground as I braced myself, my heart thundering.
"No! Is this really the end?" I thought, desperation clawing at my mind as the knights closed in, like a wall of death ready to consume me whole.
The final seconds seemed to stretch, each tick a reminder of my inevitable doom. But as the countdown reached zero, the knights flickered, their forms dissolving into thin air. I collapsed to the ground, gasping, as the oppressive weight of their presence lifted from the air around me.
I blinked, and suddenly, I was back on the park bench, the cool night air brushing against my bruised skin. Had it really been just ten minutes? I glanced around, bewildered. The lively hum of the park had vanished, replaced by an eerie silence. The benches and walkways seemed cloaked in shadow, the world eerily still as if frozen in time.
Then, a familiar, flickering window appeared before me, casting an eerie glow on the dark surroundings:
**Congratulations! You have survived the punishment. Here's your reward: Power Boost Potion.**
I stared at the words, hardly able to believe my eyes. What did this mean? And what was waiting for me next? As I gazed at the glowing text, a new fire kindled in my chest. This was only the beginning, and my gut feeling had already started to warn me.