[TW: PHYSICAL VIOLENCE, BLOOD and GORE!]

In front of the gate there were a lot of other contestants. Some pure muscle, some slim, some equipped with weapons and magical tools and some without anything like Cyrus. Cyrus started looking around and observing the others. Compared to most of them Cyrus wasn’t physically in the best shape and probably looked like an easy prey to everyone. Cyrus didn’t really know the exact reason why they participated in the event. From the beginning  it just felt like it was important for them to participate in the event, perhaps it was because of the chance to meet The God Aria? Being confused by their reasons, Cyrus quickly dismissed the idea and focused on the matter at hand. 

Having a few minutes before the first match begins, an announcer shows up in front of the contestants. The announcer was seemingly Sho with Evelynn and June next to him. 

Sho takes a deep breath. “Everyone!” Welcome and thank you for taking a part in this event hosted by our God, Aria.” 

June cast a spell that made a huge list appear with names on it.

“This list over here will tell the order in which everyone will come into the arena. As the match progresses, winners of each round will go against each other, until only two contestants remain for the final round for the final showdown. The match ends when one of the contestants willingly withdraws or when the other party gets knocked out. We won’t let the match play out if things get too out of hand.” Sho takes a deep breath. “Though the list has the order you’ll all go in, we will still call upon the contestants who will go against each other to the arena. Is that clear?” Sho asks.

The contestants nod. 

“Very good. You have five minutes to prepare and until the first rounds start.” The announcer, Sho, along with the two others leave to prepare as well.

Every contestant started to head to the wall with the list on it. There were forty contestants so there were 20 rounds, each consisting of two people. Cyrus was inspecting the wall as they were searching for their own name on the list, but then instantly heard someone yell in a gruesome voice, “WHICH ONE OF YOU IS CYRUS?”

The one who yelled was a tall and a very muscular man. The whole waiting room was fixated on the man as he kept demanding to know who Cyrus was. Cyrus on the other hand was getting more nervous and pressured than before as they heard him yell. Also seeing that compared to themselves, they probably looked like an ant in his eyes. The man was getting louder and louder and the other contestants started murmuring also getting curious of who Cyrus was. 

Gathering all the courage Cyrus hesitantly raised their hand and spoke up, “It’s me.. I’m Cyrus.”

The man looked baffled and started laughing, “Hmph, Guess I’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Hearing that comment made Cyrus so irritated. One thing they couldn’t handle was being looked down upon, but despite that Cyrus decided to remain calm and didn’t say anything back to the muscular man. Cyrus then continues to inspect the list. Finally they spotted their name on it and saw that it was their turn on the last round. That made Cyrus ease a little and they returned to scout the other contestants while feeling a bit inferior compared to others. ‘Am I really going to make it without a weapon..?’ Cyrus kept thinking. And without them noticing time had passed quickly and it was time for the first round.

As the first ten matches had begun, Cyrus had gone outside to spectate the mathes and to possibly learn from them. As they watched the matches, one match in particular stood out to them. The fight was between a young knight and a young curly haired lady. The lady particularly stood out to Cyrus, she had flowers all over her and her magic was also based on different plants and flowers which made every spell she cast charming in its own way. Although every spell was unique in its own way, it wasn’t enough to best the young knight and proceed to the next round. The announcer informed the winner and gave a round of applause to the flower girl, Raya. 

After that, Cyrus kept watching the other matches but didn’t really find them notable. all the other matches went quickly by and it was time for Cyrus to shine..? The organizers led both Cyrus and the muscular man to different doors for them to enter from the opposite sides. Cyrus stood in front of the door, waiting for it to open. Second thoughts coming to mind and butterflies piling up in their stomach. The doors open and both of them set foot in the arena. The cheers were loud, the sun was blinding. Slowly Cyrus came to a realization that they might not be able to win, but they would still give their very best. 

.

.

Both the muscular man and Cyrus were standing in the arena, and the cheers slowly stopped, waiting for one of them to make the first move. The man suddenly started moving towards Cryus and they became alerted. 

He laughs hysterically, “Hey kid, don’t blame me if you’re gonna end up in the hospital for a while, ‘kay?”

As Cyrus started to back up, the muscular man picked up his speed and charged at Cyrus. Not having enough time to react, Cyrus got slammed against the wall.

“Ggg-GAH!” Cyrus starts coughing in pain. 

The muscular man grabs Cyrus’ neck and lifts them up.

“Come on, COME ON NOW, FIGHT!” The muscular man starts taunting Cyrus. “Or did you have nothing up your sleeves from the beginning?” He continues to laugh whilst Cyrus’ face is becoming redder and redder, unable to breath. 

Desperately Cyrus tries to free themselves trying to bite his hand. Tears flowing from their face and their teeth clenching Cyrus though, ‘Should I just forfeit.. At this rate I’ll surely die..’

The man started slamming Cyrus’ head against the wall again, 

and again,

and again,

and again.. 

and again…

Cyrus’ screams loud and full of pain, begging for the pain to stop but to no avail. Still in the same position, Slowly, Cyrus started to lose sight. Noticing what was happening, the crowd and the staff began to become concerned, spectators started demanding for this to be ended because of the obvious disadvantage Cyrus had. The organizators saw that the situation was getting out of hand and headed into the arena to interfere. The ones who came were June, Evelynn and Sho. June dashed next to the muscular man, grabbed his hand to forcefully make him let go of Cyrus’ neck.

*THUD!*