THUMP- THUMP-

The man was getting impatient.

BANG, BANG, BANG,

He wasn't knocking anymore.

BOOM- BOOM-

He wasn't smiling anymore.

The man let out a deep sigh as he slowly raised his fist, his eyes glowing a profound magenta. 

CRASH!

In a heartbeat, the shield shattered into dust.

The...thing slowly but menacingly walked towards them. Cale drew an arrow back in response.

"Not here," Cale ordered, and the beast cooperated.

Cale had teleported them to the arena.

It had a clear, sturdy glass dome with benches on the outside. The floor was worn and beaten up, with scratches and ashes evenly spread out on it.

The creature raised its claymore toward its opponent.

Cale drew back three arrows, muttering a spell under his breath.

The creature smiled once more, putting its claymore on its back. 

Its smile said everything.

Cale flinched, 'It knew I was aiming there.'

'It heard me.'

The creature raised its fists. They were bandaged and bloody.

It lunged. Cale quickly swerved to the side. Something punched him in the back. 

He retreated forwards. 

It lunged again. Cale went to kick it in the stomach. Suddenly, he felt a hand on the back of his head.

CRACK!

It had thrust his head down into the stone floor, painting it a gruesome red.

He tried to push himself back up. He felt a hand on his elbow. 

He kicked himself off the ground, hooking onto its shoulders. He pushed his hands off the ground, grabbing tufts of its white hair. He kicked himself off of its body, and upon landing, he drew back three more arrows, aware that his vision was distorted.

He knew he can't fire an arrow for his life. So, he closed his eyes and muttered a spell.

Tiny, colourful orbs blinked in the darkness, some were connected by thin strings, and some were stuck travelling in straight lines. The majority was compacted in a fixed shape. They formed everything. The arena, the hydra, everything. The particles envisioned a dark version of their world. No colours, just particles.  

Cale carefully put down his bow and took an arrow out. He clenched onto it. He ran around the arena, seeing something else chase behind him. The orbs created a kind of ripple, showing Cale its movements. The particles above him vibrated. He ducked and slid underneath it. He felt it behind him. 

He thrust his elbow behind, feeling something catch it. It had a tight grasp on him. It began to crush his elbow, pain spreading through his arm. He kicked it desperately, and then, obediently, it dropped his arm. He dashed to the other side of the arena, confused. He frantically skimmed his surroundings, casting another spell. He didn't have time to be confused.

"Domine mi, Interite, rursus tormentorum arma repetam."

Ropes of fire encircled him. He feebly gripped the arrow, trembling slightly. Translucent, blue vines wrapped around his other arm and weapon, and they strangled his arm like a water droplet clinging onto a mere leaf.

He needed to push through his limits, right? 

This is his chance. 

He closed his eyes once more. 

He heard the tap, tap, tapping of its footsteps.

He heard its irregular breathing.

He felt something behind him.

He cast the ropes, capturing it. The ropes sneaked up to its neck, squeezing it. 

He heard...more breathing, more of it.

He frantically cast the ropes all around him, seizing all of them.

His breathing became shorter, and he couldn't focus anymore. 

The tap, tap, tapping of its footsteps became louder and louder.

Tap, tap, tap, Tap, TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP-

He swerved behind him and thrust his arm into his enemy, and his arm easily pierced its flesh. 

A high-pitched sound came from his arm. 

WHIRR-

His arm felt much lighter, his face drenched with a warm, thick liquid. Was it blood? Wet objects splatted on the ground, and the sound echoed in his ears.

He squeezed his eyes even tighter.

BZZT-

The dirty-blonde-haired woman appeared on a screen. 

"Welcome to Starsnatch Academy.  

We salute you all for surviving this long. 

May the remaining candidates meet in the auditorium, where we shall explain what will happen next. 

We hope you have now realised the impacts of your actions.”