“Destruction… Blood… Power… What do these three things have in common, you ask?.. These three things are tied to humanity’s sickness! The human disease carries an overwhelming thirst for power… and many times, that thirst leads to destruction, and the blood of the innocent ends up being spilled… People who seek power don’t care about others, and to some extent, I understand. That’s just how the world works… But when they hurt my family, I CAN BE SICK TOO!”

20 years ago

Since the dawn of humanity, competition has existed. Etched into instinct, rooted in survival, refined by ambition — humans compete for everything. Territory, resources, pride… power. And no matter how many years pass, how many civilizations fall, or how many wars end — that flame never fades.

Over time, humanity shaped that need into something more… organized. More brutal. More… entertaining.

And so, a spectacle was born — one that captured the rawest essence of being human: combat, strategy, violence, and survival. A sport where there are no moral limits, only winners and losers. A stage where death is not the end — just part of the game.

Its name echoes across the world:

Survival of Kings!

A sport where two teams of eight fighters each enter an arena randomly generated by an advanced system — an artificial world where their souls are transferred into bodies built to withstand the impossible. There, they can fight… kill… destroy… without physical consequences in the real world.

But the pain… that remains real.

Victory is simple in theory: eliminate the opposing team’s king, randomly chosen by the system.

“GOOD MORNING, SURVIVAL OF KINGS FANS! THE LONG-AWAITED DAY OF THIS YEAR’S WORLD TOURNAMENT FINAL HAS FINALLY ARRIVED! I’M KEATON, AND ALONGSIDE THE GREAT SURVIVAL OF KINGS PLAYER, MIRTR, WE’LL BE COVERING THIS AMAZING MATCH!”

Keaton’s voice tore through the air with explosive energy, his excitement was almost tangible. Standing on top of the desk, completely out of control, he gestured wildly as if he were about to jump into the arena himself.

“Good morning, everyone! It’s an honor to be here commenting on this match from a player’s perspective!”

Mirtr remained composed, but the sideways glance he shot at Keaton revealed his irritation. The chaos hadn’t even started yet… and it was already here.

“ARE YOU ALL READY TO START THIS MATCH!? YOU KNOW WHAT TO SAY! REPEAT AFTER ME!”

Completely ignoring his colleague, Keaton raised the intensity even higher — and the crowd answered.

The stadium, packed with over a million spectators, trembled.

“BRING IT UP! BRING IT UP! BRING IT UP!”

The chant echoed like a living force, vibrating through the air, the ground, the bones of everyone who heard it. It didn’t matter if they were there in person or watching from afar — that moment united them into a single entity hungry for spectacle.

At the center of the arena, a massive wall slowly rose, dividing the field into two perfectly isolated halves.

“From this moment on, both teams have thirty minutes to trap their side of the field. This phase is considered by many to be the most important part of any match. Let’s see what strategies will emerge in this arena, which today has taken the form of a very dense jungle! We predict many aerial battles due to the density of the flora on the ground!”

The jungle was suffocating — towering trees blocked the light, roots coiled across the ground, and the vegetation was so thick that every step could hide a trap… or death.

“It’s in these thirty minutes that teams develop their strategies according to the terrain, decide which traps to use, and how they’ll protect the member with the king status while eliminating the enemy team’s king.”

Inside the arena, movement was frantic.

Shadows crossed between trees, and the sounds of metal, magic, and destruction echoed across both sides. Every second mattered.

Edan, captain of one of the teams, burned parts of the flora on his side of the arena using daggers infused with Fire mana, clearing the terrain so his team could fight more freely and avoid being forced into aerial combat.

“Hey! Zelis! Can you create a spike trap here, please? We can use it later to lure someone.”

“Of course, Edan. It’ll be a bit obvious, but they might think that and assume it’s just bait. We can limit their movement like this!”

The dirt responded to Zelis’ command. The ground silently opened, revealing a deadly trap of sharp spikes hidden beneath a thin, deceptive layer of soil.

“Edan, come here! We need you to plan the strategy!”

Lumi’s voice cut through the preparation noise. There was urgency — and trust.

Edan quickly joined her.

“Let’s do this. I’ve already thought of a strategy.” said Lumi.

A hologram of the arena appeared, casting a bluish glow over the team’s faces.

“Guys, our strategy will be risky. Considering I have the king status, and I usually stay on the front line with Edan, it would be strange if I stayed further back than usual. With that said, we’ll maintain this formation as we advance, Edan! There’s just one thing that worries me…” Lumi finished with a hint of hesitation buried in her voice.

“What worries you is that psychopath who wipes out everything in front of him, right?” Edan asked, already knowing that was the case.

“Exactly, and that’s where you come in, Wayke. We need you to advance and provoke him, guiding him into Zelis’ trap.” Lumi suggested, pointing at Wayke.

“So basically you’re telling me to die, right?” Wayke asked with a judging look, as if this wasn’t the first time Lumi had given him orders like this.

“Unfortunately, yes, but if you can lure him away from me and Edan, I think we can eliminate the rest of their team… and I trust you to hold him off for as long as we need!” Lumi added, trying to fully convince Wayke to follow her plan.

“And since that guy isn’t very smart, whoever ends up facing him can say I’m hiding in a structure Zelis will create. Oh! You can also say I have the king status. He’ll believe anything you say.” Lumi added, giving instructions to the rest of the team.

The plan was risky… but necessary.

Moments later, the rest of the team regrouped. Everyone was ready.

Edan called them into a circle.

“My friends, this is the culmination of all the hours of training and blood spilled! We are one step away from becoming the benchmark team in Survival of Kings, and even if we all end up shattered, in the end, the goddess of victory will be on our side today! SCREAM WITH EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT! LET HER HEAR OUR HUNGER!”

“LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

The roar echoed through the arena.

Anyone who heard it could feel it — Edan’s team wasn’t leaving without victory.

The crowd couldn’t hold back either.

They screamed with everything they had.

As if there were no tomorrow.

And maybe there wasn’t.

All that mattered was the moment… and the battle that promised to be unforgettable.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are less than 1 minute away from the most anticipated match of the season! The team that remains standing will be crowned world champion! The players have taken their positions! LET THE MOMENT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR BEGIN!”

From above, the arena revealed both sides.

Edan’s team had cleared sections of the forest.

The opposing team had covered their entire ground with metallic spikes.

Anyone who fell there… wouldn’t be getting back up.

“And there it is! The wall is coming down! As soon as the bell rings, the players can advance toward claiming this season’s title!”

The tension was unbearable.

“You know the drill, Wayke. The moment you hear the bell, don’t look back! Go get that clown!”

“No need to worry, Edan. You can consider the job done already!”

On the other side…

“I can’t wait to see my dear Lumi up close and gut that Edan who’s always between us. I’m counting on you to wipe them out!”

The bell rang.

The arena erupted.

“When Wayke gives the signal, we move!” - said Edan, looking at Lumi.

“Zelis! We’re counting on you to be the first to hold that monster back.”

“Of course! Don’t worry, he’s not getting past me!”

In the middle of the jungle, shrouded in mist, Wayke advanced.

Silent. Precise.

Until—

“Wayke, did you really think I hadn’t noticed your presence in the mist?”

A chill ran down his spine.

Yakura.

Without warning, a devastating slash tore through the air. Trees fell like paper.

“I found him!” - said Wayke, pressing his communicator.

“Take your positions and get ready! Lumi, let’s go!” - ordered Edan.

Wayke retreated, following the plan.

“Hey! Idiot! Edan sends his regards!” - he mocked.

“Edan is way better than—”

He didn’t finish.

A second enemy appeared.

Invisible until the last second.

A clean cut.

Wayke’s head separated from his body.

First blood.

“Their strategy is too obvious… we’ll stick to the plan!” - said Yakura.

“I’m way too excited to cut and bathe in my dear Lumi’s blood!”

And so… the true carnage began.