CHAPTER 44: NOT GOOD
John didn't answer.
He was too busy remembering every word he'd just said.
Around them, the hall shifted. Everyone had dropped down to one knee. Even Lord Roan wasn't an exception, as he had his eyes downward.
"Supreme One," he said, his voice carrying across the silent hall.
His words rippled through the crowd as they overlapped with the others who were saying the same thing.
"Supreme One."
"Supreme One."
"Supreme One."
John's legs wouldn't move.
Beside him, Nico stood frozen. Adam had already dropped to one knee, tugging at Nico's sleeve. "Get down," he hissed.
The Supreme One's sharp eyes absorbed all of this and he just rolled his eyes.
Then he waved his hand.
Light shimmered around him. Like reality itself was adjusting. His blonde hair elongated and turned lustrous. His sharp features became sharper still—older, more refined, carved from marble and shadow. The simple clothes melted away, replaced by robes of deep crimson and gold, embroidered with patterns that mesmerized anyone who gazed upon them.
He looked down at them from his throne.
Like a god watching ants.
Nico finally came out of his reverie. His knees buckled. He dropped to the ground so fast that John heard the impact.
John was quick to follow. The Supreme One's gaze bored down on him—heavy, ancient, amused.
His knees hit the polished floor. The impact sent a jolt through his legs, but he didn't flinch.
The hall was silent.
Then the Supreme One spoke.
"Rise," he said, waving his hand.
The hall shifted at once, and Everyone straightened immediately with synchronized movement.
John had also risen from his bow. Beside him, Nico was still pale, still trembling.
The Supreme One leaned back on his throne, draping one leg over the other.
"You all know why you're here.
"So, let's get straight to the fun stuff."
He spread his arms. "I like to keep things simple. So, the rules are simple."
He drew back his arms and raised one finger.
"All of you will be divided into six brackets. Two hundred or so participants each."
Then he raised a second finger.
"The last six standing in each bracket advance."
Then a third finger.
"Then those thirty-six compete again, only in a different format this time, until only fifteen remain."
Finally, he dropped his hand. "Those fifteen get the spots you are all so eager to acquire."
He paused, letting all of them internalize what he had just said.
"And to clarify—the first trial is a battle royale. Within your brackets." His voice dropped, just slightly. "And the only rule is... There are no rules."
Then his smile widened.
"Now, you may ask—how are we going to get eliminated?" He tilted his head, as if genuinely curious. "Well... you're out when you die. For real."
He paused for a second before continuing. "So, the battle is to the death. In clear terms."
The hall erupted into murmurs and gasps. Even the instructors frowned—some of them shifting uncomfortably. They were also caught off guard since they weren't told what the trial was beforehand.
The Supreme One didn't seem to notice. Or if he did, he didn't seem to care much.
"So..." He raised his hand. "Good luck."
He snapped his fingers.
***
John didn't know what happened.
One moment, he was listening to the Supreme One's every word. The next... he was—God knows where.
The ground beneath him was solid—stone, dark, etched with faint glowing lines. Around him, the space stretched wide, a massive floating platform surrounded by endless void.
Other participants were scattered across it like breadcrumbs. Some had already started grouping up, forming clusters of friends or convenient alliances. Other areas stood empty, just barren.
John slowly looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of any familiar face. Nothing. Just strangers. Just enemies.
Then he heard a voice screaming his name.
"John!"
Nico was dashing towards him with a group of people chasing him. There were nine of them. Maybe ten. It was hard to count when they were moving that fast.
And from their energy signatures... they certainly weren't weak.
After analyzing the situation, John did what any sane person in his position would do. He turned and ran in the opposite direction.
"Hey! Wait, you motherfu—"
Nico's voice cut off as he pumped his legs harder, trying to catch up. John just sped up.
Flash Step.
His body blurred. The distance between them grew even more.
But John's mind was already racing ahead.
This is going nowhere. We will get tired eventually.
With that thought, he skidded to a stop and turned around.
Nico was closing in fast, with the group close behind him.
John waited for the perfect moment to execute his plan.
The moment Nico crossed into the desired range—
Storm Wall.
A barrier of crackling lightning erupted between Nico and the group. The impact disoriented them—some stumbled back, others slammed into the wall, dazed and confused.
John didn't wait for them to recover.
He grabbed Nico's arm.
Midnight Mantle.
Darkness wrapped around them like a second skin, swallowing their presence. Their footsteps faded. Their breathing vanished. Even their shadows disappeared.
They slipped away quietly.
Behind them, the group searched frantically. But John and Nico were already gone.
They didn't stop until they were sure no one was following them.
John pulled Nico behind a cluster of jagged rocks.
Then he turned on Nico.
"How the hell did this happen?"
Nico slumped against the stone, breathing hard. "Let's just say..." He winced. "I need to start training my mouth to speak less."
John stared at him.
"Seriously?"
"Don't judge me, okay? I couldn't help it." Nico rubbed his neck. "Besides, didn't you hear what that big boss said?"
John pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You mean the Supreme One."
"Yeah, him." Nico nodded. "This whole thing is to the death. So, we had it coming whether I flipped them off or not."
John sighed. "Forget it. Have you seen the others?"
"No," Nico said, scanning the horizon. "I think we're the only ones."
Before John could respond, Nico tackled him from where he was standing.
A split second later, the place John had been standing on was slashed in half.
The stone split clean, a perfect line carved through the solid rock like a knife through butter.
John stared at the aftermath, goosebumps crawling up his arms.
He hadn't sensed a thing.
"What the fuck was that?" Nico said, eyes fixed on the slash mark.
[Ahhh... that was the best sleep I've had in—]
Echo's voice trailed off.
John felt the presence in his mind go still.
[...Hmm. Why do I sense all this bloodlust? Did I miss something?]
It's a long story.
"DODGE!"
Nico's shout cut through the air. John jumped and felt something whistle past his ribs, close enough to tear his shirt.
Another slash was carved into the ground where he'd been standing.
[I am guessing it has something to do with that.]
John landed in a roll and summoned Evolstice, his blade.
A little help would be nice.
[I'm working on it.]
Work faster!
[Okay, I have an idea.]
What do I need to do?
[Ask the redhead.]
What do— John gritted his teeth. Fuck it.
"Nico!" John moved constantly, dodging based on Nico's instruction. "How are you sensing these?"
Nico's eyes were wide, scanning empty air. "I don't know! I just... feel it."
"Feel what?"
"Death." Nico's voice was tight. "Every time before one comes, I feel like something's about to end. And I just... know."
John's mind raced.
Death affinity. He's sensing when death is coming.
[Good for him,] Echo said. [But that won't help us find the attacker. So, it's up to us.]
Can you track them?
[Not like this.] A pause. [But maybe you can, remember that technique I taught you. The one for perception.]
Spark Sense.
[Yes. The attacker most likely has wind affinity—plus something else causing the distortion. But the attacks themselves are still physical. They'll leave vibrations in the air. And you know what that means.]
John's eyes narrowed.
I track the attack back to the guy.
[Exactly. Now go.]
John closed his eyes.
Spark Sense.
The moment he did, it was like everything went slow-mo. An image formed in his mind—not with his eyes, but with the air itself. Vibrations painted the space around him like ripples on water.
Then something cut through it, like a shark through the sea.
John's body moved before his mind caught up.
He jumped, and immediately after, the place he had been standing in had a long gash going through it.
John landed in a crouch. His eyes were still closed.
Spark Sense.
The vibrations were still there. The blade had cut through the air from his left. That meant the attacker was...
There.
John thrust his blade forward.
Thunder Fang.
Lightning coated the edge as it extended in range and shot out with overwhelming speed, aimed at the empty space where the vibrations originated.
John felt the attack connect.
A choked gasp echoed out. Then a body tumbled out of nowhere—its form flickering like a dying flame. The figure hit the ground hard, rolling once before coming to a stop.
It slowly got upright and let out a cough. Blood spattered the stone.
"That's a first," he continued with a cough. "Fuck, you guys were better than I expected."
John opened his eyes.
The attacker was young—just like all the people in this twisted organization, he had pale skin. Dark hair plastered to his forehead with sweat. His brown eyes were staring at John, unblinking.
Nico let out a breath, finally relaxing a little.
"Good one, man."
John didn't reply. He stared back at the aggressor with the same intensity.
The boy coughed again, then smiled—blood staining his teeth.
"Guys... now."
John's eyes widened. Guys?
Before he could move, something slammed into his side—Nico, shoving him hard.
John hit the ground and rolled. Came up with his blade ready.
Nico was still standing.
But there was something wrong.
A spear was lodged deep into his chest.
Nico looked down at it. Then at John.
"Ah," he said quietly. "That's... not good."