The seniors were talking on the opposite side of the room.

Ricardo was assessing Bobby and Asil’s combat styles. The only weapon we had was his morphing weapon, but unlike Yehyeon, Ricardo couldn’t turn it into a gun.

So he planned to shape individual spears or blades to suit each person.

He talked rough, but he was a diligent man.

While the seniors focused on weapon tuning, I walked over to the Elder.

I sat on the bench across from him.

“There’s nothing I can do for you.”

“So you did hear about me.”

The man looked young.

So young that it was almost strange he’d ever been among the Elders at all.

But the sharp gleam in his sunken eyes gave him away—one of them.

The cause of all this.

“This entire mess started because of you, didn’t it.”

“I was going to die anyway. Might as well do something.”

The Elder replied coolly.

It wasn’t wrong—but that also meant there was nothing I could do for him.

He scanned me up and down as I sat blankly.

“Still, nice to see the man from all those rumors in person.”

Is that so. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

“Save me, Prometheus. Then things won’t get worse.”

Standing by while someone died was never easy.

But this one was an exception. He was the root of the problem—the one who had drawn his sword knowing the stakes, and failed.

Someone in his position knew better than anyone that once you draw your blade, you must win.

I looked at his disheveled silver hair and answered.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have the authority or the ability to do that.”

“So the rumor about your memory loss was true.”

The Elder crossed his arms and studied me.

Even though I didn’t react, he stubbornly kept the conversation going.

“Then what about taming? You’ve forgotten that too?”

Ah.

Creatures.

Those who controlled them. The short question sparked a scatter of memories.

They came in a familiar voice.

Today, of all times, I remembered Kyle.

‘They’ll never know.’

My old comrade’s voice echoed in my head.

‘You think they could even imagine it? Relax. The advantage is ours.’

‘That power isn’t omnipotent.’

‘Maybe not—but it’s still powerful.’

The two abilities we kept hidden until the end.

One of them was the ability to tame Creatures. Few could wield it well. It didn’t apply to all life forms, and its usefulness varied drastically by user.

Even back then, those who could make a Creature tap-dance on command were rare.

And if I remembered right, I hadn’t been particularly good at it myself.

Even before I forgot how, I’d hardly used that ability at all.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve forgotten.”

So perhaps it was only natural.

I tried to recall how I’d once used that strange power, but failed.

“Then I’ll be even less help to you.”

“Remember it.”

“I can’t.”

Try asking for something possible—

My collar was grabbed.

I let him pull me forward. I could’ve resisted if I wanted to, but he didn’t have a Badger’s strength—maybe the Green Dream’s dose had weakened him.

A shadow of death already loomed over his face.

In that darkness, his blue eyes flared with madness.

“I’m not dying alone.”

If I go down, I’ll burn everything with me.

Why did Colton’s words suddenly come to mind?

Maybe because that same eerie, predatory feeling oozed from this man too.

Either way, I was disgusted. I shoved his shoulder away.

“I know. That’s why you dragged us into this mess.”

I said coldly, brushing out my wrinkled clothes.

His shamelessness and stupidity were astonishing. He should be grateful I wasn’t already punching him. To throw us into this situation and then grab me by the throat, demanding to be saved—he was unbelievable in every sense.

My thoughts slipped out under my breath. He probably heard.

“You don’t know your place.”

I caught a glimpse of his eyes widening.

He stared at me, then said,

“So it’s true, then.”

I didn’t ask what rumor he meant.

I didn’t care.

“You’ve done enough. Rest now.”

I stood from the bench and bowed politely.

“May your passing not be too painful.”

The moment I finished speaking, the door opened.

Handlers poured in. The seniors, who’d been working at the wall, whipped their heads around.

A metallic clatter—

The gray bars separating the arena from the waiting room began to rise.

With a grinding hum, the iron gate lifted until it vanished from view. Our line of sight opened wide to a sleek, polished arena floor.

The EDM stopped.

“The match begins.”

The handlers cut the explosive chains off the illegal enhanced man who’d been taking drugs, then shoved him toward the arena at gunpoint.

He staggered forward, out into the light.

“Good luck.”

Clang!

The bars slammed back down.

Cheers erupted as a signal—and from the far end of the arena, a Creature crawled out.

***

Was his passing painful?

The Elder who’d lost to Colton was torn in half by the Creature.

I hadn’t even had a chance to intervene. He’d been last among the remaining three, yet his match lasted shorter than both of theirs combined.

He must’ve given up the moment he stepped onto the field.

The Elder had walked straight toward the ape-like Creature, rushing his own death. I didn’t pity him.

Nor did I feel satisfaction. His death simply didn’t matter much to me.

I watched it quietly, that was all.

The fate of one who’d tried to seize the top—and failed.

A drone with a smiling emoticon on its screen circled the arena, vacuuming up the remains.

“If I pass my Creature over... Asil, you can handle two at once, right?”

Our turn was next.

Bobby gnawed at her nails as she watched the arena.

The mafia who’d drugged me had already left.

Asil gave a curt nod.

I craned my neck toward them.

“Just pass it over right away.”

I ignored the spinning in my head and joined the conversation.

“The moment you see a Creature, push it to me. That’s safest.”

“When we get out of here, I’m making sure we never end up on the same mission again.”

Apparently my attitude annoyed him. Asil crossed his arms, grumbling.

“I don’t like your tone.”

“Sorry. Once we get out safely, I’ll bow and properly apologize.”

“No, we’re drinking as soon as we’re out.”

Bobby was still biting her thumb as °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° she spoke.

“I’m gonna drink till I die on company money. I’ll call my dad to set aside the good stuff right now.”

“Oh~ can’t wait~.”

Ricardo said lazily, puffing smoke.

The acrid scent of his cigarette smothered the corpse stench wafting from the arena.

“Then we’ll see how much our cocky rookie here can drink. Winter, I made the spear light as possible—don’t drop it.”

“Yes, sir.”

Bobby turned her head toward him.

She reached out, carefully taking the silver spear.

“Thank you. It’s much easier to hold than before.”

The bars lifted.

A heavy clang, then the iron gate began to rise. The chains around Bobby’s wrists and ankles loosened and fell to the floor.

Released remotely.

It meant it was her turn. A grim signal, but I felt a flicker of relief—at least she wouldn’t explode from the restraints.

I glanced from the fallen cuffs to the blonde senior.

“Ma’am, please—if it’s too much, just...”

[Thank you for waiting!]

The host’s voice drowned mine out.

[At last, the match you’ve all been waiting for!]

The roar of the crowd battered my ears.

The overwhelming heat and voices made my head spin. Bile surged up my throat; I clamped a hand over my mouth.

I couldn’t finish what I meant to say. By then Bobby was already walking toward the arena, her face tense.

“I’ll be back.”

After a few steps, she turned to us.

“I’m not that good, but I’ll do what I can.”

“Yeah... don’t push yourself too hard.”

“If it gets bad, forfeit immediately.”

Asil’s voice was hard.

I meant to echo him, but the drug’s effect hit too strong; I missed my chance again.

“Ma’am—”

Crackle!

The moment Bobby stepped fully into the arena, blue electricity shaped like iron bars flashed before my eyes.

Instead of the metal gate lowering again, an electric one sealed us off. Likely so they could switch contestants instantly if needed.

My brow furrowed.

Through the electric barrier, Bobby gave us a stiff smile.

“I’ll run around and wear it down as much as I can.”

[Our contestant has entered the field!]

The opposite gate opened.

[And here comes her opponent!]

Even through the haze, I sensed it.

That presence—not sight or smell or sound, but something else entirely. Despite the drugs dulling my senses, I felt it spread its wings and rise heavily into the air above the arena.

A creature built for the skies.

Chains rattled as the massive body ascended.

[Ladies and gentlemen! Time to introduce the Creature facing Bobby Winter—place your bets!]

It spread its twin wings, nails and bolts piercing through the flesh, rising as high as the chains allowed.

Wings large enough to blanket a car.

And between them—a human face.

All eyes turned toward it. I looked too, at the enormous shadow it cast over the arena.

It beat its wings once, cutting off the light despite the iron spikes driven into them, hovering over Bobby.

“Shit.”

Ricardo muttered beside me.

“Level 4.”

[Our beloved pet bird!]

Level 4.

A creature impossible for even several armed civilians to bring down.

[Meet Pepper!]