With a shimmer that blurred the air itself, the entire group landed—almost weightlessly—onto solid ground once more.
The world around them was vast, endless. A massive, Earth-like environment stretched out in all directions. Mountains towered on the horizon, thick forests rustled in the wind, endless plains shimmered under a soft blue sky. It was beautiful, almost peaceful—if you could ignore the ominous energy that buzzed just below the surface of everything.
Kai Azura pulled out one of his earbuds and lazily looked around.
Big. Empty. Definitely not worth the hype.
The hundreds—maybe even thousands—of other humans who had been transported with him weren't so calm. Some were still trembling from the teleportation. Others looked around in awe. Most gathered in tight clusters, whispering, eyes darting nervously at the strange new environment.
And floating above them all, like a teacher surveying a room full of unruly children, was Satoran—the celestial who had transported them here.
Satoran's voice boomed across the massive field, needing no microphone, no speakers. It simply was.
"Welcome to the Tournament Grounds," he said with a grin that bordered on cruel amusement. "This world you see before you is your arena. Every landscape, every challenge you face, has been shaped for this event."
A low murmur spread through the crowd.
Satoran raised his hand, and instantly the noise died away.
"You are not simply fighting," he continued. "You are surviving. This tournament will have trials—some designed to test your strength, others your mind, and still others your loyalty. Make no mistake: you will be watched at all times."
Kai yawned quietly, popping a bubble with his gum before letting it snap back into his mouth.
"And what do we get if we win?!" someone from the crowd shouted boldly.
Satoran's smirk widened.
"You win?" he echoed, voice dripping with amusement. He laughed—a deep, mocking sound that sent shivers down many spines. "How adorable. You believe you stand a chance."
Silence fell, heavier than before.
Still chuckling, Satoran added, "If, by some miracle, a participant emerges victorious, your planet—Earth—will be spared from the... cleansing."
That sparked a new wave of panic through the crowd. Cleansing was a nice way to say "annihilation," and everyone there knew it.
"But for those who rise above even that," Satoran said, voice now rich with a strange kind of promise, "the Celestials have agreed to grant a single wish to each champion. No matter how grand... no matter how impossible."
A thousand thoughts must have raced through the humans' minds at once—immortality, riches, power, salvation.
Another voice—nervous, young—called out, "A-Are the Celestials... going to be fighting too?"
Satoran tilted his head, as if considering how much he should indulge these insects.
"No," he answered. "We will not fight. We will observe. You are the players; we are the audience. However..." He gave a wicked grin. "Should you amuse us, you might find that the gods smile upon you."
A ripple of tension moved through the group.
"And fret not," Satoran said mockingly, sensing their fear. "Not all of you will die immediately. Some of you will be... improved."
He let the word linger.
"Throughout the trials, worthy participants will be granted mutations, abilities, and gifts to further entertain us. You may find yourselves growing stronger, faster... or perhaps, more monstrous."
Several volunteers shifted uneasily. Others looked excited. A few, like Kai, didn't react at all.
Kai, now sufficiently bored of the monologue, finally decided it was time to contribute.
He lazily raised his hand.
Satoran's eyes flicked to him, a touch of curiosity flashing in his celestial gaze. After all, very few were bold—or stupid—enough to interrupt.
"You," Satoran said, gesturing.
Kai pulled his headphone down, not bothering to hide the casual look on his face.
"Yeah," Kai said, voice perfectly nonchalant. "Where's the restroom?"
A stunned silence followed. Some of the volunteers turned to stare at him in disbelief. Others chuckled nervously.
Satoran blinked once, slowly.
For a moment, it seemed even the celestial didn't know how to respond.
Kai waited patiently, popping another gum bubble.
The wind blew lightly over the vast fields, ruffling hair, armor, and cloaks. Somewhere far off, a bird-like creature screeched.
And Kai just stood there, looking up with a bored expression, hand still half-raised.