A blaring alarm echoed throughout the city.
"What... what’s going on?"
Caldor came to an abrupt stop, frantically glancing about.
"Hey, it’s not all in my head, right? There’s really an alarm sounding?"
He finally turned towards his date, Nira, whose face had turned tense.
"...I can hear it too."
"Really? What the hell... sounds like it’s coming from the whole city."
They were currently within the grand halls of the coliseum, and though he couldn’t see the outside world, his sense was keen enough to tell that much.
"It could be something serious," Caldor muttered.
’I doubt it, though.’
Since Atticus became god, when has there ever been such a significant event involving the whole city? However, with the recent appearance of the voidlings, he couldn’t just ignore the warning.
’Shit!’
Caldor couldn’t help but curse. The date he’d painstakingly put in place was about to be ruined. Where would he get another chance like this again?
’There’s no choice.’
He fixed his eyes on Nira.
"It’s probably a false alarm. But to be safe, let’s regroup with the others."
"...Okay."
As Nira nodded, Caldor took advantage of the urgency of the situation and grabbed her hand as they made their way through the hallways.
’Yes! She didn’t refuse!’
A smile couldn’t help but form on his face as they ran. Though his date had been cut short, at least he’d gained something from it.
’I’ll get her contact after this. Even after the event tomorrow, we can still link up.’
They burst into a large courtyard connecting different sections of the coliseum. As Caldor sighted multiple figures spread across, he came to an abrupt stop.
’What are they doing here?’
They were the other champions participating in the contest. Caldor could recognize their affiliation with a glance.
’Surnix Hold.’
His eyes narrowed. It was the dead of night, yet they were each donned in battle gear, staring at him with cold eyes, arms gripping weapons.
’They’re here for me...’
The realization came with an instinctive tightening of his grip. He froze the moment he felt Nira’s arm in his. He was holding her hand!
’Shit! She’s also a Surnix hol—’
Slash!
Crimson blood splattered across the paved floor, followed by a low thud.
Caldor glanced down, and the moment he sighted his severed wrist on the floor, he felt his pulse drop.
"M-my hand."
He looked upwards just in time to see Nira settling back into a stance, blade in hand.
’S-she severed my arm?’
Though his mind worked at an insane speed, Caldor found himself rooted in place, too shocked to move.
"This date... was all a lie?"
He asked, but all he received was Nira’s detached gaze.
She flowed forward in one seamless motion, her blade flashing toward his neck.
’Shit!’
Caldor brought his remaining arm up just in time and the sword pierced straight through it.
He leaned forward, forcing the blade to veer off course.
’Shit, shit!’
An overwhelming pain engulfed his body, but he ignored it. First, he had to think.
’The others... they’re also here to kill me. Aren’t they all under mana contract? Not important right now!’ He cleared his head. ’I need distance!’
Suddenly, the pressure on his arm vanished. The blade had turned weightless, forcing his body out of balance.
’She let go of it!’

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