"I got an elimination," he whispered.
He looked at his hands.
"I actually got an elimination."
Then—
"SUHO! SUHO, I GOT AN ELIMINATION!"
He ran off to find his brother, leaving the announcer and the audience still laughing.
The announcer's voice cut through the chaos.
"ATTENTION—THE BARRIER IS SHRINKING AGAIN!"
The crystal walls began to close, slowly, inexorably. Participants scrambled to move toward the center. The winding path became narrower. Sections that were safe moments ago were now pressed together.
"The WATER LEVEL IS RISING!"
The dark water surged upward, lapping at the edges of the path, covering the lower sections. The mana beasts circled faster. Hungrier.
Participants remaining— 40 — 36 — 33
Fighters fell.
Some were pushed. Some slipped. Some were simply too slow.
The serpent-lizard claimed them.
The water turned red.
