Death was not a strange thing in this world.
It was expected.
And in a deadly event like the Paragon Battle Royale, it became even more common. More direct. More real.
People didn't just lose.
They died.
Some fell from direct attacks. A clean hit. A mistake. A moment too slow.
Others didn't even make it that far. The dimension itself could kill them. Harsh environments. Unstable terrain. Conditions that tested more than just strength.
Survival wasn't guaranteed.
Not even for the strong.
Over the years, changes had been made to reduce the number of deaths during the event. Not to remove it completely. That was impossible.
But to control it.
One of those changes was the wristband.
In the past, things were much simpler. And far more dangerous.
When participants were sent into a battle dimension, there was only one way out.
Find a gate.
An exit gate.
That was it.
If you couldn't find one… you stayed inside.
And if you couldn't survive long enough to reach one…
Then that was the end.
Now, things had changed.
With the wristband, a participant could leave the dimension without searching for an exit. A single, clear thought was enough to activate it.
One decision.
And they would be pulled out.
There was another condition.
If the band detected that the user had reached a critical state, a point where the body could no longer continue, it would activate on its own.
No permission needed.
It sounded safer.
And in truth, it was.
But it came with a cost.
Exiting the dimension meant one thing.
Elimination.
The moment a participant left the battle dimension, whether by choice or by force, their run in the tournament ended immediately.
No second entry.
'So it's survival… but with a price for playing safe…'
The thought passed quietly through a few minds.
More explanations followed.
Rules.
Conditions.
Limits.
Everything the participants needed to know was laid out clearly. No confusion. No hidden details.
At least… none that were spoken.
The arena remained silent as the final parts were explained. Everyone listened, taking in what mattered and discarding what didn't.
Then—Something changed. Right in front of them.
All the participants stood with their clans, each group separated from the others. The spacing between them wasn't random. It formed a wide circle across the arena, leaving the center completely open.
Then something happened.
A beam of light shot down from above and struck the ground at the center. It didn't scatter or explode. Instead, it stabilized and expanded outward.
A holographic display rose from the ground.
It was a map.
Not a simple one.
A full 3D projection stretched upward, showing the terrain in detail. Mountains stood tall, slopes curved into valleys, and forests spread wide across the land. Rivers cut through different areas, moving like thin silver lines.
Everything looked real.
Too real.
Looking closely, they could see movement within the map. Beasts roamed the land. Some were large, moving slowly with heavy presence, while others were smaller and faster. A few could even be seen clashing with each other.
Low roars echoed faintly from the projection.
"This is Ztheu, the dimension you will be placed in," the voice continued.
"Everything you see here will feel real, and the beasts are real as well."
That alone was enough to make several participants tense.
"The tournament is about survival. Those who last the longest in the harsh environment of Ztheu will stand above the rest."
After those words, the hologram expanded further. It spread across the arena, growing larger until it covered every space, making it visible to both participants and the crowd watching from above.
Then— A system prompt appeared before everyone.
[Each Participant Should Prepare]
[Teleportation to Ztheu Will Begin]
[10… 9… 8…]
The countdown started immediately.
Participants began to ready themselves. Some adjusted their stance, others tightened their grip, while a few focused their breathing.
Within the Wyndham group, Isla and Lennox started shoving each other again, each trying to create space between themselves and Alex.
"Stay back," Isla muttered.
"You move," Lennox replied, pushing slightly.
[7… 6… 5…]
They didn't stop, both making small movements, trying to avoid standing too close to him.
Alex ignored them.
His eyes stayed forward.
'Ztheu… real beasts…'
His thoughts moved quickly.
'No room for mistakes…'
[4… 3…]
Not far away, Rhyssa from the Synapse Circle kept her eyes on him.
Her gaze didn't shift.
'I'm looking forward to running into you,' she thought.
Meanwhile, Alex had his own thoughts running through his mind.
'I hope I never get to meet her on the other side,' he thought.
His gaze shifted after that, drifting across the arena until it landed on a particular figure. The person stood out, not because of movement, but because of how still they were.
A hoodie covered their head completely, making it difficult for Alex to make out any clear features or identify who they were.
The figure didn't move, didn't react, and didn't seem interested in anything happening around them. That alone made Alex more cautious.
[… 2, 1, 0]
As the countdown reached its final seconds, a bright light suddenly covered the entire arena. It came without warning, spreading across every corner and blinding those watching.
For a moment, it felt like a flash had gone off, forcing many to shut their eyes or turn away from the intensity.
The light didn't stay forever. After a short while, it began to dim and shrink, pulling inward from all directions until it condensed into a tiny spark. That spark lingered for a brief second before disappearing completely.
When the light was gone, the arena was empty. Not a single participant remained.
The holographic projection reacted immediately after. Figures began appearing across the map, scattered randomly in different locations.
Some were placed near forests, others near mountains, and a few in areas that looked far more dangerous. There was no pattern to it, no grouping. Everyone had been separated.
Meanwhile, the Wyndham heads watched from above, and the moment they saw the participants spread across the map, a heavy weight settled on them.
"So it really happened… We actually made it into this year's Battle Royale," John said, letting out a slow breath as he kept his eyes on the display.
"But what says we'll be able to keep up like this?"
His concern was clear, even without him saying more.
Lucius spoke after a brief moment of silence. "I think we should focus on the good side of things," he said calmly.
They turned slightly toward him.
"We already have a plan, one the others won't see coming," Lucius added.
His words helped steady them. The tension didn't disappear completely, but it reduced enough for them to regain some composure.
The Triple Js nodded slightly, accepting his point, though the worry in their minds didn't fully go away.
'With none of our members in this tournament, there is still a high chance that death might occur within it,' Jake thought as he looked toward his father.
His gaze moved back to the projection, watching the scattered figures across the map. He studied them carefully, one after another, his mind already working ahead.
'And just by looking at them… I already have an idea of who might not survive the harshness of this tournament,' he added inwardly.
His expression didn't change much, but the thought stayed firm.
What he didn't know was that he wasn't the only one thinking along those lines.
'If Alex dies in this tournament… how am I going to break the news to his mother?' John thought, his eyes fixed on the display but not really seeing it.
The question lingered in his mind, heavier than anything else around him. It wasn't about strategy or outcome. It was personal.
He stayed like that for a moment, lost in thought.
A light tug on his clothes pulled him back.
John blinked once and looked down.
Jim stood beside him, his expression uneasy.
"What are we going to do about that guy? He's giving me the creeps," Jim said, lowering his voice slightly.
John followed his line of sight.
Then he saw him.
Draven.
Draven of the Synapse Circle sat across from them, relaxed in his seat. A glass of wine rested in his hand as he took a slow sip, his posture calm, almost lazy. Yet his eyes were sharp, and the smile on his face didn't sit right.
It wasn't friendly. It wasn't neutral. It carried something else. Something colder.
John's expression tightened slightly.
Before he could say anything, Lucius spoke.
"Just ignore him," Lucius said calmly, his eyes still fixed on the projection in front of them.
He didn't even look in Draven's direction.
The Triple Js exchanged brief glances before following his lead. One by one, they turned their attention away from Draven and back to the display.
They didn't respond.
But it didn't seem like that would be enough.
Draven set his glass down gently.
The movement was slow, deliberate.
Then he leaned back slightly before pushing himself up from his seat.
He stood alone.
The only ones beside him were two robotic guards, both standing still like statues, their presence silent but heavy.
Without saying a word, Draven began to walk.
Straight toward the Wyndham table.
As he moved, a few people along the way tried to get his attention. Some greeted him. Others attempted to start conversations.
He ignored all of them.
No glance.
No response.
He walked past them like they weren't even there.
Step by step, he closed the distance.
His target was clear.
"Seems to me like you're enjoying the premium treatment from this table," Draven said as he stopped in front of them.
His tone was light, almost casual, but the intent behind it was clear.
His eyes moved across the group, taking in their reactions, measuring them.
Then he let out a faint smile.
"But I'd suggest you keep your eyes on the hologram," he continued, tilting his head slightly toward the projection. "Because my people are about to tear through yours."
There was a brief silence.
The kind that didn't come from calm, but from restraint.
The Triple Js felt it. The irritation. The urge to respond. But none of them spoke. None of them moved.
They held it in.
"Mid clan stage, right?" Lucius said.
His voice cut through the moment, calm and steady.
The Triple Js turned slightly, surprised that he responded at all.
Lucius didn't look at Draven immediately. His eyes remained on the projection for a second longer before shifting.
"That's the target," he added. "Once we reach mid clan stage… we win the bet."
Draven's smile widened.
Not amused.
More like entertained.
"Sure," he said, his tone relaxed. "I'll give you that hope."
The way he said it made it sound like a joke already decided.
Meanwhile, outside the arena, it hadn't even been up to three minutes since the participants were teleported into the dimension.
The holographic display continued to show scattered figures moving across the terrain. Some had already started running. Others were still adjusting, trying to understand their surroundings.
Then— A flash of light.
It appeared suddenly within the colosseum.
Bright.
Sharp.
Two figures dropped out of it.
They hit the ground hard.
Their bodies rolled slightly before coming to a stop.
They were in bad condition.
Clothes torn apart.
Skin marked with deep injuries.
Breathing uneven.
Barely conscious.
For a second, the entire place froze.
Then the reaction came.
Medical personnel rushed forward immediately, moving fast as they reached the fallen participants. They began assessing their condition without delay.
Another flash.
Then another.
More bodies appeared.
Each one is worse than the last.
Some collapsed on arrival. Others tried to move and failed instantly. Blood, torn clothing, broken posture. It was all happening too fast.
The eliminations had started.
And they were happening early.
The atmosphere shifted.
What was tension before… now turned real.
"Watch closely," Draven said, already turning away. "It might be one of yours next." He didn't wait for a response.
With that same calm, confident expression, he walked back toward his table, as if everything unfolding behind him had already been expected.