Dared's eyes were bloodshot as he felt his body changing, morphing into something more terrifying. His bones creaked as a breaking sound echoed through him, though it was muffled by the thick blood pool surrounding him.
He couldn't perceive his surroundings—only the overwhelming pain surging through his body held his attention.
Time passed, and the once-violent movement in the blood pool gradually lessened... and then stopped altogether.
It grew eerily calm.
Nephem raised an eyebrow.
"This kid is average anyway… If he dies, so be it," he muttered, looking forward as he awaited the next participant.
Just then, something stirred. Nephem grinned.
The blood pool churned, and a figure burst through its surface.
It was Dared.
He had survived the transformation.
