....
The survivors moved like ghosts through the corridor — not fifty champions, but fifty shells. Their bodies bore the grime of survival, and their eyes, the weight of memory. Moments ago, they had fled collapsing floors, dodged falling debris, and watched fellow contestants vanish mid-jump in streaks of crimson light.
Caden felt the sting of air in his lungs, still burning from the Gauntlet. Every breath reminded him he was alive — unlike those who hadn't made it.
Beside him walked Zoren, his face unreadable beneath the mess of tousled hair. Keelo, his monkey AI companion, sat on his shoulder, silent and still.
Caden's own AI fox, Pix, nestled on his shoulder, eyes glowing a warm amber. The small creature's fur shimmered faintly, its paws occasionally twitching as it adjusted balance during the slow walk.
The long corridor opened into a domed hall so large it looked as if it could swallow the contestants whole. Polished obsidian floors reflected their figures, making them seem like shadows of themselves. Transparent panels high above offered a view of a false sky — clouds drifting too mechanically to be real.
In the center of the chamber stood a towering screen shaped like a vertical banner, glowing with the UniGames insignia: a golden hand clenched around a radiant star.
Without warning, the AI voice echoed through the air.
"Congratulations. You are the fifty who survived Challenge One."
The words felt sterile, almost mocking.
"Now begins your formal orientation."
A circular ring of light flared beneath each of their feet. Simultaneously, holographic panels spun into existence beside them, each one displaying the contestant's name, neural stats, and AI signature.
"The UniGames Tournament of Honor consists of ten challenges. Each challenge is tailored to measure a specific quality: reflex, intelligence, resilience, instinct, fear, strategy, loyalty, adaptability, endurance… and the will to survive."
The last word was spoken slower than the rest. A deliberate pause.
"Progression is mandatory. Failure to complete a challenge results in elimination."
No one moved. Some flinched. Others glanced sideways. But all understood what that really meant. Elimination didn't mean being escorted out. It meant gone.
"Contestants are permitted to form alliances. Collaboration is allowed and sometimes encouraged. But be advised… only one Champion will be crowned."
The screen above began to flash through names — participants who had failed the first challenge. Their images blinked gray. One name stayed longer than the others: Rovek Harl.
Caden stiffened.
"Your AI companions are bound to your neural signatures. They will provide limited tactical support, briefings, and data analysis. AI tampering or aggressive behavior outside challenge zones will incur penalties."
Omega's voice faded for a beat. Then returned:
"That concludes your orientation. Glory to the Honored One."
The screen dimmed. Silence reigned.
Then a voice pierced it.
"You could've helped him."
Caden turned. Lucy stood a few paces away, arms crossed. Her obsidian panther AI sat curled beside her, its tail twitching.
"Help who?" he asked cautiously, though he already knew.
"Rovek," she said. "He gave Ian a chance. And you just… froze."
Caden's jaw tightened. "I didn't freeze. I was mid-jump. I barely made it myself."
Pix chimed in from his shoulder, "Clarification: Caden had a 0.7-second window where an assist—"
"Pix, silence," Caden said sharply.
Lucy's voice lowered. "Rovek didn't hesitate. He chose to save someone else. And what did it get him?"
Her eyes flicked toward Ian, who stood alone by a pillar, his gaze lowered, unreadable.
"He died," Lucy said. "Because someone like him"—she gestured toward Ian—"was worth more to the UniGames."
Caden stepped forward. "I didn't let him die. I couldn't—"
"You didn't even try."
The accusation hit harder than he expected.
Without another word, Lucy turned and strode away. Her panther trailed after her, barely making a sound.
Zoren stepped forward quietly, his voice soft. "She's grieving. Don't take it to heart."
"I'm not," Caden lied.
---
Caden's Dormitory.
The male dormitory was a sleek compound shaped like a tech-laced villa. Each house-like unit had three bedrooms, each room shared by two contestants.
Inside the dorm, Caden and Zoren's room was the closest to the exit. The room itself was minimal: twin beds, embedded monitors in the walls, and a glass window overlooking the simulated horizon.
Pix was curled at the foot of Caden's bed, its fur pulsing faintly.
Keelo rested on a metallic perch by the window, silently watching both boys.
"Nice place for a prison," Caden muttered, flopping onto his bed.
Zoren smirked faintly. "Better than the Gauntlet."
For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. Just the hum of the air system and soft clicks of Pix twitching in his sleep.
Eventually, Zoren broke the silence. "You ever wonder what they're really after?"
Caden turned to him. "What do you mean?"
"These challenges. This tournament. It's not just for glory. I mean, look at what they test. Fear. Loyalty. Instinct. It's like they have a hidden agenda. It's like they're looking for something else… someone else."
Caden sat up, his brows furrowed. "Like… a weapon?"
Zoren shrugged. "Or a successor. Or a puppet. I don't know. But it's not just about who wins."
Caden frowned as he thought about what Zoren said. He did have a point. If it was just a game, what's the need for all of this? And where did all the losers go? Back to their families? He highly doubts that.
After a minute or two of thinking, Caden chuckled, " That doesn't make sense. Successor? This isn't a movie, Zoren". Zoren frowned but relaxed. He simply shrugged as he turned his back to go to bed.
Pix stirred and stretched, yawning in a digitally rendered squeak. "Would you like bedtime statistics?"
Caden chuckled weakly. "Only if they say I'm still sane."
"Undefined," Pix said cheerfully. "Would you like calming sky noises instead?"
"Yeah," he said. "That sounds good."
As the lights dimmed and a soft aurora projected above them, Caden stared at the fake sky. He couldn't shake Lucy's words. Nor the image of Rovek falling.
He had survived the GravZone. But at what cost? And with what kind of future waiting ahead?
.....