The air was electric with tension as the contestants stood at the edge of the canyon, their silhouettes stark against the dying light. Jagged cliffs rose like the spines of a beast, their shadows slicing across the barren terrain. A frigid wind howled through the gorge, carrying whispers of doom. The screech of distant creatures echoed from deep within the canyon, amplifying the sense of unease that gripped the group. Somewhere in the depths below, something stirred—monsters, traps, and challenges designed to break them. The earth seemed to pulse with a dark, primal energy.
A towering overseer stepped forward, his black cloak fluttering like wings. His voice boomed, cutting through the eerie silence. "The path before you is one of blood, endurance, and sacrifice. Your goal is simple: reach the artifact at the canyon's heart. Only two of you will succeed. The rest..." He paused, letting the implication settle like a blade at their throats. "...will face consequences." His hawk-like eyes scanned the group, lingering on each of them as though weighing their worth. "The canyon chooses its champions. Fail, and despair will swallow you whole."
Sia tightened her grip on the hilt of her blade. Her palms were slick with sweat, and her heart pounded like a war drum. To her left, Arnold wore his usual smirk, but his eyes betrayed his unease—sharp and calculating, but not without a flicker of concern. To her right, Shin Thomas stood calm, his fiery gaze fixed ahead, his presence radiating an almost suffocating confidence. He gave no sign that the canyon's deadly aura had any effect on him.
I can't fail now, Sia told herself. Not after everything.
The overseer raised a hand, and the starting bell rang out—a haunting echo swallowed by the canyon. Without hesitation, the contestants surged forward into the abyss. The canyon resisted their intrusion like a living, malevolent force. Rocks crumbled beneath their feet, sending avalanches into the void. The narrow paths wound like the veins of some ancient beast, each step a test of balance and will.
Shin moved ahead with calculated precision, his boots silent on the shifting terrain. Behind him, Sia struggled to keep pace, her lungs burning from the thin air and unforgiving altitude. "Come on, Big Sis!" Arnold called over his shoulder, a teasing grin softening his sharp features. "Don't let a few rocks take you down!"
Sia shot him a glare, but the weight of his words pushed her forward. "Focus on yourself, Arnold. I don't need babysitting."
Arnold chuckled but slowed his pace slightly, staying within arm's reach. Beneath his humor, his watchful eyes darted across the path ahead, catching every loose rock and potential threat. He wouldn't let her fall—not now, not ever.
Up ahead, Shin paused at a narrow ridge. The edges crumbled over a sheer drop, sending pebbles tumbling into the abyss below. As he stepped forward, a sudden rumble echoed through the canyon. A cascade of boulders broke loose from above, thundering toward him. Shin's eyes flickered with annoyance as he leapt aside, narrowly avoiding the first wave.
But then a massive boulder, larger than the rest, barreled toward him faster than he could react. His foot slipped on the loose earth, and for the first time, panic crossed his face. "No," he growled, fiery energy flaring around him. "I won't be stopped by this!"
Hellfire erupted from his palms, consuming the boulder in a burst of ash. Shin landed on a stable ledge, his chest heaving as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Pathetic," he muttered, though his trembling fingers betrayed his shaken confidence.
The relief was short-lived. From the shadows, grotesque creatures emerged—twisted beasts with sinewy limbs, jagged claws, and eyes glowing with malevolent hunger. One lunged, its fangs snapping inches from Shin's throat. He unleashed a burst of Hellfire, incinerating it instantly. But as he smirked, a larger, faster monster struck from the darkness, slamming him to the ground. The beast's claws tore into his arm.
For a moment, fear gripped him. He felt the cold bite of desperation, but it was quickly replaced by raw fury. "Burn," he muttered. His voice was low, almost a whisper, but the Wrath of the Fire God ignited from his core, engulfing the creature in a fiery maelstrom. The beast disintegrated, leaving nothing but ashes. Shin stood shakily, his smirk returning, though his body betrayed the toll his power demanded.
Farther back, Sia and Arnold faced their own battle. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a pack of grotesque creatures emerged from the shadows, their green eyes glowing like malevolent stars.
"Looks like we've got company, Big Sis," Arnold said, raising his weapon as his purple aura flared. "Ready to dance?"
Sia forced a determined smile, gripping her blade tighter. "Let's finish this quickly."
The first creature lunged at Arnold, its claws slashing through the air. He ducked and fired a precise shot, the bullet infused with demonic energy piercing its heart. The monster crumpled, but more took its place, their snarls filling the air. Sia moved beside him, her blade flashing as she struck down another foe. Their movements were fluid and practiced, the result of years of training together. But the creatures kept coming, their numbers overwhelming, and exhaustion began to weigh on them.
One creature lunged at Sia, its claws raking across her leg. She stumbled, biting back a cry of pain as blood seeped into her boot.
"Big Sis!" Arnold's grin vanished. He stepped in front of her, his aura surging as he unleashed a devastating wave of energy that scattered the creatures.
"You're hurt," he said, his voice tight with concern. "I'm fine," Sia insisted, though her trembling legs told another story. Arnold glanced toward the glowing artifact at the canyon's heart. His jaw tightened as he made his decision.
"You're not going to make it like this."
"Don't you dare—" Sia began, but Arnold was already stepping forward, his face set in grim determination.
"Big Sis, you're the one who needs to finish this. Go!"
"Arnold!" Her voice cracked, panic and disbelief twisting her words.
He turned back, flashing her a soft smile. "Don't worry. I'm the funny one, remember? I'll be fine. Now go!"
The words hit Sia like a physical blow. But Arnold was already pushing her away, stepping forward into the chaos. As the monsters swarmed him, his purple aura flared like a beacon, his laughter echoing even as the creatures closed in.
Sia limped forward, tears blurring her vision. Every step was agony, but Arnold's voice echoed in her mind. Go, Sia. Don't make me regret this.
As Sia touched the artifact, exhaustion and pain from her leg wound rushed over her like a tidal wave. Her vision blurred, and for a split second, everything seemed to tilt as her knees buckled beneath her. The immense weight of the ordeal and Arnold's sacrifice threatened to crush her, but she steadied herself, clutching the relic like a lifeline. She had made it, but at what cost?
The overseer's voice echoed over the canyon, announcing the final two survivors: Shin Thomas, the fire-wielding brute, and Sia Amane, her resolve forged in the furnace of loss and sacrifice. Her heart raced, but it wasn't from triumph. It was from the deep ache in her chest, from the moment Arnold had pushed her away, from the harsh reality of survival.
Shin stood nearby, his arm still bloodied from the creature's attack, his expression unreadable, though his fiery aura never flickered. "You made it... barely," he said, the hint of a challenge in his voice.
Sia didn't respond, not out of defiance, but because her body was on the verge of collapse. She had nothing left to give. Not now. Not after everything.
The overseer stepped forward again, his eyes locking onto them both. "You have won, but remember: the test is far from over."
Sia's vision blurred, the pain in her leg overwhelming her as she collapsed. Her breath came in short, strained gasps, her body limp as darkness enveloped her. Her last conscious thought was a whisper, "Arnold... Arnold, no..."
The next time she opened her eyes, the sterile, faintly fragrant air of the infirmary greeted her. The soft rustle of sheets reached her ears as she tried to move, only to wince at the sharp pain in her leg. It had been bandaged, but the memories flooded back—of monsters, of Arnold's sacrifice.
Lying beside her, Arnold was slumped in a chair, pale but alive. His breathing was slow and steady, exhaustion written across his face. Despite his tiredness, there was something comforting about his presence.
"Arnold?" Sia whispered, her voice raw, hoarse.
Arnold stirred, blinking awake. A small, weary smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You're awake... Big Sis." His voice was hoarse, tinged with fatigue. "You really gave me a scare there."
Sia sat up slowly, her heart sinking. "You—you're alive... I thought you—"
"The test stopped after I took care of all the monsters," Arnold explained, rubbing his temples. "Seems like that was part of it... They wanted to see how we'd handle things, how we'd look out for each other. And... I guess I passed."
Sia frowned. "But... why? Why sacrifice yourself?"
Arnold shrugged, a small, self-deprecating chuckle escaping his lips. "I wasn't going to let you fail. Plus, you know me. I can't let you have all the fun, right?"
She let out a shaky breath, the weight of what he'd done hitting her. "You didn't have to do that, Arnold... but thank you."
She let out a shaky breath, the weight of what he'd done hitting her. "You didn't have to do that, Arnold... but thank you."
Arnold's smile softened. "Anything for my big sis."
Their shared gaze lingered, an unspoken understanding passing between them. The test had been grueling, but in the end, it wasn't just about strength—it was about sacrifice, and how far they were willing to go for one another. Arnold had proven that, and in turn, so had Sia.
As they sat in the quiet infirmary, the shadows of the test and its consequences seemed to fade away, leaving only the bond between them. The higher-ups had been watching, but for Sia and Arnold, this was just another battle they would face—together.