Behind the Red Door

Chapter 4 : Let the game begin

Kael scrambled to his feet, trying to regain some semblance of composure amidst the chaos. He surveyed the other slaves, his comrades in this unwilling performance. Some huddled together, their faces etched with despair. Others seemed to have accepted their fate, their eyes vacant, their spirits broken. A few, like him, were scanning their surroundings, searching for any glimmer of hope.

He noticed a young woman, barely more than a teenager, with vibrant blue hair and eyes that burned with defiance. She was whispering fiercely to a hulking brute of a man, whose arms were covered in crude tattoos. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he could see the intensity in their expressions. They were planning something.

"Looks like we got a lively bunch this time, eh, ?" A calm voice boomed from the edge of the arena. Kael turned to see one of the chrome-limbed guards leaning against the gate, a cruel smirk twisting his metallic features. "Let's see how long that spirit lasts."

From a darkened archway, another figure emerged. This one was different from the guards, more imposing, radiating an aura of power. He was tall and slender, with a dark skinned completion and eyes that glowed with an unsettling crimson light. He wore ornate armor, crafted from some unknown metal that hummed with great technological strength.

"The Games are about to begin," the obsidian-skinned figure announced, his voice echoing across the arena. "Let the strong survive, and the weak… entertain us."

A heavy metal gate across the arena groaned open, revealing a shadowy tunnel. A low growl rumbled from within, sending a wave of fear through the assembled slaves. From the depths of the tunnel emerged a creature of nightmare.It was massive, easily ten feet tall, with thick, leathery hide and razor-sharp claws that glinted in the neon light. Its eyes were burning embers, and its teeth were long and yellowed. Bio-engineered, no doubt, and bred for one purpose: carnage. The crowd roared its approval.

Kael's blood ran cold. He knew what this was. This was not just a fight for survival, it was a hunt. He was the prey.

The creature surged forward, its claws tearing into the dirt as it charged towards the nearest slaves. Screams echoed through the arena as the terrified prisoners scattered, desperately trying to avoid the monster's wrath.

He instinctively knew that brute strength alone wouldn't suffice against such a monstrosity. This was a game rigged against them from the start.

The creature surged forward, its claws tearing into the dirt as it charged towards the nearest slaves. Screams pierced the air as the terrified prisoners scattered, desperately trying to avoid the monster's wrath. The air filled with the stench of fear and anticipation.

Kael knew he couldn't just stand there, paralyzed by terror, and wait to be slaughtered. He had to fight. He clenched his fists, focusing his mind, trying to channel the last vestige of his dream-walking powers.

From what he could recall, ever since his shackles were removed, his dream powers had been returning slowly, albeit at slow pace.

The dream walking powers that had returned after his restraints were lifted off were an echo of what he once possessed, a flickering ember in the face of overwhelming darkness, and this tiny ember, might be enough to buy him some time, some space to think.

He focused on the creature, reaching out with his mind, attempting to weave a thread of sleep into its enraged consciousness. The dream-walking ability, even in its weakened state, rippled through reality, affecting the beast in subtle yet crucial ways.

Its eyes glazed over momentarily, the burning embers dimming to flickering coals. Its movements faltered, its powerful legs stumbling slightly. The creature, for a fleeting moment, was caught between the waking world and the pull of slumber.

Kael, drawing on years of experience in manipulating the dream world, seized the opportunity.

He moved **without thinking**, his body driven by a mix of **adrenaline, instinct, and desperation.**

A jagged **stone** lay near his feet—small but **sharp**.

He grabbed it.

**Spun.**

**Hurled it with all his might.**

**Whoosh!**

The stone **cut through the air**, its trajectory guided by his fragile, flickering Dream Walking ability.

A moment later—**impact.**

A sickening **thud** echoed as the stone **buried itself in the beast's temple.**

The **creature lurched.**

Its eyes rolled back.

And then—it **collapsed.**

A deafening **thud** shook the arena floor as the monstrous body crashed into the dirt, lifeless.

**Silence.**

Absolute.

Complete.

For a moment, **even the bloodthirsty crowd was stunned.**

---

The **blue-haired woman** and the **tattooed brute** were staring at him.

Not with fear.

With **shock.**

Even **admiration.**

Kael **swallowed hard**, still clutching the **blood-streaked stone** in his shaking hands. His chest **rose and fell** in ragged breaths.

Then—he felt it.

A **presence.**

From the **private box above the arena**, **the masked figure watched him.**

Kael's **stomach twisted** as realization struck.

The **same white bone mask.**

The **same ember-like eyes.**

The **same presence** from King's Cross Station.

A **high-rank Dream Walker.**

The **HUD in his vision flickered**, a notification cutting through the silence.

> **[Task Progress: 12% Complete]**

> **[New Objective: Survive the Attention of the Watcher]**

A slow, deliberate voice **broke the silence.**

**"Interesting."**

Kael **whipped his head back toward the archway.**

The **obsidian-skinned man** had stepped forward, his **crimson eyes narrowing.**

The **smirk was gone.**

Replaced by **genuine intrigue.**

**"Very intriguing. Perhaps… you are worth more than I initially thought."**

The crowd **remained silent**, awaiting his next words.

The armored man took another step, and even the **chrome-limbed guards stiffened** at his presence.

**"Tell me, slave…"**

His voice was a low **purr**, filled with **hidden menace.**

**"What is your name?"**