Behind the Red Door

As the last remnants of the Federation team disappeared into the darkness, the abandoned King's Cross Station was left to its eerie silence. But the stillness was short-lived.

The man in the bone-crafted mask watched with an unblinking gaze as the mutilated bodies of the F-rank team began to twitch. A faint, otherworldly glow emanated from the corpses, casting an eerie light on the surrounding walls.

"Arise," the masked figure whispered again, his voice like a rusty gate scraping against concrete.

The bodies jerked violently, their limbs contorting in ways that defied human anatomy. The air was filled with the stench of decay and corruption as the corpses began to reanimate.

The masked figure watched with an air of detachment, his expression hidden behind the macabre mask. He seemed to be waiting for something, or someone.

Meanwhile, in the dark recesses of the Arena, Kael was being led to his fate. The hybrid guard, Krill, marched him through the winding corridors, the sound of clanging steel and screams echoing through the air.

Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he was dragged towards the arena. He had no idea what horrors awaited him, but he steeled himself for the worst.

The guard captain's grin seemed to grow wider with each step. "You're in for a treat, kid. Your opponent is going to make mincemeat out of you."

Kael's eyes narrowed, a spark of defiance igniting within him. He would not go down without a fight.

As they approached the entrance to the arena, the sounds of the crowd grew louder. Kael's heart sank, but he stood tall, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

The guard captain pushed him forward, and Kael stumbled into the arena, the bright lights and deafening roar of the crowd enveloping him like a living nightmare.

And then, he saw it. The opponent that Krill had been gloating about. A giant of a man, his body a mixture of flesh and steel. He was another one of those mechanical hybrids.

The man stood over two meters tall, his arms, legs, and jaw partly steel. His body was a massive, imposing figure, exuding an aura of raw power.

As Kael's eyes locked onto the giant, his heart began to pound chaotically, and his mind racing with strategies and fears. He had been warned about the man's prowess by Krill, but the reality was even more daunting.

One glance at the hybrid, and he knew that he was in grave danger. This man was a killing machine, and Kael's chances of survival seemed slim.

As he stepped into the crowd's view, the speakers at the walls of the arena suddenly sounded.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the weekly royal rumble!"

"I am your host, Extender, and today I present to you the fight of the year!"

"As you know, normally newcomers never face off against our seasoned champions on the get-go, but today there seem to be an exception.

There is this guy who seems to have become the exception to this rule. Having performed an outstanding feat in the dungeon tryouts, he suddenly caught the eye of certain someone on the board, thus being granted this opportunity."

"Hailing from the outer settlements, may I please introduce you to our very own newcomer... Buuuuuucky!"

The crowd cheered in support. The voice then continued again.

"Then, there's his opponent. This one needs no introduction. Having won fifteen matches at a continuous cycle without losing, please welcome our very own twentieth-ranked warrior, Butcherrrrrr!"

The crowd once again cheered louder than they did for Kael. The giant hybrid, Butcher, raised his arms in acknowledgement, his eyes fixed on Kael with a mixture of curiosity and contempt.

Kael stood tall, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that he had to use his wits if he was going to survive this fight. His dream walking powers, though still fragile, might be his only hope.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the fight. Butcher charged at Kael, his massive fists swinging wildly. Kael dodged and weaved, avoiding the blows by mere inches. Butcher's attacks were relentless, each one aimed at crushing Kael's fragile body.

[System Message]

[Combat Mode Activated]

[Opponent: Butcher (LVL 15)]

[Your Current Status: HP 100/100, MP 50/50]

[LVL 5]

Kael heart tightened as he read the message. The strength difference between the two was as clear as light and day.

Kael's eyes darted back and forth, searching for an opening to counterattack. That's when he remembered his dream walking powers. Kael focused his mind, reaching out to Butcher's subconscious.

It had been a while since he had been shackled with those terrifying soul binding straps, so his powers had accumulated for a while.

So much that he could now weave lesser nightmares.

The giant's eyes flickered, his movements slowing as Kael began to weave a nightmare. Butcher's eyes glazed over, his massive body stumbling forward like a puppet on strings.

Kael's grip on the giant's subconscious tightened, pulling him deeper into the nightmare. The crowd gasped in shock as Butcher's movements became more erratic.

[System Message]

[Nightmare Successful]

[Butcher's Current Status: HP 80/100, MP 20/50]

Kael's eyes locked onto Butcher's, his mind racing with the possibilities. He could manipulate the giant's deepest fears, creating a nightmare from which he might never awaken.

But as Kael delved deeper into Butcher's subconscious, he realized that the giant's mind was not as simple as he had thought. There were layers of complexity, hidden fears and desires that threatened to overwhelm Kael.

The crowd's cheers grew louder, their voices chanting Butcher's name. The giant's eyes snapped back into focus, his movements becoming more deliberate.

Butcher's massive fist swung towards Kael, the blow aimed straight at his head. Kael raised his hands, his eyes closed in preparation for the impact.

But it never came.

Instead, he felt a surge of energy course through his mind, his dream walking powers responding to the threat. The arena's energies swirled around Kael, granting him access to the deepest recesses of Butcher's mind.

[System Message]

[Dream Walker's Instinct Activated]

[Your Current Status: HP 100/100, MP 75/100]

Kael's eyes snapped open, his gaze locking onto Butcher's. "You're not the only one who can play this game," Kael whispered, his voice barely audible over the crowd's cheers.

Butcher's eyes widened in surprise, his massive body stumbling backward as Kael unleashed a new nightmare.

The crowd gasped in shock, their voices faltering, and the confusion apparent in their eyes.

As the fight progressed, Butcher's actions were turning out to be weird and disjointed , and they couldn't figure out the cause of it all.

Amidst the spectators, stood the master of the Arena, the dark skinned handsome lord of the Arena, Lord Valerius.

He stared at the fight with curiosity.

"Interesting "

Lord Valerius's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed intently on Kael. He had seen many fighters come and go, but there was something about this young man that caught his attention.

"Krill," he called out to the hybrid guard standing beside him.

"Yes, my lord?" Krill replied, his voice low and gravelly.

"What do you know about this newcomer, Kael?" Lord Valerius asked, his eyes never leaving the fight.

Krill hesitated, his expression unreadable. "Not much, my lord. He was brought in a few days ago, along with a batch of other slaves. But...there's something strange about him."

Lord Valerius raised an eyebrow. "Strange? What do you mean?"

Krill leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I've seen him talking to himself, my lord. And sometimes, he seems to...zone out. Like he's somewhere else entirely."

Lord Valerius's eyes sparkled with interest. "I see. And what about his fighting skills?"

Krill shrugged. "He's got some potential, my lord. But he's still raw. Untrained."

Lord Valerius nodded thoughtfully, his gaze returning to the fight. Kael was still holding his own against Butcher, despite the odds being stacked against him.

[ System Message ]

[ Lord Valerius's Interest Piqued ]

[ Your Reputation has Increased ]

Kael's eyes locked onto Butcher's, his mind racing with strategies. He knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer. Butcher was too strong, too powerful.

But Kael refused to give up. He dug deep, finding a reservoir of strength he didn't know he had.

With a fierce cry, Kael launched himself at Butcher, his fists flying in a flurry of punches. Butcher stumbled backward, his eyes widening in surprise.

The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices chanting Kael's name.

Lord Valerius smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. This was going to be interesting.

What will happen next?