When the Gods Play Dice

Ethan moved through the masked survivors, his eyes flicking from one figure to the next, searching.

"Where is he?" he muttered under his breath, frustration gnawing at him.

But as soon as the words left his lips, a troubling thought crept into his mind.

Why am I even looking for Nile?

They had only met in the arena. They were just two strangers trying to survive. So why did he care?

A flicker of unease settled in his chest. Then—like a fleeting whisper—a memory surfaced.

Not of Nile.

But of someone else.

A face. A voice. A brother.

But the image was blurry, slipping through his grasp before he could hold onto it.

Then—it was gone.

A dull ache pulsed in his chest, as if something long buried was struggling to break free.

And then, the past came flooding in.

Ethan's Past

It all started with a party.

The flashing lights. The pulsing music. The haze of alcohol and drugs.

Then, darkness.

When Ethan opened his eyes, he wasn't in the modern world anymore.

Instead, he stood outside a massive castle, the cold air biting at his skin. A group of unknown men surrounded him, their eyes locked onto the golden rings and chains he wore.

Predators drawn to treasure.

His mind was foggy. Who were they? Who was he?

Before he could react, the men lunged.

Ethan stumbled back, instincts screaming, but he was too slow.

They struck like vultures, ready to tear him apart.

Then—

A shadow emerged from the darkness.

Steel flashed. A blade sang.

In an instant, the attackers were on the ground, groaning in pain.

Ethan gasped, looking up at his savior.

A man, clad in tattered armor, stood before him.

Kail.

A knight once bound by duty, stripped of his title for defying corruption. A warrior who had sworn a single vow—to never turn his back on injustice.

Ethan tried to speak, but the world spun. A sharp pain stabbed into his skull.

Then—darkness took him once more.

Three Days Later

Ethan stirred, his body aching, his mind hazy.

The small wooden house smelled of herbs and damp earth.

He sat up with a groan. "What… happened? Who am I?"

Kail, who sat sharpening his blade, studied him.

Without a word, he reached into his pocket and placed something in Ethan's hand.

A golden necklace.

Ethan blinked, his fingers tracing the engraved letters.

E T H A N.

His own name.

He whispered it under his breath. "Ethan…"

Kail's sharp gaze flickered with something unreadable. "You can read that?"

Ethan hesitated before nodding. "Yeah…"

Then, a sharp pain stabbed through his skull.

His vision blurred. Fragments of something—someone—flashed through his mind.

Voices. Laughter. A brother?

Then—nothing.

The memories were there, buried deep, but they refused to surface.

Ethan gritted his teeth, gripping the necklace tighter.

Who was he? And what had he forgotten?

Another Day Passes

Kail had left early that morning.

Ethan had barely taken a step outside when a group of knights in heavy armor arrived.

They stormed the small house, searching for Kail.

When they failed to find him, their eyes fell on Ethan.

On the golden necklace hanging from his neck.

One knight sneered. "That doesn't belong to you."

Ethan's grip tightened. "It was given to me."

They didn't care.

Without warning, they seized him.

He fought back—his fists swinging, his breath ragged—but he was still too weak.

They tore the necklace from his grasp.

Laughter rang in his ears as they shoved him to the ground, leaving with their prize.

By the time Kail returned, Ethan was bruised and silent.

But his eyes burned with something new.

Anger. Shame. Determination.

He recounted everything, his voice tight. "I tried to stop them. But I wasn't strong enough."

Kail studied him, his expression unreadable.

Then, with quiet resolve, he turned toward the door.

Ethan grabbed his arm. "No! Don't go after them. Not yet."

A pause.

Then—a small nod.

"Then we train."

Kail's voice was steady, unwavering.

"From this moment forward, we are brothers."

Ethan froze.

The words struck something deep within him—something painfully familiar.

Though his past remained a mystery, for the first time since waking in this world, he felt like he belonged.

The Arena Beckons

Ethan clenched his fists as the memories faded.

He had stepped into this damned arena for a reason.

Not as a lost soul.

Not as a victim.

But as a warrior.

Kail had entered the arena, risking everything for a wish—to end the corruption of the knights.

Ethan knew the rumors.

Every wish the king granted was true.

If Kail had fallen, if his wish had never been fulfilled—then Ethan would finish what his brother started.

His gaze swept across the masked warriors.

His hands twitched, aching for a weapon.

And in his heart, a single thought burned.

Is Ethan ready to avenge his brother?

The drums thundered.

The king raised his goblet, watching them like a god overseeing his playthings.

"Let the game begin."

The battle for survival had started.