“Alistair.”

  A soft voice pulled him from sleep.

  “Alistair. Something’s happening.”

  His eyes snapped open.

  Thessaly crouched beside him, her golden-green eyes alert, face tight.

  Alistair groaned, sitting up. Buddy loomed nearby, crouched low, a deep growl vibrating through his chest like a furnace about to boil over.

  Brimma was already on her feet, eyes narrowed, staff in hand. “I don’t like this.”

  Alistair ran a hand through his hair and stood, reaching instinctively for his redcrystal sword. The hilt felt cool in his grip.

  Across the camp, Kael was sprawled on his back, mouth open, a line of drool leaking down one cheek.

  Buddy’s growl deepened.

  “Kael,” Brimma called.

  Nothing.

  She walked over and kicked him. Hard.

  Kael yelped, bolting upright. “I’m awake! I’m...!” His words cut off as a sea of notifications exploded in his vision.

  [Grace Period Expired]

  Combat may resume at any time.

  [Trial Update – No Medallions Required]

  The next phase will not require medallion collection. All remaining champions may advance freely… if they survive.

  [Special Event – Incoming Announcement]

  A divine spectacle will begin shortly. Champions may choose whether to participate.

  [Arena Terrain Update – Pending Transformation]

  New terrain will be deployed in:

  00:07…

  00:06…

  00:05…

  The ground groaned beneath them, a deep, grinding sound like the world turning on its axis.

  Alistair spun, scanning the clearing. The earth began to ripple. Cracks spiderwebbed across the blackened soil.

  Buddy snarled, lowering his body.

  The wind shifted then stopped.

  And then the ground sank.

  Everything, rocks, shattered trees, beast remains, even distant mountains, was sucked away into the earth. A slow, spiraling pull that devoured the world itself.

  Alistair watched in grim fascination as the terrain collapsed. The sky above remained, but below, nothing but bare, cracked wasteland spreading out in all directions.

  He sheathed his sword.

  “Well,” he said dryly, “there goes our cover.”

  The world was still collapsing.

  Where mountains once stood, now there were only low ridges of bare stone. The forest, the rivers, the ash-choked ruins, all gone, drawn down into the earth as if the Arena itself had swallowed its own skin.

  Buddy paced beside Alistair, tail stiff, molten eyes tracking every shift in the ground.

  Kael scrambled to his feet, brushing dirt from his tunic, wild-eyed. “Is it supposed to do that?!”

  Brimma leaned on her staff, gaze grim. “I told you. I don’t like this.”

  Thessaly’s jaw tightened. “Something big is coming.”

  She was right.

  The sky flared.

  A beam of pure white light pierced the heavens, stabbing down like a divine spear. The light pulsed once, twice, then spread in rippling waves, casting the wasteland below in stark relief.

  [Special Event – Divine Spectacle Incoming]

  Stand by.

  Alistair shielded his eyes as the light intensified.

  And then a shadow moved through it.

  A massive silhouette.

  Humanoid. Winged.

  And grinning.

  The Herald descended.

  But not as before.

  Now he stood hundreds of feet tall, his three sets of golden eyes spinning madly, wings stretched wide and twitching with electric energy. His voice boomed across the empty world like a war horn dipped in honey and madness.

  “CHAAAAAAAMPIONS!”

  The sound rattled their bones.

  Kael flinched. “Gods, not him again...”

  Brimma grimaced. “Be silent.”

  Alistair crossed his arms and watched, expression cool. “Showtime.”

  The Herald hovered in the air, wings flexing, golden energy rippling from his form.

  “WELCOME TO DAY THREE!”

  His voice echoed for miles.

  “YOU’VE SURVIVED THE CLEANSING, DODGED DEATH, BACKSTABBED FRIENDS, AND...” He grinned wider. “...ACQUIRED PETS.”

  Alistair smirked. “At least someone appreciates Buddy.”

  Buddy gave a low huff of approval.

  The Herald spun midair, voice gleeful.

  “AND NOW… YOUR REWARD. OR PERHAPS… YOUR DOOM!”

  The light above shifted, condensing into a single point.

  “THE GODS HAVE DEEMED THIS ARENA… TOO EMPTY.”

  His wings beat once, sending visible shockwaves through the air.

  “TO SPICE THINGS UP… TO DELIGHT THE MASSES… TO THIN THE HERD…” He cackled. “WE OFFER… A BONE.”

  Kael blinked. “A what?”

  “NOT JUST ANY BONE!” The Herald sang. “THE BONES OF A CRYSTAL DRAGON, ONE OF THE RAREST CREATURES TO EVER LIVE. BONES THAT HUM WITH POWER! THAT CAN GRANT UNIMAGINABLE STRENGTH. IF YOU SURVIVE TO CLAIM THEM.”

  The sky shimmered again.

  A second beam of light shot downward, far on the horizon. It pulsed three times, marking the location of the prize.

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  [Event Objective – Crystal Dragon Bones]

  ? Location revealed.

  ? All champions may approach.

  ? No restrictions on combat.

  ? Rewards unknown—potentially immense.

  Note: The gods will be watching.

  The Herald flared brighter, laughing wildly.

  “WILL YOU DARE THE WASTELAND? WILL YOU FIGHT YOUR WAY THROUGH THE HUNGRY PACK? OR WILL YOU COWER AND HIDE LIKE RATS IN THE SHADOWS?”

  He leaned forward, voice dropping to a conspiratorial purr.

  “THERE ARE NO MEDALLIONS THIS TIME. NO SAFE PATH. ONLY THE STRONG… OR THE LUCKY… WILL CLAIM THE DRAGON’S LEGACY.”

  The light faded slightly, leaving the location beacon pulsing in the distance.

  The Herald straightened.

  “YOUR CHOICE, CHAMPIONS!” he roared. “THE BONE AWAITS. THE GODS ARE BORED.”

  His grin widened, eyes spinning faster.

  “AND REMEMBER…” His voice darkened. “THOSE THAT ENTERTAIN MAY LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER DAY.”

  Then he winked. All three sets of eyes blinking in perfect sync.

  “LET THE CARNAGE BEGIN.”

  With a final pulse of golden light, the Herald vanished.

  The sky returned to normal, if normal meant a wasteland stretching in all directions.

  Silence returned to the camp.

  Kael was the first to speak.

  “I hate this place.”

  Brimma exhaled sharply. “It’s a trap. Obvious as a goblin’s stink.”

  Thessaly crossed her arms. “And yet… the bones are real.”

  Alistair smiled slowly, eyes gleaming.

  “Exactly.”

  He turned toward the beacon in the distance.

  “We’re going.”

  The light still pulsed on the distant horizon, marking the bones like a beacon for fools.

  Alistair stared at it, a grin slowly spreading across his face.

  “That’s… quite the lure,” he murmured.

  Brimma’s voice cut in, sharp. “It’s bait.”

  “Of course it is.” His grin widened. “Doesn’t mean it isn’t worth chasing.”

  Kael threw up his hands. “You’re all mad.”

  Thessaly’s eyes narrowed. “They want us to gather there. Packed together. Easy to kill.”

  [Lore Entry Unlocked – Crystal Dragons]

  An ancient and nearly extinct species.

  Born from the fusion of pure elemental energy and draconic essence, Crystal Dragons are creatures of immense magical potential.

  Their bones retain resonant power for centuries.

  Uses:

  ? Components for legendary artifacts.

  ? Enhancements to bloodlines or body.

  ? Raw mana conduits—prized by mages, warlords, and the gods.

  Warning: Such power attracts more than champions. The gods themselves may intervene.

  Note: The bones of a single Crystal Dragon could elevate a mortal… or doom them.

  Alistair’s heart thumped faster.

  “See?” he said, gesturing to the notification. “It’s not just some prize. It’s the kind of thing that changes everything.”

  Kael scowled. “It’s the kind of thing that gets us all killed.”

  Brimma nodded. “He’s right, for once. It’s a blood trap.”

  Alistair glanced between them. “And yet… if we get there first, or smartly, we might just walk away with something that puts us ahead of the entire field.”

  Thessaly’s voice was steady. “The cost may be too high.”

  Buddy rumbled behind Alistair, as if eager for a fight.

  Alistair smirked. “Even Buddy agrees.”

  Kael pointed at the hellhound. “That thing agrees with everything that involves killing things!”

  Alistair turned to Brimma. “You see the value.”

  She sighed. “I do. Too much.”

  He met her gaze. “Then you know why we can’t ignore this.”

  Thessaly crossed her arms, frowning. “I won’t stop you. But this is madness.”

  Kael paced, agitated. “Madness! Madness with no trees, no cover, just open wasteland and a beacon telling every lunatic where to go!”

  Alistair’s smile turned sharp. “Good. Makes it easier to see them coming.”

  Kael threw up his hands again. “You’re out of your mind.”

  Brimma snorted. “He’s always out of his mind.”

  She turned toward the beacon. “But this time… I’m with him.”

  Alistair glanced at Thessaly. “You coming?”

  She hesitated then nodded once. “Someone has to keep you alive.”

  Kael groaned. “Gods. Fine. But if we die, I’m haunting all of you.”

  Alistair clapped him on the shoulder. “Deal.”

  He faced the wasteland.

  “No more trees. No more hiding. No more games.” His eyes gleamed. “Just a straight walk into hell.”

  Buddy growled softly, tail flicking.

  Alistair grinned. “Let’s go see what the gods think of us today.”

  The first light of dawn clawed its way across the wasteland.

  It wasn’t gentle. It was the kind of dawn that looked like the sun had fought its way through blood and ash to rise, angry, red, sharp-edged.

  Alistair stood at the edge of their camp, watching the cracked earth stretch into forever.

  The world was wrong. Gone were the trees. The mountains. The rivers.

  Just stone and dust and distant bones.

  And the beacon.

  It pulsed on the horizon, steady, cold, hungry.

  Buddy paced beside him, big and restless. A low, rolling growl vibrated in his chest. Smoke curled from between his teeth with every breath.

  “Sun’s up,” Thessaly said softly beside him.

  “Yup.” Alistair tilted his head. “Cheerful little wasteland we’ve got now.”

  Brimma stomped over, scowling at the beacon. “I still say this is madness.”

  “Madness,” Kael grumbled, slinging his bow. “That’s generous. This is suicidal.”

  Alistair grinned. “Come on. When have we ever played it safe?”

  Kael jabbed a finger at Buddy, who was now sitting and watching the group with glowing eyes.

  “Safe?! You brought that thing! It’s still staring at me.”

  Alistair turned to Buddy, voice playful. “Buddy, be nice. Kael’s twitchy enough already.”

  Buddy gave a long, deliberate wuff, a sound halfway between a growl and a laugh.

  Kael made a strangled noise and edged away. “I hate that dog.”

  “He’s a hellhound,” Alistair corrected. “Show some respect.”

  “Fine. I hate that hellhound.”

  Thessaly smiled faintly. “It’s mutual.”

  Kael scowled. “Great. Just great.”

  Brimma planted her staff in the ground. “Enough chatter. If we’re going, we go now.”

  She turned to Alistair. “And add the girl to your Leadership Domain.”

  Alistair blinked. “Oh. Right.”

  He slapped his forehead lightly. “I keep forgetting it’s manual.”

  With a quick mental command, he opened his Leadership Domain interface and added Thessaly.

  [Leadership Domain – Group Updated]

  New Member: Thessaly of the Hollow

  ? All bonuses applied.

  Thessaly’s icon appeared beside Kael’s and Brimma’s in his vision, cool green and gold.

  He immediately felt it, the faint stat boost. Another thread in his web.

  But then another notification blinked, half-buried from earlier:

  [Soulbinder Trait – Limit Reached]

  At your current level, you cannot form additional Soulbonds.

  Next bond slot unlocks at higher level.

  Alistair frowned. “Huh. That explains why it felt... off.”

  Brimma eyed him. “Problem?”

  He shook his head. “No. Just learning the rules.”

  Alistair faced the wasteland. “Right.”

  He looked back at his team, Brimma stone-faced, Thessaly cool and calm, Kael visibly sweating, Buddy radiating smug demon energy.

  “Let’s make some gods very unhappy.”

  They started walking.

  The ground cracked beneath their boots, dry, splintered, dead. Dust rose in lazy clouds that caught the bloody sunrise and turned the air thick and hot.

  No trees. No shade. No cover.

  Just them. And the eyes of the Pantheon.

  Alistair felt them, high in the sky, faint figures flickering in the light. Some grand and shining, others dark and thin as shadows.

  No Herald screaming this time. Just silent, heavy attention.

  Kael glanced up and shivered. “I hate when they watch.”

  “Smile for the nice gods,” Alistair said, smirking. “Maybe they’ll tip us.”

  “Or smite us,” Brimma muttered.

  Thessaly spoke low. “Either way, they want blood today.”

  Alistair’s grin sharpened. “Then let’s give them a show.”

  They moved fast and tight, Kael on the left, arrow ready (and eyes flicking nervously at Buddy every five seconds); Thessaly on the right, calm and watchful; Brimma just behind Alistair; Buddy pacing close on his right, each step leaving faint scorches in the dirt.

  The air tasted of dust and iron.

  Far ahead, Alistair spotted movement, small groups, lone shapes creeping toward the beacon.

  Champions.

  Predators.

  He clicked his tongue. “Looks like the neighbors are already on the move.”

  Brimma’s eyes narrowed. “And they’ll kill anything between them and those bones.”

  Kael muttered, “I’d rather fight them than your dog.”

  Buddy let out a low, rumbling growl that vibrated through the ground.

  Kael jumped. “Stop doing that!”

  Alistair grinned. “He likes you. It’s an honor.”

  “He’s salivating!”

  “Details.”

  They kept walking.

  The wasteland stretched on, each step heavier than the last. The sun rose higher, harsh and merciless.

  And the gods kept watching.

  Alistair felt it in his bones.

  “Smile, everyone,” he said softly. “The real game starts now.”

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