IN THE GRIP OF DARKNESS

"When your desires are strong enough you will appear to possess superhuman powers to achieve.

— Napoleon Hill"

The fights continued with some deaths here and there, mostly by mistakes cause some underestimated their own strength, while some were killed purposely, by those like One Thirty who had already started playing their roles, which is being killers. They were no longer naive children and knew that they were given all these rigorous training to become cold ruthless killers, but somewhere in the depths of their minds some of them still wanted to preserve a little innocence, no matter how miniscule it was.

Eighty was also called upon to fight and she crushed her opponent who was also a Neo by knocking him out in seconds, her sister too got to fight and she also managed to defeat her opportunity as well. She faced an expendable, the fight made Five impressed at her close combat Martial skills. But it was to be expected though, as someone whose power was to heal, it wasn't suited for aggressiveness so she was probably forced to train her fighting skills more just like an expendable.

Finally, it was the moment everyone was waiting for. Not that it was agreed upon, but almost everyone wanted to see Five's fight, the reason was obvious, how is the fighting skill of the person who toppled everyone in the last task including Neos, how do they fair against him in a fight, or was it all just a fluke and a mix of luck that he won the last task. That was the different questions going in on their minds and they were soon going to get answers.

"Forty-Four and Ninety Nine, move to the fighting stage."

The moment has finally arrived, even those that can't be seen inside the glass perked up, especially the two zeros, who were now holding a more than-before sharp focus on the stage.

Forty-Four looked at Five and nodded, "Break a leg"

"I always do"

"I don't mean yours stupid"

"Oh"

Five chuckled, stood up, and made his way to the fighting stage, which had now been fully baptized in blood, some already sticky and turning black, it seems those who came to take the dead and unconscious people away didn't care about cleaning up the blood and paid a blind eye to them.

All eyes focused on Five as he walked at a not-so-fast or slow pace, making his way to the fight stage or arena, his eyes searched for his opponent in the dim lights of the audience side of this large dome and he immediately noticed a figure among the Neos moving as well, he didn't need a soothsayer to tell him, that was probably his opponent.

They both stepped onto the arena at the same time at opposite sides and finally his opponent came into full view, a male standing tall at 6'3", his broad frame outlined by the sharp lines of his blue combat uniform. His black hair, slightly tousled, framed a face hardened with focus. His eyes burned with intensity, as he scanned him with a gaze that felt like a physical force—sharp, relentless, predatory. His blue uniform clung to his muscular build.

As he was assessing him, Five was also doing the same, he seemed capable, at least that was his thoughts before he opened his mouth to ruin the good impression he was already having of him.

" I don't know how you did it, but your luck runs out now"

"I've never really considered myself lucky, never once."

"Good, cause breaking your leg before this fight ends is going to be unlucky for you"

Five looked in the direction where Forty-Four should be, even though he could not see him before he turned back to his opportunity, "ironically I promised someone I won't be breaking my leg, but one thing's for sure a leg's gonna break here."

You may think Five was acting a little cocky or stupid here, cause he has no idea what powers his opponent has and it could be one that will demolish him completely, without him lifting a finger.

But the reason he was speaking this way was for the first reason being, don't ever let your rival win you in trash talking even though you don't have the power to back up whatever bravado stuff you are saying and two, he had already seen many people display powers that he knew he can't face one on one in a fight, now that the number of people left to fight has reduced drastically, what's the chance that his gonna meet someone that possesses extraordinary powers that could take him down immediately without him putting out a fight.

The trash-talking didn't have to continue for long though as the barrier started coming back alive, Five's demeanor immediately changed, no longer the lazy expression he had earlier, but now possessed a sharp Lazer focus, watching every move that Ninety Nine made no matter how minuscule.

Suddenly, a black entity begins to emerge from Ninety-Nine's body. It looks exactly like him-same height, and same build, but it's entirely featureless, a void of darkness so deep it absorbs the surrounding light. No face, no expression, just pure black Mass, as tangible and deadly as its creator.

"Great" Five said under his breath

He drops into a fighting stance as Ninety-Nine and the entity circle him, moving in sync, both stalking like predators.

Without warning, the black entity rushes at Five, faster than expected. Five reacts on instinct, sidestepping and narrowly avoiding a devastating punch. He didn't have time to recover before Ninety-Nine followed up with a brutal kick to his side, sending him skidding across the floor.

Five grit his teeth, pushing himself back to his feet. He's winded but still focused.

The entity comes at him again, this time even faster, its movements flowing seamlessly with Ninety Nine's. Five ducks under a swing from Ninety Nine, but the entity's punch catches him in the ribs. The force sends him stumbling, gasping for air. The black figure is relentless-no eyes, no face to read-just pure, cold aggression.

Five manages to block the next strike, twisting the entity's arm, but it's like grabbing onto stone. He flips backward, using his agility to break free, only to be met by Ninety Nine's elbow crashing into his jaw which left him crumpling to the floor, pain shooting through his body.

Ninety-Nine stands over him grinning, the black entity looming just behind.

"Stay down. It'll be easier."

Five groans, his body protesting, but he forces himself to his feet again. He spits blood onto the ground, eyes darting between Ninety-Nine and the entity.

"Not happening"

Ninety-Nine and the entity rush at him again,

moving like a single force, but his faster, able to deflect the first few strikes, before they overwhelmed him. The black entity lands a punch to his gut, then another to his face, Five staggers barely able to keep up. He's taking too many hits, too fast.

The entity grabs him by the neck, lifting him off the ground. Five's vision blurs, as he gaps for breath a. In desperation, he slams his heel into the entity's side. No reaction.

Five struggles, his eyes scanning the stage and eventually darted between the entity and Ninety Nine Then, he notices something-the entity reacts ever so slightly slower than Ninety-Nine, cause he saw a little glow in Ninety-Nine's eyes and a second later the grip on his neck tightened. The perfect synchronization has a tiny lag, Ninety was controlling this black figure,("All I need now is timing"). He thought to himself

With what little strength he has, Five reaches for the entity's arm, using its momentum to swing himself free and land on his feet. Before it can react, Five pivots, slipping just out of the black entity's reach as Ninety-Nine charges him.

He ducks under Ninety Nine's punch, grabbing him by the wrist and twisting sharply. Ninety-Nine's body slams into the metallic stage with a loud thud. But the dark entity is relentless, coming for him again, fists flying. Five dodges, weaving between punches, but he's running on fumes. His movements are slowing. Ninety-Nine stands again, his eyes filled with fury. The entity moves in sync with him, and together they launch another barrage of attacks.

Five blocks a punch from Ninety Nine, but the black entity's kick catches him square in the ribs. He's knocked off his feet, crashing into the metallic floor.

He winced, pushing himself up again. His body screams for him to stop, but he holds on.

Ninety-Nine limps slightly as he approaches, the black entity right behind him, a testament to a slight dislocation from the fall earlier. Five's eyes lock onto Ninety Nine's legs, ("Oh I guess I'm going to break your leg after all"). He thought.