Deathmatch Symphony

"Jeremy, I bet five thousand dollars that girl won't last two rounds!" Nathan grinned, slapping the edge of his chair.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Nathan. A newbie? I'm not throwing cash on a gamble like that."

Suddenly the crowd exploded, a wave of wild cheering crashing across the arena. From behind the smoke and lights, Kujana Prangando stepped out like a storm. His long coat billowed behind him, twin swords glinting on his back. 

"Kujana! Kujana! Kujana!" The chants rippled with electric energy, shaking the arena floors.

These are real people? Shanazer blinked at the roaring crowd, her heart thudding. This feels too real. Is this really just a game?

Kujana raised his voice, smooth and booming. "Hello everyone!" He bowed low, then lifted his arms. "Do you want to be entertained?!"

"Yeeees!" The crowd's voices fused into thunder.

"How about... spilling some blood?"

"HELL YES!"

Drums pounded. Spotlights danced. Kujana dropped to the ground, breaking into wild, fluid breakdancing moves, flipping with impossible rhythm. Then he stood, sweat gleaming on his brow, arms raised for silence.

"Tenaria," he called out, voice fierce and gentle all at once, "shall I begin?"

Shanazer felt her throat tighten. Her opponent's info had listed "Lutenia" as origin. She'd never heard of that planet. At least they spoke a language she understood... but what else didn't she know?

"YES!" The crowd erupted again.

Without warning, Kujana unsheathed his twin swords with a hiss of metal. A gust of wind swirled around him as he dashed straight toward her. Dust flew from the stone floor under his boots. 

He is so fast — Shanazer braced herself. Twenty yards away, he sprang into the air, spinning three times mid-flight, swords aimed to slice her head clean off.

"Whoa!" The spectators gasped.

She dropped low just in time. The blades whizzed past, a breath away from her scalp. Kujana landed smoothly, shifting weapons as though rehearsed a hundred times. In a blink, he flung four knives in one go.

How many weapons does this guy carry? Her eyes narrowed.

She dodged the first knife, but—"Agh!"—three others buried into her chest, stomach, and left arm.

"YES!" The crowd howled with glee.

Her health bar dropped—35%. Blood gushed from the wounds, dripping down her legs.

Kujana is insane… She clenched her fists, but he was already hurling six more blades. 

Two stabbed her thigh. One sliced through her side. The rest punched deep into her skin. Pain burst in fiery jolts.

"YEEES!" Kujana danced back like he'd scored a goal.

Then came the slashes. Kujana darted forward, twin blades carving glowing lines through the air. Shanazer reeled, knees buckling as cut after cut painted her in red.

"Cut her head! Cut her head!" The crowd chanted, savage and electric.

She was down, breath shallow, limbs trembling. Her thoughts blurred.

"Any final words?" Kujana asked coolly, blades crossed at her throat.

Shanazer's lips moved, voice no louder than wind. "I'll return... for a rematch."

He smirked. "You'll need a thousand years to beat me."

Metal gleamed—and then—

Black.

—

She gasped, bolting upright in her chair. Her skin was whole. No blood. No knives.

"Wow…" she whispered, heart racing. "That was intense. It felt so real."

Before Shanazer could gather her thoughts, a soft knock came at the door.

That must be Olivia.

She rushed over, unlocked it, and stepped aside. Olivia walked in without waiting.

Shanazer settled on her bed while Olivia spun the metal stool around and sat on it backwards, arms resting on the back.

Shanazer stayed quiet, her stomach tight with unease. She wasn't great at hiding secrets—except one. So she tried to mask the day's events with a smirk.

"Hello, Olivia," she said, voice light, eyes gleaming mischievously.

Olivia narrowed her gaze. Her gut was already whispering.

First, she opened the door for me, Olivia thought. Second, she spoke first. That's new.

"You're up to something," Olivia said, frowning. "Something smells fishy."

Shanazer shifted in place, then stood and started pacing. She needed movement to hide the restless energy building up inside her. She glanced back calmly, despite her racing thoughts.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Olivia smiled, the grin playful but sharp. "I know you too well. You're definitely hiding something."

Shanazer sighed, her shoulders sagging.

"Fine, you got me. I am hiding something. Want to guess?"

Olivia jumped up, her excitement boiling over.

"I knew it! My gut never lies." She held her chin like a detective piecing it together. "Wait... you got married?"

She burst out laughing. Shanazer offered a strained grin in response.

"Sorry," Olivia said between giggles. "Just joking. Okay, let me think…"

As Olivia scratched her head and scanned through possibilities, her face lit up.

"You got accepted at OxyamCorp?" she asked, eyes wide and shining.

Shanazer nodded, slowly. Her smile came naturally this time.

Olivia gasped. "You're serious?"

Another nod.

"That's amazing!" Olivia threw her arms around Shanazer in a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you!"

Shanazer laughed. "Careful—your hug might crush my ribs."

Both collapsed in giggles, joy painting every inch of the room.

"You deserve this," Olivia said, jumping and dancing around. "Your life's changing. You're about to be minted, girl!"

"If music were playing right now," Shanazer thought, this would be some kind of victory dance remix.

She sat back, warmed by love and laughter. "Thank you, sis. You stood by me when I was at my lowest. I owe you."

Olivia slowed, stepped close, and smiled gently. "We're sisters. You don't owe me anything."

Shanazer nodded, lost for words. Then Olivia asked, "When do you start?"

"Twenty-eighth of May."

"That's in five days?" Olivia gasped.

"Yup." Shanazer's smile was calm but bright.

Olivia looked up and twisted her neck side to side, stretching. "Girl, I'm rooting for you. I smell coins on your credit card."

Shanazer chuckled. "Guess it's goodbye to poverty."

A soft, beautiful quiet filled the room. Olivia stood and, without words, began heading for the door. Shanazer already knew.

"I'll see you later," Olivia said.

"Have a good day. Say hi to your brother for me."

Olivia grinned. "Sure thing."

And then Shanazer was alone again.

Later that evening, the warm glow of twilight wrapped around the Sensation Blue Hotel's courtyard. Shanazer and Olivia sat tucked behind its wall-fenced garden. From the main entrance, Mrs. Blake emerged with elegance that shimmered like silk.

She walked with the gravity of someone used to attention—and wealth.

Both girls stood instinctively.

Mrs. Blake's voice rang out, refined and smooth. "Hello. What is your name?"

Her gaze locked onto Shanazer.

"Shanazer. Athens," she replied, trying not to sound too breathless.

Mrs. Blake wasted no time. "The lodge's CCTV system is faulty. Can you sort it out? You'll be paid, of course."

Shanazer lit up. "Absolutely, ma'am."

"Emily!" Mrs. Blake called.

Emily Granger appeared within moments, her steps precise and poised.

"This is Shanazer. She's an IT specialist and electronics engineer," Mrs. Blake explained.

Emily nodded respectfully. "Follow me, Miss Shanazer."

Shanazer followed Emily to Room Fourteen, where the hotel's control center sat humming quietly. Emily outlined the issue—a glitch that had lasted five days.

Shanazer listened carefully, then began her work.

First: check the Network Video Recorder. No stream. Second: inspect the power source. A neon tester revealed no current. Third: multimeter test—still no voltage reading.

She worked with methodical calm, taking in every detail of the server room. On the west wall hung a painting: The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso.

Mrs. Blake appreciates art, Shanazer mused. Tasteful. Unexpected. I like her already.

Emily watched silently from the corner.

Suddenly, a voice drifted in. Smooth, deep, enchanting.

"Miss Granger?"

It touched Shanazer's skin like soft rain, stirring something electric in her chest. Goosebumps erupted across her arms.

"I'm in the server room," Emily replied.

A figure approached, casting a tall shadow across the doorway. A sweet scent followed him inside.

Shanazer turned—and froze.