When the Gods Look Down

The simulation collapsed around us, the neon skyline dissolving into dust, replaced by cold steel beneath my boots. The sounds of battle faded, swallowed by the deafening cheers of the arena. My breath was steady, my body aching but standing tall.We had won.But there was no victory in my veins only the lingering pulse of survival.

The five of us stood there, illuminated under the harsh artificial lights. Blood stained my knuckles, my blade, my uniform. Some of it mine, most of it not. I let my fingers uncurl, the tension in my shoulders easing just enough to feel the sweat dripping down my back.

Then, the voice of the announcer thundered across the arena.

"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! THE FINAL FIVE! THE ONES WHO WILL REPRESENT OUR WORLD IN THE SOLAR ASCENSION!"

The name hit me like a punch to the gut. Solar Ascension. The tournament where the strongest five warriors of each planet faced off. Not just for glory but for rulership.The implications settled into my bones like ice. We hadn't just survived. We had climbed higher than we should have, standing now as champions in a war bigger than we ever imagined. I exhaled sharply, my eyes scanning my teammates.

Kaelen stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the battlefield as if he were analyzing every mistake, every second of wasted movement. His arms were crossed, posture effortless. It was almost annoying how untouched he looked compared to the rest of us.

Silas leaned against a fractured pillar, shadows coiling at his fingertips, his expression unreadable. His eyes flickered to me briefly, then away.

Ravien, still smiling,he pulled out the dagger out of the opponents throat as he wiped the blood off it against his sleeve. But this time, the smile wasn't empty. It wasn't the mask he usually wore. There was something else behind it. Satisfaction.

Selena, her breaths still heavy from the fight, Ravien came up to her as she straightened herself holding onto Ravien. She met my gaze, and for the first time, there was something else in her eyes. Not just determination,acceptance. She had proven herself. She belonged here.

And then there was me.

I clenched my fists, the weight of the moment pressing down.We had done it. We were the final five.But the price of winning was stepping into a battle we weren't prepared for.A booming noise cut through my thoughts as a massive holographic screen lit up above us. A figure flickered into existence tall, draped in silver and crimson robes, their face hidden beneath a metallic mask carved with intricate golden patterns.

The Solar Arbiter.

The ruler of this system. The one who judged who lived and who was erased.I felt the weight of their gaze settle over us. A being beyond kings, beyond armies."You stand here today as victors," the Arbiter's voice rang, mechanical and emotionless. "You have earned your right to represent your world. But do not mistake survival for supremacy."

Their golden eyes scanned us.

"The Solar Ascension is where gods are born and where mortals are crushed. You will be tested. And those who fall…" A pause. "Will be forgotten."The crowd roared at those words.I stared up at the Arbiter, fists tightening.

Forgotten.I had already died once. I knew what it was like to be nothing, to be erased.I wouldn't let it happen again.

Beside me, Kaelen spoke first, his voice cold. "Then we better not fall."The Arbiter didn't react. Their mask gave nothing away. "Your battle begins in three days."

Three days.

No rest. No time to process. We were already being thrown into the fire. The hologram vanished. The moment it did, guards entered the battlefield, signaling for us to leave.

The crowd continued to cheer, their voices blending into white noise as I turned away.

We had three days.Three days before we stepped onto the real battlefield. And this time… we weren't just fighting for ourselves.

We were fighting for our world.

Later that night,the celebration was in full force.The Champion's Hall was crowded with people fighters, sponsors, nobles. I ignored them all as I sat at the bar, a glass of water in my hand. Kaelen sat beside me, silent.

Ravien, for once, wasn't talking. He leaned against the counter, twirling a knife between his fingers. Selena sat across from me, her expression unreadable, her wounds healed that fast because of the Mages, if it wasnt for them the moment Ravien stabbed the last guy through the Throat, she wouldnt be alive, luckily for her they came just in time. Silas had disappeared somewhere into the shadows, as he always did.

For the first time, the weight of everything settled on my shoulders.We were in. We had made it. But at what cost?

I set my glass down. "We're really doing this," I muttered. Ravien chuckled. "Well, yeah. What, having second thoughts?"I shot him a glare. "No."

Kaelen finally spoke, voice calm. "Good." He swirled his own drink, staring into it. "Because from this point on, second thoughts will get us killed." Selena shifted. "You sound sure of yourself."

Kaelen smirked. "I am. But it's not arrogance if it's a fact."I exhaled sharply. The same words he had told me before. "Tomorrow," Kaelen continued, "we find out which planets we're up against. We study them. We train. We win."I narrowed my eyes. "Just like that?"His gaze met mine. Cold. Calculating."Yes."

Silence stretched between us. Then, Ravien chuckled. "Well, I'm not gonna lie. I'm actually looking forward to this." Selena arched a brow. "You're enjoying this?" He grinned. "I mean, come on. It's the perfect stage. Five against the best warriors in the system? The gods watching from above, waiting to see who dies first? That's entertainment."

Selena frowned. "We're not here to entertain them."Ravien leaned back. "Aren't we?"I clenched my jaw. I wasn't about to entertain anyone. I was going to win. As the night stretched on, I found myself staring at my reflection in the glass before me.

Three days.

Three days before the Solar Ascension began.Before the gods looked down on us, deciding whether we were worthy.I wasn't fighting for survival anymore. I was fighting to change everything. And for the first time, I wondered…Would I even recognize myself by the end?