17
** Chapter 17: Silence in the abyss - a day off **
The heavy air of the ** underground island ** seemed to impregnate each breath with an invisible weight, a constant reminder that today's peace was no more than the preparation for tomorrow's hell. The night before still resonated in everyone's minds. The echoes of the screams of ** Drake **, being tortured without mercy, pursue them as tireless ghosts, especially the members of the ancestral ** light **, which now carried another unbearable burden: the guilt.
And once again, ** Henrique Nakamura ** was not seen anywhere. Only the emptiness of the absence of his mocking and theatrical voice hovered over the island, giving competitors a day to recover physically but not emotionally. For everyone knew that clearance was a cruel privilege: a chance to realign strategies and reflect on their own sins.
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### ** The voltage in camps **
#### ** Ancestral Light Group **
Gathered in the cabin, the members of the ancestral light were shadows of those who had already been. After the humiliating defeat in the ** Truth Banquet Challenge **, they were fractured. Drake's torture was a burden that spread among them as a mental illness - it was he who suffered, but everyone felt shattered.
** Hardy Nakamura **, even as a leader, was struggling to lift the morale of his group. His countenance was dark, carried by the weight of decisions he could not control. As he met with his team, he tried to find words capable of bringing relief, but each looked an empty echo.
- * "I can't deny the reality of what happened," * Hardy began, his low but firm voice. *"We lost one of ours to a punishment that none of you deserved to witness. But you need to understand one thing: the pain we felt, that Drake felt, was imposed by them. We cannot allow it to destroy us. We need to turn this pain into strength, or they will win without even having to fight."**
** Irene Dellis **, with eyes loaded with unhealthy tears, interrupted:
- *"Turning into strength? Hardy, can you hear what you say? How can we strengthen when every day destroys us even more? When even our humanity is being consumed ..." *
** Grayrock **, silent as always, merely vented soon:
- *"Stone feels cracks ... but stone is still standing." *
But no one could answer that. Not because it was lacking meaning, but because even standing it seemed to be a miracle at that moment.
In the corner, ** Drake **, wrapped in makeshift dressings and still trembling in pain, tried to intervene:
- *"You say as if we have already lost. No one feels the pain as I felt ... but I'm still here. This tournament won't break me.
Drake's words, even in his weakness, touched something in the group. But the question still hovered: How much could they endure before they completely shattered?
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#### ** Chaos Hunters Group **
On the opposite side of the island, the mansion remained a bulwark of arrogance and dominion. After another victory, the Chaos Hunters group was more confident than ever. But that confidence was painted with malice. Each member knew that their alliance was temporary, that each smile delivered to a mate was probably false.
** Calley **, the temperamental and aggressive leader, was ecstatic with the control that victory gave them. Gathering her group in the main room of the mansion, she spoke with almost predatory energy.
- *"This island is hell, but we are the one who dominates the flames. They? They are walking weakness. With each defeat, we are remembered how superior we are. The faster we get away from hesitation and pity, the greater our front."
** Leerstrom **, with his scathing smile, crossed Calley's speech with sarcasm.
- *"Oh, but leader, there is something almost poetic to watch the cracks come among friends. We want to crush them, yes, but we need to taste the game. Drake's torture? A necessary show." *
** TowerFall **, which until then was silent, laughed aloud and agreed:
- *"Well, it was a necessary evil. But if Drake returns to the next challenge ... it will be fun to see how much he still can." *
However, even in the luxury of victory, some sparks of tension began to emerge. ** Glenda **, a competitor who never fully trusted Calley's leadership, watched in silence, already architecting possible changes for when it was the right time.
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### ** Cross ways: tensions and conspiracies **
Even with the demarcations that separated the two groups, the day off gave moments of cross between its members. They were not forced to fight today, but hostility in the eyes said everything that needed to be said.
#### ** Hardy and Calley **
The two leaders met in one of the fields near the sink that separated part of the island. Hardy, always seeking some kind of understanding, tried once again to appeal to Calley's humanity.
** HARDY **:*"How much more need to suffer before it is over? Do you feel nothing for what Drake did?"*
** Calley **, with the same smile that exuded innate ferocity, replied:
- *"You call my group of predators, Hardy, but forget that you have allowed the fall of Francis and Drake's torture. This tournament is just a lens that amplifies what we already are. So maybe the question you should do is: how much do you really care about them?" *
#### ** Drake and Leerstrom **
Even in his fragile condition, Drake crossed with Leerstrom on one of the island's open courtyards.
** Drake **, with a look burning with anger:
- *"You should know, Leerstrom ... Who survives the pain always comes back stronger. Watch out for what you want." *
** Leerstrom **, with its poisonous sarcasm:
- *"Oh, I hope you come back, Drake. There is nothing more fascinating than watching a man breaks ... again."
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### ** Reflections on Twilight **
As the day advanced, many competitors withdrew for lonely moments, each consumed by their own thoughts and anxieties.
** Irene **, in deep meditation, sought strength in its growing spirituality.
** Grayrock **, as always, trained alone, whispering among the blows:
- *"Stone ... no ... falls." *
On the opposite side, ** TowerFall ** cleared his weapons, while ** Glenda ** was silent, sharpening not only his blades, but also his thoughts.
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### ** The return of Henrique **
When the night fell, ** Henrique Nakamura ** once again appeared, floating like a shadow that no one could escape. His satisfied smile reflected as a mirror.
- *"competitors, I hope you enjoyed their day of" peace. "For tomorrow, the next challenge will define more than your body and mind. It will define your soul. This island is just a stage, but the actors ... Ah, they are the real show."
With this ominous phrase, Henry disappeared again, leaving each competitor with one last thought: *The next sacrifice was waiting for them.
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** End of Chapter 17 **
*(Next: the fifth deadly challenge - crawling in hell of the maze of fire and ice)*
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** NOTE: ***The day off brought new cracks in the alliances and expanded the psychological burden of competitors. The island silently prepared them for a new terror - but how long could they live on the edge of the abyss?*