Chapter 16: The Gate of Dread

The countdown echoed like a heartbeat through the arena.5 minutes.4.3.2.1.

Then… silence.

The towering iron gate at the far end of the arena let out a deep, mechanical groan. Dust fell from above as gears hidden beneath the ancient stone screamed to life. With every creak, every inch that the gate lifted, a new layer of tension wrapped itself around Aryan's chest like a tightening noose.

Kat exhaled slowly beside him, his sword hand twitching. "Back. Now."

Aryan didn't need convincing. They both took slow, silent steps toward the rear wall of the arena, slipping behind other captives who were foolish—or desperate—enough to stay near the center.

The massive gate rose higher.

A murmur rolled through the stands above, a wave of uncertainty spreading even among the bloodthirsty bandits.The arena lights could not reach beyond the gate—it was nothing but a wall of darkness. Something unnatural. Something… waiting.

"Why can't we see anything?" someone whispered, fear cracking in their voice.

Aryan's eyes narrowed. He stared into the void beyond the gate, squinting against the dim firelight. The air was too still. Too quiet.

And then… it came.

A sound.

A low, guttural growl that rolled through the arena floor like distant thunder.

Then—two eyes.

Two massive red eyes blinked open inside the gate, glowing like burning coals in the abyss. And something else—a pattern—like veins of molten sapphire rippling through the dark. The faint blue glow traced sharp angles, like lightning beneath onyx skin.

Aryan's throat dried.

"...What the hell is that?" he muttered.

The creature stepped forward. First one heavy limb, then another. Not legs—arms. Four of them. Each the width of a grown man. Clawed and chained. The metal restraints clanked and dragged as it emerged fully, towering into the arena with a snarl.

A monster.

A titan.

The creature stood nearly 25 feet tall, black-skinned with deep blue bioluminescent stripes that pulsed like a heartbeat across its massive form. Its two hind legs were thick as pillars, and its chest was plated in hardened scales. Two horns curved viciously from its skull, steam rising with each breath it exhaled.

Chains bound its neck, wrists, and ankles—huge, reinforced links of iron—but they did little to diminish its power. It radiated raw violence.

"B-RANK CRAWLER!"

The shout came from the bandit stands, and with it, the entire crowd exploded into chaos. Roars of laughter. Cheers of disbelief. Screams of panic.

"It's a Crawler?! Are they insane?!"

"It'll kill everyone!"

Aryan staggered back a step. His mind reeled.

"A B-rank…?!" Kat gasped beside him, sweat dripping down his brow. "That's suicide! That's a damn war beast!"

Aryan's jaw clenched. His heart pounded in his ears.

This wasn't a test of survival.

This was an execution.

"They sent us here to die," he whispered, low.

The Crawler yanked against its chains, howling—a sound like metal grating against bone. One of the links cracked. The sound made Aryan's blood run cold.

Kat's knuckles turned white around the hilt of his blade. "If that thing gets loose… we won't make it out."

Aryan stared at the beast, watching the slow ripple of its chest, the steady twitch of its claws. It hadn't even started moving yet. But already, the other prisoners were losing control—panicking, screaming, some even collapsing from sheer fear.

His fists clenched.

He couldn't panic.

He wouldn't.

You survived the streets. You've faced death. You've faced monsters.

This was just another demon in a world full of them.

Aryan turned to Kat, his voice steady despite the storm in his chest."We need a plan. And we need to stay alive long enough to find one."

Kat gave a small nod, eyes still locked on the Crawler."Right. Back of the line. Watch everyone else get torn apart. Then move."

Aryan exhaled.

The monster roared again, and this time, the chain around its neck snapped with a deafening crack.

The blood game had truly begun.

Chapter 16 End