As Selene stood on the platform, she looked back at Aiden and Beatris.
Both wore vastly different expressions than she would have expected.
Aiden was worried, his eyes narrowed as Selene could practically hear him running through the numbers of every item he had brought with him.
Beatris, on the other hand, seemed tired and embarrassed.
Like she was waiting for one more comment from someone before she snapped.
The normally two glowing balls near her head had now become three.
The usual two hovered quietly behind her, while the third bounced up and down in front of her face.
Most likely the source of her annoyance.
Selene, however, could not stop smiling.
No matter how hard she tried, the expression just would not go away as she found herself reading over last night's message again.
You have consumed part 2/2 of Elixir of Aetheric Harmonization (A).
Your Aetheric Expulsion Syndrome (B) has been cured.
Your newfound harmony with Aether has deepened your world.
Your Mutation capacity has increased by 100.
Selene looked back to the top of her open system screen.
For once, the neon green bar that represented her mutation was bright, vibrant, and filled to the top.
That, combined with the power she had learned her World Will ability possessed, and the fact that this somehow enhanced it, made her all the more excited to try it out.
The pillar rose and emerged from the ground.
They were greeted by cheers.
Across from them, Selene saw three members of Ymer's party.
Two she recognized.
Pip, the tiger beastkin who had tried to confess to her.
And Jackson, the gunslinger speedster who had traveled with them for a time.
The third, however, she had only seen for a moment.
He stood tall, wearing an elegant black suit that did not fit the battlefield. A set of curling deer-like antlers rose from the sides of his forehead as he stood with black-gloved hands in his pockets. Trims of gold around his uniform made him stand out.
Before Selene could study him further, her thoughts were cut off by the announcer rising into the air.
Below them, a large, squared-off arena appeared, divided into four distinct sections.
Below Selene's team was a large grassy area with trees and even a small moat around a patch of land sloping down in ledges toward a central circular ruin.
To the left was a fire-themed section, filled with lava flows and jagged rocks jutting out at harsh angles.
To the right was a patch of sand with stacked old brick walls forming a small maze-like structure.
Across from them was a series of jutting rock ledges and dirt platforms floating over a green, possibly acidic liquid below.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer called. "If I can have your attention while I explain the rules of the next round's game, called…"
He threw one hand into the air.
"BANNER BREAKERS!"
The audience surged with volume.
Selene turned to the others for a moment, hoping they knew what the game was.
They seemed just as confused.
So she turned back to the announcer, who now stood with two flags held in each hand.
"Each team member will be assigned a flag of their team's color to be taken to one of the magic circles below."
Everyone glanced down.
Three magic circles pulsed in each area.
Then all eyes turned back to the announcer as he continued his explanation.
"The rules are simple. Plant your flag in a magic circle to begin amassing points. You get one point every five seconds for planting in your home field, two for planting in the fields to the left or right, and three for planting in the enemy's home field."
The announcer grinned.
"Your goal is to have the most points by the end of the five-minute mark. However, points can only be acquired by having no contesting flag in the circle."
He raised a finger.
"The game also ends in a loss if your whole team is unconscious."
The magic circle beneath them pulsed, signaling that they would be teleported soon.
Selene turned to the others.
Beatris cut her off before she could speak.
"We know the gist of it," Beatris said. "I stick back and plant a flag for consistent points. Aiden uses his speed to plant one on the sides, and you try to go for an enemy one."
Aiden and Selene blinked at her, a bit surprised.
Beatris slapped a paw to her face.
"Sorry," she said. "New angel named Maribel. She can apparently read minds, and Aiden's won't shut up about constant plans."
She paused.
"Well, that and—"
Aiden rushed over and put his hand around her snout to silence her.
He chuckled awkwardly.
"Any objections to that plan?" he asked, clearly trying to divert attention.
Curiosity burned in Selene.
She reminded herself to ask Beatris about it later.
"N-None from me," Selene said. "Let's do this."
She turned to face the other platform.
The circle beneath them pulsed once.
Then again.
They dissolved into sparks and reappeared inside the grassy corner of the arena.
Across from them, Selene could barely make out the three figures of their opponents.
A small dome covered both teams, as if forcing them to wait for a start timer.
As Selene glanced over at Beatris and Aiden, she could see a small hovering flag, no bigger than a foot tall, floating over each of their backs.
Both were purple.
"R-Remember," Selene said to Aiden, "don't use your Revolution Core early on. You'll burn yourself out too fast. You won't be faster than her, but she only has one flag. Pick the other side and run."
"Contestants ready!" the announcer called. "Three!"
Selene turned to Beatris, who had her mouth hovering over her flag's shaft as she stood above the magic circle, waiting to deploy it.
"Two!"
Selene turned to Aiden.
He dropped into a sprinter's pose.
The two exchanged a nod.
"One!"
Selene took a moment to steady her breath.
She felt for the already prepared poison resistance mutations she had put in place in case they shot her with the Seed of Betrayal venom.
The barrier dropped.
Aiden sprinted down the path at full speed.
But Jackson was faster.
Everyone burst from their platforms except Beatris, who stayed back and planted her flag.
As Selene rushed forward, she saw Jackson veer to the right while Aiden shot toward the left.
From the other platform, Pip and the deer-like figure rushed toward the middle to meet her.
Selene tensed, ready for confrontation.
The three of them entered the central area at the same time.
All came to a stop.
Selene saw a flash of what must have been Jackson sprinting toward where Aiden was.
She glanced at the scoreboard.
They were leading in points.
Nine to four.
Two flags planted.
Over Pip's and the other man's backs, Selene saw their flags floating.
They stared at her.
"What do you see in him?"
The question caught Selene by surprise.
She looked up at Pip, who was looking down slightly, as if he could not meet her eyes.
Behind him, the antlered man rolled his eyes like he could not believe he had to deal with this, but he made no move to get past Pip.
"S-Seriously?" Selene asked. "Are you still hung up on the fact that I rejected you? Last time we met, you actively tried to kill me and a close friend of mine."
"And you think he is a saint?" Pip asked. "How much do you know about him?"
His voice lowered.
"Think about it."
As Pip spoke, a low whisper came from behind him.
Most of it was unintelligible.
But there were a few words Selene could make out.
None of them were good.
"Why doesn't his family remember him?" Pip asked. "I know my parents were bad, but there is no way you could forget having a kid."
Selene's breath caught.
"Did you know he's the reason you're all stuck playing this twisted game with us? If you don't believe me, you can ask him. What did he see when Victor appeared?"
Pip's smile twitched.
"Oh, wait. He won't tell you, will he?"
Selene held her ground, and yet she only barely held her expression from revealing the small twinge of doubt that ran through her.
Pip's tone had changed.
Like he was not controlling himself.
The familiar notification appeared.
Your soul stirs.
Selene took a moment to compose herself.
Then, in a surprisingly hateful hiss, she said, "You think I care?"
Pip stared at her.
"Where were you when I was desperately searching for a cure?" Selene asked. "He not only gave me medicine every day, but he even cured my condition."
Her fists tightened.
"So what if I get dragged into a bit of danger? It's a price worth paying."
Selene's eyes narrowed.
"Plus, we both know you're not Pip right now."
Her voice hardened.
"Who are you?"
From behind Pip, Selene could swear that a smile formed before quickly falling away into smoke.
"I'm one of the few he refuses to talk about," the voice said. "To give you an idea, I'm the one sick of the others bailing you out at every turn."
The smoke shifted.
"God, if it wasn't for us, Aiden would have gotten you all killed hundreds of times over."
Smoke rose from the ground, forming figures that reenacted the incident with the elven princess.
But this time, Aiden did not pause.
Victor did not appear.
Instead, Jax shouted commands.
And by the end, they were all dead.
"What Pip said is true, though," the voice whispered. "Aiden will be the reason you die. One day, we won't bail you out. And at that point, you are all one bad roll away from dying."
The figure's grin widened.
"All of you."
Selene was taken aback.
A weird vibration pulsed in her chest, making her head throb.
Then the smoke suddenly pulled away.
For a moment, it formed a figure that almost seemed to chuckle as it vanished.
Pip shook himself.
The antlered figure behind him spoke.
"Welcome back," he said. "Seems Misery decided to pay us a visit."
He glanced toward the scoreboard.
"Don't worry. We stalled her long enough."
A sharp cold shot through Selene.
Her system messages burst into her vision as if demanding her attention.
Your soul stirs.
Your soul stirs.
Your soul quakes.
Your nature as a [Redacted] has become more known.
Party member Aiden has been struck by Seed of Betrayal Venom (B).
Party member Aiden has descended into a spiraling nightmare.