Slowly, a week went by, and it was finally time for the tournament. The entire city was filled with young awakened who wanted to participate in the tournament.

Aren was shocked that even after staying there for nearly a month, none of the chosen participants had actually come to attack him and take his token.

With the way that Aoi and Roger warned him, he was certain that they would come for sure, yet they did not.

The group got ready that day, everyone preparing to head for the Black Castle. It was finally open, the center of the entire city, the place where everything would happen, the War God Tournament.

Aren sat on his bed, staring at his hands with a detached look. So much had happened so far. Months had gone by. He was a different person, yet he felt empty, heavy, and deep in his heart, he felt scared.

Something was looming over him. The constant threat of death never went away. The fear that his life was a ticking time bomb lingered, and now the memories that kept flashing made him ask himself who he was.

He tilted his head up. The wind from outside blew through the window, the rays of sunlight coming in, hitting his back and casting a lonely shadow on the ground.

The gap between him and the people he called family continually grew, and with every step, he got lonelier. He did not want to be lonely. He wanted to have people who would be around him, celebrate with him, and grow with him.

His heart desperately craved that, but if he stopped to be on their level, who would protect them when the time came? He needed to be the banner that covered them.

While he was sitting there, Raze came to his door. Aren could see him with shadow sense. Raze stood there. He looked at the door for a good few seconds, as if trying to understand something, then he stretched out his hand and touched the door.

He stayed there for a few seconds, and Aren watched. He saw the look in Raze's eyes, the look of regret, the look of pain, the look of someone who had a lot to say but had to bottle it up.

It seemed like he would push the door and enter, but then he stopped and turned away, walking off.

Aren found this heavily suspicious, as he had always felt something was off with Raze. He just did not know what.

"What are you hiding, Raze? What's eating you up?" Aren thought as he got up from the bed. He was about to step out of the room when suddenly, he sensed a figure outside his window, but this was a two story building, and Aren was on the top floor.

He turned around, only to see someone floating there. A young lady with white hair and purple eyes, wearing a stunning black and purple gown.

She looked Aren right in the eye and then lifted her hand, pointing her finger at him. A bright purple orb of energy formed at the tip of her finger and continued to glow brighter.

"Shit," Aren cursed and immediately rushed for the door, kicking it down the exact moment she launched her attack.

"Erase," she said in a monotone voice. The purple ball of energy shot forward, turning into a massive blast of energy that struck the building and completely obliterated half of the entire top floor.

BOOOOOOM

The explosion shook the entire area.

Aren managed to get out of the way in time. He rushed through the remaining side of the building, heading down where the others were, and they were also coming up after they felt the explosion.

They saw Aren halfway up the stairs.

"No time to explain. All of you, take Athena and head to the Black Castle," Aren said.

"But-" Aiden tried to speak.

"No buts. Take her. Zero, I'm putting her protection in your hands," he said, then looked at Athena. "Move fast and stay with Zero at all times." Athena nodded.

Kira wanted to ask what was happening. Aren could see it in her eyes. She walked forward, grabbed him, and pulled him in for a hug. Then he whispered into her ear.

"I'll be fine. Go with them. Athena needs as much protection as she can get."

"But you said no moving alone," Kira stated.

"I know what I said, and I am not alone. I have a whole army with me," Aren said.

She took a deep breath and then nodded, finally letting go.

Aren picked up with shadow sense that the figure who attacked was getting closer to them. "Move. Go now," he said, and everyone started leaving. Then he grabbed Aiden and pulled him back, whispering into his ear.

"Watch Raze." That was the only line he said before pushing Aiden away and turning toward the top floor he was leaving.

Aiden was confused by what Aren told him. Watch Raze? Why?

"Let's go, Aiden," Raze called from below. Aiden looked at him.

"Watch Raze," he thought before following him down.

Aren walked back to the top floor, and when he got there, he saw the lady floating there in the opening she had blasted out.

"You really did some heavy damage," Aren stated. Then his eyes turned serious. "If you think you can take Athena, then I'd like to inform you that your death is soon."

"Athena?" the lady muttered in confusion. She looked at Aren like she did not understand a lick of what he was saying.

"I want your token," she stated calmly, her voice still monotone.

"So hand it over," she said, then pointed her finger again, charging up the same attack.

"Sorry, not letting that happen again," Aren said. Tendrils shot from all directions and immediately wrapped her completely until no part of her could be seen.

But then a purple light started seeping out, and then, BOOM.

The tendrils were ripped apart, and she was out of the bind.

"Die," she said.

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