> "Zone Collapse initiated. Sealing sectors 1 through 8."
Warning sirens screamed through the compound. Walls shifted. Entire rooms reconfigured. Metallic groans echoed as the Reckoning's arena bent itself into a more deadly form.
"Sector 9 is the only safe zone now," Aiden said, scanning the map flashing on the screen.
Mei, still shaken from Elian's disqualification, grabbed his shoulder. "Then we run. Now."
Tatsuya cursed under his breath. "Sector 9 is on the far edge. We'll never all make it."
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "That's the point."
Behind them, Sera bolted without a word, dragging two other players with her. The moment they crossed into the hallway, a countdown timer appeared above the door:
> 25:00
"Twenty-five minutes," Aiden muttered. "And only one route left."
The arena corridor split into multiple paths, but only one was still active—lined with motion-detecting drones and glowing red tripwires. Mei grabbed a fragment of mirror glass, using it to reflect the red light.
They moved.
One step.
Another.
Until—
> BZZZZZT!
A deafening crack split the air as the floor under one player—Kyle—vanished. Screams echoed as he fell into darkness.
> 18 Players Remaining
Aiden didn't look back. He couldn't afford to.
They passed Sectors 4 and 5—both caved in, burning, emitting acrid smoke. Tatsuya kicked down a weakened gate to create a shortcut through Sector 7's tunnels. The ceiling above them quaked.
"Almost there!" Mei shouted.
But the final hallway wasn't empty.
A black figure stood ahead—motionless. A humanoid AI unit, heavily armored, its face a white mask with the number IX carved across the front.
The Ninth Seal.
A Guardian of Sector 9.
It lifted a blade made of light.
Aiden stepped forward. "Go around. I'll stall it."
Mei's eyes widened. "Aiden—!"
"Just do it."
Tatsuya pulled her back. "Come on!"
The Ninth Seal charged.
Aiden ducked under the slash, sliding across the floor, then rolled into a supply rack, yanking a metal pipe loose. He swung—clash—metal screamed.
The AI adapted instantly. Its blade retracted and formed a cannon.
Too fast.
Aiden hurled the pipe, striking the cannon arm, just as Tatsuya returned—his hand outstretched, a stun disc stolen from an earlier trap.
"Tag out."
He slammed the disc onto the Ninth Seal's core.
> EMP activated. System stalled.
They ran.
Seconds before the last checkpoint sealed behind them.
> Seal Complete. Sector 9 Secured.
> 15 Players Remaining
Aiden, Mei, and Tatsuya collapsed inside the last chamber.
He looked around.
The countdown timer reset.
> Next Elimination in 12 Hours
The game wasn't slowing down.
It was preparing for its bloodiest round yet.
---