AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The once-mighty titan of the arena was defeated, his humiliation magnified by the laughter and jeers of the audience.
Above, the massive holo-monitors displayed the scene in crystal clarity, zooming into Fleth’s face.
That expression — it was one of profound rage and despair, still haunted by his early memories.
Those eyes, which had seen so much pain, now bore into Tix with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
The crowd’s cheers were deafening, their jubilation sharply at odds with the defeated figure in the pit.
As I watched Fleth being escorted away, his every step weighed down by the weight of his past and his recent defeat, I couldn’t shake off a sense of foreboding.
There was something in that look, something beyond the anguish of a lost fight.
It spoke of vendettas, of long-held grudges, and promises of retribution.
And although Tix had emerged victorious today, I couldn’t help but feel that this chapter was far from over.
As the arena lights dimmed and the crowd started to disperse, I held onto one thought: we hadn’t seen the last of Fleth.
Not by a long shot.
* * *
The resounding echoes of the crowd’s applause still hung in the air as Tix began his ascent to the Prize Pool.
The Champion’s Song, a timeless melody, played over the loudspeakers, signifying the victory of a true champion.
It was a tune I had heard countless times before, a harmonious anthem dedicated to the unparalleled prowess of the victor.
Yet, today, it felt different.
It was as if there was an underlying note, a silent whisper in the composition that tugged at the very edge of my memory.
The stairs leading to the Prize Pool were lit up, creating a luminous pathway for the triumphant warrior.
Each step Tix took was synchronized with the beats of the song.
Watching him, a rush of pride surged through me, not just for his win but for everything we had been through together.
However, that sentiment was momentarily overshadowed as a spark of realization flashed in my mind.
The song!
As the notes played, I found myself instinctively counting the beats.
It was a habit I’d developed during my time in the Prize Pool — analyzing patterns, seeking the rhythm in everything.
Today, that innate sense of timing struck a chord.
The Champion’s Song wasn’t complete.
It seemed to halt abruptly, leaving a sense of anticipation, an awaiting resolution.
It clicked.
The memory of the third level of Uhah’s dream, the scene at the table, the backwards conversation, the turntable… it was all about timing, about completing what was left unfinished.
Uhah’s guilt, his inability to finish something, his compromise for personal gain all tied together with that turntable and the need for a proper ending.
