Chapter 2 – Sand and Blood
The light of the portal vanished behind Leon and Jesus.
All that remained was heat.
Endless dunes stretched in every direction, the wind carrying grains of sand like needles against Leon’s skin. He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the burning sun and groaned.
“Seriously?” Leon muttered. “Why does every test with you have to be in a desert?”
Jesus smiled faintly, calm as ever.
“Because the desert leaves no room for distractions,” He said. “Only what truly matters remains. Here, you will discover who you really are.”
Leon sighed, wiping sweat from his brow.
“I just hope that ‘discovering myself’ doesn’t involve starving to death or turning into human barbecue.”
Before Jesus could respond, a distant sound echoed across the dunes.
Hooves. Wheels. Metal clanking.
Leon turned just in time to see a caravan approaching—armed merchants riding beasts and dragging carts behind them. His stomach dropped when he noticed the prisoners.
Ten people. Chained. Bruised.
One of the merchants pointed toward Leon.
“Hey! Look at that—some kid, all alone.”
Another laughed darkly.
“That’s easy profit. Surround him!”
Leon took a step back.
“Wait—who are you people?!”
He barely had time to react before something heavy struck the back of his head.
Darkness swallowed him.
Leon awoke to the sound of roaring voices.
The air was damp and cold. Chains clinked as he shifted, realizing his wrists were shackled. His head throbbed violently.
“Where… am I?” he whispered.
The distant vibration of a crowd echoed through stone walls.
High above the arena, in a luxurious but tense chamber, Lee stood with his arms crossed, watching the battles through a translucent crystal display. Fighters clashed below, blood staining the sand.
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He took a sip of water and glanced at an assistant nearby.
“Anything new today?” Lee asked. “Anyone worth watching?”
The assistant hesitated.
“The merchants brought in a boy. Power scanners show nothing impressive. But the organizer plans to throw him into the arena anyway.”
Lee raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting. Sometimes the weakest ones surprise us.”
The crowd erupted as the organizer stepped forward.
A krizardian elder with piercing eyes and a cruel smile, his voice boomed across the coliseum.
“Bring out the new toy!” he shouted. “Let’s see if he’s good for anything besides fertilizer!”
Laughter exploded from the stands.
Two soldiers dragged Leon’s unconscious body into the center of the arena and threw him onto the sand. Above him, an artificial sun blazed mercilessly.
A massive iron gate creaked open.
A giant stepped out.
Bald. Scarred. Towering. A monstrous warrior gripping a massive war hammer.
The crowd chanted wildly.
“Crush him! Crush him!”
Leon stirred, forcing himself onto his hands and knees.
“What… what’s happening…?”
The giant roared and charged.
Leon barely rolled away as the hammer smashed into the ground, the impact blasting a crater into the arena floor.
His heart pounded violently.
“Why does everything feel… slow…?” Leon gasped.
A strange sound echoed within him.
Like drums.
His heartbeat thundered. His vision sharpened. His eyes burned as their color shifted—from brown to a glowing, predatory yellow.
Wind spiraled around him.
Pain exploded through his body as bones cracked and flesh twisted. Black fur erupted across his skin. Claws tore through his fingers.
The transformation was violent.
Uncontrolled.
A black werewolf stood where Leon once was.
The arena fell silent.
Then screams.
“What is THAT?!”
Leon attacked.
Pure fury.
Claws tore through flesh. Fangs sank deep. The giant tried to fight back, but it was hopeless. Within seconds, the brute fell, torn apart, blood soaking the sand.
The arena trembled.
A dark aura surrounded the beast.
High above, Lee’s eyes widened.
“No… that’s not normal,” he muttered. “Not even krizardians do that.”
The transformation faded.
Leon collapsed back into his human form—naked, shaking, drenched in blood. He stared at his hands, horror written across his face.
“What… am I?” he whispered.
Then he passed out.
Chains rattled as soldiers dragged Leon through dark corridors.
The organizer laughed loudly.
“I threw you in to die,” he said. “And you killed my champion. You amuse me, boy.”
Later that night, Leon lay awake in a reinforced cell, staring at the ceiling.
A small portal opened silently.
A cloaked figure stepped inside.
Lee.
A guard reached for his weapon.
“Who are you?”
“I bought this prisoner,” Lee said coldly. “Leave us.”
The guards hesitated—but obeyed.
Leon shrank into the corner, trembling.
“You… you saw what I did,” Leon stammered.
“I did,” Lee replied. “And I want answers. Who are you?”
“I don’t know,” Leon said weakly. “Jesus brought me here. I don’t understand anything.”
Lee’s expression sharpened.
“Jesus…” he murmured. “Interesting.”
He handed Leon a small chip.
“When the time comes,” Lee said, “I’ll give the signal. I’ll get you out of here.”
Leon stared at the chip.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because if you are who I think you are,” Lee replied, “we’re going to need you.”
Footsteps echoed outside.
Lee opened a small portal and vanished.
The organizer appeared moments later, arms crossed, grinning.
“I wanted you dead,” he said. “Instead, you gave me a spectacle.”
He laughed.
“Feed him. Give him water. Tomorrow… we’ll have more fun.”
Leon sat alone in the darkness, staring at his trembling hands.
“What kind of monster am I becoming?” his thoughts whispered. “Why… was I chosen?”
The wind howled faintly through the stone.
His heart beat on.
End of Chapter 2
