The chilling roar came from the opposite direction of their position, away from the courtyard. The sound was too close for comfort, yet far enough from Kai for a strange thought to bloom.

  Has Rusk’s luck infected me?

  His lips curved in a playful grin.

  Based on Kai’s miserable experience of this trial so far, a monstrous roar should’ve appeared at the worst time - a few feet away with a hungry bastard attached to it.

  Things were looking up.

  Rusk and Alira understood their next move without Kai saying a word - they needed to move away from the chilling roar. Only a fool ran into danger without reason.

  Since this trial only rewarded survival, making points useless, what reason was there to fight the ‘special’ target?

  Kai dared to do something he had sworn not to - hope.

  He hoped that disgusting, guttural roar belonged to the special target…the other implications were more terrifying.

  Though his companions understood the assignment, what kind of leader would he be if he didn’t give his bodyguards the order anyway?

  “Let’s move toward the courtyard - and away from whatever that was,” Kai said.

  There was no opposition to his reasonable suggestion. They had to stay near the courtyard in case one of them became a Target. The roar only gave them more motivation to stick to their original plan.

  As they made their way back to the courtyard, they heard screams.

  Soon Kai’s spatial sense detected four people running toward the courtyard. Two Marked were already there. A Target and their companion? Or a Target and a hunter? The four newcomers rushed through without slowing.

  Kai glanced at his companions.

  As he explained what he had sensed, they both adopted grim expressions. Someone - or something - was dangerous enough to scare four Marked into fleeing with their tails between their legs.

  Kai didn’t want to meet whatever they were running from.

  But how could he leave without gathering intel? Sooner or later, they’d likely have to deal with it anyway.

  Kai sighed. “Let’s take a quick peek, gather intel, then back off.”

  Alira’s chilly expression in the face of an unknown horror gave Kai comfort. “If you say so.”

  If my bodyguard is confident, we should be fine!

  Rusk had no complaints. His Curse ensured fear was a foreign concept to him.

  The trio crept through the maze, slowing as they neared the courtyard entrance. The sound of heavy footsteps boomed nearby. Kai pressed against the grey wall for cover and peeked into the courtyard.

  Yellow eyes met his.

  A long reptilian snout pulsed as it sniffed the air. Two fleshy sacks drooped from the sides of its face. A mouthful of razor-sharp fangs worked as it crushed something inside.

  A human leg.

  The rest of the body hung limp in the creature’s crushing grip. The abomination was as big as three Rusks - and Rusk stood a head taller than Kai. Its tree-trunk arms bulged with muscle, vicious claws tipping its hands.

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  It glared at Kai as it greedily chomped the unfortunate soul’s leg. The limb was gone in moments.

  The reptilian abomination…or monster? Kai had never learned the difference.

  Regardless, the Lizard-thing raised the rest of the body in its right hand - and a dreadful realisation hit Kai like a sack of bricks. The one-legged man was still alive. He had likely passed out from blood loss, pain, or shock, but his chest still moved.

  The Lizard-thing glared at Kai as it ate the man alive. It made no move to chase him, as if he wasn’t worth disturbing its meal.

  Kai’s stomach dropped into an abyss. His heart raced like the four Marked from before. He held no illusions about the situation: this lizardy abomination would come after them next. Its hungry eyes were already sizing him up for dessert.

  A shiver ran down his spine.

  He wanted to escape, but he hesitated. He didn’t know enough. There had been two people in the courtyard before they arrived. Only one remained - and the giant lizard was treating him like a three-course meal.

  Did the Target’s companion - or hunter - leave him behind? Or did the Target get away? What happened when a Target died?

  Kai had seen two Targets survive, but he hadn’t seen one die. He didn’t know if a new Target was assigned when the previous one died. What if the trio left, and one of them became a Target?

  Fighting the lizard-thing alone was suicide. Fighting it as a trio offered the same odds.

  Standing here was as good as serving themselves to the abomination on a platter. Kai had to take his chances. He grabbed Alira’s shoulder. Rusk understood and clasped Kai’s. They didn’t need to say a word.

  It was nice working with smart people for a change.

  They teleported from the courtyard and emerged a short distance away. Kai teleported again to mask their trail.

  Then they ran.

  They soon put a reasonable distance between themselves and the lizard-thing - enough space to buy a few minutes to prepare.

  Or so Kai hoped.

  Hope was a pitiful, deceptive thing, often paving the road to despair.

  A bone-chilling roar boomed from the direction they were heading. Kai glanced at his companions. Both wore solemn expressions.

  That doesn’t make sense! How could it have gotten ahead of us?

  “Should we turn back?” Rusk asked. Kai was a little surprised to hear the fearless butcher suggest retreat. Was he…being considerate?

  But Alira’s reply gave him pause. “Not unless you want to be eaten.”

  Kai re-analysed the situation as they stood between the narrow concrete walls.

  They had moved away from the roar before - and run into the Lizard-thing. Now they moved away from the Lizard-thing, only to draw closer to the roar.

  Were there two special targets? Or—

  “It’s throwing its voice. Devious bastard.”

  Alira threw Kai a look that said ‘You’re only realising this now?’ A flush crept across his cheeks as he diverted his gaze. The chances of three Marked killing the Lizard-thing were low.

  But that was only in a straight fight.

  And what kind of fool fights straight-on?

  Kai sighed. “Hopefully, that reptilian monster doesn’t come after us…but I doubt we’ll get that lucky.”

  “We need to prepare a killing field,” Alira said. “And it’s an abomination, not a monster.”

  Kai’s eyes widened a little at this revelation. “What’s the difference?” He never passed on the opportunity to learn. Information was power.

  Alira shook her head, like a teacher instructing an ignorant student. “Abominations are corrupted Demons. Monsters are corrupted mortals. Did they teach you nothing at your orphanage?”

  If I get corrupted - I’ll become like that thing?

  Kai wrinkled his brow, then scoffed. “Orphanage? I wish. But thanks for the tip.”

  Alira’s mouth parted a little. He spoke before her unnecessary apology could escape her pitying lips.

  “For this killing field trap, we’ll need bait…” Kai glanced at Alira and Rusk.

  He knew what had to happen next, but he didn’t like it.

  Alira didn’t stand on ceremony. “You’ll be the bait, obviously.”

  “Good luck, Kai!”

  Yes, Kai knew he was the best choice as bait - he could teleport.

  Rusk was best for setting up traps, and Alira could barrel through a front line. But Kai didn’t like it. How could he? He’d be putting his life on the line and relying on these scoundrels to pull through.

  Luckily, he didn’t need to trust his companions. As long as he preserved his soul essence, he could confuse the abomination and escape with his life.

  The thing was, he had already teleported with both Alira and Rusk to confuse the Lizard-thing. That taught him teleporting others drained his essence more than solo travel. His estimation gave him about five more teleports before he drained his soul essence.

  It would have to do.

  Kai let out a heavy breath. “Okay. I’ll be the bait…you guys set up ice and thread traps. I’ll bring our friend to the party.”

  Rusk and Alira nodded.

  “Any suggestions?” Kai asked.

  “Nope, sounds good to me. You bring the big guy, and my threads will dice him!”

  Kai glanced at Alira.

  “The plan makes sense.”

  Kai nodded. “Good. Here’s what I need you two to do.”

  Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter.

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