The alarms blared, the lights flickered, pulsing on and off. The creaking sound of the door opening echoed throughout the prison, signaling the start of the journey toward the Arena.

  Nova had just finished putting on the new clothes Kaulai had brought him days earlier: a black bandage patch for his eye, fingerless gloves to protect his palms when wielding a sword, a brand-new athletic shirt, reinforced boots, and pants similar to the ones he already owned. This time, he had more attachments to carry weapons—but he already knew exactly which ones to bring.

  "Two weeks have already passed, huh… I’d better hurry. This will be my second fight."

  And just like the previous one, he wasn’t going to allow himself to lose. With his body in much better condition, he felt ready to face any monster. He even felt a bit curious about what fate had in store for him.

  Choosing the same sword and pistol, along with the knife, he reflected on what he had available.

  'I have mobility, offense, and defense, plus ranged firepower. Carrying more would only be a problem, so I need to make sure I use my tools properly.'

  As the armory door closed behind him, he moved toward the platform.

  'Since that day, my Spectrum of Anticipation stabilized, though there were complications after I nearly lost control.'

  He pressed the button—the platform began to rise.

  'At first, it was difficult because I could hear and feel even the smallest things around me,' he thought, staring at the ethereal screen floating before his eyes. 'But after these days, I finally got used to it…'

  A calm smile appeared on his face. What the screen displayed was something he had never expected of himself.

  [

  ? Name: ____

  ? Age: ____

  ? Rank: ____

  ? Spectrums: Serenity, Anticipation.

  ? Spectrum Abilities:

  —Attenuate

  —Spectrum Enhancement.

  —Serenity Fluctuation.

  —Future Vision.

  —Fatal Omen.

  —Enhanced Senses.

  —Reaction Acceleration.

  ? Energy Control:

  —Low control of Calem Energy.

  —Medium manipulation of the Plantae Realm.

  —Low resistance to Status Effects.

  —Low resistance to Corruption.

  —Charged Fusion.

  ? Personal Skills:

  —Martial Arts (Intermediate)

  —Knowledge of Botany (Advanced)

  —Survivor (Intermediate)

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  —Desperate Strength (Basic)

  ]

  'It seems that when Spectrums are forced through Loss of Control, abilities are gained based on the affected person’s situation. Now my Danger Omen has become Fatal Omen. It’s obvious it has something to do with what happened in the field of flowers. Leaving that aside, I can now use Future Vision… I know when I learned this ability…'

  When he fought Manto, on the brink of death, his eye had seen the possible movements of his opponent.

  He looked upward, slightly tense.

  'There’s also Charged Fusion. This ability emerged the moment I forced Serenity over Anticipation. Maybe that will prevent me from losing control again. And since I also have Resistance to Corruption, it should be safer for me to fight without losing control.'

  The platform came to a halt; the next door opened.

  'Desperate Strength… it became one of my personal skills. The name explains enough, I think…'

  It was simple: in a moment of desperation, his strength would increase to give him one final push. Near the end of the first battle, Manto had noticed it, calling it Strength Before Death—but it was a bit more straightforward than that.

  As he entered the storage area, he hid the window, since Kaulai was waiting for him in front of the massive door that led to the Arena.

  "You look better than you did a few weeks ago. I hope you fight better too."

  "A ‘hello’ would’ve been a better way to start the conversation, but I see you’re not that kind of person," Nova replied, with a hint of irony.

  "Well, coming from you, even considering others as people is already a big step forward. Do you know how offensive it is to be called an ‘Aberration’? It’s like me telling you that you’re the ugliest being in the universe."

  Nova sighed and sat down on one of the crates.

  "Huh… Discovering that what surrounds me is greater than the very existence of my species opened my mind. Besides, I don’t like being prejudiced."

  "Yeah, sure, kid. Your prejudices no longer exist."

  Nova paused. He replied, more serious than before.

  "I understood that, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Who will it be this time?"

  Kaulai nodded. His previously calm expression turned serious.

  "Your opponent tonight is twice your size—heavy, fast, and strong—and wields a massive two-handed sword. Like most creatures in the universe, its weakness is the head. You’ll understand why when you see it."

  "Is that all? Nothing else?"

  "Yes, that’s it. Since you’re just starting out, they won’t make you fight the strongest ones. I mean, if they did, you’d be killed in a fraction of a second."

  "That’s terrifying…"

  Kaulai raised an eyebrow. Once again, just like weeks ago, he found it strange.

  "But you don’t look scared."

  Nova shook his head. There were things this alien took far too literally.

  "Man… it’s just an expression," he said, standing up and walking toward the door. "Though there’s no way I could feel fear anyway."

  "…?"

  Turning his back to Kaulai, Nova’s eye glowed—dangerous.

  "I wouldn’t be lying if I told you that I don’t know fear."

  He paused, then continued:

  "Or other more complex emotions…"

  Kaulai crossed his arms. More relaxed now, he placed a hand on Nova’s shoulder.

  "People who can’t understand what they feel are dangerous. That might be your advantage, but…" he walked toward the door beside Nova. "Don’t you think that will only tear you apart from the inside? I’ve known people who claimed to have no fear, and that led them to death."

  "Yeah… I guess, but…"

  Nova frowned. He had never thought about it until now, but ever since he met Kaulai, the alien had always been understanding and reliable. His words, sometimes filled with wisdom, felt strange—like there was something else hidden deep within his alien mind.

  'Before me, there was probably a child…'

  What was Kaulai hiding behind that understanding expression? Without an answer, Nova knew he couldn’t say anything about it. He also understood that he couldn’t trust anyone in this place. Even Kaulai, who appeared friendly, could be someone far worse than he imagined.

  "But I don’t think so. I’m always calm, but lately everything around me has been getting on my nerves."

  "Hahaha… I understand that feeling. It can be overwhelming at times."

  The door suddenly creaked open, revealing the path to the Arena. Kaulai gave Nova a firm pat on the back and said:

  "Good luck, kid. Don’t let them kill you."

  That familiar smile formed on Nova’s lips.

  "If I survive, you’ll have to keep telling me about the universe. There are many things I want to learn—things that might help me return home."

  "I understand… In that case, come back alive, and I won’t just give you history lessons. You’ll be able to ask me for one thing I might be able to obtain."

  Nova didn’t say anything else. Instead, he walked forward in silence, following the path until he stepped into the Arena.