Chapter 3: The Cost of Survival
Ryo stood over Kuro's unconscious body, his chest rising and falling in heavy breaths. His fists trembled, not from fear, but from the rush of battle still surging through his veins. The deafening cheers of the crowd barely registered in his mind.
He had won.
But the moment the bell rang, signaling his victory, reality crashed back down on him. This was only the beginning. The Bloody Prelims were far from over.
The iron gates at the edge of the pit creaked open, and two masked enforcers of Beast's Maw stepped inside. Without a word, they dragged Kuro's limp body away, disappearing into the shadows like vultures carrying off a carcass.
Ryo wiped the blood from his lip and turned toward the exit. Fighters in the waiting area watched him with new eyes—some with caution, others with interest. Beating Kuro had made a statement. He was no weakling.
Still, he wasn't here for their approval. He was here for Ren.
As he moved toward the corridor leading to the fighters' quarters, a voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Not bad for a rookie."
Ryo turned sharply. Leaning against the steel wall was a man built like a boulder. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable. Taro "The Bone Eater."
The name carried weight. Taro was a veteran of Beast's Maw, a man who had torn through countless opponents and emerged victorious. His scarred knuckles and cold gaze spoke of a warrior who had seen—and caused—his fair share of carnage.
Ryo said nothing.
Taro smirked. "Kuro was one of the easier ones. Next time, don't let your guard down."
Ryo's fists clenched slightly. "I won, didn't I?"
"Yeah," Taro pushed off the wall. "But surviving here isn't just about winning fights. It's about knowing the cost of each victory."
Ryo didn't need a lecture. He brushed past Taro, but the veteran fighter's next words froze him in place.
"You're looking for someone, aren't you?"
Ryo's body tensed. He turned his head slightly. "What makes you say that?"
Taro let out a short chuckle. "I've seen that look before. Fighters don't enter Beast's Maw for fun. They come chasing ghosts."
Ryo clenched his jaw. "My brother. His name is Ren Kazan."
At the mention of the name, something flickered in Taro's eyes. Recognition? Hesitation? It was gone before Ryo could place it.
Taro exhaled. "Listen, kid. If your brother came through here and he took the Fang Serum… you might not like what you find."
Ryo took a step closer, his voice sharp. "He's alive."
Taro studied him for a moment before shaking his head. "Then you better be ready. Because if he's alive, he's not the same person anymore."
Silence stretched between them. Ryo knew the dangers of the Fang Serum, had seen its effects firsthand. But no matter how much it changed Ren, he would not abandon him.
Taro sighed and placed a hand on Ryo's shoulder. "You survived your first fight. Get some rest. The real monsters haven't even stepped into the ring yet."
With that, Taro turned and walked away, disappearing into the dim corridors.
Ryo exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
No matter how deep this pit of beasts went, he would find his brother.
Even if he had to become a beast himself.