The miserable little animal wouldn't take its eyes off me. It wanted me to walk straight into the slaughterhouse, and I wasn't stupid enough to do it.
—Shut up…! —I growled.
—It's not a bad idea —Geronimo said behind me, stopping abruptly—. You've already contemplated your star; the best thing you could do now is experiment in a real trial.
—You heard him, kid, it's time to go to the Connector —Paul added, grabbing my shoulder.
—Wait a moment… —My attempt to escape was brutally thwarted when Axio plopped himself onto Paul's shoulder, bursting into mocking laughter.
—Oh, don't be like that, human —Axio said—. You don't have many other options. It's not like you can do anything with zero credits.
"The bastard knows."
Paul and Geronimo surrounded me and, after a few pats on the back, dragged me along through the great dining hall toward the point where I had entered. There, both of them touched the wall, and in a burst of particles, lights wrapped around our bodies. When I opened my eyes again, I was trembling, terrified—the hall we arrived in was unlike anything I had ever seen.
—Welcome to the Connector, Tristan.
"The Connector." It was a massive room, like an enormous amphitheater made of crystal polished like a mirror. Zodiac symbols were drawn across its surface, slowly shifting, replacing those who stood before it with the corresponding signs that—presumably—came to challenge them. It was interconnected by dozens of paths, stairways, and elevators. If I thought the dining hall had a lot of people, I had no idea—this was where the true constellation prospects gathered.
Suddenly, my insecurities returned, making my heart race. I was going back to that coliseum, and I doubted I'd be as lucky as the first time. At last, Geronimo placed a hand on my head, as if I were a child. His hand was firm and heavy, like that of a grandfather who had worked the fields his entire life.
—Don't be afraid. We all go through this —he said calmly—. I need to tell you something important…
—No, no, no, I'll say it —Axio interrupted—. You need to understand that the games have two objectives: defeat your rivals, and defeat "the incarnation."
—Incarnation? —I repeated, as had become routine.
—You should already be familiar with the great copper ram: Aries.
Those heavy footsteps came back to me, that floating earth, those movements that sounded like thunder—the copper ram, Aries.
—During a match, you may or may not defeat "the incarnation," but if you do, you'll receive a bonus equal to the victory credits of the round. In addition, it gives the opposing team the option to surrender without penalty.
—Wait—if I defeat that thing, can a direct fight be avoided? —I blurted out, grabbing onto a lifeline.
—Not so fast, speedster. Just because the option exists doesn't mean everyone will take it. But yes—if you defeat it, you might avoid killing each other.
Paul smiled confidently.
—Now that you know, kid, lift your head. Just stand in front of the mirror and touch it. The system will do the rest.
—Yeah, yeah, do it already. Or do you want me to sing you a song to give you courage? Something like… "Tristan went to the game, oh the pain, oh the pain, what a shame…" —Axio crooned sarcastically.
—Please shut up or I'll die before we even start…
I stepped forward until I stood before the mirror. As expected, what formed in front of me was the great symbol of Aries: a ram struggling against chains, illuminated like threads of gold. For some reason, an intense cold froze my hands at the touch. I spread my fingers against the glossy wall; it lit up. The image expanded until it became a doorway inviting me in.
I looked back. There stood Geronimo, wearing a confident gaze, and Paul, waving goodbye cheerfully.
"Maybe they're not bad people…"
I took the first step. In an instant, my body was engulfed by particles of light that blinded me. When I opened my eyes and the violent sound of swirling wind faded, I recognized the place—one I could never forget.
The ground was a mix of ash and sand. The first time, I had been paralyzed here, but now I could truly observe it. Stone pillars rose like worn spears, surrounded by massive black, cracked walls forming the coliseum.
The sky above still painted a crimson canvas. Now familiar with the environment, I realized that the senses once stripped from me returned violently: the heavy metallic scent mixed with damp ash flooded my nostrils, and remembering the pain of the knife at my throat made me go pale.
A clinking sound soon overtook the place.
Behind me—without a doubt—was the source of that metallic echo: with roars that sounded like clanging pots. Carefully, I turned around to see it—bound by the same flimsy golden chain, the copper ram, Aries.
—Well… here we go again —I said to myself, adjusting my jacket.
"Alright, Tristan, let's review what we've learned."
First: to win, I must defeat the opposing team, or make them surrender after defeating the boss. Simple as that.
Sure—if killing a metal titan were a typical Friday night activity.
Everything seemed calm. Ignoring, of course, Aries, who occasionally let out deafening jumps, sending sand and ash scattering like a massive cloud. But if I learned anything last time, it was that the chains—despite their fragile appearance—were anything but. As long as he wasn't provoked, there was nothing to fear…
Bang.
The sound rang out loud and clear—a gunshot slicing through the air. I felt my stomach leap into my throat. The shot hit the chain, which shattered instantly.
For a few seconds, the goat—over three meters tall—didn't quite grasp what had happened. Then it realized it was free, proving it with a powerful bellow that sounded like hundreds of pots crashing together. Instinctively, I covered my ears and shut my eyes. When it stopped, I saw the beast standing atop the coliseum's peak.
Its massive spiral horns, capable of piercing walls, rose high. Its hooves were so heavy that when they struck the ground, stone shattered like glass. Its metallic skin, bathed in a copper glow, gleamed under the newborn sunlight.
Free, it wasted no time beginning its violent dance of destruction. Each leap shook the arena, booming like cannon fire.
The monster rammed walls and columns, sending sand flying in blinding, deafening explosions.
At last, it fixed its gaze on me.
"I have to run."
It was the only sensible answer. The creature would crush me like less than trash if I faced it head-on. My only option was to rely on my team—and they hadn't shown any sign of life. I started running across the arena, hoping for a miracle and—
Bang.
A second shot caught my attention. A man with a neatly trimmed mustache, dressed in a 19th-century military uniform, stood before me. He raised his imposing rifle and began firing at the enraged beast.
The map HUD displayed only:
[Black: …]