Round 4–5: Phantom Track & Guardian Circle
The fourth round unveiled itself not with grandeur, but with malice.
A four-hundred-meter track stretched across the arena, its surface fragmented into hundreds of floating magical tiles. They shimmered faintly, some stable, others flickering like lies about to collapse. Beneath them lurked thick, dark mud that pulsed ominously, as if alive. Above, massive pendulums studded with spikes swung back and forth, their patterns irregular, cruel, and intentionally misleading.
This was not a race designed to test speed.
It was designed to punish hesitation.
Gery swallowed hard the moment he saw it.
He turned to Rio and grabbed him by the shoulders with both hands, gripping tightly as if Rio were the last solid thing in a collapsing world.
"Rio," Gery said, his voice trembling. "I'm begging you. For my mental health. For my pride. For the continued existence of my soul… run as fast as you possibly can. If I end up cushioning your nap again, I will cry. Loudly. In front of everyone."
Jealousy burned behind his fear. He had followed Moon Grey faithfully for years, endured countless training sessions, missions, and humiliations. And yet Rio, the newcomer, the lazy one, was somehow the person Moon casually spoke to about martabak toppings with.
Life was unfair. Horrifically unfair.
"Aye, aye, Sir," Rio replied with a flat tone, lowering himself into an absurdly relaxed starting stance. "Now let go. You're holding me like a lost child."
Moon Grey stood beside them, stretching with effortless grace. His movements were precise, controlled, and elegant enough to make half the male audience lose their minds. Cheers erupted from the stands.
"Focus, Team C," Moon said calmly. "One more failure, and Gery moves into Rio's room tonight."
"FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD, NOOOOOO!"
The starting cannon fired.
BANG!
The arena exploded into motion.
Ellen surged forward instantly, his body moving with the sharp confidence of a veteran. He leapt from tile to tile without hesitation, every landing perfectly timed. Wind tore through his hair as his aura flared brightly. To the spectators, he looked unstoppable.
Moon followed close behind, ice forming beneath his feet with each step. Rather than running, he glided, adjusting smoothly to every shift in the track. His expression never changed.
Gery ran like a man being chased by destiny itself. Each step was powered by desperation."I DON'T WANT TO BE A PILLOW!" he screamed as mud splashed dangerously close to his heels.
And then there was Rio.
Rio ran casually.
Not slow. Not fast.
Casual.
Every tile beneath his feet vanished a fraction of a second after he left it, as if the track itself was reacting too late. When a pendulum swung toward him, he tilted his head slightly, missing the spike by mere centimeters without breaking his stride.
It didn't look like reflex.
It looked like familiarity.
As though he had already walked this path before.
VVIP Balcony
Luna leaned forward, fingers tightening around the railing as she adjusted her glasses.
"Princess," she said quietly, unease creeping into her voice. "Look at his rhythm. He's not accelerating, not reinforcing his body with magic… yet he's always stepping into the safe zone before the danger manifests. That shouldn't be possible."
Lylya Minakaya watched Rio's back, her lips curling into a thin smile.
"…That's just how he is."
Her heart echoed with amusement and quiet pride.
Finish Line
Ellen crossed the finish line first.
The timer shattered. The crowd erupted.
He slowed to a stop, chest heaving, a victorious grin forming as he turned around to witness Rio's humiliation.
Sret.
Rio stepped across the finish line right behind him.
"Hah… haa… huff…" Rio bent forward dramatically. "So… tired…"
There was no sweat. Not a single bead.
Ellen stared. "How did you get here?! I didn't see you pass me!"
Rio pointed weakly backward. "I just followed your shadow. Turns out… your shadow runs really fast."
"SHADOWS DON'T MOVE BY THEMSELVES, YOU IDIOT!"
Ellen's face flushed crimson. He knew something was wrong. He could feel it. But there was nothing to grab onto. No proof. No explanation.
Team C's remaining lives stayed at three.
Gery collapsed at the finish line, dropping to his knees like a man spared by divine mercy.
"THANK YOU, MOON GREY! MY DIGNITY LIVES!"
Moon ignored him completely and approached Rio, pulling a silk handkerchief from his coat.
"Here. Wipe your face," Moon said. "Your acting is terrible."
Gery felt something crack inside his chest.
"I almost died," he muttered.
Rio took the handkerchief with a grin. "Thanks. Smells like sweet martabak."
"That's lavender," Moon replied. The corner of his lips twitched.
Round 5: Guardian Circle – Core Defense
The air trembled.
A massive energy dome descended, splitting the battlefield into several small circles, each only three meters wide. Stepping outside meant immediate failure.
Above them, Automatons hovered silently.
"Gery, fire barricade on the left," Moon ordered. "I'll handle front and right."
"Yes, sir!" Gery roared, flames bursting to life around his fists.
Rio stood in the center of the circle. The safest spot. His thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Chicken… onion…"…Onion?"
The first wave struck.
PEW! PEW! PEW!
Energy bolts rained down relentlessly.
Moon raised an ice wall, its surface smooth and flawless. Gery destroyed every incoming projectile with explosive punches, laughing triumphantly.
Then the automatons merged.
A massive cannon formed, energy condensing into a blinding beam aimed directly at Moon.
"MOON!" Gery lunged—but another barrage blocked him.
Moon clenched his jaw.
Ztap.
The beam struck something invisible inches from Rio's face.
It didn't explode.
It didn't reflect.
It ceased.
Light unraveled silently, drifting down like dying fireflies.
"…It vanished?" Gery whispered.
Rio yawned. "Weak. Like bolt-porridge with oil."
"…Wait. That sounds good."
VVIP Seats
Luna stood abruptly."No collision detected! The attack wasn't blocked—it was erased!"
Lylya traced the rim of her teacup, smiling faintly."I didn't expect that."
Round 5 cleared.
Team C's lives remained at three.
Gery glared at Rio. "How did that laser disappear?"
Rio scratched his head. "Maybe it got shy."
"Absolutely not."
Moon stepped closer. "Rio. The handkerchief."
"Oh. I used it."
"I'll wash it."
Gery's soul collapsed quietly.
T/L note: "Come hang out in the comments! Also, hit that follow button so we can stay connected." (🗿👍)
A/N note: "What do you think of this lazy prince? Tell me in the comments! And follow me if you want to see more of his 'suffering'."
[VOL.0 – CHAPTER 3: Continued]