James stepped forward, his gaze hard and unreadable as he stared down at the remaining five contestants. Behind him stood The Boss, an imposing figure with an air of authority that seemed to fill the entire arena.

  "Listen up," James called out, his voice echoing across the silent room. "We are down to our final five, but as you know, only three of you will make it out of here."

  The tension was palpable, each Awakened standing rigid, eyes darting between James, The Boss, and each other.

  The Boss took a step forward, his voice smooth but commanding, "After observing all of your performances, we’ve decided to pass two of you directly to the final three without further combat." His gaze flicked to Vera and Flint, both of whom stood unwavering under his scrutiny.

  "Vera and Flint," he continued, "your display of power in this tournament has been exceptional, far above the others. Your place in the final three is already secured. You will not be required to fight again."

  Vera remained stoic, her eyes steady and unblinking, while Flint simply nodded, a confident smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. The tension among the remaining three—Mira, Shift, and 433—sharpened, a mix of shock, frustration, and dread rippling through them.

  James turned his attention to the three standing on the left. "That leaves you, Mira, Shift, and 433. You'll be competing in a three-way battle—a 1v1v1. Only one of you will earn the final spot to join Vera and Flint."

  The arena was deathly silent, the stakes clearer than ever. The trio knew this was their last chance to prove their worth and earn their survival. There would be no holding back now.

  The air was thick with tension as Mira, Shift, and 433 took their positions on the battlefield. There were no more words to be said, no more time for second thoughts. Mira's eyes flickered with a trace of regret as she glanced at 433, offering him an almost imperceptible nod of apology before hardening her expression. Her hands clenched tightly, her stance firm as she prepared to unleash her illusions.

  Shift, standing to her left, seemed to have shed his usual timid demeanor. His eyes, now intense and unwavering, fixed on his two opponents. He was focused, determined, and ready to use every ounce of his telekinetic strength to secure his place. Whatever trace of shyness had once marked his features was gone, replaced by a cold, calculating look that showed he was ready to fight, no matter the cost.

  433’s expression remained neutral, his eyes calm and detached, as if this fight was just another obstacle to overcome. He stood there, poised, without a hint of fear or hesitation in his demeanor. The adrenaline surged through him, but outwardly he was a stone, unmovable and unshaken.

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  James raised his hand high in the air, signaling the start of the fight. "3... 2... 1... FIGHT!" he shouted, and the battlefield erupted into chaos.

  ***

  Mira was the first to strike, launching herself at 433 with a speed and intensity that took him by surprise. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, and in a split second, she created a vivid illusion of Shift appearing right behind 433. The deception was flawless, and 433 reacted instinctively, whirling around and throwing a powerful punch at the phantom Shift. His fist cut through nothing but empty air.

  The moment he realized his mistake, it was already too late. Mira seized the opening, her actual form closing in with a speed that blurred the edges of her silhouette. She drove her fist into 433’s jaw with the force of a sledgehammer, the impact sending him staggering backward, his vision momentarily flashing white. He crashed to the ground, dazed but not defeated.

  Before Mira could capitalize on her advantage and deliver the finishing blow, Shift sprang into action. He stretched out his hand, and Mira’s momentum halted as if she'd hit an invisible wall. A telekinetic bubble formed around her, slowly constricting, its walls pressing in tighter with every second. Mira's eyes widened in panic as she felt the crushing force, her muscles straining to keep the deadly bubble from collapsing entirely.

  Shift's total concentration was on Mira; his entire focus channeled into maintaining the pressure that would end her life. His mistake was not noticing 433, who had regained his footing. 433’s eyes locked onto the scene in front of him, his mind clear and his body moving with lethal purpose. He closed the distance with Shift in the blink of an eye, his movements silent and deadly.

  With a calculated precision, 433 delivered a devastating kick to Shift’s side, aiming directly at his liver. The impact was brutal; Shift's eyes went wide as 433's kick connected with cruel precision, driving into his liver like a hammer. A gasp escaped his lips, and he crumpled to the ground, his telekinetic hold on Mira faltering immediately. Mira, now freed from the collapsing bubble, landed on the ground with a thud, panting heavily, a mix of shock and relief in her eyes.

  433 wasted no time; he turned his focus to Mira, who was struggling to get back on her feet. Despite the illusionist's earlier surprise attack, he knew she wasn't a direct threat if he kept his senses sharp. Mira's eyes darted frantically between 433 and Shift, her mind racing for a way out of this deadly situation. She tried to muster another illusion, but the strain of her earlier fight with Shift had drained her significantly.

  433 advanced on her steadily, his face an unreadable mask. Mira, with desperation written all over her face, threw one last illusion his way—a wall of flames roaring toward him. 433 didn't even flinch; he knew this time that it was a trick. Without hesitation, he charged right through the illusion, appearing before Mira in an instant.

  She barely had time to gasp before 433's fist crashed into her stomach with a force that knocked the wind out of her. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, gasping for breath, clutching her stomach in agony. 433 stood over her, a moment of hesitation flickering in his eyes. But he knew what was at stake; there was no room for mercy.

  With a swift, decisive motion, he twisted Mira's neck, ending the fight. The battlefield fell silent as he stood over his fallen opponents, his face still as calm and detached as it had been from the beginning. He looked over at Shift's unconscious form and Mira's lifeless body, then turned his gaze to where James and the Boss stood watching.

  433 stood over Shift's limp body, his expression cold and devoid of hesitation. He knew what was required of him. The fight wasn’t over until the opponent was dead.

  Without a flicker of emotion, he placed his foot on Shift's skull, feeling the slight resistance beneath his sole. The room seemed to hold its breath, every pair of eyes locked onto 433, waiting to see if he would actually go through with it. He didn’t hesitate. With a firm, deliberate motion, he pressed down, gradually increasing the pressure.

  The sickening crunch echoed across the battlefield as Shift’s skull gave way, collapsing under 433's weight. Blood and fragments of bone spattered across the ground, mixing with the gore of what remained of Shift’s head. The gruesome sound of tissue tearing and brain matter splattering filled the air, sending shudders through the remaining Awakened who watched. He wiped his foot on the ground, brushing off the mess, and looked up to meet the cold, assessing eyes of James and the Boss. The job was done. He’d done what was necessary.