Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

9. One Down, Three to Go

However, Zhanghao was two steps in front of her. 

Putting his hand over his head, he grabbed the handle of the sword he had strapped to his back earlier, pulling it out firmly as he redirected the force onto swinging it down onto the girl. Blood sprayed everywhere as the sword came down on her left arm, making her howl in pain. 

Her few moments of pain gave Zhanghao a few seconds to get back up on his feet, holding the bloodied sword in front of him, just like they had done in training. She hissed as she stood up straight as well, pointing the axe towards him. 

There was about a second before she jumped at him, axe swinging around. But the heavy weight of the axe made her movements slow, and Zhanghao was much faster than that. Moving behind her, he tripped her over, pointing the sword at her neck. 

"Please don't do this." She pleaded with him, axe dropped to the side of her. 

"I'm pretty sure a few seconds ago you would've killed me just the same." Zhanghao said, eyes narrowed. 

"I know but—I'll repay you somehow, anything." She said, palms together with her fingers pointing upwards. 

"Anything? Well, why don't you turn back time and make it so I was never picked. Huh? Believe me, I don't want to do this but there isn't any other way. I need to do this." Zhanghao said, hands trembling as he anticipated plunging the sword into her throat. 

Bringing the sword up, Zhanghao brought it down, pointing it straight at her throat before a loud siren went off, stopping him. Red light began to flash around the forest as Zhanghao heard the sound of the stone doors opening in the distance. 

Round 1 was over. 

He let the girl get to her feet, her face still blanched with fear for her life. Leaving her, Zhanghao ran back the way he came, sword still in hand. On the other side of the stone door, Zhanghao saw Gyuvin, Ricky, Hanbin and surprisingly Gunwook waiting for him.  

He ran to them, dropping the sword as soon as he reached the other side. 

"Zhanghao, you did it!" Gyuvin yelled, hugging Zhanghao out of joy. 

"Arghs, Gyuvin.." Zhanghao groaned as he was squashed in Gyuvin's arms.

As the stone door closed behind them, Gunwook picked up the sword Zhanghao had dropped, gazing at the dried blood on the weapon. "God, this better not be your blood, Zhanghao." He said, looking up at Zhanghao. 

They all immediately turned their eyes to Zhanghao, checking him for injuries. 

"Don't worry, it's not mine." Zhanghao waved a hand. 

"Oh, you got me scared there, Zhanghao." Ricky breathed a sigh of relief, hand over his chest.   

After Gyuvin had released him, they all gathered near to Zhanghao, patting him on the back and exchanging warm remarks. "I'm so proud of you, Zhanghao, you did so well. I guess that training really paid off." Gunwook grinned. 

"Don't praise me, it's the trainer you should be thanking." Zhanghao smirked at him, making Gunwook laugh. Suddenly, Zhanghao remembered his training partner who he had forgotten had just been in the round too. Was Taerae part of the survived or the eliminated? Zhanghao thought, eyes flashing. "Do you know what happened to Taerae?" Zhanghao asked Gunwook. 

"Oh yeah, I was watching the both of you during the round." Gunwook replied, "He's fine. Pretty much survived by keeping out of everyone's way." Gunwook shrugged. "I don't even think he came into much contact with any of the other competitors—or at least not as much as you did."