Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

19. Dreams or Reality

As Zhanghao looked down at his feet, he stared at the black rocky ground. There was not a single patch of green anywhere, as he found himself looking up at colors of black, brown, red and orange. 

He began to step forward, his feet crunching against the crusty black earth as he walked. Putting a hand over his shoulder, he was reassured to feel the handle of his sword there, strapped to his back. The sky was covered with dark grey clouds, the sun hidden behind them, darkening the atmosphere. Zhanghao didn't like this place and he wanted to finish his job fast. 

Walking further and further, there was still no growth of any sort of bush or tree to be seen, all that Zhanghao could see was an endless desert of black dirt, dust whirring around him in the wind. He was surprised to have not seen anyone else yet, for the place seemed so unguarded, with nowhere to hide. 

He finally came to a stop in his tracks as he peered up, finding himself face to face with a giant volcano. The ground beneath him rumbled slightly, as the volcano's top burst and molten lava flew out the top. It had definitely gotten much warmer since the start of Zhanghao's journey, and he now knew the reason why. 

Backing away slowly, he found the lava bursts getting bigger and bigger as it began to seep down the sides of the volcano, running fast towards him. Molten rock began to fly from the top now too, crashing down like meteors around him. Zhanghao turned, not wanting to wait a second longer, running away from the volcano. It was only when he heard the cry of a loud scream did he turn back, stopping to see who it was. 

As he spun around, trying to look through the harsh wind, he saw no one, and the lava was catching up to him. Then a figure appeared by his side, his reflexes making him jump away. By instinct, he grabbed his sword, brandishing it with two hands towards the person before 

Zhanghao woke up. He knew what was about to happen if he let himself dream any longer, and he hated the feeling of waking up in a cold sweat, his heart beating too fast for him to control. Yet, he had expected the dream this time, and now he knew what it meant. 

The next round would take place at a volcano. He wouldn't need to dress as warm, he thought, shrugging. Getting out of bed, Zhanghao felt weirdly calm, which he thought might be the fact that he felt more prepared this time, after having the dream. 

After getting dressed and washing up, Zhanghao left his room, only to see a crowd of guards walking in as two of them held a man who seemed to be shackled. Curious to know what was happening, Zhanghao tailed them a distance behind, unsure whether he was allowed to follow them. 

His heart jumped when a hand tapped him on the shoulder, turning to see Hanbin standing behind him. 

"What are you doing?" Hanbin asked. 

"You scared me." Zhanghao said, putting a hand over his chest, "Do you know what's happening with that man?" He then said. 

Hanbin nodded, "He's the father of one of the passed competitors. Apparently, he planted the note and sent the assassin the other night." Hanbin told him. 

"Oh." Zhanghao responded, "And what are they doing with him now?" 

Hanbin looked grimly at Zhanghao, "Any offence against one of the royal family sentences you to be hung, but I persuaded my father to change his punishment to five years jailtime." He paused, "I can't bear the thought of anyone being hung, especially with the competition on at the moment, there's just too many deaths happening. And it's all in this castle." Hanbin said, face staring towards the ground.

"Well, you saved him from much worse." Zhanghao said to him, "He tried to kill you, and he would've died for that but you've allowed him a second chance." Zhanghao gave a small smile, "I think that's a really brave thing to do, Hanbin." 

Hanbin looked up, "Yeah?" 

Zhanghao nodded, "Mhm." 

Hanbin put an arm around Zhanghao's shoulder, the smile returned on his face, "Come on. Let's go get you ready for the third round." 

—

After changing, the usual guards had come to take Zhanghao to the stone door, and Zhanghao couldn't help but still feel undeniably calm—but maybe it was just because he had done this a few times before now.  

As he stood, he waited for the sirens to start counting down, his heartbeat steady in his chest. Once the familiar alarm began to sound, Zhanghao took a deep breath in, bracing himself. He counted down with the siren, three, two, one.. before the stone slab door began to open and it revealed the arena within.  

He had been right. 

Before him, the image of a large desert of rocky ground, filled his eyes as he gazed out. Taking one more deep breath, he stepped inside, looking around as he did. It was just as the dream had shown him. No trees or any sort of lush plant life could be found, and all that was left was the harsh looking desert, who's winds whipped around, creating tornados of dust. 

Zhanghao began to step forward, his feet crunching against the crusty black earth as he walked. Putting a hand over his shoulder, he felt his sword there which Hanbin had helped him strap to his back before the round. The sky was filled with dark grey clouds, the sun hidden behind them, darkening the atmosphere. Just the scenery of this arena made Zhanghao feel uneasy inside, and he wanted the round to finish fast.

Zhanghao continued to walk, and yet all that he could see was an endless desert of black dirt, the dust hiding any vision of objects in the distance. He was surprised to have not seen anyone else yet, for the place seemed so unguarded, with nowhere to hide.

When he finally came to a stop it was only when he found himself face to face with the giant volcano. Just like the one in his dream. The ground beneath him rumbled slightly, as the volcano's top burst and molten lava flew out the top. It had definitely gotten much warmer since leaving the stone door, but Zhanghao had expected that. 

Backing away slowly, he found the lava bursts getting bigger and bigger as it began to seep down the sides of the volcano, running fast towards him. Molten rock began to fly from the top now too, crashing down like meteors around him. Zhanghao turned, not wanting to wait a second longer, running away from the volcano. Reality was beginning to come close to where his dream had ended, and he would no longer be able to predict what happened next. 

Suddenly, he heard the cry of a loud scream, making him turn around, stopping to see who it was. As he spun around, trying to look through the harsh wind, he saw no one, and the lava was catching up to him. Then a figure appeared by his side, his reflexes making him jump away. By instinct, he grabbed his sword, brandishing it with two hands towards the person before he realized who it was. 

Taerae.