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"In the depths of our doubts, the love for those we hold dear can become the spark that fuels our fight, reminding us that giving up is never an option when others are counting on us." __________________________
A month had passed since Jisoo began her intense training in the Death Kingdom, and the day of the competition had arrived. The air was thick with tension and anticipation as soldiers gathered in the vast arena, its towering stone walls lined with sharp obsidian spikes. The ground beneath their feet was uneven and dark, perfect for the battle they were about to face. At the far end of the arena, massive gates loomed, chained shut but ominously shaking from whatever awaited on the other side.
Jisoo stood among her fellow soldiers, her heart pounding in her chest. Despite weeks of grueling training, her nerves refused to settle. All around her, the other warriors, including Jennie and Lisa, stood ready with their weapons drawn, faces determined, focused, and unafraid. Jisoo, however, couldn’t shake the unease swirling inside her. She wasn’t used to this. Not yet.
Her hands shook slightly as she adjusted the grip on her sword, which now felt both too heavy and too foreign in her grasp. She glanced at Jennie, who stood beside her, tall and fierce as always. Jennie’s sharp eyes scanned the arena, her face cold and unreadable. She looked like she was born to be a warrior.
On the other side of Jisoo was Lisa, her face bright with excitement. Despite the intensity of the situation, Lisa grinned and nudged Jisoo with her elbow. “Excited, princess?” she teased lightly, though her voice had a slight tremor, betraying that even she was a bit nervous.
Jisoo forced a smile, though her stomach churned. “More like terrified,” she admitted.
“Don’t worry,” Jennie said in a calm, steady tone. “We’ve got your back.”
Before Jisoo could respond, the commander’s booming voice echoed across the arena, silencing the low murmur of conversations.
“Today, we test your strength, your courage, and your determination,” the commander announced, pacing in front of the soldiers. His armor gleamed under the pale sunlight, and his gaze was sharp, as if daring anyone to show fear. “These monsters do not care about rank or title. They only know how to destroy. Your job is to survive and defeat them.”
Jisoo swallowed hard. The word survive stuck in her mind, making her feel even smaller than she already did. She clenched her sword tighter, feeling the familiar sting of her calloused hands.
The ground began to rumble. The massive gates at the end of the arena shook violently, and the sound of chains breaking filled the air. Every soldier tensed, their eyes locked on the gates as they slowly creaked open. What emerged sent a chill down Jisoo’s spine.
The first creature to step into the arena was a towering, hulking beast with six legs, each one as thick as a tree trunk. Its skin was a mottled gray, covered in thick, armored scales, and its eyes glowed an unnatural red. Behind it, more monsters followed: enormous serpentine creatures with fangs the size of swords, a massive bird-like beast with razor-sharp talons, and hulking shadowy figures that seemed to be made of pure darkness.
