RED HOOD ✔

15: ILLUMINATION

The light was blinding as I opened my eyes. I squinted, waiting for my vision to adjust. When it did, I realized I was in an arena, much like the one my father took me to when I was younger to watch the gladiators fight. Amysterious figure had approached me in the arena and gave me a sword.

I had never seen anything like it before. The sword was large, with a black hilt and a red orb embedded in it. Its double-edged blade caught the sunlight, reflecting it majestically. Initially, it seemed heavy, but as I held it, it adjusted somehow, becoming perfectly balanced in my hand.

"Wait here," the man instructed. "The Sacred Four will soon meet you."

I stood there, feeling the weight of the moment. An audience surrounded the arena, but they didn't look like ordinary spectators. They all wore black assassin's uniforms, just like the man who had brought me here. I was the only one in red, a stark contrast to the sea of black.

As I stood, trying to steady my nerves, I heard a noise. I hadn't noticed it before, but there was a gate at the far end of the arena. The noise grew louder, a feral growl that sent a shiver down my spine. Cautiously, I moved towards the gate to see what lay behind it.

Just as I took my first step, the gate began to rise. Fear gripped me, my heart pounding in my chest. What awaited me behind that gate? My mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. The growls intensified, echoing through the arena, as the gate slowly revealed the beast behind it.

A bear stepped out of the gate, but it wasn't just any bear. This bear was twice the size of a giant, towering over everything. Just then, from the same entrance I had come through, a girl was pushed in. She had long, dark locks, her skin the tone of rich coffee, and her eyes a bright crimson red. She looked about my age, with a perfect figure, her beautiful features contrasting with the intimidating red armor she wore. Two giant swords hung on her back, completing her formidable appearance.

Who is this girl? The bear stared us down, its hunger evident in its eyes. It snorted aggressively, and the girl signaled for me to be quiet. Her confident demeanor gave me the impression that she knew exactly what she was doing. I stepped back slowly, mimicking her movements. The bear watched us, its gaze intense.

Then I stepped on a twig. The sound of the crack echoed through the arena.

In an instant, the bear snapped, charging at me with a ferocity that took my breath away. I leaped aside, narrowly avoiding its massive paws. Quickly, I summoned my bow and arrows, drawing three arrows at once and firing them simultaneously. They struck the bear, embedding deep into its flesh. It squealed in pain, but then something extraordinary happened.

The bear began to grow in size. It wasn't just my imagination; the beast was actually getting bigger.

The girl moved swiftly, drawing her swords and positioning herself between me and the growing bear. "Stay back," she commanded, her voice steady and determined. I could see the tension in her muscles, the readiness in her stance. She was prepared to fight, I have to support her.

I fired another arrow, bullseye, right into the bear's side. It squealed and grew even more.

"Stop making it angry! Making it angry makes it bigger!" the girl shouted.

"Then how do we kill it? Politely suggest it doesn't eat us?" I tried to make a joke, but she was not amused.

"No, you do it by delivering an instant death attack."

She had to be crazy. "You can't kill a thing like that with one hit," I protested.

"You can if you hit a weak spot," she replied, her tone unwavering.