Cipher personally arrived at the shelter to evaluate the omegas whose call had already mutated. And he chose her. Among all, she was the only one who hadn’t lost consciousness. Of course, she was scared, nearly wet herself. But she stood on her feet. And he liked her. He personally put a collar on her. After the first two seasons of the Arena, she became his personal favorite. She had become the fourth among the thirteens. Adelson personally financed her. Passes to the city, money, better conditions. Nari received everything as long as she didn’t disappoint him. She was sure that even now, he found her with his gaze.
When Adelson raised his hand, the whole Arena fell silent. He didn’t even roar.
– I welcome you to the new season of the Arena! – he said, his voice echoing throughout the amphitheater, – our deity, our majestic World Tree has granted us yet another year of life. It has allowed us to survive another harsh winter under the protection of its grace. Now it's our turn to give it our energy of life with our songs! May the Tree thrive!
– May the Tree thrive! – the stands roared.
– Remove the collars! – commanded the arena overseer.
Bets in black uniforms approached Leo and Tento. The clasps of the collars clicked, emitting a characteristic beep. The stands roared again. Music started playing. Leo and Tento approached their buds, turning to each other. Leo’s voice sounded first. The glow shimmering around him was the color of the morning sun. His singing was soft, just like he was. The petals of the bud began to stir slowly. Nari, holding her breath, listened and prayed for the petals to open. Just for this flower to gather enough life energy. At that moment, Tento's voice sounded. His aura was a light lavender color. His voice was confident, strong. Their song made Nari's heart beat faster.
At dawn, you woke me,
When the world is shrouded in mist.
Touch my soul,
Only you deceive me.
I will touch, my flower,
Your silky petals.
My blood is forever yours,
We will walk this colorful path...
Tento’s voice was so melodic, so pleasing, that for a moment Nari found herself focusing only on his part. This trance was broken by Dion. She tugged at her hand so hard that she scratched her wrist.
– Nari!!! Nari, Leo’s bud!!! – her voice trembled.
The girl shifted her gaze from Tento’s flower, which was almost blooming, to Leo’s flower. The bud had only opened halfway, and the petals froze. The song was almost finished. Leo caught her gaze and smiled sadly. He mouthed one word: promise. The golden sunlight around him began to fade.
– No, no, no… – Nari screamed, – keep going!!! Right now! Leo!!! More song!...
At her scream, the security reacted. Nari jumped from her seat and ran almost to the barrier that separated the stands from the stage. Bets were already approaching her.
– Keep going!!! – she shouted, – or else!...
Only two lines were left. At the moment when Leo’s voice nearly faded, a guard's hand landed on Nari’s shoulder, another guard pulled Dion towards him, and the stands froze… an explosion rang out at the top of the amphitheater. The shockwave knocked Nari off her feet. The beta holding her also fell, his body flung a little further. Leo and Tento fell to their knees, shielding themselves with their hands. Debris flew in all directions, spectators were screaming and running anywhere they could. The shout, the panic, in the crowd people shoved each other, trying to be the first to reach the exit. Dust rose like a thick fog.
– Protect Mr. Adelson! Immediately check the status of the other clan heads!!! – shouted the guards.
– You two! Evacuate the people!
– Get the omegas out! Take everyone!
– Check the western exit!
From somewhere beyond the veil of dust, a fight began. Gunshots and screams could be heard. Nari got up from the ground. Her knees were scraped, her face scratched. She didn’t even bother to heal herself; she turned and saw Dion. She was okay, covered by a beta.
– Nari! – Dee tried to break free from his grip.
– Go to a safe place! – the girl shouted to her, – I’ll get Leo!
In one leap, she vaulted over the stands’ railing and ran to the stage. There were the most debris there. But Leo, it seemed, was fine. She was already ready to throw herself at him. But on stage, beside him, two were caught in a fight. One – an Alpha. In the other, Nari recognized a beta. Although his face was covered with a black mask, she wouldn’t confuse his hair, his icy eyes with anyone else’s. The fight was fierce. The Alpha let out his roar, flames surged around him. Pyrokinesis identified him as an Alpha of the Yomiya clan. However, the beta did not fall behind him in skill. Spotting Nari through the dust, he tried to divert attention. The girl didn’t wait; she ran up to Leo and grabbed his hand. To her surprise, he wasn’t severely injured. Just scratches.
– Leo! – she called, – Leo, get up!
The boy opened his eyes, squinting.
– Nari? Are you out of your mind?! – he hissed immediately upon seeing her, – we need to get out of here!
– Then let’s go! Get your butt up!!! Lean on me!
At that moment, the Alpha struck the beta with all his strength. He flew right into the net, bending it. Nari froze. But Leo pulled her further.
– Don’t stop! – he commanded, – we need to get out of here.
– What’s happening here?! – Nari asked fearfully.
– Attention, attention! – as if through a loudspeaker, a mocking voice was heard, – this is the Sigma organization greeting you. Today we just came to say hello and show you, Alphas, that there’s a handle on you too!
– What?! – Nari helped Leo down, – where is that sound coming from?!
– We are here to tell you, omegas! Everything can change! If you follow Sigma, your life will change! You will become free! We are waiting for you! – the voice grew even louder, – if we could break into the Arena, imagine what else we are capable of!
Nari led Leo to the stands. The betas spotted them and rushed towards them. The girl seated her friend on the steps.
– Wait here, – she said.
– Hold on! Where are you going?! Nari!
But her hand slipped between his fingers, and the girl vanished into the dust. Nari was heading back to where the sounds of fighting were still heard. People were screaming in the fog around her. Sigma, whoever they were, had prepared well. Gunshots and sounds of strikes, groans, and gasps could be heard from every corner of the Arena. As she ran, avoiding debris, she saw a few omegas from the neighboring ghetto following a beta in black attire, just like his. Apparently, without a moment's doubt, they decided to heed that eerie voice. But for Nari, it inspired no trust. The only thing she wanted was to ensure that the beta was okay.
Just as she thought about it, a pillar of flame whooshed over her head. Someone's massive hand grabbed her by the collar of her jacket and pulled her back. She saw a white-haired figure.
– What are you doing here?! Tired of living?!
– I wanted to ask you that!!!
– Get out of here!!! – he growled, – now!
He was injured. Nari felt it through his grip. Another column of flames shot in their direction. The beta grabbed the girl and yanked her away. Nari regretted returning at all. By this moment, the chances of survival were significantly higher.
– We need to run… – he whispered and pushed her towards a gap in the wall, – scram from here! Quick!!!
– Hey, you! – a voice rang out from the mist, – where did you go?! We’re not done yet!
– Run! – the beta shouted and charged at the Alpha.
Then everything happened in an instant. The Alpha emerged from the dust so quickly that even he didn’t orient himself where he was and who he was charging at. The sparks of his flames were directed not at the beta but at the girl. She stood there, seemingly frozen. The Alpha, even in this chaos, sensed the omega, saw her collar. He realized that his fiery strike would turn Cipher Adelson’s property to ashes, but he couldn’t stop now. The white-haired beta lunged at Nari. A strong blow. A suppressed scream. And a whistling in her ears…