The coordinates led them to a place that shouldn't exist.
A floating coliseum, suspended in the sky by chains of blue lightning, its obsidian walls etched with glowing runes. No stairs, no bridges—just a swirling vortex of energy at the base, humming like a hungry beast.
"Yeah," Liam said, staring up. "That's definitely a trap."
Aria's grip on her staff was white-knuckled. "We're not doing this, right?."
A new message flickered across Liam's vision:
[Astral Overseer: Step into the light, little streamer. Prove your worth.]
Then, as if to mock them, the vortex pulsed—and a stairway of crackling energy materialized, leading up into the arena.
Liam exhaled. "On the bright side, if we die, it'll be spectacular content."
Aria's mouth was wide open.
The inside of the arena was worse.
Tiers of floating platforms surrounded the central battleground, each occupied by figures wreathed in otherworldly light—Astrals. Some looked almost human, if humans had too many eyes or skin made of stardust. Others were monstrous, their forms shifting like living nightmares.
And they were all watching.
[Audience: 10,000+]
A voice boomed from nowhere and everywhere:
"Liam Crest. Level Zero. The entertainer."
A figure descended from the highest platform—tall, clad in armor that seemed carved from black ice, his face hidden behind a mask of screaming faces.
[Astral Identified: Veyl – The Arbiter]
Veyl's voice was like gravel and honey. "You have amused us. Now, you will fight for us."
Liam forced a grin. "Can't I just do a stand-up routine instead?"
Veyl didn't laugh. "Your opponent has been chosen."
The ground shook.
A gate on the far side of the arena groaned open—and something crawled out.
[Opponent: The Hollow King – Level ???]
It was a mass of writhing shadows, its "body" a constantly shifting void dotted with screaming mouths. Its eyes were the worst—human, pleading, trapped inside the horror.
Aria's breath hitched. "That's not a monster. That's a person."
Veyl's mask twisted into a smile. "It was."
"Survive five minutes," Veyl said. "Win, and the SS-Rank skill is yours. Lose, and your essence becomes part of the show."
The Hollow King lunged.
Liam dodged, [Flash Step] away as the ground where he'd stood dissolved into nothingness.
"Aria! Distract it!"
She was already moving, her staff a blur as she struck at the creature's shifting form. It screeched, lashing out—but Aria twisted midair, using [Shadow Step] to vanish and reappear behind it.
The Astrals cheered.
[Audience: 15,000]
Liam's drone circled overhead, capturing every second. He needed a plan. A Fast one.
Then he noticed it—the Hollow King's movements were jerky, like a puppet on strings. And high above, Veyl's fingers twitched in time with its attacks.
It's being controlled.
Liam grinned. "Chat! Time for a hostile takeover!"
He triggered [Astral Echo], creating three duplicates of himself. The Hollow King hesitated, confused—and Liam charged not at it, but at Veyl.
The Arbiter's mask snapped toward him. "You dare?"
Liam's fist connected with the mask.
And It cracked.
The Hollow King screamed, its form shuddering. For a split second, the shadows peeled back, revealing a man inside—his face twisted in agony.
Aria didn't hesitate.
She plunged her staff into the Hollow King's chest—right where its heart should've been.
The creature exploded into wisps of shadow.
[Victory Achieved.]
[Reward: SS-Rank Skill – Soulbind]
A orb of liquid gold appeared in Liam's hand.
Veyl's shattered mask hid nothing now. His true face was...human.
"You," Liam breathed. "You're one of us."
Veyl's lips curled. "I was."
Then the arena shook, and the Astrals roared.
They barely escaped.
Back on solid ground, Liam collapsed against a ruined wall, his hands shaking. "That thing—the Hollow King—it used to be a player."
Aria's voice was hollow. "And Veyl too."
[New Message: Congratulations, streamer. You've earned the right to see behind the curtain.]
A hologram flickered to life—an Astral ship, hovering over Earth. And beneath it, thousands of floating arenas.
[Message Continues: The Apocalypse was never about survival. It's a show. And you? You're the newest star.]
Liam's blood ran cold.
They weren't just fighting monsters.
They were entertainment.
And the Astrals wanted more.