The Eyes Of Death Chronicles: Young Masters

Chapter Eight: Kill

After Paulo's revelation, the weight of our situation began to settle in. The six of us, children of the rebel masters— weren't here by coincidence or accident. We were pawns in a brutal game, forced to clean up the mess our parents left behind but how are we even sure that is true?

The tension at our table was suffocating. Danzaki sat across from me, his venomous glare still locked on my face. I had a dozen questions swirling in my head, but I wasn't sure l'd get any answers from him. Paulo, ever the mediator, shifted uncomfortably in his seat before breaking the silence.

"You don't get it yet, do you?" Paulo said, his voice low but sharp.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What's there to get? We're here to kill the six traitors, right? End of story."

Paulo shook his head, his vermilion eyes glowing faintly under the cafeteria's dim lights. "It's not that simple. The masters are more powerful than you can imagine. Do you think the Ice Queen would waste her time sending ordinary soldiers after them?

No. It has to be us—because only we can match their power. Our parents have perfected their control over their powers and have shown how effective they are at killing."

"Match their power," | echoed bitterly.

"At what cost? By sacrificing everything? Killing the people we love most?"

Danzaki finally spoke, his voice colder than l'd ever heard it. "Stop whining. If you're too weak to do what's necessary, then you shouldn't be here."

"Excuse me?" | snapped, leaning forward. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Danzaki's eyes burned with anger as he stared me down. "Someone who understands what needs to be done.

Unlike you."

Before I could retort, Paulo raised a hand, silencing us both. "Enough.

Fighting each other won't solve anything."

I exhaled sharply and leaned back in my chair, my fists clenched under the table.

"Fine. Then tell me, Paulo, what's your grand plan?"

Paulo hesitated, glancing at Danzaki before answering. "For now, we follow orders. We train, we grow stronger, and when the time comes... we do what we have to do."

His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I hated how resigned he sounded, as if he had already accepted this shitty reality.

Before I could push further, the cafeteria bell rang-a harsh, metallic sound that jolted me from my thoughts.

Around us, students began to rise, their movements automatic, almost robotic.

"What now?" I muttered, standing reluctantly.

Paulo nodded toward the exit. "First assembly. Let's go."

We joined the stream of students heading out of the cafeteria and into the central courtyard. The space was massive, with high stone walls that seemed to stretch endlessly upward. At the center stood a raised platform, and on it, the hideous man from earlier—the one with the voice like a dying frog.

He waited until the crowd had settled before speaking. "Today marks the beginning of your training," he announced, his voice grating against my ears. "You will be divided into teams. Each team will train together, fight together, and, if necessary, die together. It’s not like any of your lives have any meaning anyway."

The crowd murmured uneasily, but he pressed on.

"Your first task is simple. Survive the next hour in these tunnels. Those who fail will be removed."

Removed? The word hung ominously in the air, its meaning clear. We would be too dead to do much of anything, it’s our corpses that would be removed.

The man clapped his hands, and the ground beneath us began to tremble. A moment later, the courtyard split apart, revealing a series of tunnels leading into darkness.

"Enter," he commanded.

No one moved at first, the crowd frozen in collective fear. Then, one by one, students began descending into the tunnels, their faces pale but determined.

Danzaki, Paulo, and I exchanged a look.

"This is it," Paulo said.

"Let's just get this over with," | muttered, stepping forward.

The tunnel swallowed us whole, the light fading behind us. As we moved deeper, the air grew colder, heavier. We entered with the other students but none were here, almost like we entered different tunnels.

The walls were lined with faintly glowing runes, their light casting eerie shadows that danced along the floor.

"What do you think we're supposed to do down here?" | asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Survive," Danzaki said simply.

A low growl echoed through the tunnel, and I froze.

"Did you hear that?" | asked.

Paulo nodded, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon—a set of shurikens strapped to his belt.

We rounded a corner, and my heart stopped. Standing in the center of the tunnel was a creature unlike anything l'd ever seen. It was massive, with leathery black skin and glowing red eyes. Its claws scraped against the stone floor as it let out another bone-chilling growl.

"What the hell is that?" | whispered.

"Trouble," Danzaki said, his voice tight.

The creature lunged at us, its movements impossibly fast. I barely had time to react, raising my hands instinctively. The Eyes of Death flared to life, and the world slowed around me.

I saw the creature's trajectory, its claws slicing through the air toward my face.

In one fluid motion, I ducked and swung my blade, the tip slicing across its side.

The creature howled in pain, but it didn't stop. It turned on me, its glowing eyes locking onto mine.

"Move!" Danzaki shouted, his voice snapping me out of my trance.

He thrust his hand forward, and a blast of wind sent the creature staggering back. Paulo followed up with a flurry of shurikens doused in his fire, each one striking its mark.

The creature roared, its movements growing more erratic as it lashed out wildly, the fire continued to burn it and spread rapidly. I saw an opening and took it, driving my blade deep into its chest.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then, with a final shudder, the creature collapsed to the ground.

I stood over it, my chest heaving, the glow of my eyes fading.

"Not bad," Danzaki said grudgingly.

Paulo nodded. "We make a good team."

I didn't respond. My mind was still racing, the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

This was only the beginning. There was more evil to come and more things and people to KILL………………