The one retrieved from The Void

"Aren't you curious, though, Carmilla?" Vas asked, his tone thoughtful. "To find out more about the Hidden Heresy? My grandparents fought in that war, and I know your grandfather did too."

Carmilla hesitated, her expression conflicted. "Well, yeah, but..."

"Don't worry," Lily said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "We'll be fine."

The Cobalt brought the conversation to an end with a firm tone. "We're close to the stairs leading to the next level. I don't know what awaits us there, but prepare yourselves."

They reached the base of the stairs, where a group of inmates loomed, waiting in silence. The stairs themselves looked crude and haphazardly made, more like a rough mockery of a staircase than a proper set of steps. The inmates, all dressed in identical uniforms, wore unsettling expressions—a mixture of amusement and malice. Their presence exuded tension, as though violence could erupt at any moment.

The first to speak was a striking woman with piercing green eyes and hair that seemed to shimmer unnaturally, a bright red that almost glowed in the dim light. Her posture was graceful, almost regal, as she stepped forward, her voice dripping with derision.

"The Cobalt," she said, her tone sharp. "Care to explain why you've come back?"

"The Rose," The Cobalt replied, inclining his head with a formal air. "I am here because these young ones have shown honor. I have chosen to accompany them on their journey."

"And," came another voice, cutting through like a blade, "why didn't you kill them?"

The speaker stepped forward, revealing himself as The Lizard. He was unnervingly tall, with elongated limbs that gave him a grotesque, spider-like appearance. His dark blonde hair hung in unkempt strands, framing a face that seemed assembled incorrectly. His eyes were slightly too far apart, his nose was nothing more than a gaping cavity, and his mouth bore terrible scars, the twisted flesh resembling reptilian scales.

"As I just said," The Cobalt replied, his tone steady, "they have shown honor, The Lizard. That is why I decided to accompany them."

The Lizard's unsettling gaze lingered on The Cobalt, his lips—or what remained of them—curling into a humorless grin.

In stark contrast, The Rose was a vision of unnatural beauty. Her bright red hair looked as though it had been frozen in time, each strand perfectly in place. She wore vibrant yellow lipstick that accentuated her perfectly shaped face, flawless in a way that defied comprehension. Her presence seemed otherworldly, as if she were more a work of art than a living being.

Another voice rang out, loud and mocking. "Come on! I was sure you'd all have died after the last little surprise I left for you."

It was The Vice. His wounds from the earlier encounter with The Trauma had healed completely, but his smirk betrayed the weariness of someone who had been tested.

"Cobalt," Vas said quietly, stepping forward, "do you think you could take any of them in a fight?"

The Cobalt didn't hesitate. "I would have no problem with The Lizard. But The Rose and The Vice... that would be a different story."

The Vice's smirk deepened as if he took that as a compliment. His gaze swept over the group, sizing them up.

"I'll take The Vice," Carmilla declared, her voice firm and resolute. "Lily, handle The Nun. I'm not going to be left behind again."

"Oh, so you kids think you can take us on?" The Vice taunted, spreading his arms mockingly wide.

"Shut it," Vas said in a low tone, his eyes narrowing. "I'll handle The Rose."

"What did you just say?" The Vice barked, his tone rising in fury.

Before anyone could react, Vas vanished in a blur of movement. When he reappeared, he was behind The Vice, a sharp blade pressed against his neck. The Vice froze, his expression flickering between shock and fury.

"I said shut it," Vas repeated calmly. "I'll respect Carmilla's request to fight you, and I'll honor The Cobalt by letting him deal with The Lizard. But make no mistake—I'm not doing this because I'm afraid of you. I'm confident I can get past you, whether you like it or not."

The Vice's jaw clenched, but he said nothing, the blade at his throat ensuring his silence.

The Rose's voice cut through the tension like a whip. "And what makes you think this will be a fair, three-on-three fight?"

Vas didn't turn to her but addressed The Negotiator. "Can you ensure it's a fair fight?"

The Negotiator sighed, stepping forward with an air of reluctant authority. "The Rose, let's make a deal," he said, his tone even.

The Rose smiled faintly, tilting her head as if amused. "I want to keep the kid threatening The Vice," she said, her eyes gleaming.

"And I," The Lizard interjected, his voice rasping like sandpaper, "just want the chance to shut up The Cobalt."

Vas turned his attention to The Vice. "And you?"

The Vice's lips curled into a cruel grin. "I want to torture all of you. If we win, I'll make sure to enjoy every second of it."

"Fine," Vas said without hesitation.

The Negotiator nodded, his tone formal as he declared the terms. "Then it's settled. It will be a series of one-on-one fights. Each side must win at least two to claim victory. The matches will happen one at a time." He paused, scanning the gathered inmates. "Anyone else want to add something?"

The other inmates exchanged glances, their murmurs rising briefly before one of them spoke up. "We're fine with it. They're our leaders, so if they say it's okay, then it's okay."

"Good," Vas said, stepping back with deliberate calm. "The Cobalt will go first."

The Cobalt and The Lizard stepped forward, their presence sending a ripple of anticipation through the gathered crowd. Both opponents exuded a menacing aura, one of icy composure and the other of primal ferocity.

Vas turned to The Negotiator, his voice low but steady.

"What do you know about The Lizard?"

The Negotiator leaned slightly closer, his tone measured but tinged with unease.

"The Lizard has undergone extensive body modification—experimental stuff. His body mimics an actual lizard's physiology. Regeneration faster than you can blink, weirdly adaptive vision, skin tough as armor, and who knows what else. He's a walking, slithering nightmare."

Vas nodded solemnly, his sharp gaze returning to the arena. The fight was about to begin.

Unlike his previous encounters, The Cobalt didn't bow or offer any gestures of respect. His arms began to emit faint wisps of ethereal blue smoke, curling upwards like serpents. Meanwhile, The Lizard stretched his elongated limbs with exaggerated movements, his joints popping audibly, a predatory grin spreading across his scarred, reptilian face.

A tense stillness filled the air, broken only by the distant hum of unseen machinery. Then, without warning, both fighters launched themselves forward, moving with such blinding speed that their forms became a blur.

The Lizard crashed into The Cobalt, jaws snapping viciously as he attempted to sink his teeth into his opponent's flesh.

"He really is a lizard," Vas muttered, his tone laced with a mix of awe and disgust.

"Yeah," Ken replied grimly. "That's putting it lightly."

The Cobalt reacted swiftly, catching The Lizard's grotesque face in his powerful grip. His fingers dug into the distorted features as he slammed The Lizard into the ground with earth-shattering force, cracks radiating outward from the impact.

But The Lizard was unfazed. Wrapping his sinewy legs around The Cobalt's arm, he twisted with brutal intent, aiming to snap the limb. The Cobalt retaliated with a thunderous punch to The Lizard's face, the blow resounding like a gunshot. The Lizard hissed, his forked tongue flickering, and spat a viscous, greenish liquid directly onto The Cobalt's face.

The effect was immediate. The acidic saliva sizzled against The Cobalt's skin, causing it to bubble and melt. With a grunt of pain, The Cobalt wiped it away, his movements precise despite the searing agony, minimizing the damage. He took a step back, his eyes locked on his opponent.

The Lizard grinned, his expression dripping with malicious glee. He lunged again, faster and fiercer than before, his movements a chaotic blend of primal instinct and calculated strikes. Each time he attempted to land a blow, The Cobalt would counter with brutal efficiency, grabbing him and hurling him away like a ragdoll.

"Why's he just throwing him like that?" Vas murmured, narrowing his eyes.

Ken shrugged. "Could be trying to prove a point—show The Lizard how outclassed he really is."

But The Lizard was relentless. After another failed assault, he abruptly changed tactics. Instead of going for The Cobalt's head or upper body, he dove low, gripping The Cobalt's legs with his claw-like hands. With a serpentine motion, he coiled himself around The Cobalt's body, constricting with terrifying strength.

The Cobalt let out a guttural sound as the pressure intensified, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth. The Lizard's grip tightened further, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight.

For a moment, it seemed like The Cobalt might fall. But then, the blue light emanating from his arms flared brighter, accompanied by an icy mist that enveloped his entire form. His eyes blazed an unnatural blue, and his muscles bulged as he began to force The Lizard's coils apart.

The Lizard fought back with all his might, his claws digging into The Cobalt's flesh. Blood dripped onto the ground, staining the cracks in the floor. Yet The Cobalt's strength proved greater. With a roar of defiance, he tore The Lizard's grip apart, ripping through the sinewy flesh. Blood sprayed across the room as The Lizard howled in pain.

But he wasn't done. In a final act of desperation, The Lizard lunged forward, sinking his venomous fangs into The Cobalt's shoulder. The venom coursed through The Cobalt's veins almost instantly, the veins near the bite darkening with an unnatural hue.

The Cobalt staggered, his strength visibly waning. Still, he refused to fall. The blue glow from his arms intensified, brighter and colder than ever before. With one last, herculean effort, he pried The Lizard's body apart completely. Flesh and bone tore as The Lizard's fragmented remains flew across the room, painting the walls with crimson streaks.

The Cobalt stood for a moment, victorious but trembling. Then, he collapsed to the ground, his eyes rolled back and lifeless. The venom had claimed him.

A stunned silence fell over the room. The first fight had ended.