TW: Mentions of drugs and suicide, swearing, death, fights, mention of arson, weapons

Hellooo! Sorry for not updating last week, I honestly forgot :( But! I am updating now! I'm moving weekly updates to either Thursday or Friday, I can't do Wednesday anymore. Sorry again and enjoy the story!!!!!!

 :D

Techno's POV:

I barely remember the days before I was taken from my family. I only remember 3 things, that horrible number will always haunt me. It had to be simple because the system teaches you not to remember your old life and embrace your new one.

Mom

Cole

Explosions

Those are the three things I've remembered from my childhood. My mother, the sweetest person I've ever known, Dad didn't deserve her. Cole, my brother. Only by blood, if he wasn't I would've killed him myself. Cole always bullied me which was something a brother shouldn't do but he did it anyway. The last thing, explosions. My mom and brother died in an explosion.

 I hated it so much. The ringing in my ears, the smoke in my lungs, it was horrible. Not long after, Dad sold me to Schlatt. Apparently he needed money and some other lame ass excuse that I don't remember.

The system destroys you, makes you doubt every decision you've ever made, make you want to kill yourself, but they force you to stay alive. To endure all the pain. They teach you not to care for anyone because they'll just be taken away from you just like everything and everyone else.

I knew that I would face the consequences of caring for someone the second a young Tommy entered my room. He was so bright and energetic that I couldn't resist caring for the boy. He was a creeper hybrid, extremely dangerous because if you explode....you die. Tommy had anger issues.......I couldn't stop him from dying. I blame myself for not helping him, it was all my fault. Just like everything else.

I had a lot of time to think about these things, the bus is extremely slow. We're heading to the Pit for the tournament. I don't remember getting into the bus but I'm somehow here. I assume Schlatt drugged all of us just so we wouldn't run away while boarding the bus. There's a total of 36 hybrids in the tournament, about 6 teams per sector. And just with my luck, Dream and I are team 3. Hearing that makes me cringe with disgust. Out of all the numbers it had to be 3.

We're going to lose. There's no way we win this

Be more positive! How great would it be if we won!!!!

Let's beat everybody up! Show dominance, everyone should fear us!

I chuckle softly at the voices. They seem much more excited than I am about this tournament. But then again, they're always happy about everything. Dream tried to hold a conversation with me earlier but he learned rather quickly that I'm not in the mood to talk right now. I believe that the time before a fight should be for planning. The time after is for reflection.

I'm still unclear on the details of this whole thing. Where would we be staying? Tournaments usually last days or sometimes weeks and as far as I know, the Pit doesn't have any living quarters. I sighed, I wish this ride would go faster. The faster we get this over with, the better.

-

Oh my god! We're finally here! I don't remember this ride taking so long but then again, I usually fall asleep during the rides back from the Pit.

Some of Schlatt's guards ushered us out of the stuffy bus. I gladly bounced down the steps, even though I loathe the Pit I'm still happy that Schlatt can't hurt us here. If the people found out it would be horrible for the system. I walked around aimlessly while the guards were getting everyone out of the bus, some people were being difficult.

I stand in the middle of a patch of dead grass and surrounded by the other hybrids. I didn't want to talk to my good acquaintances, I refuse to call them my friends because they're not. And even if I did want to talk with Dream, he ran away somewhere and I can't find him. That leaves me with limited options. 

The bus is parked in front of a doorway labeled sector 4, we'll enter it when everyone is out of the bus and when Schlatt arrives. He usually drives some sort of fancy black car. Every time I see that car I want to burn it, along with everything else Schlatt owns. But for now I have some time to kill.

I overheard some conversation between a wolf hybrid and a bear hybrid, "I can't believe we're going to be here for 3 weeks!" The wolf exclaimed

"I know right! Especially with all these really strong hybrids!" Said the bear.

"I'm scared of the one guy, the Blood God or whatever they call him. He seems pretty strong, what if we have to fight him!"

"He's just a piglin hybrid. He can't be that strong. That's the weakest hybrid!"

"He's undefeated, have you seen the amount of times he's gone to the Pit?" The wolf defended.

"Someone as weak as that? Please, that's probably some legend," The bear continued.

At that point I had enough of their stupid argument. Does everyone really think that just because I'm the weakest hybrid means I'm not strong? That's bullshit. My mind may be weak as hell but I can assure you that my physical abilities are just fine. More than fine.

I swear, these people really don't know when to shut up

Use their insults to push yourself higher!!

I think we should walk over and slap all of them, would serve them right!

I shake my head at the voices. Whenever they try to be helpful it usually results in crappy suggestions, no offense guys. 

I hear a car pull up next to us and sure enough it's Schlatt. Now that he's here we can finally enter the stadium. The guards round us up and make us stand in a single file line. I'm closer to the back and as I survey the hybrids in line I can't spot Dream. I'm going to need my teammate for this, where is he?

-

So apparently there are living quarters in the Pit. They probably built them specifically for this tournament because they look pretty shabby and poorly built. I don't even know how everyone is living down here but I'm not going to question it too much.

I still couldn't find Dream. The first fights have already started and as far as I know, Dream and I are up in about 30 minutes. I really need Dream right now, I might be able to win a 2v1 but it won't be fun. Where the hell is this idiot?

Dream's POV:

I'm not sure if I can fight. I know we've been training and preparing for this but I just can't kill someone. Just the thought of ending someone's life is horrible to me. I just couldn't bring myself to enter the living quarters with everyone else.

I'm surprised Schlatt hasn't come out to force me to the rooms. The second fight has started and I heard the announcer say my name a few times. Tech and I are going 5th. Techno needs me but I don't know if I'll be able to.

I see the door everyone walked through earlier open to reveal Ranboo. 

"Hey Dream! You have to come inside now, be happy Schlatt let you be out here in the first place. Come on!" Ranboo yelled at me. I took a breath in an attempt to slow my heart, it didn't work.

I forced my body to follow Ranboo inside the Pit. I kept my eyes on the floor as Ranboo led me through the various hallways. The floor went from wood planks to dirt and that's when I knew we were getting close.

"This room here, Technoblade has been waiting for you," Ranboo informs me. After that he leaves me standing in front of the doorway labeled "Training Room 3". I push open the door and I see Techno in the left corner sharpening his sword.

"Where have you been?" Techno doesn't look up from his sword.

"I was just outside, nothing interesting," I responded. I close the door to the room and walk over and look at the axes.

"I was worried you wouldn't show up and make me fight by myself," Techno huffed, he finally looked up from his blade. I look over at him and raise my eyebrows.

"You really think Schlatt would let that happen?" I look back towards the axes and spot the emerald one from the training ring. I immediately grab it and examine it for any scratches or deficiencies. 

"You should sharpen that a little and take off the tape on the handle to make it lighter," Techno walked up next to me and took the weapon from my hands.

"How do you know so mu-....wait don't answer that," I stopped myself and looked down in embarrassment. Tech chuckled,

"I don't know...why would I know so much?" 

"Don't make fun of meeee," I whined. He just shook his head and continued fixing the axe. This made me forget all about the tournament, it's always like that when I'm with Techno. He has some fancy power that makes me forget about all my troubles and I love it.

"What's the strategy, I haven't fought in an actual battle in a while," I asked.

"Oh so now you want to know? After being so disinterested earlier when I was trying to tell you," He handed the axe back and it felt a lot lighter than before. I shook it a bit so I could get used to the weight.

"Wow, this feels a lot lighter," I marvel.

"It's cause I know what I'm doing. Just remember when we were training together, bounce off each other and make sure to know where your teammate and opponent are at all times."

"Okay, got it!"

"And under no circumstances do you get distracted. If I pass out or something bad happens you are to finish the fight. Just because either one of us are down doesn't mean the fight magically stops so we can help the person. Focus up."

"Oh. That's going to be hard for me but I'll try," I don't know how I'll not get distracted if Techno were to pass out or die. But I have to finish the fight either way so I'll try my best. No promises though. 

I hear the door creak open and some random girl appears in the doorframe, "Five minutes till you guys fight!"

The girl hurries away after telling us the news.

"I don't think I can do this, killing people just feels wrong to me."

"You have to. It's either their life or yours." With that piece of advice, Techno walks out of the room. I ran to catch up to him, I would easily get lost here if it wasn't for Techno. I'm not very excited for this fight but it is what it is. I knew I wasn't getting out of this but some part of me still hoped I would.

"Hurry up slow poke! We don't have all day!" Tech yelled at me. I broke out of my trance and quickly caught up to Techno. 

We entered the waiting room where the walls would rise to reveal the Pit in just a few minutes. I heard the announcer say our names and I started freaking out. I looked over at Tech for support but he was looking forward but otherwise looked very calm. I heard the cranks turning to open the door we were standing behind.

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.....I can't do this. I took a step back, I needed to get away......but where?

Pain suddenly erupted on my left cheek. I looked over to see Tech glaring at me.

"You need to snap the fuck out of this or else we're both going to die," He sternly told me. I nodded, I really need to pull myself together for both of our sakes. The door opens all the way to reveal a bright afternoon, the sun glaring down at us, and a stadium full of people screaming our names. I'm not ready but then again, I never will be.

Techno's POV:

Dream needs to snap out of this trance thing or we're both doomed. As strong as I am, I can't win by myself. Everyone is expecting us to win so we'll have to show them exactly that. There's no surrender this time, the only way to win is killing. Dream isn't ready for this but then again....he'll probably never be.

We walk out into the ring. The walls trapping us in here felt impossibly higher than last time. I looked across the dirt arena and saw two figures, one much shorter than the other, approach us. 

"SO IT SEEMS THE STRONGEST TEAM HAS ENTERED THE STADIUM! THE BLOOD GOD AND DRAGON HYBRID KNOWN AS DREAM WILL VERSE GRIAN AND MUMBO!! MAY THE BEST TEAM SURVIVE!" The announcer's voice boomed across the Pit. I signaled at Dream to stop moving, the other team has to approach first. He shot me a questioning look but didn't advance any farther. I had no idea who we were fighting, it's best to keep it that way. The less you know about them the easier it is to accept you're fighting for your life even at the cost of theirs. I know it sounds really bad but that's just how our world works.

"You need to keep your guard up. Let them take the first move and then attack. Trust your instincts," I glance at Dream. He still seems unsettled, "Remember, it's either your life or theirs. So what's it going to be?"

"Theirs."

I was taken aback by his answer. I didn't expect him to answer, it was more of a rhetorical question but it's good to know he's ready to fight. For real this time.

I heard two pairs of feet hitting the dirt in front of me. I quickly raised my sword, ready to attack. I smiled briefly, this is going to be entertaining.

DEATHHHHHHHH

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD

BLOOOOOOOOOD

The voices were screaming, for the first time in a few weeks. I let them take over, this wasn't going to be pretty. 

The boy with waffle type hair came at me first, the other is probably fighting Dream right now. My opponent carried a purple axe with some shimmery jewels, what a nice weapon. Too bad it'll be destroyed.

The waffle hair dude took the first swing and I blocked the attempt out of muscle memory. I put little effort into the 1v1 fight, slowly studying his patterns and feet movements. Once I saw an opening I took it.

Waffle hair guy took a swing at my right arm, the one that I was holding the axe with. I let him cut the skin on my arm a little to give him false hope then when his eyes widened in pride I swiftly crouched down and swept at his legs. His eyes immediately filled with worry as he hit the ground. This is a game of deception, I won't apologize for that.

I walked over and put the blade to his throat.

"I'm sorry."

With that I sliced his neck open and looked away before I could see the blood seep onto the floor. I turn my attention to the fight across the arena. It looked like Dream was chasing down Mumbo. Mumbo looked pretty beat up with blood running down his forehead and a limp in his step. 

I knew Dream didn't want to kill anyone today so instead of making this a routine fight, I settled for something much cooler. I first made sure Dream was far enough behind Mumbo, aimed, then threw my sword a few steps in front of Mumbo. 

Mumbo looked at the sword in fear a second before it hit his chest. Mumbo slowly looked down at the sword in his chest before flopping on the floor. I waltzed over to the boy. I placed both hands on the sword and forcefully pulled it out. This would kill Mumbo for sure.

I knew the fans were cheering but I couldn't hear anything over the blood pounding in my ears. The announcer probably said something but I blocked it out.

I looked over at Dream and his face showed a lot of emotion....sadness, dismay, frustration...

and a flicker of fear.....

Am I really that scary?

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Thank you for reading this chapter!! Have a great day/night! 

*Alex <3*

Word Count: 2,753