Jacky wakes to a knock at his door. He’s half-dressed and half-dazed. Looking at the time, It’s almost noon. He gathers himself. After a moment, there is another knock, this time accompanied by a voice.

“It's Sara. We're all getting ready to go check out the stadium. There's breakfast out here, too.” Jacky dawns his jacket and snags a handful of rubies from the chest.

“Yeah, I’ll be just a moment.”

I guess today, you’ll get a chance to introduce yourself to the other horrors.

Indeed. This should be fun. I wonder what kind of training we have in mind today though it is odd. Training….I don’t exactly need to, neither do the other horrors. We have existed for thousands of years. This will more than likely be more awkward than anything else. Besides, at some point, we may be required to fight each other just like yesterday. Why would we disclose any of our tricks to one another? As far as I'm concerned, this isn’t much of a team at all.

I feel the same. I might as well do something with the others. Build rapport, at least. We’ll figure it all out when we get there.

Good point.

Jacky exits the room. Out in the kitchen is a display of various breakfast items. He grabs himself a plate of eggs and scarfs it down. Not realizing how hungry he is, he grabs a little bit of everything. The food is high quality compared to anything he’s had in a very long time, if not ever.

“Delicious isn’t it.” Sara steps into the kitchen. “Real food. It’s good. Better than garbage.”

“I’ve never had anything so nutritious before.” Jacky chugs a whole cup of orange juice. “Exquisite.” Jacky places the cup in the sink. “So what exactly do we have planned for this outing?” Sara shrugs.

“I don’t quite know just yet. Deacon was the one who wanted everyone to go out today.” Jacky surveys the room for Deacon. “Where is he?”

“He just left with Miun; I told him I’d wait back with you.”

“Do we even know how to get there?” Jacky looks at his Howler.

“There are committee drivers outside. Just like the man who was waiting for us in the limo yesterday. They have plenty of cars functioning as taxis to any destination, including our stadium.” Jacky nods along.

“Let's get going then. I hate keeping people waiting.”

Jacky and Sara make their way to the elevator. They travel down to the complex's first floor, unlike the first-floor apartment Jacky and the twins shared before. The lobby is bustling with other masters.

“Looks as though everyone lives here?” Jacky says.

“Yep. I called and asked a few more questions this morning to Villbrand. He told me about the committee's “Taxi” service too.”

The tall building overshadows the street below; artificial light beats upon Jacky's face. It extends far into the sky, far above into the clouds. Next to the building is the Warshaft. One long road leads to a vast city set on the horizon. Jacky and Sara pile into one of the black cars lined up outside the complex.

“Stadium 1066,” Sara says to the driver.

The driver kicks the car into gear. The inside is hot, and the land surrounding the complex is blank and lifeless—no buildings anywhere in sight. Only black vehicles pass one another on the road connecting the city and the complex. After an hour passes, they reach the outskirts of the town.

“What's that?” Sara points towards the city. A shimmering effect surrounds the entire megalopolis.

“It must be a barrier of sorts,” Jacky remarks.

The car passes through the effect. Afterward, the complex and the Warshaft disappear from view. What takes its place is a vast and endless desert. They arrive at a gate; it opens. The road leads down into a circular route. Another entrance separates the city from the stadiums. Along this circular road are the stadiums for each team. The car drives down onto the road and drives around until Jacky and Sara reach 1066. The stadiums sit close to one another. In Front of each stadium is a road leading to a gate into the city.

“Looks like they keep the stadiums away from the populace to avoid contact with us.” Sara speculates.

“Must be.” Jacky exits the car as it comes to a halt at 1066. “The other two must be inside.” Jacky walks into the stadium, Sara close behind.

Inside, the stadium is clean from the last battle here. What's different is the seats have all been removed and replaced with individual monitors—thousands of them.

“Looks like the fans watch from home.” Sara gestures to the monitors.

“Yeah, it looks that way. It seems like they don’t want anyone near the horrors at all. Maybe they have everyone convinced it's all tricks and theatrics and not real monsters.” Jacky explains.

Sara agrees with Jacky’s statement. On the field, Silent Harpy and Wolf King Dosuleius await the arrival of Sara and Jacky.

“They're finally here.” The Wolf King's voice rings across the stadium.

Jacky and Sara approach Deacon and the horror.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Jacky says. Deacon looks over to Jacky.

“I figured…We…give our…horrors…a chance to…introduce themselves….” Deacon says.

Jacky approves of the idea. Deacon gestures to Dosuleius. “He…is most excited…to meet this…Sabered Prince…of yours…” Jacky ponders to himself for a moment. “One moment. I didn’t bring a change of clothes. I’ll be right back.”

Jacky exists around one of the pillars for privacy. After a moment, The sounds of crunching bone and tearing flesh rip around the pillar as the Sabered Prince takes form. The Prince makes his way over to the group. They all notice something interesting. The Wolf King’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of the Howler still attached to the Prince’s wrist.

“That is no ordinary bracelet,” Dosuleius says. The Sabered Prince begins to laugh to himself.

“Now this I didn’t see coming! It’s not an ordinary bracelet! This is a horror’s ability! I feel violated.”

“Intriguing…” Deacon says.

Sara looks the Howler up and down. It has expanded itself to fit perfectly around the Prince’s wrist. The Sabred Prince picks at the Howler. It’s skin-tight and non-removable.

“It appears I cannot remove it.”

Sara interjects. “I took mine off last night.”

“While I’m in control of Jacky’s vessel, it cannot be removed. It’s most likely designed specifically for horrors as it is another horror’s ability. This Howler is more than what it appears to be for you humans. I’m sure the functionality of this ability goes far deeper than what we have seen thus far. That aside, it is trivial for now.” The Sabred prince approaches Wolf King Dosuleius.

“It is an honor to meet you, Wolf King.”

“As it is such an honor to make acquaintances of you as well, Prince.” The Wolf King extends his hand out to the Prince.

The Prince takes his hand, and they exchange a firm shake. The Prince looks over to Silent Harpy, whose form is Delirium Nela’s body, Jordan’s former Horror. A marbled-like mask adorns the horror’s face.

“I get it now; the horror is the mask itself, upon closer inspection.”

The Sabered Prince approaches the Horror. Silent Harpy stands her ground, not reacting to the Prince’s approach. Miun distances herself away from the main group, sobbing into her knees to keep the ritual for her horror going.

“You can’t speak without a mouth, can you horror?” Silent Harpy shakes her head no.

“It seems as though we’re all almost acquainted” the Sabered Prince looks towards Sara.

Sara rubs her hands together and then seemingly throws a knife into the sky. After a moment, a portal opens, and a much bigger knife begins to descend to the stadium floor; snapping onto the knife's handle, Joinlock appears. Crouching on the dagger's hilt as it pierces the earth below it. Jointlock hops off the blade and opens a violet rift that sucks the dagger into it, instantly putting it into her hand. The Sabred Prince grins.

“So that’s how you did it. You can warp to any location you wish?”

“It’s an easy trick to figure out, but a hard one to combat…combat…combat…. Now, what…wh-wh-what’s the point of us all being here.” Jointlock’s voice is serene and metallic. Occasionally it glitches or malfunctions. Steam billows from her temple. The Wolf King Gestures for everyone to come closer.

“Today we will be holding a competition to decide who will be the leader of this team. Before, each team had a leader. The leader always fights last in team battles. It is wise to decide our positions now on our own.” The Sabred Prince crosses all four of his arms.

“What did you have in mind? You know we all don’t stand a chance in a fight against you.”

The Wolf King gestures over to Deacon. Deacon grins; he appears to have planned. Next to him, a tiny horror appears from a puff of smoke. It has itty bitty wings that hum and shimmer in the stadium lights. Its frame is small, and its eyes are huge and black.

“This…here…is Dart Fairy…I called Mella…and had her arrange…for this…horror…to…help us in …our…training today…” Sara looks at Deacon. Deacon coughs a few times.

“That's the most I think he’s said since we’ve all been together.” Sara chuckles to herself.

Dart, the tiny horror, flies all around the other four horrors, sizing them up. He makes high-pitched chirping sounds as he circles the horrors. Wolf King Dosuleius addresses everyone.

“Our objective is to catch Dart Fairy. This little guy is fast and nearly impossible to get ahold of. Whoever can capture him first will be the team captain.”

Silent Harpy raises her hand. She gestures over to Miun and shakes her head. The other three horrors pick up on what Harpy is trying to communicate. The Sabered Prince nods his head and places two of his hands on his right hip.

“Miun obviously cannot be a team leader. She isn’t capable of that kind of responsibility. This will be the three of us against one another.” The Prince’s voice growls.

“Some rules should be in place to avoid unwanted accidents. No fighting one another. The objective is to capture this fairy without harm to it or ourselves.” Dosuleius nods in agreement. Jointlock thinks on it, then agrees.

Dosuleius waves Dart Fairy over to him. He tells the fairy to prepare itself.

“I will countdown. On my mark, the competition will commence. Ready yourselves..3…2…1…go!”