{After the Final Blow: The Audience Reacts}
> VOX (excited):
"OOOOHHHHH!!! Did you see that, folks?! What. A. Fight!"
The arena roared like thunder.
Every screen in the Colosseum replayed the clash between Jin-Seok and Zephyr in slow motion—light colliding, shockwaves exploding, two monsters going all out.
> "That final exchange—unbelievable! Zephyr Karshem, one of the most feared prodigies, taken down clean by Ryu Jin-Seok!"
"Who IS this guy really?!"
"He isn't just a dark horse anymore. He is a damn meteor crashed into the Tower to conquer it!"
---
{The Last Three Minutes: The Collector and the Maniac}
The final fight was over.
Zephyr stood, breathing heavily, as Jin-Seok towered above him.
> Zephyr: "Heh… That was fun."
Jin-Seok: "You were strong."
He offered his hand.
Zephyr took it.
The battle was done.
But the Trial wasn't.
Three minutes remained.
---
{The Screen Flickers…}
Just as the crowd began catching their breath…
> VOX (squinting):
"Wait—huh?"
The Colosseum screens flickered. The broadcast drones shifted views.
Suddenly, the perspective changed—to the dense ruins north of the arena center.
> VOX:
"Oh-ho-ho… folks, we're not done yet!"
"There's still a chase going on!"
---
{Kaleon Vass vs. Elina Vel}
Kaleon Vass ran with flailing arms and high-pitched breathing.
> Elina Vel (furious): "STOP RUNNING, YOU SLIPPERY RAT!"
She had been chasing him for nearly 30 minutes—through ruins, jungles, collapsed buildings—
Kaleon ran like his life depended on it.
> Kale (wheezing): "I'm not fighting you! You madwoman—stop chasing me!"
Kale burst into the clearing like a man escaping tax collectors…
And there stood Jin-Seok.
Standing in the center of devastation. Calm. Quiet. Watching.
Covered in dust.
Kale pointed like a desperate merchant seeing a financer.
> Kale (screaming): "HELP ME!!"
VOX (laughing):
"AHAHA! Wait—did he just call Jin-Seok for help?! What does he think this is, customer service?!"
Jin-Seok's eyes flicked left.
He turned his head. Slowly. Casually.
Saw Elina emerging at full speed from the treeline.
Elina reached the edge of the clearing, frowning at the stranger.
> Elina: "Who are you talking t—"
> WHAM.
A single breath. A step. A blurred motion.
Like gravity tilted and the world skipped a frame.
A blur.
Jin-Seok appeared in front of her. Elina's eyes widened—but it was too late.
A flash.
She didn't even see the strike.
> THUD.
A single strike.
Elina collapsed without even seeing what hit her.
> VOX (screaming):
"SHE'S DOWN! ONE. SHOT. KO!!!"
Kale blinked.
He stared down at Elina's unconscious form.
Then slowly turned his head—
To Jin-Seok, still dusting off his palm like he'd just swatted a fly.
> Kale (wide-eyed, reverent):
"…Did… did you just… one-shot her?"
Jin-Seok (nods slightly)
Kale (raising both thumbs):
"Y'know what? Bless your fists, man. 5 stars. Certified bodyguard. You ever want to open a protection agency—I'm in."
> Jin-Seok (calmly):
"Three minutes left. Fights are over.
Now it's time for business.
Go clean up. Take their tokens—leave them just enough to pass."
Kale froze.
Then his eyes sparkled. His merchant soul awakened.
> Kale (grinning wide):
"…You don't have to tell me twice."
And like that, the merchant was reborn.
He threw his head back and cackled.
The hunted prey now looked like a devil ready to collect debts from gods.
> Kale:
"Boss Jin, as long as you're behind me—I'll even rob the whole Tower!"
Jin-Seok smirked. They both started laughing like lunatics.
> VOX (hollering):
"DID YOU HEAR THAT?! He's going on a debt collection spree! AND JIN-SEOK'S BACKING HIM UP LIKE A MAFIA BOSS?!"
"Folks, the Trial is officially in its wildcard phase! I don't know if I should laugh, cry, or start paying off my own debts!!"
"One thing's for sure—if you see that merchant and Jin-Seok walking toward you… just play dead or clear your debts."
---
{The Collection Begins}
1. Elina Vel – unconscious
Kale kneeled beside her gracefully.
> Kale: "Sorry, Miss Strategy. Business is business."
He plucked her tokens.
Left her 30 out of mercy.
---
2. Dante & Rokhan – bruised but awake
The two juggernauts sat side by side, bandaged and towering.
Kale gulped slightly as he approached the twin walls of muscle.
> Dante: "Yo, tiny. You want our tokens too?"
Rokhan (smirking): "Let him. He's earned it."
They tossed their tokens over without resistance.
Kale left 50 each.
> Kale (wiping imaginary sweat): "Haha, what gentlemen."
---
3. Noah Varnok – strolling like a tourist
Kale wiped sweat off his brow, clutching the hefty haul he'd just collected from Dante and Rokhan—two walking fortresses who, thankfully, respected Jin-Seok's orders.
But then…
His eyes narrowed.
Noah Varnok. The next target.
The lazy little devil was strolling around, humming, hands in pockets, like this was a sightseeing tour.
Kale looked at Jin-Seok standing in the distance.
> Kale (grimacing, inner monologue):
"…Do I seriously have to rob this guy too?
He looks like a puppy, but fights like a demon.
I swear, if he snaps, I'm gonna be the one handing over tokens."
Kale turned back—
Noah was suddenly right in front of him, smiling like he'd been waiting for this moment.
He casually handed Kale a pouch.
> Noah (grinning):
"Here ya go. Leave me a hundred, yeah?
Gotta maintain my house name."
> Kale: "Wait, what?"
He started counting.
> Noah (tilting his head):
"Actually… how about I keep… seven hundred? Sounds fair, right?"
Kale froze.
Then slowly narrowed his eyes and adjusted his imaginary merchant glasses.
> Kale (deadpan):
"Seven hundred?! Sir, that's daylight robbery—and I'M supposed to be the one doing the robbing here!"
---
📣 VOX COMMENTARY – Losing His Mind
> VOX (cackling):
"WHAT AM I WATCHING?! Did that guy just bargain his way out of getting robbed?!
Is this still a survival trial or a comedy skit?!"
---
🤝 The Deal is Struck
> Noah (smiling, arms behind his head):
"You drive a hard bargain, Kale…
Fine. You win. I'll keep only five hundred.
But you owe me a discount for our next transaction."
> Kale (bowing dramatically):
"With pleasure, Lord Varnok.
With extra free shipping and express delivery—for life."
> Kale (to himself): "What the hell… that was easy."
👀 Cutaway – Dante and Rokhan Watching from Afar
Dante scratched his head as he watched Noah and Kale negotiating
> Dante (to Rokhan, blinking):
"Bro… maybe we should've negotiated too."
Rokhan, arms folded, let out a rare chuckle.
> Rokhan (amused):
"Seems like words are more profitable than war today."
Dante sighed, cracking his neck.
---
4. Zayna Malik – hiding behind a rock
Kale raised an eyebrow.
Zayna flinched.
> Zayna: "D-Don't come closer! I-I only have 30!"
From a distance, Evara Umbrea gritted her teeth.
> Evara: "He toyed with us… and now this?!
Next time, I'll destroy him first."
> Jin-Seok (deadpan):
"Don't bother with those two.
They're broke.
I already looted them."
---
Kale paused mid-step. He turned to Jin-Seok with a strange look.
A mix of disbelief… and admiration.
> Kale (whispering):
"Next time… teach me your ways, Boss…"
---
Lucien Arkwright – still hiding in a bush
Peeking out, hands trembling. Covered in leaves and dirt.
> Lucien:
"W-What the hell… those two are monsters…"
(Whispers) "Why didn't anyone tell me this Trial had boss raids?!"
Then straightens up smugly, muttering to himself:
> Lucien (smug):
"…Still alive, baby. That's a win in my book."
---
{Audience and Vox Reactions – The Greatest Heist in Trial History}
The Colosseum had lost it.
Some audience members were wheezing. Others were crying from laughter.
> "BRO—IS HE LOOTING PEOPLE?!"
"NAH, THIS AIN'T A TRIAL—THIS A DAMN HEIST!"
"I THOUGHT THIS WAS LIFE-OR-DEATH—WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE A SKIT?!"
Even some VIPs chuckled behind their wine glasses.
---
{VIP Room Reactions}
Daman leaned forward, grinning like a wolf.
> "Are you seeing this? They're robbing people mid-trial. MID-trial!"
Lyra covered her face.
> "That idiot brother of mine… Why is he even negotiating? This is worse than losing."
Azhrel chuckled under his breath, arms crossed.
> "He's… robbing them.
In front of the entire Tower.
That's insane.
I love it."
> "Worth coming to see this Trial."
Zara just smiled, eyes soft.
> "He beat them, made them admire him…
and still took their wallets."
---
{Final Scene}
Kale returned with a bag stuffed with tokens.
> Kale: "Here ya go, Boss. All cleaned up."
Jin-Seok (nodding): "Thanks."
Kale: "Say the word—I'll rob the top floors too."
They laughed again.
He stood tall.
The countdown ticked.
The final three minutes are almost over.
_______________________________________________
{An Original Series by Celestial Raven}