Dear Contestant,

You have been cordially invited (or drafted, more accurately speaking) to attend a tournament in our remote island in the land of Grimmoire. You will be pitted against your fellow contestants, who come from a myriad of different worlds. The complex criteria by which you and your fellow contestants were judged upon is none of your concern; all that matters is that your own unique qualities have drawn our attention.

This competition is called “Project: ENDZONE.” It is a joint venture between the Grimmorian government and SelesCorp, a powerful trans-dimensional corporation. Mr. Seles, the owner of SelesCorp, has generously offered his assistance in helping us prepare for this contest.

What follows are the rules of the competition, along with some helpful information, which you should keep in mind at all times:

1. If you have received this letter, your entrance in the competition is mandatory. No exceptions. If you choose not to comply, rest assured we will find a way to change your mind.

2. SelesCorp has installed a holographic field around the island, which projects the judge, myself, to any location where two or more contestants meet. This effect is not always immediate, so you may be lucky enough to be allowed sometime to flee before the judge arrives, if you are so inclined. However, once the judge appears, the match is official and you will fight. If you and your opponent refuse to fight after the match is made official, measures will be taken to eliminate you both.

3. You will agree to the terms of the fight, which will be provided for the judge, which can include, but are not limited to, the following: Fights to the death, fights without weapons, matches that consist of some other form of competition besides fighting, and so on.

4. Unofficial fights without a judge are allowed, but will not result in elimination, unless one of the opponents is put to death.

5. The battlefield, as I have already stated, is on a remote island. On this island is an insane asylum, inhabited by the most unstable minds of our world. This asylum is a government facility and any attempt to interfere with the operations of it shall result in immediate elimination.

6. For your convenience, Mr. Dumpty, our generous asylum administrator, has provided several guarded neutral areas where matches, both official and unofficial, are forbidden. Disturbances in these areas will result in elimination.

7. Also for your convenience, SelesCorp has provided several hidden weapons merchants throughout the island. If you see one, you are permitted to obtain weaponry from them, assuming you have the means to purchase them.

8. The competition will conclude when all but one fighter remains. This fighter will be notified and asked to come to the control tower for acceptance of their prize: one wish to be granted by the powerful magic of the Queen herself.

We hope you willingly accept our invitation, although you don’t have much of a choice in the matter. We eagerly await your arrival.

Sincerely,

Dr. Crooked
Administrator and Judge of Project: ENDZONE
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“I’d like to thank you once more for your assistance, Mr. Seles,” said Dr. Crooked, staring at the many monitors which showed many locations throughout the island.

“Not a problem, friend,” said Mr. Seles, picking a piece of lint off his white suit. “I never say no to such promising financial opportunities. The SelesCorp Weapons Merchants will bring in bountiful profits, I’m sure. Not to mention the bookies I’ve placed in the neutral zones. I’m sure many will not resist the allure of sports betting.”

“Indeed,” said Dr. Crooked, smiling. “Now anyway, the tournament will start soon after the boat arrives. Until then, a few contestants have already appeared on the island.”

”Oh?”

”Yes. The one called Rikyo has been here for some time.”

”Oh right. He’s one of the ones you’re taking a special interest in.”

“Yes. Of course, he wasn’t exactly cooperative when we invited him, so he required…persuasion.”

“What kind?”

Dr. Crooked only let out a short laugh.

”Let’s just say it’s not the grand prize he hopes to get by coming here. Haha…”

Mr. Seles didn’t laugh. He did not share the same interest in the actual competition that Dr. Crooked seemed to have.

“Also,” continued Dr. Crooked, “the creature known as Mr. Alhazred has recently arrived.”

”What? How did he arrive without using the boat?”

”He arrived riding a very large squid.”

Mr. Seles didn’t say anything.

”You’re joking, right?” he said finally. “That’s just ludicrous.”

”Ludicrous?” said Dr. Crooked, amused. “Is it really that hard to believe after seeing what else is around here? After all, this asylum is run by a large talking egg. Is a man riding a squid that much more odd in comparison?”

”Well, I suppose you’ve got a point,” replied Mr. Seles, irritated at Crooked’s mockery of his logic.

”In any case, the ship should arrive soon,” said Dr. Crooked. “And then the tournament will begin.” Dr. Crooked smiled, knowing that soon he would be able to put his plan into motion.
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Seth was allowing his mind to wander while he stared at the sea on the deck of the ship. There wasn’t much else to do besides that. He felt the inside of his pocket to make sure the letter was still there. He knew the letter almost by heart now. It was the only possession he had brought, aside from his clothes, the black headband on his head, and the sword strapped to his back.

Nearby, he noticed a skinny kid with a face covered with dirt was leaning over the side of the boat. He was wearing old, worn out clothes, accompanied by an equally worn out top hat. His hand was clutched on some sort of weapon Seth could not see clearly from where he stood. His face was a pale-green, which gave Seth the impression the boy was becoming seasick.

”Whoa there, kid, are you alright?” said Seth, walking over to him.

The kid looked as if he was about to vomit over the side of the boat for a minute, but he seemed to regain his composure enough to cease leaning over the railing. He looked up at Seth, still looking pale.

”Oi. Not really,” said the kid, with a cockney accent. “I’ve never been on a ship before. Guess I ‘aven’t gotten my sealegs yet. But thanks for asking, guv” He looked up at him and his eyes lit up. “Whoa! I like your sword!”

”Oh,” said Seth, glancing back at his sword. Wishing to return the favor, he looked back down at the weapon the kid was holding and, after seeing what it really was, did his best to return a complement. “Er…I like your…um…broom.”

“Wha? ‘at ain’t no broom! It’s a sweep! That’s what I do! I’m the Chimbley Sweep.”

”Oh, I see. So, you’re a chimney sweep?”

”No no. Chimbley. Chimbley Sweep.

”That’s what I said,” said Seth, confused. “Chimney sweep.”

“No no, chimbley! There’s a difference. There’s a ‘b’ in ‘ere. Blimey, don’t you know ‘ow to understand English?”

“That’s supposed to be English?”

“Oi!” said the Chimbley Sweep, getting irritated. Seth couldn’t help but laugh. He was beginning to like this kid. Besides, it was refreshing to talk to someone on the ship. Most people he ran into were either unwilling to talk or too unwelcome looking for Seth to attempt talking to.

“Anyway, sorry about that,” said Seth. “So what are you doing here? You’re not in the tournament are you?”

”I bloody well am. Why else would I force myself on this boat?”

“What?” said Seth, surprised. The Chimbley Sweep didn’t look older than ten years old. “But…but you’re so young! You couldn’t have been sent an invitation.”

Chimbley Sweep looked uneasy for a moment. He looked away.

”W-well of course I got an invitation.” Chimbley Sweep briefly revealed the letter in his pocket then put it back, but still looked uneasy. “But…it wasn’t exactly sent to me.”

“What do you mean?”

Chimbley Sweep laughed uneasily. “W…well let’s jus’ say that I found it.”

“Found it? Where?”

”Um…well, it sorta fell…outta someone’s pocket.”

Seth raised one eyebrow.

”You stole it?”

”Well, now, I wouldn’t say ‘at. It was from this weird, foreign teenager. Really, guv, I didn’t mean to steal his invitation. Just his wallet.”

Seth gave him a harder look.

”Don’t give me that look, guv,” said Chimbley Sweep, with embarrassment. “How much do ya think we chimbley sweeps make? Not a ruddy lot. I gotta make ends meet!”

”Why don’t you just ask your parents for some money if you ‘need’ it so much?”

Chimbley Sweep looked up at him for a moment, then looked down.

”I…I don’t have none…”

Seth looked down at him, ashamed of touching on such tender territory.

”Oh. Oh God. I…look, I’m sorry kid,” said Seth. “I…I didn’t mean that.”

“It’s fine,” said Chimbley Sweep, without looking back up. “It’s…It’s nothin.’”

Seth tried to think of something reassuring to say, but he drew a blank. He felt ashamed that he had inadvertently hurt a kid’s feelings. After a moment or so of silence, Chimbley looked up, looking happy again.

”Well, in any case, this tournament is gonna be bloody difficult,” he said.

”Yeah…um…are you alright now?”

Chimbley continued on as if he had not heard him.

“I mean, I’ve ‘eard of a whole buncha toughs on this boat. You seen any of ‘em?”

“Well…no,” said Seth, since he had been resting in his room for most of the journey.

“Well, you should pay attention. I’ve ‘eard some crazy stories about some of these folks. Take a look at that fella over there.”

Chimbley pointed across the deck to someone looking out at the sea. He was a tall young man wearing a black suit and white pants. He had dark hair and a hard look in his eyes that instantly made Seth think it would be wise to avoid him.

“Lots folks been talking about ‘im,” continued Chimbley. “This girl I ran into earlier told me the ‘ole thing. Apparently, while this boat was boarding, this yank got in a quarrel with one of the other contestants. Then, from what I ‘ere, he tried to shoot the other guy.”

”What? I never heard anything like that!”

”Well, lotsa people say they saw it. Apparently that fellas got a bad reputation. I think I ‘eard ‘is name was Skye.”

Seth took another look at Skye, who was still staring at the sea. He glanced at the hard look in his eyes once again. Seth usually took rumors with a grain of salt, but Seth got the feeling these rumors had some truth to them.

“Huh,” said Seth. Seth figured it would be a good idea to get as much information on the other contestants as possible, so he asked Chimbley Sweep what else he knew.

”Just some more rumors from the girl,” said Chimbley. “Mosta the other stuff sounds like a loada bollocks to me, though. Like, get this guv, she said one of the fellas was some rotter with a mushroom on ‘is ‘ead that was…magic or somethin’, I don’t know.”
“Huh, that does sound pretty odd.”

”I ain’t seen anyone else interesting though.” However, in a moment, Chimbley remember something. “Oh, but I do remember seeing this one woman on the ship. She looked like one of ‘ose demon type girls. Barely had any clothes or knickers on! Quite a sight, eh?”

Seth’s male instincts kicked in, making it impossible for him not to smile.

”Really now?” he said. “Well…I suppose I should…go look around for her...” He looked down and saw the Chimbley Sweep staring at him, smiling. “To, um, gauge her fighting ability…for the tournament…the Endzone…thingy…demons you know…they’re…demony.”

Seth finally regained his sense and looked back down at Chimbley.

”Anyway, you shouldn’t notice that sort of thing. You’re only a kid.”

Chimbley looked irritated.

”Don’t tell me ‘at, you wanker! I’m old enough! I’ve even got a full time job! Don’t try to look down on me!”

”I’m taller than you. It’s hard not to look down on you.”

Chimbley was less than amused by this joke. He looked as if he was about to retort when he noticed something.

”Look, we’re ‘ere!”

Chimbley pointed out on the deck to the island. Seth was in awe of the vast landscape of the island. In the distance, he could make out a large building, which he assumed was the asylum alluded to in the letter. Another tall tower could also be seen even farther away, which Seth assumed was the control tower; the one place where they could claim their prize.

I’m going to win that prize, thought Seth, determined. I just have to.

Seth was so deep in though he didn’t even notice that Skye was staring at him, with that same hard look in his eyes. Skye didn’t think much of him at first, but there was something about the look in his eyes that made Skye think it would be best not to take chances and make sure he was gotten rid of.

The boat had not even pulled up to the dock yet and Seth had already become someone’s target.
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“Hello, Mr. Rikyo” said the holographic image of Dr. Crooked that had appeared in front of Rikyo, who was sitting on a rock, exhausted. Sweat had drenched his white tank top. Upon the sight of Dr. Crooked, Rikyo jumped up.

”You bastard! Where is she?”

“She is here, make no mistake about that. But I doubt you’ll be able to find her.”

Blinded with rage, Rikyo took his sword and swung it through the hologram, having absolutely no effect.

”Oh, come now,” said the image of Crooked. “I surely hope you’re not that ignorant all the time.”

“Let her go, you sick monster!”

”Now now, we had a deal, Mr. Rikyo,” said Dr. Crooked. “You want her back, I’m more than happy to give her to you. All I ask is that you win this tournament.”

”Why are you doing this?” shouted Rikyo. “Why are you singling me out?! You don’t expect me to buy you kidnap loved ones from every contestant!”

Dr. Crooked laughed.

”Let’s just say you show more…promise than some of the other contestants. This is insurance to make sure you don’t become another wildcard, like she did.”

”She? She who?”

”Nevermind that. Just someone you’ll almost certainly never meet.”

Furious, Rikyo stood up.

“I’ll kill you! I swear, when I see you, I’m going kill you for doing this!”

”This conversation no longer serves a purpose. I shall see you when you hold up your end of the bargain. Goodbye, Mr. Rikyo.”