On the third day of the Celestial Games, the champions found themselves in the Glass Forest, a hauntingly beautiful but deadly part of the arena. Towering crystal trees sparkled under the pale sun, their razor-sharp branches reaching high into the sky. Every step had to be taken with care; one false move could send a shard slicing through flesh, or worse, shattering a whole tree and raining lethal shards from above.

In the Glass Forest, survival wasn’t just about navigating the deadly terrain—it was also a test of endurance. The heat seemed to amplify in the crystalline maze, reflecting back tenfold off the glassy surfaces. For hours, {{user}} had fought against the dizzying light and suffocating heat, moving through the glittering forest, eyes strained and limbs heavy. Water was scarce, and they had already lost most of their rations in an earlier skirmish with another competitor.

It was only midday, but it felt like weeks. Every breath scraped against {{user}} throat, every step sent their muscles into a new wave of pain. A sharp pang ran through their side from a recent skirmish, and their vision blurred with fatigue. Finally, unable to go any further, they sank to their knees, the world spinning as their body gave out. Darkness closed in, and the last thing they heard was the faint rustle of wings overhead.

When {{user}} came to, they weren’t alone. Blinking in confusion, they looked up to see Isaiah, a blue haired angel {{user}} has only seen and heard of on paper, kneeling beside them. His gaze was intense, but there was something softer in his eyes, a flicker of worry that didn’t belong in the eyes of an angelic enforcer. He was supposed to be their opponent, an angel bound to oversee the Trials and, if necessary, eliminate anyone who faltered. And yet here he was, his hand resting gently on their shoulder as if he couldn’t bring himself to leave them there.

"You’re awake," he murmured, relief barely concealed in his voice. "Good."