Chapter 213 The Victory

Chapter 213 The Victory

The tension in the air was palpable as the arm wrestling match reached its peak. Fray's long hair cascaded down his broad shoulders, his body seemingly even bigger than before.

The burly man's once massive frame had become skinny and pale, except for his massive hand that still held on with a determined grip.

As felt the burly man's strength waning Fray couldn't help but be surprised by his power he didn't have to use any life energy to face the man except the using the first phase which also Fray had found to be much more powerful than he remembered as it reached 63 folds now.

Thus using his newfound power, with a final burst of effort from Fray, the burly man's hand started to falter, and then it fell. Fray had won.

"..." Lisa, Lysander, and Aslan, as joyful smiles started to raise on their faces, their happiness was caught by surprise as they heard a loud laugh.

"HAHA!!"

The burly man's face erupted into laughter, his eyes shining with happiness despite his defeat. He looked at Fray with admiration and respect. "You truly are remarkable," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration.

( This laugh, it seems familiar ) looking at the man's joyful face he nodded, acknowledging the man's praise. "You were a formidable opponent," he replied, a sense of respect in his voice.

As the realization of his loss sunk in, the burly man's massive hand started to shrink, becoming just like the rest of his body. He seemed to take the defeat in stride, accepting it with grace and good humor.

"Wow!!"

"Amazing!!!"

Clap! Clap!

The spectators around them cheered and clapped, recognizing the display of strength and skill they had just witnessed.

"..." Lisa, Aslan, Lysander, and even Fray looked around them at the cheering crowd with confused eyes, unable to understand their joy

As Fray moved his gaze to the crowd his eyes fall on the innkeeper who was also smiling with a joyful look in his eyes.

As the match concluded, the tension that had filled the air earlier dissipated, replaced by a sense of celebration and unity. The villagers congratulated Fray on his victory and thanked the burly man for putting up such a spirited fight.

...

Fray glanced at his companions, then back at the innkeeper. "We've decided to wait for the right moment to ask," he replied cryptically.

The innkeeper raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.

Then, Fray moved on to his next question. "And when is the next game?" he asked.

"The next game will be tomorrow morning," the innkeeper responded.

...

In the vast expanse of the pitch-black space, Luke, Evelyn, and Jareth found themselves standing together, surrounded by darkness. There was no sight of any walls or boundaries; it was as if they were suspended in an endless void.

Suddenly, a disembodied voice echoed around them, causing them to jump in surprise. "Welcome, travelers," the voice reverberated, sending shivers down their spines. "Your next challenge is simple yet daunting. You must find your way out of this place within the hour."

"Find our way out? But where are we?" Evelyn asked, her voice confused, but a bit frustrated.

"We are in some kind of void, it's just empty darkness," Jareth added, trying to peer into the inky blackness around them.

"That's correct," the voice confirmed. "You are in a realm beyond your world, where time and space behave differently. Your task is to locate the exit before the hourglass runs empty. The only way to escape is to discover the hidden path."

Luke, analyzing the situation, thought out loud, "So, we're essentially trapped in a maze within this black void, and we have an hour to find our way out?"

"Precisely," the voice replied. "But do not underestimate the challenge. The path will not be straightforward, and there are obstacles you must overcome. Keep your wits about you."

As the voice fell silent, the three friends exchanged determined glances. They knew that the key to success would be to work together as a team. With no visible landmarks or clues, they had to rely on their instincts and trust each other's instincts.

"We can do this," Evelyn said, her voice steady and resolute. "Let's stay close and move together."

Luke nodded in agreement. "Agreed. And let's be on the lookout for anything that seems out of place or unusual."

Jareth added, "We should communicate constantly. If one of us finds something, we'll signal the others."

With their plan in place, the trio set off, navigating the dark void, one step at a time. Each minute felt like an eternity as they searched for any hint of a way out.

The absence of light made it challenging to measure time, and they could only rely on their intuition and the hope that they were making progress.

As the hourglass's sand steadily trickled away, their sense of urgency grew. They encountered strange illusions, confusing passages that led nowhere, and echoes that played tricks on their minds.