The next game arena was a deserted school field, its grass overgrown and the silence almost mocking.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZlJ77xaxf
We weren’t alone—six new players were already there, their faces filled with the same mix of fear and exhaustion we carried.
In the center of the field stood a small TV screen, flickering with static, and a metal table lined with melee weapons—wrenches, axes, bats, and pipes.
Suddenly, the TV came alive.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAm2GoUUgZ
A distorted voice spoke through the screen.
“Welcome, players… to Deathball.”
The skull logo appeared—the same cursed symbol we’d seen before.
The voice explained the rules:181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVeJBT0QWn
Each player would get a chance to score a goal against a team of deadly robots. Winners would move to the next round, eventually joining forces for a final match against the ultimate robot team.
But then came the twist—the one that made our blood run cold.
“A player can only score a goal when the goalpost turns green.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXLCDHSITK
If you try to score while it’s red... you die instantly.”
The referee robot would execute anyone who broke that rule.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsavNyqj5uT
The post only turned green for five seconds, and only after destroying a robot.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCPKnBXEDH
We could use any melee weapon to fight.
We exchanged tense looks. There was no turning back now.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCU2TerYHlZ
Our only option—focus, adapt, and survive.
The horn blared, echoing across the field.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL6wt3hRfB
Round One had begun.
Aswath volunteered to go first. He picked up a heavy wrench and walked into the field with fire in his eyes.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZjWmSLRAy
Two robots stood against him, their eyes glowing red.
The referee robot screeched, and the game began.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzlBODCTdf
Aswath sprinted forward, ball in one hand, wrench in the other. The robots charged.
In one swift motion, he threw the ball high into the air and smashed both robots with rapid swings. Sparks flew. He struck again—once, twice, three times—until the head of one robot burst off its shoulders.
The post flashed green.
Aswath grabbed the ball, dashed forward, and threw it—but another robot blocked his path. Without hesitation, he hurled the wrench straight into its face, then tossed the ball toward the goal.
GOAL!
We cheered as the horn sounded. Aswath had won the first round.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ213xNiEaU2
Now we knew what to expect—two robots each, and the head was their weakness.
One by one, we fought our rounds.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQHn86hLf7
Siddhu, Jenny, and four of the new players survived. Two others failed to score before the post turned red—and were instantly executed by the referee robot.
Their screams echoed long after their bodies vanished.
Round Two.
This time, we had to play in pairs.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn6TV9WZeY
I was teamed with Jenny.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP4KoUbNy7
Aswath and Siddhu were the first pair to enter the field.
They faced five robots—two of them wielding metal staffs.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9ANtK1Lqi
Our plan was simple: one player would fight, while the other scored.
The horn blared.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKJeZBIVt4
Aswath swung his wrench with deadly precision, while Siddhu attacked with his axe. Together, they destroyed robot after robot until the post turned green.
Siddhu dashed toward the goal—but the two staff-wielding robots moved fast, striking him down.
The crowd of players gasped. The robots weren’t just reacting—they were learning.
The clock was ticking.
I remembered a trick from an old video game and shouted across the field:181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrjuciseB0
“Aswath—run left! Siddhu—go right!”
They split up. The robots divided too, chasing them separately. As I predicted, the two staff-bots followed Aswath since he carried the ball.
Then, with perfect timing, Siddhu turned, attacked the lone robot chasing him, and smashed its head off. The post glowed green.
Aswath hurled the ball to Siddhu.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutFxdXxwE7
He caught it and kicked straight at the goal—
GOAL!
We erupted in cheers. The strategy worked.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemB1b0qUvc
Using the same plan, the rest of us survived Round Two.
Then came the Final Round.
All of us—me, Jenny, Aswath, Siddhu, and the surviving players—joined as a single team.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKprf48Fpl
Our opponents: ten robots.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FP8VynhBE
Half of them armed with staffs. We were badly outnumbered.
The horn screamed again.
“Spread out!” I shouted.
We scattered in different directions, confusing the robots. They couldn’t focus on one target. We passed the ball rapidly between us—left, right, forward—while dodging metal arms and swinging staffs.
Finally, Aswath, Siddhu, and I cornered one robot together.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8QEm2HQ40
Three synchronized strikes—CRASH! The robot’s head exploded in sparks.
The post turned green.
Jenny was near the goal. She caught the ball and kicked with all her strength.
GOAL!
The field went silent for a moment. Then the screen flashed:
CONGRATULATIONS. ROUND CLEARED.
Our wristbands glowed—we’d gained extra lifelines. Relief washed over us.
But as I looked across the field, my heart sank.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCEfQfoYHk
Two other players, who weren’t as lucky, lay motionless—executed by the referee bot.
Their deaths hardened something inside me.181Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk3WjjGpLV
Every game reminded us of one truth—this world wanted us dead.
And I swore to myself, as the sky darkened above the field…
I will find a way back to the real world. No matter what it takes
ns216.73.216.253da2
and then Add to home screen.