Kris was awakened at dawn by a strange dream. He was fighting Tao in the arena, although his body was moving independently. Kris had a long sword stuck in his shoulder, but neglected to remove it. Instead, he was stuck staring at Tao who was weeping on his knees. The body Kris had no control over walked over to the younger and placed the sword’s handle in his hands. With one sharp motion, he’d penetrated his stomach with the sword’s tip.

Kris woke up from the sharp phantom pain he’d felt. Why am I having such strange dreams like this? Kris ruffled his hair and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. On his way though, he was stopped by an unexpected sight. When he’d awoken, Tao wasn’t next to him so Kris assumed the other was using the restroom, yet here he was in the living room doing yoga. He had the scented candles and everything.

“Pft,” Kris couldn’t help but laugh, taking note of how tight Tao’s leggings were.

“Yah!” Tao whisper yelled when he stumbled out of concentration.

“I didn’t know you did yoga,” He teased.

“It’s not yoga.” Tao huffed, “its Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese kung fu art.”

“Whatever you say~”

“Besides, when did you start getting up at dawn?” Tao followed Kris into the kitchen.

“Just a bad dream. So do you do yoga every morning then come back to bed with me?”

“Yeah, but it’s not yoga… Anyway, tell me about your dream.” Tao sat on the counter as Kris filled a cup with ice and water.

“It was just weird.” Kris took a big gulp.

“Tell me what happened.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Alright, sorry for intruding.” Tao smiled, “So, how are you?”

The question brought back Kris’s memory from last night. Luhan had told him something weird, but how did it fit together?

“Helllllo~” Tao waved his hand in front of the elder’s eyes because he had spaced for a moment.

“Sorry, you asked me how I am? I’m good I guess, but I’m tired. Let’s go back to bed.” Kris laughed.

“Alrighty~” Tao hopped off the counter and put away the candles and yoga mat he’d pulled out.

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“Krisssss, it’s time to get uppppp.” Tao yawned.

“I don’t wanna~,” Kris whined.

“Stop being a kid, we gotta get up and get ready.”

“I know, I know.” Kris sat up and patted Tao’s head.

The two reluctantly got ready and went to the dining room to eat breakfast with everyone yet only Luhan was there.

“Hi,” Luhan said between bites of cereal.

“Where is everyone?” Tao asked.

“In their rooms still. Most of them are skipping breakfast because Suho isn’t here to cook.”

“But it’s like morning tradition.”

“Tell them that,” Luhan sighed.

Tao and Kris joined Luhan but the trio sat eating in silence. Slowly, more bodies emerged and the nine had gathered, including D.O. He’d become stable enough to sit around with everyone.

“Hey guys, I know that we’ve (D.O. and I) been silent for a while but I’ve been working with him and he’s doing a lot better. He’s still nervous and stuff but he isn’t barking anymore.” Kai laughed. He was genuinely proud of how much D.O. had progressed in such a short time, since D.O. ignores Luhan.

Amongst the celebration, Chanyeol couldn’t help but feel unsettled. Usually he was more stolid, but how could everyone just laugh and be happy, like they knew something he didn’t.

“Are you all lying to me?” Chanyeol felt enraged how they could all find a way to be happy when they knew that someone would be killed.

“What?” Everyone thought simultaneously, but Kai was the only one to speak aloud.

“Or are all of you just that twisted that you can disregard someone’s death so easily?” 

The doorbell rang and everyone sat still for a moment. Only Luhan, who wasn’t intimidated by Chanyeol, answered and let the guards in. Usually, there were only two or three guards patrolling them but today there were five (which is odd because there are less members). The nine obediently followed them into the street full of hate and into the coliseum of death.

“Hey wait a minute, we shouldn’t have brought D.O.; this might make his condition worse,” Xiumin pointed out.

“Damn it, I was supposed to stay behind with him,” Kai cursed.

“It’s too late now,” Luhan said.

The group was brought to the same steel room with the singular TV awaiting the devastating news. Huddled together, Tao had tried to fill Suho’s place of giving an inspirational speech but ended up sobbing half way through. TOP was shown on the screen and everyone braced for whichever names were to be called.

“CHANYEOL, TITAN OF FIRE AND CHEN, TITAN OF LIGHTNING!” He announced with enthusiasm.

The two were dragged away from the group. Baekhyun and Xiumin held each other. Everyone had known Baekhyun and Chnayeol were together, but Xiumin revealed that he and Chen had recently confessed that they had feelings for the other.

Everyone was brought to the same seats that they’d sat in before. Baekhyun and Xiumin gripped each other’s hands tightly, knowing the result will bring one of them devastation. Chen and Chanyeol confidently entered the field dressed in the red battle suits.

“They’re really going to fight aren’t they,” Baekhyun said.

The two bowed respectfully to the other and waited for the signal. The group noticed how intently Chen and Chanyeol were staring each other down, intent on putting up a serious fight. These two were considerably the most capable of destruction: lightning and fire. The starting bell rang and the two charged at each other, attacking with physical blows. Chanyeol constrained Chen’s wrists.

“I’m sorry, but I have someone to return to.” Chanyeol ignited his hands, slowly burning Chen’s flesh.

“Ah!” Chen cried out. He sent a shock through the other’s body so he’d be released. Chen cursed under his breath as the pain intensified. “In case you didn’t know.” Chen straightened his positure, “So do I.”

“You do? Did you and Xiumin get together?”

“Yeah, we have.” Chen glanced over at the audience, searching for Xiumin.

“Then this’ll be interesting.” Chanyeol smirked, igniting his hands again.

“Looks like it will.” Chen gathered a ball of electricity in his hand.

The two sprinted full force towards each other. Chanyeol pulled back his fist, prepared to meet Chen’s but instead Chen redirected his power into the ground causing the stadium to shake. Chanyeol stumbled backward and Chen planned to take it as an opportunity, but the fire Titan reacted by shooting flame orbs at the other. When he thought he’d avoided all of them, an orb brushed against Chen’s shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain. The burn had penetrated deep into his skin, which was still sizzling.

“Is that all you got?” Chen provoked the other.

Running towards each other like before, the two were going to force their powers against each other, seeing whose is weaker.

Even though they were destroying more than half the stadium, one couldn’t help but notice the beauty behind it. Two powerful Titans, fighting due to their ill fate, just to meet again with the person they cared for the most. Plus their powers were just incredulous; the group stared in awe at the demonstration of potential their friends had been carrying.

Chen managed to send a powerful shock through Chanyeol’s body. The fire Titan collapsed to the group, falling flat on his back and slightly jolting in sporadic motions. Baekhyun stood from his seat and jumped onto the field. Guards restricted his access, declaring the match wasn’t over until one of their hearts stopped beating.

“CHANYEOL! CHANYEOL GET UP!” Baekhyun cried out, “Please get up!”

Slowly, Chanyeol arose to his feet as Baekhyun had commanded.

“I won’t die that easily,” Chanyeol panted.

“They say one can only get struck by lightning once and live,” Chen taunted.

“Then I just won’t get struck again.” Chanyeol smiled and wiped the small trail of blood from his mouth.

“Good luck.” Chen gathered the strength from the electricity in the air, but Chanyeol charged at him and tackled the lightning Titan. Both gripped the other’s throat and calmly stood up.

“Let’s see who’s stronger,” Chen suggested.

“On three.” Chanyeol nodded.

“One.”

“Chen!” Xiumin, who had joined Baekhyun on the field, called out.

“Two.” Chanyeol glanced over at the two bystanders whom were only yards away.

“THREE,” Chen shouted. Flames immediately burst from Chanyeol’s hands and lightning from the other’s.

The two fighters fell over onto their backs.