The Arena of Possession

When I think of the Possession Arena, a shiver runs down my spine. The club investigated that place extensively, and what we discovered isn't good at all. It's an illegal, very dangerous site. Those who run it are infamous people from the underworld, whom I never wanted to know anything about.

There, the bodies of possessed people are forced to fight. It's not a normal fight; it's merciless, solely for the amusement and entertainment of the people who possess them. That is, our own bodies, or the bodies of others being used, are forced to fight.

They are violent battles, at the will of whoever controls the body, and the truth is they usually end in death. There are no rules, no mercy. Just bodies used as puppets, destroying each other. And the one inside, if there's anything left of them, has no voice or say.

The winner of the Arena doesn't get money or normal trophies. What they win is an improved version of the possession drug. This drug is stronger. It doesn't just allow you to take another person's body, like the normal version. The worst part is that, being improved, it contaminates the victim's mind.

Normally, if the soul of a person who consumed the drug leaves a victim's body, the victim regains consciousness without remembering anything that happened or was done during that time. But with this improved version, things are different. The soul can leave the body and possess others freely, just like the base drug. The terrible difference is that, once the victim's body is freed, their mind becomes contaminated with the thoughts and ideas of the drug user. This means that everything they did while possessed, they now consider as something they truly wanted to do from the bottom of their heart. Their memories and way of thinking are rewritten to align with what the user of that improved drug wants them to be after using their bodies. It's like having not just your body stolen, but your very identity.

Our objective in entering the Possession Arena is clear: to win every combat until we get that improved version of the drug. The "Professor" explained to us that if we manage to get that drug and synthesize it with a very special flower that only grows inside the "veil", it might be possible to create an antidote. A drug that could counteract possession and free the victims, exorcizing the invader's soul. It's our only hope for my mother and sister, and for the families of other club members who suffer the same.

That's why the club members have split up. Fionn is leading the first group, the one that will search for the flower inside the veil. And I lead the second group. Our mission is to enter the Possession Arena. With me comes Evianne Vivienne, for example. Her mother is also possessed, by a guy who is a lover of small girls and who uses her body to denigrate it and ruin her reputation. It seems he dislikes that body because it's not a girl's, but he still uses it without any inhibition.

It won't be easy. To win, we'll have to "kill" if necessary. We can't afford to fail. Furthermore, we must be extremely careful not to be discovered. If we're caught, the fate that awaits us is unimaginable, something much worse than possession. We can't let that happen.

It was just then that the bell marking the end of the day at the club rang.

The members rose from their seats with silent determination, whereupon the professor looked at us all.

"Given that, due to the terrible physical condition of my body, I am unable to help you," the Professor said with a frustrated tone as he pulled something out. "That's why, to help you, I have created these for all of you."

Looking at the strange papers he pulled out, I noticed how they were written in symbols I couldn't understand. It seemed that, like me, Fionn also looked confused at the Professor before asking:

"Is that...?"

"They are runes," to which the Professor responded with a slight smile full of confidence.

"I created and printed them based on the talismans commonly used in this world's sorcery. I prepared several for each of you. Use them without hesitation when you need them. They will increase the probability of success... or survival, in this case."

At his words, we accepted the "runes" with a mix of nervousness and a strange determination that took hold of us all as each group began their final preparations.