Batman: Squid Games
Chapter Seven: Tug of War
The tension in the arena was suffocating, like the calm before the storm. The hum of the lights overhead seemed to grow louder with every passing second, a constant reminder that they were all caught in a game where failure meant death. Gi-hun could feel the weight of his survival from the previous challenge—the honeycomb—still heavy on his shoulders. He had won, barely, but the victory came with a price. He knew now, more than ever, that this wasn't just a game of chance or physical endurance. It was a game of strategy, manipulation, and above all, survival.
As the players were shuffled into the next stage, the air grew colder, the smell of sweat and fear mingling with the sterile scent of the arena. Gi-hun's heart raced in his chest as he stood beside Matches, who had finished the honeycomb challenge with unnerving ease. The man was a master of calm, of focus. But Gi-hun couldn't shake the feeling that Matches was playing a far different game. There was something about him—something unsettling. Gi-hun wasn't sure whether Matches was just a survivor like him, or if he had his own agenda, something darker and deeper than the others could even comprehend.
The next challenge loomed before them, and Gi-hun's stomach twisted in anxiety. The announcer's voice crackled through the loudspeakers, cold and mechanical.
"Round Seven: Tug of War."
Gi-hun glanced around, trying to gauge the reactions of the others. Some were trembling, their eyes wide with fear. Others stood tall, their expressions hard as stone. The rules were simple: two teams, one rope, one objective—pull the other side across the line. The catch? It wasn't just about brute strength. It was about timing, strategy, and understanding your opponents.
He turned to look at Matches, who was already studying the arena with a calculating gaze. Matches' expression didn't change, but Gi-hun knew that the man was thinking ahead, already analyzing the situation, already working out a plan.
The teams were formed quickly, and Gi-hun found himself on the opposite side of the rope from Matches. His team was made up of him, Min-ho, the large man who had survived the previous challenges with an odd sense of optimism, Ji-eun, the quiet girl who had remained composed throughout, and the elderly woman, Soo-jin, whose slow but steady determination had seen her through to this point.
Their opponents were formidable: Lady Shiva, the deadly martial artist; and a group of others Gi-hun barely recognized but could sense were no slouches. However, something unexpected happened that took even Matches by surprise.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, cutting through the tension.
"Team Two will now be joined by a new player. A wild card—Killer Croc."
Gi-hun turned just as a massive figure emerged from the shadows of the arena. There was no mistaking the hulking brute of a man, a terrifying presence whose sheer size seemed to cast a shadow over everything around him. Killer Croc. The mutated beast of a man, whose name alone sent chills down the spines of anyone who had ever heard of him.
The shock in Gi-hun's chest mirrored the reaction of Matches. He had been ready for Lady Shiva, maybe even for someone else on their team to be formidable, but Killer Croc? This was a different kind of threat. A different kind of player.
For a brief moment, Matches froze. His posture stiffened, and Gi-hun could see the wheels turning in the man's head. This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't part of the plan. Matches was someone who thrived on control, on knowing every variable. Yet here was an element he hadn't anticipated. Killer Croc—a monstrous force of nature—was suddenly thrust into the equation, and that shift left even Matches briefly unbalanced.
"Well, well," Croc growled as he stepped forward, his voice a low rumble that made the very air seem to vibrate. "I heard you all talking big. Let's see if you can back it up."
The arena's lights flashed as Croc casually moved to stand next to Lady Shiva, his massive form dwarfing the rest of the group. Matches' gaze was sharp, calculating, but Gi-hun could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes. He might not show it outwardly, but even someone like Matches, with all his experience, could be caught off guard.
"Interesting choice," Matches muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as he studied Croc. "Very interesting."
Matches was used to surprises, but this one felt different. Killer Croc's appearance wasn't just a wildcard—it was a game-changer. Croc was a force of nature, someone who could overpower almost anyone with sheer strength alone. For the first time, Matches didn't have all the answers.
Gi-hun could see that this wasn't just a game for Matches—this was his domain, his mastery of strategy and control. But Croc's addition had shaken that foundation. The man didn't like uncertainty.
The teams stood across from each other, and the rope lay between them, thick and taut, waiting for the battle to begin. Gi-hun could see the uncertainty in the other team's eyes now. Lady Shiva was unflappable, but even she seemed to be adjusting to this new, unexpected variable.
The announcer's voice boomed again, snapping everyone back to attention.
"Begin!"
The moment the word left the announcer's lips, both teams lunged forward, their bodies straining against the rope with all their might. Gi-hun felt the initial tug, and it was like being caught in a wave—an unstoppable force that threatened to tear him from his feet. His knees buckled, but he dug in, planting his feet as firmly as he could, feeling the pull of the rope almost as if it were alive, trying to drag him across the line.
Min-ho, on his left, was already gritting his teeth, his massive arms pulling back with all his might. Gi-hun could see the sweat pouring from his face, but the man was holding steady. Ji-eun, on his right, looked like she was barely even moving, her eyes focused and unwavering. Soo-jin, the elderly woman, was surprising him—her hands steady on the rope, her body positioned perfectly, leveraging her strength with careful precision.
The other team was moving in sync, a coordinated wall of muscle. Croc's arms were like tree trunks, each tug of the rope sending a shockwave through Gi-hun's body. Lady Shiva, however, was the true danger. She wasn't just pulling with raw strength. She was calculating the tension, gauging every movement, looking for weaknesses. Her eyes darted between her teammates, directing their efforts like a symphony conductor.
Gi-hun knew they had to make their move soon. They couldn't keep up with the brute strength of Croc and the precision of Lady Shiva for long. They had to strike when it counted.
"Now!" Matches shouted from across the rope.
At his command, Gi-hun and the others pulled in unison, putting all their collective weight into a single, desperate heave. The rope jerked in their favor for just a moment, and Gi-hun could feel the other team's momentum falter. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
But Croc wasn't finished yet. The beast howled in frustration, pulling back with a force that threatened to break their line. Gi-hun could see Min-ho struggling to keep his footing. They were slipping. They were going to lose. He could feel it.
"Focus!" Matches barked again. "Now, together—three, two, one—pull!"
This time, they moved as one. Every muscle in Gi-hun's body screamed in protest, but he refused to let go. He thought of his daughter, of the broken promises he'd made to her, of the debt that had dragged him into this nightmare. He had to survive. He couldn't fail.
With a final, unified effort, they pulled as one.
The rope lurched, and Croc's massive form faltered. The ground beneath him shifted, and for the briefest moment, his feet lost purchase. It was enough. Lady Shiva, calculating and composed, gave one final, determined tug, but it was too late. The rope snapped past the line, and the team collapsed in a heap, their opponents falling into the pit beneath them.
"Victory to the Red Team," the announcer declared, the sound of the words washing over Gi-hun like a flood of relief.
He stumbled back, breathing heavily, his body aching from the strain. Min-ho's big laugh rang out beside him as he slapped Gi-hun on the back.
"We did it!" Min-ho exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.
But as the team celebrated their victory, Gi-hun's attention drifted to Matches. The man was standing silent, his expression unreadable. His usual calm demeanor was now laced with something else—a quiet fury. Gi-hun knew Matches had orchestrated their victory, but it didn't seem to bring him any satisfaction. It was as if the win had only deepened his suspicion of the game, of the forces manipulating them.
Suddenly, a deep growl broke through the celebrations.
"You think this is over?" Croc's voice was low, dripping with malice as he slowly climbed to his feet, brushing dirt off his enormous body. He locked eyes with the team, his monstrous form looming over them like a nightmare made flesh.
Gi-hun felt a chill run down his spine. Croc's words were more than just a threat—they were a promise. A promise of retribution.
"You may have won this round, but trust me," Croc continued, his voice sending a shiver through the air. "I will get my revenge. I always do."
The team tensed, their relief from victory suddenly vanishing as they stared up at the massive, enraged figure. Killer Croc wasn't someone who let defeat go unpunished, and now, they knew they would have to face the consequences.
The hulking beast turned and gave them one last look, a promise of pain, before disappearing into the shadows with Lady Shiva and the rest of his fallen team. His parting words lingered in the air, heavy and ominous.
Gi-hun swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the threat. Matches' eyes flickered with cold calculation. The game had only become more dangerous. And the stakes had just been raised.
As the players were herded toward the next stage, Gi-hun's heart thundered in his chest. The game wasn't over yet. And now, with Killer Croc lurking in the shadows, it felt more deadly than ever.
The real question was: What was Matches truly after?
To be continued...