Batman: Squid Games
Chapter Four: Six-Legged Pentathlon- Part One

The Stadium

The vast arena stretched out before Matches Malone and Seong Gi-hun, a surreal blend of high-tech and despair. The ground was a shifting mosaic of broken, rusting metal plates and uneven concrete patches, some sections giving way to sudden drops or harsh rises. The once-sterile mechanical structure had evolved into a nightmare, designed to disorient its participants.

Above them, the air was thick with an unnatural buzzing, a low hum coming from a series of suspended machines that moved in eerie synchronization. The towering walls of the arena curved inward, giving it a claustrophobic feel, and the overhead sky—an artificial sky—was painted in strange hues of violet and gray, always shifting, never still.

Matches surveyed the area with practiced ease. He'd been in many strange and hostile environments before, but this place—this twisted arena—felt like a different kind of hell. It wasn't just the challenge ahead that weighed on him, but the haunting presence of the unseen audience whose jeers and whispers crept into his mind. They were watching, waiting for failure. And worst of all, Lady Shiva was still out there, her deadly pursuit a constant shadow over them.

A cold, mechanical voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts. "Welcome to the Six-Legged Pentathlon. Your survival depends on your teamwork, your wit, and your speed. Fail and all of you will perish."

The sound of electronic laughter followed, grating and high-pitched, sending a shiver down Matches' spine. He glanced over at Gi-hun, who was breathing heavily, his face pale. Matches knew what this game meant—the stakes couldn't be higher. A single misstep would doom them all.

As the countdown began, each of the five contestants in their group were tethered together at the ankles by thick, heavy ropes. It was an odd setup—awkward and limiting—but it made sense: the whole point was to create tension, to force them to act as one, even when every instinct screamed for separation. Matches and Gi-hun exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. They would need to work together to survive this.

But even as they did, Matches couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone in this. There were five others who'd been assigned to different teams. And of them all, one woman stood out—a shadow that lingered near the corner of the arena. Lady Shiva.

She was among the other team members, her presence undeniable and sinister. She had been quietly observing the match, her gaze sharp as a knife. And her attention was now fixed on Matches.

Lady Shiva didn't like him. That much was clear. She had always prided herself on being the deadliest, and Matches—though aware of her full skill set—was an irritant. Her eyes narrowed in disdain when she saw him. He was no doubt an experienced fighter, but she had no respect for him. She knew he wasn't a true match for her. And when she saw him tethered to Gi-hun, she saw an opportunity.

With every round, Shiva grew more restless. She had no idea who he truly was, to her he was Matches Malone, the low-life hustler—but her instincts told her he was a man worth eliminating. And if she couldn't do it directly, she'd make sure his game became as difficult as possible.

Round One: Ddakji

The players stood in a tight circle, the arena floor now fully illuminated by glaring, cold light from above. The hum of the audience's whispers and shifting bodies could be felt in the air, heightening the tension. The arena felt alive, as though it itself were waiting for the action to begin. In front of each contestant lay a thick, square tile—metallic, heavy, and cold to the touch. A deceptive sheen glinted off their surfaces, and each tile felt like it held the weight of failure and success.

Gi-hun's heart pounded in his chest as he hesitated, glancing at the others. Everyone appeared more confident than he felt, their bodies tense and their eyes steely with focus. This is nothing like the version of Ddakji I played as a kid, Gi-hun thought, gripping his tile with trembling hands. Memories of tossing the traditional paper tiles with his friends flooded his mind, but here, the stakes were life and death.

The announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeakers, sharp and crisp. "The objective of this round is simple—flip your opponent's tile by tossing yours onto it. The first team to successfully flip their opponent's tile wins the round. If you fail, you forfeit your chance at survival."

Gi-hun's mind raced, his pulse quickening. The words forfeit and survival echoed in his brain like a haunting reminder of what was at stake. The floor beneath their feet was slick, slippery, and covered with a mysterious black substance that made even standing upright difficult.

Matches Malone, a veteran of high-risk situations, was already analyzing his surroundings. He could tell that the tiles were not ordinary—these were weighted and crafted to withstand powerful force. His mind flashed back to the countless street games he'd played in Gotham, always looking for the angle, always assessing the opponent's weaknesses. This game, though, was different. The most important thing here wasn't speed or strength. It was precision.

"Ready?" Matches muttered, glancing at Gi-hun.

Gi-hun, his breathing shallow, nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."

The countdown began: Three... Two... One...
The game was on.

Gi-hun was the first to move. His hand shot out to throw the tile, but as he moved, the rope connecting him to Matches yanked him back slightly, disrupting his balance. His tile flew through the air erratically, spinning and wobbling before it crashed against the arena floor, failing to even come close to his target. The audience's distant, mocking laughter filled the air, echoing like a cruel reminder of his failure.

"Shit…" Gi-hun muttered under his breath, frustration building as the floor beneath him shifted again, making his stance feel less stable. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself. He needed to focus, to forget about the rope binding him to Matches and the other players. Just focus on the damn tile, he thought.

"Take a breath," Matches said calmly. "The angle matters more than the power. These tiles are heavier than they look. Focus on where it lands, not how hard you throw it."

Gi-hun adjusted his grip on the tile, recalling the smooth action of the childhood game, where the goal was as much about finesse as strength. He aimed, his gaze narrowed on the opponent's tile, and threw again—this time with more control. The tile spun gracefully through the air, landing on its side, skidding across the floor but missing the target by mere inches. He cursed under his breath.

Matches Malone, still calm, stepped forward with confidence. "Let me show you how it's done," he said, his voice carrying a hint of reassurance but also determination.

He threw his tile with deliberate force. It arced smoothly through the air, a near-perfect trajectory. The sound of metal clashing against metal rang out as the tile hit the opponent's square directly, causing it to flip onto its back in one clean motion.

The audience erupted with applause. The first successful flip.

"Now you're getting it," Matches said, his voice unwavering as he turned back to Gi-hun, who had watched the throw with wide eyes.

Gi-hun nodded, his resolve strengthening. "Alright… I think I understand it now. I need to throw it smoother, not harder."

Matches smiled. "Exactly. Now we need to do it together."

However, as the game progressed, Lady Shiva remained just out of their line of sight. From the corner of the arena, she observed, and her patience was wearing thin. She knew how the game worked. It wasn't just about precision. It was about manipulating the other players. She silently moved to position herself between Matches and his next throw, inching closer and closer to where the ropes tied him to Gi-hun.

As Matches took a step forward, he suddenly felt an odd resistance, a shift in the rope. For just a second, it felt as though the rope had tightened unnaturally. He shot a quick look around, but saw nothing.

Lady Shiva's eyes narrowed with a quiet smile.

"Focus, Gi-hun," Matches muttered, unaware of the interference. "You've got this."

Round Two: Flying Stones

As the dust from the first round settled and the contestants began to catch their breath, the arena around them began to shift once again. The towering Dice Tower that had loomed overhead started to retract into the ground with a low mechanical hum. The atmosphere became heavier, charged with anticipation as the players could hear a new voice booming across the arena, more menacing and confident than the first.

"Welcome to Round Two: Flying Stones. This round will test your agility, your reaction time, and your ability to think on your feet under pressure. It is a game of precision, speed, and survival. You will stand on a raised platform in the center of the arena. The objective is simple: avoid the stones. The challenge? They come at you from all sides, and they come fast. They will fall from the sky and strike at random. Your task is to avoid them, stay on your feet, and survive. The catch: The longer you remain standing, the higher your score. The further you make it, the harder the stones will come."

The arena transformed before their eyes, shifting to resemble a vast open expanse, with platforms suspended in mid-air. The air felt thick, and Gi-hun could hear the hum of something massive overhead, like the wings of a flock of birds, or perhaps something far more sinister.

In the center of the arena, a massive circular platform, the size of a small house, hovered a few feet above the ground. The contestants were led to the platform one by one, their names echoing through the loudspeakers.

"Gi-hun. Matches. You're up."

Gi-hun's breath caught in his throat as his heart skipped a beat. The ground beneath him felt like it was trembling. He glanced nervously at Matches, who, despite the growing tension, cracked a confident smile.

"Let's do this," Matches muttered, adjusting his grip on the edge of the platform.

Gi-hun nodded in response, though the knot in his stomach was tightening. As he stepped onto the platform, he could feel the weight of the challenge ahead. The floor beneath him was solid, but the air was charged with tension, and the silence was unnerving. There were no obvious markings or defenses, no way to tell where the stones would come from next. It was as though the arena itself had become a trap.

The loudspeaker crackled to life once more, the voice booming across the arena.

"The Flying Stones will begin shortly. Get ready."

Gi-hun glanced upward, trying to catch a glimpse of what was coming. But the air was empty, no sign of movement. It was like the calm before a storm. Then, with a sudden whistle, the first stone shot through the air.

"Watch out!" Gi-hun shouted, instinctively ducking as the stone whizzed overhead, narrowly missing him.

The stone was like a boulder, black as coal, and it flew with terrifying speed, the wind whistling as it cut through the air. Gi-hun instinctively stepped backward, nearly losing his balance as another stone appeared out of nowhere, crashing against the side of the platform with a deafening sound.

"Stay on your toes!" Matches called from the corner of his eye, his stance wide, eyes darting around for the next threat.

Gi-hun felt his pulse quicken, his eyes wide, every nerve firing as he stood at the ready. The next stone came hurtling down from above, and this time, he didn't flinch. Instead, he sidestepped just in time, his heart racing, the adrenaline coursing through him as his foot barely brushed against the edge of the platform. He wasn't sure if he'd have the courage to do that again.

Round Two: Flying Stones - Conclusion

The arena was alive with tension, the air charged with an oppressive stillness as Gi-hun and Matches stood on the platform.

The first few moments of the round had been chaos. Stones the size of boulders had rained down from all directions, threatening to crush anything and anyone in their path. Matches, though steady, was visibly focused, his every movement calculated as he weaved and dodged with practiced grace. Gi-hun, on the other hand, was still trying to adjust to the overwhelming speed of the game. The weight of each stone felt like the very ground beneath his feet might collapse at any moment.

And then, it happened. A shift in the air. A sudden change in the rhythm.

Gi-hun barely had time to react as he heard the softest of whispers—a shadow moving too fast for the human eye to detect. His foot slipped on the slick platform, but just before he could fall, a stone came careening toward him. It was too close—he couldn't move fast enough to dodge it.

Thud.

The stone struck the platform with such force that the entire surface shook. Gi-hun felt the wind knocked out of him as he stumbled, nearly falling off the edge. The crowd gasped. A heavy silence followed, and for a split second, Gi-hun thought it was over.

But something was wrong. The stone hadn't just missed him—it had been intentionally diverted, its trajectory shifting just enough to avoid hitting him directly. Gi-hun's head whipped around, his eyes scanning the arena, seeking the cause. And there, standing in the shadows of the platform's edge, was Lady Shiva.

Her eyes were locked on him, her lips curled in a knowing smile, a silent acknowledgment that she was the one pulling the strings from behind the scenes. She hadn't acted yet—at least, not directly—but her presence had been felt. The stone, too, had been part of her design, aimed not to kill him, but to push him to the edge.

Gi-hun's heart raced. The awareness that Shiva had manipulated the game so subtly, with such precision, sent a cold shiver down his spine. She wasn't just watching them; she was playing them like pieces on a chessboard.

Matches, sensing the tension and noticing Gi-hun's distracted expression, snapped into action. "Gi-hun!" he barked. "Focus!"

Gi-hun shook his head, snapping out of the haze. He had to fight back. The stone that had nearly struck him was now buried in the platform, its jagged edges protruding, a clear danger. And the next wave of stones was already falling. He had no choice but to block out the unease and survive.

Another stone whizzed past, grazing Matches' shoulder, but he barely flinched, already moving to evade the next oncoming assault. He had anticipated this, kept his instincts sharp. The game wasn't just about dodging—it was about controlling the chaos. Outlast, outwit, and survive.

The platform trembled once more as the next barrage of stones began. The winds howled with their arrival, and this time, it was more intense—relentless. Stones seemed to come from every direction, crashing into the platform's surface with brutal force, dislodging chunks of the arena floor and creating dangerous debris. The air filled with the noise of grinding metal, the oppressive pressure of death inches away at all times.

Matches ducked low, narrowly avoiding a stone that flew over his head, spinning toward Gi-hun in midair. He felt the rope between them tighten once more, a subtle pull from the invisible force that tied them together. Gi-hun was too busy evading the barrage of stones to notice it, but Matches understood.

A moment of clarity struck him. They couldn't just survive this by relying solely on instinct. Gi-hun had to trust him—they had to trust each other, despite the invisible forces at play. Lady Shiva had made her move, but it was too late for her. They were still in this together.

"Gi-hun! Follow my lead!" Matches shouted over the deafening sound of the storm above. He leapt into action, pulling Gi-hun to the left with a swift tug of the rope.

They moved as one, synchronized by necessity, not just strength or agility, but pure willpower. Matches grabbed a nearby piece of debris, using it as a shield against the next barrage. Gi-hun, still unsure but now trusting the rhythm that Matches had established, followed his lead, dodging stones and using the environment to their advantage.

A stone the size of a car plummeted toward them. Gi-hun instinctively ducked, his heart racing. But Matches saw it coming. With a quick flick of his wrist, he yanked Gi-hun just enough to avoid the impact. The stone missed them both by mere inches, slamming into the ground with enough force to send shockwaves through the platform.

The force of the impact caused cracks to spider across the surface, and the platform began to tilt. Gi-hun's legs wobbled, his footing slipping again. But just as he teetered on the edge, Matches grabbed his arm, steadying him.

They were close. Only a few more moments, a few more seconds, and they'd survive this round. The final barrage was incoming, faster, more erratic. The arena seemed to pulse with excitement, as though the stones themselves were eager to see their struggle end.

Then, from the corner of his eye, Matches noticed something—a shadow leaping from the edge of the arena. Lady Shiva. Her silhouette was fleeting, but her intent was unmistakable. She was aiming for the weak link, and she had her sights on Gi-hun.

Matches didn't hesitate. He moved, cutting across the platform with inhuman speed, leaping into her path just as she lunged at Gi-hun.

The collision was swift, violent. Shiva's attack was a blur of motion, her arm slicing through the air like a razor. But Matches was already there, parrying her strike and using the momentum to throw her off balance. She staggered but regained her footing almost immediately, her eyes filled with fury.

"You're too late," Matches growled, stepping between her and Gi-hun.

Shiva's eyes flashed with cold fury, but she didn't press further. Instead, she disappeared back into the shadows of the arena, leaving Matches to watch her retreat with a mixture of respect and warning in his gaze.

The final stone barrage descended upon them—faster than ever before. This time, there was no room to dodge. The platform was buckling under the weight of the stones. The cracks beneath them widened, the platform shaking uncontrollably.

And then, with one final effort, Gi-hun leapt, his foot just catching the edge of the platform as it started to collapse beneath him. Matches reached out to grab his hand, pulling him to safety.

Both men stood there, panting, their bodies trembling from the adrenaline rush. They had survived.

But Shiva's presence lingered—unseen, but felt. She wasn't finished with them yet.

To be continued…