The platform beneath Adam began to rise after the fight, lifting him out of the dark arena and back into the steel-walled room where he and his team had woken up. His body ached, and his energy felt drained, but his mind was sharp, racing to piece together what was happening. The walls of the room seemed colder now, the dim lights flickering as he stepped off the platform.
One by one, his teammates returned. Elizabeth appeared first, her frost-coated boots clicking against the metallic floor as she walked over to him. She looked tired but composed, brushing a lock of icy hair from her face.
"Adam," she greeted, her tone as calm as ever. "I assume your fight wasn't simple either."
He shook his head. "No. Something's wrong here. This isn't just a tournament."
Max came next, his plasma still flickering faintly in his palms as he stepped off his platform. His normally cocky grin was replaced with a tense frown. "That guy I fought? He wasn't some student looking for a trophy. He moved like a trained killer."
Elizabeth nodded. "Same here. Whoever these opponents are, they're not amateurs."
Tyler was the last to return, his light dim as he staggered off the platform. He leaned against a nearby wall, catching his breath. "My guy was fast—too fast. It's like they knew exactly how to counter me."
Adam crossed his arms, his sharp gaze scanning his teammates. "This isn't about skill or school rankings. This is a setup. They're testing us for something, but I don't know what."
Before anyone could respond, a door on the far side of the room slid open with a hiss. A group of masked attendants entered, carrying trays of food and medical supplies. They placed them on a table without a word before leaving just as silently.
Max frowned. "They're not even trying to explain anything, huh?"
Elizabeth approached the table cautiously, inspecting the supplies. "It's all standard. Food, water, bandages. Nothing strange about it."
Adam stepped forward, grabbing a bottle of water and taking a small sip. "Whatever they're planning, we're going to need our strength. Rest up. We'll figure out what's next."
The team sat around the table, tending to their wounds and eating in silence. The weight of the unknown hung over them, making every bite feel like a chore.
After some time, a faint chime echoed through the room. A holographic screen flickered to life on one of the walls, displaying a stern-looking man in an ornate uniform. His voice boomed through the room, commanding and cold.
"Congratulations, combatants. You have survived the first round. You've shown promise, but this was only the beginning."
Adam's eyes narrowed as he studied the man's face. "Who is this guy?" he muttered.
The man continued, "You will have three days to recover and prepare before the second round begins. The next stage will be held publicly, and you will face challenges beyond your imagination. Rest well—you'll need it."
The screen vanished, leaving the room in silence once more.
Max leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "Three days? That's not much time to figure out what's going on."
Elizabeth crossed her arms, her icy demeanor firm. "We don't have a choice. We'll use the time we have."
Adam stood, his fox cloak flickering faintly behind him. "Three days or three years—it doesn't matter. We'll be ready. But we need to stay focused. Whatever this is, we're in it together."
The group exchanged nods, a silent agreement passing between them. They didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: they would face it together.
Adam glanced at the sealed door, his mind churning with questions. He didn't trust the silence, the gas, or the masked attendants. Something dark was brewing beneath the surface of this tournament, and he intended to uncover it.
As the team retreated to their assigned rooms to rest, Adam lingered for a moment, staring at the dim lights overhead. He clenched his fists, the blue flames of his fox cloak sparking faintly.
"They think they can control us," he muttered under his breath. "They're wrong."