The competition's second round was about to begin. Rajiv stood among the competitors, scanning the faces around him. Something felt different this time.
A tournament official stepped forward. "For this round, fighters will be placed into teams. Work together to survive, but remember—only the strongest will advance."
As the teams were announced, Rajiv's heart sank.
Yokudo was placed on a different team.
Rajiv's Team
Rajiv was grouped with three new teammates:
An English boy with dark brown hair and a confident stance, who introduced himself as Ethan.
Another English boy with a more serious expression, his arms crossed, named Arthur.
A Korean girl with a sharp gaze and twin daggers strapped to her sides. She simply said, "Jisoo."
Ethan grinned. "So, this is our team? Not bad."
Arthur nodded. "Let's just hope we don't slow each other down."
Jisoo examined her daggers before speaking. "We should focus on strategy, not talk."
Rajiv smirked. "Fine by me."
Yokudo's New Team
Yokudo, meanwhile, found himself standing with:
A Chinese boy with sharp eyes and a focused expression.
A Chinese girl wielding twin swords, her stance relaxed but precise.
An English boy, who had a smug smirk and seemed amused by the situation.
The English boy chuckled. "Guess we're stuck together."
The Chinese girl remained silent, sizing everyone up. The boy beside her cracked his knuckles.
Yokudo exhaled. I have to prove myself, even without Rajiv by my side.
Anil's Discovery
Elsewhere, Anil wandered through the ruins of the arena during a short break before the round began. He had strayed from his team, drawn by a strange sensation in the air.
Then he saw it.
A small, glowing artifact embedded in the ground. It pulsed with energy.
Anil smirked. "What do we have here?"
As soon as he touched it, a surge of power rushed through his body. His veins burned, and his energy output spiked. He clenched his fists, feeling stronger than ever.
"This… is interesting."
He hid the object, knowing it could be his key to winning.
Arrival of the Nobles
The coliseum buzzed as noble officials entered the grandstands. The crowd fell silent as the ruling family of A1 City arrived—dressed in elegant robes, their presence radiating authority.
Among them was Edmund Lancaster, the noble champion and Rajiv's target. He sat calmly, watching with an unreadable expression.
Rajiv felt his pulse quicken. So, the nobles want to see what we can do? Fine. I'll show them.
The round was about to begin.