Across the arena, the three armored Starfire students tightened their grips on their weapons.
Their helmets reflected the arena lights, unreadable.
But even they seemed to hesitate.
The suits still shone. Their resonance was still active. Their formation perfect.
But now, so was Kain's team.
Aegis cracked his knuckles.
Queen and her guards' stingers glinted ominously under the stadium lights.
The Lustral Veil Hare bowed slightly, as if in greeting.
The crowd waited, breathless.
The announcer cleared his throat. "Commence… the 5v5!"
The signal flared.
The match began.
The first clash happened almost instantly.
Starfire's sole 5-star beast-tamer, a large and burly man built like a tank, lunged forward and slammed into Aegis with a blow that might have sent any other contract flying.
But Aegis didn't budge.
Stone creaked. The air pulsed. His passive shield activated and burst outward in a concussive ripple, throwing the suited student backward ten meters.
