With a sound like rushing air, Ryan's team broke the surface of the Sunken Arena's entry pool. They emerged from the dark depths into the bright, noisy reality of the Crucible.
For a moment, they just floated there, treading water and breathing in real, non-recycled air. The massive screens all around the stadium, which had been showing the chaotic battle below, now focused entirely on them.
Ryan held up the Heart of the Leviathan. The glowing blue crystal pulsed with a soft, steady light, a beacon of their victory.
A wave of stunned silence washed over the massive crowd, followed by a roar of disbelief and applause. The spectators jumped to their feet.
The team from Sector Gamma, the newcomers, the dark horse with no special gear, had done it again. They had won the second event, a challenge that should have been impossible for them.
