The arena lights faded. Alpha and Beta stepped out the team regrouping around them. Injuries gone. Bodies restored. No scars left behind. Artificial healing. Artificial mercy. The announcer's voice sliced through the comms. "Well now… we have our final contenders. Five teams left standing. Five teams that have caught the eyes of the higher-ups."
A pause.
"Why don't we make this interesting?" Light engulfed them again. No rest. No preparation. No time to breathe. They were thrown into the next battlefield instantly. This time, they moved differently.
No hesitation.
No chaos.
They understood each other now. Positions. Signals. Timing. Beta's fingers flicked subtly. Surrounded. Omega exhaled. A thick mist swallowed the team whole. An enemy rushed blindly into it the mist contracted. Compressed. Then exploded outward into razor-thin shards. The body dropped with hollow thuds, punctured through. Another enemy ducked behind cover Too late. Beta rose from his shadow. A quiet snap. Neck broken. Alpha moved next. Clean. Efficient. A blood blade passed through one opponent in a single stroke. Zeta's hammer crushed another. Gamma pierced the last. Silence. Then
"Well would you look at that."
Heavy footsteps. A massive man approached. A girl sat casually on his shoulder, green eyes gleaming with mockery. Zeta moved first. Too fast. A spear formed in her hand as she dashed forward A blood tendril wrapped around her waist mid-strike and yanked her backward. A battle axe smashed into the ground where she had been standing. The shockwave tore through the battlefield. When the dust cleared A man stood balanced on the handle of the axe. Omicron badge gleaming. "It's good to see you here, Vector," the green-haired girl called lazily. "Wouldn't miss this," he replied. He leapt down. The axe swung with monstrous force. A pillar of bone erupted from the ground, blocking the strike. Vector blurred. Reappeared in front of Alpha. Swing after swing after swing. Alpha dodged narrowly, blood tendrils flowing from his back as skeletal constructs formed around him. A massive bone hand grabbed the axe mid-swing. Another arm formed and smashed Vector backward. "Alpha, switch!" Beta's staff blitzed past him, colliding with the axe in a shockwave of force. A skeletal arm erupted beneath Alpha, launching him into the air.
His mark expanded.
Green creeping toward his left eye.
Golden irises shifting.
Burning.
Blue.
"Burn bright, kiddo," Hades whispered. Alpha locked onto Flux the massive brute standing unmoved. Too big. Too obvious. Too confident. Flames ignited red Shifted blue Blazed brighter and collided with Flux's body in a blinding explosion. The arena vanished in white. When the light faded Flux's arm was wrapped around Alpha's torso. He hurled him across the field. A thin blood string hardened mid-air, tethering Alpha back toward Flux An orange blur sliced through it instantly. Alpha and Flux were blasted apart. The dust settled. She stood there. Orange hair flowing in the wind.
Cold.
Precise.
Deadly.
The battle had shifted. Three sides now. Flux charged her. She stepped forward calmly. Tapped his joints once Twice Then slammed her palm into the ground. Blood strings erupted from beneath the earth, pulling Flux violently downward. Tree roots burst through the soil, coiling around him like serpents.
He roared.
Trapped.
She turned to Alpha. "So… Five. Why don't we change the outcome from last time?" Blood wrapped around her fists, forming gauntlets. She dashed. Tendrils anchored Alpha to the ground. He ducked her first punch. Roots coiled around his leg Flames erupted, burning them away. "At least let's do this right." She smirked.
"Blood only."
She pointed.
"What do you say, One?"
One stepped forward.
"No."
Her voice was steady.
"It's Epsilon now."
She grabbed Alpha's fists.
Her free arm drove into his gut, knocking the air from his lungs. Alpha countered Barely clipping her cheek. A thin cut formed. His gauntlet reshaped mid-motion. He kicked her leg. She staggered. Freed. Epsilon's fists moved like memory. Precise. Efficient. She deflected his strike. Alpha noticed the string attached to his wrist Too late. She yanked him forward. He severed it with a tendril mid-flight. Tendrils erupted from his back moving like tails, lashing at her. She sliced through them and closed distance instantly. She slid past him. Heel rising Alpha blocked but she used his body as leverage, pivoting upward and slamming her knee into his face. He crashed down. Blood dripping. He stood again. Raised two fingers. Epsilon flinched. A memory.
Frozen peaks.
A split second.
That was all he needed.
Alpha lunged.
His fists connected. Now they stood facing each other. Smiling. No hatred. Just challenge. They dashed simultaneously. A blue aura igniting around them Fists about to collide Alpha blinked. They were back at camp. The announcer's voice echoed overhead. "[Theta], [Omicron], [Epsilon]." A pause. "You three have caught the eyes of the higher-ups." Silence filled the arena. "Congratulations. You are now ranked Stratēgos." The rest of the cadets stood frozen. "The remaining participants will assume the rank of Logistēs." The lights dimmed. A new chapter of power had begun.