The battles continued.
Some were boring. Some were impressive.
But the atmosphere shifted when the announcer called the next set of names.
"Next Match! Group 11 vs Group 4!"
The crowd went silent, then erupted into a roar louder than any previous match.
"Alex Edelhart vs Ariana Flamehart!"
The Heir to the Edelhart Duchy vs The Daughter of the Flamehart Duchy.
A battle of high nobility.
"Finally," Ariana's voice drifted from the other side of the prep area.
She walked out. She wasn't looking at the crowd. She was looking at me.
Her eyes were burning. Not with the petty annoyance from yesterday, but with a deep, humiliated rage.
"Don't run away, Edelhart," she hissed as we passed each other on the stairs. "I prepared something special for trash like you."
I smiled, adjusting my cuffs.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Ariana."
I stepped into the arena.
[System Notification: Main Event Triggered.] [Opponent: Ariana Flamehart (Heroine/Rival)] [Objective: Dominate.]
