A ten-minute break was announced shortly after Sunset City’s swift victory, and the tension that had been building inside the stadium shifted into something lighter, but no less intense. The crowd didn’t leave their seats. If anything, they leaned deeper into the experience. Music pulsed through the speakers, lights dimmed and brightened in waves across the massive arena, and the giant screens replayed highlights from the previous matches. Slow-motion shots of Jenny’s finishing blow against Blaze drew cheers, while Michael’s rapid takedown of River Pines left many in disbelief all over again. “Did you see that kick?!” “No way that was under a minute.” “He’s not even sweating!” “He's so cool…” Conversations filled every corner of the stadium, strangers debated outcomes like lifelong rivals, pointing at screens, gesturing wildly, laughing, arguing. Food vendors moved quickly through the aisles, selling drinks and snacks to energized spectators who refused to miss a single second

The medical room carried a calm energy that didn’t match the chaos outside. Machines hummed softly, the giant screen mounted on the wall flickered with the ongoing match, and the low murmur of Xander’s teammates filled the space. Xander blinked slowly as he adjusted to the light. His chest felt tight, not painful, but heavy, like his heart had been pushed too far and was still catching up. He exhaled carefully and pushed himself up on his elbows, wincing slightly at the strain. On the screen, Isaac moved like a force of nature. One of Xander’s teammates leaned forward, eyes wide. “He’s a monster…” The statement wasn’t exaggerated. Isaac had one of the opposing fighters by the collar, lifted him clean off the ground, and slammed him down with brutal precision. The impact echoed even through the speakers. The other two fighters rushed him at the same time, but Isaac barely acknowledged them. He pivoted, grabbed one by the arm mid-strike, and used his momentum to throw him straight

Jenny staggered back the moment she tore herself free, her lungs dragging in air like they had forgotten how to work. Her hand instinctively flew to her throat as she coughed, eyes watering, voice strained but sharp with disbelief. “How is that… Allowed?” Her words carried just enough to reach the edge of the arena, where murmurs rippled through the crowd. It wasn’t outrage but something more complicated… Curiosity, excitement and an acceptance of the brutality they had all signed up to witness. High above, tucked behind tinted glass and dimmed luxury, the private section remained calm in contrast. One of the rich elites leaned back into his plush seat, swirling the liquid in his glass lazily. His lips curled slightly as he watched Mira’s stance, the tension in her shoulders and the restless energy in her movements. “She’s giddy.” Another man beside him adjusted his cufflinks, eyes never leaving the arena. “She lacks restraint.” At the center of it all, President Holt sat forwar

It was now nighttime, the audience had left. While some had mixed feelings and were not looking forward to the next part of the tournament, others were pumped and excited about the next part of it. In the medical room, Jenny’s eyes snapped open. The ceiling lights hit her immediately… Bright, harsh and blinding. She squinted hard, her vision struggling to adjust as everything came into focus in slow, uneven waves. For a moment, she didn’t move. She just lay there, breathing, trying to piece together where she was and what had happened. Then the pain reminded her, a sharp, dull ache throbbed from her arm. Not as unbearable as before, but still very much present. “Welcome back to the conscious.” A voice came from across the room. Jenny turned her head slightly, her movements careful, and spotted Xander sitting upright on another bed a short distance away. He looked relaxed, one leg hanging off the side, his attention split between her and the large screen mounted on the wall. Coin

Adrian and Jace moved too fast for most people watching to keep up with. From the outside, it looked like chaos, with burred movement, sharp turns and sudden impacts. But underneath it all, there was a clear difference between the two. Jace fought as hard as he could, his mechanical arm whirred and clicked with every movement, adjusting angles, compensating for force, reacting faster than a normal limb ever could. He used it to block, to strike, to anchor himself when Adrian tried to throw him off balance. But Adrian… He was something else. Years of real combat lived in his movements, not some training or simulation. He had fought the kind of battles where hesitation got you killed. Jace swung fast, but Adrian slipped past it like it with ease. A simple shift in weight, and he was already inside Jace’s guard, he threw a quick elbow strike to Jace's ribs, forcing the air out of him. Jace staggered back but recovered quickly, his mechanical arm snapping forward in a counterattack bu