"Well now," Jango drawled, rocking slowly on his porch as Team 9 prepared to leave. "Reckon y'all learned somethin' these past weeks."
"Learned that stick of yours has perfect aim," Juli groaned from where Kade was carrying him piggyback style. His face still had a slight green tint. "But I reckon it was worth it, partner."
The terrible accent made Jango's mouth twitch upward. "Git now, fool."
"Still weak from motion sickness," Kade announced, adjusting Juli's weight. "Behold the mighty warrior, defeated by transportation."
"When I feel better, you're dead."
Pam adjusted her glasses. "The first challenge is the comprehensive examination. I've tutored Juli extensively."
"And?" Jango's clouded eye fixed on her.
"He'll pass. Barely."
"HEY!"
Jango chuckled. "Git now. And boy? Don't disappoint me."
Juli grinned despite his nausea. "Wouldn't dream of it, old timer."
---
**Chrono Sector, Training Facility**
"I'm tellin' ya, it's BOLLOCKS! ABSOLUTE BOLLOCKS!" The squid-like alien gestured wildly with multiple tentacles, his skin flashing between purple and orange in rapid succession. "There's NO BLOODY WAY some random academy CHILD went toe-to-toe with the Blue Butcher, innit?!"
"Your face is doing the seizure thing again," the human teen with messy brown hair said dryly, not looking up from his datapad. "Super scary."
"OI! SHUT YER TRAP!"
Above them, perched upside down on a ceiling beam, a bird-like alien with brilliant blue and gold feathers casually flipped through a magazine. His tail feathers swayed lazily. An unmistakable bulge was visible in his pants as he turned a page, completely unbothered.
"JAVAR!" A girl with short black hair and red streaks stormed over, hands on hips. "Are you SERIOUSLY reading porn AND sporting wood in a PUBLIC training facility?!"
"Educational material, Miki gyal!" His accent was so thick it was almost incomprehensible. "Me just appreciatin' di fine art, ya see? Cultural studies an' ting! Very important fi mi personal development, zeen?"
"That's literally called 'Tentacles and Temptation Volume 3'!"
"See? Educational!" Javar didn't even look embarrassed about his situation. "Learnin' 'bout di different species an' how dem—"
"THAT'S MY MAGAZINE, YOU FEATHERED PERVERT!" the squid alien shrieked.
"Was fi yuh magazine," Javar corrected, grinning. "Now it mine, bloodclaat."
The human teen snorted. "You guys are walking disasters."
Miki rubbed her temples. "ANYWAY. Before we got completely derailed by Javar's public indecency—"
"Not indecent! Just honest 'bout mi appreciation!"
"—I wanted to talk about the rumors. About that cadet, Julian Weiper." She pulled up a holographic image. "They're saying he fought Ragnar. The actual Blue Butcher."
Javar's head snapped down from the ceiling so fast his magazine flew away. His eyes went HUGE, pupils dilating. The bulge in his pants somehow got MORE prominent. "WHAAAAAT?! YUH SERIOUS?! DI SKINNY BLONDE YOUT' FIGHT DI BLUE BUTCHA?! NAH MAN! NAH!"
"Reports say he held his own long enough for Unit 212 to arrive," the human added.
"RAAAAAAS!" Javar dropped from the ceiling in a crouch, feathers exploding outward with excitement. His whole body vibrated. "YO! YO YO YO! If dat true, DIS TOURNAMENT GONNA BE MAAAAAD! Me HAFFI fight him! Test miself 'gainst someone who face down a legend! Di pressure! Di glory! WICKED!"
---
**Various Sectors - NPC Reactions**
In Fang Sector, a reptilian cadet slammed his tray. "NEIN! NEIN NEIN NEIN! Zis is impossible! He looks like he vould lose to ein butterfly!"
"JA! My money says fake!"
---
In Avion Sector, a bird-like alien gesticulated wildly. "Mama mia! My cousin's instructor's brother's SISTER works medical on Verdara! She say this blonde ragazzo, he come in with injuries that kill ANYONE else! But he SMILE! SMILE WHILE BLEEDING!"
"Che cazzo?!"
"EXACTLY! Pazzo! Crazy!"
---
In Aquos Sector, two fish-like aliens floated in a pool.
"I heard Julian Weiper went TWEN'Y rounds with the Blue Butcher!"
"TWEN'Y?! Shoot, I heard it was FIFTY!"
"Y'all are BOTH wrong! I heard he BEAT Ragnar! Made him CRY!"
A third alien surfaced. "I heard you're all idiots spreading nonsense like gossiping housewives."
---
In Terra Sector, a massive four-armed alien laughed so hard he fell off his bench. "HAAA! FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD?! Fighting Ragnar?! WHAT IS NEXT, BABY DEFEATING SQUAD CAPTAIN?! AHAHAHAHA!"
His friend didn't laugh. "Unit 212 confirmed it."
The laughter stopped immediately. "...Blyat."
---
In Frost Sector, a group of cadets sat in uncomfortable silence. One finally spoke. "If these rumors prove factual, we are categorically screwed, chaps."
"Perhaps he merely got lucky once?"
"Would you care to wager your entire tournament participation on 'perhaps he got lucky'?"
Longer silence.
"...I would not."
---
In Verdant Sector, a plant-like alien swayed. "I. Do. Not. Understand. The. Concern. One. Exceptional. Individual. Does. Not. Diminish—"
"OKAY WE GET IT, YOU TALK SLOW!"
---
**Steel Sector, Elite Training Wing**
The room was darker, more refined. Four figures stood around a holographic display.
"Julian Weiper," a feminine voice purred. The speaker was pale, ghostly white, with vampiric features and dark lips. "The boy who danced vith death and survived."
She traced a finger across Juli's holographic face, her breath quickening. Her pupils dilated into slits. "Look at him. That defiant expression. Those eyes. That reckless courage." She bit her lower lip. "He is MINE!"
"Oh no," the younger Saurian with vibrant green scales muttered. "Here we go."
"I AM CALLING IT NOW!" She spun dramatically, pointing at the others. "Julian Veiper is my FUTURE HUSBAND! Already decided! Ve vill have beautiful violent children!"
"You can't just claim random people!"
"I JUST DID! Future husband! The vedding vill be in vinter! Dark and romantic! I vill make him bleed on our vedding night!" She clutched the hologram to her chest, practically hyperventilating. "And then ve vill—"
"Please stop," the Saurian begged.
"Never! He is MINE! Anyone who touches him vill answer to ME!" Her fangs extended. "I vill drain them dry!"
A butterfly-like alien fluttered near the ceiling, wings shimmering. "Oh, let her have her fantasy." She giggled musically. "But what about you, Captain? You've been awfully quiet."
The fourth figure stood apart, studying Juli's profile with intense focus. He wore a sleek military-style cap, black with silver trim. His uniform was immaculate, double holsters carrying identical pistols on his hips. Everything about him screamed precision and discipline.
"Captain?" the butterfly girl pressed playfully.
He didn't respond. His eyes remained locked on Juli's holographic face. That cheeky grin frozen in the database photo.
His hand rested on his pistol grip.
Silence stretched.
The vampiric girl finally noticed. "Oh? Captain interested too? Vell, TOO BAD! I called—"
"Give him space," the Saurian said quietly, respectful.
The captain said nothing. Didn't move. Just stared.
And as he stood there, the light caught him differently.
His hair.
Red.
Not orange. Not brown. Not any other shade that could be mistaken.
Red. Pure, unmistakable red that flowed from beneath his cap in short, sharp strands. The same shade that had saved a dying boy and his mother years ago. The same shade that belonged to one of the Four Great Titans.
The light shifted again, illuminating his cap.
The emblem.
A flame crest, identical in every detail to the one a certain blonde boy kept hidden close to his heart. The symbol of a hero. The mark of a legend.
Two boys.
Two flame crests.
Both touched by the same man.
Both carrying pieces of the same legacy.
One wore his connection hidden, a secret promise against his chest.
The other wore his openly, a declaration on his brow.
The captain's eyes never left Juli's holographic face. That frozen moment of defiance and reckless courage.
Outside, the void stretched endlessly.
Stars burned in the darkness.
And somewhere in that vast expanse, two paths were converging.
Fate, it seemed, had a sense of irony.
The tournament was coming.
And destiny wore red hair.