Northwest Sector of the Arena
Pam's battleaxe swung in a wide arc. The fluorescent green blade caught the light as it cleaved through a cadet's shield. They went down. Eliminated.
"On your left!" Nara's voice cut through the chaos.
A bolt from her advanced crossbow whistled past Pam's ear. Hit a cadet trying to flank her. They dropped. Eliminated.
Pam didn't even turn. "I knew they were there."
"Oh, so you vere just LETTING them get close? How strategic."
"I had it under control!"
"Sure you did, darling."
They stood back to back now, surrounded by six cadets. Various species. All looking for easy points.
"After this," Pam said coldly, "we're done."
"Agreed. You are TERRIBLE company."
"Says the vampire who jumped my teammate!"
"Your FUTURE teammate, you mean. He vill be my husband!"
"IN YOUR DREAMS!"
Three cadets charged from the front.
Pam's axe came up, deflecting a blade. She spun, using the momentum to drive her weapon into another attacker's gut. Not lethal, but devastating. Eliminated.
Nara's crossbow fired in rapid succession. Three bolts. Three hits. The weapon was advanced, reloading automatically with energy-based projectiles. Two more eliminated.
"Not bad," Pam admitted.
"Was that a COMPLIMENT?"
"Don't let it go to your head."
The remaining three tried to regroup.
Too late.
Pam dashed forward, her Resonance-enhanced speed carrying her. Her axe swept low, taking out legs. Nara followed up, firing point-blank. The combo was seamless. Practiced, despite them never training together.
All three down. Eliminated.
They stood in the aftermath, breathing hard.
"That vas... acceptable teamvork," Nara said grudgingly.
"Barely," Pam replied.
"Now ve part vays, yes?"
"Absolutely."
They turned in opposite directions and walked away.
Neither looked back.
But both were smirking.
Eastern Sector
Kade was a blur of orange and black.
His claws raked across a cadet's chest plate. The sound of metal screeching. They stumbled back. His tail wrapped around their leg, yanking them off balance. His knee came up, connecting with their face. Eliminated.
Another came from the side. Kade's yellow Resonance aura flared. His speed doubled. He was behind them before they realized. Elbow to the spine. They went down. Eliminated.
"SEVEN!" Kade roared. "I claim seven eliminations! Witness my superiority!"
His enhanced senses picked up movement. Two figures approaching.
C'luppo emerged from behind a dune, tentacles swaying. McGee walked beside him, pistol drawn.
They stopped ten meters away.
Kade's tail lashed. "The squid and his human companion. How fortuitous."
"OI!" C'luppo's skin flashed angry red. "I got a NAME, kitty cat!"
"I am AWARE, cephalopod. I simply choose not to use it."
"Why you—"
A plasma bolt whizzed past Kade's head. He dodged effortlessly.
Tessa stood beside him now, rifle raised. "Two on one isn't fair."
"Tessa." Kade didn't look at her, but his voice softened slightly. "Your support is appreciated but unnecessary."
"I'm staying."
McGee sighed. "Great. Now we're all here."
C'luppo's tentacles pointed dramatically at Kade. "You think you're SO tough, yeah? Prancin' around with your fancy fur and your posh accent! Well I got NEWS for ya, mate! You ain't NOTHIN' compared to—"
"Your verbal inadequacy is showing," Kade interrupted. "Perhaps if you spent less time talking and more time training, you would pose an actual threat."
"INADEQUACY?! I'LL SHOW YOU INADEQUACY WHEN I—"
"Gentlemen," McGee said flatly. "Can we just fight already?"
"STAY OUT OF THIS, MCGEE!"
"Yeah McGee!" Kade agreed. "This is between me and the invertebrate!"
"I'M NOT AN INVERTEBRATE! I GOT A SKELETON! SORT OF!"
Tessa looked at McGee. McGee looked at Tessa. They both sighed simultaneously.
Then the scoreboard updated.
CURRENT LEADER:LYRIELLE XISTRITH - 12 POINTS
Everyone stopped.
C'luppo's tentacles went limp. "Bloody hell..."
McGee's eyes widened. "Twelve?!"
Kade stared at the scoreboard. His tail went completely rigid. His golden eyes fixated on the name. On that image of the silver-haired warrior.
"Twelve..." His voice came out breathy. "She has... twelve points..."
"Oh for the love of—" C'luppo's skin turned purple with amusement. "IS THE KITTY GETTIN' HOT AND BOTHERED?!"
"I AM NOT!"
"YOU TOTALLY ARE! LOOK AT YER FACE!"
"I am merely... acknowledging her tactical prowess!"
"YER TAIL'S WAGGIN', MATE!"
"IT IS NOT WAGGING! It is... oscillating with strategic enthusiasm!"
McGee was trying not to laugh. Failing.
Even Tessa giggled behind her rifle.
Juli's Position
Juli whistled, low and impressed. "Twelve points. Not bad."
Stone nodded. "Damn. Girl's a beast."
Broadcast Booth
Larry's jaw was on the floor. "LYRIELLE XISTRITH! TWELVE POINTS! SHE'S TAKEN THE LEAD! WHERE DID SHE EVEN COME FROM?!"
Jango was grinning, eyes twinkling. "Told ya. Dark horse. That gal's been workin' quiet-like, pickin' off targets nobody saw comin'. Smart. Efficient. Deadly."
"THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!"
"Sure does." Jango took a long sip of his soda. "Sure does."
Juli and Stone's Position
The tension returned. The cameras refocused.
Two fighters. Face to face.
Stone extended his hand. "Stone Jackson. Terra Sector. Nice to meet you for real."
Juli took it. Firm grip. "Julian Weiper. Outer Rim. Likewise."
They released. Stepped back.
Stone dropped into a boxing stance. Orthodox. Left foot forward. Hands up. Elbows in. Classic. Solid. His cybernetic arm gleamed.
Juli's hands came out of his pockets.
He rolled his shoulders. Shook out his legs. Then dropped into his stance.
Side-on. Weight on his back leg. Front leg light, almost hovering. Hands up but relaxed. Open palms. Fingers loose. His body language screamed coiled spring. Ready to explode. He started bouncing. Light on his feet. Up and down. Side to side. Bruce Lee-esque. Energy radiating off him.
The cameras captured every detail.
"Alright," Juli said, still bouncing. "Let's see what you got, cyborg."
"Let's dance, blondie."
They started to circle.
Then shadows fell over them.
Juli glanced up. A figure descended from above, wings spread wide. Blue and gold feathers catching the light.
Javar landed beside Juli, grin massive. "YO! Hope yuh don't mind, blonde yout'! Figured we team up temporary-like!"
Juli's grin widened. "The more the merrier!"
Stone's cybernetic eye tracked movement to his right. Someone approaching fast.
Polo emerged from behind a rock formation. Silent. His dual pistols holstered. His black eyes locked onto the scene.
He stopped beside Stone. Didn't say a word.
Stone glanced at him. "Guess we're doing this then."
Polo's only response was to rest his hand on his pistol grip.
The cameras went WILD.
Split screen. Four faces.
JULIAN WEIPER & JAVAR
VS
STONE JACKSON & POLO ROSSI
Production managers were losing their minds. "GET EVERY ANGLE! EVERY SINGLE ANGLE!"
Larry was practically foaming. "THIS IS IT! THIS IS THE MOMENT! THREE OF JANGO'S TOP FIVE! ALL IN ONE FIGHT! WAIT— JANGO! JANGO! WHAT ABOUT JAVAR?! HE WASN'T IN YOUR TOP FIVE!"
Jango leaned forward, setting down his soda. "Well now, Larry, I only got five fingers to count with. But that bird boy? He's top five QUALITY, make no mistake. Been watchin' his footage. Aerial combat mastery. Them feather projectiles. Hand-to-hand that's cleaner than most veterans I seen. He's right there with 'em."
"SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY FOUR TOP-TIER FIGHTERS IN ONE BATTLE?!"
"Yessir. This right here? This is what we call a CLASH."
Larry looked ready to explode with excitement. "THE GALAXY IS GETTING THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY!"
Across the galaxy, trillions of beings stopped what they were doing.
Viewing centers fell silent.
Homes. Ships. Command centers. Everywhere.
Everyone watching.
Waiting.
Juli and Javar on one side. Stone and Polo on the other.
The wind picked up. Sand swirled between them.
Four warriors.
One arena.
The Crucible had just become a war zone.