Aries Host Planet, Capital Arena
The planet gleamed. Pristine. Advanced. The entire surface seemed designed for this moment. For THIS event.
The arena itself was a marvel of engineering. A massive colosseum that could house a million beings comfortably. Holographic screens everywhere, ensuring no seat had a bad view. The architecture was both ancient and futuristic, honoring warrior traditions while embracing cutting-edge technology.
And it was PACKED.
Gates opened hours ago. Still, the crowds came. Millions. Literal millions. Every species imaginable. Flooding through security checkpoints. Finding seats. Buying merchandise. The energy was electric.
This wasn't just a tournament.
This was THE event of the year.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! BEINGS OF ALL SPECIES! SYSTEMS! SECTORS!" Larry's voice exploded across every speaker, every screen, every broadcast device in the known galaxy. "WELCOME! WELCOME TO THE INTER-ACADEMY TOURNAMENT FINALS!"
The crowd ROARED.
"I AM YOUR HOST, LARRY VENKMAN, AND BESIDE ME ONCE AGAIN IS THE LEGENDARY JANGO! OLD TIMER, CAN YOU FEEL THIS ENERGY?!"
Jango sat in the commentary booth, soda in hand, grinning. "Yep. This right here's what it's all about."
"TRILLIONS ARE WATCHING! BILLIONS IN ATTENDANCE! THIS IS HISTORY, FOLKS! THE STRONGEST GENERATION OF CADETS IN DECADES! SIXTEEN WARRIORS! ONE CHAMPION!"
Across the Galaxy
Viewing centers were at maximum capacity. Overflow crowds watched on outdoor screens. Families gathered around holographic displays. Workplaces had shut down for the day. Even schools were closed.
This was bigger than sports. This was cultural. Galactic.
Unknown Sector, Raider Outpost
A rough establishment. Pirates. Mercenaries. Outlaws. All gathered around screens, drinks in hand.
"Ten thousand credits on the blonde kid!" one shouted.
"You're crazy! I'm betting on the Rossi boy!"
"The elf girl's gonna sweep!"
Money changed hands. Bets placed. Even criminals respected good fighting.
In the corner, cloaked and hooded, a massive figure sat alone. Blue-gray fur barely visible beneath the fabric. Golden eyes fixed on the screen.
On Julian Weiper's profile.
Ragnar smiled beneath his hood.
Show them, boy. Show them what I saw.
The Arena
Larry's voice continued. "NOW! Before we begin, let me explain the BRACKET SYSTEM!"
The massive holographic display shifted, showing the tournament structure.
"Round of sixteen! The matchups are determined by your Crucible rankings! That's right! Number one faces number sixteen! Number two faces number fifteen! And so on! This ensures the top performers earn favorable matchups!"
The crowd murmured. Made sense. Fair.
"BUT!" Larry's voice hit a new pitch. "FROM THE QUARTERFINALS ONWARD? IT'S COMPLETELY RANDOM!"
Silence. Then CHAOS.
"WHAT?!"
"RANDOM?!"
"THAT'S INSANE!"
"Our supercomputer will randomly generate matchups for every round after the round of sixteen! NO SEEDING! NO PREDICTIONS! PURE CHANCE! You could face ANYONE! The weakest seed could face the strongest! ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!"
Jango chuckled. "Keeps it interesting. Can't strategize for specific opponents if ya don't know who you're fightin' next."
"EXACTLY! This tournament REWARDS adaptability! Skill! The ability to face ANY challenge!"
The galaxy exploded with excitement. Social feeds went wild. Debates erupted instantly.
The Arrival
"AND NOW!" Larry stood from his seat. "IT IS MY HONOR! MY PRIVILEGE! TO INTRODUCE THE TWELVE CONSTELLATION SQUAD CAPTAINS!"
The arena fell silent.
A massive door at the far end opened. Light poured through.
"FIRST! From Leo Squad! The Lioness herself! CAPTAIN BIANCA ROSSI!"
She walked through.
The resemblance was STRIKING. Red hair, just like her brother. Long. Flowing. Bright as fire. Her features were sharp, beautiful, carrying that same charismatic warmth the RED-haired Titan possessed. But her eyes held calculation. Purpose.
Her armor was pristine. Orange accents. A lion emblem on her chest plate, roaring and proud. She moved with grace and power simultaneously.
Behind her, an officer carried the Leo Squad flag. Orange with the golden lion.
The crowd ROARED.
Juli, watching from the waiting area, felt his breath catch. She looks just like him.
"NEXT! From Scorpio Squad! The Gentleman Tactician! CAPTAIN OLIVIER LACROIX!"
He emerged with perfect posture. French. Sophisticated. His moustache and beard were immaculately groomed, forming that classic combination. Light green goggles rested on his forehead. His uniform was tailored perfectly, light green with a scorpion emblem stitched in black.
His officer followed with the Scorpio flag. Light green with the black scorpion.
Polite applause. Lacroix tipped an invisible hat.
Jango saw him and nodded with respect. Old colleagues.
"FROM ARIES SQUAD! THE RAM HIMSELF! YOUR HOST CAPTAIN! K.J. GOLDBERG!"
The arena EXPLODED.
Goldberg was MASSIVE. Seven feet easily. Three arms, each muscled beyond belief. Bald head that gleamed under the lights. A golden-brown beard that was somehow both intimidating and majestic. His skin had a unique bronze tint, marking his alien heritage from Terra Sector.
His armor was red. Crimson. A ram emblem prominent on his chest, horns curled and aggressive.
He FLEXED all three arms simultaneously.
The crowd lost their minds.
"PASSION! WARRIORS! THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!" His voice boomed without a microphone.
His officer struggled to keep up, carrying the massive Aries flag. Red with the bronze ram.
"FROM AQUARIUS SQUAD! The Water Maiden! CAPTAIN SERAPHINA XISTRITH!"
She didn't walk. She seemed to glide.
Ethereal. Angelic. Silver hair like Lyrielle but longer, flowing past her waist. The same blue tribal markings covered her face and visible skin, but hers glowed faintly. Her pointed ears were decorated with delicate jewelry. Her presence was calming yet commanded absolute attention.
Her armor was light blue. Flowing like water itself. A wave emblem across her chest, elegant and dynamic.
Lyrielle, watching, stood straighter. Pride and pressure mixing.
Her officer carried the Aquarius flag. Light blue with the silver ocean wave.
"FROM TAURUS SQUAD! The Unstoppable Force! CAPTAIN SPARTA THE SECOND!"
A BEAR walked through. Literally. A warrior bear. Eight feet of muscle and fur. From Claw Sector. His species was rare, powerful, terrifying.
But there was majesty in his movement. Honor. His armor was purple, heavy plating designed for his massive frame. A bull emblem on his chest, fierce and charging.
His golden eyes swept the arena. Everyone felt the weight.
Ruskovitz, watching from a different section, grinned. His squad captain. His leader.
The officer carrying the Taurus flag looked tiny beside him. Purple with the silver bull.
"FROM LIBRA SQUAD! The Balanced Blade! CAPTAIN LOUIS VORS KIEL!"
Pam's breath stopped.
Her father walked through.
Tall. Imposing. His face was cold. Those same hollow silver eyes. His armor was pure white, pristine and unblemished. A balancing scale emblem on his chest, perfectly symmetrical.
He looked exactly like Pam remembered. Exactly like her nightmares.
Kade noticed her reaction. Put a hand on her shoulder.
The officer carried the Libra flag. White with black scales.
"FROM GEMINI SQUAD! The Twin Terror! CAPTAIN FANG!"
Jango sat up straighter.
Fang looked like Jango in his prime. Same Saurian features. But younger. Sharper. His scales were vibrant green with darker patterns. He wore sunglasses and a confident smirk. His cowboy hat was sleeker, more modern.
His armor was brown with mirror emblems on each shoulder. Representing duality. Twins.
He caught sight of the commentary booth. Pointed at his father. Jango raised his soda in salute.
The officer carried the Gemini flag. Brown with silver mirrors.
"FROM SAGITTARIUS SQUAD! The Serpent Archer! CAPTAIN SAMUEL BARRAGAN!"
He moved like a snake. Literally. His body language was fluid, unsettling. Pale skin. Long black hair. Sharp features that seemed too perfect. His smile was wide and somehow wrong.
His armor was bronze with a bow emblem across his chest, arrow drawn and ready.
Champion of House Barragan. One of the five great nobles.
His officer carried the Sagittarius flag. Bronze with the silver bow.
"FROM PISCES SQUAD! The Deep Predator! CAPTAIN RORI DE LHYS!"
A shark walked through. Blue skin. Gills visible on his neck. Rows of teeth when he grinned. From the ocean worlds of the Azure Sector.
His armor was navy blue with a fish emblem, sleek and predatory.
House de Lhys. Another noble family.
His officer carried the Pisces flag. Navy blue with the white fish.
"FROM VIRGO SQUAD! The Blade Maiden! CAPTAIN SAYA NAKAMURA!"
She was FIERCE. Japanese features. Long black hair tied in a warrior's topknot. Her armor was dark military green, designed like ancient samurai plating but modernized. A wheat emblem on her chest, simple but strong.
Her presence was sharp. Cutting. Every female cadet in the arena sat taller.
Virgo Squad. All female. All warriors.
Her officer, also female, carried the Virgo flag with pride. Dark green with golden wheat.
"FROM CANCER SQUAD! The Tidal Crusher! CAPTAIN C'VERI CHECHCHERIN!"
C'luppo's jaw dropped.
His older cousin walked through. Same Cephalari species but BIGGER. More tentacles. Scarred. Battle-hardened. His skin shifted colors rapidly, displaying power.
His armor was light pink, which somehow looked terrifying on him. A crab emblem across his chest, claws open and ready.
C'luppo felt both pride and terror.
The officer carried the Cancer flag. Light pink with the red crab.
"AND FINALLY! FROM CAPRICORN SQUAD! The Golden Mountain! CAPTAIN K.J. ANDRE'!"
Goldberg's brother emerged.
Same species. Three arms. But younger. Hair instead of bald—long and flowing. Different facial features. More refined where Goldberg was raw.
His armor was yellow, bright and bold. A mountain goat emblem on his chest, standing on impossible peaks.
The brothers made eye contact. Nodded. Rivalry and respect.
The officer carried the Capricorn flag. Yellow with the brown goat.
The VIP Box
All twelve captains entered the elevated seating area. Flags planted behind their respective chairs. They sat together, united yet separate. Leaders. Warriors. Legends.
The galaxy's strongest.
Larry could barely contain himself. "THERE THEY ARE! THE TWELVE CONSTELLATION SQUAD CAPTAINS! THE LEADERS OF ARMADA! THE ONES WHO STAND BENEATH ONLY THE FOUR GREAT TITANS THEMSELVES! HERE TO WITNESS! TO RECRUIT! TO FIND THEIR FUTURE!"
The crowd was DEAFENING.
Jango took a sip of his soda. "And so it begins."
The captains settled into their seats.
Bianca's red hair caught the light. She leaned forward slightly, eyes scanning the competitor area.
Goldberg was gesturing wildly, already excited.
Seraphina sat with perfect posture, serene.
Louis Vors Kiel remained expressionless. Empty silver eyes watching.
The arena pulsed with energy.
The galaxy held its breath.
The finals were here.