The arena lights blazed like a second sun over the stage. Screens the size of buildings replayed the final moment again and again. Pentad destroying the enemy base in a storm of effects and cheers.
The crowd roared around the gaming arena.
Thousands of fans jumped to their feet as the massive screen showed the final play one more time. Hunter diving into the enemy base while Reaper and Shinigami wiped out the last defenders. The enemy crystal shattered in a flash of light.
VICTORY
The word filled the screen.
Confetti burst from the ceiling as the five players slowly removed their headsets.
"PENTAD! PENTAD! PENTAD!"
Confetti fell like rain as the champions of the Hero Arena Grand Finals stood up from their gaming chairs. The five players removed their headsets while cameras zoomed in on their handsome faces.
At the center stood their leader. Mikael in game name Hunter. Calm. Focused. The one who always carried the team when things got rough.
Beside him were his teammates Elliot the Shinigami, their silent assassin. Frollo the Saja, the genius strategist. Alex the Reaper, the aggressive damage dealer. And lastly Drugo. Thanatos, the unstoppable tank.
Pentad had just become the back to back world champions.
A reporter rushed onto the stage with a bright smile and a microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up once more for the champions of the Hero Arena Grand Finals Team Pentad!"
The arena erupted again. The reporter turned toward Mikael first.
"Hunter, congratulations! Pentad just delivered one of the most intense finals in Hero Arena history. How does it feel to win the championship again?"
The microphone was held up toward Mikael as cameras zoomed in on him. The crowd behind the stage was still roaring, chanting the name of their favorite team.
"HUNTER! HUNTER! HUNTER!"
Mikael rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed by the overwhelming noise and attention.
"I expected this to happen," he admitted calmly. "But honestly, it wasn't just me. Everyone here played perfectly tonight."
The reporter smiled, clearly amused by his humble answer.
"So you're saying the victory belongs to the whole team?"
Mikael nodded."Of course. Pentad isn't built around one player."
He gestured to the others..
"Shinigami kept their backline under pressure the whole game." Elliot gaved a thumbs-up
"Reaper carried the damage in the late fights." Alex raised both arms to hype the crowd.
"Thanatos held the front like a wall."
Drugo grinned proudly at that.
"And Saja," Mikael added, looking toward Frollo who smiled to everyone "was the one who planned the strategy that won us the finals."
The crowd cheered loudly for each name mentioned. The reporter then turned toward the rest of the team.
"Well then, let's hear from the champions themselves!"
She moved the microphone toward Elliot first.
"Shinigami, that final team fight shocked everyone. You eliminated three players in seconds. What was going through your mind?"
Elliot shrugged. "I just did my job."
The crowd laughed. Next was Alex.
"Reaper! Your damage numbers were unbelievable during that last push!"
Alex crossed his arms with a confident grin.
"Well... someone had to carry." Before he could say more, Drugo leaned in and grabbed the mic.
"HEY! Who kept you alive that whole fight?" The audience burst into laughter again.
Everything felt like the perfect celebration. But then another reporter from the media section raised a hand.
His voice echoed across the stage. "I have a question for Frollo."
Frollo looked up. The reporter spoke slowly.
"There are rumors circulating online that you are leaving Team Pentad after this tournament. Is that true?"
The arena suddenly went silent. The smiles disappeared. Alex blinked. Drugo frowned. Elliot turned his head. Even Mikael's expression hardened.
The audience began whispering. "Leaving?"
"No way..."
"Pentad without Saja?"
The reporter pushed further.
"Fans are saying this is your last tournament with the team. Care to explain?"
All eyes turned to Frollo. For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he sighed softly. "It's true."
The crowd gasped. Alex nearly dropped his microphone.
"WAIT WHAT?!"
Drugo stared at him. "You're joking... right?"
Even Elliot looked surprised. But Mikael didn't react. Neither did the coach standing near the stage stairs. The reporter noticed.
"You already knew?"
Mikael nodded calmly. "Yes."
Another wave of murmurs spread through the audience. The coach stepped forward and took the microphone.
"We expected this question," he said. "And yes, Frollo will be leaving Pentad."
More gasps. "But," the coach continued, raising a finger, "Pentad isn't ending."
The coach continued. "To fill the position, Pentad will host a special tournament."
For a moment, the arena was silent.
Then excitement exploded everywhere.
Fans shouted in disbelief. Cameras flashed nonstop. The commentators could barely keep their voices steady as the news spread across the stadium.
Within seconds, social media began exploding. Clips of the announcement spread across every gaming platform. Players from around the world started posting, reacting, and discussing the opportunity.
"Pentad is recruiting?!"
"A worldwide tournament for the Saja position?!"
"This might be the biggest chance for pro players this year!"
Behind the team, the giant screens suddenly changed. The championship replay disappeared.
A new announcement appeared in bold glowing letters.
PENTAD OFFICIAL RECRUITMENT
SAJA ROLE OPEN TO ALL PLAYERS WORLDWIDE
Gasps echoed across the arena. Alex leaned closer to the screen. "Well... this is going to attract a lot of crazy players."
Drugo crossed his arms. "Anyone who thinks they can replace Frollo better be ready."
Elliot stayed quiet, watching the announcement.
Mikael simply stared at the screen with a calm expression. "Let them come," he said.
Meanwhile, far away from the roaring arena, everything was quiet.
In a small living room, the only light came from a large television. A livestream of the Pentad announcement was playing on the screen.
The commentators were still shouting excitedly about the recruitment.
"Pentad has officially opened the Saja position to players worldwide!"
Sitting on the couch was a young boy with long dark hair that almost reached his shoulders. His delicate face made him look like a girl at first glance.
But the way he behaved completely ruined that elegant image.
He was slouched on the couch like a lazy cat. A giant bowl of popcorn rested on his lap. In his hands was his phone, where he was currently playing Hero Arena.
The only problem? His fingers were covered in popcorn butter and crumbs. Yet he didn't care at all. His thumbs tapped the screen rapidly while leaving tiny grease marks everywhere.
"Okay... so ito yung hero ko," he muttered while poking random buttons. His hero suddenly ran straight into the enemy tower.
ELIMINATED
Berley blinked. Then immediately pointed at the screen.
"HOY! CHEATER KAYO!"
His phone suddenly lagged. The hero froze. Then teleported backward.
"AYAN NA NAMAN SIGNAL KO!" he groaned.
He lifted the phone in the air like it would magically fix the connection.
"Hello?! Signal?! Baka naman?!"
The game resumed. An enemy appeared. Berley panicked and pressed every skill at once. His hero spun, dashed, jumped, and somehow hit nothing. The enemy calmly eliminated him.
ELIMINATED
Berley stared at the screen.
Then started typing in chat. "Cheater."
He cracked his knuckles dramatically.
"Ang gagaling niyo pala pag naka-lag kalaban."
He stared at the screen. Then immediately pointed at it.
"AYO! DAYA!"
He leaned closer to the phone. "Lima kayo eh! Syempre matatalo ako!"
Someone in the game chat typed "Noob."
Berley gasped dramatically. "NOOB?! Stop Feeding"
He wiped his greasy popcorn fingers on his shirt before typing back. "Ikaw noob. Nagkataon lang na tinesting ko lang hero ko."
Another teammate replied. "0/7 ka na."
Berley blinked. "Eh ano ngayon?"
He tossed popcorn into his mouth. Crunch. "Practice game 'to."
His hero respawned. He ran straight into the enemy again.
Five seconds later
YOU HAVE BEEN SLAIN
Berley slammed the couch pillow dramatically. "HALA!"
His hero respawned again. He ran into the jungle. Pressed a random skill. Accidentally stole a teammate's buff.
"BRO THAT'S MY BUFF"
Berley scoffed. "Buff mo? Nakalagay ba pangalan mo dyan?"
He pointed at the phone again.
"Grabe naman kayo! Hindi pa nga ako tapos mag-explore!"
Another teammate typed. "Stop feeding."
Berley squinted at the screen. "Feeding daw."
He shook his head. "Mga iyakin."
He leaned closer to the phone and typed again. "Relax lang kayo. Warm up ko lang 'to."
His signal lagged again. His hero walked straight into three enemies.
ELIMINATED
He slammed the couch dramatically.
"AYAN!"
"TATLO KAYO!"
"Ganyan kayo lumaban?!"
One enemy typed "obob"
Berley sat up straight. "obob?!"
He pointed at the phone like the enemy could see him.
"HELLO?!"
"Isang bar lang signal ko!"
"Kung malakas net ko tapos kayo kalaban ko" He paused. "actually baka matalo pa rin ako."
The game continued. His teammates were fighting a huge team fight. Berley ran in late. Pressed random buttons again. His hero somehow got the last hit on a low HP enemy.
SHUTDOWN
Berley blinked.
Then slowly grinned. "OHO?"
He immediately typed again. "Easy."
His teammate replied instantly.
"YOU DID NOTHING"
The game lagged again. His hero ran into a wall for five seconds.
Berley sighed loudly. "Grabe."
A few seconds later the match ended. DEFEAT. Berley stared at the result screen.
Then casually grabbed another popcorn. "Ang boring naman."
On the TV, the Pentad announcement appeared again.
SAJA ROLE OPEN TO ALL PLAYERS WORLDWIDE
Berley glanced at the screen lazily.
"Hmm."
He scratched his head. "Wala naman akong ginagawa."
He grabbed his phone again and opened the recruitment page.
Application form appeared.
Name: (Phoenix) Berley Questraven
He stared at it. Then shrugged. "Ah bahala na."
He tapped Apply. Application confirmed.
Berley leaned back on the couch again like nothing happened.
"Malay mo..." He grinned mischievously.
"Baka manalo pa ako."