An IGF officer marched down the line of participating students. He wore the crisp black uniform of the Federation's enforcement branch.
In his hands: a case containing one hundred and fifty bracelets. Black metal, sleek design, glowing with a faint blue pulse that matched the rhythm of a heartbeat.
"Each participant will wear one." His voice was flat. "The bracelet tracks your vital signs, records your location relative to your academy's designated portal, and updates a live leaderboard. You will be able to see your academy's current ranking at all times. If your life signs drop to zero, you are automatically extracted and marked as eliminated."
He paused, letting the implication settle.
"If you remove the bracelet, you are disqualified. Also, no killing."
He reached Kael's group and held out the case. Seven bracelets gleamed under the arena lights, each one engraved with the Heaven's Gate sigil.
Kael took his.
