The colosseum stadium had gone quiet.
Not silent—fifteen academies worth of supporters ensured there was always noise—but the quality had shifted. Gone were the excited chatter, the casual betting, the relaxed atmosphere of a spectacle. In their place: tension. Focus. The particular hush of people watching something that could end badly at any moment.
The massive hologram dominated the arena's center—a three-dimensional display that showed every individual participant in their own screen, one hundred and fifty windows arranged in a grid that floated above the arena floor. Each window was labeled with name, academy, and vital signs. Some showed students running. Others showed them fighting. A few flickered with static where environmental interference blocked the feed.
"Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen!" The commentator's voice was controlled energy—enthusiastic but professional. "For those just joining us, we're twelve minutes into Round One, and the action is already INTENSE!"
