Chapter 13: The Rise of a Contender

Zenith Stadium roared with energy, the crowd's excitement vibrating through the very ground beneath Kenny’s feet. The massive arena was a marvel of technology, with shifting holographic terrain that promised unpredictable challenges. Hover-drones broadcasted every moment to a global audience, and Kenny could almost feel the weight of a million eyes watching him.

Kenny stood in the staging area with Alina and Lucas, each of them geared up and ready. The tension was palpable, but there was also a spark of anticipation—this was their moment. Their chance to prove themselves on a stage that could launch them into the elite world of the Evren League.

“Competitors!” A voice boomed through the stadium, echoing off the glass and metal. The announcer, a charismatic figure dressed in a suit lined with pulsing neon threads, addressed the roaring crowd. “Welcome to the New Horizon Regional Tournament! Today, we witness the clash of warriors, the test of skill and strategy, and the rise of future legends!”

The crowd erupted in cheers, and Kenny felt his heart race. He clenched his fists, adrenaline coursing through him. This was it—the moment he had been training for, the moment he had dreamed of.

Alina stepped forward, her eyes scanning the arena as the holographic terrain began to shift and pulse with light. The first battleground took shape: a sprawling jungle simulation, with towering trees, hanging vines, and thick undergrowth that would make visibility a challenge. Streams of light danced across the foliage, illuminating hidden paths and traps.

“We need to stay sharp,” Alina said, her voice calm but commanding. “This terrain favors ambushes and stealth. Watch each other’s backs.”

Lucas adjusted his gauntlets, the plasma energy humming in readiness. “Got it. Let’s give the crowd a show.”

Kenny nodded, feeling a wave of determination. “Let’s do this.”

The match began, and chaos erupted.

The jungle simulation was a labyrinth of danger. Opponents moved through the trees like shadows, striking fast and vanishing just as quickly. Kenny’s team faced off against three fierce warriors: Mira, a sniper with camouflaging abilities; Jax, a brute whose holographic axe cleaved through trees; and Theo, a strategist who controlled the terrain with manipulative precision.

Kenny dodged an arrow that whizzed past his ear, ducking into the underbrush as Mira’s camouflage shimmered in the distance. He couldn’t see her, but he knew she was out there, waiting for the perfect shot.

“Lucas, keep her busy!” Kenny called, sweat trickling down his neck. “I’ll flank her!”

Lucas didn’t hesitate. He charged forward, his gauntlets sparking as he sent shockwaves through the ground. The force disrupted Mira’s stealth, forcing her to retreat. Alina used the distraction to dart through the jungle, her blades slicing through the dense foliage as she searched for Theo, the strategist.

Kenny moved carefully, keeping low and using the environment to his advantage. He spotted Mira, her sniper rifle trained on Lucas, and nocked an arrow. He aimed for the smallest gap in the branches, his breathing steady, and released.

The arrow hit its mark, and Mira let out a cry of surprise, her camouflage faltering. Kenny didn’t give her a chance to recover. He fired two more arrows, forcing her to retreat deeper into the jungle.

“Kenny, watch out!” Alina’s voice cut through the noise, and Kenny barely had time to react as Jax barreled toward him, his massive axe crashing into the ground where Kenny had just stood. The impact sent a shockwave through the jungle, splintering trees and throwing Kenny off balance.

Jax grinned, his eyes wild with adrenaline. “You think you can win with those little arrows?” he taunted, raising his axe again.

Kenny scrambled to his feet, his mind racing. He needed a strategy, something to counter Jax’s raw power. He activated a holographic tripwire, weaving it between two trees. “Come on,” he muttered, baiting Jax into charging.

Jax roared and lunged forward, his axe raised high. At the last moment, Kenny dove aside, and Jax’s foot caught the tripwire. The massive warrior stumbled, his momentum sending him crashing into a tree. Kenny seized the opportunity, firing a volley of arrows that disrupted Jax’s avatar, pixelating his form.

“One down,” Kenny whispered, his pulse racing.

But the battle was far from over.

Alina faced Theo in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Theo manipulated the terrain, creating pits and barriers to corner her, but Alina’s speed and agility kept her one step ahead. She danced through the jungle, her blades flashing in the dappled light, and struck when Theo least expected it. Their clash was a whirlwind of strategy and precision, each move calculated and countered.

“Your tricks won’t work on me,” Alina declared, her voice like ice.

Theo smirked, but his confidence wavered as Alina closed in, her blades slicing through his defenses. With a final, fluid strike, she brought him down, and his avatar dissolved into light.

Lucas, meanwhile, was locked in a brutal brawl with Mira, who had switched from sniper tactics to close-quarters combat. The two warriors clashed, Lucas’s gauntlets creating shockwaves that disrupted Mira’s attacks. But she was quick, darting around him and using the environment to her advantage.

“I’m not going down that easily,” Mira hissed, her knife flashing toward Lucas.

Lucas grinned, his eyes alight with the thrill of battle. “Neither am I.”

He feinted left, drawing Mira in, and then unleashed a powerful uppercut that shattered her holographic form. Mira fell, and the jungle simulation shimmered, signaling the end of the match.

The crowd erupted into cheers as the arena dissolved back into the staging area. Kenny, Alina, and Lucas stood together, panting and battered but victorious. The weight of the moment hit Kenny like a wave—their first tournament match, and they had won.

Lucas raised his fists in triumph, his grin wide. “We did it! We actually did it!”

Alina sheathed her blades, a satisfied but cautious smile on her face. “One match down. But this is only the beginning.”

Kenny felt a rush of pride and relief, but it was tempered by the knowledge that the road ahead would only get harder. The tournament had just begun, and their next opponents would be even more formidable.

A holographic screen materialized in front of them, displaying the brackets and announcing their upcoming match. Kenny’s heart sank as he read the names of their next opponents: an elite trio from one of the top hologram training academies. Their reputation was legendary, and their matches were known for their ruthless efficiency.

“Looks like we’re up against the best,” Kenny said, trying to keep the fear from his voice.

Alina’s eyes narrowed, her determination unshakable. “Then we’ll just have to be better.”

Lucas clapped a hand on Kenny’s shoulder, his grin never faltering. “Hey, we beat the jungle. We can beat anything.”

Kenny smiled, feeling his resolve harden.