Chapter 20: The Dreadnought Clash

The arena buzzed with a new level of excitement as the announcement of the next match spread through Zenith Stadium. The crowd’s anticipation was palpable, a mix of eager cheers and the electric hum of thousands of holo-screens lighting up in unison. Kenny, Alina, and Lucas gathered in the preparation area, their nerves and adrenaline wound tighter than ever.

Their next challenge was revealed on the massive holo-screens: The Dreadnought Clash. The arena wasn’t like anything they had faced before. Instead of static terrain, it was a colossal simulation of two interconnected, futuristic warships locked in perpetual combat. The vessels rocked and trembled as cannons fired, and metal corridors shifted unpredictably as if the ships were alive and bent on destruction.

“This… is going to be intense,” Lucas muttered, his eyes wide as he studied the simulation. “Ships firing at each other while we’re trying not to get blown off into space? Who thinks of these arenas?”

Alina’s jaw tightened. “Stay focused. The real danger isn’t just the arena but our opponents.”

Their competitors were a team called The Iron Marauders, a group of heavy combat specialists who had dominated previous rounds with raw strength and a ruthless combat style. Their leader, Captain Draxis, was a massive warrior clad in iron-plated holographic armor, wielding a warhammer that could create shockwaves strong enough to crack the ship’s simulated hull. His teammates, Mira and Holt, were equally formidable—Mira, a shield bearer who acted as an impenetrable wall, and Holt, a strategist who used explosive drones to devastating effect.

Kenny took a deep breath, trying to quell the anxiety in his chest. “We can’t let them dictate the pace. If we’re going to win, we need to outmaneuver them and use the ships’ instability to our advantage.”

Lucas nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. “I’m with you. Let’s show these metalheads what we’re made of.”

Alina adjusted the straps on her gauntlets, her gaze steady. “Together.”

The simulation began, and the world around them transformed into the interior of one of the warships. The sound of alarms blared, red warning lights flashing as the vessel trembled from the impact of cannon fire. The corridors were lined with metal grates and shifting walls that made every step feel uncertain. Beyond the portholes, stars and flashes of light from the other ship’s cannons lit the void of space.

Kenny, Alina, and Lucas moved cautiously, navigating the maze of steel and machinery. The air smelled of oil and ozone, and every rumble of the ship under fire made Kenny’s heart skip a beat.

“Stay sharp,” Alina said, her voice low but commanding. “They’ll try to use the chaos against us.”

Just as she spoke, a thunderous crash echoed through the corridors, and Captain Draxis emerged, his warhammer glowing with raw energy. He grinned, a wild glint in his eyes. “Welcome to my domain, little warriors,” he bellowed, his voice echoing over the alarms. “Time to see if you can survive!”

He charged, his warhammer slamming into the ground and sending a shockwave that made the entire corridor buckle. Kenny barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as metal panels buckled and cracked under the force.

Lucas countered, his gauntlets crackling as he threw a punch that sent a wave of energy toward Draxis. The Captain met the attack head-on, his armor absorbing the impact as if it were nothing. “You’ll have to try harder than that!” Draxis taunted.

Meanwhile, Mira appeared, her massive shield raised as she advanced on Alina, blocking every strike Alina attempted. Mira’s shield glowed with a defensive energy, and each time Alina tried to slip past her defenses, Mira countered with brutal efficiency.

Holt, the strategist, lurked in the background, deploying explosive drones that skittered along the walls and ceilings. “Watch out!” Kenny shouted, firing arrows at the drones and causing several to detonate before they reached their targets. The explosions rocked the corridor, and Kenny realized they were fighting in a warzone that could turn on them at any moment.

“We need to separate them!” Alina yelled over the chaos. “They’re strongest together!”

Kenny’s mind raced. The ship’s constant movement and the unstable terrain were a double-edged sword, but they could use it. He spotted a series of airlock doors up ahead and an idea formed. “Lucas, we need to lure Draxis toward the airlocks!”

Lucas grinned, despite the sweat beading on his forehead. “Consider it done.”

He charged at Draxis, unleashing a barrage of attacks that forced the Captain to follow him down the corridor. Draxis swung his warhammer, narrowly missing Lucas as the younger warrior led him toward the airlock chamber.

Kenny followed, drawing Draxis’s attention with arrows that disrupted his armor’s energy fields. The warship groaned under the pressure of cannon fire, and Kenny knew they had only moments to act.

“Alina!” Kenny called, his voice tight with urgency. “Get Mira into the open!”

Alina danced around Mira’s relentless shield strikes, using the corridor’s shifting panels to keep her opponent off balance. She finally managed to bait Mira into stepping onto a section of unstable flooring, and with a powerful kick, Alina sent Mira stumbling forward, her shield arm momentarily lowered.

Kenny saw his opening. “Lucas, now!”

Lucas activated the airlock controls, and the doors groaned as they began to slide open. Draxis realized too late what was happening. The force of decompression pulled at him, and he slammed his warhammer into the ground, trying to anchor himself. But Lucas unleashed a final blast of energy that sent Draxis hurtling into the airlock chamber.

The Captain roared, his form flickering as he fought against the pull, but Kenny fired an arrow that shattered his stabilizing device. Draxis’s avatar dissolved into pixels, and the airlock doors slammed shut, sealing the chamber.

One down.

But the battle was far from over. Holt’s drones swarmed, their explosive charges lighting up the corridor like fireworks. Alina and Kenny dodged and weaved, desperately trying to avoid the blasts. Mira had regrouped, her shield shimmering with renewed energy as she prepared to defend Holt.

Kenny’s mind raced. They needed to disable Holt’s drones, or they’d be overwhelmed. He spotted a power conduit running along the wall, sparking from the ship’s damage. If they could overload it…

“Alina, hold Mira off a little longer!” Kenny called.

Alina’s blades clashed with Mira’s shield, each strike sending shockwaves through the metal floor. She was relentless, every move a precise counter to Mira’s powerful defense. “I’ll try!” she yelled, her voice strained but fierce.

Kenny aimed an arrow at the conduit, releasing it with pinpoint accuracy. The arrow struck home, causing a surge of energy that pulsed through the walls. Holt’s drones short-circuited, their systems overloaded, and they exploded harmlessly in a cascade of sparks.

Holt cursed, his composure breaking for the first time. Alina seized the moment, using a feint to draw Mira’s attention before landing a decisive blow that shattered Mira’s defenses. The shield bearer fell, her avatar dissolving, and only Holt remained.

The ship shuddered again, and Holt’s eyes widened as he realized he was outnumbered. Kenny, Alina, and Lucas closed in, their movements synchronized. Holt tried to retreat, but there was nowhere left to run. Lucas’s gauntlets glowed as he delivered the final blow, and Holt’s form disintegrated.

The battle was over.