Chapter 21: The Fractured Accord

The energy inside Zenith Stadium was at a fever pitch. With every passing match, the tournament was drawing closer to its climactic end, and tensions among the competitors were running dangerously high. Kenny, Alina, and Lucas had emerged victorious from their previous battles, but the cost of each fight was beginning to show. Bruises, fatigue, and the psychological toll of facing life-and-death stakes were starting to wear on them.

The trio sat in the team lounge, a quiet, dimly lit area that offered little comfort but at least a moment of respite. Kenny ran a hand through his hair, his body aching from the last battle. Alina sat nearby, sharpening her blades with a focused intensity, while Lucas lay sprawled out on a bench, his arm thrown over his eyes.

“We’re winning,” Lucas said, his voice muffled but heavy with exhaustion. “But man, it doesn’t feel like it.”

Kenny nodded, understanding the sentiment. Each victory felt more like survival than triumph, and the looming threat of Valkyrie made it impossible to fully celebrate any success. He glanced at Alina, who hadn’t said much since they’d returned. She seemed deep in thought, her jaw clenched.

“Alina,” Kenny said softly. “What’s on your mind?”

Alina paused, her hands stilling. She looked at him, her eyes shadowed with worry. “It’s Kael and the Midnight Alliance,” she finally said. “We’ve heard nothing from them since our meeting, and that silence doesn’t sit well with me. If Valkyrie has caught on to our plans…”

Kenny felt a pang of dread. Their alliance with Kael had been a desperate gamble, and if Valkyrie had discovered it, there could be consequences none of them were prepared for. “We need to check in with them,” he said, his resolve hardening. “We can’t afford to be blindsided.”

Lucas sat up, rubbing his temples. “Right. But let’s be smart about it. Last thing we need is to walk into a trap.”

Just as he spoke, the lounge door slid open, and Kael entered, his expression grim. Jarek and Nia followed close behind, their eyes scanning the room for any potential eavesdroppers. Kael’s usual confidence was gone, replaced by a guarded, almost haunted look.

“Kenny,” Kael said, his voice low. “We have a problem.”

Kenny’s heart sank. “What happened?”

Kael pulled up a holographic display, showing security footage from one of the stadium’s back corridors. The image showed a confrontation between several teams, but what caught Kenny’s attention was the unmistakable presence of Valkyrie’s enforcers—figures in sleek, dark armor, their faces obscured by mirrored visors.

“They’ve started taking out teams who refuse to fall in line,” Kael explained, his jaw tight with anger. “Two of our allies were eliminated last night, not in the arena but right here, in the shadows of this place.”

Lucas cursed under his breath. “So it’s not just a tournament anymore. It’s a war.”

Alina stood, her blades now sheathed but her eyes burning with intensity. “We knew this could happen. But what do we do now?”

Kael’s gaze hardened. “We expose them. We can’t wait any longer. My team has gathered enough evidence to show Valkyrie’s corruption, but getting it out to the public won’t be easy. We need a distraction—something big enough to draw their attention while we upload the files.”

Kenny considered this, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. They were already risking everything just by being here, but if they could expose Valkyrie, they could change the entire game. “What kind of distraction?” he asked.

Kael’s mouth twisted into a grim smile. “The kind that makes sure Valkyrie knows we’re coming for them.”

The plan was dangerous, and the margin for error was razor-thin. Kenny, Alina, Lucas, Kael, and the Midnight Alliance gathered in a hidden maintenance corridor beneath the arena. The sound of the tournament roared above them, a reminder of the chaos they were about to step into.

Kael turned to his team. “Nia and I will handle the data upload,” he said. “Jarek will stay with us to provide protection. Kenny, you and your team create the distraction—something that forces Valkyrie’s enforcers to focus on you.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow. “No pressure, right?”

Kenny managed a smile, though his nerves felt like a live wire. “We’ll give you all the chaos you need.”

Alina tightened her gauntlets, her expression fierce. “Let’s do this.”

They split up, and Kenny’s team emerged into one of the central arenas, a sprawling, open space currently empty between scheduled matches. The holo-screens around the stadium flashed with advertisements, and the crowd’s attention was elsewhere—for now.

Lucas let out a breath, shaking his hands to dispel his nerves. “So, how exactly are we supposed to make enough noise to distract Valkyrie’s enforcers?”

Kenny drew his bow, his mind racing. “We make it impossible for them to ignore us. Alina, can you disable some of the arena’s security drones?”

Alina nodded, already moving to a nearby console. “Give me thirty seconds.”

Lucas glanced around, a grin breaking through his anxiety. “Well, if we’re going loud, might as well do it in style.”

The arena’s lights flickered, and Alina’s hack worked its magic. Security drones began to malfunction, flying erratically and crashing into each other. The holo-screens around them distorted, displaying chaotic images and drawing the attention of spectators and staff alike.

Kenny took a deep breath. “That’s our signal. Everyone, get ready.”

But before they could prepare for Valkyrie’s inevitable response, a voice rang out, smooth and mocking. “Impressive, but foolish.”

Kenny turned, his heart sinking as he recognized the speaker. Mason stepped into the arena, a smug grin plastered across his face. His combat gear was freshly polished, and he moved with a confidence that made Kenny’s blood boil.

“Mason,” Kenny spat, drawing his bow. “What do you want?”

Mason’s grin widened, but his eyes glinted with something darker. “Oh, I’m just here to watch you fail. You really think you can take on Valkyrie? You’re in way over your heads.”

Alina’s eyes narrowed. “Step aside, Mason. We don’t have time for this.”

Mason’s laughter echoed through the arena. “You’re not getting out of here without a fight,” he taunted. “But don’t worry—I’m happy to oblige.”

He raised his holographic spear, and Kenny’s heart sank. They didn’t have time for a duel, not with everything on the line. But it was clear Mason wasn’t giving them a choice.

“Lucas, Alina,” Kenny said, his voice tight. “We need to end this fast.”

Mason lunged, his spear slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kenny fired an arrow, but Mason deflected it effortlessly, closing the distance with alarming speed. Alina intercepted him, her blades clashing against his spear in a flurry of sparks.

Lucas moved to support, his gauntlets crackling with energy, but Mason fought like someone with nothing to lose. His attacks were relentless, his movements fueled by a dangerous blend of skill and recklessness.

“You think you can beat Valkyrie?” Mason sneered, pressing Alina back. “You’re just pawns in their game!”

Kenny felt his frustration boiling over, but he forced himself to stay calm. Mason was trying to delay them, to throw them off balance. They couldn’t let him succeed.

“Focus!” Kenny shouted, loosing another arrow that clipped Mason’s shoulder. “We have to finish this!”

But before they could deliver a decisive blow, the arena lights dimmed, and a voice boomed over the speakers, cold and authoritative.

“Enough.”

The air seemed to freeze, and Kenny’s heart skipped a beat. Valkyrie’s enforcers stepped into the arena, their armor gleaming and their presence suffocating. They surrounded Kenny’s team and Mason, weapons drawn and ready.

“You’ve caused enough disruption,” one of the enforcers said, their voice distorted by their helmet. “This ends now.”

Kenny’s hands tightened around his bow. They were outnumbered, and Kael’s team was still uploading the evidence. They had to hold out a little longer.