Team Kennedy

An orange-tinted sky and the setting evening sun bathed the crystal-coated skyline of Golden Hill City. The city buzzed with excitement as crowds flooded the Grand Stadium. Fans from across the city and some closer towns like Lypt filled the stands. The place started filling with a public eager to witness a spectacle of dancing blades and arrows: the final match of the Trainee Engineer Tournament! 

Inside the changing room, four boys prepared for battle. The youngest, a 15-year-old named Johnny, cracked jokes to lighten the team's mood, joined by his equally lively 16-year-old cousin, Alex. Their laughter echoed against the white boring tiled walls, a sharp contrast to the focused silence of Cole, who charged his arrows with a faint amount of Alpha Energy.

The hum of energy in the air grew heavier as a silver-haired man, not much older than them, entered the room.

"I see you’ve been working hard, right?" He said with a tone and demeanor that reflected calm and confidence.

Alex grinned as he tightened the straps of his mechanical gloves. "It’s... been quite a rough month, but the training’s already paying off!"

"I agree" Johnny followed. "Even if I don't have the muscles to show it, my speed has improved a lot by following your regime. Thanks, Will"

"You're welcome, guys." The man’s smiling gaze shifted to the eldest of the group: A 17-year-old boy sitting in a distant corner. His name was Jack Kennedy, and he was the team’s leader.

"So, Jack, are you ready for this? It’s your final tournament as a trainee. Next time, you’ll be a full-fledged Engineer." Will addressed the lonesome man.

Jack chuckled softly at his friend's words, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Will. I’ll be a Jr. Engineer first. I still have to go through three more years of training before getting to a Pro rank, remember?"

Will’s expression softened, his silver mane catching the light. He put his finger on his chin, thinking carefully of his next words. "An Engineer is an Engineer, no matter their rank. My brother taught me that. And I hope that, someday, you’ll understand it too," he said as he gently patted Jack's shoulder.

Jack nodded, with quiet determination in his eyes. "Thanks, Will."

Straightening up, Will addressed the whole party with a commanding tone in his voice. "Alright, guys, this is it. This is what we've been fighting for throughout the tournament! We’ve worked for this moment! Tonight, the Central Dojo will finally break the Southern Dojo’s streak, and it’s all thanks to you four! We just need to walk this last mile. It won't be easy, but if there's a team that can, and will, make this a reality, it's Team Kennedy! So let's go and wipe the floor with those jerks from Team Blue!"

Cheers erupted from the team, their nervousness transforming into excitement as the weight of the moment sank in. They were eager to tackle this final encounter and make sure the cup would be with them this time.

The boys' shouts started diminishing after a sudden interruption from a robotic voice coming from the wall speaker. "All fighters, trainers, and managers: please proceed to the field. The duel is about to begin. Repeating. All fighters, trainers, and managers: please proceed to the field. The duel is about to begin."

Jack turned to his cousins, his gaze steady. "Okay, guys. It's time to go and show them what the Kennedy family is made of, alright?"

The team stepped onto the battlefield, where the roar of the crowd was deafening. Above them, drones hovered to broadcast every moment to the giant holo-screens around the arena.

The strident sound of the screams and cheers of fans of a good match of Digital Fighting didn't allow for easy communication inside the battlefield, so each fighter had an earphone gadget attached to their head, allowing dialogue both within the team and with their rivals at any given moment. The referees' voices could also be heard via that device.

The team stood at their gate, waiting for the narrator of the battle to call them to the battlefield., Jack caught sight of Allan Royce, Team Blue’s leader. Even from across the stadium, Allan’s intense gaze pierced everyone's soul with confidence. Jack frowned in response.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" boomed the voice of the announcer, amplified by the stadium’s advanced sound system, shutting down the bustling noise coming from the stands. "Welcome to the Grand Finale of 2309’s Trainee Engineer Tournament! A spectacular show is just a few minutes away from us! So, give a great applause to today's teams. Team Blue from Lypt and Team Kennedy from Golden Hill City!"

The public exploded into cheers as the teams stepped forward, coming from the western and eastern sides of the stadium. Their holographic team banners illuminated the skies above them.

"Now! Let's introduce the fighters who will delight us with their amazing skills and power!" The announcer continued with his hammy voice.

"Introducing Team Blue from the Southern Dojo of Lypt!" Cameras zoomed in on each member of the rival team, going from left to right as the narrator named each of the warriors. "The Green Mist himself, Matthew Greene! The Flashy Fencer, Amy Morrison! The Perfectionist Princess, Angie Velvet! And last but not least, their leader, the Urban Survivor, Allan Royce!"

The applause that followed felt like a thousand thunders falling at the same time, but they were more notorious as Allan's name came from the mouth of the announcer. His reputation as a three-time champion preceded him, and tonight was his chance to cement his legacy with an unprecedented fourth win. If that were to happen, he'd become the first Digital Fighter in history to win the Trainee Tournament four times. This was his swansong before becoming a Jr. Engineer.

"And now, give a warm welcome to the home team! From the Central Dojo of Golden Hill City, we have Team Kennedy!"

The spotlight turned to Jack and his cousins. "The Fastest Man Alive, Johnny Mach! The Brawler with Giant Fists, Alex Kennedy! The Fiery Barrier, Cole Martins! And their leader, the Blue Swordsman, JACK KENNEDY!"

Everyone in the stadium stood up as the name of the leader resounded in the speakers, filling the arena with electric energy as Jack’s name echoed through the air, a testament to his meteoric rise in the tournament. Usually, Trainees who would participate in the Tournament were chosen from each dojo's best team. But this time something happened to the prime team of the Central Dojo and Team Kennedy was the chosen one. The underdog team had shattered expectations, beating opponent after opponent, until reaching the biggest challenge in front of them: The three-time champions from Lypt. It was a welcomed surprise to the citizens of Golden Hill.

"You nervous?" Cole asked, leaning slightly to speak to Jack, reducing his towering height. Which was especially notorious with Jack, as he wasn't exactly tall.

Jack smiled with a slight hint of confidence., his hands resting on the hilt of his blade. "Just a little bit. But don't worry, we got this..."

A shimmering Alpha Barrier rose around the field, forming a translucent dome to shield the audience from the intense battle to come.

"This is it, folks!" The announcer’s voice resounded once again. "The battle's about to begin, so grab yourselves some popcorn and enjoy this showcase of the créme de la créme of our future Engineers!

The crowd cheered one last time. The referee called both teams to their positions. But before that, Allan walked by Jack's side and spoke to him in a soft tone.

"This is my last year as a trainee," Allan said, his voice low and sharp. Don't you even dare ruining this for me, Kennedy."

"It’s my last year too." Jack met his gaze, unflinching, replying with a defiant and serious tone. And I’ll make sure you learn that what goes up must come down."

Allan snarled at his comeback, turning away and getting ready to fight.

Jack exhaled, tightening his grip on his sword. The announcer’s voice boomed one final time.

"Let the battle begin in 3… 2… 1!"