Blood on the Sand

The crowd roared as giant screens displayed the matchups. Spotlights circled overhead. Broadcasters screamed commentary. And in the middle of the chaos stood the fighters.

Team 2 of the NT Gang--Kite, Ceri, Gem, and Toku--stood on the left side of the arena platform. On the opposite end, an imposing presence loomed. Team 4, known as Tyrannical, made the entire stadium shudder with anticipation.

Tyrant, tall and laughing, brandished his Tesla-Cannon with sparks crackling around him.

Beside him, Mek's full-body mecha exosuit glowed, sensors locking on like a machine scanning prey.

Zamy stood behind them, visibly shaking, and TLK, the angelic warrior, remained silent, glowing halo above his head.

Toku's voice trembled. "W-We can't win this..."

Kite flicked her indigo hair, annoyed. "We're not here to win. We're here to fight. Get your head together."

Toku nervously asking. "B-But we are going to try to win...right?"

Ceri cracked her lightning-infused gauntlets, nodding quietly beside Kite. Gem smiled and placed her hand on Toku's shoulder. "Protect me, and I'll keep them standing."

The bell rang.

Boom.

Before anyone could blink, Mek launched forward, a blur of metal and propulsion. In seconds, Gem was struck, sent flying across the arena and hit the wall, unconscious before she could even cast a spell.

Tyrant followed, unleashing his Tesla-Cannon, barraging both Kite and Ceri with high-voltage energy blasts. They dropped to the ground, convulsing as the pain overwhelmed them.

Only Toku remained standing.

He was shaking. Alone. Weapon trembling in his hands.

The crowd held its breath.

And Toku... dropped his spear.

"I surrender!"

The announcer yelled, "Team 2 is out! Team 4 advances!"

Medics rushed in, restoring Gem, Kite, and Ceri's near fatal wounds with advanced healing spells. The girls were alive--but humiliated. In the Team 2's locker room, Kite looked up at the ceiling lights, teeth clenched. Ceri sat in silence. Gem looked heartbroken. And Toku... dead inside.

Backstage, Rikushi gripped the hilt of his Black Saber, eyes burning with rage.

Blaidd's icy glare could freeze magma.

"They hurt them... that fast?" Valentine muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Then we know we don't need to hold back."

The next matchup was called over the arena's booming speakers:

Team 1: Rikushi, Blaidd, Valentine, Glonk.
Vs.
Team 3: Reiku, Davie, Rez, Rumoto.

NTG vs Iustitia.

The crowd erupted again. It was more than just a fight--this was a war of vendettas.

And as the two rival squads stepped into the arena, weapons drawn and magic humming in the air, the temperature dropped.

Because everyone could feel it.

The Arena Games have only just truly started.