Deadlock.

Tobias leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, eyes casually surveying the crowd below. "So—catch me up. What've I missed so far?"

The girl glanced over. "You missed everything. This tournament's been a complete mess."

Her father nodded. "Strongest fighters we've seen in years. And also, the most chaotic."

Tobias chuckled under his breath. "Figures. I always show up when the dust's already flyin'."

They talked for a while—about the cracked arena, the disqualifications, the favorites everyone assumed would make it but didn't. And when they mentioned the boy with the chains, Tobias leaned forward slightly.

"Wait. That fighter earlier—you two were talkin' like he mattered. What's his name again?"

The girl answered without hesitation. "Amari."

Tobias nodded slowly. "The disqualified one."

"Yeah," she said. "He fought Ivy and—well, Ivy had to be carried off. Amari didn't even flinch."