First round

The large display screen above the arena flickered to life, and the randomizer began selecting names.

A brief hum filled the air as names shuffled rapidly before settling on three matchups—one from each year.

Year 1: Nathan Cole vs. Erika Vasquez

Year 2: Damien Holt vs. Serena Vaughn

Year 3: Roland Pike vs. Andreis Novak

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as the first two competitors, Nathan and Erika, stepped forward.

Nathan, a wiry student with dark curls and a confident smirk, cracked his knuckles as he climbed onto the circular platform. Opposite him, Erika adjusted the wraps around her wrists, her expression stoic and unreadable.

The containment barrier hummed to life, flickering momentarily before solidifying into a shimmering dome around them.

With the stage set, the match was about to begin.

Nathan Cole and Erika Vasquez—two students from completely different worlds.