Arrival

The ship hummed as it descended, its massive thrusters shaking the hull with a low, steady vibration. Outside the reinforced windows, the sheer scale of the Solar Arena came into view.

It wasn't just a battlefield. It was a monument.

A colossal ring-shaped space station, suspended in the void, large enough to hold entire cities within its walls. It gleamed under the light of twin stars, a titan of steel and history, orbiting above a shattered world below a planet that had been turned to ruin long ago by the very same battles that were fought here.

This was the birthplace of champions. The graveyard of legends.

I barely noticed my own breath hitching, but I did feel the warmth on my shoulder.

Selena had fallen asleep against me, her head resting just below my jaw, her hair soft against my skin. The rhythmic rise and fall of her breathing was steady, peaceful even in the face of what awaited us.

She hadn't gotten much sleep last night. Neither had I.

Kaelen smirked from across the aisle. "You two are getting real comfortable."

I shot him a glare, but he just leaned back, closing his eyes as if he didn't have a care in the world.

The overhead speakers crackled to life.

"Attention, competitors. Prepare for docking. Welcome to the Solar Arena."

The voice echoed through the ship, sending a ripple of energy through every soldier present. Some sat in tense silence, gripping their weapons. Others whispered among themselves, their voices hushed with anticipation.

Silas exhaled, stretching his fingers as he stared out at the station. "Feels different when you see it up close," he muttered.

Ravien grinned, tapping his fingers along the hilt of his dagger. "Feels like home."

Selena stirred, slowly blinking awake as the ship shuddered. She sat up, rubbing her eyes before glancing at me. "Are we here?"

I nodded.

She turned her gaze toward the massive station, eyes widening slightly. Even she looked momentarily breathless at the sheer size of it.

A loud clang rang through the ship as the docking clamps engaged, locking us into position. The doors hissed, then slid open.

And the sound that greeted us was thunderous.

Cheers.

Roars.

The deafening chants of billions of spectators watching from every corner of the system. Even from inside the docking bay, we could hear the sheer force of their voices, a storm of sound shaking the very air.

The tournament hadn't even started yet.

And they were already waiting for blood.

We stepped forward, following the stream of competitors onto a sleek, metallic platform. It extended outward toward the entrance of the arena, where a massive gate loomed before us, ancient engravings glowing faintly along the surface.

Beyond it, a tunnel stretched into darkness, leading to the heart of the battlefield.

But before we could move further, a new voice rang out—deep, commanding, and laced with authority.

"Welcome, warriors."

The voice came from above.

I lifted my gaze.

A colossal holographic figure materialized in the sky above the arena, standing at least fifty feet tall. Draped in regal robes, adorned with golden sigils that shimmered with power, the figure's presence was overwhelming. His face was carved with age and wisdom, his eyes cold yet calculating.

The Emperor of the Emperors.

The ruler of the system. The one who had sanctioned this tournament.

His voice carried across the entire arena, reaching every soul watching from the planets, the ships, and the very stars themselves.

"For centuries, the Solar Ascension has decided the fate of the cosmos. The strongest five warriors from each world stand before destiny, ready to carve their names into eternity."

The crowd erupted.

He extended a hand, gesturing toward us.

"This year, you stand here as contenders. You have shed blood. You have defied death. But now, you stand at the threshold of the gods themselves."

His gaze swept over the competitors, as if measuring each of us.

"Some of you will not leave this arena alive."

The crowd roared even louder.

"And yet, for those who endure… for those who prove themselves beyond all others… power beyond comprehension awaits."

He lowered his hand, his voice now quieter, but somehow even more chilling.

"The rules are simple. One world will emerge victorious. The rest will fall."

A heavy silence settled.

One team.

One world.

The rest? Obliterated.

My fingers curled into fists.

Kaelen was staring at the Emperor, unreadable as ever.

Silas barely blinked.

Ravien was grinning.

Selena exhaled sharply beside me, her shoulders straightening as she met the Emperor's gaze head-on.

The Emperor tilted his head slightly, almost as if he was satisfied by our reactions.

Then, his holographic form began to fade.

"The tournament begins in two days."

His final words echoed in my skull.

Then, he was gone.

And the gates before us slowly, ominously, began to open.

As the gates opened, we were led inside the main halls of the Solar Arena, a vast network of corridors and rooms that housed the warriors before battle. The air was tense. No one spoke.

We were assigned quarters a massive chamber that overlooked the distant planets through reinforced glass.

The moment the door closed, I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding.

Selena was the first to move. She walked to the window, staring out into the endless abyss of space. "One world," she muttered. "One team wins. The rest…"

She didn't finish the sentence.

Ravien flopped onto the nearest couch. "I love this game already."

Silas shot him a look. "You would."

Kaelen leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "It's not a game." His voice was quiet, but there was an edge to it. "It's survival. And we just stepped onto the biggest stage in the universe."

I ran a hand through my hair. "Two days."

Two days until the biggest fight of our lives.

Two days until we either proved ourselves or were erased from history.

Selena turned from the window, her gaze finding mine. "Are you ready for this?"

I didn't answer immediately.

Because for the first time in a long time…

I wasn't sure.