The Rise of New Champions

The wooden arena creaked beneath the weight of the spectators as the final day of the Gamma tournament dawned. Morning light filtered through the towering pines that ringed the battleground, casting long slats of golden sunlight over the packed crowd. Anticipation clung to the air like a thundercloud—heavy, electric, alive. Warriors stood at the edge of the arena, muscles coiled, eyes sharp, waiting for the Queen's word.

I stepped forward onto the raised platform that overlooked the field. From up here, the view was commanding—every movement, every blow, every drop of blood would be seen. Annika stirred within me, quiet but alert. She loved this part. The thrill of combat. The weight of legacy. The shaping of futures with claw and tooth.