As Adam and Max rejoined their team, the tension in the air didn't fade with their victory. If anything, it grew heavier. The cheers from the crowd rang hollow in Adam's ears. They had won, but it didn't feel like a triumph. It felt like another piece moving into place on a board they couldn't see.
Elizabeth crossed her arms as they approached. "That was reckless," she said, fixing Max with a pointed look. "You almost lost control."
Max scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, but I didn't."
"You got hit by lightning," Tyler pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "You're lucky you didn't fry on the spot."
Max grumbled something under his breath, but he couldn't deny it—Alina had almost had him. If Adam hadn't been there, the fight could've gone differently.
Adam exhaled, rolling his neck as his fox cloak dimmed slightly. "We need to stop treating these fights like simple battles. They're tests. Someone is gathering data on us—on our strengths, our weaknesses, how we react under pressure."
Elizabeth nodded. "And we're feeding right into it."
Before anyone could respond, a sharp voice interrupted.
"That was quite the spectacle."
The team turned to see a figure approaching from the hallway. They were clad in a sleek black uniform, the insignia on their shoulder unfamiliar. Their presence carried authority, but there was something else—an undercurrent of amusement in their tone, like they already knew the answers to the questions the team hadn't asked yet.
Adam's eyes narrowed. "And you are?"
The figure smirked. "Just an observer. Call me Cyrus." They glanced at the screen displaying the tournament rankings, then back at the team. "You're moving up fast. Faster than expected."
Max crossed his arms. "Yeah? And what's it to you?"
Cyrus tilted their head. "Just making sure you understand what you're getting into."
Tyler frowned. "And what exactly are we getting into?"
Cyrus chuckled. "That's the real question, isn't it?" They took a step closer, lowering their voice. "This isn't just about strength. It never was."
Adam felt his instincts flare. There was something calculated in the way Cyrus spoke—like they were testing them now.
Before he could press for more, Cyrus took a step back. "Enjoy the next round," they said, turning on their heel and walking away.
Max watched them disappear down the hall. "Well, that wasn't cryptic at all."
Elizabeth's expression was unreadable. "We need to be careful."
Adam's fingers curled into fists. Careful wouldn't be enough. The tournament wasn't just a competition. It was a stage, a test, and maybe something far worse.
And someone—someone powerful—was watching.
The tension lingered even after Cyrus disappeared down the hall. Adam could still feel the weight of their words pressing against his thoughts. It never was about strength.
Elizabeth exhaled, her breath frosty as she crossed her arms. "We should assume we're being watched even when we're off the battlefield."
Max scoffed. "You mean more than we already knew?" He gestured to the cameras discreetly embedded into the walls. "They're not exactly subtle about it."
Tyler ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, but what does that mean for us? If this isn't just about fighting, then what are they looking for?"
Adam didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the flickering holographic rankings, their names climbing higher with each victory. The system was pushing them forward, keeping them in the spotlight. But why?
He turned to the others. "We don't play into their hands. We stay ahead of them." His blue flames flared slightly before dimming. "No unnecessary risks. No wasted energy. We fight on our terms, not theirs."
Elizabeth gave a small nod. "Agreed."
Max sighed, stretching his arms behind his head. "Fine, fine. But I'm not holding back just 'cause some mystery puppet master is taking notes."
Tyler chuckled. "Pretty sure holding back isn't in your vocabulary."
Before the conversation could continue, a sharp chime echoed through the hallway. A new announcement flashed across the nearest screen.
"Next match: Elizabeth and Tyler versus Kieran and Vex. Combatants, report to the main chamber."
Elizabeth straightened, a cold determination settling over her. Tyler rolled his shoulders, his light pulsing faintly.
Adam gave them a steady look. "Stay sharp."
Elizabeth met his gaze. "Always."
As they stepped toward the arena doors, Adam watched them go, a nagging unease settling in his chest. Every fight brought them closer to the truth—
And to whatever trap was waiting at the end of this tournament.
The arena loomed ahead, its massive doors sliding open with a hiss. Elizabeth and Tyler stepped inside, the roar of the crowd washing over them like a tidal wave. The battlefield shifted once more, morphing into a towering mountain range with jagged cliffs and precarious ledges. Snow and ice coated the terrain, the temperature dropping sharply.
Elizabeth smirked. Perfect.
On the other side of the arena, their opponents emerged. Kieran was broad-shouldered, his stance exuding quiet confidence. A faint shimmer of hardened energy rippled across his arms—a clear indication of his ability. Beside him, Vex stood motionless, a grin playing at his lips. His presence was unsettling, his dark eyes watching them like a predator sizing up its prey.
The announcer's voice rang out: "Begin!"
Kieran moved first, closing the distance with frightening speed. His fist, encased in solid energy, swung toward Tyler like a wrecking ball. Tyler barely dodged in time, his light flickering as he countered with a burst of energy aimed at Kieran's side.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, turned her focus to Vex. He hadn't moved yet, which put her on edge. She raised a hand, summoning razor-sharp ice shards in the air.
Then, in an instant, he was gone.
She barely had time to react before a presence flickered behind her. A chill ran down her spine—not from her own ice, but from the unsettling whisper that brushed past her ear.
"You're going to need more than that, snowflake."
Elizabeth spun, swinging a jagged spear of ice at him, but he melted into the shadows, reappearing a few feet away with that same unnerving smirk.
Illusions. He wasn't just fast—he was everywhere.
Across the battlefield, Tyler was locked in a brutal exchange with Kieran. Every hit Kieran landed sent shockwaves through the air, his enhanced strength making it impossible for Tyler to go head-to-head. But Tyler was fast—he had to be. He ducked, weaving between attacks, his light leaving streaks in the cold air.
Elizabeth clenched her fists. Enough playing around.
The temperature plummeted as she took a steady breath. Snow swirled at her feet, the frost creeping outward like veins of ice. She extended a hand, and massive spikes of frozen energy shot up from the ground, forcing Vex to teleport away again.
But this time, she was ready.
The moment he reappeared, a wall of ice formed behind him, cutting off his retreat. Her hands moved in sharp, practiced motions, the ice bending to her will. In an instant, the space around him became a frozen labyrinth, restricting his movement.
Vex's smirk finally faltered.
"Got you," she whispered.
With a flick of her wrist, the ice closed in.
Meanwhile, Tyler saw his opening. Kieran had overextended in his last attack, and Tyler wasn't about to waste the chance. His entire body pulsed with golden energy as he surged forward, light exploding in a dazzling flash.
Kieran barely had time to raise his arms before Tyler's fist connected with his chest. The impact sent him skidding backward, crashing into a snowbank. He didn't get back up.
The crowd erupted, but the fight wasn't over yet.
Elizabeth focused on Vex, her breath visible in the frozen air. He struggled against the icy cage, his teleportation failing him in such a confined space. She raised a single finger, and jagged ice surged forward, locking him in place.
Tyler turned, eyes locking onto Elizabeth's.
"Do it," he called.
Without hesitation, Elizabeth clenched her fist. The ice shattered inward, knocking Vex unconscious instantly.
Silence fell for half a second before the arena erupted into thunderous applause.
"Victory: Elizabeth and Tyler!"
The battlefield began to fade back to normal, the ice dissolving into mist. Elizabeth and Tyler exchanged a glance before turning toward the exit.
Adam and Max were waiting.
"You two good?" Adam asked, scanning them both.
Tyler exhaled, grinning. "Yeah. That was a rush."
Elizabeth smirked. "Too easy."
But Adam didn't smile. His sharp eyes flickered toward the stands, his unease only growing.
Someone up there wasn't cheering.
And they weren't just watching. They were calculating.