Ezra turned away from the roaring crowd and slipped back into the waiting area. The atmosphere was thick with tension, a charged stillness humming between the students. Some paced restlessly, armor clinking with each step, while others stood rigid and silent, eyes locked onto the massive screen above them.
He ran a hand through his hair, shifting uncomfortably as he scanned the competition. Tactical gear. Weapons. Augmentations. Swords, crossbows, firearms—each participant adorned with carefully chosen tools tailored to their strengths.
All he had was a simple dagger.
His fingers tightened around the hilt at his waist.
The screen flickered to life.
Two middle-aged men appeared on the broadcast—one with slicked-back silver hair, the other with a neatly trimmed beard. Their polished uniforms gleamed under the stage lights, smiles wide with the kind of enthusiasm reserved for narrating blood sport.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to this year's annual Ember Games!" The first announcer's voice rang out, smooth and commanding. "Today marks a truly special occasion, with some rather… exciting adjustments to the rules!"
The second announcer leaned in, practically vibrating with energy.
"Oh yes, you heard that right! Changes have been made—last minute, might I add—to accommodate none other than His Highness's personal wishes! This year's Games will be unlike any before!"
Ezra's stomach dropped.
A ripple of unease swept through the room.
The first announcer continued, voice sharp with practiced flair.
"As per our King's request, all participants will enter the battlefield simultaneously. No divisions by category. No separation by year or age. Every participant from Arkanis—will compete on equal footing."
Ezra barely had time to process the announcement before the next blow landed.
"Everything is permitted—Resonance, weapons, combat strategies. The only restriction?" A pause. A smile. "No killing."
Silence settled like a blade over the waiting area.
Then the second announcer chimed in, voice laced with theatrical excitement.
"Of course, our dear viewers have already placed their bets on who they believe will emerge victorious!" He gestured to the screen with a flourish. "Will it be Atlas Alan Vale, heir of House Vale—the prodigy with the golden touch? Or perhaps Cassian Von Leichstein, the blood-soaked scion of House Von Leichstein?"
Ezra's gaze flickered toward Cassian. The other boy's expression was unreadable, carved from stone.
The announcer pressed on, savoring every syllable.
"Let's not forget the iron-willed Octavia of House Eisenberg! And of course, the Silva and Laurent contenders—two Houses locked in bitter rivalry for generations. That's sure to make things… interesting."
The crowd outside roared in response. The names of the Seven Families echoed across the arena like thunder.
Ezra's breath caught.
Wait a minute… Atlas and Octavia are from the Seven Families?
He'd expected Cassian—that much was obvious. But the other two? That shook him. He hadn't known. And now, it was too late to ask questions.
The screen shifted to a wide view of the audience—thousands upon thousands watching with eager, hungry eyes.
The first announcer's voice rose again.
"The Games will begin shortly! As always, the battlefield has been carefully constructed—a vast, ever-shifting terrain designed to challenge every skill, every instinct!"
The screen displayed an aerial view of the arena.
Forests stretched across the horizon, dense and ancient. Crumbling ruins lay tangled in vines. Jagged ravines tore through the ground like scars, while mist-shrouded valleys promised dangers unseen. There was no defined battlefield.
Only chaos.
Ezra swallowed hard.
"The first phase will last exactly twenty-four hours," the announcer continued. "During that time, participants must navigate the terrain, locate essential supplies, and engage in combat to earn points. But remember—nothing in the Ember Games stays the same."
The second announcer gave a low chuckle.
"That's right! The battlefield will shrink over time, forcing competitors closer together. And scattered across the map, we've placed special Resonance Relics—artifacts capable of granting temporary enhancements, unique abilities, or powerful battlefield effects. Find one… and you might just shift the tide."
The screen cut to black.
A final voice rang out across the arena:
"Now—let the Games begin."