The morning air in Fort Vigilance's transport nexus was still and heavy with unspoken anticipation. One day had passed since the teams finalized their strategies, and now, the twenty-five champions representing the Five Universes stood before a shimmering temporal gateway. The portal pulsed with stable, controlled energy, a testament to Captain Solari's genius, yet it felt like the maw of some great beast waiting to swallow them whole.
Team 1, the strongest of the Areala Universe, stood in a tight, disciplined formation. Lyxa Morvain's violet eyes were fixed on the portal, her expression a mask of calm resolve. Beside her, Theron Ashwick grunted, his hand resting on the barrier charm around his neck. "Been a long time since I walked into a fight this outnumbered," he rumbled, more to himself than anyone else.
Team 2, the strongest of the Kaipo Universe, was a stark contrast. Kai Sunblade's solar armor cast a warm, reassuring glow as he offered a final smile to his teammates. "Whatever happens in there," he said, his voice steady, "we face it together. For our home." Luna Tideweaver nodded, asingle, perfect sphere of water rotating between her palms, a focus for her nervous energy.
At the head of the third team, Captain Daichi reviewed a final tactical schematic on his wrist display before it dissolved. Beside him, Saber stood stoically, his gaze distant. He had walked these streets before, but as an ally, a prince, a king. Now, he returned as an adversary.
Seraphina moved to his side, her voice low. "What do you expect out of this Tournament?"
Saber's eyes met hers, a grim understanding passing between them. "I expect nothing less than absolute authority," he replied quietly. "The Judge and the Council see this tournament not as a test of strength, but as a confirmation of their own superiority."
With a final, silent nod from Daichi, the champions stepped forward. The portal hummed, and the sterile environment of Fort Vigilance dissolved, replaced instantly by the overwhelming grandeur of the Main District.
The sheer scale of the city was breathtaking. It was a place where ancient, monolithic architecture fused seamlessly with impossible technology. Towering spires of gleaming black metal, impossibly thin, pierced a sky filled with layers of traffic moving along bridges made of pure light. The air itself buzzed, charged with an energy that was both invigorating and oppressive.
For the champions from the destroyed universes, the sight was a painful reminder of what they had lost and what they were fighting for.
They had materialized on a massive, circular platform suspended high above the city's lower levels. Waiting for them was a contingent of royal guards, their armor a polished, intimidating black, their faces hidden behind expressionless helmets. They carried no weapons, yet their presence was a weapon in itself.
The lead guard stepped forward, his voice amplified by his helmet, cold and impersonal. "Welcome, champions of the Five Universes. The Council awaits your arrival at the Colosseum of Judgment. Follow us."
There was no warmth in his greeting. The champions were not guests; they were contestants, outsiders brought in for a spectacle. As the guards led them onto a silent, floating transport, the citizens of the Main District paused to watch them pass. Their faces held a mixture of curiosity, disdain, and a cold, analytical pity. Especially for the former King, Saber. They were looking at lambs being led to slaughter.
"Keep your heads high," Lyxa commanded her team quietly, her voice cutting through the heavy silence. "Let them stare. Their arrogance is a weakness."
The transport glided through the city's canyons, offering a panoramic view of their destination. In the distance, a colossal structure hung suspended between three of the largest spires, connected by shimmering energy bridges. It was a colosseum, but unlike any they had ever seen. Its architecture was fluid, its outer walls composed of shifting plates of the same black metal, with a massive, glowing rune of judgment hovering over its open roof.
As their transport docked, the roar of a crowd washed over them—a hundred thousand voices or more, a unified sound of anticipation. The guards led them down a wide hall, the walls engraved with the histories of the Six Kingdoms' greatest victories. It was a path of intimidation, designed to crush their morale before a single blow was struck.
At the end of the hall, a massive gate stood closed, the roar of the crowd muffled but still immense on the other side.
The lead guard stopped, turning to face them. "The opening ceremony will begin shortly. Prepare yourselves. Your performance this week will determine the fate of your worlds."
With that final, chilling statement, the guard and his contingent marched away, leaving the twenty-five champions alone before the gate. They stood together, a small island of defiance in a hostile sea, the weight of five universes resting squarely on their shoulders.
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and then Add to home screen.