[Ravenfall: Hydra(luce), Leviathan(lev), Phoenix(ishaan), Griffin(veer), Valkyrie(avni), Cerberus(sayaka), Kraken(erik), Wyvern(raiden), Nymph(saira), Sphinx (dev). Others: Amber(isolde), Azure(damien), Chimera(elior), Basilisk(Vance), Pegasus(Sol)]
The roar of the crowd rolled through Umbra’s Grand Arena like a living wave. Banners of five leagues swayed in the hot morning breeze—Black for Umbra, Red for Pyronox, Silver for Astrynox, Gold for Virelios, and Blue for Caelthorn. Ravenfall sat with the rest of the Shades, a black-uniformed knot among the noise.
Hydra scanned the sprawling competition grounds. Too many sightlines. Too much noise. If they wanted chaos, they built the perfect stage.141Please respect copyright.PENANAJDZbGfOvTe
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Phoenix leaned back in his seat, arms behind his head. “Feels less like a competition and more like a circus.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAuEyk7MRTva
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Griffin elbowed Leviathan. “You gonna faint from all the cheering?”141Please respect copyright.PENANAscvvc6vMah
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Leviathan’s glare could have frozen water. “I’ll faint after I throw you off this stand.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAS401fCfspc
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Valkyrie adjusted her gloves, her eyes tracing the open field. “Wind’s coming in from the east. Advantage for ranged.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA114rSbZqcJ
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Cerberus muttered, “Too much flash. Competitions should be quiet.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA0FgJtpmKfP
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Kraken crossed his arms. “Crowd’s supposed to intimidate.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAn6pbciK3kC
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Wyvern’s gaze swept the stadium tiers. “Also perfect sniper angles. Comforting.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAsyky3F067k
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Nymph leaned forward, studying the opposing teams. “Pyronox bunches up in squads… Astrynox spreads thin. Interesting.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA6oVrYPVJgp
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Sphinx raised an eyebrow at the massive digital scoreboard. “Wonder which taxpaying sucker funded this.”
Amber sat two rows above, arms crossed, watching. “They’ve got the look,” she murmured to Azure.141Please respect copyright.PENANAEc688h0Hvx
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“They’d better have more than the look,” Azure replied, leaning back.141Please respect copyright.PENANA4dwVKzkUWb
Chimera nudged Basilisk. “Odds?”141Please respect copyright.PENANA1JUSISFrjJ
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“Forty percent we win Day One,” Basilisk said flatly.141Please respect copyright.PENANAHgMdQmF0iv
Pegasus grinned. “I’m betting on fifty.”
A low chime signaled the start. Valken, today’s competition marshal, strode onto the field, his voice booming through the comms. “First event—Blackout Hunt!”
Event 1 – Blackout Hunt
The floodlights died, plunging the arena into darkness. A timer flashed 10 minutes.
Hydra’s voice came low and firm. “Fan out. Pair cover with capture.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAQvjjpSkG1N
Wyvern ghosted through the shadows, tagging an Astrynox member with a swift tap and muttering, “Tag. You’re out.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAEel2HKwnV6
Cerberus’s voice crackled over comms, “Two down. Easy.”141Please respect copyright.PENANATUNnvM2e30
Phoenix whispered, “I’m betting I get more tags than Griffin.”141Please respect copyright.PENANANOPy8M2aEQ
“Not a bet you can win,” Griffin whispered back, sprinting past.141Please respect copyright.PENANALdVa2NJ6XH
“Shut up,” Leviathan growled, clipping a Pyronox fighter in the shoulder.141Please respect copyright.PENANA1eabT8oeYE
Valkyrie’s calm tone came through, “Hydra, left flank’s open. Sending Kraken to cover.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA5HplmOE920
Kraken moved in, blocking a Caelthorn runner. “Not today.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA8GSzCxy593
Nymph darted between barriers, marking an opponent. “They’re predictable.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA8u14SKdWsH
Sphinx lobbed a small noise-maker, luring two enemies into a trap. “You’re welcome.”
Up in the stands, Amber tilted her head. “Efficient.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA6jqkxPz1SK
Azure’s lips twitched in the barest smirk. “They’re learning.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAtDfpcUrh2k
Chimera leaned forward. “Five minutes and they’ve halved the field.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3InlVufbl
Basilisk muttered, “Hope they keep that pace.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAxUpMum8p4h
Pegasus clapped as the timer hit zero.
Umbra Shades took first place.
Event 2 – Contraband Run
The arena transformed into a sprawling urban checkpoint, guards and scanners positioned at choke points. Teams had to smuggle marked crates through without getting caught.
Hydra gathered them. “We run three routes—decoys, smuggle, cover.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAZvQMUdt0Dv
Phoenix flashed a grin. “Watch me charm the guards.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAyjrEj2SmEM
Griffin cut in, “Or distract them with a story about my grandmother’s goat farm.”141Please respect copyright.PENANArB0zGJ1HSh
“You don’t have a grandmother,” Leviathan said, hoisting a crate.141Please respect copyright.PENANA6pU6XApKy8
Valkyrie slipped a smaller package into her satchel. “Decoy to east gate.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAxWsVzUav8X
Cerberus feigned confusion to a guard, pointing the opposite way. “Is that the restrooms?”141Please respect copyright.PENANArmcgqqVoOq
Kraken hefted a large crate right through a checkpoint, blocking the guard’s view for Wyvern to pass.141Please respect copyright.PENANAQrrtATL1Hi
Wyvern muttered as he walked by, “Fake passports never fail.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA65kTyxf5ap
Nymph tucked a contraband pouch into a bouquet of flowers.141Please respect copyright.PENANAJs6PBdlVzj
Sphinx shoved a small package under a guard’s chair mid-conversation.
Amber’s eyes followed their moves. “Risky but effective.”141Please respect copyright.PENANAGGORTXlB0T
“Unpredictable,” Azure agreed.141Please respect copyright.PENANAGCROOrTxtW
Chimera laughed as Griffin’s goat story bought Phoenix enough time to slip past.141Please respect copyright.PENANA4WMVzqblUv
Basilisk shook his head. “Ridiculous… but it worked.”141Please respect copyright.PENANA44s5Ipn8Am
Pegasus whistled when Hydra crossed the finish.
Umbra placed second—Caelthorn’s precision had been hard to beat.141Please respect copyright.PENANAesvrmGnJvc


