Nobody spoke for a while after connecting the pieces.
Fragments.
Echo.
That place.
The voices.
The fact that only Arthur and Sunny had gone there.
The room had become too quiet.
Even Rivien had stopped making comments.
Which was honestly more worrying than the system.
Then—
something chimed.
A soft sound.
Clear.
Artificial.
Everyone froze.
Arthur blinked.
"…Please tell me that wasn't—"
Another chime.
Then—
light appeared.
Not outside.
Not above.
Everywhere.
Small windows unfolded in front of each person.
Floating.
Transparent.
Identical.
Alex immediately stood.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
Sunny looked at his calmly.
Arthur looked annoyed.
"…Can this thing stop appearing dramatically?"
The screen flickered.
Then—
words appeared.
---
SYSTEM NOTICE
EVENT UPDATE RECEIVED
---
Silence.
Then—
the message expanded.
---
INTERNATIONAL COMBAT TOURNAMENT — OFFICIAL REGULATIONS
HOST LOCATION: VOIDSPIRE
STATUS: MANDATORY PARTICIPATION
---
The room became still.
Then the next line appeared.
---
All recognized nations and registered awakened territories are required to participate.
Failure to participate will result in national-level sanctions.
Deliberate refusal of assigned awakened representatives will result in severe system enforcement penalties.
---
Nobody spoke.
Arthur slowly looked up.
"…Mandatory?"
Kierran frowned.
"…What does severe penalties mean?"
Nobody answered.
The system continued.
---
OBJECTIVE
Determine the strongest Rookie Awakened.
Strength.
Control.
Adaptability.
Strategy.
Compatibility.
---
Another section appeared.
---
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
PHASE ONE — NATIONAL SELECTION
→ Local ranking and qualification.
PHASE TWO — REGIONAL ASCENSION
→ Cross-region elimination rounds.
PHASE THREE — CONTINENTAL BRACKET
→ Representatives from multiple nations compete.
PHASE FOUR — VOIDSPIRE
→ Final international combat stage.
---
Rivien slowly raised his hand.
"…This escalated aggressively."
Nobody disagreed.
Then—
a new section appeared.
---
TEAM STRUCTURE
Four-person teams.
One designated captain.
Captain responsibilities include:
• Match declarations
• Tactical leadership
• Final voting authority during survival events
---
Arthur looked sideways.
Slowly.
Toward Sunny.
Sunny looked away.
Arthur smiled.
"…Captain match is back on."
Sunny ignored him.
Then—
another notification appeared.
This one larger.
The room became quieter.
---
RULES AND REGULATIONS
RULE 1
Combat is unrestricted.
Participants may use all abilities.
---
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"…Okay."
Next.
---
RULE 2
Killing is prohibited by default.
Death matches are permitted ONLY if BOTH participants explicitly declare consent before combat.
Victory conditions will automatically update.
---
The room froze.
Layla blinked.
Alex frowned.
Lucas crossed his arms.
Arthur stared.
"…Death matches?"
Kierran looked uncomfortable.
"…People actually choose that?"
Tom quietly answered.
"…If they have something to prove."
Nobody liked that answer.
The system continued.
---
RULE 3
Outside interference results in immediate elimination.
---
RULE 4
Unauthorized withdrawal is forbidden.
---
RULE 5
Combat arenas may alter conditions.
Examples:
Environmental change.
Aether suppression.
Weapon restrictions.
Survival conditions.
---
Rivien looked horrified.
"…Survival conditions?"
Nobody answered.
Next.
---
RULE 6
Captains may challenge captains.
Team rankings may be stolen.
---
Arthur immediately pointed.
"…Captain match definitely back on."
Sunny ignored him again.
Then—
the final rule appeared.
And the room changed.
---
RULE 7
Participants are reminded:
This tournament exists to discover strength—
and reveal potential.
Not all who enter are expected to return unchanged.
---
Silence.
Nobody moved.
The message lingered.
Then—
one final notification appeared.
---
FIRST QUALIFICATION WINDOW:
86 DAYS REMAINING
---
The screen disappeared.
Nobody spoke.
Long silence.
Then—
Rivien slowly looked around.
"…Okay."
Everyone looked.
Rivien nodded seriously.
"…Maybe this is not a friendly tournament anymore."
Nobody laughed.
Arthur stared at where the screen had been.
Then quietly said—
"…Eighty-six days."
Sunny looked outside.
Then said calmly—
"…We should train."
And for once—
nobody argued.
The room stayed quiet after the system disappeared.
Nobody really knew what to say.
Eighty-six days.
International tournament.
Death matches.
Captain rules.
Survival conditions.
Everything suddenly felt a lot bigger.
Arthur sat there thinking for a while.
Then—
his expression changed.
Everyone noticed immediately.
That expression usually meant one thing.
Bad idea incoming.
Arthur looked at Sunny.
Sunny noticed.
"…No."
Arthur blinked.
"…What?"
Sunny looked at him.
"…Whatever you're thinking."
Arthur looked offended.
"You don't even know what I'm thinking."
Sunny stared.
"…That has never stopped you before."
Arthur ignored him.
Instead—
he stood up.
Layla immediately looked suspicious.
"…Arthur?"
Arthur looked at Sunny.
Sunny looked back.
Long silence.
Then Arthur said—
"…I have a theory."
Sunny immediately looked disappointed.
That was somehow worse than concern.
Arthur walked forward.
Sunny watched him.
Arthur stopped in front of him.
Then—
reached out.
Everyone froze.
Sunny narrowed his eyes.
"…Arthur."
Arthur nodded.
"For science."
Then—
tap.
He poked Sunny's shoulder.
Nothing happened.
Silence.
Arthur waited.
Nothing.
He poked him again.
Nothing.
Arthur frowned.
"…Huh."
Sunny stared.
Arthur looked confused.
"…Nothing happened."
He looked around.
"…Last time we touched we collapsed."
Kierran blinked.
"…You touched him to test that?"
Arthur nodded.
"…Yeah."
Lucas stared.
"…That's actually reasonable."
Sunny slowly looked at Arthur.
Then looked at where Arthur touched him.
Then looked back.
Pause.
"…Don't do that again."
Arthur blinked.
"…Why?"
Sunny looked away slightly.
"…I don't know."
The room quieted.
Sunny frowned slightly.
That was weird.
Nothing happened.
But—
he felt something.
Not pain.
Not dizziness.
Just…
strange.
Like touching Arthur reminded him of something he couldn't remember.
He didn't like that.
Arthur noticed.
"…You okay?"
Sunny answered immediately.
"…Yes."
Too quickly.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
Then—
Rivien stood up.
Everyone looked.
Rivien slowly looked between Arthur and Sunny.
Then dramatically pointed.
Silence.
Then—
"…Arthur."
Arthur blinked.
"…Yeah?"
Rivien nodded seriously.
"…That looked very suspicious."
Arthur frowned.
"…What?"
Rivien looked around.
Then loudly declared—
"Ladies and gentlemen."
Pause.
"…Arthur is gay."
Silence.
Arthur stared.
Sunny stared.
Nobody moved.
Then—
Kierran exploded laughing first.
Immediately.
Lucas turned away and started laughing too.
Alex looked shocked—
then laughed.
Tom covered his face.
Even Tom was laughing.
Arthur looked horrified.
"…WHAT."
Alexi immediately laughed.
Layla looked away—
failed—
then started laughing too.
Arthur pointed aggressively.
"WHY ARE YOU ALL AGREEING."
Rivien nodded.
"You touched him twice."
Arthur looked betrayed.
"It was for science."
Rivien looked serious.
"That is exactly what guilty people say."
Arthur turned.
"LAYLA."
Layla was trying so hard not to laugh.
"…I'm sorry."
She immediately laughed harder.
Arthur looked devastated.
"YOU TOO?!"
Kierran was dying.
Lucas pointed.
"He even said 'for science'."
Tom shook his head.
"…That's rough."
Alex added—
"You did walk directly up to him."
Arthur pointed at Sunny.
"HE DIDN'T MOVE."
Everyone immediately looked at Sunny.
Sunny blinked.
Then realized.
Then looked away.
"…I didn't think about it."
Immediate chaos.
Rivien pointed dramatically.
"HE DIDN'T DENY IT."
Arthur almost collapsed.
"THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS IS."
Sunny quietly stood up.
"…I'm leaving."
Rivien nodded.
"Classic avoidance."
Sunny turned.
Looked at Rivien.
Then calmly said—
"…You're next in training."
Rivien froze.
The room exploded laughing again.
Arthur sat back down.
Defeated.
Meanwhile—
Sunny quietly walked out.
Still slightly bothered.
Not by the jokes.
Not by Arthur.
But because—
for half a second—
when Arthur touched him—
he thought he heard a voice again.
And that bothered him way more than being accused of things. The laughing did not stop.
That was Arthur's first problem.
His second problem—
nobody looked guilty.
Kierran was still leaning against the wall laughing.
Lucas had fully committed and wasn't even hiding it anymore.
Alex was trying and failing to look serious.
Tom looked deeply entertained for someone who normally looked disappointed in life.
Even Layla had turned away because she knew Arthur was glaring at her.
Alexi looked one sentence away from laughing again.
Arthur sat there.
Staring.
Betrayed.
Then slowly pointed at everyone.
"…You people are unbelievable."
Rivien sat proudly with his notebook.
"Thank you."
Arthur immediately pointed at him.
"No. You started this."
Rivien nodded.
"I know."
Arthur took a deep breath.
Then folded his arms.
"…Also no."
The room looked at him.
Arthur looked serious now.
"…Absolutely not."
Kierran wiped tears from his eyes.
"…Bro it was a joke."
Arthur shook his head.
"No I'm clarifying."
Everyone went quiet.
Arthur looked down for a second before speaking more calmly.
"…My grandfather used to read the Bible all the time."
That got the room's attention.
Arthur leaned back.
"I never really paid attention when I was younger."
His expression softened a little.
"…But my mother always said he believed people shouldn't try to become someone else just because of pressure."
Arthur shrugged.
"He used to say something like…"
He thought for a second.
"…God created people with intention and people shouldn't hate themselves or try to throw themselves away just to fit something else."
His voice stayed calm.
"No matter what happens—you stay yourself."
He looked around.
"…So no."
Then pointed at Sunny.
"…I am not becoming anything because Rivien lost a debate with common sense."
The room went quiet for one second.
Then—
Rivien raised his hand.
"…Counterargument."
Arthur looked horrified.
"No."
Rivien nodded.
"…You still touched him twice."
Arthur stood immediately.
"THAT WAS NOT THE MESSAGE."
Layla laughed again.
Kierran nearly fell over.
Lucas pointed.
"The serious speech into immediate self-defense was incredible."
Alex shook his head.
Tom quietly said—
"…Your grandfather sounded wise."
Arthur paused.
Then looked away slightly.
"…According to my mother, he read that thing every day."
His expression softened for a moment.
"…I don't remember much."
Then immediately pointed at Rivien again.
"But I know enough to know he would not approve of this conversation."
Rivien looked thoughtful.
"…Actually if he saw the way you walked over there—"
Arthur grabbed a pillow.
Rivien stood instantly.
"THAT WAS A JOKE."
Arthur launched the pillow.
Rivien dodged.
Chaos resumed.
Meanwhile—
outside the room—
Sunny stood quietly in the hallway.
He had heard part of it.
He looked down for a second.
Then quietly muttered—
"…That escalated fast."
And walked away before Rivien could somehow involve him again.
Eventually—
the room settled down.
Arthur survived the allegations.
Rivien survived the pillow.
Mostly.
Layla stopped laughing.
Mostly.
And the chaos slowly returned to normal.
Arthur sat down again with his dignity damaged beyond repair.
Kierran was still smiling.
Lucas looked thoughtful.
Too thoughtful.
That was dangerous.
Arthur noticed.
"…Why are you making that face?"
Lucas looked at him.
Then looked around the room.
Then folded his arms.
"…We're wasting time."
Everyone looked over.
Lucas continued calmly.
"We have eighty-six days."
The room quieted slightly.
Lucas pointed toward the window.
"…Tournament."
Then pointed at everyone.
"…Top four."
Then pointed at Arthur.
"…And you apparently collapse from physical contact."
Arthur looked offended.
"That happened one time."
Lucas ignored him.
"We need structure."
Sunny had returned at some point and quietly stood near the doorway.
Lucas looked at him.
Then at the others.
"…Training."
That got everyone's attention.
Alex crossed his arms.
"…Training?"
Lucas nodded.
"…Real training."
He looked around.
"…We've all gotten stronger."
Then his eyes landed on Alex and Tom.
"…But not efficiently."
Tom slowly looked up.
Alex narrowed his eyes.
Lucas continued.
"We keep sparring each other."
"…But we're training against people at our level."
Silence.
Then—
Lucas pointed at both of them.
"…You two should mentor us."
Immediate silence.
Tom blinked.
Alex blinked.
Tom pointed at himself.
"…Me?"
Lucas nodded.
Then pointed at Alex.
"…And him."
Alex looked mildly concerned.
"…Why me?"
Kierran immediately answered.
"Because you got folded by a Devourer and survived."
Alex stared.
"…That sounds insulting."
Arthur nodded.
"It kinda did."
Kierran corrected.
"…I mean you survived impossible situations."
Layla nodded.
"…And both of you clearly know more than you show."
Tom immediately looked away.
Suspicious.
Alex noticed.
Tom noticed Alex noticing.
Then both looked away.
Suspiciously.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"…That's suspicious."
Sunny quietly added—
"…Very."
Tom immediately replied.
"…No."
Nobody believed him.
Lucas crossed his arms.
"…You both have experience."
Then looked around.
"…We don't."
Silence.
Alex looked at Tom.
Tom looked at Alex.
Long pause.
Then—
Tom sighed.
"…I'll do it."
Everyone looked surprised.
Tom pointed.
"One condition."
Arthur immediately looked suspicious.
"…What."
Tom looked serious.
"No whining."
Arthur immediately pointed at Kierran.
"He's getting targeted."
Kierran looked offended.
Tom continued.
"No shortcuts."
Then looked at Arthur.
"No training while injured."
Arthur looked away.
"…That feels personal."
Tom ignored him.
Alex sighed.
"…Fine."
Everyone looked at him.
Alex shrugged.
"…I'll train you."
Rivien immediately stood dramatically.
"WE HAVE MASTERS."
Alex closed his eyes.
"…Please stop announcing things."
Rivien pointed dramatically.
"I SHALL ALSO REQUIRE A MENTOR."
Sunny immediately answered.
"No."
Rivien looked devastated.
Arthur laughed.
Lucas ignored them.
Then looked at Tom and Alex.
"…How are we splitting?"
Tom thought.
Then looked around.
His eyes landed on Arthur.
Sunny.
Kierran.
Lucas.
Layla.
Rivien.
He thought for a second.
Then smiled slightly.
"…Simple."
He pointed.
"Alex trains Arthur."
Immediate silence.
Arthur blinked.
"…What."
Tom pointed again.
"I'll take Sunny."
Everyone turned.
Sunny looked mildly surprised.
Tom continued.
"Kierran and Lucas rotate."
Then looked at Layla.
"You choose."
Layla blinked.
"…Why me?"
Tom shrugged.
"…You adapt fast."
Then he looked at Rivien.
Silence.
Long silence.
Rivien smiled nervously.
Tom looked at Alex.
Alex looked at Tom.
Then both pointed.
"…Sunny trains him."
Sunny stared.
Rivien gasped.
"…MASTER."
Sunny looked disappointed immediately.
And just like that—
the tournament stopped feeling like something in the future.
Training had officially begun.
The decision was made.
Training would officially begin tomorrow.
Not casual sparring.
Not random sessions.
Actual preparation.
Eighty-six days.
That number sat in everyone's head now.
So for today—
they rested.
And strangely—
nobody argued.
Kierran challenged Lucas to cards and lost repeatedly.
Rivien tried making "team uniforms" and got shut down instantly.
Alex disappeared for half the day.
Tom somehow spent three hours doing nothing while looking busy.
Sunny stayed mostly quiet.
Layla helped around the house.
Arthur—
didn't know what to do.
Which was unusual.
Because for the first time in a while—
there wasn't an immediate battle.
No collapse.
No recovery.
No urgency.
Just…
waiting.
---
A few hours later—
night came.
Greenmire looked strange at night.
Not dark.
Not bright.
Just quiet.
The sky looked endless.
Arthur sat outside alone near the edge of the shelter.
One knee raised.
Arms resting casually.
Thinking.
About the tournament.
About the black place.
About the voice.
About training.
About tomorrow.
And—
if he was being honest—
he was also thinking about that moment earlier.
When everyone laughed.
His expression twitched.
Unbelievable.
He shook his head.
Then—
he felt something.
Presence.
Soft.
Careful.
Someone nearby.
Arthur didn't turn.
Instead—
he stared ahead and said calmly—
"…You gonna stand there all night?"
Silence.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
Layla slowly stepped out.
Arthur looked over.
Layla looked mildly annoyed.
"…You knew?"
Arthur shrugged.
"…Your presence is familiar."
Layla froze slightly.
Then immediately recovered.
"…That sounded weird."
Arthur blinked.
"…Not like that."
Layla looked away.
"…Okay."
Silence.
Then Arthur moved slightly.
Enough space to sit.
Layla looked at the space.
Debated.
Then quietly sat beside him.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Silence again.
Arthur looked ahead.
"…What were you doing?"
Layla folded her arms.
"…Thinking."
Arthur nodded.
"…Same."
Another pause.
Then Layla looked at him.
"…How are you actually feeling?"
Arthur looked confused.
"…Fine?"
Layla gave him a look.
Arthur sighed.
"…Okay."
He looked up.
"…Not fine."
Layla waited.
Arthur looked at his hands.
"…I thought things would feel normal after waking up."
His voice stayed calm.
"…But they don't."
Layla stayed quiet.
Arthur continued.
"…That place."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I keep thinking about it."
Layla looked at him.
Arthur laughed quietly.
"…Sounds stupid saying it out loud."
Layla shook her head.
"…It doesn't."
Arthur looked over.
Layla stared ahead.
"…I don't think weird things happen to people for no reason anymore."
Arthur blinked.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Fair."
Silence again.
Then Layla quietly asked—
"…Are you scared?"
Arthur thought.
Longer this time.
Then—
"…A little."
Layla looked surprised.
Arthur looked ahead.
"…Not of fighting."
He looked at his hand.
"…I'm more scared of not understanding what's happening."
His expression softened.
"…Like everyone knows something except me."
Layla froze slightly.
Not because of the words.
Because—
she knew things.
Not everything.
But things.
Things she hadn't said.
She looked down.
Then quietly asked—
"…If you found out something about yourself…"
Arthur looked over.
Layla kept looking away.
"…Would you want people to tell you immediately?"
Arthur blinked.
Thought.
Then answered honestly—
"…Depends."
Layla looked at him.
Arthur smiled slightly.
"…If they're hiding it because they care…"
He looked away.
"…I'd probably understand."
Layla froze.
Then looked down quickly.
Arthur noticed.
"…Why?"
Layla immediately answered—
"Nothing."
Too fast.
Arthur looked suspicious.
Layla looked away.
Then suddenly stood.
Arthur blinked.
"…You leaving?"
Layla nodded immediately.
"…Yeah."
Arthur looked confused.
"…You came outside to sit in silence for ten minutes?"
Layla pointed at him.
"…I asked questions."
Arthur looked offended.
"…That's not a conversation."
Layla smiled slightly.
"…Goodnight, Arthur."
She turned.
Started walking.
Then stopped.
Without looking back—
she quietly said—
"…Don't think too hard tonight."
Arthur looked at her.
She walked back inside.
Arthur stayed outside.
Looking at the strange sky.
Then quietly smiled.
"…Your presence is familiar…"
He paused.
Realized.
Then immediately covered his face.
"…Yeah okay that sounded bad."
And somewhere inside—
Layla accidentally smiled for the next five minutes.