The brackets on the massive arena display board began to populate, each name appearing with an agonizing slowness—until finally, after what felt like a nervous eternity, the full roster was complete.
1) Yu Shen (C) – 0 challengers
2) Khyaal (VC) – 3 challengers
3) Minerva – 2 challengers
4) Jude – 7 challengers
.
.
.
10) Enzo – 93 challengers
The bracket display on the arena's massive holoboard finally locked in, illuminating the room as the matchups beneath each team member began auto-populating into cascading sub-brackets.
Almost immediately, every cadet's eyes darted to three names.
The first was their own—just to confirm they were seeded under the team member they had selected.
The other two?
Leo Skyshard and Su Yang.
"Holy shit…" someone muttered. "Skyshard went after Vice-Captain Khyaal?"
"No way—really? That's a ballsy move. Khyaal's only a Master, but people say he's this close to a breakthrough."
"Ballsy move my ass," another voice scoffed. "Even the weakest Grandmaster folds the strongest Master. This isn't a fight—it's an execution. Poor Khyaal… guy's getting cooked over a grudge."
"Speaking of grudges," someone chimed in. "Look at Su Yang! He went after Fazim instead of Minerva. Guess all that talk about revenge was just that—talk."
"Nooooo, man!" another cadet groaned. "Fazim's the guy I picked! Why the hell did Su Yang have to go for him?"
"Dude, are you serious?" someone else replied with a laugh. "You really thought a Grandmaster would challenge another Grandmaster during selections? This isn't a deathmatch. Of course he's going to stomp someone else and secure his spot first."
Chatter rippled through the crowd as the implications sank in.
Leo going after Khyaal wasn't a complete surprise—rumors of their revenge scuffle had been spreading for months—but Yang choosing Fazim over Minerva?
That raised a few eyebrows.
As many felt convinced that Su Yang was the petty type that was going to choose personal vindication over greater good.
—----------
"What the hell—?!" Su Yang barked, eyes glued to the bracket board as his voice echoed with fury. His outburst snapped Leo and Mu Shen's attention instantly, both turning to glance at him with raised brows.
"I clearly selected Minerva, not Fazim," Su Yang growled, fists clenched as his tone edged toward outrage. "Someone's messed with my bracket!"
Without another word, he stormed out of the warm-up zone and onto the arena floor, his footsteps thundering as he marched into the center of the stage and pointed an accusing finger toward the officials' platform.
"Don't screw with me, Hen!" he shouted, voice raw. "I didn't pick Fazim and you know it! You know it!"
A hush fell over the arena as eyes turned toward Major Hen, who remained unmoved, arms folded across his chest as he stared down at Su Yang from the officiating stand.
"That's enough, boy," Hen said coldly. "No one but the Principal has the authority to alter brackets once selections are made. So unless you're accusing Principal Alric of tampering with your entry, you're wasting everyone's time."
All heads turned as one toward the VIP box—where Principal Alric sat calmly beside the top sponsors and other influential merchant group owners, sipping champagne as if he hadn't heard a word.
He didn't even flinch, didn't even glance Su Yang's way under the accusation, as the silence that followed simply felt suffocating.
Su Yang's breath caught in his throat as he realized—there was no proof. No logs he could show. No records of his original selection.
Just his word… against Rodova's system.
And to the rest of the academy, it already looked like he was trying to backpedal—like the guy who picked an easy opponent and was now throwing a tantrum to save face.
Hen's voice snapped again.
"As I said—no changes will be made."
"Maybe your finger slipped when making your pick. Or maybe you just regret the coward's choice you made. Either way, you're fighting Fazim."
"You can either throw the match… or suck it up and fight. The choice is yours—" Hen said, issuing the ultimatum.
As Su Yang stood frozen for a moment, chest rising and falling rapidly, teeth clenched so hard it felt like they'd crack.
'Fuckers—' He cursed under his breath. However, said nothing more, as he turned and walked off the arena floor, jaw tight with frustration.
He knew exactly what had happened.
Alric's eyes—cold and calculating—had said it all.
This wasn't an accident.
Alric had made the call.
He didn't want two of his best fighters eliminating each other before the real circuits began.
And so, without so much as a conversation, Su Yang's redemption had been stolen from him. Rewritten.
Now, he'd be fighting Fazim.
And all he could do was accept it.
—--------
From across the arena, if there was one man who gave Alric a nod of genuine appreciation, it was Yu Shen.
The captain of the circuits team was the only individual with 0 challenges to his name, as his reputation as Rodova's strongest was enough to deter any and all competitors.
'Su Yang you fool…. The circuits are bigger than just your petty revenge.
I know you're mad today. But I'll give you your chance to fight Minerva fair and square in training….. but I need you both on my team if we are to win—' Yu Shen thought, as he didn't doubt that Su Yang had chosen Minerva as his opponent, however, felt glad that Alric had intervened.
*Unbuckle—*
*Unbuckle—*
Unbuckling his gear, Yu Shen stripped down to just his usual Rodova uniform, as being scheduled to fight no opponents today, he no longer needed the armor.
Instead, he lazily stretched and began walking towards the first year warm-up area, as there were a couple things he wished to discuss with Su Yang and Leo before the fight.
Things, that were important for their future in the circuits.
—-------------
An eerie silence swept through the first-year warm-up room the moment Yu Shen stepped inside.
As for a brief second, every student paused, their eyes lighting up with a mix of hope and curiosity—wondering if the captain had come to offer some last-minute words of motivation before the matches began.
But that hope quickly faded.
As soon as they noticed his gaze locked straight ahead—unmoving, razor-focused on the two figures stretching quietly in the far corner— as they collectively understood.
He hadn't come for them.
He was here for Leo and Su Yang.
A few cadets sighed under their breath, shoulders slumping slightly as the excitement drained from the room.
"Yang. Skyshard," Yu Shen greeted as he approached, his voice calm and composed.
Mu Shen glanced up from his seated position nearby and let out a quiet cough, tapping a finger to his chest.
Yu Shen blinked, realizing the oversight. "Shen," he added with a nod.
Mu Shen gave a tight smile in return, then stood and quietly stepped away—understanding this conversation wasn't meant for three.
As soon as he was gone, Yu Shen lowered his voice.
"Some of the merchant guild reps sitting in the stands today aren't here to cheer Rodova," he said, glancing toward the observation balconies above. "They've already got teams—some from Geneva, some from Barakiel. They're here to scout. To study. To prepare"
He didn't need to elaborate further.
"They're not looking at the team," he continued. "They're looking at you two."
Yu Shen folded his arms, his tone firm.
"So unless it's absolutely necessary—don't show them anything."
"Win with the bare minimum. No showboating. No exotic combinations. Keep your skill sets hidden for as long as possible."
He didn't bother mentioning whether Leo or Su Yang would make it through today's selection.
Because in his mind, it wasn't even a question.
Their spots were already guaranteed.
However, he wanted them to reveal nothing, so that Rodova walked into the circuits with an element of mystery about themselves, as both Su Yang and Leo nodded in understanding.