Laughter lingered in the arena even after the first match ended. The tension that had filled the space earlier never fully returned.
By now, the candidates had spent long weeks together inside the facility training, failing, improving, and enduring side by side.
Competition still existed among them of course, but it no longer stood alone.
There was also camaraderie that had grown around it, along with friendship, trust, and even the quiet beginnings of romance that came from shared exhaustion and shared danger.
Because of that, Roland and the first candidate treated the end of their bout less like a victory and more like rough play.
They exchanged a quick fist bump before separating, both still grinning as medics waved the first candidate away for a brief check.
Adrien's voice cut through the noise, calm and firm.
"Next."
The second candidate stepped into the arena.
