The virtual arena of Enders Light shimmered, bathed in golden dusk, as the announcer's voice rang through the air once more:
> "And that concludes the mount phase of the Grand Tournament! A brief intermission has been issued before the final elimination rounds. Contestants, you may log off or restock your loadouts. Thirty minutes until the next stage begins."
Cheers from the crowd echoed across the obsidian stands. Spectators poured out of skyboxes to grab digital snacks or discuss the insane fights they'd just witnessed.
Aleman stood still on the marble platform that marked the player rest zone, his hood flapping lightly in the artificial breeze. His mount, a shadowy fanged wyvern named Nyxveil, let out a low rumble before dissolving into glittering runes and vanishing back into his inventory.
"I need a break," he muttered, and a prompt appeared before his eyes:
> [Would you like to log out?]
Yes / No
He hit Yes without hesitation.
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