The stadium rumbled like a restless beast. Bright drones zipped overhead, their cameras whirring as the voice of the masked overseer boomed across the arena.
"Eleven teams. One field. One ball. One chaos. Don't disappoint me."
The players on the field exchanged looks. Some were anxious.
Some confident. Others… unreadable.
The drones fanned out, swooping low as they highlighted each team for the audience — and for the competitors sizing up the opposition.
Team 1: The Tyrants.
The drone zoomed in on them first, and for good reason.
They stood like a well-trained unit, not saying a word, just watching.
Leader: Graviel — a tall, broad-shouldered guy with cold, sharp eyes. Everyone knew him.
Qi practitioner, Qi Initiate Stage, 7th Minor Step.
His specialty was aura pressure, bending the area around him so opponents felt like they were running through water.
Playstyle: Overwhelming force, precise coordination.
Notable members:
Vexen — a berserker with metal chains wrapped around his arms, faint heat radiating off them. Sera — striker, quiet, efficient, lethal when she moved.
Ayjin let out a low whistle.
"Yeah… don't wanna be on the receiving end of that guy's glare. Dude looks like he practices intimidation in the mirror."
Mira crossed her arms. "If you're scared, just say it."
"Scared? Nah. Just acknowledging the obvious," Ayjin said, smirking but keeping his eyes on Graviel.
Team 2: The Tricksters.
Leader: Nox — wiry, sharp grin, and the kind of eyes that made you double-check your pockets.
Magic user, Illusion Specialist, still in the early stages but dangerous enough to make you question what you're seeing.
Playstyle: No structure, no rules. Chaos with a plan.
Notable members:
Silvra — fast, unnaturally so, and able to "phase" for split seconds, like she blinked out of existence. Pip — small, unassuming… and unnervingly lucky.
The ball just found him.
Ayjin groaned the second the camera locked onto them.
"Great. Headache central. I hate guys like that. You think you're making progress and suddenly you're tripping over your own feet."
Team 3: The Beasts.
Leader: Orion — a towering half-beast, sharp teeth flashing when he grinned at the camera. His posture screamed aggression.
Playstyle: Raw power and instinct.
Notable members:
Lupa — sniper with a tail she used like a whip to launch the ball.
Brawn — massive, built like a wall, and about as expressive as one.
Mira frowned, her usual sharp tone softening for a second.
"They don't look like the type to… play fair."
Draven — who'd been quiet until now — cracked his knuckles.
"Then we don't play fair either."
Team 4: The Serpents.
Leader: Varyn — lean, quiet, eyes like a predator sizing up prey. Qi Practitioner, Foundation Stage, 2nd Minor Step.
His strikes carried a numbing effect that could turn a match with one hit.
Playstyle: Patient, methodical, always watching.
Notable members:
Selene — healer with vine manipulation magic, calm but deceptively dangerous.
Krynn — midfielder with flawless ball control, the kind that made you second-guess every pass.
Kai narrowed his eyes slightly, arms crossed.
"Don't underestimate them. Varyn doesn't make mistakes."
Team 5: The Wild Cards.
Leader: Juno — wild grin, streaks of red in her hair, flames dancing faintly along her gloves. Pyrokinetic.
Playstyle: Explosive, unpredictable, and usually destructive to someone — sometimes her own team.
Notable members:
Blink — short-range teleporter, sloppy but dangerous if he got close.
Haze — support player who created dense fog, killing visibility in seconds.
Ayjin grinned.
"Oh, they're gonna be fun. Can't wait to embarrass them."
By the time the drones finished their introductions, the noise in the stadium was deafening.
"Viewers," the overseer said, his voice almost gleeful.
"Place your bets. Chaos is about to begin."
The field shifted beneath their feet, grass panels sliding aside as new terrain formed — ramps, pits, and uneven ground.
Ashen stayed quiet, his gaze flicking across the other teams.
Graviel. Nox. Orion. Varyn. One by one, like he was storing every detail.
Ayjin nudged him with an elbow.
"Alright, Quiet Guy. Thoughts?"
Ashen didn't look away from the field.
"They're strong. But strength doesn't always mean victory."
Ayjin smirked.
"Good. Because we don't have much of that anyway."
Mira rolled her eyes. "Speak for yourself."