Juli sat on his bunk long after Vela left.
The other cadets were asleep. The pod was dark. Quiet. But his mind wouldn't shut off.
He reached under his pillow and pulled out a small metal case. It was old. Scratched. The hinges creaked when he opened it.
Inside was an emblem.
It was shaped like a flame. Red and gold. The craftsmanship was incredible. Every detail was perfect. The fire seemed to dance even though it was just metal.
Juli held it up to the dim light.
He remembered the day he got it.
Five years ago.
The colony was burning.
Raiders had come in the night. They tore through the settlement like a storm. Buildings collapsed. People screamed. Juli's mom grabbed his hand and ran.
They didn't make it far.
A raider blocked their path. Big. Armored. He raised his weapon.
Then he exploded.
Not literally. But he went flying. Slammed into a wall so hard the metal bent.
A man stood where the raider had been. He was tall. Broad shouldered. His long hair was crimson red and wild. He wore an ARMADA uniform, but it was torn and scorched. Blood dripped from a cut on his cheek.
He grinned.
"You two okay?"
Juli's mom nodded, pulling Juli close.
The man looked down at Juli. His eyes were sharp. Intense. But kind.
"What's your name, kid?"
"J-Juli," he stammered.
"Good name." The man knelt down. "Listen, Juli. Things are gonna get loud for a bit. But I promise you, I won't let anyone hurt you or your mom. Got it?"
Juli nodded.
"Good. Now stay behind me."
What happened next was a blur. The man moved like lightning. Every punch, every kick, every move was perfect. The raiders didn't stand a chance. Within minutes, they were gone. Scattered or unconscious.
The man returned to them, wiping blood from his knuckles.
"See? Told you."
Juli stared up at him in awe. "Are you a hero?"
The man laughed. It was loud and genuine. "I'm just a guy doing his job, kid."
"But you saved us!"
"That's what ARMADA does. We protect people who can't protect themselves."
Juli's eyes lit up. "I wanna be like you! I wanna be a hero!"
The man's grin widened. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an emblem. The flame crest.
"Tell you what. You hold onto this for me. When you're strong enough, when you've earned it, you give it back to me. Deal?"
Juli took the emblem with shaking hands. "Deal!"
The man ruffled his hair. "You've got fire in you, kid. Don't let anyone put it out."
Juli closed the case and tucked it back under his pillow.
He lay down and stared at the ceiling.
Tomorrow was the qualifiers.
He was going to win. He was going to make it to the tournament. And one day, he was going to find that man again and return the emblem.
As a hero.
The next morning, the academy was buzzing with energy.
The qualifiers were today.
Cadets gathered in the main hall. There were dozens of them. All eager. All ready to prove themselves.
Juli stood with Kade near the back. Pam was beside them, arms crossed.
"We need a fourth member," Kade said.
"Who's still available?" Juli asked.
"Most of the good fighters are already in teams."
Footsteps approached. They turned.
It was Tessa. The girl with pink hair and a sensitive stomach. She looked nervous. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her uniform.
"Um. Hi."
"Hey, Tessa," Kade said. "What's up?"
"I... I heard you two need a fourth member."
Juli and Kade exchanged a glance.
"You want to join us?" Juli asked.
Tessa nodded quickly. Then she looked down. "Also, I wanted to say... thank you. For what you did last night."
Juli's chest tightened.
"The instructors told us this morning," Tessa continued, her voice quiet. "About Richards. About what he was doing. My... my footage was in there too."
She looked up. Her eyes were red. Like she'd been crying.
"You stopped him. You protected us. So... thank you."
Juli didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Then he remembered.
The man with the crimson hair. The cheeky grin. The way he stood tall even when he was hurt.
Juli straightened. He beat his chest with his fist and flashed a wide, confident smile.
"Don't worry about it! That's what heroes do! We protect people!"
Kade's ears perked up. Pam tilted her head.
Tessa blinked. Then she smiled. A real one.
"Thank you," she said again.
Kade stared at Juli. "Did you just... try to act cool?"
"I am cool!"
"You looked like you were trying not to poop."
"Shut up!"
Pam's lips twitched. Almost a smile. "You're an idiot."
"But I'm your idiot!" Juli said, throwing an arm around her shoulder.
She shoved him off.
Instructor Vela stood at the front of the hall. The room went silent.
"Cadets. The qualifiers will now begin."
A holographic display appeared behind her. It showed a small planet. Green. Covered in dense jungle. Rivers snaked through the terrain. Mountains rose in the distance.
"This is Verdara," Vela said. "A training world under ARMADA jurisdiction. It is home to various flora, fauna, and environmental hazards. Your task is simple."
The hologram zoomed in. Three glowing markers appeared across the planet.
"Hidden throughout Verdara are three artifacts. Ancient relics left behind by a long dead civilization. The first three teams to retrieve an artifact and return to the extraction point will advance to the tournament."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"You will have six hours," Vela continued. "Use whatever means necessary. Fight. Run. Hide. Strategize. Survival is part of the test. The wildlife on Verdara is dangerous. The terrain is unforgiving. And your fellow cadets will not hesitate to take you down."
She paused. Her yellow eyes scanned the room.
"This is not a game. This is a simulation of real combat conditions. Treat it as such. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Instructor!" the cadets shouted in unison.
"Good. Teams, board your transports. You depart in ten minutes."
The transport was cramped. Forty cadets squeezed into rows of seats. The engines roared to life. The ship lifted off.
Juli pressed his face against the window. Below, the academy grew smaller. Then they broke through the atmosphere. Stars stretched out in every direction.
"First time off world?" Kade asked.
"Yeah," Juli said, grinning. "It's awesome."
"Don't get too excited. We still have to survive a jungle full of monsters."
"Monsters are cool!"
Tessa made a small noise. She looked pale.
Pam leaned back in her seat. "Focus. We need a plan."
"The plan is simple," Kade said. "Find an artifact. Punch anyone who gets in our way."
"That's not a plan," Pam said.
"It's a great plan!"
Juli laughed.
The ship descended toward Verdara. The jungle came into view. Thick. Green. Endless.
The transport landed with a thud. The doors hissed open. Heat and humidity rolled in.
"All teams, disembark!" a voice crackled over the intercom.
Juli, Kade, Pam, and Tessa stepped off the ramp. The ground was soft. Mud squelched under their boots. The air smelled like earth and rot. The jungle stretched out before them. Massive trees. Twisted vines. Strange sounds echoed from deep within.
Then something roared.
It was deep. Primal. The ground vibrated.
Another roar answered. Then another.
Tessa grabbed Kade's arm. "W-what was that?!"
Kade's grin was feral. "That's a Thornback. Dinosaur predator. Native to Verdara."
Juli's eyes lit up. "Dinosaurs?!"
"Big ones."
"This is the best day ever!"
Tessa looked like she was going to faint.
Pam sighed. "We're all going to die."
Another roar echoed through the jungle. Closer this time.
Juli cracked his knuckles. "Let's go find that artifact."