The sprawling, skyline of Ufrifa was still shrouded in the quiet, bruised hues of early morning when Hide Volter finally returned to the tournament stadium.
He moved like a ghost through the empty, polished corridors. His physical body was exhausted, but his mind was racing at a terrifying velocity.
He had just left Risa and Enji back at the Sihue Clan's temporary stronghold. The reunion had been a monumental relief, but the quiet, trembling words Risa had spoken to him still echoed in his mind. What she had seen with her newly awakened Oracle talent had sent literal chills down his spine.
Pushing the dark thoughts aside, Hide navigated the labyrinthine hallways of the stadium and went straight to the specialized hospital ward constructed specifically for the tournament combatants. It was his first time visiting this wing, and the silence of the pristine white halls was unnerving. Given the early hour, there were only three medical staff members present at the central desk.
