The fight was in the middle of a break by the time Nate and Yoli got settled. The arena below looked like something out of an old Roman epic, an open circular battlefield surrounded by towering seats. But unlike the dusty arenas of Earth’s past, this one had a synthetic surface that mimicked soil but had a fake appearance like the difference between turf and real grass.

  The fighting area was a little smaller than a hockey rink, with each team positioned at each side of the battlefield. Both groups were huddled together surrounding floating tactical screens where their coaches drew plans with rapid hand gestures.

  Above, a floating jumbotron displayed replays from the previous round, complete with slow-motion hits, flashy magical counters, and midair grapples. A countdown timer hovered in one corner, ticking toward the next round. The label beneath it read: FINAL ROUND. Two teams, six fighters each, red versus blue. Before the clock hit zero the coaches and their tactical screens vanished, just disappeared like they were a hologram that was there one second and gone the next.

  A figure in a fluorescent turquoise jumpsuit stood beside a massive bell on the edge of the arena. With a showman’s flair, they raised a hammer high and slammed it down. The bell rang, loud and clear.

  Both teams launched into action. Two fighters from each team immediately collided in the center of the arena, locking into brutal grapples. Meanwhile, the other members split, one on each side flanking wide. In the back, two Red team members stayed stationary, launching glowing green orbs that homed in on their teammates. Blue, by contrast, went two by two on both flanks clearly seeking a numbers advantage.

  At the center, one of the red combatants, an abnormally large yellow human, drew Nate’s attention instantly. The man’s sheer size was ridiculous, he was built like a slab of moving stone. But it was his speed that made Nate’s jaw tighten. His fists blurred as he pounded his blue opponent with a savage barrage of strikes. No normal being should have been able to move like that. The blue fighter crumpled, blood coating his face as he fell limp. The crowd exploded, some roaring in approval, others booing in protest.

  The hulking red fighter didn’t hesitate, he turned and charged again, lowering his shoulder and rocketing into the second blue grappler like a cannonball sending them flying. Looking back at the carnage he left behind, Nate noticed that the body had disappeared. Utterly vanished with no trace of blood at all. This must be a virtual fight Nate thought as he turned to watch the rest of the action.

  Turning his attention to the sidelines he could see that the red team was losing ground. The blue combatants had turned their two on one advantage into quick victories, taking down both red flankers. It was still an even four on four fight, with red’s remaining center duo and their backline healers facing four blue fighters converging from either side.

  One of the red healers clapped her hands then threw her arms out, one hand aimed at each center fighter. A pulse of green light surged from her, and the two red center combatants began to glow faintly. An empowerment ability Nate guessed.

  Outnumbered or not, it was clear the red team wasn’t done yet.

  The huge human center sprinted toward the blue flankers on the left. His teammate, a broad-shouldered gorilla-like creature mirrored him, charging the opposite side. The red team’s yellow behemoth struck first, driving his shoulder into one blue fighter and sending them into the dirt, unconscious.

  The other blue flanker retaliated immediately, conjuring fireballs and flinging them in rapid succession. The red center didn’t dodge. He raised his arms, his muscles and veins bulged grotesquely and turned into a deep crimson color. A devious smile crossed his lips. It looked like showboating until the green glow vanished from his body. Whatever the healer had done, this was the result Nate thought.

  The fireballs hit him dead on but he didn’t flinch.

  The blue fighter, who Nate now realized was a woman, hesitated, then roared and hurled a massive, searing fireball with everything she had.

  It slammed into him point-blank. Unphased, he kept walking toward her until suddenly, the ground beneath him erupted. Thick roots burst from the synthetic soil, tangling around his legs like living chains. He staggered, struggling to move, then stopped completely.

  From across the arena, another woman stood tall beside three fallen bodies, two red, one blue that were starting to disappear. She held out her hands, glowing bright green, channeling some kind of ability.

  The red center strained against the roots, then he went limp, completely unable to move..

  The blue fighter that was flinging fireballs before manifested a massive bar of flaming white light and threw it through the yellow hulk’s chest. It burned hot and silent, and anchored the red combatant to the ground. He dropped to his knees as the light dissipated and left behind a darkened hole, the red glow in his veins flickered out as well. At the sight of their downed teammate the remaining red healers raised their hands as a sign of surrender.

  The crowd erupted, cheers and boos clashing in a storm of sound. The blue team had won. The bodies and the remaining victors all disappeared and then reappeared a few seconds later in the center of the arena. The blue team was hugging, cheering, celebrating their big win. The red team was huddled together consoling each other.

  An announcer dropped from the Jumbotron, mic in hand, yelling into it with electric energy.

  “Dynamite! What a fight!”

  The crowd roared in approval.

  “Who knew the B-teams from tonight’s main event would show up in such spectacular fashion? I guess that’s what you get when you make the big bucks, am I right, folks?!”

  The cheering didn’t let up. Nate found himself making a woo sound that wasn't totally committed but he was mostly just joining the fun.

  “Now, as we reset the field, let me take a moment to introduce our main event. You all know the drama leading up to this one. One team, disgruntled after their tournament knockout. The other, showing no remorse for their controversial tactics. I am pleased to bring you the matchup you’ve been waiting for. Let’s settle the score!”

  The lights dimmed, then swelled in red as the announcer bellowed:

  “In the red corner, coming off a huge win at the Grand Invitational... The Red Rollers!”

  It was clear to Nate and Yoli that the crowd was divided. One half cheered like rabid fans at a rock concert. The other half booed with equal intensity.

  “And in the blue corner, hoping to reclaim their honor and show the world who’s boss... The Blue Star Hoppers!”

  This time, the crowd went wild. Nearly the whole arena erupted with cheers.

  “Kinda lame names, don’t you think?” Yoli yelled into Nate’s ear.

  Nate laughed and nodded. “Yeah, sounds like a cartoon show.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... your COMBATANTS!”

  A guitar riff split the air and cut through the roar of the crowd. Doors on either side of the arena opened, and the two teams walked in, waving their hands in the air like seasoned performers. They wore uniforms similar to their B-teams, but with a clear varsity vs. junior varsity distinction with more elaborate designs, more flair, and custom modifications to their gear.

  Each team had six members, just like the previous match.

  The Red team was mostly human, four out of the six. The remaining two were humanoid, but clearly alien. One had red skin and spiked yellow ridges across their arms and shoulders. The other looked like a balding sasquatch, covered in coarse hair, though patches of it were clearly thinning out.

  The Blue team, on the other hand, was an alien powerhouse. They looked like they were built for war. An enormous shark, a towering alligator, a larger than normal gorilla, a snarling werewolf, a nimble raccoon, and one lone human completed their lineup.

  “The blue team looks like a nightmare.” Nate whispered to Yoli.

  Yoli nodded. “Terrifying.”

  “The rules," the announcer continued, “have already been explained to each team in the locker rooms prior to entering the ring. This is a blood fight, using standard GFL tournament rules, and yes, the ones that were changed this season.”

  The crowd stirred, sensing where this was going.

  “We all know what that means.” the announcer said slyly, throwing a wink to the cameras, a not-so-subtle jab at the Red team’s infamous tactics from their last fight.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the GFL, the incredible Magnum Fight Inc., and myself, we thank you for coming tonight.”

  He paused for dramatic effect, then roared:

  “Now... LET’S FIGHT!”

  The crowd exploded with approval as the referee hammered the bell, and the action began.

  In an instant, the two teams charged at each other. The blue team spread out evenly into two groups of three. The red team attempted to start with the same strategy their B-team had used but quickly pivoted once they saw how the blue team attacked. With so much going on, Nate found it difficult to pay attention to the whole field.

  The blue team's strategy clearly followed the holy trinity of multiplayer video games, having a tank, a damage dealer, and a healer to round out the backline.

  The blue tank, a massive bipedal alligator, got into position with his teammates on his wings. He slammed the ground, causing a shockwave to emanate in front of him and making the ground a shaky surface for the red team to walk on. At the same time, the raccoon healer was buffing him with a familiar-looking ability, one Nate recognized from the last fight. Both the tank and the damage dealer were now glowing green.

  The gorilla, clearly the damage dealer, took position just behind the tank and paused, as if waiting for a cue. It came the moment the red team caught on to their strategy.

  The gorilla began reaching into the earth pulling up large poles of rock with sharpened points at the ends. The tank held up one of their huge hands, clearly waiting for something to be placed there. The raccoon, with seemingly impossible strength for such a small creature, began loading the stone spears into the tank’s grip. Then, in perfect offset from each other, the gorilla began launching the large rock spears in high arcs while the red team charged toward them. The alligator tank flung his own spears directly at their opponents, low, hard, and fast.

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  One of the red team's humans barely dodged a spear aimed at her face, but doing so left her open to an arced spear that landed straight through her thigh, pinning her to the ground. Her scream was lost in the chaos.

  As the red team reeled, disoriented and scattered, the blue team broke formation. The alligator engaged another of the red team’s humans directly. The gorilla did the same, barreling toward the other male. Meanwhile, the raccoon healer broke into a sprint, making a beeline for the injured woman.

  She was panicking, struggling to free herself from the spear lodged through her leg. Arcs of electricity began lashing from her hands, wild and erratic, trying to keep the raccoon at bay, but the raccoon was too fast, weaving between the bolts with agile, almost mocking ease.

  Before long, the raccoon closed the gap and jumped, spinning midair in a blur and performed a devastating aerial kick. A green, fast-moving ethereal leaf appeared and followed the arc of the kick slicing directly through her midsection.

  The crowd roared with approval, but their cheers quickly turned to gasps and cries of “oohs." and “ahs." as a beam of light blasted across the arena, striking the raccoon midair. They dropped like a stone and crashed hard to the ground, unmoving.

  A red combatant stood across the field, arm still extended, smoke trailing from their fingertips.

  The blue team’s gorilla, having literally skewered his own opponent like they had done to the human woman, let out a furious bellow and rushed to the raccoon's side, scrambling to pick them up and check if they were okay.

  A quick survey of the field showed that the alligator, gorilla, and raccoon from the blue team were still standing, though the alligator, clearly the team’s tank, had taken a devastating hit, bleeding profusely from its leg and limping heavily. The raccoon was finishing healing themself before they had the chance to heal their alligator tank. In the meantime The ground beneath the three dead red team fighters sank below the level battlefield and were replaced with another panel in one fluid and very fast motion.

  The Red Team had three left as well: two human healers and the tall sasquatch-like creature. Unlike the blue team, however, the red trio was recovering fast. The healers moved swiftly, channeling restoration abilities into one another and then into their bruised and battered tank. In seconds, all three stood at full strength again. They didn’t wait any longer. Before the blue team could regroup, the Red Team launched a preemptive counterattack.

  The sasquatch began to glow with a brilliant white light, its massive form radiating power as both healers funneled energy directly into it. With a rumble, the creature grew, gaining an extra three to four feet in height, until it stood a towering ten to twelve feet tall, its muscles bulging and aura flaring.

  The sasquatch lunged toward the alligator. With one massive swing, it batted the creature aside like a fly, launching it through the air and slamming it into the arena wall with a sickening crash.

  The gorilla and raccoon saw an opportunity and broke into a sprint to flank the two healers, but before they could close in, a wooden spear launched with lightning speed streaked through the air and skewered the raccoon mid-stride, pinning it to the ground.

  The gorilla froze. He turned back, looked at the carnage, then slowly raised one hand, palm out in surrender.

  But the Red Team didn’t care. The sasquatch spawned another wooden spear from their hand and, with a guttural snarl, hurled it straight at the gorilla. The referee reached for the bell, hammering it before the spear flew. The red team’s sasquatch let the spear fly anyway, but just before the weapon could reach its target a wall of white light shimmered into existence and shattered the spear on impact causing the fragments to fall harmlessly to the floor.

  In the center of the arena a panel opened up and the formerly dead teammates of both teams were lifted back onto the field. Even the woman who had been skewered and cut in half, was now upright and laughing, chumming it up with her teammates, slapping the now-normal-sized sasquatch on the back, congratulating him for what seemed like a match-winning play. Healers appeared next to the blue team’s raccoon and alligator combatants and were clearly tending to their wounds.

  The announcer dropped from the Jumbotron once more, voice cutting through the fading cheers.

  “Please hold on, folks, yes, I’m getting this just now...”

  He cupped a hand to his ear as if listening through an earpiece.

  “The judges are calling for a disqualification of the Red Rollers. Combatant Akin-a-mosa from the Star Hoppers had signaled a surrender, and the Rollers’ own Jim Bob ignored it and launched an attack anyway.”

  The crowd erupted, a mix of boos and scattered cheers. The tension was thick, the air buzzing with controversy.

  “Sorry, folks, those are the rules. On behalf of the GFL, the incredible Magnum Fights Inc., and everyone here tonight, we thank both our combatants for an incredible round, and thank you all for coming out.” The announcer had a squeamish smile on his face, stepping back as if the field was going to storm by the angry fans.

  Nate was lost in the roar of the crowd, booing loudly with the rest of the disappointed mob as the judges announced the disqualification. Beside him, Yoli stared at him in disbelief, as if she hadn’t just witnessed one of the most horrific live events of her life.

  They were swept along with the sea of fans as they exited the stadium. It wasn’t until they reached the open plaza outside, away from the crush of bodies, that they could finally stop and breathe.

  Nate turned to Yoli, wide-eyed and exhilarated. “That was incredible! It was like watching a superhero movie in real life.”

  Yoli stared at him. “It was real life, Nate. Those people were dead. Like, really dead. Definitively dead, for a couple of minutes.”

  Nate waved it off. “No, no. They were just knocked out. The healers got them back up, anyway. They were fine!”

  “Nate, that woman was cut in half. Her intestines were splattered on the floor. That was insane.”

  Nate hesitated, eyes flicking downward. “Yeah... that was pretty gruesome. I wonder if that kind of thing happens often?”

  Yoli blinked. “Do you hear yourself right now?”

  Nate looked up and finally saw the seriousness in her face. “Oh. I just... got caught up in it. Sorry.”

  Yoli folded her arms, stepping back. “Nate, I can't, I can't be a part of something like that. I took an oath to help people. To heal people. Not... cut them in half.”

  “No one asked you to…” Nate said, confused.

  “But you want to? You want to punch people's heads off with your magical shadow hands?”

  “Well, no, but-”

  “But what, Nate?” Her voice cracked. “I'm not going to watch you get blown up in some alien arena or eaten by some monster on some alien planet!”

  Nate’s fists clenched. “What if that’s what I want? For the first time, I feel something, Yoli. For the first time, I feel like there’s actually a purpose for me out there. With this.”

  He raised his hand, and a rippling black mass that only responded to his movements appeared.

  Yoli stared at the dark energy in horror. “You found your calling. I’m so glad. I’m a doctor. And you’re... a murderer.”

  Nate flinched. “Murderer? I haven’t even done anything yet! I haven’t…”

  “No." she cut him off sharply. “You haven’t. But I’m not going to stick around to watch either.”

  He stared at her, stunned. “What’s that supposed to mean, huh? You’re just gonna leave? Where would you even go? Home? You can barely heal a bruise.”

  Yoli’s jaw tightened. “Then I’ll get stronger. And I won’t have to hurt people to do it, either.”

  “Whatever.” Nate muttered, throwing his hands up in frustration.

  Suddenly, his link buzzed, interrupting the tension. “What the...” He tapped a button shaped like the classic "answer call." icon.

  A calm feminine voice came through. “Hello, Nathan. Mr. Kalazan has made contact with Mr. Jarris and requests you and your sister’s presence as soon as possible.”

  “Okay. We’ll head over now. Thank you, Mrs. Dalma.”

  The call ended and Nate looked over at Yoli. “That was Dalma. The trainer Kalazan wants us to meet at his office. Are you coming?”

  Yoli nodded, though her eyes were still cold. “Yeah. But I’m not sticking around, Nate. I’ll learn the basics, get stronger... then I’m going home.”

  The walk back to the gateway was silent. So was the trip to Kalazan’s building. Yoli was lost in her own thoughts.

  Why did I say all that? I should’ve just kept it in. But that was barbaric. And he wants to dive right in. He’s going to get himself killed... I promised I’d keep him safe, but I have to keep myself safe too.

  Even the healers fought in that arena. If I go home now, what change will I make? Comforting people with calming scents and healing bruises? I have to train. Not to fight, but to protect. To keep that idiot alive.

  They entered Kalazan’s building and took the elevator to the top floor. Evening light though much dimmer still filled the Hub outside. The doors opened into a familiar lobby and Dalma sat behind the desk just as she had that morning. “I heard you two went to the arena this evening." she said with a raised eyebrow. “Did you enjoy the show?”

  Nate looked at Yoli and sighed.

  “It was barbaric.” Yoli said.

  “I feel the same." Dalma replied. “Kalazan and Hal quit adventuring not long after we met. We hated seeing them use their abilities for violence. There are other ways to grow stronger.”

  Yoli teared up. “That’s… good to hear.”

  Dalma stood and walked to the nearby door, gesturing them through. “They’re waiting.”

  Nate stepped into the dim hallway first. When Yoli approached, Dalma gently put her arm around her and walked with her into the next room.

  The room beyond looked nothing like the attunement chamber from earlier. It felt more like a cozy home. Warm lighting, wooden floors, and framed photos on the walls replaced magic tech and sterile white surroundings.

  “Dalma… where are we?”

  “This is our home." she said with a smile. “We own the floors below and built a modular layout that shifts depending on what we need.”

  “That’s incredible.” Nate said.

  “Ugh, it was very expensive. But Mr. Kalazan is an impulse buyer. You should see the emporium.”

  They walked into a spacious living area with tall ceilings. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glowing Hub. A kitchen with a large island sat to the left. A grand fireplace and a cozy sitting area were on the right. Kalazan stood with Hal, Peggy, and a large cat-like humanoid with dark fur. Nate guessed this was Jarris.

  “Ah, here they are!” Kalazan said. “You know Hal and Peggy of course. This is Jarris.”

  Jarris offered a hand that was both paw and human hand. Nate shook it.

  “K tells me you’ve attuned to Void. I haven’t trained someone in a long time, but Kalazan, Hal, and Peg all told me I need to help you.”

  “I don’t want to force anyone.” Nate said, putting his hands up to signal no offense.

  “No, no." Jarris interrupted. “I’m not great with words. Kalazan has always kind of been our spokesman. He helped me realize... I want to do this. For you, and for me.”

  He turned to Yoli. “You must be Yoli. You’re going to be the one healing your brother after he gets his face caved in, right?”

  Everyone laughed, except Yoli.

  “I’m not sure about the fighting part. I was a doctor on Earth. I don’t want to hurt anyone.” She replied.

  “A lot of healers feel that way, but I can help. Your abilities are incredible. Time will show us just how amazing they are. Plus, I’ve got a contact in the Union’s Disaster Outreach division. They always need healers.”

  “That actually sounds awesome.” Yoli said.

  “I’ll reach out tonight. They’ll contact you tomorrow.”

  He looked at Nate. “And you, Kalazan’s opening his training room for us tomorrow. Bright and early.”

  “Should I bring anything?”

  “No." Kalazan said. “I’ve prepared everything. I’ve sectioned off most of the room so it won’t interfere with my meetings.”

  “Thank you. Really, all of you.” Nate looked around. “Why are you helping us so much? We only met yesterday.”

  Kalazan smiled. “In my studies, I’ve come to believe the universe draws people together at pivotal times. To ensure certain outcomes.”

  “The Arcane Thread?” Nate asked.

  “Yes! Exactly. It brought us together. First me, Hal, and Jarris. Then Dalma and Peggy. And now, you.”

  Hal grinned. “J didn’t even tell you the best part.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m moving into your apartment at Slop. Yoli’s getting her own single.”

  “THANK GOD.” Yoli said, throwing her hands to the sky causing everyone to burst out laughing.

  “You’ll be living, breathing, and eating your training." Hal continued. “And at night, you’ll work at Slop to pay for the room and food.”

  Nate nodded, turning to Jarris. “So you’ll be the Mickey to my Rocky. I like the sound of that."

  Yoli rolled her eyes, hard.

  Jarris leaned in, grinning. “Don’t worry, I’ll take the reins from here.” His tone made it sound more like a threat than a promise.