Somewhere in Hosh Arena, smoke rose into the sky. The crowd’s roar was so loud, even the market outside felt the adrenaline. It was one of the best arenas—every team wanted to join, to fight for glory. The shining sun refused to let the energy of this community be erased. Energetic casters narrated the fights, cutting between slow-motion replays and the loudest moments. But everyone waited for one thing—the voice that made the arena live.

  "LET THE GAME BEGIN!!"

  It hit with the primal drums—beating like the arena’s collective heart. The guttural roar of a man echoed, setting the tone for chaos. The crowd sang along to the battle-cry like a war hymn.

  Outside the arena, in the preparation zone, Ying stood and watched. Other teams were warming up. Some stretched. Some studied blueprints like generals prepping for war. Ying stared, fascinated—then glanced at her own team.

  Jug was just sitting there, reading a motivational book he probably pulled from some public library.

  Hennah was scribbling spells across his back for no reason anyone could guess—and he didn’t notice. Ming, meanwhile, kept disassembling and reassembling her rifle over and over, sipping tea from... who knows where.

  And Myke? Myke was lying on the floor, arms behind his head, like he was about to nap.

  Ying frowned.

  "Aren’t we planning something?"

  "Nah," Myke whispered.

  She approached him, still confused.

  "I think we’re unprepared, Myke," she said, concerned.

  "Is that so?"

  "Don’t worry, Ying. We’ve done this before," Ming interrupted calmly.

  "But it’s a huge arena... and I’ve never been in Hosh before."

  "Relax, red hair," Hennah said with a smirk. "We’re winning. Right, Juggy boy?!"

  "What are you doing?" Jug asked, not even looking up.

  "Oh, just drawing something."

  "You better not be turning me into a rocket launcher, bitch."

  "I promise. Cross fingers~"

  Ying swallowed hard. Sweat dripped down her back. Her grip tightened on her spear. She walked away quietly, looking for an empty corner to practice. Her whisper was shaky, but steady:

  "I’m not gonna die. Not now. Not today." Over and over, she repeated it between drills.

  Back at the team’s corner, Myke asked quietly,

  "Do you think Ying will think what we think?"

  Ming, still focused on her rifle, muttered,

  "I knew it. I missed the screws."

  No answer. Myke didn’t need one.

  In the lobby, teams gathered to sign in and wait for their match. Some looked humiliated—heads down, armor scuffed. Others grinned and shouted:

  "We did it!!"

  Ying stood still, overwhelmed. She watched it all—winners, losers, chaos—and wondered again what she’d signed up for. As Valirion approached the registration point, a dwarf in a heavy coat jumped up from his post and shouted: "Valirion!! Finally..."

  He ran toward them, out of breath.

  "You’re almost late—it’s five minutes until match start!" Ying blinked in confusion but shook it off. She cleared her mind, signed her name, and followed the others toward the arena lift.

  Inside the lift, tension shifted.

  Ming was quietly inspecting her rifle again—still searching for that missing screw.

  Jug and Hennah resumed their constant argument.

  Ying stood still. Silent. Breathing slowly.

  Myke stared. No expression.

  The dwarf stood near the control panel and spoke up, voice lower now:

  "You know you're about to go up against six-time world champions, right?"

  Ying froze. "Six-time... champions?" she repeated. Her hands started to tremble.

  "Six times worst," the dwarf added.

  Myke didn't respond.

  "Yeah, we’ve got no fear of that," Hennah said casually.

  "You sure, pink hair?" Jug muttered.

  "STOP CALLING ME PINK HAIR, SOFT HANDS!!"

  "Where did I put my screw?" Ming muttered, completely unfazed.

  Ying said nothing. She didn’t know what fate awaited her. As the lift opened and the team stepped out, they arrived at the glowing core of Hyshen—their battleground.

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  The drums, deafening the world.

  The violins plays with dissonants.

  The waving flag of the team crest.

  And the roaring thunder of the crowds who is hungry for blood.

  Fireworks from above, smokes and cinders flow, and the soils full of craters.

  "ARE YOU READY, MY BELOVING.....HOSH!!!" the announcer shout above his lungs. The crowds soon scream that even a whole town of Jesh could here and feel the energy of Hosh. "WELCOME....TO THE A-REEEEENAAA!!!!!!!" and they reply with a huge lion roar.

  Caster 1: "And welcome back to Arena Outskirts, where war is your game, haha,"

  Caster 2: "Yup, and you can see here, or maybe feel the vibration of Hosh Arena, in Jesh, Jarta. Anyways as we can see here, there's two teams that are fighting to each other, and the fanatics went crazy! And yes, you might guess it, Valirion against six-time champion, Crimson Crown."

  Caster 1: "Exactly, and as you can see the screen here, Crimson Crown, as usual, has a big chance to take down team Valirion, the worst of the worst team that you'll able to encounter with. And it looks like the team leader, Myke, has recruited Ying, a fresh new vanguard for Valirion. And I have a feeling about this new vanguard,"

  Caster 2: " Explain to us, my friend,"

  Caster 1: "As you can see her potential and her fighting log, she has a small chance to against the undisputed Crimson's Vanguard, Gholsha. He could be a tank but he can be your vanguard that can sweep away every teammates with one swing of his hammer,"

  Caster 2: "Exactly, and also don't forget about the most beautiful yet dangerous mage, Jana Holfen, is either be her opponent or be her adopted children. That's all I can say,"

  Caster 1: "Yeah, but hey, times ticking, without further await, we can see both teams has arrived and enter their own Hyshen. Valirion on Shyak Hyshen, and Crimson Crown on Sheilsh Hyshen. Anyways, we let your eyes witness the blood spilt, and we will be back after this,"

  As the sound of the horns were heard, Crimson Crown marched to complete their farming objectives. Gholsha, order his teammates to be prepare, buy some useful items in order to crush their enemies. "Take down all the monsters as possible, collect those souls," he said.

  Gerald, the tank, "What do you mean? It's a easy win!" said.

  "Yeah! We can crush them without getting buff powers!" Bant, the marksman said.

  "I know, but remember, they have Hennah,"

  His teammates confused but follows his orders anyways.

  Meanwhile, at the Shyak Hyshen.

  "JUG!!! A RAT!!!" Hennah said.

  "WHERE!?"

  Hennah points next to Jug's boot, and he immediately ran fast towards the mid-lane. "Everyone, follow Jug now!" Hennah scream as she followed Jug's back.

  "With me, Ying," Myke said. "And Ming..."

  "Where did I put that screw?" she said.

  Myke stared at her for a while. "You're on your own then," he said and goes straight to Jug. Ying on the other hand confuse and terrified, yet still follow Myke anyways, leaving Ming search her 'missing screw'.

  Caster 1: "Seems the game has been play smooth as usual so far, Ming walks around as if...she's searching something?"

  Caster 2: "Seems like it, and she's not in with her team. Anyways, we go back to Gholsha, farming as usual, killing off minotaurs, one shot..."

  Caster 1: "...TWO SHOT....BOOM and the minotaur is out,"

  Caster 2: "Phew, that's a tough luck. Then we go look at Bant and and Gerald, they denying the creeps, in the same time collecting souls,"

  Caster 1: "Side-income, aye?"

  Caster 2: "Ayeeeee,"

  Caster 1" Ayyeeeee. Anyways, back to Ming, and she's...seems like she's heading towards Bant and Gerald without even knowing they are over there,"

  "Where is it? Is it here? Under the bush? Nope...Here? Nope," Ming still searching.

  Soon, Gerald march towards Ming as a clear target. "SUP LITTLE LADY!! OUTTA MY WAY!!!" he scream, and even then, she points her rifle one-handed and precisely shot his head off, but she didn't look at him.

  Caster 2: "Oof, Gerald was out. And Ming is still searching, as if there something left behind,"

  Then, Bant aims from a far with his archer. "Clear shot, easy win," he said as he released his arrow. Ming squatted down as she search under the stone.

  "Hmm, not here," and the arrow flew over her head,"

  Caster 1: "Yikes, that's a close one."

  Caster 2: "Yeah, one more inch and she's down. Anyways, we go back to the te-...What are they doing? Why Jug runs towards the Turret?"

  "AAAAAAA I HATE RATS!!!"

  "WAIT UP, JUGGY BOY!!! HELLAGHO SHO VHA!!!" Hennah chants, and Jug flies over to the turret with her spell written on his back. And soon, he lands on the Turret and immediately shattered.

  "ONE TOWER DOWN!!!!!" the announcer scream, and a whole crowd once again went wild with disbelief.

  Caster 1: "AYOOO!!!"

  Caster 2: "I don't believe what I just see!! Jug just flew and land on the Turret and breaks like glass!!"

  Caster 1: "You know what's funny? They keep pushing."

  Caster 2: "Hold up? It's that? Yooooo, my dude, you know who's that Pink Hair girl?"

  Caster 1: "Ah fuck me, IT'S HENNAH!!! SHE'S BACK HOME IN HOSH!!!"

  As Jug was about to stand up, Hennah kicks him back down. "GET UP, SOFT HANDS!!" and proceed pushing. Myke just passing by, Ying just stop for a while.

  "Ying!!" Myke called her out. Ying has no other choice but leave him there and follow Myke.

  "I TOLD YOU NOT TO PUT BOMBS ON MY BACK, BITCH!!!"

  "Can't trust the pink hair, Juggy boy!!" Hennah said with hysterical laughed.