Capítulo 40: The First Match
Game One: Team A vs. Team 12. Please proceed to the teleporter.
The voice over the intercom was clear and mechanical, echoing in the squad hub.
Talon turned to his team, his voice steady but firm. "Alright, match starts in thirty seconds. Remember what we planned, and don't die."
Jason grinned, his excitement barely contained. Kieran shifted nervously, gripping his sniper rifle as he muttered, "Easier said than done, no respawns, remember?"
Jason smirked, clapping Kieran on the back. "Just don't die. Simple."
Luna chuckled softly, her usual smile masking a steely focus as they all stepped onto the group teleporter.
The squad hub, their designated space to strategize and relax between matches, had been a place of tense conversation for the last 30 minutes.
None of them had taken well to Leon's announcement of the unique condition placed on their team.
But, as Talon explained, it was clear why Leon did it. Their squad wasn't just strong amongst this ship, it was unmatched on individual power. This was Leon's way of ensuring they didn't rely solely on brute strength, to stamp out bad habits before they began sprouting.
Jason stood tall, his shield and spear in hand, exuding the aura of a knight without the armor.
Luna flexed her gauntlet-clad right hand, her dagger glinting in her left.
Kieran, now more focused than nervous, adjusted his grip on his sniper rifle.
Talon held the one handed sword in his right hand, nervous but excited.
Each was ready in their own way.
The countdown to their match hit zero.
May the best team be victorious
Everything around them faded to black for a heartbeat before they blinked back into reality, or what passed for it in the simulation.
Talon instantly felt a chill as the shimmering glimmer of an energy bubble enveloped him briefly before vanishing.
He looked down at himself, his sword still at his side, but now there was a distinct emblem on his chest.
He recognized that emblem.
Talon's eyes widened, but he quickly focused back to the present.
"A zero-G environment for our first match?" Jason's voice broke the silence, a grin spreading across his face as he spun himself upright with a flick of his arm. "What are the odds?"
They floated in a zero-gravity arena, small asteroids orbiting around them like stepping stones. The boundaries of the arena were marked by a shining, translucent border that pulsed faintly.
Talon eyed the border warily. He didn't want to test what would happen if someone crossed it, but he had a sinking suspicion that it meant instant elimination.
He wasted no time, his gaze darting around the arena. Only a few seconds had passed, but every moment counted.
Strategy was crucial, and plans had to be made fast.
The asteroids were densely packed, floating at varying heights and distances. Movement would be slow and deliberate, relying heavily on handholds and momentum.
Talon's mind raced. 'Kieran will be key here. Fighting hand-to-hand is going to be tricky in this environment, but Kieran can finish opponents off from a distance. There's not much cover either, this works in our favor since we have the best controller.'
He scanned the void, his squad holding onto a nearby asteroid to steady themselves. In the distance, their opponents hovered on a similar cluster. Their figures were outlined starkly against the starry backdrop.
The booming voice of the announcer shattered the silence, signaling the start of the match countdown.
"Ten… Nine…"
Talon's voice cut through the rising tension, sharp and commanding. "Listen up! The plan is simple: protect Kieran and focus on their Bruiser. He's their captain, their only uncommon, and one of the stronger cadets. Take him out, and the rest will crumble."
"Seven… Six… Five…"
"We stay close," he continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Anchor yourselves to the asteroids when you can. Zero-G is tricky, don't overextend, and keep each other in sight."
"Three… Two…"
Luna's dagger glinted as she floated with practiced ease, her body poised and ready to strike. Jason braced himself, spear in one hand and shield in the other, his frame tense like a coiled spring.
Talon turned toward Kieran. "We're counting on you. Ready?"
What he saw made him grin like a madman.
Kieran was already in position, his body rotated into a perfect prone stance mid air, as if lying on solid ground.
His sniper rifle gleamed, the barrel steady and aimed directly at their opponents. His eyes, cold and focused, locked onto his target with unflinching precision.
Talon didn't need verbal confirmation.
Kieran was ready.
The opponents were not behind any cover.
Direct line of sight.
This was going to be a one-sided slaughter.
The countdown reached zero.
BEGI-
BANG
The sharp crack of Kieran's sniper rifle split the silence like lightning across a clear sky.
Talon barely registered the shot before the robotical announcer's cold, mechanical voice confirmed what they already knew.
-CADET LEVI, ELIMINATED-
Talon seized the momentum. "Great shot, Kieran! We take the center and cut off their escape. Let's move!"
BOOM
Jason pushed off an asteroid with enough force to create a sonic boom, leading the charge as Luna and Talon followed, forming a loose triangle ahead of Kieran.
The arena was small, and taking ground was critical. Their formation was rough, unpolished, and far from perfect, but it was enough for now.
"They're disorganized!" Talon shouted over the comms. "Hold your distance! Kieran, take them out when you can!"
The team secured the center of the arena, each anchoring themselves to asteroids as the enemy squad bickered, their hesitation costing them precious time.
On the opposing side, their Runner darted forward, the Controller stayed back while hurling a barrage of small rocks at Team A, which seemed to be their power.
Jason blocked any ranged attacks, making sure that Kieran could take his time and had a clear shot.
Their Spear seemed caught between helping either the Runner or the Bruiser.
That hesitation was fatal.
BANG
-CADET JAMES, ELIMINATED-
"4v2!" Kieran's voice crackled over the comms, a mixture of relief and confidence.
Talon smiled, everything was going smoothly and perfect!
However, perfection was shortlived.
Jason couldn't contain his excitement. "Let's finish them!" he roared, pushing off his asteroid with reckless enthusiasm, leaving Kieran wide open to incoming projectiles.
"Jason, no!" Talon barked.
'This idiot!'
But Jason was already mid-flight, careening toward the enemy Runner. The Runner, quick on their feet even in zero-G, angled themselves to meet Jason head-on.
Talon couldn't pinpoint the Runner's exact power but guessed it was some form of stat enhancement, common, but effective.
With Jason now engaged, Kieran's line of sight was cut off as the Controller resumed pelting the squad with a relentless stream of rocks. "I need a clear shot!" Kieran grunted, floating behind cover to steady himself.
Talon cursed under his breath, turning to Luna. "Help Jason! I'll handle the Controller!"
Meanwhile, Jason and the Runner collided mid-air in an awkward, uncontrolled clash.
The Runner sneered, shouting, "I'll end you!"
Jason laughed, his voice brimming with confidence. "Hahahaha! Let's do this!"
The Runner's feet slammed into Jason's shield, sending them both spinning slightly off-course. Jason, however, capitalized on the moment, releasing a blast of kinetic energy he had stored up.
BOOM
The shockwave sent the Runner hurtling away.
Luckily for her, she landed on an asteroid just before crossing the boundary.
Talon gritted his teeth, frustration mounting. "Kieran, I'll make an opening! Get ready to take out that Controller!"
"Copy that," Kieran replied, his voice tense as he steadied his rifle.
Talon launched himself toward the Controller, bounding from asteroid to asteroid with practiced precision.
The rocks flew at him in waves, forcing him to twist and dodge mid-air. Each leap had to be perfect, too far or too short, and he'd lose momentum, or die.
As Talon closed the distance, he saw the flicker of panic in the Controller's eyes. They scrambled to retreat but weren't fast enough.
Talon reached them in two more jumps, his superior speed and strength making the gap impossible to close.
The Controller swung wildly, trying to fight back, but Talon easily sidestepped the attack.
'Might as well.'
Grabbing the opponent by their arm, he spun them around and hurled them straight out of the arena.
Kieran had the shot lined up, his sniper trained on the Controller's chest. But seeing Talon's method of handling it, he lowered his rifle with a slight smirk. "Phew, nice going, Talon."
The Controller's barrier flickered off as they crossed the glowing boundary, and Talon watched grimly as the vacuum of simulated space took its toll. Their body twisted unnaturally, their screams cutting off as the oxygen left their lungs.
-CADET PASCAL, ELIMINATED-
"Yikes," Talon muttered under his breath, a look off sympathy on his face. "Been there, buddy. It's rough."
He happily turned to locate Jason and Luna, knowing the match was already won.
The enemy Runner was darting erratically between asteroids, using the chaos to stay alive. Jason and Luna chased close behind, their movements less controlled but determined.
"Come back here!" Jason roared, his voice brimming with frustration.
"Come here, laddie! We promise we won't hurt ye!" Luna called out, her playful accent masking her focus.
Kieran took aim from a distance, but the Runner's unpredictable movements and the debris-laden arena made the shot impossible.
BANG
His bullet went wide, ricocheting harmlessly off an asteroid.
Talon's gut twisted.
Something didn't feel right.
His eyes widened as he realised where his team was.
"Wait!" he yelled, launching himself toward his team. "Stop! You're too close to the edge!"
But his warning came too late. Jason leaped toward the same asteroid Luna was aiming for, their trajectories colliding mid-air.
"Shit! NO!" Jason shouted, his voice filled with panic.
The impact veered Luna off-course, sending her spiraling toward the boundary. Jason reached out in desperation, but it was no use. Luna's barrier flickered off as she crossed the line.
The glow vanished, and the simulation delivered its merciless verdict.
-CADET LUNA, ELIMINATED-
Before Talon could even process the loss, another sound cut through the silence.
BANG
Kieran fired a single shot.
-CADET SARAH, ELIMINATED-
The arena fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Talon's ragged breathing.
The match was over.
-TEAM A, WINS!-
The announcement echoed hollowly in Talon's ears.
The taste of victory was ash on his tongue.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Clain_
Clain_ I want to give a massive thank you to everyone who has read up to this point. Really, thank you!
When I began this work, it was just an idea. I wanted to make something good because all I could find on Webnovel were good ideas with mediocre execution, it pained me. But at the same time, I also drew inspiration from all the amazing works out there that showed just how powerful a great story can be. So, I began writing myself!
It’s up to you to decide if I’ve done a good job so far. If you think I have, great! If you think I haven’t, well, I aim to improve!
For those of you about to embark on the journey and unlock the next chapter, I’m excited to bring you something that I myself long for in a book:
Excitement, hype, and most of all, fun.
ENJOY! AND THANK YOU!!
Next chapter will be my first ever premium chapter!
Presentes
-- Presente
recebido Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder