Chapter 1 — Rebooting the Arena

The tension in the air was palpable as

Kai glanced around the room, eyes settling on each of their teammates.

“Everyone ready?” Kai asked, their voice steady but laced with the tension of someone who knew exactly how much was riding on this. As the team captain and primary shot-caller, the pressure weighed on them more than anyone else. Every victory, every loss, it all came back to them. It had always been like this.

“Yeah, we’re good,”

Then there was

Kai returned their focus to the strategy board. “Alright. We’re sticking to the plan.

They paused, looking over to Damon. He hadn’t said a word during the briefing, which was unusual. Kai expected at least a sarcastic comment or a joke about how easily he could carry the game. But nothing. Damon merely nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he met Kai’s gaze.

“Damon, you’re leading the charge. As always.”

Damon’s lips curled into a smirk. “Right. As always.” He exchanged a brief glance with Sarai, and for a moment, Kai felt a pang of unease. Damon’s tone had been dismissive, almost mocking. But why?

“We’ve practiced this a hundred times,” Kai continued, shaking off the feeling. “You know how to handle the

“We win,” Damon finished, cutting them off. “We know, Kai. Just say the word when it’s time to execute. Easy.”

Kai frowned but didn’t press the issue. Damon had always been cocky, but his skill justified it. They needed him sharp today. Still, the dismissive tone gnawed at the back of Kai’s mind. They had been through so much together as a team—Damon had always been the one who backed Kai up during the tough calls. So why did it feel like something was shifting?

With the plan finalized, Kai stood up, turning off the strategy screen. The room dimmed, casting soft shadows against the sleek equipment. “Alright. We go live in ten minutes. Everyone, take a breath. We’ve got this.”

As the team scattered to their respective stations, Kai lingered, their mind racing with last-minute adjustments. They didn’t notice Damon pulling Sarai aside, whispering something under his breath, a quiet exchange that only deepened the growing rift. Whatever was coming, Kai couldn’t see it yet.

But Damon Steele had already made his move.

Kai’s focus returned as the countdown to the match began. The

And yet, an unsettling weight hung in the air. Kai brushed it off, fingers hovering over the keyboard. The plan was solid. The team was talented. And with Damon leading the charge, there was no reason they couldn’t win.

But victory had never felt so fragile.