Ashen leaned back in his chair, watching the chaos around the lounge unfold. Contestants were shouting across the room, forming groups left and right.
Drones floated everywhere like flies, recording every moment and projecting it onto giant screens.
Even something as simple as "choosing teammates" had become entertainment for the audience.
He sighed, wondering if he should even bother.
That was when a familiar figure strolled toward him, grin plastered across his face.
"Ashen! Yo, wanna join?" Ayjin called out.
Behind him stood two others. One was a man wearing a simple black mask, his posture upright, his aura sharp. The other was a woman with soft brown hair tied neatly, her eyes clear and calm—soothing just by meeting them.
Ashen tilted his head slightly. "Yes," he replied after a pause. "But introduce me first."
Ayjin gestured with a bit too much flair. "The guy with the mask is Kai. Don't mind the silence, he's actually stronger than he looks. And this beauty here is Mira. She's our healer."
Mira smiled politely and extended her hand. "Nice to meet you."
Ashen shook it, her touch light. He studied her for a moment. People often underestimated healers, but there was something steady in her gaze, like she wouldn't crack even under blood and screams.
Kai just gave a curt nod. His mask revealed nothing. His silence, though, felt deliberate—like he was hiding behind it. Ashen's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Interesting.
Ayjin slapped Ashen on the back with a grin. "Now our squad's got brains, muscle, and charm. Tell me, who can stop us?"
Mira rolled her eyes. "Charm? Is that what you're calling yourself now?"
"Hey, don't ruin my reputation before the games even start," Ayjin shot back dramatically, clutching his chest as if wounded.
Ashen watched the exchange quietly, lips twitching in the faintest hint of amusement. At least they weren't unbearable.
The noise in the lounge swelled as more contestants scrambled for teams. Some tried to intimidate others, showing off flashy spells or Qi bursts. One guy even breathed fire at the ceiling to prove a point. The crowd oohed and aahed, while drones zoomed in for dramatic angles.
Then, above them, the mysterious masked figure appeared again, his voice echoing like a booming bell.
"These duels are too slow. Too predictable. Too boring!" He spread his arms. "So from this point forward, the games will change. Entertainment demands chaos!"
The audience roared.
He flicked his wrist and dozens of rules appeared in glowing script across the sky. "First game: Chaos Soccer. Eleven per team. Free-for-all. Powers allowed. Last ten teams standing advance!"
The crowd erupted in laughter, cheers, and even curses. Soccer, but with no rules? The very thought was madness.
Ashen's eyes narrowed as he processed. So, this wasn't just a tournament anymore—it was a spectacle. Survival and teamwork under absurd conditions. And the mysterious figure… he wasn't testing strength. He was testing who could endure the chaos.
Ayjin whistled. "Soccer, huh? I've been waiting my whole life for this moment."
"No, you haven't," Mira said flatly.
"Okay, maybe not my whole life," Ayjin admitted, scratching the back of his head. "But I can already picture it—me scoring the winning goal while the crowd chants my name."
Kai, silent until now, muttered through his mask. "Or you'll be flattened in the first two minutes."
Ashen sipped another can of EnCross, watching them bicker. For some reason, their dynamic made the chaos feel… manageable.
"Teams of eleven," Mira reminded. "We still need seven more."
She pointed toward a corner where contestants were gathering. Some looked promising—like the tall man with an unmovable stance, or the slender youth who vanished and reappeared in flickers. But others looked desperate, frantic to join any team.
Ayjin rubbed his chin. "Alright, strategy time. Who do we pick?"
Before anyone could answer, Ashen spoke quietly, his tone flat but precise. "Not the reckless one. He'll collapse after his first mistake. Not the girl—she's trembling already, fear in her eyes. But that man…" He gestured toward the tall one. "Steady. Dependable. He'll last."
The others blinked at him, taken aback. Mira tilted her head slightly, studying him now with more interest. Ayjin gave a low whistle.
"…You really don't waste words, huh?" Ayjin said.
Ashen shrugged. "Why would I?"
The mysterious figure's voice boomed again, interrupting them.
"Ten minutes until kickoff! Drones, prepare the broadcast. Contestants, prepare yourselves for chaos!"
The arena rumbled as the ground itself began shifting, grass fields rising up in the distance, shaped into a colossal soccer pitch surrounded by stands packed with roaring viewers.
Ayjin cracked his knuckles, grinning wide. Mira exhaled calmly, adjusting the small satchel of potions at her waist. Kai simply pulled his hood lower.
Ashen finished the rest of his drink, crushed the can effortlessly in his hand, and tossed it aside.
"Chaos, huh?" he murmured, standing. "Let's see how much you can handle."
Drones zoomed in on his face, catching his calm expression. In the live-stream chat, viewers were already typing furiously:
Who is that guy?
He's too calm, bro.
That's the dude who bought every drink from the vending machine, right?
Mysterious but kinda cool.
The countdown began.
Chapter End