The crowd was deafening. Thousands of voices blended into a single, restless roar, a mix of excitement, bets being shouted, and the occasional curse when someone realized their odds were garbage.
Ashen didn't pay attention to any of it.
His boots crunched against the synthetic turf as he walked with his team to the center line, expression unreadable. The lights above burned bright, reflecting off the polished white markings of the massive, hexagonal field.
To him, this wasn't a field. It was a foreign arena with painted lines whose meaning he didn't know.
"Still can't believe you signed up for this," Mira muttered beside him, tying her hair into a tight knot.
Her healer's armband caught the stadium lights, glowing faintly with enchantment.
"First timer, zero experience, and you look like you don't give a damn."
Ashen's gaze stayed forward. "I don't."
Ayjin, walking a step ahead of them, smirked.
"Relax, Mira. He's got that quiet psycho vibe. Might work in our favor."
"I heard that," Mira snapped.
"Good," Ayjin said, grinning.
He adjusted his earbuds, the faint bass of a track just audible. "Music on, game on."
Kai didn't say a word. He walked at the edge of the group, calm and expressionless, his eyes scanning every other player on the field.
His presence was heavy — not loud, not aggressive, just… solid.
The kind of calm that made others feel uneasy without knowing why.
The holographic screen hanging above the arena lit up, displaying the eight teams spread across the massive hexagonal field.
"Welcome to Day One of the Chaos League Qualifiers!" the announcer's voice boomed, synthetic but energetic.
"Ten teams, two hours, one Winner. Remember: anything goes except killing. Injuries? Fair game. Good luck out there."
Ashen tilted his head slightly, processing the rules. So this wasn't just a game. It was chaos disguised as sport.
The Opposition
Graviel's team stood to the north — sharp, disciplined, every player in perfect formation. Their captain's eyes swept the field like a predator marking prey.
Nox's squad was chaos personified — half of them laughing, the other half vanishing in quick flickers of illusion magic.
Orion's crew looked like pure muscle and aggression — bruisers with no subtlety, but plenty of power.
Varyn's team was quiet, almost too quiet.
They barely moved, but their eyes were sharp, calculating.
Ayjin muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Ashen to hear.
"Stay away from Orion until we know their tempo. Varyn's team… don't underestimate them. They play the long game."
Ashen nodded once.
It wasn't agreement — more like acknowledgment.
He didn't know the rules, but he understood the feel of predators in a cage.
He'd seen that look before, though he couldn't remember when.
Countdown.
"Thirty seconds to start," the announcer said.
The field lights dimmed slightly, replaced by glowing countdown numbers in the sky.
Ashen rolled his shoulders, testing the fit of the uniform.
The fabric stretched easily, reinforced for impact.
Good.
At least they'd given him gear that wouldn't tear apart in the first five minutes.
"You remember what I told you?" Ayjin asked, eyes on the countdown.
"No," Ashen said flatly.
Ayjin stared at him, then broke into a grin.
"Figures. Just don't freeze when someone charges. And if you see me with the ball, run forward. Don't think — just run."
"Noted."
The Whistle
The horn blared — a deep, metallic sound that cut through the roar of the crowd.
The glowing ball shot into the air, rising high before gravity dragged it down.
Every team moved at once.
Ayjin sprinted, earbuds blaring. Mira darted after him, already muttering incantations under her breath.
Kai surged forward with calm precision, his movements clean, economical.
Ashen stood still for a second, just watching.
The way bodies collided, the way energy pulsed through the field, the immediate scramble for control — it was a storm, chaotic but with hidden patterns.
His instincts hummed, quiet but insistent.
Then, without a word, he moved. Not fast, not reckless. Just… deliberate.
Into the chaos.