Zone 1393 was louder than the others.
Not because they were stronger.
Because they argued more.
Names were flying in every direction, players talking over each other while the countdown kept running on the giant screen above the arena.
00:31:42
Peachy stood in the middle of the group, arms crossed, trying to keep control.
"One at a time. We choose leaders first."
Someone shouted from the back.
"Ghost leader."
Another voice.
"Obviously."
Ghost didn't react right away.
He kept looking at the screen, jaw tight, eyes focused like he was already calculating something.
Peachy looked at him.
"You take one team."
He nodded once.
"Yeah."
Rex stepped forward.
"I take second."
Liam raised his hand.
"Third."
Jon.
"Fourth."
More names.
More voices.
Ten leaders chosen in less than two minutes.
The noise didn't stop.
Now came the hard part.
Fighters.
People started talking faster.
"Take strong first."
"No weak players."
"We need runners."
"We need tank."
"We need fast click."
Ghost stayed quiet, watching the list on the tablet in Peachy's hand.
Then he said:
"We take Bloomy."
Someone laughed.
"She's not fighter."
Another voice.
"She gonna fall in the water first round."
Ghost didn't smile.
"She stays."
Peachy looked at him carefully.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
Short.
No explanation.
A small silence around them.
Peachy tilted her head slightly.
"You want her fighter or reserve?"
Ghost didn't answer immediately.
His eyes moved across the crowd.
Looking.
Searching.
Like he expected to see her standing somewhere behind the others.
She wasn't there.
Of course she wasn't.
He exhaled slowly.
"Reserve."
Someone behind them joked.
"She not even here."
Ghost answered without turning.
"She'll be."
Peachy watched him for another second, then wrote the name.
Team 1 — Ghost
7 fighters
3 reserves
Bloomy — reserve
"Next," she said.
The arguments started again.
But Ghost stopped listening.
His eyes moved across the arena, scanning the other alliances, the stands, the houses in the distance.
No Bloomy.
His jaw tightened.
"Where is she…" he muttered.
Rex heard him.
"You text her?"
"No."
"You should."
Ghost shook his head once.
"She said she'd come."
Peachy looked at him again, like she wanted to say something, but didn't.
The countdown kept running.
00:12:18
Above them, the lights changed.
A low sound rolled through the arena again.
People started going quiet without being told.
On the screens, a message appeared.
ALL TEAMS TO THE STAGE — 18:30
Peachy clapped once.
"Move."
The ten players from each team started walking toward the center.
Hundreds of people moving at the same time.
Boots on metal.
Voices echoing.
Banners waving above the stands.
The stage lights turned on one by one, white beams cutting through the dust in the air.
Cameras moved on rails.
Drones lifted slowly above the arena.
Ghost walked in front of his team.
Peachy beside him.
Rex behind.
Seven fighters.
Two reserves.
One missing.
He stopped for half a second.
Peachy noticed.
"You good?"
He nodded.
"Yeah."
But his eyes moved again.
Still looking.
Still searching.
"Where is she…" he said under his breath.
18:30
"All teams to the stage."
The speakers echoed across the arena.
The sound was so strong it vibrated in the chest more than in the ears.
Ten players from each alliance stood in rows on the platform.
Hundreds on stage.
Thousands watching.
The giant screens turned on.
Every face appeared.
Every kingdom name.
Every team.
Camera stopped on 1393.
Ghost on screen.
Peachy next to him.
Bloomy spot empty.
He frowned.
"What the hell…"
The lights suddenly went out.
All of them.
The arena fell into darkness.
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Someone laughed nervously.
Someone swore.
Then one single spotlight turned on.
At the top of the stage.
A silhouette appeared.
Walking slowly toward the center.
Black clothes.
Long hair.
Calm steps.
The voice came through the speakers again.
"The event you see today… exists because of one player."
Silence.
People looking at each other.
Confused.
The figure kept walking.
"She started as one of you."
Ghost narrowed his eyes.
Something in his expression changed.
The spotlight got closer.
"She played in the same kingdoms."
Closer.
"She fought the same wars."
Closer.
"She stood in the same chats."
Ghost's arms slowly uncrossed.
The figure stopped at the center of the stage.
Light on her face.
Ivy.
No headset.
No tablet.
No sunglasses.
Just her.
The voice continued.
"She is one of the organizers…"
A pause.
"…one of the creators…"
Another pause.
"…and one of the players."
Whispers everywhere.
Players looking at each other.
"No way…"
"Who is that…"
"Wait…"
Ghost stared at the stage without blinking.
Ivy took the microphone.
Her voice calm.
Clear.
"For those who know me as Ivy…"
A pause.
Her eyes moved across the teams.
Across the stage.
Across the crowd.
Until they stopped on 1393.
"For those who know me as Bloomy…"
Silence.
Total.
Complete.
Like the entire arena stopped breathing.
Peachy turned slowly toward Ghost.
Rex froze.
Someone behind them whispered:
"No fucking way…"
Ghost didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't breathe.
His eyes locked on her.
Same eyes.
Same voice.
Same girl.
Different world.
His mouth opened slightly.
"…you're kidding."
Ivy held his gaze for one second longer than she should have.
Not smiling.
Not apologizing.
Just looking.
Like she knew exactly what he was thinking.
The screens zoomed on her.
Then on the teams.
Then on 1393.
Then on Ghost.
The whole arena saw his face.
Shock.
Real shock.
The voice spoke again.
"The Global Arena… begins now."
And Ghost understood one thing.
She never disappeared.
She was always here.