GUARDIANS

VIII. UCA Tournament

UCA Stadium

A vast oval stadium loomed ahead, its grandeur almost overwhelming. At its center stood a massive rectangular stage, illuminated by beams of bright, white light. The air buzzed with anticipation, the murmur of the growing crowd adding to the electrifying atmosphere.

"I never thought my mother fought here," Ayva said in awe, her eyes wide as she took in the sheer scale of the arena.

"It's incredible, isn't it?" Elliott added, his voice tinged with excitement. "That's UCA for you. A stadium fit for legends."

The stadium was indeed legendary. It could seat up to half a million people, and it was quickly filling up. The stands were alive with movement as people streamed in from all entrances, their chatter and cheers echoing across the massive space.

Faith stood silently, staring at the stage as her teammates spoke. The weight of it all pressed down on her like a physical force. Her chest tightened as she tried to steady her breathing. "The pressure..." she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.

"You'll be fine," Ayva said, turning to her with a reassuring smile. "Just focus on the moment. We've got this."

Faith nodded, but her fingers still fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve.

"I have somewhere to go," Wynter said suddenly, breaking the moment.

Elliott turned, eyebrows raised. "Hey! Where are you going? The match is about to start!"

"Washroom," Wynter replied nonchalantly, already walking away.

Faith glanced after him, surprised. Even Wynter's nervous, she thought. He was the strongest of them all, the one they relied on most. Seeing him leave without another word only made her nerves worse.

Ayva laughed lightly, trying to ease the tension. "Well, I guess even the mighty need a breather."

"Or a moment to throw up," Elliott joked, though his grin faltered slightly.

Faith forced a small smile, but her gaze returned to the stage. Her heart pounded in her chest as she imagined standing up there, under the blinding lights, with thousands of eyes watching her every move.

Faculty Section of the Stadium

Meanwhile, in the faculty section of the stadium, nearly all professors were seated, chatting amongst themselves and enjoying the pre-tournament atmosphere. Professors Blaze and Destruc, however, were notably absent, busy fulfilling their roles as the Masters of Ceremonies.

Professor Olive approached Professor Luxe, who sat in quiet contemplation at the far end of the lounge. "Professor, someone in the hall would like to meet you," he informed Luxe with a respectful nod.

Without a word, Professor Luxe rose from his seat and ascended the stairs leading to the hall. His gait was measured, his expression calm and collected as always. As he entered the corridor, he spotted two men standing a few feet apart, their postures stiff, their eyes locked in a silent battle.

"I see you two are still glaring daggers at each other," Luxe said dryly, his tone betraying faint amusement. "How's your work, Dante? And you, Dr. Rubix—secured a spot for your new laboratory yet?"

The two men turned their attention to him, momentarily breaking their unspoken standoff.

"Luxe," Dante greeted, his voice cordial but edged with the formality of a Guardian.

"Good morning, indeed," Dr. Rubix added, adjusting his glasses. "And yes, I've found a suitable location, though the process was tedious. But tell me, Legend—what brings you here? Shouldn't you be buried under bloody Guardian things?"