The team fell silent, the weight of Tina's words sinking in.
Finally, Alex broke the silence, frowning.
"What? Isn't that... unfair?"
Tina shook her head calmly.
"No, it's fair. A lot of temporary teams have been formed by teachers just for this tournament. They're not as polished as official clubs like us. This way, they get more battle experience before getting eliminated."
Alex nodded, finally understanding.
They're trying to make us learn through real fights... through fierce competition.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle echoed across the arena.
High above, a giant display board lit up. It had a black background with shimmering golden letters that slowly rearranged themselves.
Alex looked up and spotted their match:
Arena-9
Match 1: Rebel Club vs Team D-2
"That's us," Darian said, already turning. "Follow me."
The team quickly got to their feet and trailed behind their captain through the winding stone path, past other platforms and waiting teams.
