Arena by Holly Jennings

Author:Holly Jennings
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2016-03-21T13:18:44+00:00

WINNERS’ BRACKET FINALS

PARADOX

VS.

INVICTUS

The matchup’s stats faded into the rustling wheat stalks, like white noise on a dead channel. The camera angle rotated between several different views of the fields between the towers. No lines carved through the stalks. No warriors screamed out battle cries. The grass waved in the breeze. A bird fluttered past the screen, chirping softly. Just peace.

The announcers’ voices overlay the footage.

“I love this setting. No matter how many times I see it, it always gives me chills.”

“I hear you, Marcus. The engineering here is just brilliant. Golf would be a lot more interesting if you knew people were about to beat each other to death with their clubs.”

“Maybe that’ll be next season.”

They shared a laugh.

The camera angle changed as four members of InvictUS disappeared into the fields, the wheat stalks whipping around them as they ran.

“Here’s the usual formation InvictUS has become known for.”

“I’m surprised they’ve never changed it up, but so far no team has been able to crack them. Don’t mess with what works, right?”

The camera flashed to the other team, mirroring the same formation. One in the tower. Four pushed in as they flew through the fields. The gap between the two teams began to close.

“Looks like Team Paradox is trying to meet the brute force that is InvictUS head-on. We’re about to see an all-out brawl in the center of the fields.”

The crunching of the wheat stalks rose to a crescendo as the teams raced toward each other. Thirty feet. Then twenty. Weapons came unsheathed, gripped tight in hands. Blades glinted in the soft, golden sunlight. Someone shouted, and soon, they were all shouting as they plowed toward each other.

The camera flashed between the teams, back and forth, as they neared. My stomach curled tighter with each step they took. This would be a bloodbath, and I had a feeling I knew who’d end up the victims.

The groups collided.

One from Paradox went down instantly, an axe slicing through his throat. Already three on four. Not good.

“Oooh, one from Paradox goes down hard. I keep telling you, Marcus, nothing can touch these guys.”

“Hey, the fight’s not over yet,” Marcus protested.

“It’s about to be. Check this out.”

The rest went down in a matter of seconds as InvictUS ganged up on the remaining members of Paradox. Swords swiped through the air. Blood splattered the beige stalks of the fields. Screams of pain filled the audio. Not one from InvictUS took a hit. Not one scratch. These guys were an impenetrable wall of blades and death. When the last of Paradox had fallen with an axe to the back, InvictUS gathered up their weapons and charged for the tower.

My heart sunk. Four on four was not the solution, and no one could push in with five and leave their tower unclaimed. If that didn’t take out InvictUS, what would?

The scene cut to the single remaining member of Paradox inside the tower. His armor clanked as he shifted his weight, sword gripped in hand. His breaths were even.

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