The Variable Terrain arena buzzes with anticipation as Team Exodus enters from the west entrance. Our arrival is met with the usual mixture of cheers and whispers from the sparse morning crowd. The arena's popularity has grown since our victory against Team Brute Force, and I catch glimpses of audience members pointing in our direction, no doubt discussing our rapid rise through the rankings.

  Zix bounces nervously at the edge of the preparation area, his frill cycling through anxious color patterns.

  "Team Transcendence very strong!" he chatters, bouncing higher with each word. "Be cautious! Watch for speed attacks! Team lead very dangerous!"

  "Just another match delaying our Underground expedition," Sera mutters, small flames dancing between her fingers.

  Desta adjusts a connection on her power armor. "The timing is suspicious. They'd know we just unlocked a new zone."

  "We've handled worse," I say, adjusting the resonance blade at my hip. The neural accelerator pulses steadily against my forehead as I stretch my telekinetic awareness across the arena.

  Before further discussion, the eastern entrance opens. Team Transcendence enters with matching armor accented with purple energy lines that pulse in unison. Their leader walks slightly ahead, tall and lean with an athlete's grace.

  The arena system announces the match, holographic displays materializing above the still-blank terrain. "Team Exodus versus Team Transcendence! Terrain randomization in thirty seconds!"

  As we move to our starting position, I take in our opponents. Their leader, Riven, stands at the center, tall, lean, with a confident posture that borders on arrogance. Flanking him are three distinct figures: a stocky woman with broad shoulders and a permanent scowl, a rail-thin man with calculating eyes that never stop moving, and a fourth member whose face remains hidden behind an elaborate helmet.

  "Nexor's team," Zix whispers, his bouncing slowing as he watches our opponents approach. "Sponsored by my cousin. Be very careful."

  The arena floor begins to shift beneath us, panels sliding and rearranging to create the battle environment. Rocky formations rise on one side, a small lake bubbles up near the center, and metallic structures emerge throughout the space. A balanced terrain with options for every fighting style.

  "Standard formation," I tell my team quietly. "Sera and Lyra, forward pressure. Desta and Xaelon, mid-range support. I'll handle their leader."

  They nod, taking positions as the countdown reaches its final seconds. The signal sounds, and I immediately launch forward, telekinetic energy gathering around my hands as I prepare to engage.

  But Team Transcendence's leader makes no move to attack. Instead, he raises his hand in a universal gesture to pause.

  "Hold up," he calls out, his voice carrying easily across the arena. "Before we start trying to beat each other senseless, I think we should talk."

  I stop my advance, confused but cautious. "Talk?" I glance back at my team, who have also paused their attack. "You forced a match with a challenge badge to talk?"

  He laughs, the sound genuinely amused. His team relaxes slightly, though they maintain ready positions.

  "You're not an easy man to track down, Gary," he replies. "We've been trying to arrange a meeting for days. Your quarters are well secured, and you've been either training or in the Labyrinth constantly."

  I remain on guard but motion for my team to hold position. "So you wasted a challenge badge? Those things are expensive."

  "Not wasted if it gets us this conversation," he says, taking a step forward. He's completely at ease, either supremely confident or unconcerned about potential attacks. "And the audience provides a certain... authenticity to our discussion. No recording devices, no sneaky surveillance."

  The crowd murmurs in confusion, clearly not expecting this turn of events. Arena matches rarely involve conversations.

  "Alright," I concede, lowering my hands but keeping my telekinetic awareness extended. "I'm listening."

  He smiles, apparently pleased with my response. "Excellent. I'm Riven, the leader of this team, I’m sponsored by Nexor, your sponsor Zix’ilit’s cousin." A slight bow follows the introduction. "We represent a faction of Zix'ilit's family that's working together to win their inheritance tournament."

  I figured as much. There was no way this had nothing to do with Zix’s family tournament.

  "My sponsor has mentioned something about family competition," I say carefully.

  "I bet he has," Riven replies with a knowing smile. "His eyes scan over our group with a calculating gaze. "Your team's rise has been impressive, two consecutive arena wins. And your power levels have jumped significantly since your last public appearance."

  He gestures toward Desta's enhanced armor and the neural accelerator on my forehead. "Your technician has risen to A-rank from what? C-rank just two cycles ago? Not to mention your elementalist and shapeshifter have both clearly reached B-plus. Arena officials don't miss these things when updating the rankings."

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  A hint of surprise must have shown on my face, because Riven smiles knowingly. "Did you think no one was paying attention? Every sponsor worth their credits tracks rising teams, especially ones rising as quickly as yours."

  I maintain a neutral expression, though inwardly I'm reassessing the situation. The arena's public ranking system means our progress isn't exactly secret, but the casual way he references our upgrades suggests they've been watching more closely than random spectators.

  "Get to the point," Sera calls out, impatient as always.

  Riven's attention shifts to her briefly before returning to me. "The point, my fiery friend, is that we want to make Gary and Team Exodus an offer. We want you to join Nexor's faction in the tournament."

  "Join you?" I repeat, genuinely surprised. "Why would we do that when we already have an arrangement with Zix?"

  This prompts laughter from Riven's team, a reaction that seems too synchronized to be spontaneous.

  "Surely you've realized by now what a disappointment Zix'ilit is?" Riven says, his tone suggesting I'm missing something obvious. "The little bouncing failure of the family? What has he actually provided you besides basic access to zones?"

  I stay silent, unwilling to confirm or deny his assessment.

  "No specialized equipment," Riven continues, counting off on his fingers. "No enhancement serums. No advanced training. No intelligence briefings. Nothing of value." He spreads his hands wide. "Everything your team has accomplished has been through your own efforts. Zix has been dead weight from the beginning."

  His words strike uncomfortably close to thoughts I've had myself. While Zix has been enthusiastic and supportive, his actual contributions to our success have been minimal compared to other sponsors we've observed.

  "What exactly are you offering?" I ask, maintaining a neutral tone.

  Riven's smile widens. "The same contract you signed with Zix, keeping your favorable ninety percent revenue split and autonomy. Plus, a guaranteed position on the team Nexor is forming for the tournament, with priority access to the inheritance technologies if we win."

  "And if we decline?" Desta asks from behind me.

  "Then we continue this match, and you lose your chance at the inheritance entirely," Riven replies simply. "Zix has no resources to compete effectively. With us, your odds of success increase exponentially."

  I consider his words carefully. The offer is tempting, especially with what the inheritance could mean for our Crown project and our path to freedom.

  "Give me a moment to consult with my team," I request.

  Riven nods graciously. "Of course."

  I step back, gathering my teammates in a tight circle. The neural accelerator thrums against my forehead as I try to process this unexpected development.

  "What do you all think?" I ask quietly. I’m not going to pretend I have some profound loyalty to Zix.

  "I don't care much either way," Desta replies with a small shrug. "My merger with Xaelon has given me access to more technological knowledge than most sponsors could provide. I'll follow whatever decision you make, Gary."

  Xaelon's android features remain impassive. "The offer appears advantageous on surface evaluation. However, behavioral analysis suggests Riven may not be fully disclosing his intentions."

  Lyra twirls a strand of silver hair between her fingers. "I'm just here to study humans and experience new things. I don't even have a contract with Zix, so it doesn't affect me directly. Whatever you decide is fine."

  I turn to Sera, whose expression is troubled. "What about you?"

  She glances toward Riven, then back to me. "I can't just break my contract with Zix. Even if what they're saying is true about him being... not the best sponsor, he still helped us. He helped me."

  "Maybe they could buy your contract?" I suggest.

  Sera sighs. "Maybe, but I'm still only B-rank."

  I catch Riven's eye and gesture him over. He approaches with confident strides, stopping at a respectful distance from our huddle.

  "What about Sera?" I ask directly. "Would your offer include her as well?"

  Riven glances at her dismissively. "Zix likely wouldn't sell her contract unless the price was exorbitant. She's only B-rank, not critical for Nexor's tournament plans. You should forget about her and join us, Gary. That's where your future lies."

  I see Sera's eyes narrow at his casual dismissal, the flames between her fingers intensifying slightly.

  "I see," I say, a strange calm settling over me. His answer has made my decision remarkably simple.

  I turn back to my team, meeting each of their eyes in turn. Desta's calm acceptance, Xaelon's analytical assessment, Lyra's curious interest, and Sera's quiet hurt. These people have fought beside me, trusted me, followed me through challenges that should have broken us. We've become more than teammates, we're a family of sorts.

  I face Riven again, my mind made up. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to have to decline."

  His confident smile falters. "You can't be serious. You're choosing Zix'ilit, of all people? Do you understand what you're throwing away?"

  "I understand exactly what I'm keeping," I reply firmly. "My team. All of them."

  Riven's expression hardens, the friendly facade dropping away to reveal something colder, more calculating. "You're making a mistake, Gary. One you'll regret shortly."

  "Maybe," I acknowledge. "But it's my mistake to make."

  He backs away, rejoining his team with quick, precise movements. "We tried to be reasonable. Now we'll show you just how poorly you've chosen."

  As Team Transcendence spreads into attack formation, their leader's body suddenly blurs with incredible speed. "We have three A-ranks on our team," he calls out, his voice echoing across the arena. "With me at A-plus as a physical enhancement specialist."

  In a demonstration of his abilities, he sprints a complete circle around the arena in seconds, leaving afterimages in his wake. "You've never faced true speed before, Gary. Let's see how your telekinesis handles opponents you can't even track."

  I draw my resonance blade, extending my telekinetic awareness to its limits as I prepare for their assault. "Team Exodus," I say quietly to my teammates. "Stay tight. This just became a very different kind of fight."

  The crowd roars as both teams finally surge into motion, the match truly beginning. As Riven disappears in a blur of movement, I can't help wondering if I've just made the most significant mistake since arriving at Central Arena.

  But looking at my team moving in perfect coordination beside me, I know I couldn't have chosen differently.

  Some things are worth more than power or advantage. Some loyalties can't be broken, even for the most tempting offers.

  Now we just have to survive long enough to prove I made the right choice.