The demonic stadium fell silent.
The rule Maya had announced even before hung over every human student like an executioner's blade.
Only the first-place team would be safe.
Every other academy would have to offer one of their members as a sacrifice.
The representatives would choose.
And once again, the burden of deciding who lived and who died fell upon the people standing at the front.
Maya floated above the arena, watching the humans with a faint smile.
She looked pleased.
She wanted fear.
She wanted betrayal.
She wanted to watch alliances collapse as the strong sacrificed the weak to preserve their own futures.
Then Arthur spoke.
"Aaron Vale Valmont."
For a moment, nobody understood what he had said.
Then the Celestias Academy students froze.
Every head turned toward Arthur.
Aaron stood several steps away.
His dark-blue hair moved faintly in the cold wind of the demonic stadium. His expression remained still, but the shock in his eyes could not be hidden.
