The arena had not yet settled from the previous uproar when the instructor's voice rang out once more, formal and sharp, cutting cleanly through the lingering noise.
"Quarterfinals Opening Match!"
"Lin Yi… versus Tang Yue!"
For a single breath, the world seemed to pause, as if even the wind above the arena had been stilled by those words.
Then, the stadium exploded.
The roar of thousands rose like a crashing tide, excitement, and disbelief colliding into a deafening wave. Students leaned forward, some gripping the railings so tightly their knuckles turned white, others half-rising from their seats as their eyes locked onto the battlefield, afraid that even a blink would cause them to miss something crucial.
"He really forced the match!"
"He's actually facing Tang Yue head-on!"
"Is he fearless… or insane?!"
