The white room felt colder than usual.
Farouk sat on the edge of the bed, shoulders slightly slumped, eyes dull from exhaustion.
The silence didn't last long.
The door slid open.
Maeve walked in slowly, her white heels tapping softly against the floor, her entourage following behind like shadows.
She approached him calmly… then leaned down slightly.
"Come on, my dear Farouk…" she whispered softly into his ear.
"Just answer me, will you?"
Her breath brushed against his skin.
"If you do… I'll end this isolation."
Farouk stayed silent.
Maeve smiled faintly.
"Come on…"
There was a pause.
Then—
Farouk spoke.
"The master of Timor…"
Maeve's eyes sharpened slightly.
"I don't know him… or most of the members."
He swallowed.
"We meet at night… their faces are always covered."
Maeve straightened slowly.
"But one thing I know…"
Farouk lifted his head slightly.
"The leader of Timor…"
"…is part of the tournament."
Silence.
Then—
Maeve smirked.
"Was that so hard?"
She turned away slightly.
"But unfortunately…"
She glanced back at him.
"That's not enough."
Her smile grew colder.
"I guess that's why they discarded you so easily."
She began walking toward the door.
"Well… I wish you luck with the rest of your isolation punishment."
Farouk's eyes widened.
"Wait—!"
"I thought you said you'd reduce my days!"
Maeve stopped.
Slowly… she turned her head.
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
"What do I gain from that?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"You didn't give me what I need."
She leaned slightly closer to him one last time.
"So, sweetie…"
"I can't help you."
She smiled.
"You hear me? Okay?"
Then she walked out.
The door shut.
And Farouk was left alone again.
His fists clenched tightly.
Training Grounds
Back in the main facility…
Every training field was alive.
Candidates filled every section, using the simulation systems intensely.
Voices.
Commands.
Tactical calls.
The pressure of Matchday 5 was already building.
On one side of the field—
Daniel and his roommates sat on the ground, watching everything.
Tunde stretched his legs.
"Man… Matchday 5 is going to be deadly."
Ayo smirked.
"That's putting it lightly."
Tunde turned to Daniel.
"Who are you facing again?"
Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.
"I can't remember…"
Ayo grinned immediately.
"Yeah right."
"Man's mind is still on Fatima."
Tunde laughed.
"Bro is finished."
Daniel shook his head, smiling slightly.
"It's not like that."
Chinedu adjusted his glasses.
"Focus, Daniel."
"If you lose momentum now… you'll fall behind."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"I know."
Upper Balcony
From above…
Three figures watched the field quietly.
Fatima.
Harada.
Fiona.
Fatima folded her arms.
"He's improving."
Harada's eyes stayed fixed on Daniel.
"…He's getting better."
Fiona smiled faintly.
But said nothing.
System Announcement
Suddenly—
The system voice echoed across the entire facility.
"Attention candidates."
"All participants are to note…"
"Farouk Hassan's isolation punishment will end in three days."
Murmurs spread across the training field.
The screen lit up.
"Updated group standings will now be displayed."
Group A Standings
1.Ivan Peter — 12 pts 2.Kevin sily — 10pts 3.Leon Vargas — 9 pts 4.Michael Grant — 6 pts 5.Omar Khalid — 5 pts 6.Lucas Meyer — 4 pts 7.Jordan phil — 3 pts 8.Felix Lot — 2 pts 9.Aaron — 1pts 10.Dave — 0pts
Group B Standings
1.Mateo — 10 pts 2.Braham — 9 pts 3. Zara — 8 pts 4. Noah Fischer — 6 pts 5. Adam Clarke — 6pts 6.Victoria — 4 pts 7. Musa — 3 pts 8. Joseph til — 2pts 9. Chad — 1pt 10.Mark — 1pt
Group C Standings
1.Fatima Ruia — 12 pts 2.Kenji — 10 pts 3. Samuel Okeke — 9pts 4.Costa — 7 pts 5.Oliver Hunt — 6 pts 6. Bruno — 4 pts 7. Williams — 3pts 8. Stephanie – 2pts 9. Sophie — 1pt 10. Dax — 0pt
Group D Standings
1.Rafael — 10 pts 2. Antony — 9 pts 3. Lucy — 7 pts 4. Elena — 6 pts 5.David Turner — 4 pts 6.Luis Henry — 3pts 7.Marcus — 3pts 8.Alex — 2pts 9.Petra — 1pts 10. Jeremy — 1pts
Group E Standings (Daniel's Group)
1.Martins Adeyemi — 12 pts 2.Daniel — 10 pts 3.Mendes — 10 pts 4.Harada — 7 pts 5.Okoye — 5 pts 6.Ibrahim sule — 5 pts 7.Farouk Hassan — 4 ptS(−2 penalty applied)8.Silva — 3 pts 9.Adisa —0 pts 10.Petrov — 0 pts
Group F Standings
1.Carlos Medina — 10 pts 2. Chinedu Okafor— 8 pts 3.Stella Ethan — 7 pts 4.Fiona Reyes — 6 pts 5.Ayo Martins — 5 pts 6. Abdul — 4 pts 7.Jinsel — 3 pts 8.Pavel — 2 pts 9.Omar Khalid — 2 pts 10.Lucas Meyer — 1 pt
Ayo leaned forward.
"Still top at least."
Chinedu nodded calmly.
"Not enough yet."
Group G Standings
1.Khaled Nasser — 10 pts 2.Romero — 8 pts 3.Alexei — 7 pts 4.Tom Wallace — 6 pts 5.Tunde Okonkwo — 5 pts 6.Riku — 4 pts 7.George — 3 pts 8.Marmoush — 2 pts 9.Lamar — 2 pts 10.David Dean — 1 pt
Tunde clicked his tongue.
"I'm moving up next match."
Group H Standings
Group H Standings
1.Khalid jim — 10 pts 2.Jerry — 9 pts 3.Arnold — 7 pts 4.Ruth — 6 pts 5.Vincent — 6 pts 6.Richard — 4 pts 7.Ben — 3 pts 8.Eugene — 2 pts 9.Johan — 1 pts10.Haruna — 1 pt
Group I Standings
1.Emily — 10 pts 2.Zainab — 9 pts 3.Luka Jo — 7 pts 4. Reed — 6 pts 5.Zara — 5 pts 6. Rossi — 4 pts 7.Monica — 3 pts 8.Noah — 2 pts 9.Eve Clarke — 2 pts 10.Naomi — 1 pt
Group J Standings
1.Ken grit — 10 pts 2.Patrica Doyle — 10 pts 3. Andrei — 7 pts 4.Jennie — 6 pts 5.Lottie — 5 pts 6.Kate — 4 pts 7.Carl Virgo — 3 pts 8.Yusuf — 2 pts 9.Leo- philp — 2 pts 10.Tony — 1 pt
Matchday 5 Fixtures
The screen shifted again.
"Matchday 5 Fixtures."
Daniel vs Okoye, Mendes vs Martins, Harada vs Petrov, Ibrahim Sule vs Adisa Silva vs Farouk (upon return)
Ayo Martins vs Fiona Reyes, Chinedu Okafor vs Pavel, Stella Ethan vs Carlos Medina
Tunde vs Alex, Romero vs Khaled Nasser
Tunde stood up immediately.
"Yeah… this is about to get serious."
Ayo smirked.
"Fiona, huh…"
Chinedu looked at him.
"Don't underestimate her."
Daniel stayed quiet.
His opponent…
Okoye.
A slow smile crept onto his face.
"Good."
Above them—
Fiona watched quietly.
Her eyes locked briefly on Ayo's name.
Then…
She smiled.
"Let's see what you can do."
Meanwhile…
Deep inside the white room—
Farouk stared at his reflection.
His points.
His position.
Everything was falling apart.
And somewhere in the facility…
The real enemy was still watching.
Waiting.