Chapter Three: The Future Is Never Free

At five on match day, Obsidian's arena ignited in black and gold. Twenty thousand people turned every breath into surf. The host stumbled when he reached Shen Yan's name, corrected himself, and introduced the new starter. Applause came thinly. Across the west stand, white signs lit up in a row: ASH, WE'LL WAIT. As Lin Zhou walked beneath them, someone shouted, "Go back to academy!" Before the soundproof booth closed, He Linchuan leaned in. "The cameras will favor you. Try to smile. Losing is fine if you show some youthful aggression. Remember who gave you this chance." "So losing is fine now," Zhou Ye muttered. The door shut. Su Wanxing put on her headset. "Remember one thing: their core will explode."