ARENA

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It was a short jog towards the training facility. Snow crunched under Will's boots as they made their way into the BUA. The snowed-in training area looked remarkably similar to the exclusionary zone of Belgrave. Abandoned buildings lined the streets. Windows were broken, and there were exposed rebar and half-collapsed buildings.

Will and the rest of the class marched to the center of the training area. There, right in the middle of the BUA, was a structure that looked foreign to the setting. A giant watchtower stood right in the middle of the arena, its surface free from any grime or dirt. It gleamed in the morning light. Long and thin, it towered over the rest of the buildings, and at the very top was a glass dome that jutted out of the tower. Will shaded his eyes as sunlight glinted off the viewing platform.

"We are supposed to go up there?" asked Remy.

"The watchtower looks over the arena," said Will. "Guess we will have a good line of sight of the entire battlefield."

Excited murmurs filled the squad as they took the elevators to the very top of the watchtower. They entered a large, empty circular room. The outer edge comprised solely of windows and offered a 360-degree view all around the field.

Will approached the outer edge of the tower along with Remy and Becca and was surprised to see no seams between the paneling. In fact, it looked like a solid piece of glass wound all the way around the watchtower.

Remy tapped the glass and image behind the glass shimmered.

"Whoa," said Remy. "This is smart glass."

Will poked and dragged his finger along the glass, leaving behind a blurred ripple that soon faded into the background.

"Wow, the projector is built into the screen itself," said Will. The window let in outside light but could also serve as a screen. Fascinated, Will was about to play with the settings when the booming voice of their drill master filled the room.

"Attention, Cadets!"

Will snapped into position on instinct. The rest of the class stood up straight with their chests out, facing the window as their instructor made the rounds behind them.

"Listen up, recruits! Today, you're in for a treat. This is the watchtower and you're about to witness a demonstration of mech combat between some of our seasoned pilots."

The boots of the instructor sounded right behind Will, and he kept his eyes fixed on the distant building in the BUA.

"This is a learning opportunity. I want you to observe every detail of this battle. Pay close attention to the maneuvers the pilots make. Watch how they control their mechs, their positioning, and their use of weaponry. Mech combat isn't just about brute force. You need to learn about skill and tactics."

"Note your observations. After the demonstration, we'll have a debriefing session where we'll discuss what you observed and how you can apply those lessons to your own piloting. Sound good?"

"Sir, yes Sir!" Will followed the chorus of the cadets.

"Good, at ease. Enjoy the match."

Will didn't snap out of attention until the boots of the drill instructor faded away. There was a slam of a door, and the cadets were left alone in the room. Everyone visibly relaxed.

Victor nudged Will. "Do you think this match will be broadcast?"

"You're kidding. That happens?"

"Yeah, sometimes," Victor nodded. "It's good PR. During the off-seasons, there are some exhibition matches to fill in runtime, and the military does some arena battles."

Will looked around the arena. "I don't think this one is being broadcast. There would be a lot more fanfare if it was."

Victor shrugged. "You never know."

A musical note played from the overhead speakers, and everyone fell silent.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome! to the electrifying battleground of the arena!" came a booming voice.

Becca frowned. "Isn't that Instructor Yacob?"

"It does sound like him," Remy grinned.

"Who is Yacob?" asked Will.

"You wouldn't know," said Remy. "Remember the time they split the class to cross-train with Shield Horns? Yacob filled in for Lawson then."

Will looked up at the overhead speakers as the booming voice continued. "Today, we bring you an epic clash that will shake the very foundations of the arena! Prepare yourself for a showdown like no other, as we introduce to you the fierce combatants ready to unleash their might."

"In the east, we have the Red team. Standing tall and resolute, she's the enforcer of justice, the beacon of law and order. It is none other than Tara 'The Law' Lawson!"

The class erupted into applause as the most popular instructor was announced. Will clapped along with the rest of them as a window popped on the glass showing Lawson donning her helmet. She was wearing a snow-white mech with dark grey paneling. Slim and agile, it seemed to fit her like a glove. Slung on her back was a heavy rifle almost as long as the mech itself.

"Look at that BFG," Remy muttered. "That thing might as well be a cannon!"

"Alongside her, a master of agility and cunning, he slithers through the competition with unparalleled finesse, the 'Gecko' Ryder, Damian!"

The screen shifted to Ryder, who had his customary annoying smile on his face. His windswept tousled hair hung carelessly to the side, and around his neck was the lizard head necklace. Will squinted and realized that it wasn't just any lizard. The head resembled a gecko.

"Why isn't he in a mech?" asked Becca. "He is still in his CAD suit."

Will looked around the screen, and there was no indication of a free mech waiting for Damian. It looked like Damian intended to fight without one.

"That arrogant jackass," said Remy. "I really want to see what he can do."

Will shook his head. "Damian might be a lot of things, but he isn't an idiot. He wouldn't do anything without a reason."

"And finally!" continued the announcer. "Rounding up the formidable trio, we have the strategist extraordinaire, the cunning hunter of the field, Cline 'The Trapper'!"

A smaller mech stood to the side, half-hidden in shadow. Around him were various connected pieces of fuses, wires, and numerous explosives. Will could already guess from his field name what kind of combatant he would be.

"And now, let's look at their opponents. In the west corner, we have team Blue, where strength meets resilience and power knows no bounds! Brace yourselves as we present to you the unyielding force of nature, the impenetrable fortress himself, Arman 'The Wall' Kade!"

"Kade?!" exclaimed Will. "Did he say Kade?"

"Arman is Rowan's older brother," said Becca, clapping along with the rest of the class.

Will glanced over the crowd and saw Rowan, who was a head taller than the rest of the cadets. He looked at the screen with a blank look on his face as they announced his sibling.

Will tore his eyes away from Rowan and looked at his brother. The midnight blue CAD suit clung to his muscled form like a second skin. Silver lines of circuitry ran through the suit and rippled as the older Kade folded his big arms in front of him.

Several students wolf-whistled, and Becca giggled. Arman was quite easy on the eyes with his perfectly tapered physique and strong jawline.

"He is built like a tank," Victor exclaimed. "He makes Kade look like a toddler."

Remy snorted. "The Kades are nothing but trouble. He isn't in a mech either."

"Why is that?" asked Becca.

Will folded his arms. "I think I know why. We are about to see something special."

"You mean?" Remy shot Will a knowing glance.

"Yup," said Will.

"Oh, this is going to be good!"

Becca looked annoyed at the cryptic conversation, but before she could retort, the announcer continued.

"Joining him are the dynamic duo. A pair of daggers ready to strike from the shadows. Never seen without each other. We have the first dagger, a precision tactician with a lethal edge, slicing through adversaries with surgical precision, behold, Welks 'The Cutter' Nibs!"

A midnight blue mech emerged from behind Kade. Its form shifted with the light, almost making it seem like it wasn't there.

"And last but certainly not least, we have the master sculptor of pain, the artist of agony, Trent 'The Carver'!"

An identical mech stood beside the first. Their movements matched, and one looked like the shadow of the other.

Remy gave a low whistle. "Don't mess with those two."

"Yeah," said Will slowly. "They are so coordinated. You try to get one, and the other will follow."

"With our combatants ready, prepare yourself for the ultimate test of skill and fortitude. There is only one rule in this fight: Protect the beacon at all costs!"

The window panned to the side, and Will spotted a large cylinder the size of a fridge. It emitted a dim glow as it powered on.

"This, my friends, is the beacon, the nucleus of each team's stronghold, and the key to victory. The location of your base is hidden to the opposition. You must find the enemy base and destroy their beacon, while safeguarding your own. Roam the battlefield, search every nook and cranny, and unveil your enemy's location and destroy their beacon!

"Now the rules are set and the arena ready. It's a fight to the finish, where only the - Strongest! Will! Prevail!"

The cheers from the cadets reached a crescendo at this point. Will laughed and clapped along with the class. Remy pumped his fist beside him.

"Let the countdown begin!"

A timer popped up on the window, counting down from sixty. Will watched the seconds tick by. Both teams were located at opposite ends of each other and were bunkered in two nondescript buildings. Only the pop-up screens showed their genuine locations.

The countdown reached its final ten seconds, and Damian stretched and put on his helmet. He shifted to the side, and Will finally caught sight of the twin blades hung on his waist.

"Whoa..." Remy gave a hushed whisper.

"Five... four... three..." The class counted down along with the announcer.

"Two... One."

A loud alarm sounded within the arena, and Damian rushed out.

"Begin!"