The sky overhead rumbled faintly, though there wasn't a cloud in sight.Across a massive open field, thousands of figures gathered—humans, aliens, and things that seemed somewhere in between.
It was chaos, barely organized by small floating drones buzzing around, flashing instructions in a hundred different languages.The first trial was about to begin.
On a hovering platform, Satoran and few other celestials appeared again, hands behind his back, voice cutting across the entire field without effort.
"Participants," he said with a theatrical sweep of his arm, "for your first trial, you will gather into teams of two. Success will depend on your ability to survive and cooperate. You have ten minutes. If you fail to find a partner... you fail."
The announcement hit the crowd like a thunderclap.
Everyone immediately scrambled, desperately scanning for potential partners.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the crowd...
Aina clutched the straps of her too-large backpack tightly, feeling like she might throw up.
How did it even come to this? she thought miserably.
Just two days ago, she was a normal fifteen-year-old girl, getting ready for her first day at a new high school.One wrong bus — one single wrong step — and somehow she had ended up here, roped into a literal Universal Tournament where death sounded more likely than passing a math quiz.
No matter how much she cried, argued, or begged, the cold officials had only told her one thing:"Participation is mandatory. You're a volunteer now."
Aina sniffled quietly and wiped her sleeve across her eyes.She wasn't even that strong. She wasn't smart, or athletic, or brave.And now she was supposed to partner up with someone to fight monsters and aliens?
She looked around desperately.
Most people were already forming pairs. Huge, muscle-bound men. Strange, blue-skinned warriors. Hulking lizard-like beasts.Everyone looked terrifying or suspicious—or both.
There's no way anyone wants a small, feeble girl like me, she thought bitterly.She half-hoped some kind-looking, strong human would notice her, maybe smile warmly and offer to protect her.
Instead, all she got were shifty glances and people edging away from her like she was already a liability.
Her heart pounded faster. Panic was beginning to creep up her throat.
Maybe... maybe I can just hide and pretend I got sick or something? Maybe they'll let me go then...
She was so lost in her anxiety she didn't notice someone approaching from behind.
A hand landed lightly on her shoulder.
Aina froze, eyes going wide.Slowly, she turned her head to look.
Standing there, gum lazily popping between his teeth, earbuds still loosely hanging around his neck, was a boy around her age—or maybe a little older—with messy black hair and an expression so nonchalant he looked half-asleep.
It was him.
The idiot from earlier.The guy who had raised his hand during Satoran's terrifying announcement just to ask where the restroom was.
Seriously?! Of all people?!
Before she could even open her mouth to make up an excuse or bolt, the boy casually said,"Yo. Looking for a partner?"
Aina's brain short-circuited.Her mouth opened but no words came out.She wanted to say no. She wanted to find someone safe. Someone reliable. Someone who didn't look like he thought this whole thing was a joke.
But the pressure of the moment—the terrifying aliens nearby, the countdown ticking away—made her too scared to refuse.
"I—I... Y-yeah..." she stammered out without thinking.
Kai gave a small, relaxed smile.
"Nice," he said simply. "We're partners then."
And just like that, Kai Azura turned back toward the field, hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets, like he didn't have a care in the world.
Aina stood there frozen, her mind racing.
What have I gotten myself into?
As if to hammer the point home, a booming countdown started overhead:
"FIVE MINUTES REMAINING TO FIND A PARTNER."
Kai glanced back lazily and let out a yawn, saw she hadn't moved, and jerked his head for her to follow.
Still overwhelmed and terrified, Aina could only stumble after him, clutching her backpack like a lifeline.
Somehow, against all logic, she had ended up paired with the most careless person here.And the tournament... hadn't even started yet.