The morning of Phase Four arrived cold and grey. The Grand Arena was packed to the rafters, eighty thousand people filling the seats, and for the first time since the Trials began, black and gold was everywhere. Not just scattered through the public galleries. Banners. Pennants. A child near the front had a black and gold ribbon tied around her wrist. A vendor near the eastern gate had sold out of Kane colors before sunrise. The dead house wasn't dead anymore.
Dorian Hale's voice rolled across the stands. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Phase Four. Individual elimination. Sixteen fighters. One champion. No teams. No respawns. One fall and you're out. Every fighter you see today has earned their place through blood and fire. And today, we find out who stands at the top."
The bracket loomed on the crystal displays above the arena, names blazing in clean white light. The crowd roared as the matchups settled into place.
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