---
Jeni was the first to break the silence as she sat on the edge of the table, staring at her hands. "It's not just the other teams we have to watch out for anymore. It's everyone. The organizers, the tournament, the rules... Nothing is as it seems."
"Agreed," Althea said, her voice quiet but firm. "We're not just fighting for a title. We're pawns in a bigger game, and we don't even know the rules."
Zen, sitting cross- legged on the floor, looked up from sharpening his blade. "If Kaelina's right, and they're looking for someone to manipulate, then what's the endgame? What do they want to create?"
"Maybe, A weapon," Dabi said flatly, his gaze fixed on the wall as though he could see the unseen forces pulling the strings behind the tournament. "They want someone strong enough to crush anything in their path but obedient enough to follow orders without question."
"And we're all just candidates," Kiba added bitterly.
