The faint light of a single overhead fixture cast long shadows on the cold metal walls of Team Sigma's barracks. The air was heavy with tension, the kind that clung to each breath. Cyrus sat on the edge of his bunk, his rugged gray eyes staring at the floor. He drummed his knuckles against his knee in rhythmic beat, his mind racing with images of tomorrow.
"They think they're untouchable," Cyrus said quietly, his voice low and sharp. "But tomorrow, we're showing them exactly where they stand."
His team listened intently, their expressions reflecting equal parts focus and resolve. Across the room, **021**, a towering recruit with broad shoulders, leaned forward. "Sage's team might've had their moment today, but they don't know what's coming."
"They're disciplined," **045**, a lean recruit with keen eyes, added. "But too predictable. All we need to do is disrupt their rhythm, and they'll begin to fall apart."
Cyrus smiled weakly, his eyes scanning each of his teammates. "They depend on their cohesion. It's their strength, but it's also their weakness. We'll use it against them."
The group looked at each other, the weight of Cyrus's words settling over them like a heavy fog. **021** rested back in his chair, cracking his knuckles. "I'll take care of Atlas—the big one. He's their strength. Take him out early, and the rest will fold."
**045** nodded. "Ava's quick, but impulsive. I can get her to overplay herself, and when she does, I'll take her out."
"And Lila?" **062**, a reserved recruit with blue icy eyes, asked. "She's the one we should be afraid of. If we don't take her out, she'll tear us apart at a distance."
Cyrus's smirk widened, though his eyes burned coldly. "Let her try. She won't get the chance. As for Sage…" He stood abruptly, pacing the room, his voice growing harder. "He's mine. He thinks he's their leader, but he doesn't know what it takes to hold a team together. Tomorrow, I'll show him."
The room fell silent as the tension thickened. Cyrus stopped pacing, turning to face his team. "We're not just fighting to win. We're fighting to dominate. Rourke thinks Sage and his group are special, but we'll prove they're just another group of recruits who couldn't keep up."
His teammates exchanged determined glances, their confidence growing as Cyrus continued.
"This isn't just about survival," he said, his voice dropping to a low growl. "It's about control. We'll break them, and when we're done, everyone will know who really runs this facility."
The group nodded, their resolve solidifying. Cyrus sat back down, his smirk fading into a grim expression. He tapped his knuckles against his knee again, his mind already picturing the clash in the arena.
Tomorrow, he snarled softly, more to himself than his soldiers. "Tomorrow, Sage dies.".