"Hey! Kaela!"

Ethan’s voice cut cleanly through the noise of the southern entrance to the Stadium.

For a split second, everything seemed to freeze.

Gasps spread through the crowd like a shockwave, people instinctively stepping back as dozens of heads snapped toward him.

"Did he just-?"

"No way..."

"He said her name..."

The reaction was immediate and unanimous.

There was no curiosity or admiration, just pure fear of the woman in black leather, who stopped mid-step.

Kaela, the Riot Valkyrie.

Her reputation spoke for itself as her aura suddenly flared.

A pulse of violent, crackling purple energy erupted around her body, distorting the air slightly as if reality itself recoiled from her presence. The temperature seemed to drop, or maybe that was just the effect she had on people.

Slowly, she turned.

Her sharp, violet eyes locked onto Ethan with a look in them that was dangerous, wild, and unpredictable.

"Who the fuck are you?" she asked, her voice carrying easily despite not being particularly loud.

It wasn’t a question, but a warning.

The crowd backed away even further; some people outright ran for it, none wanting to be caught in whatever was about to happen.

Ethan blinked.

"Seriously?"

For a moment, he looked genuinely confused, but knowing that she could crush him filled him with unease. His mouth parted slightly, about to remind her when...

She burst out into loud, unrestrained laughter.

Her head thrown back, shoulders shaking as the crackling energy around her flickered erratically.

"Ha! I remember you, idiot!"

The tension shattered instantly.

Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

"Don’t fucking do that to me."

Kaela only laughed harder, clearly enjoying his reaction far more than she should have.

"Look at your face," she grinned, wiping a tear from her eye. "You thought I was about to kill you, didn’t you?"

"You literally looked like you were about to," Ethan deadpanned.

Around them, the crowd was stunned into silence.

Whispers broke out almost immediately.

"Who is that guy...?"

"He just called her by her name..."

"And lived..."

"I heard she hospitalised people for less..."

"That’s not normal..."

Kaela’s reputation wasn’t just for show. Stories about her circulated constantly: unpredictable, violent, impossible to control. She wasn’t someone people approached casually, let alone addressed by name.

And yet, here Ethan was.

He spoke to her like they were acquaintances, or friends, even.

Kaela tilted her head slightly, eyeing him with interest.

"You’ve got guts," she said. "Or you’re just stupid."

"Bit of both," Ethan replied.

That earned another amused snort from her.

Then her gaze flicked briefly toward the entrance.

"What do you want?" she asked, seeing as he hadn’t called out to her for no reason.

Ethan didn’t hesitate.

"I need to get my friends in."

Kaela raised an eyebrow.

"That’s it?"

"For now."

She smirked.

"Sure thing. No one’s going to stop me from bringing people in."

There was a certain arrogance in the way she said it, but it was definitely justified.

Ethan nodded once.

"Appreciate it."

Without another word, she turned, motioning for him to follow.

The guards didn’t even try to interfere.

-

Stepping back through the translucent barrier this time felt less disorienting.

But from the outside, to Mark and Elara, it looked like Ethan had disappeared and reappeared again. They had been waiting there for a while and had even considered leaving.

This time, however, he wasn’t alone.

The moment Kaela stepped through beside him, everything changed. The guards, who had previously been rigid and unyielding, immediately straightened.

Then they stepped aside without asking any questions. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Mark blinked.

"What the hell?"

Elara’s red eyes flicked between Ethan and Kaela, her expression unreadable but clearly curious.

Ethan gave them a casual wave.

"Come on."

They didn’t need to be told twice.

As they approached, the guards made no move to stop them, their attention entirely fixed on the purple-eyed woman beside Ethan.

Once they passed through the barrier together, the world shifted again.

The stadium was no longer dark and abandoned.

It was alive.

Crowds surged through the entrance, voices overlapping in excited chatter, distant cheers echoing from deeper within. Bright lights illuminated everything, and the entire structure felt transformed.

Mark, despite being baffled by the invisible barrier, was more curious about something else. He leaned in closer to Ethan as they walked.

"How do you know her?" he whispered.

Elara, walking just on Ethan’s other side, glanced at him expectantly as well.

Ethan smiled faintly.

"She’s another A Rank."

Mark stared at him.

"I fucking know that," he hissed. "That’s not what I asked."

Unlike Elara, the Riot Valkyrie was one of the most famed A Ranks in the country, and rightfully so.

Ethan shrugged.

"I met her after that gate."

"That’s it?!"

"Pretty much."

Mark looked unconvinced.

They didn’t seem like people who had only briefly met once.

’Why would she even help us get in?’ he wondered.

Meanwhile, Ethan had already turned back to Kaela, falling into step beside her.

"So," he said casually, "are you some kind of biker?"

She shot him a sideways glance.

"What gave it away?"

"The whole leather outfit, attitude, and that ’I’ll probably run someone over for fun’ vibe."

She smirked.

"Fair."

Ethan chuckled.

"What kind of A Rank rides a bike when they’re probably faster on foot?"

"For the fun of it, I guess."

There was something oddly simple about that answer.

And somehow it fit her perfectly.

-

Entering through the VIP entrance, they were respectfully led deeper into the stadium. There was no security or scanners needed; they were treated like royalty while with Kaela.

’I guess we just lucked out.’

Ethan could only imagine what might have happened even if he managed to get them visitor’s cards, since Mark was armed. Even though it wouldn’t make a difference with the number of Titled in the stadium, they definitely wouldn’t take kindly to him being armed.

They went up through a private access corridor and then into a VIP suite.

Kaela casually stepped in first, with Ethan and the others following her inside.

"Damn."

The view was incredible, overseeing the entire transformed stadium. This definitely wasn’t the same place that hosted sports games; it was now a modern-day colosseum.

At the centre, a massive circular arena.

The ground bore marks of previous fights - cracks, scorches, dents - evidence of violence that no normal structure should have survived.

Surrounding it, rows upon rows of seating.

It was packed full with spectators, the energy electric.

And it wasn’t just the fights.

Ethan’s eyes scanned the stands.

There were gambling tables, stacks of chips, people shouting odds, drinks flowing freely, and substances being passed around without a hint of secrecy.

This place had no rules, government oversight, or consequences.

"Jesus..." Mark muttered under his breath.

Elara stood silently, also taking it all in.

Ethan leaned slightly against the glass, ’These events must make bank.’

The scale of it was ridiculous.

Thousands of people, high-stakes betting, exclusive access, and above it all...

The VIP suites.

Dozens of them lined the upper levels of the stadium, each enclosed with tinted glass, offering privacy while maintaining a perfect view of the carnage below.

People like Kaela didn’t sit with the crowd; they watched from above.

Ethan exhaled slowly.

The more he looked, the more questions formed.

’Who runs this place?’

’Why did Mace give me a visitor’s card in the first place?’

’How is something like this allowed to exist?’

’And why does it feel like this is only the surface of something much bigger?’

He glanced toward the arena again.

Soon it would be his turn to fight down there, a slow, dangerous smile spread across his face.

’This might actually be fun.’