NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 31: The Season Begins
The hype for this season was on fire. Online forums were buzzing with anticipation, and fans were placing their bets. Who would rise to the top? Who would crash and burn? The speculations were endless.
**Snopes31:** *Do you think that crazy Atlas guy we saw training at that little gym is the real deal?*
**Bingo8mydog:** *There’s no way that training works.*
**Lighters2:** *Atlas is my god. Look at him, yum!*
**Winstons4life:** *Forget them! Sword and Iron. Or maybe The Blue Condor. Their gyms have always been the best. No way they don’t have their fighters right at the top this year. Come on, Sword and Iron.*
**Piggeainthime:** *Follow me for tips on how to bet at onlinebets.betway.sponsored.com.*
**USER HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SPAM.**
**Dollardollar:** *Stop the chatter, draft starting soooonnnss.*
**Berlinismycat:** *Meow meow.*
**Atlaswife:** *My husband says he will be #1.*
**Atlasrealwife:** *Above, you keep away. Atlas don’t need you.*
**Yasaur:** *(popcorn.gif)*
**Dollardollar:** *Draft! Draft! Draft!*
****
As the chatter continued to heat up online, the execs at the main SFB headquarters were also taking note.
"It looks like they’re hyped up and ready to buy tickets for this year," one exec said, scanning the trending topics.
"I’m predicting a 12% bump in attendance for live events," another added. "And 20% on PPV. Especially if Atlas performs as well as he looks in training."
“Let’s head down to the main area and start the draft.”
The draft was a critical moment. With over one hundred gyms from Canada and America, all fighting for the forty slots available for the upcoming season, competition was fierce. Each gym would only have one shot at this, leaving many fighters on the sidelines. The tension was palpable, and a lot of newcomers were visibly unhappy, knowing that their dreams might be crushed before the season even began.
Atlas’s name was on everyone’s lips. The stakes were higher than ever. The season hadn’t even started, but the battlefield was already drawn.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Season 6 of SFB!” the ring announcer’s voice boomed from center stage. “As you know, ten teams from last season’s finals have been guaranteed slots, and they are Sword & Iron, Steel Tempest, Blade Masters, Ironclad Legion, Crimson Sabers, The Onyx Blades, Warhammer Academy, Silver Strike, The Reapers, and The Valiant Vanguard.”
The crowd erupted in cheers, each faction’s supporters making their allegiance known. Season 6 was set to be a battle for the ages.
The teams from last year waved at the crowd. Sword & Iron, being last year’s champion, definitely got a huge cheer!
“The other forty slots will be determined by today’s winners,” the announcer declared, as the anticipation in the arena grew clear. The drone camera swept over the stands, capturing the eager faces of fighters and fans alike, each team clad in their distinctive gear, representing a myriad of styles and weapons. The tension in the air was thick as everyone knew what was at stake.
"So, let the dueling begin!" the announcer's voice echoed as the arena lights dimmed, focusing on the first pair of fighters stepping into the ring. There were ten arenas set up, each narrowing slots down to the top four. The crowd’s roar was deafening as the battles for the remaining spots kicked off, each team ready to prove they belonged in the prestigious league.
***
**Dollardollar:** *Fight fight fight!*
**Berlinismycat:** *Meow meow.*
**Atlaswife:** *My husband is in arena 7.*
**Seenakedgirls:** *Follow me for tips on how to bet at onlinebets.betway.sponsored.com.*
**USER HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SPAM.**
**Atlashavemybaby:** *I’ll make little monkeys with you, Atlas!*
**Ghost:** *(popcorn.gif)*
**Oreoisbest:** *Yeah, arena 7 looks like it will definitely be Atlas for the win!*
**Berlinismycat:** *Meow meow.*
****
Atlas entered Arena seven, his focus unbroken as the energy in the stands reached a fever pitch.
"Atlas! Atlas! Atlas!" The chant began, echoing through the arena.
John leaned back in his seat, a smile playing on his lips. He’d seen Atlas train, knew the guy had skills, but this was the big stage. Would Atlas dominate like he had in the gym? *This is going to be good,* John thought, his excitement bubbling under the surface. *I can’t wait to see how he handles this.*
Alicia sat nearby, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She was worried, not just about the fight, but about what it all meant for the gym. *If Atlas wins, if he does well...* Her thoughts trailed off, but the weight of them was clear. This was more than just a fight; it was a shot at success, a way to lift the gym out of the slump it had been in. *This could be the start of something big.*
The earlier fights had been intense, with each competitor pushing the limits of skill and endurance, but Atlas was unfazed. This was his element.
Across from him stood his opponent, Kael, a burly man known for his defensive technique. Kael held the classic sword and shield combo—both made from the same SFB technology as Atlas’s weapon. Their carbon fiber swords were embedded with sensors, and their gear was designed to simulate the weight and impact of real weapons while electronically registering each hit.
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena, heightening the anticipation. "In the red corner, representing the Portal Crushers, we have Atlas! And in the blue corner, from the Steel Legion, Kael!" The crowd erupted, their cheers bouncing off the walls of the arena, the tension thick.
"Atlas! Atlas! Atlas!" The chant grew louder, electrifying the atmosphere.
"Let's see if this guy is the real deal," one announcer murmured, leaning forward, eyes fixed on the two fighters.
"Kael’s no pushover," another added. "But Atlas... there’s something about him. Look at that focus."
The instant the fight started, Kael surged forward, his shield raised to protect his body. His sword swung in a wide arc, aiming for Atlas’s head. But Atlas, with practiced ease, sidestepped the attack, his eyes locked on Kael’s movements.
Atlas countered with a quick slash, his blade connecting with Kael’s shield. The impact resonated through the arena, the sensors lighting up to indicate a registered hit on the shield. Kael grunted as the force of Atlas’s strike pushed him back, but he was quick to recover, shifting his shield to deflect the next blow.
But Atlas wasn’t letting up. He moved with precision, his strikes swift and calculated, targeting the weak points in Kael’s defense. Kael blocked and parried, but Atlas was relentless, his blade clashing against Kael’s shield with increasing intensity.
Then, with a deft feint to the left, Atlas forced Kael to overcommit with his shield. In a blur of motion, Atlas pivoted, bringing his sword low. The carbon fiber blade swept under the shield, connecting with Kael’s leg. The sensors registered a critical hit, the lights on Kael’s gear flashing bright red. The suit seized up in the leg area, indicating a major strike.
“CRIPPLING STRIKE!” The announcer’s voice boomed, as the crowd gasped in awe.
Kael staggered, his leg immobilized by the simulated damage. But before he could regain his balance, Atlas moved in for the final blow. He swept his sword in a brutal arc, aiming for Kael’s unprotected side. The blade struck true, the sensors on Kael’s torso lighting up in a blaze of red.
“FATAL BLOW!”
“WINNER BY FATALITY —ATLAS!”
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers as Atlas lowered his sword, the lights on his suit still glowing with the energy of the battle. He had dominated the arena, proving his skill and determination in front of the entire SFB community. As he walked off the battlefield, he knew he had sent a clear message—Atlas was not just another fighter in this season.
"He’s the real deal," one of the announcers finally admitted, shaking his head in disbelief. "This guy is going to shake things up."
John couldn’t help but grin. *Atlas, you’re a beast.*
Alicia let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. *This is it,* she thought, her heart racing. *This is the beginning of something great for the gym.*
Atlas paused at the edge of the arena, glancing back at the roaring crowd. *This is just the start,* he thought, determination burning in his chest. *I’m going to take it all.*
****
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