NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 45: The New Home
Isabella sat in the minivan, her thoughts spinning as she tried to make sense of what was happening. The morning had started like any other, with her and the rest of the Portal Crushers team walking from their dorms to the Society for Creative Battles. But instead of their usual training routine, they were told to pack up all their gear and board a minivan. Minivans were never known for being exciting purveyors of adventure so, her hopes weren’t high. The next thing she knew, they were being whisked off to the airport for a quick 30-minute flight to Calgary.
*What could they be planning now?* Isabella mused, watching the cityscape of Calgary come into view as the plane began its descent. Ever since Atlas had created the team, her world had been turned upside down. His ideas were bold, his strategies unconventional, and the changes he’d implemented had already transformed the team in ways she couldn’t have imagined. Now, it seemed, he was about to surprise them again.
Beside her, John was practically bouncing in his seat, a grin plastered across his face. He had been Atlas’s confidant during many late-night planning sessions, hashing out the details of whatever scheme Atlas had cooked up. John couldn’t contain his excitement. *I can’t believe I’m going to be a part-owner of an SFB team and an arena. This is hilarious!* he chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.
As the team disembarked from the plane, Atlas was already in action. "Alyx, make sure you film all of this, right?" he instructed. Alyx, always prepared, had his camera at the ready, capturing every moment. Hong Sha and the production crew for the micro-dramas were also on-site, armed with scripts and a clear vision of what needed to be shot. They had been briefed ahead of time, and now they were ready to document the unfolding drama.
The team exited the airport and found a stretch limo waiting for them, with a couple of sleek cars trailing behind. As they drove through the city, Isabella couldn’t help but feel a mix of curiosity and excitement. *Wow! This is life! What could possibly be waiting for them at the end of this ride?*
Unlike minivans, many exciting stories were written that began with a limousine.
When Wang Bo, sitting across from her, suddenly exclaimed, "There’s booze in here!" the excitement in the limo only escalated. Some of the newer Portal Crushers had never been in a limo before, and their wide-eyed wonder was almost childlike. They passed around champagne flutes, laughing and toasting to whatever was coming next.
Isabella leaned back into the plush seat, feeling a rush of exhilaration herself. This was far from the structured, predictable life she had led as an executive chef. The kitchen had been her domain, a place where she ruled with precision and control, but also where she felt constrained, almost trapped by the monotony. *Leaving that world behind was the best decision I’ve ever made,* she thought, a smile playing on her lips. *This is where I’m meant to be, on the edge of the unknown, part of something bigger and more exciting than I could have ever imagined.*
When they arrived at their destination, a massive arena loomed before them. It was a structure that screamed grandeur, and Atlas greeted them at the entrance with Bill Watt by his side. Shaking Bill’s hand, Atlas beamed at his team. "Welcome to your new home," he announced, his voice full of pride and excitement.
Isabella exchanged puzzled glances with her teammates. "What’s going on?" she whispered to Wilfredo, who looked just as bewildered as she felt.
Atlas turned to face the Portal Crushers, his smile widening as he addressed them. "All right, Portal Crushers, I know you’ve all been thinking about the crazy things I’ve planned. The dorms, the low-priced contracts. Remember when I said those contracts were low, but there was a reason for it? Well, here’s the reason."
He paused for dramatic effect, his eyes scanning the faces of his teammates. "You are now all proud owners of this arena."
He made a signal, and a tarp dropped off a sign, PORTAL CRUSHERS It proudly proclaimed.
Isabella’s mouth dropped open. "What?" she blurted out, her mind reeling, looking at the giant sign.
Wilfredo shook his head in disbelief. "Are you kidding me, man? No way, I own an arena. Is this a dream?"
“Ow! Why did you pinch me?” Wang Bo yelped, rubbing his arm.
“Well, I wanted to make sure this was real, and not a dream,” Wilfredo replied sheepishly.
“You’re supposed to pinch yourself!”
Atlas chuckled at their antics, clearly enjoying the moment. "You all seem to be as excited as I am," he said, his tone bright. "Bill and I have put together a plan. Team Portal Crushers is now a part-owner of this arena, and the whole team is now owned, well, by us. No more contracts about five hundred or seven hundred bucks. Everyone’s getting a split of this."
The team stood in stunned silence, trying to process what Atlas was saying. It was a dream scenario—owning an arena, meant being part of something much larger than just a team.
"And it doesn’t stop there," Atlas continued. "You’re not just Team Portal Crusher anymore. You’re now a new corporation called Portal Crushers ltd."
John couldn’t help but laugh, the absurdity of the situation thrilling him. "This is insane!" he exclaimed, his excitement contagious. The rest of the team began to cheer, their initial shock giving way to exhilaration!
Atlas smiled at their reactions, letting the energy of the moment wash over him. "All right, let’s do a quick tour, and then Bill and I have some chatting to do."
The tour of the arena was brief but impressive. The facility was top-notch, and it was clear that with a few modifications, it would be perfect for their needs. As they walked through the halls, Atlas couldn’t help but envision the future battles that would take place here. The cheers of the crowd, the thrill of competition—it was all within reach.
*No more cramped gym. Hello, perfect place for portal prep.*
After the tour, Atlas and Bill sat down to discuss the next steps. "To get this stadium ready for SFB standards, we’ll need to make some changes," Atlas began. "The main thing is installing all the hologram tech for the multiple-person battles. That’s what’s probably going to be the most expensive."
Bill nodded, already on board with the plan. "I’ve already spoken with the tech team from SFB. They’re ready to get started as soon as possible."
Atlas grinned. "Perfect. I spoke with the president of SFB last night, told him about the changes and the new city. He’s super excited. Even though there are fifty teams in the SFB league, there aren’t that many arenas yet. Most of them are shared among a bunch of big cities. But now, we’ve got two cities pretty much next to each other."
Bill’s eyes gleamed with understanding. "That’s going to create a rivalry!"
"Exactly," Atlas said. "A big ‘you versus us’ home team rivalry. And you know what rivalries mean, right?"
"Cash," Bill replied, his smile matching Atlas’s. "Lots and lots of cash."
Atlas didn’t care about the cash. But he could use this arena for propaganda purposes.
As they finalized their plans, Atlas couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. The pieces were falling into place. The Portal Crushers were no longer just a team—they were a symbol to be reckoned with. And with their new arena, the future looked brighter than ever.
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