"Override engaged," a calm AI voice whispered in Kael's ear.

The crowd went wild. Sparks showered the arena floor like fireworks. But the champion wasn't done. Blocker swung a massive wrecking-ball fist, catching Sprinkles in the chassis and sending Kael spinning into the electrified perimeter wall. Sirens blared inside the cockpit. Hull integrity at 40%.

Among the rookies was Kael, a pilot who didn't come from a military academy or a corporate sponsorship. He had spent his youth scavenging scrap in the ruins left behind by the old wars. Now, he sat in the cockpit of , a repurposed, bubblegum-pink assault mech that he’d tuned to move with the grace of a kickboxer.

The massive tank-like mech thudded into the arena, its hydraulic shields hissing. Kael wiped sweat from his brow, his neural link pulsing against his temples. This wasn't just a match; it was his one shot at a pro contract.