Path of infinity : the star wanderers

Kael’s chest tightened, his breath labored as he stood at the edge of the inferno. Flames licked the sky, painting the village in shades of destruction. People screamed, their voices cutting through the crackling of burning wood, their faces twisted in pain and fear. He reached out, wanting to help, to save them—but his legs wouldn’t move. He was frozen, powerless to stop the devastation.

A girl, her figure faintly familiar, fell to the ground in front of him, reaching for him with desperation in her eyes. Her mouth moved, but the roar of the flames drowned out her words. The ground beneath Kael quaked, his surroundings swirling in chaos. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

Suddenly, the vision blurred, and he heard his own scream piercing the darkness.

Kael shot up from his bed, drenched in sweat, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Kael, you okay?" Jin burst into the room, followed closely by Tarek and Darin. Their faces were etched with concern.

"Yeah," Kael muttered, running a hand through his damp hair. "It was nothing. Just... a dream."

Tarek raised an eyebrow, sitting on the edge of his bed. "That didn’t sound like ‘nothing.’ You were screaming."

Kael forced a weak smile. "Really, it’s fine. Just something from the past." His gaze dropped to the floor, and the room fell into a brief silence.

Jin cleared his throat. "Well, we should get our heads in the game. The trial is today. Have you heard anything about how powerful our competitors are?"

"Doesn’t matter," Kael said, a determined glint in his eyes. "We’ll beat them."

The training grounds were alive with students warming up, practicing their moves, and strategizing with their teams. Kael, Jin, Tarek, and Darin gathered around their teacher, Rudra, who stood with his arms crossed, grinning like he was enjoying their discomfort.

"So," Rudra said, "ready to get absolutely destroyed by Kiran’s students?"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jin muttered.

Rudra chuckled, giving them a reassuring pat on the back. "Hey, I’m just preparing you for the inevitable. But who knows? Maybe you won’t lose too pathetically."

Tarek shot him a glare. "You’re really making us feel great right now."

"Relax, Tarek. I believe in you all... somewhat." Rudra’s grin widened. "Just don’t let Kiran’s team embarrass us too badly. And remember, strategy is key. Kiran might have a bunch of strong students, but strength isn’t everything."

Before anyone could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air. "Still giving your students false hope, Rudra?"

Kiran strode in, a teasing smirk on his face. He was followed by four students, each radiating a distinct energy. One of them, a tall, athletic-looking guy, crossed his arms, scanning the group with cold eyes. Next to him was a wiry young woman with a sharp gaze—clearly the brains of the team. Another boy, fidgeting with his fingers, looked a bit of psychopathic And last was a girl with striking features and an aura of calm power.

Kael’s eyes widened as Jin’s face shifted to a mix of surprise and irritation. "Sister?!"

Jin’s sister stepped forward, giving her brother a look of annoyance. "Surprised to see me here?"

Jin groaned. "Of course you’re on Kiran’s team."

"Surprised? You shouldn’t be," she whispered while turning around. "You'll pay for what you did."

Rudra chuckled, stepping forward. "Alright, enough with the family reunions. Kiran, why don’t you explain the game?"

Kiran clasped his hands together. "Right, the game is simple. Both teams will be placed in the arena. There are four positions each team must assign to their members. First is the 'Watcher.' This position will be stationed above the stadium, able to see the entire battlefield from a high vantage point. The Watcher’s role is to scout, observe, and relay information about the enemy's movements, they can also attack other participant from above and they would have to protect their own teammates from other team's watcher. Each team's Watcher will be in the sky, but only their team will be able to hear them with the help of the orb."

Kael exchanged a look with his teammates, thinking about the strategic importance of the Watcher.

"The second position," Kiran continued, "is the 'Commander.' They stay on the ground, operating and giving orders to the rest of the team based on the Watcher’s intel. They have to rely entirely on the Watcher’s judgment and their own tactical knowledge to direct the team."

Jin frowned. "So, the Commander can’t see everything?"

"Exactly," Kiran said with a nod. "The Commander has to trust the Watcher completely. Now, for the other two positions: One is the 'Attacker,' and the other is the 'Prey.' The Attacker’s job is to eliminate the enemy Prey, while the Prey must avoid being captured at all costs. The game ends when one team's Prey is caught."

Darin scratched his head. "So, we just need to protect our Prey and capture theirs? That’s it?"

Rudra grinned, shaking his head. "Not quite. There’s another way to win this game. If your Prey manages to reach the Enemy Commander's Base—the location where the commander of the opposing team is stationed—without being captured, your team wins automatically." He paused, letting the information sink in. "So, it’s not just about defense. You’ll need to decide whether to attack or guide your Prey safely through enemy lines. Both are high-stakes strategies." Kiran smirked. "Sounds easy, right? But it’s not. The Watcher and Commander are crucial, but if the Attacker and Prey don’t work together, the team falls apart."

Rudra added, "And it’s not just about brute strength or speed. This game is about coordination and trust. If the Watcher can’t accurately relay information, the Commander will fail to make the right calls. And if the Attacker doesn’t follow orders, or the Prey doesn't evade properly, the whole thing crumbles."

Kael glanced at his team. They all seemed to be processing the rules, their expressions tense. Jin’s sister and her teammates looked confident, already making snide comments about Rudra’s students.

Rudra noticed the tension and smiled. "Don’t worry. Just play your roles, trust each other, and you might stand a chance."

"Emphasis on ‘might,’" Kiran added with a wink.

"Alright," Rudra said, clapping his hands. "Let’s get started. Assign your roles and head to the arena."

The stadium loomed before them, its towering walls casting long shadows over the field. Kael’s heart raced as they stood in a circle, deciding their roles. Darin immediately volunteered for the Watcher position, his sharp eyes , quick reflexes and him having a long ranged weapon (BOW) making him the best choice. Jin, always quick with strategies, took on the role of Commander. Tarek, with her agility and combat skills, would be the Prey, leaving Kael as the Attacker.

"Prey" Tarek muttered. "Figures."

"Don’t worry," Jin said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "We won’t let them catch you."

As they entered the arena, Kael looked up and saw Darin take his position high above the stadium. Kiran’s students took their places on the opposite side, each one wearing a confident smirk. Jin’s sister waved mockingly at her brother.

The tension was thick, both teams waiting for the signal.

Then, the horn blared, and the game began.