The evening tournament hall surged with a quiet intensity as the last of the players settled into their seats. Dimmed overhead lights cast the tables in pools of focus, while the low hum of murmured conversations and rolling dice set the tone. Cayden sat among his EBBBs teammates, his fingers idly spinning a twenty-sided die. The weight of the crowd’s energy pressed on him, but the familiar presence of the game was a balm to his frayed nerves.

“Welcome back, adventurers,” Boss E's voice boomed from the stage. His commanding presence drew every eye as he spoke with a dramatic flourish. “Tonight’s challenge is one for the legends: a heist in the treacherous Nyxaran Undercrypt. Your mission: recover the central crystal shard of Morwena’s broken crown, hidden beneath the capital city of Nyxara. Beware—what lies beneath is not for the faint of heart!”

The spotlight dimmed on Owen, and the room fell into an expectant hush. Cayden exchanged determined glances with his teammates. Despite the anxiety coiling in his stomach, a flicker of excitement lit within him. For a moment, he allowed himself to enjoy the thrill of the challenge.

The opening rounds flowed smoothly. EBBBs navigated the crypt with careful precision, their teamwork holding strong. Cayden’s geomancer skills proved invaluable—disabling traps, unearthing hidden paths, and even redirecting collapsing rubble. Lost in the game, he forgot the crowd and his nerves.

Then, the tide shifted.

A sudden shift in the crypt’s mechanics threw the team into chaos. A misstep by another player triggered an ambush, and the eerie quiet erupted into pandemonium. The room plunged into chaos as shadowy figures—Umbralin specters—emerged from the walls, their forms unnaturally contorted.

SnakeEyes slid a familiar can of energy drink across the table toward Cayden. “You’re looking pale,” he muttered, avoiding Cayden’s gaze as if embarrassed by the gesture. His fingers fumbled with his dice, the usual cocky façade cracked by genuine worry.

Cayden blinked, momentarily surprised. “Thanks,” he murmured, uncapping the drink and taking a slow sip. The cold, sugary fizz jolted his senses, and the tension in his shoulders eased slightly.

“You’re killing it, by the way,” SnakeEyes added, still staring intently at his dice. “That geomancer build? It’s sick.”

Cayden ducked his head, letting his hair fall over his glasses. “I’m just lucky,” he said quietly.

“Don’t sell yourself short.” SnakeEyes’ tone softened, his voice low enough not to carry over the noise. “You’re the best I’ve ever seen.”

Before Cayden could respond, the specters lunged, and the moment vanished.

“Cayden! Geo-shield!” SnakeEyes shouted, snapping him back to focus.

Cayden’s hands moved instinctively, rolling his dice and unleashing a protective barrier just in time to deflect the enemies’ first wave. The crowd roared, the intensity of the moment washing over him like a wave.

The battle escalated, and EBBBs’ strategy hinged on Cayden’s quick thinking. His creative plays turned the tide again and again, earning awe-filled murmurs from the crowd. But the pressure mounted with each move.

The noise of the room grew louder. The glaring spotlights felt hotter. His teammates’ voices seemed distant, yet the demands they placed on him pressed closer. Cayden’s breath quickened, each inhale shallower than the last.

“LeapingLizard, you good?” IEatHands asked, his concern evident. AlpacaAnnie and Tiger exchanged worried glances.

Cayden opened his mouth to respond, but the words stuck. The room tilted. The dice slipped from his fingers, clattering to the floor. The last thing he heard was his team shouting his name before darkness consumed him.

Owen had been monitoring the room from the edge of the stage when the commotion at EBBBs’ table drew his attention. His heart dropped as he saw Cayden slumped over, teammates crowding around him in alarm.

Without hesitation, Owen moved, his commanding presence parting the sea of onlookers.

“Step back,” he ordered, his voice cutting through the noise. He reached Cayden just as the medics arrived, their efficiency a small relief.

“He passed out,” SnakeEyes said, his voice tight with worry. “It’s his health—he’s overwhelmed.”

Owen knelt beside Cayden, his usually steady hands trembling slightly. He placed a hand on Cayden’s shoulder, his tone soft. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.”

The medics worked quickly, checking vitals and easing the tension around the table. “He’s stable,” one of them confirmed. “He just needs rest and quiet.”

Owen nodded, his jaw tight with determination. “Let’s move him to the staff room. I’ll clear the way.”

As Cayden was carefully guided out, Owen turned to the crowd, his expression steely. The murmur of speculation and the click of camera phones grated against his nerves.

“Logan!” Owen barked, spotting his tech lead in the throng. “Lock the livestream. Trim the footage before this gets out of control.”

“On it,” Logan said, his focus sharpening as he sprinted back to his station.

Owen glanced back at Cayden being wheeled away, his heart heavy with worry. The tournament would go on, but his priorities had shifted entirely.