Chapter 14: Ch 14: Planet of Champions- Part 3
Nova and Anna stood under the flickering neon lights of the registration center, waiting as the long line crawled forward at a glacial pace.
The air inside the arena’s outer lobby was thick with sweat, voices, and the scent of oil and leather.
Dozens of would-be champions loitered nearby—some stretching, others sizing up the competition with narrowed eyes.
Anna glanced at Nova, who hadn’t said a word since they stepped inside. His arms were crossed, his foot tapped with irritation, and his expression hadn’t changed in the last fifteen minutes.
Eventually, it was their turn.
The booth attendant was a young woman with overly glossy lips and an expression that suggested she was seconds away from falling asleep.
She perked up a little when she saw Nova step forward.
"ID, please."
Without a word, Nova flicked his wrist and summoned the holographic projection Nyx had provided—an identity forged and stored long ago for emergencies like this.
It glowed faintly in the air before the attendant’s eyes.
She blinked, squinted, then leaned back in her chair with a syrupy smile.