The buzz of excitement was electric as our group gathered near the arena. I sipped on my juice can, the cool liquid a refreshing contrast to the bright sun overhead.

    "Alright, team," I began, tossing the empty can into a nearby trash bin. "What do we hit up first?"

    "Tug of war!" Claire suggested, her eyes lighting up. She practically bounced on her toes, already pumped for the competition.

    Maya folded her arms, her expression unreadable as usual. "It''s a decent start. Not too much brainpower required."

    Natasha adjusted her glasses, smiling lightly. "I''m game. Zayn, what about you?" Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

    Zayn, ever the shy one, nodded quickly but didn''t say much.

    "Settled then," I said, clapping my hands. "Let''s show them how it''s done."

    We strolled to the arena, where the tug-of-war matches were in full swing. The rope looked massive, coiled like a sleeping serpent, and the opposing team waiting for us looked tough.

    After signing up, we watched a couple of matches while we waited for our turn. A few guys grunted and strained as they tried to overpower their opponents, some winning with brute strength and others faltering under the pressure.

    When our turn was called, we took our places. I was at the back, gripping the rope firmly, while Claire and Maya took the front positions. Natasha stood confidently in the middle, and Zayn, looking nervous but determined, squeezed in beside her.

    "Ready, team?" I asked, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips.

    "Let''s crush them!" Claire declared, digging her heels into the ground.

    "Let''s just win," Maya said in her usual calm tone.

    The whistle blew, and the match began.

    The opposing team yanked hard, nearly pulling us forward at the start. I could have easily overpowered them with my strength, but I chose not to. Where''s the fun in ending it so quickly? I thought.

    "Pull harder!" Claire shouted, her voice rising above the cheers of the crowd.

    "Don''t shout. Just focus," Maya snapped, her hands gripping the rope like a vice.

    To my surprise, Maya was relentless. Her strength, despite her calm frame, was astonishing. Even Claire, stubborn and competitive as she was, seemed to be struggling to keep up with her.

    "Girls are no less than beasts in my group," I muttered under my breath, sweat trickling down my temple.

    Eventually, without me putting in any extra effort, we managed to drag the opposing team over the line. The whistle blew again, signaling our victory.

    The crowd cheered, and Claire let out a triumphant whoop. Maya simply dusted her hands, while Natasha adjusted her glasses as if the whole thing had been a mere formality.@@@@

    "What about you, Maya?" I asked, turning the spotlight on her.

    Maya raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "I do, but it''s not relevant."

    "Not relevant?" Claire exclaimed. "Come on, details!"

    "No," Maya said simply, taking another bite of her sandwich.

    The group burst into laughter, the mood light and carefree. It became clear that it was Claire, Zayn and Me who didn''t had a partner right now. I don''t know what to say about myself. I have seven girls which I definitely cannot consider as a relationship to be exact.

    After lunch, we decided to head toward the corridor that led to our next game. The hallways were less crowded now, most students either in the main festival areas or still eating.

    As we walked, a random boy brushed past me, his shoulder bumping mine.

    "Hey, watch it," I said instinctively.

    The boy barely glanced back, but as he walked away, something slipped from his pocket. A small, glowing stone clattered to the ground.

    "Hey, you dropped something!" I called after him.

    He stopped and turned back to collect it.

    "Ohh sorry..thanks a lot fam!"

    Curious, I bent down to pick up the stone. It was warm to the touch, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly light.

    The moment my fingers closed around it, a wave of energy surged through me. My black aura flared up involuntarily, swirling around me like a living thing.

    My mind was bombarded with a series of random, fragmented events—flashes of a battle, a shadowy figure of a woman and a city engulfed in flames.

    My knees buckled, and I let out an involuntary scream.

    "Hey!" Maya''s voice cut through the chaos, sharp with concern.

    "Are you okay?" Natasha asked, her hand reaching out to steady me.

    But I couldn''t focus on their voices. My vision blurred, the fragments mixing into a single image.

    A woman with striking blue hair hovered before me, her eyes cold and piercing. Her voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

    "I will defeat you," she declared, her tone dripping with icy determination.

    The vision faded as quickly as it had come, leaving me gasping for breath.