Arena of Honor

My pulse pounded as the countdown timer hit zero. This was not a standard hunt or a basic battle in some random kingdom—this was Arena of Honor, round four, season four.

There were ten of us, six teams. One map of posts and altars, and the shiny prize at the center: the City of Glory.

I'd battled through many fights previously, but this was different. I was playing with this team for the first time, and I'll be upfront with you—I was nervous. These guys already knew each other, trusted each other, battled together in earlier rounds. Me? I was the "new guy," and the only thing running through my mind was: don't mess it up.

The Opening Rush

The second the gates opened, we surged across the map. No waiting around, no hesitation—everyone understood what they needed to do.

Strongholds first, then a push hard for the attack altars. That was when I started to feel the pressure build. Reports were coming in, red flags popping up left and right, and I had that stomach-turning feeling my troops weren't moving fast enough.

But then I saw it: we captured the altar. Buffs activated. My soldiers moved with greater strength, marched with greater speed. The jitters started to dissipate.

I remember looking at the names on the screen—Jesselton W, JohnnyDerp, x Kate x—and thinking that I wasn't slowing down the team. I was maintaining my weight. And that feeling? Relief. Pride. A fluke of confidence that pushed me to push all the harder.

Trade Post and Finding My Rhythm

At some point around half-way, we were in the Trade Post and the Maiden Altars inside. I still wasn't doing everyone's style, so I just kinda followed orders and went crazy in the fights.

This time though. it clicked.

I was in the place I was supposed to be when the altar flung open. I hit when I was supposed to hit. Supported at the pivotal time. And when the word came back green, that we'd won it, I felt this feeling of yes—I'm supposed to be here.

Even SteelBear, our temporary fill-in, delivered. We had no idea what we were getting with him, but he surprised everyone, filling a critical role when it mattered.

The team was close. Like the gears of a machine. And I was no longer the groaning one—part of it.

The Mineshaft Gamble

And then there was the huge gamble.

Everyone knew the mineshafts were opening, and those can win or lose a game. Most teams just rush right in. But our commander issued the command: "Forget on Maidens, take the Gathering Speed altars."

I thought it was absurd at first. Why give up points? But then I witnessed it happen.

The mines opened, and suddenly we were clearing them in a minute while the rest of them were struggling for five. The board tipped heavily in our favor, and I couldn't help but grin. It wasn't just brute strength—we were outsmarting them.

QKate and x Kate x organized event like pros. Ladybee and savada455 battled every inch of ground. I even participated in the event myself, something I usually avoid, but here it felt different—it felt like I was contributing my share to the greater cause.

That's when it started to feel like "their team" less and "our team" more.

The Battle for Glory

But of course… the City of Glory does everything differently.

Our first charge was ferocious. We charged in, crashed against their lines, and were destroyed. Watching my screen fill with red, seeing my men break down—I won't lie to you, it hurt. For a moment, I thought maybe that was it. Maybe we didn't have the resources to take it.

But Jesselton W's voice cut through the chaos: "Pull back. Let them bleed. We'll get it later."

And that's what we did. While the other teams threw themselves into the grinder, we kept farming points from altars and mines. Quiet. Focused. Patient.

Even so, the tension was building. Because no matter how many points you accumulate, if someone else ends up with the Glory at the end of it, it can flip the entire game.

The Last Ten Minutes

Then the final push. Ten minutes on the clock. All or nothing.

We closed in, all receiving their final boosts, final supports. Adrenaline coursed through my chest, my heart seeming to beat in sync with my soldiers.

JohnnyDerp ran headlong. Jesselton W, LadyAyla, Toward Death hammered the gates. QKate, x Kate x, Ladybee, and savada455 maintained the pressure, hitting at their altars, severing reinforcements.

And me? I was not sitting around twiddling my thumbs. I knocked down one of the last altars, cutting off their pipeline. Alerts flashed in—green, green, green.

And then it happened.

The City of Glory turned our color.

I sat there icily in front of the screen, not breathing, as the scoreboard confirmed it: first place.

Aftermath

When the round was finished, the chat blew up. Everyone yelling, laughing, cheering. Even SteelBear mentioned it was one of the better fights he'd ever been in.

And I just sat there, lounging back in my chair, grinning like a fool.

I had entered concerned in this bout, fearing that I would disappoint them. But by the final round, I wasn't the "new guy" anymore. I was a member of the team.

We knew the next rounds would be tougher. We knew other teams would come at us harder, sooner. But we didn't care.

Because this round? This round was ours.

And the City of Glory was radiating in our glory.