Chapter 77: WHEN FATE IS CALLED BY NAME

Chapter 77 – When Fate is Called

The corridor outside the arena was warmer than it should have been.

Not from fire.

From people.

Families filled the wide stone passageways reserved for guests, their voices overlapping in nervous excitement, pride, worry, and disbelief. For many of them, this was the first time seeing such a grand stage. For a few—

It was the first time seeing their children here.

“Brother!”

The small figure ran without hesitation.

Long Hao turned just in time to catch his little sister as she threw herself into him, arms wrapping tightly around his waist.

“Oof—”

He absorbed the impact, adjusting his stance subtly so the movement wouldn’t tug at his still-healing chest. The pain flared briefly, sharp and unwelcome.

He did not let it show.

“…You’re heavier,” he said calmly.

She pulled back instantly, offended. “I am NOT.”

Chen Wulian choked on air. “SHE’S ADORABLE.”

Ling Yifan cleared his throat. “Chen.”

“What?,” Chen defended weakly.

Long Hao’s sister looked around, eyes wide as she took in the team.

“Wow…” she breathed. “Are these your friends?”

Bai Qianlan smiled faintly. “Teammates.”

“That’s cooler,” the girl decided immediately.

Ouyang Xue’er crouched slightly to her level. “You’re brave, running into a place like this.”

The girl puffed up proudly. “My brother fights monsters.”

That made Chen straighten. “SEE? LEGEND.”

Long Hao’s parents approached more slowly.

His father’s posture was straight, restrained, pride clear but controlled. His mother, however—

She stopped two steps away.

Her eyes moved over him carefully.

Too carefully.

“You look thinner,” she said softly.

Long Hao met her gaze, calm as ever.

“Training,” he replied.

Her brow furrowed.

“And tired.”

“Long days.”

She reached out, hesitated, then placed a hand lightly on his arm.

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

The corridor felt suddenly too quiet.

Long Hao smiled.

A gentle one.

“No,” he said easily. “Nothing happened. I’m perfectly fine.”

It was the truth.

Just… selectively framed.

His mother didn’t look convinced.

Mothers rarely were.

But she nodded anyway, fingers tightening slightly around his sleeve before she let go.

“…Just be careful,” she said.

“I am,” he replied.

That, at least, was completely true.

Mei Ying approached calmly, hands behind her back.

“You must be his family,” she said evenly.

His father bowed slightly. “Thank you for looking after him.”

Mei Ying inclined her head. “He looks after himself.”

Chen muttered, “Unfortunately.”

His sister tugged Long Hao’s sleeve again. “Are you fighting today?”

Long Hao shook his head. “Not today.”

She frowned. “Then when?”

“Soon.”

She nodded solemnly, as if accepting a sacred promise.

“Then I’ll watch very carefully.”

Long Hao ruffled her hair lightly.

Behind him, Longyu sighed inside his chest.

“…You’re really going to do this injured.”

He didn’t respond.

Some things weren’t negotiable.

A deep, resonant chime echoed through the corridors.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

The sound rolled outward, reaching into the stands, the platforms, the passages—calling everyone back.

The draw ceremony was about to begin.

An attendant gestured politely. “Please proceed to the arena.”

Long Hao’s parents were guided toward the family seating section. His sister waved enthusiastically as she went.

“DON’T LOSE!”

Chen raised a thumb. “NO PROMISES.”

Long Hao watched until they were seated.

Then he turned.

The warmth faded.

The calm sharpened.

The arena was even louder now.

Anticipation buzzed through the crowd like static before lightning.

The Vermillion Phoenix Academy dean stood alone at the center platform once more. Behind her, the Draw Engine had fully risen—multiple concentric rings of glowing crystal rotating slowly, each inscribed with academy sigils.

The floating panels shifted.

Instead of pairings immediately appearing, FORMAT DESIGNATIONS lit up in succession

4 formats in total.

Each designed to test a different aspect of combat psychology and team structure.

No explanations were given.

Those who understood, understood.

FORMAT TWO — ASSIGNED

VERMILLION PHOENIX ACADEMY

A soft murmur spread through the stands.

“Format Two…”

“That one rewards control and adaptability.”

“As expected.”

The Vermillion students did not react.

They simply acknowledged the assignment and began internal discussion immediately.

Lin Huoyan nodded once.

“…That suits us.”

FORMAT THREE — ASSIGNED

The panel rotated again.

AZURE DRAGON ACADEMY

Chen straightened. “Format Three.”

Qin Shuo exhaled slowly.

“…Chain battle heavy.”

Ling Yifan’s eyes narrowed.

“Sequential pressure,” he murmured. “No room for wasted exchanges.”

Mei Ying, standing behind them, did not comment.

But she watched Long Hao closely.

OTHER FORMAT ASSIGNMENTS

The remaining panels lit up in succession.

Each announcement triggered its own wave of whispers.

Some teams relaxed.

Some frowned.

Some went completely quiet.

Formats mattered.

And everyone knew it.

THE DRAWS BEGIN

Only after formats were locked did the Draw Engine activate fully.

The crystalline rings rotated faster this time, light blurring into flowing arcs as academy sigils rose and fell in controlled randomness.

The Vermillion dean raised one hand.

“Now,” she said, “you will learn who stands across from you.”

The first pairing flared into the air.

FORMAT TWO MATCH

VERMILLION PHOENIX ACADEMY VS FROSTCLOUD ACADEMY

The crowd reacted immediately.

“That’s cruel—”

“Heavenly Orchid won’t be able to hide—”

“Vermillion starts strong.”

The Vermillion section remained calm.

Heavenly Orchid’s team stiffened.

Draw Day had already hurt them.

FORMAT ONE MATCH

The display shifted.

DRAGON TURTLE ACADEMY VS THUNDERCRASH ACADEMY

Measured reactions followed.

“Endurance vs corruption.”

“That’ll be ugly.”

“Neither side minds dragging it out.”

FORMAT THREE MATCH — AZURE DRAGON

The arena quieted.

The Azure Dragon sigil rose slowly.

Chen inhaled. “Here it comes.”

The opposing symbol rotated.

Once.

Twice.

Locked.

AZURE DRAGON ACADEMY VS CRIMSON SABER IMPERIAL SCHOOL

The reaction was immediate.

Whispers surged.

“Again?”

“After Stage Two?”

“Chain battle favors Crimson Saber—”

Ling Yifan did not react.

Bai Qianlan’s gaze sharpened.

“…They’ll be prepared this time.”

Qin Shuo adjusted his glasses.

“Formations layered in sequence,” he murmured. “They’ll try to dictate tempo.”

Long Hao remained silent.

But the name lingered in his mind.

Crimson Saber.

Once humiliated.

Once broken.

Now given time to prepare.

REMAINING DRAWS

The Draw Engine continued.

Each pairing locked in place.

No changes.

No appeals.

The board filled completely.

Fate, written in light.

FEAR SETTLES

The Vermillion dean lowered her hand.

“Draw Day is complete,” she said.

“You now know your format.”

“You now know your opponent.”

“And from this moment forward,” her voice dropped slightly,”you will not stop thinking about tomorrow.”

The crystal displays dimmed.

But the damage was done.

The arena fractured into movement.

Teams withdrew into clusters.

Formation diagrams appeared mid-air.

Arguments sparked and died.

Orders were whispered.

At Azure Dragon’s side, Mei Ying finally spoke.

“Crimson Saber will try to control the chain,” she said calmly.

“They’ll aim to exhaust you mentally before physically.”

Qin Shuo nodded. “We break rhythm.”

Chen cracked his knuckles. “I volunteer to break people.”

Bai Qianlan glanced at Long Hao.

“And you?”

Long Hao looked toward the arena floor.

Toward tomorrow.

“…We don’t rush,” he said quietly.

“We let them show their hand first.”

Longyu stirred faintly inside him.

“…Careful,” she warned. “They’ll be hunting for weakness.”

He smiled faintly.

“Let them.”

Draw Day ended without a single blow being struck.

Yet every team left the arena heavier than they entered.

Because now—

Fear had a name.

And tomorrow—

Chains would tighten.

[Chapter ENDS]

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