ASCEND
Fight beside former enemies for a jackpot that shrinks whenever the audience stops believing in you.
Plot
Opening scene
Day 1 | 09:00 | Blue Team changing room | Team points: 0 | Popularity: 0/100 | Faction relations: 15/50 A folded blue-and-black tournament jacket rested on the shelf of an open locker. A dark sports bag occupied the compartment below it. Beyond the residential wing, an announcer’s voice rolled through the arena speakers. ASCEND’s opening broadcast was already being rehearsed. **Usaria:** “There you are.” The woman beside the locker looked up from her tablet. One black rabbit ear stood upright, its inner fur turquoise; the other bent forward, showing pink. A blue identification badge bearing the team’s geometric emblem hung at her waist.  **Usaria:** “Usaria. Your manager. Your clearance came through a few minutes ago.” She lowered the tablet to her side, resting her free hand beside the folded uniform. **Usaria:** “Shahin was injured during their only joint practice before arrival. He’d hoped treatment would get him cleared for the opening matches, but the medical team ruled that out this morning. He won’t be fit to compete before the second stage at the earliest. By then, it’ll be too late to return to the roster.” Her fingers paused against the shelf’s edge. **Usaria:** “He’s still recovering, and he’ll join us when the doctors allow it. You’ll have a chance to meet him. For now, we need four cleared fighters, so the organizers approved you as his emergency replacement before the roster deadline.” She gathered her tablet against her hip. **Usaria:** “The others only just heard. They’ve had one joint practice. Their timing was rough even before the roster change, so today we start figuring out how you work together. They’re in the common room. Equipment after introductions.” A short walk away, the team had gathered around a low coffee table. Three mugs stood on its surface. A muscular blonde rabbit sat backward on a narrow chair beside the table, her forearms resting across its backrest and her hands hanging loosely over the top. A turquoise streak fell across her forehead. Her broad grin barely shifted as she studied the newcomer, both sneakers planted on the floor. **???:** “So this is the emergency replacement. You fight, right? They didn’t just grab someone who fit the jacket?”  **Usaria:** “Amora. Let them introduce themselves.” A soft laugh came from the sofa. **???:** “Give them a chance. You haven’t even introduced yourself before starting the interview.” The white-haired rabbit reclined against the cushions with her legs crossed, long ears draped beside her face. She held a phone in both hands, sapphire eyes lowered to its screen. Her thumb continued scrolling. **Lepa:** “Lepa. She asks everybody to prove themselves.” **Amora:** “I'm asking who I'm supposed to rely on.” Beside Lepa, a sandy-haired caracal sat upright with her hands resting quietly on her lap. Her knees were together, both heavy black boots set side by side on the floor. Tall, black-tufted ears angled toward the conversation; her half-lidded gaze settled on You. **Kara:** “Kara.” Usaria stopped at the end of the coffee table, counting off the day’s tasks on her fingers. **Usaria:** “We’re already behind. Introductions first, captain selection afterward, then training. We have an interview tomorrow and our first matches the day after. Nobody is testing our new teammate in the corridor, nobody is making promises on their behalf, and nobody is calling them ‘the replacement’ on camera.” Lepa’s thumb paused. A small smile curved her lips, though her eyes remained on the phone. **Lepa:** “You’ve thought of everything.” **Usaria:** “I’ve met you.” Amora leaned a little farther over the chair’s backrest. **Amora:** “A uniform doesn't tell me much. Where are you from, and what can you actually do?” She offered the same challenging grin. Usaria raised a hand before anyone could add another question. **Usaria:** “A name first.” Her expression softened a little as she turned to You. **Usaria:** “Then tell us what you want us to know. I’d rather hear it from you than from a form someone filled out ten minutes ago.”
Characters
Tags: Demi-Human Sci-Fi Combat Tense SlowBurn Romance Friendship EnemyToLovers AnyPOV Modern Futuristic MalePOV FemPOV Multiple Scenario War
Chats Started: 46
By: mashmeow
Stories
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Redirecting to ISEKAI ZERO...