The Grand Arena did not recover quickly from the shock of what had happened in the ring.
The tournament was officially cancelled the same day. The announcer's voice, usually full of energy and excitement, sounded tired and serious as he spoke to the massive crowd.
"Because of a very serious event during the match and an ongoing investigation, the 87th Stellar Youth Tournament is cancelled right now. All fights are stopped. We will start a new tournament next week with new rules and much stronger security."
The crowd reacted in many different ways.
Some spectators booed loudly because they were angry the show was over.
Others stood up and left quickly, talking fast about what they had just seen.
Many stayed in their seats for a long time, watching replays on their personal holo-devices and sharing clips with friends across the galaxy.
The Mechari Ascendancy delegation made the most noise.
Their instructors and diplomats stood together in a tight group on their platform. Their circuits flashed angry red colors as they shouted demands. They wanted Lian arrested immediately. They wanted the entire Stellar Martial Academy removed from all future events. They even called for punishments against the academy leadership. Some of them sent emergency messages back to their home sectors, asking for more support and enforcers.
Galactic investigators arrived very soon after the incident.
They came in teams wearing dark uniforms with the Central Sector Authority seal on their chests. They sealed the ring with bright energy tape and started collecting every piece of evidence. They took samples of the synthetic fluid on the stone.
They scanned for any leftover energy signatures. They interviewed every witness one by one, asking the same questions many times.
Some people whispered that Reapers were part of the investigation teams, but no one saw the white eyes or moving shadows that were their signs.
Nova Prime City changed in big ways because of the search.
Checkpoints appeared at every shuttle port and major transport hub.
Drones flew in the sky all day and night, scanning faces and movements.
Street cameras used advanced recognition software to look for Lian's scarred face.
A large bounty was posted—good credits for useful information, much higher credits for capture alive.
Posters with Lian's picture went up everywhere—on walls, holo-boards, transport stations.
"Wanted: Lian Yu. Murder in tournament ring. Extremely dangerous."
The Stellar Martial Academy closed its main gates to outsiders.
Instructors were questioned for many hours by investigators.
Students had to tell their stories again and again.
Kai repeated the same details each time—the sudden pressure, the blink-fast cut, the carry away. His voice got quieter with every telling.
Gorak gave short, angry answers, but always the same facts.
Lirael described the impossible speed in careful words, her perfect posture not as straight as usual.
Blitz said very little—he admitted he felt helpless under the pressure, even with his speed.
Principal Vaeloria was questioned in private rooms.
By investigators.
By sector council representatives.
By angry Mechari diplomats.
She answered everything with calm words.
"My student acted to protect his teammate."
"The opponent attacked after the match was over and yield was given."
"The video recordings show this clearly."
But inside her mind, the amazement stayed strong.
That pressure had been powerful enough to freeze her completely.
She was in Nebula Dominion Early realm—far higher than Lian's known level.
Higher than almost every instructor in the arena.
Higher than many of the scouts and hidden observers.
Yet she could not move.
Could not breathe properly.
Could not protect anyone.
She looked around during the questioning and remembered others in the arena who were even stronger than her.
Late Nebula cultivators in disguise.
Peak realm hidden sect elders.
Corporate enforcers with forbidden augs.
All of them frozen too.
None could act.
A young boy, officially only Core Condensation, had suppressed the entire arena.
For Elara.
To punish the rule breaker.
The academy searched its own grounds carefully.
Dorm room completely empty.
Training yards quiet and unused.
No personal items left behind.
No notes.
No weapons.
Like they had never been there.
The city search was wide and thorough.
Teams checked lower levels.
Markets.
Underground passages.
Rooftops.
Transport logs.
Nothing.
No sighting.
No clue.
Friends from the delegation looked in their own ways.
Kai asked old contacts in the city.
Gorak checked rough bars and fight places.
Lirael read old books in the library about vanishing techniques and pressure domains.
Blitz ran fast routes across rooftops at night.
All empty.
Teachers used academy tools and connections.
Energy scans.
Tracker implants checked.
Quiet searches in restricted areas.
Nothing found.
Principal Vaeloria walked the gardens alone sometimes.
She thought about the day she invited Lian in.
"Anything you need."
He had taken freedom.
Now he was gone.
With the wounded girl.
Her amazement grew.
That power was hidden very deep.
Strong.
Unknown.
Weeks passed with no progress.
No trace anywhere.
The tournament restart was announced.
Next week.
New rules written fast.
Stronger energy barriers.
More judges on each ring.
No lethal strikes allowed—automatic disqualification and arrest.
Stellar team smaller without the two strongest.
But they would compete.
Prove the academy still strong.
Other academies prepared.
Crowd tickets sold even faster—the drama brought more interest.
The cancelled tournament was short.
The restart was coming.
Big change.
Lian and Elara absent.
Their names everywhere in news and whispers.
Legend louder than before.
The search continued.
Officials.
Investigators.
Bounty hunters.
Academy own people.
Friends.
Teachers.
Principal.
Everyone looked.
But hope became small.
The vanished Ghost stayed vanished.
For now.