The restarted Stellar Youth Tournament entered its second week with an atmosphere that felt heavier and more charged than any previous year in the event's long history.
The new security measures were visible everywhere and impossible to ignore.
The energy barriers around each ring had been triple-reinforced with precursor-grade shielding that shimmered constantly in multiple layers, capable of absorbing even Stellar Circuit Peak strikes without the slightest flicker or crack.
Additional judge platforms hovered at every corner of the central ring, manned by senior instructors from neutral academies and impartial galactic officials who were equipped with instant intervention tools that could deploy suppression fields or stun waves in fractions of a second.
Armed enforcers in full combat augs stood at rigid attention along the edges of each platform, their visors glowing red as they continuously scanned for any hint of killing intent or rule violation, their weapons set to non-lethal stun but loaded with override codes for lethal force if the situation demanded it.
Scouts and observers were screened more thoroughly than ever before, with hidden sect representatives required to reveal basic affiliations and submit to Qi-suppression scans at entry points to prevent any hidden interference.
The crowd had returned in even greater numbers than the original tournament, drawn not just by the competition but by the lingering drama of the incident that had forced the cancellation.
However, the cheers were noticeably different now—mixed with caution, resentment, and open hostility toward the Stellar Martial Academy.
Banners appeared throughout the stands in bold colors: "Justice for Nex-7!" in Mechari red, "No murderers in the ring!" in stark white letters, "Disqualify Stellar!" waved by groups of coordinated fans.
Mechari supporters were the loudest and most organized.
They wore red circuit bands on their arms as a symbol of mourning and anger.
Their chants were synchronized and amplified through vocal augs, rolling through the arena like mechanical thunder: "Stellar cheats! Stellar kills! Ghost coward!"
Every time a Stellar fighter stepped into the ring, the boos rained down in waves, accompanied by trash talk that echoed across the void.
"Coward school!"
"Where's your murderer now?"
"Fight fair or go home!"
"Hide behind rules!"
Other academies joined in more subtly but effectively.
Solaris fans burned mock Stellar banners with controlled fire Qi, letting the ashes drift toward the Stellar platform.
Thunderforge supporters roared louder than usual against Stellar opponents, their storm chants drowning out any positive cheers.
Even sections that had been neutral before now murmured doubts: "Stellar got away with murder," "Rules changed because of them," "They don't deserve to be here."
The Stellar delegation felt the weight of it all.
Kai's face was tight with tension before his matches, his usual confident grin replaced by a determined scowl as he tried to block out the boos.
Gorak growled low under his breath, his massive fists clenched so hard that red Qi sparked uncontrollably between his knuckles.
Lirael maintained her perfect posture, but her eyes were harder than usual, her silver hair catching the lights as she forced herself to ignore the chants.
Blitz kept his ears flat against his head, his claws half-extended in frustration, the speed specialist clearly hating the hostile environment.
Principal Vaeloria stood at the center of the platform, her silver hair immaculate and her expression outwardly calm, but she felt the pressure deeply.
She knew the academy's reputation was on the line.
Team events came first this week.
Stellar's group faced Void Edge Sect's shadow specialists in a multi-ring battle where illusions and darkness dominated the field.
The ring seemed to darken unnaturally, shadow steps creating dozens of false images that confused even the judges' scanners.
Stellar struggled from the start.
Kai's energy bursts hit empty air repeatedly.
Gorak's powerful swings struck only illusions.
Lirael's barriers were pierced by unseen strikes.
Blitz chased ghosts that vanished before he could land a claw.
They adapted as best they could, but lost by a narrow margin.
The crowd cheered loudly for the upset, the boos for Stellar turning into triumphant chants from Void Edge supporters.
"Justice served!"
"Stellar falls!"
Individual rounds followed.
Kai faced a Thunderforge storm user whose lightning Qi filled the ring with crackling energy.
The fight was brutal, thunder claps shaking the barriers, but Kai held his ground with controlled bursts and finally landed a decisive strike to force a yield.
He won, but the boos were heavier than the cheers.
Gorak took on an Iron Void gravity specialist who increased the weight in the ring to crushing levels.
Every movement felt like wading through mud, but Gorak's root strength allowed him to plant his feet and break through the field with raw power, slamming his opponent down for the win.
The crowd was mixed—some respect for the display of strength, but most trash talk continued: "Brute luck!" "Still a cheater school!"
Lirael competed against an Aether Spire telekinetic who sent debris flying in coordinated storms while applying mind pressure.
Lirael countered with elegant silver barriers that reflected attacks and precise strikes that disrupted the telekinetic flow, advancing with calculated grace.
The crowd was quieter for her win, some respect growing for her skill.
Blitz faced a Solaris fire user whose flames roared high enough to heat the barriers.
Speed against speed—Blitz's claws flashed in white trails as he cut through fire walls and landed strikes before the flames could fully form.
He won fast.
The crowd's chants began to change slowly in some sections—"Stellar strong"—but the Mechari and their allies stayed loud: "Without the killer!" "Still lose soon!"
Stellar's points climbed steadily.
They held middle rankings.
Not at the top like they might have been with the full team.
But they refused to fall.
Instructors watched with quiet pride.
Principal Vaeloria observed everything from the platform center.
The amazement from the incident had faded slightly under the focus on the current team.
They were proving strength beyond the missing individuals.
The crowd's pressure was hard and constant.
Trash talk never stopped.
Banners waved.
Chants echoed.
Stellar students felt the anger and turned it into determination.
They fought harder.
Matches became more fierce.
Wins were earned with blood, sweat, and unbreakable will.
No easy victories.
Other academies pushed aggressively to take advantage.
Mechari fought with visible anger.
Solaris burned everything brighter.
Thunderforge thundered louder.
Stellar endured.
Grew under pressure.
The tournament continued.
Under hate.
Under watch.
Stellar streak held.
Even smaller.
Even harder.
Respect earned slow.
The storm's echoes lingered.
But they stood firm.