After Zix wraps up his briefing on the Quantum Nexus, the others begin to disperse, Desta to her workstation to analyze the data, Sera and Lyra to the training room to practice with their new abilities. Before I can join them, Zix bounces nervously at my side, his frill shifting to more subdued colors.

  "Gary! Quick private discussion needed!" he chirps, gesturing toward a quiet corner of our quarters.

  I follow him, curious about what's got him suddenly anxious. "What's up?"

  Once we're out of earshot of the others, Zix's bouncing becomes more agitated. "Just remembered something! Arena cycle ends in twenty days! With Quantum Nexus schedule coming soon, should schedule match for Team Exodus!"

  "Match?" I frown. "What are you talking about?"

  "Mandatory participation requirement!" he explains, frill flashing with nervous oranges. "All assets must compete in at least one arena match per cycle!"

  "And you're just telling me this now?" I ask, feeling a flicker of annoyance. "When the cycle's almost over?"

  Zix's bouncing intensifies, his frill shifting to apologetic purples. "Didn't seem urgent! Most teams handle it through loss exchange partnerships!"

  "Loss exchange?" I repeat, not liking the sound of it.

  "Very common practice!" Zix assures me, his frill brightening. "Two teams agree to fight each other every cycle, taking turns winning and losing! Team A wins this cycle, Team B wins next cycle! Simple, efficient system!"

  I stare at him in disbelief. "You're telling me teams just... take turns throwing matches? Deliberately lose fights?"

  "Not throwing!" Zix protests, bouncing nervously. "Strategic resource management! Both teams get win credit every other cycle!"

  Something cold settles in my stomach. "So these teams have just given up on ever getting ten consecutive wins? They've turned the arena into some kind of... mutual cheating arrangement?"

  Zix's frill droops slightly. "Not cheating! Officially tolerated practice! Many teams prioritize steady resource accumulation over victory pathway!"

  "That's disgusting," I say flatly. "We're not doing that. Ever."

  Zix's bouncing becomes more frantic. "But missing match carries severe penalties! Financial consequences!"

  "What kind of penalties?" I ask.

  "Basic loss penalty is 1000 credits per asset," Zix explains quickly. "But consecutive losses create multiplier effect! Two losses means 2000 per asset, three losses means 4000 per asset, exponential increase!"

  I do the quick math. "So if we miss this cycle, that's 4000 credits gone?"

  "Exactly!" Zix confirms. "Team Exodus has 57423 credits currently! Few missed cycles could deplete entire savings!"

  "Why would they charge credits for not fighting?" I ask, baffled by the system.

  "Ensures participation!" Zix explains. "Keeps arena active, maintains entertainment value!"

  Of course. It all comes back to the spectacle.

  "We're not doing exchange partnerships," I state firmly. "If we fight, we fight to win. Every time."

  "But finding favorable opponent on short notice very difficult!" Zix protests. "Already have Quantum Nexus expedition planned! Time constraints significant! Besides, victory pathway not practical consideration at current stage! Last required victories will be against S-ranked teams anyway!"

  "What are you talking about?" I ask.

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  Zix's bouncing intensifies. "You cannot choose your opponent for your last two matches! Arena officials choose for you! Will definitely choose S-ranks! System designed that way! No matter how many wins accumulated now, still need to defeat S-ranked teams later!"

  "So?" I ask, feeling annoyed.

  "So pointless to risk losing now for pride!" Zix argues, frill rippling with agitation. "Strategic approach more efficient! Build strength, gather resources, THEN pursue victories when S-rank achieved!"

  I cross my arms. "We're fighting to win. Every time. That's non-negotiable." We're still half a year away from that point anyways. What I fear more is giving up now, getting comfortable, and losing our fighting spirit.

  Zix throws his thin arms up in frustration. "Finding suitable opponents not easy! Other team must agree to match! Most teams won't agree to fight unless they are likely to win!"

  "Then how does anyone find matches, there has to be a way to force people to fight right?" I insist.

  "There is. Only guaranteed method is official matchmaking!" Zix explains. "Arena officials will assign opponent, but uses statistical balancing! Puts victory probability at exactly 50%!"

  "Then that's what we'll do," I say firmly. "We take our chances with a fair fight."

  Zix stares at me, his frill cycling through various colors of disbelief. "Risking credits, risking potential win streak, all for... competitive integrity?"

  "Yes."

  He shakes his head, bouncing slowing to a dejected rhythm. "Human values sometimes very confusing. Will submit official matchmaking request, but still think exchange partnership much smarter option."

  "Thank you," I say, not backing down. "We'll win this match, and the next one, and keep going until we've earned our freedom the right way."

  I head over to Desta's workstation to brief her on the situation. She listens with her usual clinical detachment as her eyes occasionally flicker with code.

  "Official matchmaking protocols utilize complex balancing algorithms," she notes after I finish explaining. "Opponent selection will likely feature comparable compositional structure but divergent ability parameters."

  "In normal human speak: they'll match us against a team with similar ranks but different powers," Sera translates, rejoining us with Lyra in tow. "I heard the tail end of your conversation with Zix. So we're fighting for real, huh?"

  "Absolutely," I confirm. "No arranged matches, no taking turns. We win because we're better."

  Lyra claps her hands together excitedly. "My first real arena match! This is exactly what I joined Team Exodus for!"

  "Don't get too excited," Sera cautions her. "A 50% chance means we could just as easily lose."

  "Request submitted," Zix announces, bouncing back over to us with his frill still showing hints of frustration. "Arena officials will process within 24 hours. Match likely scheduled for day after tomorrow."

  "Any idea who we might face?" I ask.

  Zix's frill shifts to analytical blues. "Based on available teams, most likely opponent would be non-human squad with similar composition. One A-rank, three B-ranks."

  "Match assignment already processed," Desta announces suddenly, her eyes flickering rapidly as she interfaces with her upgraded system. "Accelerated response time indicates high compatibility parameters with available opponent."

  "Already?" Sera raises an eyebrow. "That was fast."

  "Who are we fighting?" I ask, moving to look at Desta's display.

  "Team designation: Tidal Force," Desta reports, projecting a holographic display of our opponents. "Leader: Maris, A-rank water manipulator of Nereidian origin. Supporting members include Vex, B-rank telekinetic shield specialist; Krell, B-rank geological manipulator; and Nira, B-rank electrical emitter."

  The hologram shows our opponents, Maris, a humanoid alien with blue-tinted skin that seems to shimmer with fluid properties; surrounded by three diverse teammates whose abilities seem specifically designed to complement their leader's water manipulation.

  "A water manipulator?" Sera frowns, small flames dancing between her fingers. "That's going to be problematic for me."

  "Nereidians possess hydrokinetic capabilities that transcend standard water manipulation parameters," Desta explains. "Biological composition includes semi-fluid cellular structure allowing partial transformation and enhanced conductivity with manipulated water masses."

  "In normal human speak: she can become one with the water she controls," Sera translates. "Great."

  "We'll need to prepare," I decide, already thinking through strategies. "Come up with ways to counter their abilities."

  Zix watches me with an expression I can't quite read, his frill settled into a pattern of muted blues and purples. "Will support Team Exodus preparation efforts," he says finally. "If pursuing victory pathway is team decision, will commit fully to optimization."

  "It is," I confirm. "And we're going to win."

  As we begin planning for both the upcoming match and our Quantum Nexus expedition, I push away the doubts Zix's arguments raised. Maybe it is more efficient to game the system, to take the path of least resistance. But that's not why I'm fighting. I want more than just freedom, I want to earn it, to prove that we can beat their system on our own terms.

  Whether that's stubborn pride or genuine principle, I'm not sure anymore. But it's the path Team Exodus will follow, for better or worse.