Real Dream: Infinity

Aurora, dressed in a simple green shirt paired with a black skirt and sneakers covered in stickers, couldn't help but widen her eyes in amazement as she passed through the checkpoint and stepped onto Luminia's pristine ground for the first time. Unlike Noctus, which carried an almost melancholic air with its worn streets and half-integrated technology, Luminia looked like a world straight out of a futuristic movie: clean, orderly, and gleaming. The city exuded perfection. Every street seemed freshly constructed, with illuminated panels displaying directions, and buildings shining under bright, crisp light.

To her right, like an imposing titan of steel and glass, stood the central headquarters of Helios Tech. Its twin towers soared into the sky like spears of light, wrapped in a lattice of holographic panels projecting advertisements and colorful patterns in an endless loop. Aurora paused for a moment to watch the clouds reflected on the building's polished surfaces, feeling a mix of admiration and unease.

"Definitely Aetheris," she murmured to herself.

But what drew her attention the most, the very reason she had come, was the Nexar Stadium. The stadium was an architectural monstrosity, standing next to Helios Tech's headquarters like a sleeping giant. Its oval structure was composed of interlocking plates of polished black metal, interspersed with glowing blue stripes that radiated an electric tone. Atop the stadium, a series of antennas and projectors stood like technological sentinels, ready to broadcast Dominion to every corner of the world.

Aurora swallowed hard as she continued walking toward the entrance. The contrast with Noctus was stark. Here, even the crowds moved in an orderly fashion, guided by interactive panels and drones that hovered softly above people's heads.

"Everything is so perfect... It makes me feel out of place," she thought with an ironic smile.

But anticipation bubbled in her chest. Today was the day. She had worked for this, saved every credit, and finally, she was here. With each step toward the Nexar, the hum of the crowds grew louder, like a distant roar growing closer and closer.

At the entrance, an automated attendant approached her—a humanoid figure of metal with a screen where its face should have been.

"Welcome to Nexar Stadium. Here are your Nex-Vision spectator glasses. Enjoy Dominion," the machine said in a smooth, mechanical voice, extending a tray with a pair of glasses.

Aurora picked up the Nex-Vision glasses, marveling at how light they felt. They were matte black with bright blue accents running along the edges. She held them for a moment and couldn't help but think of Naomi's.

"Similar, but not as fancy..." she murmured. Naomi's were customized, projecting a special interface. These were simpler but still impressive.

When she put them on, a slight vibration pulsed against her temples, and her view instantly transformed. Everything became sharper, more detailed. She could focus on faces at an impressive distance, as if a third-person camera were following her movements.

"Wow... this is something else," she whispered, feeling as though the technology had wrapped her in its embrace.

Aurora followed the guided route to her seat, climbing stairs and passing through hallways filled with people of all ages. The noise was deafening: excited shouts, laughter, and rushed conversations about who would be the favorite of the day.

Finally, she reached her assigned seat in a high section of the stands. She looked down, and the air caught in her lungs.

The Nexar was majestic from within.

The center of the stadium was designed as a multifunctional arena, a circular platform that could adapt to every battle. It was outfitted with structures that made it look like a small city. Massive sections of the floor were mobile, capable of rising, shifting shape, and deploying traps, floating platforms, and dynamic obstacles. Invisible projectors illuminated the entire space with a white glow that cast no shadows, making it feel as though everything was bathed in pure light.

Aurora noticed that the lower stands were much closer to the action, almost level with the stage. From there, spectators must have felt as though they could reach out and touch the fighters. Around her, thousands of people filled the seats, creating a spectacle in and of themselves: flags with the competitors' emblems waved in the air, and the crowd chanted names with fervor.

Aurora let out an impressed sigh as she took her seat. From her position, she had a privileged view of the overall scene. Even though she was far away, the Nex-Vision glasses brought everything into sharp focus, zooming in as needed.

"'Aurora, Dominion happens almost every day of the week, and anyone can participate if they meet certain conditions,'" Naomi had explained with a smile when Aurora asked about it at school. "'It's like a skills trial anyone can watch—or even compete in, if they've got the talent. It's fun, though a bit cruel for beginners. But... the real show happens Friday afternoons. It's incomparable. That's when the best fighters step in, and the crowd reaches a fever pitch. It's... like the world stops just to see who's the strongest.'"

The idea had fascinated Aurora from the start, and now that she was about to witness it, she felt that thrilling mix of anticipation and unease vibrating in her chest.

"Let's see... who's competing today?" she thought, adjusting her glasses and scrolling through the list of participants.

Her interface projected holograms of the standout names. First was Inferno Edge: a tall young man in a tight black suit with blue flames dancing around his hands. His skill with "blue fire energy" made him both spectacular and deadly in combat. Then there was Iron Will: an imposing woman with a muscular build, covered in gray metallic armor. Her ability involved reinforcing her body to impossible levels, becoming an immovable force.

Aurora kept scrolling through the names: Shadow Gale, known for moving at invisible speeds; Thunder Jaw, a massive man with electric tattoos coursing across his skin, allowing him to unleash lightning strikes.

Suddenly, a deafening roar filled the stadium. Aurora lowered her gaze and looked toward the arena. A massive metal gate on the far end of the stadium was opening. The cheers and applause grew louder as a brilliant light illuminated the entrance.

"Here we go..." Aurora murmured, feeling her heartbeat quicken.

"'Ladies and gentlemen! The moment you've all been waiting for has arrived! The DOMINION is about to begin!'"

The voices of the announcers echoed with electrifying energy as beams of multicolored light crisscrossed the air, converging on a solitary figure slowly emerging from the far end of the field.

Aurora held her breath.

A silhouette stood against the glow, advancing with calm determination. It was a tall young man, his presence commanding the space. He wore a pristine white suit that reflected the light, giving him an almost divine aura. On his head sat a crown made of opaque white crystals, encircling his jet-black hair and shining with cold brilliance. The crown held a multicolored crystal visor, like a flowing rainbow, that completely covered his face and ended in a sharp edge below his chin, concealing any human features.

But the most striking detail was the flags. All around the stadium, banners emblazoned with an iridescent star and the words "No Limits" in bold black lettering waved triumphantly. The crowd, unable to contain itself, erupted.

"'NO LIMITS! NO LIMITS! NO LIMITS!'"

Aurora could hardly process what she was seeing when a notification flashed on her glasses interface:

"Align view with participant?"

She hesitated for a second but accepted.

Her vision shifted abruptly: she was now observing from just behind him, as if floating a few meters at his back. The details became so vivid it felt as though she were standing right next to him. That's when she noticed it.

On the back of his white suit, written in deep, crushing black, were the words:

No Limits

For reasons she couldn't understand, that message seemed to oppress the world while simultaneously giving strength to everyone who saw it—a silent shout louder than any words.

Aurora shivered as the young man raised his left fist high above his head, slicing the air with incredible speed.

Whoosh!

The crowd exploded into an overwhelming roar of applause, cheers, and chants.

Behind No Limits, other competitors emerged from the shadows—some Aurora recognized, like Thunder Jaw, and others unfamiliar, each with their own unique style and aura. She began using her glasses to focus on them.

There was Therion, a tall and burly man carrying an enormous bow across his back, as though it were built to bring down fortresses. His armor was green and gold, and the mask he wore resembled the face of a hawk, giving him a predatory air.

Then there was Zephyrin, a slender, hunched combatant wielding a thin scythe. His black attire, adorned with chains, seemed to move as if alive. His mask was a metallic skull, and a dark vapor trailed behind him as he walked.

And then Aurora saw her.

A small, slender figure moving quietly, almost unnoticed. She wore a black military cap, and her short, slightly messy white hair peeked out from beneath it, creating a stark contrast against her attire: a long, plain black coat devoid of adornments. The only notable feature was her mask: a minimalist, perfectly oval piece completely black, with no visible details except for a single white line running vertically down the center.

Aurora frowned. "And who's she...?"

When she searched the interface, her eyes widened in disbelief.

Name: Melisfir

Victories: 17

"Seventeen victories? Impossible!" Aurora murmured to herself.

She remembered what Naomi and Thomas Riles had told her about the top Dominion participants. None of them—not even Inferno Edge—had more than ten victories. Even No Limits, the prodigy, had only twenty-five.

"Who is she...?" Aurora thought, a chill running down her spine.

Aurora was captivated by the vibrant Dominion atmosphere when a murmured comment from a couple seated nearby caught her attention.

"Looks like Phoenix won't be showing up this time," the boy said, his tone a mix of resignation and surprise.

Aurora frowned slightly. Phoenix? The name sounded unfamiliar, but the way they said it piqued her curiosity. With a few quick gestures, she opened her interface and began searching. The system responded almost instantly, displaying an image: a young man with black hair tipped in white, somewhat long and messy. He wore a completely white mask, unadorned and unembellished, except for a simple drawing near the eyes: a stylized yellow phoenix, understated yet striking, as though the mythical creature's fire was contained within its minimalistic design.

Phoenix – 7 victories

Aurora raised an eyebrow. Seven victories? That's nothing to scoff at, she thought.

Intrigued, she turned to the couple, mustering the courage to interrupt their conversation.

"Excuse me..." Her voice was soft but clear enough to grab their attention. "I heard you mention someone named Phoenix. Is he a well-known participant?"

The boy was the first to respond, raising his eyebrows as he noticed her. He had light brown, messy hair and seemed excited to explain.

"Is this your first time here?" he asked with a friendly smile, tilting his head slightly.

Aurora nodded with a faint smile.

"Yes, it's my first time. All of this is... pretty overwhelming," she replied, trying to sound natural as she glanced briefly at the arena.

The girl sitting beside him nodded enthusiastically. She was slim and wore a cap with the Dominion logo engraved at the center.

"Welcome! I'm Clara, and he's Ethan," she said, pointing to her partner. "It's always exciting to meet someone new."

"I'm Aurora," she replied politely.

"Well, about Phoenix..." Clara continued, her tone becoming more animated. "Although he only has seven victories, he's a legend among participants. Sure, there are others with more wins, like Inferno Edge, but—"

"But Phoenix is the only one who's defeated No Limits in a direct one-on-one match," Ethan interjected, crossing his arms with a proud grin. "No one else has ever done that. So, even if he doesn't have the most victories, that alone puts him on a completely different level."

Aurora tilted her head thoughtfully. Defeated No Limits? She recalled the imposing figure of the competitor with the words on his back that seemed capable of crushing the entire world. Her mind struggled to imagine how anyone could overcome someone like that.

"And his style is just so cool," added Ethan, sounding like an enthusiastic fan. "He's fast, precise, and always stays calm, even in the tensest moments. When you watch him fight, you feel like every move has a purpose."

Aurora nodded, letting the information settle. That participant seemed to have quite the reputation, but she couldn't help but think of someone else.

"And what about... um... Melisfir?" she suddenly asked, recalling the peculiar movements and white-haired figure that had caught her attention earlier. "She has so many victories. She must be impressive, right?"

The couple exchanged a quick glance, as though silently sharing an unspoken thought. Then Ethan let out a nervous chuckle while Clara smiled awkwardly.

"Well..." Ethan began, scratching the back of his neck. "Impressive, yes. But..."

Clara took over, leaning slightly toward Aurora with a confidential tone.

"Melisfir is... a special case. Let's just say she likes to play... dirty," Clara said cautiously. "She attacks from behind, stays still for long periods, waiting for the perfect moment to move, and sometimes uses others as... well, human shields. Basically, she lets everyone tear each other apart and then delivers the final blow when no one expects it."

Ethan chuckled under his breath, adding:

"Yeah, it's a pretty dirty tactic, but you can't deny it works. In the end, a win is a win, and Melisfir has plenty."

"That said," Clara continued, her tone becoming slightly more serious, "don't be fooled. She's far smarter than she looks. If she's made it this far, it's not just because she takes advantage of others—her strategies are calculated down to the last detail."

Aurora listened intently, absorbing every word. Her gaze drifted back to the stadium, to the figure of Melisfir: small and slender, walking silently, almost unnoticed, as if the air itself barely touched her. Her short, slightly messy white hair barely peeked out from under the edge of a black military cap, dark as onyx, casting a discreet shadow over her face. The contrast was striking—her snowy hair seemed even brighter against her outfit: a long, plain black coat, devoid of any adornments or visible seams, smooth as the surface of an abyss. The garment was austere yet imposing, cloaking her figure and giving her a presence as enigmatic as it was unsettling.

But what stood out the most was her mask. Minimalist and perfectly oval, it was made of a deep black material that seemed to absorb all light around it, as if carved from obsidian. There were no decorations or intricate carvings, only a single, striking detail: a vertical white line that ran down the center, dividing the mask into two perfect halves. Simple, yet strangely hypnotic, as if that line was a crack hiding something beyond the void.

Aurora studied the image for a long moment. There was something fascinating about its simplicity: a visual absence that conveyed both tranquility and a latent tension, as if every calculated step Melisfir took concealed a storm waiting for the exact moment to be unleashed.

"That outfit is something else," Aurora murmured to herself with a faint smile as she continued to study the details. Simply brilliant.

"Are you interested in her?" Clara asked, noticing Aurora's expression.

Aurora nodded, turning her attention back to the couple.

"A bit. If she has so many victories, she must be interesting to watch in action."

"Oh, she is!" Ethan said. "I guarantee you won't be bored if you follow her. But be careful—she doesn't let anyone see her hand easily."

Aurora fell silent for a moment, her attention drifting between the couple's words and the image of Melisfir in her glasses. Something about that participant, her discreet demeanor and unconventional methods, intrigued her deeply.

It'll be interesting to figure out what makes her so special, Aurora thought, a spark of curiosity igniting within her.

***

The combatants positioned themselves on platforms that rose slightly before beginning to descend below the field, as if they were gladiators preparing for an unforgettable spectacle.

"'Ladies and gentlemen, get ready! Today's Dominion will begin shortly! Don't move from your seats because what you're about to see... will be history!'"

The deafening roar of the crowd made the stands vibrate. Aurora could barely contain her excitement, her gaze fixed on the empty field that, in just a few minutes, would transform into a battleground.