Glacier Team StoryLatent
7 p.m.
The heat of the assembled mass is overwhelming. Among these members must be one who no one foresaw coming.
In spite of the bar being able to handle more than a hundred people, it's quite overwhelming when everyone is pickled into it like this. Even more, the majority of them are crazy with excitement of the Stadium being re-opened. Not only is it hot in here, the heat of the bodies also takes its toll. For Vahn, at least, this is the worst situation imaginable.
"Is this some sort of torture?"
Not looking anywhere in particular, Vahn puts the question to Sunstrike in his usual surly matter.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Do you want something to drink?"
Sunstrike, not looking particularly fazed by all this, offers the glass of beer he's taken a sip out of to Vahn.
It's clearly misunderstanding. But it puts an end to Vahn's listlessness.
"...That's not what I meant!"
"Care for another one?"
"Don't yank me around. That's not what I said.... How much longer are we going to be here for?"
"Silver said he wanted to meet us."
Sunstrike answers Vahn's queries matter-of-factly and once again takes another gulp of beer.
"For...?"
"For this."
A suspicious expression seizes Vahn's face as Silver appears behind him, holding an evelope out.
"An invitation...HOH? What is this?"
"We've been invited. It requests our participation as invited athletes for the Stadium. I was told by Mitsuyo yesterday. And she told me to let you know."
"Are you going to enter?"
"It seems that the finals are to be held in Leviathan."
"Leviathan...here?"
"It's just a stone's throw from here."
Vahn stands up, running a hand through his hair.
"Are you leaving?"
"I have an errand. Sunstrike, I'm leaving."
He brushes by Silver as he passes. Silver says,
"Reiko might be there...."
"We'll see."
Without looking him in the eyes, Vahn bids these final words of farewell and leaves. Following his lead, Sunstrike rises from his seat.
"Sorry about that. You know he just hates being told what to do."
"Don't worry about it. If he weren't like that, he wouldn't be interesting. Do you think this is a good idea, you and us?"
"Let's hope so."
Unlike his partner, Sunstrike leaves the bar with a smile.
One day later.
The streets are still bustling with activity despite the early morning.
It is amply lit outside, but the sun has not completely risen; dark shadows dance on the ground in between the streets.
Alone, a man stands out from the throng.
"Nuts. That Vahn. Calling me here at this time of the morning."
Dressed in his usual ultra-casual style, anyone passing along the street would recognize him. In Leviathan he is the up and coming rookie with a promising future. Naturally, he takes it all in stride.
"You're here. Shouyin, long time no see. So, you hungry? You must be, right Shou?"
"Vahn...who'd crawl out of bed just to eat with you?!"
"Good point. Then how about a little drink before the others get here?"
The 25 year old with raven hair gathered up in denim is Vahn.
Tanned skinned with yellow eyes. A nasty scar can be seen right between his eyes and along the bridge of his nose.
You could call him a handsome man or not, but it is certain that he is enveloped in a strange sort of magnetism that garners glances. His body is slight but sinewy.
"Others...?"
Thrusting forward through the crowd, Vahn makes his way down the street with Shouyin in tow. Eventually the two of them are seated at a noodle shop, chomping down.
"Your buying, right?"
Shouyin asks once more through a mouthful.
"Who's buying? Give it a rest. And besides, you haven't heard what I have to say."
"Alright, alright. So what's your important story?"
What Vahn produces is the same envelope Silver presented him with.
HEAVEN OR HELL.
The world's largest tournament of varying fighting styles.
Anyone who's anyone is aware of this.
And it is also know that it is a team event of teams consisting of three fighters each.
It was also taking place in the one location that had some sort of crisis in it every other day; in other words, an event with attitude.
"I won't pull any punches. I want to join this thing... there's someone I need to see. So, I'm hoping you'll feel the same. How about it? Will you enter with me?"
Vahn slurped down the rest of his noodles, yellow eyes closing. Shouyin slammed down his bowl, thinking it over for a moment.
"Sounds like fun. OK, I'm in! I've always wanted to be in HOH, at least once. Not like I got anything better to do. To make things worse I'm totally whacked from being called out so early in the morning."
"Yes, well get used to it."
Smiling, he raised his right hand, a small ember of black flame appearing, no blood in sight.
"This year... Team Glacier burns."
Silver Alexander
Shouyin
Sunstrike
Vahn
Their participation in the tournament was confirmed by the HOH committee three days later.
