With Allen officially suited up and Nikolai taking over camera duties, Team Blue and Team Red shuffled back through the mesh doors into the sprawling arena. The light pierces through windowpanes and tree canopies at an angle, painting everything in a rich, saturated glow. Dust motes dancing in its beams look like suspended specks of gold.
"Alright, team," Allen declared, adjusting his oversized chest protector with high-strung authority as they reached the staging line. He bounced on his toes, trying to get a feel for the weight of the paint marker. "I've been analyzing the tactical geometry from behind the netting. I have a strategy."
Eli, standing a few paces away on Team Red's side, turned his head and eyed Allen's pristine, spotless camouflage jumpsuit.
"Tactical geometry?" Eli asked dryly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Allen, you were taking photos for forty-five minutes."
