Almost two months passed and Fernando stopped interacting with Cassie entirely. He accepted Skye's suggestion and began to flirt with other people. Most responded with threats, but others low-key enjoyed his presence. Of course upon learning this, Fernando continued his flirtatious ways.

When Fernando was starting to flirt with Ying, he was stopped by the ringtone the advisors make when an announcement was to be made.

"Attention all champions! We have a new champion to join and aid you in battle. He will be revealed soon!"

Fernando raised an eyebrow, a bit disappointed on no more information about this new champion, but eager to see who it was.

"Ooh! A new friend! Also, did they mention aid? I wonder if it's a support roomie! I am so anxious! I need to tell Skye!" Ying exclaimed, floating away to chat with her friends. Fernando did the same, finding Viktor and Ruckus talking among themselves about the newest champion announcement.

"So did you hear?" Fernando asked, approaching the two.

"The whole base got the announcement, of course, we did," Viktor replied.

"I heard four of the advisors had to actually go to another continent to find this champion," Ruckus said.

"Really?" Viktor asked.

"Did you notice the announcement voice change? It was the same person for three weeks straight," Ruckus explained.

"Now that you mentioned it," Viktor stated, scratching his head. "It was that same guy right?"

Ruckus nodded, explaining how he was a 'replacement for Garrett'. Viktor snickered at the thought.

"Any other information about this new champion?" Fernando asked, crossing his arms.

"No sorry, that's all I know," Ruckus answered, shrugging and letting his hands fall. "I am going to go get dinner now, better hurry before Bolts keeps me up all night. See you on the battlefield."

Fernando and Viktor parted their ways, getting their food and cleaned up for the night. Fernando laid in bed, wondering about who the new champion would be. Fernando hoped for him to be a sucker for knights, but hoped he wouldn't end up like Cassie or Drogoz. He laid on his side, closing his eyes, slowly letting his mind take him to sleep.

The next day was active, people readied in the waiting room with their outfits and weapons loaded. There was tension in the air, far more than what there usually was. Fernando made his way into the break room, large sounds of footsteps echoed through the room from his metal boots. He strolled up to Pip and Barik. Pip's ears were lowered, he was quietly speaking to Barik, and upon seeing Fernando, he silenced himself.

"What is going on?" Fernando asked, looking around the room one more time. "It's more active than usual."

"A-Apparently the new champion wishes to see everyone in battle. So this is basically a tournament of who's the best fighter and what Paladins are made for," Pip explained, tapping the table.

"Of death," Barik added, slamming his gun on the table. "Respawn is forced off for this battle!"

"Wait, what?" Fernando asked, his voice growing weak upon hearing the thought of it.

"I know! I am too young and handsome to die!" Pip cried. Fernando felt sick. It was by law that all champions were to be on respawn, but the advisors going against this could get them into serious legal trouble.

"Oh Dios mios, I hope Marshall knows what he is doing," Fernando sighed.

The teams were arranged and 10 people were put outside into the Fish Market siege area. Team one was Fernando, Bomb King, Viktor, Pip and Skye and Team two was Barik, Drogoz, Ying, Androxus, and Cassie. Each of the two was placed in their corner areas, prepping for battle.

Everyone was silent in spawn. Skye was testing her invisibility cloak, Viktor was smoking his last cigar, Bomb King just hummed while juggling the bombs he had, Pip nervously mumbled to himself, and Fernando fiddled with his fire lance's trigger.

The announcement rang as the spawn doors opened and the horses readied up. Fernando climbed onto his horse, that whinnied and began galloping towards the point. Fernando wanted to stop the horse, but something caused him not to.

Fernando lept off the horse and dashed to the point, his shield going up. The Drogoz made his launch into the sky, rockets shooting down towards Fernando. His shield absorbed the damage but began to crack. The rest of his team caught up, along with the enemies and began fighting for the point. Ammunition flew among the sky, fighting for their own survival.

Fernando's shield eventually broke, and he was forced becoming vulnerable. He began to panic, not knowing what to do, but he proceeded to dash after Barik, pulling full force of his fire lance.

"Fernando! FERNANDO! NO! NO!" Barik screamed, trying to run from Fernando, but was engulfed in flames. The screams of Barik pierced into Fernando's ears. Fernando wanted to stop, but he couldn't. Fernando began to yell louder, trying to let his screams silence Barik's. The engineer fell to the ground, trying to call for a healer, but laid motionless, the flames eating away at his body.

Fernando's veins felt frigid, and his stomach ached. He put up his shield, rushing past the point and out of enemy sight. He opened the headpiece of his helmet and threw up in a bush.

"Pip! I need healing!" Fernando croaked, but manage to yell loud enough for Pip to hear. The healer threw a potion at Fernando's feet which turned into a green gas that coated Fernando. The sour feeling in his stomach subsided and wounds he received patched themselves up. He rushed back into the fight, his shield up and ready to go.

Another scream rang through the area, looking to see that an ally has fallen. Fernando's shield went down once again and he began to run towards Ying. The healer's eyes widened as Fernando launched a fireball towards her, burning her. She began to heal herself, but Viktor finished her.

"Healers down!" Viktor yelled. The group took the point as the enemy fell back. Once the point was full, the payload appeared and the team began pushing. The enemy still firing but from a distance.

"Fernando, follow me, I am going to flank them from behind!" Pip called. Fernando peered to the rest of his team.

"We will be fine! Go!" Viktor boomed. Fernando ran with Pip, getting into enemy territory.

"Let's make things more interesting!"

Pip threw a potion, causing enemies to turn into chickens. Pip began firing at the chickens that ran, however they were too quick for him. Fernando launched a fireball at a chicken that looked horribly damaged. The spell faded from it and the enemy screamed. Fernando froze, watching as the ranger fell, burning.

He screamed, tears rushing down his face. There were muffled yells for him, but he stood still. He killed the love of his life. He threw his shield and lance to the ground and began to run towards Cassie's body. A roar echoed the sky, causing Fernando to slightly turn his head, looking to see Drogoz heading towards him.

"Toge-"

Then the lights burned out.