Flynt set the glass tablet down on the smooth stone and tapped it awake. Etched circuits glowed under his paw, mapping every qualifier that fed into the grand circuit. One title sat at the end of that map: kingdom champion. He had been chasing that title in his head for months. Two qualifiers opened on the same day. Picking the wrong one would lock him out of the others. He stared until the lines blurred, then walked to the judging grounds to see for himself. Crystal pillars rose above the tiered stands, quiet and waiting. The platform looked bigger up close. The nearby tower already showed names. He read each one carefully. The heavier field sat at the smaller qualifier — sharper rivals, tighter scoring. The other event was softer, safer, and led to a narrower bracket later. Flynt understood then. The clean line was not the easy one. He returned to the tablet and chose the harder qualifier. The circuits shifted, locking his path. His routine had a shape again. But his name now sat below three competitors he had never beaten.