They could've. There was probably a long list of activities that they could've done before the dawn of corruption.
Perhaps they could host art competitions, photography-related events, or even chess tournaments.
But survival had a way of changing priorities. When it's been years of having to deprioritize all those things to survive, even the games start mirroring reality.
And in this case, they need them to.
The Astral Cup looked, sounded, and was actually brutal, as it was a way to prepare everyone for reality in the most controlled manner possible.
Held in carefully monitored Contaminated Zones, the Astral Cup wasn't just a spectacle—it was a high-stakes training ground. With rescue teams on standby and a mecha's elimination triggered at 20% durability, it was a rare mercy in a world that didn't often offer any.
But mercy wasn't the goal. Realism was.
