Many people were participating in the tournant hoping to win one of the large prizes. An official announcent placed that 3762 people were participating in the low-order segnt. Three thousand three hundred and twenty were warriors, the rest magi or priests. The mid-order segnt was much smaller, just 427 people, 386 of whom were fighters, the rest priests and magi. Much more than was expected.
As a result, the organizers resorted to a crude selection thod for the preliminaries. The segnts were divided into hundred-strong groups who would fight each other for an hour in a battle royale. A series of massive every-man-for-himself engagents. The participants were eliminated when they lost their badge, which they had to wear on their chest. The rankings were also based on how many badges they could take. Four groups were in a block and when the block finished its matches the best 50 would advance.
The fights were bound to be very intense, but killing was forbidden. Everyone knew there were bound to be so casualties though, so everyone had to sign a waiver before they were allowed to participate. Anyone found breaking the rules would be disqualified and prosecuting according to the empire’s laws.
The rules were firm and well thought out, but the combination of a far larger pool of participants than expected and the organizers’ inexperience lead to three deaths on the first day. Just over twenty were also left crippled.
Leguna’s group was scheduled to fight on the second day. Kurdak and Vera were in the fourth group. The fourth group was much smaller, so it was expected to finish much quicker and to not be as intense. The first day saw two groups fight, but the second day would only see Leguna’s group, Kurdak and Vera’s group would fight on the third day.
Leguna went to the tournant hall and inspected his surroundings. He had observed the previous day’s matched, but didn’t see Annelotte. He’d checked his groups list, but she was not there either. Had that servant lied to him? His efforts would have gone to waste if she were not participating. No matter how much he thought about it, the familiar ice-blue did not appear. Traces of disappointnt flashed through his eyes.
“What’s wrong? Nervous?” Gerd asked. He ca to the tournant hall with him.
Leguna’s usual companions were absent. They liked sleeping more. Though of course they said it was so they could rest before their match. Truthfully, they weren’t bothering because they already knew what the outco would be. He’d killed high-order opponents, and faced several at once several tis. No mid-order match could threaten him.
“A little,” Leguna murmured. His disguise was troubleso, but he didn’t want to expose himself just yet, so he stuck with it.
“Alright, it’ll be fine. Just stick by . Rember. Try to hide the best you can and don’t provoke anyone. Strike when you’re certain you can take them out.”
“Thank you, Mister Gerd.”
He didn’t need the advice, but the thought was welco. The man glanced at him aningfully before smiling.
Vincent and five other warriors mingled nearby. He whispered sothing to his comrades as his eyes darted to Leguna.
“It seems Vincent isn’t going to let off easily,” Leguna said.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be chaos in the fight. His group is strong, but they’ll be distracted by a lot of other people. They won’t have the ti to bother with us.”
“Okay.”
Leguna looked around but saw only unfamiliar faces. The frost-bitten face did not appear.
The matches took place outside the city. The palace guard had built a temporary portal nearby that connected to a colosseum outside the city. It was a huge circular building with a dueling platform in the middle with layers and layers of seats stacked up around it like so many terraces. The colosseum was full already. Most of the audience was commoners, though a few nobles sat in viewing boxes separated from the rest.
After Leguna passed through the portal, he was sent to a corner. He looked around and hurried to regroup with Gerd. Though he didn’t fear a fight, he preferred to be saved the trouble of having to deal with everything alone if he could avoid it. He was here for Annelotte, not for fighting.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlen!” the deep-voiced announcer in the middle of the arena began. He was also the match’s referee. Hocke hosted the tournant to find talented people, but it was also an entertainnt event. Anyone could spectate a match so long as they bought a ticket. The empire was making a lot of money, and entertaining the peasantry at the sa ti.
Leguna listened to the man as he prattled off one announcent and speech after another. While the colosseum was huge, he had his own thods. His voice could be heard even in the the farthest seat on the highest terrace.
“Alright, that’s all the rules. I trust no one lacks the class and proper upbringing to not know to not break them–” The announcer’s eyes swept over half of the arena. “–I guess both the audience and participants are raring to go! Without further ado, let the match begin!”
“Follow . Don’t run around!” Gerd yelped as he dashed off.
Leguna drew Lighteater. It’s darkness beca a sword-shaped void as it moved. It’s strength was incomparable to how it’d been when he first got it. He flicked his wrist quickly. The sword didn’t make a sound.
“There’s a single guy there. Let’s go!”
Though Gerd was a decent guy, he was no fool. He wasn’t bothered with sportsmanship here. Anyone was fair pickings and he’d exploit every situation across which he ca. His target was a 12-stratum warrior. He was quite bulky, but he didn’t stand a chance against Gerd.Gerd didn’t fight with a sharp weapon; he used a set of mithril gloves instead.
“Since the competition doesn’t allow killing, using a blunt weapon lets fight without having to control myself as carefully,” he’d explained.
Their prey roared when he noticed soone approaching. He swung his two-hand axe with all his might but Gerd stopped just before coming into range. He quickly stepped in once the axe passed and struck. The man was strong, but couldn’t control it well. He lost his footing as his axe swung, which played right into Gerd’s hands. He lunged forward, into the range where the axe was ineffective.
Axes, spears, and other long weapons were great at the extres of their range, but once one got inside their swing, they were practically useless. They were ant to keep the enemy at a distance, not engage them close-up. Now inside the enemy’s swing, Gerd stuck to him like glue as he hamred away with everything he had, knees, feet, elbows, fists, shoulders, even his head ca into play a couple of tis. In just two minutes, the enemy collapsed, unconscious.
Gerd removed the badge on his chest easily. He turned back to see Leguna fighting an 11-stratum warrior. He couldn’t help but smile at how agile the kid was and rushed in to help.
“He was yours, so you take his badge.”
“Thank you, Mister Gerd.”
“Don’t be so polite. Just tell Kurdak to treat to a drink or two when you get back,” Gerd smiled, “Alright, let’s get a few more!”
A shocking roar burst through the air in that mont. Leguna followed the sound and saw a giant over two ters tall tossing a man away like a piece of trash. Not far from him were four nervous-looking participants. One of the four was a magus!
He’s teaming up with three warriors to take on that giant? What the hell?
Impetus didn’t just improve physical abilities, it also helped sharpen senses. The giant was 150 ters away, but Leguna could see him clearly. His muscles rippled as he moved. He was slightly yellow but still felt impressive. This was certainly not a normal colour, Leguna, at least, had never seen soone like that before.
The giant fought three warriors and a magus alone, fear nowhere to be seen. His target, a ranger, drew his bow and started shooting in a panic. The magus also snapped and quickly dictated a spell. A fireball quickly ford in his hand.
The giant knelt and punched into the ground. His opponents stared at him in a confused daze. He pulled his hand out a mont later, a giant boulder clasped in it which he held up to block the attacks.
Leguna’s eyes narrowed. If he wasn’t mistaken, the yellow skin and the huge shield wasn’t a skill or a spell. They were gifts!
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