The afternoon sun dipped low, and the Phoenix Range was already alive with expectation. The announcement had gone out across the entire mountain range — "All qualified disciples, gather at the Grand Sky Plaza by sun set!"
By the time the shadows began to stretch, the Grand Sky Plaza was already a sea of color and noise. Tiered seating platforms floated in the air, carrying dignitaries and nobles in their jeweled robes. Below, the vast common stands were crammed with thousands of spectators, their voices merging into a living roar that made the air itself tremble.
The gamblers were the loudest. After the chaos at the Golden Rat Gambling House, the entire betting district had turned rabid. Cries of "Bet Against Kent King!" mixed with groans of "He's a fox, hiding in the first round—he'll die in the second!" as people threw mana crystals into the hands of eager golden rat servant ladies.
