The day after the team announcements, the Grand Champions Tournament was finally about to begin.
From early morning, the capital city of the Cero Kingdom was already filled with excitement. The streets were crowded with people moving toward the massive arena. Merchants were shouting to sell food and souvenirs. Travelers spoke excitedly about the matches they were about to witness. Adventurers discussed strategies and possible outcomes.
It felt like the entire world had gathered in one place.
The arena itself looked completely different from before. It had been renovated and expanded over the past months to prepare for this historic tournament. The seating areas were larger, allowing tens of thousands of spectators to sit comfortably. New royal sections were built for visiting kings and nobles. The battlefield itself had been widened so that large scale combat could take place without limitations. Massive banners of different kingdoms hung proudly around the arena walls.
The atmosphere was electric. People cheered even before the tournament had officially started.
One by one, the royal guests from the participating kingdoms arrived at the arena. Each arrival was announced loudly, and the crowd greeted them with respectful applause. Kings, queens, princes, and nobles took their seats in the royal section. Though they were rivals in many ways, today they had come together for a shared event. They wished all fighters good luck and hoped the tournament would showcase the strength of their lands.
Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for arrived.
King Arthur walked onto the main stage.
The crowd immediately erupted into cheers. The king raised his hand slightly, acknowledging the people of his kingdom and the guests from other nations.
He gave a short but powerful speech.
He spoke about unity among warriors. He spoke about courage and honor. He reminded everyone that while this was a competition, it was also a celebration of skill and spirit.
"Fight with pride," he said. "Fight with honor."
After finishing his speech, King Arthur officially declared the beginning of the Grand Champions Tournament.
The roar of the crowd shook the arena.
Soon after, two familiar figures walked to the center of the battlefield.
The tournament commentators had arrived. Shai and Ifa stood proudly in the middle of the arena. They were already well known among the people of the Cero Kingdom. Their commentary style had entertained audiences for many previous tournaments.
Ifa grabbed the microphone first.
His voice was loud, energetic, and full of excitement.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he shouted. "Welcome to the Grand Champions Tournament!"
The crowd cheered loudly. Beside him, Shai smiled calmly. Her voice was smoother, more controlled, and precise. "This tournament will gather some of the finest warriors from many kingdoms," she said. "Every match will be a test of strength, skill, and teamwork."
Ifa pumped his fist into the air. "Don't blink even for a moment," he yelled. "Because we are just getting started!"
The audience roared again. Shai then began announcing the matchups for the first round of the elimination league phase. The tension inside the arena grew stronger.
Everyone leaned forward in anticipation.
Ifa loudly announced the first match. "First match of the tournament! The Ivory Chargers from the Kingdom of Ealp-Wakera against The Red Banner from the Kingdom of Xezin!"
Two groups began walking toward the battlefield from opposite tunnels. The crowd watched with excitement.
Shai began explaining their styles. "The Red Banner are known for their direct combat techniques," she said. "They prefer facing their opponents head-on with strong and aggressive attacks."
She then pointed toward the other team. "And the Ivory Chargers are quite similar. They also rely on powerful frontal assaults."
Ifa laughed loudly. "Well that just means one thing, ladies and gentlemen!" He raised his voice dramatically. "We are about to see two groups smashing into each other with everything they have!"
The crowd laughed and cheered.
"It will be a crazy feast for our eyes!"
The referee raised his hand.
Then the whistle blew.
The first battle of the Grand Champions Tournament had officially begun.
Soon after the first match concluded, the second match was announced.
"Next up!" Ifa shouted. "Jade Court from the Kingdom of Aosha versus The Coil from the Kingdom of Cero!" The audience became even more energetic. This time, one of the teams represented the host kingdom. Shai explained the matchup. "The Jade Court fighters are known for their precision and tactical thinking," she said. "Each member is intelligent and disciplined in battle."
She then looked toward the other group. "The Coil, on the other hand, are famous for their teamwork and coordination. Their group synergy is impressive." She paused slightly. "But the question remains… how strong are they when forced into individual fights?"
Ifa grinned. "This will certainly be interesting to watch!" He looked toward the audience. "The Coil are the first team from the host kingdom to step into the arena today! The pressure must be on them!" He then glanced toward Jade Court. "But look at their opponents. Calm. Focused. Completely composed."
He laughed again. "I can't wait to see how this turns out!"
The whistle blew once again.
The second match began.
Soon after, the third match was announced.
"Up next!" Ifa shouted with excitement. "Dune Horde from the Kingdom of Raztak versus Skyfall from the Kingdom of Friendorn!" The two teams stepped forward. Ifa clapped loudly. "Wonderful! Wonderful matchup!" He pointed toward the battlefield.
"On one side we have Dune Horde, warriors known for their brutal ground combat skills, especially in desert environments!" He then pointed toward the other team. "And on the other side, Skyfall!"
Shai nodded. "Skyfall specializes in aerial combat techniques," she explained. "Their mobility and control of the air makes them extremely dangerous."
Ifa laughed again. "This is going to be a clash of earth and sky!"
Shai smiled. "Indeed. Let us not wait any longer."
The whistle blew again.
The third match started.
The excitement in the arena continued growing.
The fourth match followed.
Then the fifth.
Then the sixth.
And the seventh.
Each battle showed different styles, strategies, and strengths. The audience watched every movement carefully. Some matches were fast and explosive. Others were slow and tactical. Finally, it was time for the eighth match.
Ifa's voice echoed loudly through the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen! The next match will surely excite the crowd!"
He raised his hand dramatically. "The energetic fighters of The Roaring Spirits from the Kingdom of Coarau!" A group of warriors entered the arena confidently.
Then Ifa continued. "And their opponents…" He paused for dramatic effect. "The beloved rising future of the Cero Kingdom!"
The crowd began cheering loudly even before he finished the sentence.
"The Rising Heroes!" The arena exploded with excitement. From one of the tunnels, three figures walked forward.
Lila.
Doran.
Drakar.
The cheers became even louder.
The people of Cero Kingdom were proud of them.
Sera had decided to sit out this fight.
While Adrian had taken up his responsibilities as a prince and needed to manage certain duties during the tournament. He would join later after the elimination league phase. For now, the rest of the team needed to secure enough victories to advance.
The Rising Heroes stood calmly in the arena. Across from them, three members of The Roaring Spirits also stepped forward.
The tension began rising again.
The first bout was about to begin.
Doran stepped forward with a grin.
His massive hammer rested on his shoulder.
Across from him, a tall warrior walked forward from the Roaring Spirits.
His name was Enzo.
He wore heavy armor designed for defense. In his hand he carried a longsword.
Both fighters faced each other.
The crowd quieted slightly.
The Rising Heroes wanted to see how strong they had become after years of training. This battle would be their first true test.
Doran tightened his grip on his hammer.
Enzo raised his sword.
The referee raised his hand.
The whistle was about to blow.
The true test of the Rising Heroes was about to begin.