The Global Announcement
**Zone:** Erasthia — Heart of the Virtual Metropolis
**IRL Time:** Morning, Day +4 since Genesis launch
**ORIAS System:** Major Event Initialization
An invisible bell tolled across the entirety of Genesis, its resonance reaching every corner of the virtual world. No matter the zone, biome, or instanced dungeon—from the deepest underground lairs to the highest floating platforms—the announcement pierced through reality itself like a blade through silk.
> GLOBAL RESTRICTED EVENT - HEROES TOURNAMENT
Format: Solo Battle - Single Elimination
Eligible Levels: 7 to 15
Class Restrictions: Fighter, Support, Hybrid Melee
Estimated Participants: 2,000-5,000 players
Grand Prize Pool:
1st Place: 500 Genesis Rubies (premium currency)
Champion's Reward: Legendary Weapon of Unknown Classification
Title: "Hero of Genesis" Badge (hidden passive bonuses)
Secondary Prizes: Rare equipment, experience multipliers, exclusive crafting materials
>
> **Registration Period:** 72 hours IG
> **Location:** Erasthia Colosseum Complex
> **Mandatory Attendance:** Pre-selection elimination rounds
The announcement wasn't merely text on a screen—it was a sensory experience. Each player felt a momentary thrill of anticipation, as if the game itself was reaching into their minds and whispering of glory and opportunity.
---
## Z3RO's Response
**Location:** South MetaCore Wasteland
**Level:** 10
**Class:** Technomancer (Prototype)
**Status:** Equipment Testing Phase
Z3RO had been conducting a ballistics test on his newly modified revolver when the announcement materialized before him. The weapon's recoil had nearly knocked him off balance—its power significantly increased since the stabilizer core integration, but at the cost of handling stability. His gaze fixed on the floating interface as the implications sank in.
*A tournament? With rubies as the prize?* His mind immediately began calculating possibilities. *Five hundred rubies... that's enough premium currency to buy two months of premium internet time, maybe three if I'm careful.*
He studied the prize structure more carefully, his technomancer's analytical mind breaking down the data. The legendary weapon was intriguing from a technical standpoint, but the rubies were what made his pulse quicken. In the real world, where every dollar counted, that kind of premium currency was worth more than any digital bragging rights.
"If I perform well enough to place in the top ten," he muttered to himself, "I could sell whatever equipment I win and cover living expenses for weeks."
The thought of financial stability—real financial stability—made his hands tremble slightly. Not from fear, but from the desperate hope of someone who had learned to measure opportunities in terms of survival rather than glory.
He activated his B.I.T. system, which immediately began calculating logistics.
> **[Registration area identified]**
> **[Estimated safe travel time: 1 hour 47 minutes]**
> **[Hazard zones to bypass: 2 corrupted regions, 1 contested PvP area]**
> **[Current equipment status: Functional but suboptimal]**
Z3RO's current loadout flashed across his display:
> **[Z3RO Combat Profile — Technomancer Level 10]**
> **Primary Weapon:** Pulse Revolver (Stabilized, 89% functionality)
> **Secondary Weapon:** Energy Dagger (Spineflash Model, 67% integration)
> **Tactical Style:** Field Control / Precision Damage
> **Combat Philosophy:** Survive first, dominate second
He allowed himself a small, grim smile. The recent encounter with the Echo-Blade Sentinel had changed something fundamental in his approach to combat. He was no longer the pure technician who relied entirely on gadgets and clever tricks. The tournament would be his chance to test this evolution.
"I'm ready," he said to the empty wasteland around him. "Maybe not to win the whole thing, but to make them remember my name."
---
## Hakaijin's Contemplation
**Location:** Murim Border Region
**Level:** 11
**Class:** Warrior (Broken Blade School)
**Status:** Post-Trial Meditation
Hakaijin had barely departed the mist-shrouded valleys surrounding the Silent Gorge Shrine when the tournament announcement reached him. His breath was still irregular from the partially completed trial, his spirit still echoing with the Judge's words about identity and purpose.
The notification appeared before him like a manifesto written in light:
> **[Heroes' Tournament — Call to Champions]**
> **"An event approaches. Face the best. Prove you belong among them."**
He stopped walking, his hand unconsciously moving to rest on the incomplete hilt of Shinjitsu no Yoru. The timing felt significant—not coincidental, but orchestrated by forces beyond his understanding.
*A tournament. In Erasthia.* The implications rippled through his consciousness like stones thrown into still water. *Public combat. Arena fighting. The chance to test myself against the best this world has to offer.*
His current status materialized in his peripheral vision:
> **[Hakaijin Combat Profile — Warrior Level 11]**
> **Primary Weapon:** Standard Katana (Excellent quality)
> **Secondary Weapon:** Shinjitsu no Yoru Fragment (2/3 complete)
> **Specialization:** Parry-Counter Techniques / Reflexive Combat
> **Combat Philosophy:** Precision through Intuition
The shrine trial had left him with more questions than answers about his own identity, but one thing had become crystal clear: he needed to test himself against worthy opponents. The tournament represented everything he had been unconsciously seeking—validation, challenge, and the opportunity to discover who he truly was when stripped of pretense.
As he reviewed the registration data, a particular entry caught his attention:
> **[Current Registrant Sample]**
> **Username:** "Z3RO"
> **Level:** 10
> **Class:** Prototype Technomancer
> **Combat Style:** [Data Insufficient]
The name sparked recognition. The same player who had been making waves in the underground circuits, whose unorthodox tactics had earned him a reputation as someone who survived encounters that should have killed him. A technomancer who fought like a ghost and struck like lightning.
Hakaijin's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile, but wasn't entirely serious either.
"Perfect," he murmured to the mountain air. "A chance to face someone who might actually surprise me."
---
Erasthia — The Arena Complex
Location: Central Erasthia, Titans' Colosseum District
Time: Peak Registration Hours
Atmosphere: Electric with anticipation
The registration area was a marvel of virtual architecture—a massive open plaza surrounded by towering spires that seemed to pierce the digital sky itself. Holographic banners displayed the tournament brackets, constantly updating as new players registered. The air hummed with conversation in dozens of languages, the excitement of thousands of players who had traveled from across Genesis to test their skills.
The queue of registrants stretched for what seemed like miles, a diverse tapestry of avatars representing every class, race, and play style imaginable. Some had come for glory, others for prize money, and many simply for the chance to be part of something legendary.
Floating screens displayed real-time statistics and early betting odds. The names of established players scrolled past like a digital hall of fame, each entry accompanied by their level, class, and preliminary ranking.
Current Tournament Favorites (ORIAS Preliminary Rankings)
1. BladeKhan - Level 15 / Bloodthirsty Gladiator
Former Beta Tester with intimate knowledge of combat mechanics
Betting Odds: 3:1
2. Nemessys - Level 14 / Thorn Priestess
High-investment player with premium equipment
Betting Odds: 4:1
3. IronPunch - Level 13 / Rune Monk
Defensive specialist with devastating counterattacks
Betting Odds: 5:1
4. CryoKat - Level 12 / Cryogenic Assassin
Speed-focused build with area denial capabilities
Betting Odds: 6:1
5. Sorghel - Level 12 / Totem Summoner
Support-class player with crowd control mastery
Betting Odds: 7:1
> **ORIAS Administrative Note:** "Combat-approved NPCs will participate as both referees and active combatants. Some elimination rounds may include environmental hazards or objective-based combat scenarios."
Tournament Regulations
The official rules appeared on public displays throughout the registration area:
- No Cooperative Play: All matches are strictly 1v1 elimination
- Equipment Restrictions: No items above Legendary tier (Mythic/Artifact banned)
- NPC Integration: Tournament NPCs may challenge participants at any stage
- Adaptive Difficulty: ORIAS reserves the right to modify encounter difficulty based on performance metrics
- Spectator Mode: All matches will be broadcast live with commentary options
- Medical Protocols: Full resurrection services available for tournament-related deaths
Global Chat - TournamentOfHeroes
The tournament chat channel had become a constant stream of boasts, challenges, and analysis:
[BladeKhan]: Fair warning to everyone registering—I'm going to carve through this bracket like it's made of paper. Beta advantage is real.
[CryoKat]: Talk is cheap. I just want to see three heads roll and I'll be satisfied with my performance.
[Nemessys]: Quick question—what's the real-money conversion rate on Genesis Rubies again? Asking for a friend.
[NPC_MasterZian]: The players... speak much and say little. The arena will separate words from worth.
[New_Player_221]: Who is this Z3RO guy? I keep seeing his name in the registration feeds. Why's a Level 10 bothering with this?
[Ghost_Fencer]: And what about Hakaijin? Another generic ninja wannabe? The samurai aesthetic is so overdone.
[NPC_Archivist_Orias]: Silence your prattling, mortals. The true echoes will resonate in spilled blood and broken pride.
[DeathMetal_99]: Anyone else notice the NPCs are talking more than usual? Something feels different about this tournament.
[Silent_Observer]: The unknown players are always the most dangerous. Watch the ones nobody's talking about.
### The Undercurrent
Beneath the surface excitement, veteran players were beginning to notice subtle changes in the game's behavior. NPCs were more interactive, environmental effects seemed more pronounced, and the tournament itself felt less like a standard event and more like a fundamental shift in Genesis's ecosystem.
Whispers spread through the registration crowds about players who had received strange quests, about areas of the game that were behaving unpredictably, and about the possibility that this tournament was more than just a competition—it might be a test of something far more significant.
But for most participants, such concerns were secondary to the immediate thrill of competition and the promise of rewards. The tournament represented opportunity, and in a world where opportunity was rare, that was enough.
---
Chapter 22 Conclusion
As the registration period entered its final phase, the virtual world of Genesis held its breath. Thousands of players had committed to testing their skills against the best the game had to offer. Among them, two figures stood out not for their fame or their equipment, but for the quiet intensity they carried like armor.
Z3RO, the technomancer who had learned to fight with desperation as his weapon, prepared for a tournament that could change his real-world circumstances forever.
Hakaijin, the warrior still discovering his own identity, saw the arena as a mirror in which he might finally glimpse his true self.
Neither knew that their paths would inevitably cross, or that their encounter would resonate far beyond the boundaries of any single tournament match.
The stage was set. The players were gathering.
And in the depths of Genesis's code, something ancient stirred with anticipation.
Next Chapter: The Journey to Erasthia — Where the road to glory proves as treacherous as the destination itself.