The royal city lay nestled within the capital, built into the side of a mountain. From afar, its towering walls and over twenty connected circular towers stood as a symbol of power and prestige. Separated from the general populace, the elevated position of the royal city placed it both physically and symbolically above the rest.
On the mountain's western slope, just below the royal stronghold, sprawled a vast arena—the traditional site of the annual "Trial of the Emperor."
This tournament wasn't just a spectacle; it was a political tool, a way for the Kingdom of Re-Estize to display its military strength to the outside world.
Rustle! Rustle!
Amidst the bustling crowd, Sakeer gritted his teeth against a dull ache as he settled into a seat on the arena's outer edge. From where he sat, he could only catch partial glimpses of the figures moving atop the massive central platform.
That seat had cost him five silver coins—no small sum.
"This really is a profitable business," he mused, casting his gaze over the ocean of spectators that filled the stands.
The allure of witnessing history unfold was undeniable. Curiosity had its price. Still…
Had he known the ticket would be this expensive, he might have reconsidered. After all, he already knew how the match would end.
With a resigned smile, Sakeer leaned back, accepting the cost of his curiosity.
The famed combatants—the Warrior Captain and the notorious Blademaster—had yet to arrive. For now, only a handful of attendants circled the arena's edge.
To the north, a solitary circular tower loomed over the rest of the arena—the only structure taller than the stands. Its purpose was obvious: the royal viewing box, reserved for nobles and the royal family.
Unlike the rest of the arena, alive with anticipation, this tower radiated a chilling stillness that seemed to dampen the crowd's excitement.
The energy in the air shifted. Gradually, the buzz of conversation quieted.
Sakeer tugged at the collar of his coarse linen shirt, brushing off discomfort, and surveyed the scene with a discerning eye.
The average person might not understand the growing tension—but he had some idea.
On the surface, the Imperial Trial was a competition to discover exceptional warriors for the kingdom's benefit. But in truth, it was little more than a stage—one carefully constructed for nobles to parade their subordinates and flaunt their influence.
For the aristocracy, commoner participants were merely cannon fodder—props meant to enhance the prestige of noble fighters.
This system stemmed from the very nature of the kingdom's hierarchy. Only the eldest sons of noble families could inherit titles. The rest—often overlooked—were left with one ambition: to become Knights.
Knighthood offered no land, no fiefdoms. Yet it was still an attractive goal. The title came with a royal stipend, enough to ensure a life free from financial worry.
It was a calculated move by the royal family—buying the loyalty of the younger nobility.
Thus, the Imperial Trial became the proving ground for these would-be Knights. And those who excelled were often rewarded accordingly.
But times had changed.
More and more commoner adventurers had begun besting the noble representatives, stirring deep resentment within the aristocracy.
Now, with the rise of two common-born prodigies—Gazef and Brain—the stage had shifted entirely.
This year, the spotlight belonged not to any noble scion, but to two commoners.
"Heh," Sakeer chuckled to himself, imagining the scowls plastered across noble faces.
The winner of today's match—Gazef—was supposed to be granted the title of Knight. But instead, he would be reappointed as Warrior Captain.
A subtle yet unmistakable snub. A reminder of where the lines of status were still drawn.
This match, later immortalized by the public as The Legendary Battle, would signal the end of the Imperial Trial altogether.
The nobles would never again tolerate a commoner overshadowing them on such a grand stage.
Not that any of it mattered to Sakeer. Compared to the intricate schemes of the Great Tomb that loomed in the future, this was a petty squabble.
Still, the tournament continued.
Roughly ten minutes later, Sakeer's expression sharpened as Gazef Stronoff and Brain Unglaus stepped onto the platform.
They shook hands, exchanged a few words—though from Sakeer's distant seat, only their outlines were visible. He couldn't hear a thing.
The two men separated, putting some distance between them before turning to face each other.
A heavy silence fell over the arena. All eyes locked onto the pair, not a soul daring to blink.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Gazef and Brain moved at once.
Though they had started twenty meters apart, their initial clash was almost instantaneous.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as steel met steel.
"So fast…" Sakeer thought, stunned. His eyes struggled to keep track of their movements—let alone their weapons.
Streaks of light danced between the two as they exchanged blow after blow with inhuman speed and precision.
Leaning back in his seat, Sakeer whispered to himself, "They're on a completely different level from ordinary people."
Witnessing this level of combat firsthand, Sakeer finally understood the vast, almost insurmountable gap between ordinary individuals and these elite warriors.
Was this really only around Level 20?
For a fleeting moment, he felt a pang of sympathy for Brain, imagining the despair the man must have felt when facing opponents of even higher caliber.
The title "Blade-user" wasn't an insult—it was earned.
Whoosh!
On the arena platform, Brain's body shimmered with a faint blue light. In the blink of an eye, he vanished—reappearing directly behind Gazef.
But—
As if expecting the maneuver, Gazef spun on his heel and closed the distance again in a flash.
"Is this... martial arts?" Sakeer whispered, eyes wide in fascination.
Martial arts—unique to this world—didn't exist in YGGDRASIL. They were a warrior's counterpart to magic, powered by a resource known as focus, a mental energy that diminished with use.
Unlike the clear-cut systems in the game, this world imposed realistic limitations. Focus waned with fatigue. Skill, stamina, and strategy all carried tangible weight.
While martial arts could be powerful, their potency was limited by the user's level—especially in the case of humans.
Suddenly—
Ding!
A familiar translucent panel flickered into view.
[Skill Detected: 'Flow Speed Acceleration.' Requires Basic Warrior class. Current conditions unmet...]
['Genius' class activated. Class conversion successful. Conditions met. Would you like to spend 1 Skill Point to learn this skill?]
Sakeer's eyes widened with a mix of wonder and excitement.
"So this is how skill points work..." he murmured.
(End of Chapter)