"Calm down, everyone..." Isabel raised one hand—a simple gesture that was enough to quell the commotion. She stood tall on the main stage, her sharp eyes sweeping over the audience as they gradually quieted down. "Before we call up the participants... I will introduce the duel referees for each section!"
For a moment, silence enveloped the arena. All eyes were on her, awaiting the names to be announced. With a firm voice, Isabel declared, "Lord Haikal, Bagus, Meng Hao, Hua Ling, and Lady Lorin will preside over each arena. They will not only serve as referees but also as overseers to ensure that the matches proceed fairly and without deceit."
The names echoed in everyone's ears, and murmurs broke out as people discussed the abilities and reputations of the referees. However, as Isabel continued, those voices immediately faded.
"Of course," she continued, now with a more fiery enthusiasm, "for the final event, the duel will be personally led by Lord Lein and the other Guardians!"
Silence. Time seemed to stand still for a moment. Then, a wave of awe swept through the entire arena. Lein. That name carried a weight that couldn't be ignored. If he was involved, it meant that the final battle would be no ordinary duel.
Isabel didn't let the momentum slip by. With a voice that remained clear and resonant, she began explaining the duel rules. Every word she spoke was filled with authority, ensuring that both participants and spectators fully understood the regulations. There was no room for misunderstanding here. This battle had to proceed with absolute clarity.
Below the stage, the participants absorbed every word. Their faces told more stories than words could express. Some stared straight ahead, eyes focused as if they were already planning their strategies. Some clenched their fists, jaws set, heavy breaths filling the air around them. Yet others appeared relaxed, a slight smile playing on their lips—a confidence that could mean one of two things: absolute preparedness or arrogance soon to be tested.
Once all the rules were explained, Isabel finally raised her hand again. "Now, participants, please step onto the stage!"
Like a floodgate being opened, a wave of excitement exploded from the crowd. Cheers filled the air, and feet moved swiftly toward the arena. Their steps were steady, full of conviction. Every inch of their bodies radiated the resolve they had nurtured for so long.
"Mother... Wait for me."
Liam Carter whispered, his voice nearly drowned in the roar of the arena. His black pupils burned with determination, contrasting with his skin and hair that reflected the American blood from his world that had long since vanished. Unlike the others, he was one of the few who refused to follow William's orders to move to a new realm. He chose to stay, to survive, to fight.
His eyes swept over the audience until they landed on the figure of a middle-aged man and a young girl waving enthusiastically. His sister shouted loudly, her voice echoing despite mixing with thousands of others.
"Good luck, Brother!"
Liam returned the wave with a slight smile, then took a deep breath. Once again, he turned toward the stage, toward those now standing tall, awaiting their turn. Each figure there represented the pinnacle of power at their level—opponents not to be underestimated. But something within him refused to be intimidated. Defeat was not an option. This duel was the only bridge that could bring him back to his mother.
His steps were firm as he climbed the expansive stage, his long black coat billowing in the wind. His military boots clashed against the arena's surface, producing a heavy, resonant sound that echoed in the brief silence. Tactical gloves covered his fingers, while tactical glasses rested on his face, adding a cold and unshakable impression.
Without much fanfare, Liam moved to an empty section of the arena, then stood silently among the other participants classified as tier-2. Yes, he was a tier-2 hero.
"Participants with Tier-2 strength or Foundation Building, please gather in this area."
A commanding voice echoed. Meng Hao, a man from the Cui race hailing from the Guandu Realm, stepped into the center of the arena. He was the overseer of this duel.
Liam observed the man closely. There was no system supporting him, no extraordinary power granted to him out of nowhere. But his aura—thick, dense, and almost suffocating.
'What kind of cultivation do they practice?' he wondered. If there was another way to accelerate his power growth, he needed to find it.
"Brother Carter, are you alone this time?"
A cheerful voice disrupted his thoughts. A girl approached him, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. Liam only glanced at her briefly before falling silent again.
The girl showed no sign of offense, as if she was already used to Liam's cold demeanor. Without another word, she stood beside him, waiting together.
Liam ignored her. His focus was locked onto the crowd of other participants. His black eyes moved swiftly, observing every detail—posture, expressions, weapons they carried. In his mind, battle simulations began to form. Possibilities, strategies, weaknesses—all calculated with precision.
In one corner of the arena, Carter's eyes caught sight of a man wielding a long sword, shrouded in a dense black aura. The man stood still, eyes closed, his body upright like a statue, ignoring the chaos around him. The tranquility he exuded was so dominating, it felt as though this world wasn't worthy of him.
"A very strong man," Carter murmured to himself—not with envy, but with respect. Such power didn't emerge overnight. He must have traversed a path of thorns, enduring countless hardships and struggles.
Carter's gaze shifted again, observing every participant scattered across the arena. Each face held a story, each posture suggested a different experience. Until finally, his eyes locked onto someone's gaze from afar.
Instantly, the air around him felt tense.
The man looked at him with eyes burning with suppressed anger. The wrinkles on his face deepened, his breaths heavy. But only for a moment, before he turned away harshly, as if unwilling to waste any more time on Carter.