The sun rose high in the blue sky, while fluffy clouds moved slowly. Several birds could also be seen flying in groups.
The wind blew gently, moving the branches of the trees, which made a slight sound. The green grass moved rhythmically as the air currents passed by.
In the jade-colored grass, you could see some animals passing by with their young and herds, while insects jumped among the wildflowers that released their pollen, attracting red honey bees.
In the forests, the atmosphere was not as warm as in spring; in several places, the corpses of various wild beasts could be seen, and there was constant movement. Migration had begun much earlier than expected.
Meanwhile, in the city of the Medici Clan’s territory, they were oblivious to everything that was happening around them. The festive atmosphere was more intense than ever, as today marked the start of the Tournament.
And everything was heading toward the large arena that had been built. And it was full.
The members of the prominent families were seated in the upper sections, while the stands were filled with excited spectators. From where they stood, they could see several platforms where the participants would engage in combat.
Not long after, the entire arena was completely full. Everyone present was eagerly awaiting what was about to happen next.
At that moment, a man appeared in the middle of the venue, drawing the attention of everyone present, and large screens appeared. This was observation and sound magic, projecting a clear image of the battle platforms.
The man, standing upright in the center of the coliseum, raised his voice:
[Hello? Can you hear me?]
A wave of cheers and applause confirmed that his voice rang out clearly. Satisfied, the presenter continued, his voice amplified by the magic of amplification to fill the vast hall:
[Citizens, nobles, and warriors! Welcome to the Great Spring Tournament!]
A dramatic pause, followed by a roar from the crowd.
[This year, the honor of hosting falls to the illustrious Medici Clan, pillar of the Duchy that enriches our prosperous kingdom of Aragon.]
More applause. The presenter raised his hands, holding back his enthusiasm before revealing the details:
[As is tradition, the format will be simple but relentless: 104 brave contenders will battle it out... and only one will emerge victorious. Seven days of combat, seven nights of legend!]
Everyone present burst into excited cheers, but the presenter wasn’t finished yet.
[This year will be even more special and unique! Because not only will the promising warriors compete... but also the young heirs of the great families and the promising young masters of the Medici Clan!]
[That’s why... this tournament will be unforgettable.]
[Let the Great Spring Tournament begin!]
And with the excited cries of the crowd, the tournament began.
In one of the many waiting rooms of the coliseum, Kael sat waiting for his turn to fight.
His waiting room was extremely luxurious; it had a snack table just for him. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but think of the luxurious suites on Earth, where he even had female companions.
However, this world was not advanced as to have so much technology, but it did have magic that largely replaced technology.
As time passed, the combatants appeared on the foggy screen, and the audience’s excitement grew.
[It’s a complete victory for Jasper Medici! He didn’t give his opponent a chance; he was completely dominant.]
Kael watched his older brother smile brightly at the audience. He knew why his brother was so dominant in the tournament.
It was because Lyra had decided not to participate. Furthermore, she had left Kiran Mountain the day before and been sent to Floating Mountain, another of the unique places in the Northern Frontier.
Therefore, the favorites to win the tournament were Michel Abraham, Soren Medici, and Jasper Medici, due to their respective rankings.
And Kael wasn’t even mentioned; he was rank 9, the Highest level. What chance did he have of winning the tournament? None, right?
[Next match! One of the heirs of the Abraham family branches, who is experiencing explosive growth: Michel Abraham.]
Michel, who was standing on the combat platform, looked at his opponent indifferently, yawning lazily. He knew that these first fights weren’t going to be interesting.
However, he couldn’t skip them because he wanted to face Kael and understand him. He wanted him to give meaning to his boring life and make it much more entertaining.
His gaze fell on his opponent, who had a fiery look full of determination.
"Begin!" said the referee.
The man charged toward Michel with quick, powerful steps, kicking up a cloud of dust with each stride. He held his spear firmly, and in one fluid motion, he twisted his wrist to thrust it directly at Michel’s chest.
But Michel didn’t move an inch.
With a slight twist of his waist, he dodged the attack by inches, as if he had seen the blow coming before it even started.
The attacker didn’t stop. He gritted his teeth and unleashed a flurry of cuts: a horizontal sweep aimed at the ribs, an upward slash with the tip spinning, then a series of diagonal, downward, unpredictable attacks... like a storm unleashed.
But Michel still didn’t back down.
Every time the spear came closer, his body slid out of reach with minimal movements: a side step, a subtle tilt of the torso, a turn of the heel. It was like watching a skilled dancer dodge the discordant notes of a clumsy musician.
Sweat began to run down the attacker’s forehead.
His breathing became erratic. No matter how much he varied his rhythm, no matter how hard he tried to anticipate an opening, every blow was neutralized without needing to be blocked. Michel did not counterattack. He didn’t need to. His mere presence was enough to break down his enemy’s composure.
An invisible pressure began to envelop the man. The silence between each blow became more oppressive.
And then it happened.
In the blink of an eye, Michel took a step forward. Just one.
But for the attacker, it was as if the world tilted.
His muscles tensed. His spear wavered. His vision flickered... and then went completely dark.
The man’s body collapsed forward, unconscious, before he hit the ground.
Michel simply exhaled calmly, as if it had all been a minor distraction in his day.
[A landslide victory for the young heir, Michel Abraham!]
And while cheers filled the coliseum... beyond the city walls, the beasts continued to move.