The sun was high in the sky as Watson, the personal butler of the Istarin Emperor, stepped into the center of the newly built stadium. The air buzzed with excitement from the crowd that had gathered. This grand arena which was named the Starlight Coliseum, glowed under the sun's rays, its stones and banners reflected the pride and glory of the Istarin Empire.
Everyone's eyes are on Watson. Almost everyone in the crowd recognized Watson. More people have seen Watson than the Emperor of the Istarin Empire. Watson's appearance already had made everyone excited. Although this kind of tournament had never taken place in the Istarin Empire, everyone was really excited. Everyone had high hopes. Watson cleared his throat before he spoke. He used Mana to amplify his voice so that everyone even the ones outside of the Starlight Coliseum could hear what he was saying at this moment. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the Starlight Coliseum, the crown jewel of our mighty Istarin Empire. We gather here today for the very first time to witness an event that will become a legend in the years to come—the Starlight Challenge!"
The crowd roared with applause, the sound was rolling like thunder through the stands. Watson's words basically confirmed that from now on, every single year, this tournament will be held in the capital.
The purpose was to entertain the citizens and to create competition between the 7 divisions. So that each division's Captain will force either soldier to train harder for this tournament. Although the soldiers were going to train for the tournament, in reality, Aditya was cleverly using this method to specially train the imperial troops for various scenarios on the battlefield. "In this magnificent arena, we will see the seven divisions of our imperial army, led by the seven great generals, compete in a tournament of strength, skill, and sheer will."
Seeing everyone clapping their hands, Watson smiled before he continued after a small pause. "The rules of this tournament are very simple. From the 1st beginner order to the 4th, the best men of each division have come to prove their mettle. This means any Imperial troop whose cultivation is above beginner 4th-order won't be able to participate in this tournament. This rule was implemented to maintain fairness."
"Of course, the General themselves cannot participate in this tournament." Watson paused as he let the words sink in. As the spectators leaned forward, their faces were a mixture of excitement and anticipation.
"The competitions will test them in every way, and by the end, the division with the most points will be hailed as the champion. The second-best will proudly take their place as the runner-up. And let's not forget, individual glory awaits the victors of each event." The crowd's cheer grew louder, a wave of claps and shouts that filled the stadium with life.
Even the nobles were really excited. "Warriors of the seven divisions, please step forth and present yourselves before the people!"
One by one, the divisions emerged. As the first group stepped out, they were greeted with waves of applause and cheers that shook the very air around them. Each division was dressed distinctively, their uniforms a sea of colors that fluttered like a banner in the wind.
The crowd's excitement swelled with each new division, the clapping and cheering growing louder and more vibrant. The participants were brimming with pride. They walked with their heads held high. "And now," Watson's voice boomed out again, "let us welcome the esteemed generals, the magnificent seven who lead these fine men into both battle and sport!"
Each general of the Istarin Empire was a legend in their own right. The generals strode out with a commanding presence. They were the embodiment of the empire's strength and honor. Seeing the 7 famous generals, the crowd's response was immediate. A thunderous cheer rose up, as an acknowledgment of their status and achievements. Each general raised a hand in salute, acknowledging their troops and the people they served.
"General Amber is so beautiful.....!!!" "Yeah….!!! I think I have a crush on her."
"I wish I could marry someone like her."
"From now on, she is my Goddess." Most of the crowd and even the nobles were talking about her beauty. It was no secret to the nobles, that General Amber had a very close relationship with the First Empress, Julia. Both of them were best friends from the beginning. It was normal for General Amber to even sometimes sleep at the Dragon Palace. Amber easily stood out from the rest of the generals because of her exceptional beauty and grace. Amber was wearing a beautiful Kimono that matched the color of her Division's flag. She had tied her hair into a braided ponytail. She had currently chosen to hide her fox tails and ears. If not, then she would have appeared even more beautiful to the crowd. Opposite of Amber, General Nathan received the least attention. It was because of the gloomy Aura around him. Half of his face was covered under a mask and one of his eyes was hidden by his hair. General Henry had a cold face. His expression had never changed. Josh and Scott were busy glaring at each other. The crowd almost felt like they saw sparks flying between their eyes. Eleanor was standing next to Nathan. Facing the crowd, she was slightly bit shy. She had nervously held the edges of her dress. This was the first time, she was facing such a large crowd. As for Tyler, he was busy flexing his muscles. Aditya looked at each of his generals with a smile. He was proud of how far each of his generals had come. Each of them has come from a very humble background. Looking at all the faces, Leo tightly clenched his fists and thought. 'One day, I will lead my own division and stand in front of the crowd.' Leo was determined to become the 8th General of the Istarin Empire. "Remember their faces, for these men are the pride of the Istarin Empire. Now, let us begin the Starlight Challenge, and may the best division win!" After saying that Watson stepped back. As the generals and the non-competing soldiers turned and made their way back, leaving the stage clear for the seven chosen participants, Watson once again addressed the buzzing crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, and brave citizens of the Istarin Empire! The moment you have all been eagerly awaiting is upon us. Our first contest is the Mana Endurance Marathon!" The crowd quieted down upon hearing his words. "This is no ordinary race!!" Watson continued as his voice projected across the Coliseum. "Our valiant soldiers will not only run but also keep a shield of mana energy around them. This shield is the mark of their strength and their will to endure."
He gestured towards the track that encircled the field. The track was marked clearly for all to see. "With every lap they complete, the challenge will become more difficult. As the pressure will double, weighing upon them like the mountains upon the earth." Each time a participant runs a lap, the pressure on their bodies will double. "The warrior who runs the longest distance without dropping their shield will be declared the victor. The winner will not only earn honor but also a 4-star weapon of their choosing and ten valuable points for their division!" Hearing this all the 7 participants became really excited. Meanwhile, the nobles, the merchants, and others who had knowledge about 4-star weapons became shocked. They did not expect the Emperor to be so generous. The next second, the crowd erupted into cheers.
"Second and third places will be honored too, with six and three points. And let's not forget, fourth and fifth will still add to their division's score with two and one points. But remember, the brave souls in sixth and seventh will leave with no points, only the experience gained from this fierce competition." "Any kind of cheating is strictly prohibited. If any participant is found guilty of cheating then the participant will be disqualified and their division will receive a deduction of 10 points." All the participants the generals are already aware of this rule as Aditya had personally told them before. They also had no intention of making their soldiers cheat to win. As such victories held no joy in it. Watson wasn't just the only referee of this tournament. There were other referees but they just haven't shown themselves yet. "What kind of competitions are there?" Sitting next to Lilith, Amelia couldn't help but ask Aditya. So far everything has been really interesting to her. "You will know soon....!!!" Aditya replied with a mysterious smile. He only had told the generals, Watson, and Spencer about this. "Now without wasting any time, let the Mana Endurance Marathon begin....!!!"
