CHAPTER 264: CHAPTER 263- BEGINNING

The sun was bright in the clear blue sky, its warmth spilling over the wide arena. A light breeze carried the sound of footsteps, laughter, and chatter as people filled the stone stands.

Colorful banners hung high above, fluttering proudly in the wind—red for Runbound Academy, blue for Eitherveil Enclave, green for Aegis Academy, and black for Blackthorn. Each banner bore its crest, easy to spot from anywhere in the venue.

Merchants called out from the aisles, selling food, drinks, and small flags for cheering. Children ran between the rows, waving their academy colors.

The air was thick with excitement. Old friends greeted each other, rivals exchanged tense stares, and strangers debated over who would win. The final round of the tournament was about to begin, and no one wanted to miss a single moment.

The important figures from every nation had gathered except for, naturally, the Rulers who never actually joined the event.

Tower Masters have gathered and have taken their seats in the stands.

The audience had completely filled the stands. More than twelve hundred people have arrived to support their teams or just to witness a legendary battle of the aspiring warriors.

Inside the preparation rooms, every team was tense.

It was natural—today was the day they would fight not only for the championship but for the honor of their academy, and for the right to have "winner" attached to their names.

Everything was on the line. A full year of training, strategy, and effort would mean nothing if they failed today.

Knowing all this, anyone would be nervous...

But not the students of Runebound Academy.

They were excited.

The nervousness was still there, hidden under the surface, but their excitement came from one thing—their armaments.

"This is the first time I’ve had a third-grade weapon," Brendon admitted, holding his daggers close to his chest like they were treasures.

Allen grinned, "I can feel the power coming from my sword. I can’t wait to get out there."

"I’m framing mine after the contest," Altia said, smiling as she cradled her weapon.

Aries was just as eager. It wasn’t her first time using a third-grade weapon, but this time, it was tailor-made for her. She could feel the bond between them.

Elana sat quietly, her batons resting on her lap as she carefully polished one of them.

That’s when a voice broke the calm.

"Who said I’m going to let you keep those armaments?"

Adrian stepped into the room without warning, making everyone flinch.

Allen spoke first, "You’re taking them back?" He stared in disbelief. Was the professor really that strict about his creations?

Adrian clasped his hands behind his back. "If you all return victorious, then sure—you can keep them."

Relief swept through the room.

"Another reason not to mess things up today," Aries muttered.

Just then, the commentator’s voice boomed through the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I, Sipher, welcome you to the thrilling final of the Contest of the Courageous!"

The students rose from their seats and moved to the balcony, Adrian following behind them.

Outside, the arena was a sea of people. The sheer number made Altia swallow hard, but she stood tall. She had prepared herself for this moment.

After a short pause, the commentator’s voice rang out again.

"Now, I would like to call the chief referee to the stage!"

Moments later, a man with short brown hair stepped into the center of the arena.

When he spoke, his voice carried across the stands, clear and steady.

"I will go over the rules first, so both the participants and our honorable audience understand what can and cannot be done."

The crowd grew quiet, all eyes on him.

"The goal of the match," he continued, "is to collect as many points as possible. Each student will start with a flag worth one hundred points and captains would be given a flag worth two hundred points. Inside the terrain, you can earn more points by finding hidden treasures or hunting monsters.

"You may also fight other teams and take their flags—but remember this: any lethal attack will result in your entire team being disqualified immediately.

"Likewise, setting traps that could cause death, even indirectly, will also be considered illegal."

He let the words sink in for a moment before finishing,

"All participants will be under close surveillance for the entire round, so stay aware of your actions."

No questions were asked. Not because they couldn’t, but because all the participants had already been given the instructions a day earlier.

There were many other rules the referee didn’t mention—details the competitors knew well—but he had shared the most important ones so the audience could understand what was happening once the battle began.

The referee then turned behind him and gave a single nod.

Four more referees stepped forward, crouching low and pressing their fingers against the arena floor.

Gasps rippled through the crowd as a pale, translucent dome began to rise around the arena, shimmering like sunlight on water.

’Light magic...’ Adrian thought.

At each of the four corners, ancient artifacts hummed softly, their runes glowing gold. These artifacts were bound with spatial magic, reshaping the battlefield into an entirely different world within the dome.

From the stands, it still looked like the same arena. But inside... the terrain had transformed into something far larger, far wilder.

And how would the audience see the battle within?

High above the stands, five floating crystal mirrors hung in the air, each the size of a wagon. Four of them would show the movements of each team, the scenes shifting smoothly as if the crystals themselves were watching.

The fifth mirror shimmered with dozens of smaller images—glimpses of individual duels, monster hunts, and daring escapes—so no moment would be lost to the crowd’s eager eyes.

Soon, the commentator announced, "Now all the participants, please proceed towards the arena."

Adrian sighed before saying, "It’s time."

Everyone turned towards him, their eyes holding slight nervousness which they did their best to hide...minus Altia.

Adrian gave a nod and told them, "I know you all will do great. Just listen to your captain and remember your training. Good luck, students."

Elana replied in everyone’s stead, "We won’t disappoint you, Sir."

And with that, they left.

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. I think I should make Chapters longer.