For one month, our team has been on a relentless quest, accumulating an impressive number of badges from daily missions. We hoped our efforts would be enough to earn a spot in the first level of the tournament, a chance to prove our worth in the Colossal Arena in the Sky.
As we stood amidst a crowd of people cheering nonstop, a vibrant voice boomed through the air, "Welcome, all, to the tournament of the Colossal Arena in the Sky!" We all looked up the stage where Ms. Samantha, a woman with a powerful presence, gestured grandly. "Avast ye! I be introducin' yer hearty specters for this event!"
She motioned to the top left of the stage, and each of the Noble Heroes rose from their seats, waving to the audience. She introduced them from right to left, revealing a brief introduction and their greatest accomplishments.
First up was [Ramses Thulian, a fearsome Viking warrior. At 123 years old, she was a true prodigy, renowned for her unrelenting aggression and merciless attitude toward evil.]
A boy beside me leaned over to his friend. "I'm glad I'm not a disciple of Chaos," he whispered, a hint of fear in his voice.
"I'd be doomed if I ever crossed her path." He continued his gossip.
"I heard she hates fame and politics, so she doesn't like being acknowledged by many people. A lot of strong people have challenged her, but no one has ever won."
His friend joked, "Her future husband is really lucky to have her." The first boy retorted, "Or maybe the opposite? She'd be a terrifying wife!"
Next was [Lily Mimosa Noelle, the youngest nun to defeat tens of thousands of monsters. Despite her petite frame, she possessed monstrous strength.]
"You wouldn't believe a girl like her has so much power," the girl in front of me said, a look of awe on her face. "I'm so envious; I wish I had her body."
Then came [Leonardo Crimsonite, the dancing fire wizard. At 124 years old, he was one of the legendary royal knights chosen from the wizarding kingdom.]
"He's the real deal, bruh,"a guy behind me said.
His friend added, "Yeah, he's too scary from down there."
After him was [Nicholas Loki Wrighte, the most powerful legendary holy knight from the Divine Haven Realms. At 198 years old, he had mastered every form of Celestial Power and eradicated one of Chaos's disciples.]
"I aspire to be like him," someone in the crowd said.
Another person added, "He's far too powerful; why didn't they just make him King of Zeraschia?"
A third person chimed in, "He's humble and kind," and a fourth said, "He was born to be a guardian of the heavenly gates."
Next, Ms. Samantha introduced [Lourrie Siegfred, the magnificent crown princess of the Elven kingdom. At only 20 years old, she possessed a massive amount of chakra, capable of instantly annihilating an entire country.]
"We used to go camping with her," a guy nearby said. "She has incredible strength, intelligence, and beauty, and she's the epitome of royal etiquette."
His friend joked, "Wow, you sure are lucky."
The first guy laughed, "Yeah, ugh...! But I never want to join her again because she's so strict."
Then, we were introduced to [Aegir Lazuli, the noble hero with the coldest heart. At 123 years old, he could use both Ice and Water magic and was an excellent fighter.]
"Oh, wow! Another overpowered hero," a girl said. "He's one of my favorites!"
The gossip boy from earlier spoke up again, "We have two top rankers from the Eclipse kingdom, but one of them appears to be late for the opening ceremony."
Finally, Ms. Samantha announced, "For the final mentor, we have..."
[Chase Solaria, a 21-year-old with two exceptional abilities: The Imperium Magnum and Blue Fire Manipulation.]
"Seriously? Blue fire? That's cool!" a boy shouted.
His friend responded, "That's expected from the Eclipse family's top rankers."
Another friend pointed out, "But the other one is much stronger than him. I heard the hero who didn't show up mastered two of The Three Celestial Powers."
A third person added, "Not only that, but some say he has three abilities." The crowd was abuzz with excitement.
The moment of truth arrived. Ms. Samantha announced the team rankings, which appeared on a hologram beside her. My heart pounded in my chest as I scanned the list.
Monthly Badges Top Rankers
* 1st: Holy Knights (Team 06) with 222 badges
* 2nd: Odin's Valkyrjas/Valkyries (Team 72) with 220 badges
* 3rd: Sol and Luna (Team 21 and 19) with 215 badges
Passed Rankers
* 4th: Sacred Nuns (Team 13) with 214 badges
* 5th: Harmony Sisters (Team 11) with 209 badges
* 6th: Sparrows (Team 64) with 204 badges
* 7th: Crystals (Team 17) with 199 badges
* 8th: Astrals (Team 15) with 187 badges
* 9th: Naomi (Team 09) with 175 badges
* 10th: Sirens (Team 20) with 174 badges
* 11th: Pacifiers (Team 57) with 170 badges
And the list goes on...
Teams That Failed to Pass
* 52th: Aces (Team 54) with 145 badges
* 53th: Butterflies (Team 62) with 141 badges
A mix of cheers and groans erupted from the crowd. Ms. Samantha's voice cut through the noise, "Congratulations to the winners! And to those who failed, try harder in your next life!" she exclaimed. "All failed teams, please follow the magicians. They will accompany you to the safety zone where you can watch the tournament!"
The Aces, the same guys Frank and Tyler had fought with, were in disbelief. Frank, unfazed by their failure, shouted, "Oii! You did your best! Congratulations!"
Tyler added, "Yeah, right! Let's play in the game room again next time!"
Everyone was surprised by their reaction. The guy in the fancy pajamas from the Aces team laughed and replied, "Hahahaha! Sure! We will not forget you! Thank you, guys!"
Frank, ever the teaser, yelled, "Don't cry the next time we play!"
The Aces team, now in high spirits, shot back, "That won't be a problem, but do you really think you'll win?!"
Other teams who had befriended them also offered words of encouragement. "Keep on training hard so you can fight during the war!" one person shouted.
"Yeah! Still, do your best at helping others!" another added.
A bittersweet smile spread across my face. It was a beautiful display of sportsmanship and camaraderie, a powerful reminder that even in the face of failure, friendship and a positive attitude could prevail. The sting of their loss was real, but it was being softened by the genuine support of their peers. This wasn't just a competition; it was a crucible forging bonds stronger than any badge or rank.
"Thank you! Take care!" Frank and Tyler shouted.
The departing teams waved back, their voices echoing in a chorus of goodbyes.
"Thank you too, and good luck!" they responded, their faces alight with a mixture of disappointment and hope.
I watched them go, a genuine smile on my face. There was something so pure about the friendships between these boys, a bond forged in shared missions and friendly rivalry. My own brother's friends were among them, and I felt a sudden impulse to say something.
"Hey! Even if we're not close— I want to thank you for becoming friends with my brother!" I yelled, my voice a little louder than I intended.
My voice, usually so quiet, had carried far, and as I finished my awkward shout-out, I felt the unmistakable sensation of a hundred pairs of eyes turning to stare directly at me.
A wave of embarrassment washed over me, and my face flushed. This was a new and deeply uncomfortable feeling, a spotlight I had never asked for. I silently berated myself for my impulsive outburst. In the heat of the moment, I had forgotten my usual quiet reserve and blurted out something incredibly personal in front of a massive crowd. I shouldn't have let myself get carried away.
"DUHH! It's nothing, reckless sister!" my brother's friend in the fancy pajamas exclaimed, a wide grin on his face.
"AND PLEASE TELL LADY ATHENA THAT I'M IN LOVE WITH HER!" he added, his voice ringing with bravado.
We all turned to the sound of a soft giggle. Standing right behind me was none other than Athena herself, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "I guess you've already learned to appreciate people's personalities before you judge them, huh!" she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"EEEEHHHHH!?" The collective gasp was almost deafening. Ninety percent of it came from the boys in the crowd.
The fancy-pajama boy, undeterred, yelled even louder, "I LOVE YOU TOO, LADY ATHENA!"
Athena's face turned a fiery shade of red. "DON'T MISUNDERSTAND! I just meant that I appreciate how you applied it to yourself! UGHH— SUCH A STUPID MAN!" she roared, her gentle demeanor instantly replaced by a furious one.
The fancy-pajama boy just laughed. "I know— I'm just teasing you, my lady!"
"WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO SUCH A THING!?" she roared again, her voice like a thunderclap. The boy, finally understanding the gravity of his mistake, cowered.
The entire crowd erupted in laughter, the tension of the tournament replaced by the joyous spectacle of a princess's fury and a boy's playful blunder.
—
The cheers of the children echoed across the grand coliseum, a sound that cut through the tense, serious atmosphere of the tournament like a ray of sunlight. High in the royal veranda, a group of legendary heroes—the kingdom's greatest protectors—watched the spectacle unfold.
"Looks like the kids are having fun, huh?" Ramses, the fearsome Viking warrior whose massive frame was covered in battle scars, grunted with a wry smile, her voice a low rumble. She leaned forward, her gaze fixed on the laughing children below.
Leonardo, the dancing fire wizard whose movements were as fluid as his vibrant crimson red robes, fanned himself dramatically with an ornate fan. "I'm glad the air has lightened up. I didn't like how serious this tournament was getting." His eyes sparkled as he watched below.
"They've got a nice aura, uniting the kids even with their different statuses," Nicholas, the legendary holy knight, commended softly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The knight, known for his unwavering honor, admired the genuine joy he saw on the faces of both commoners and nobles alike.
From her seat, Lourrie, the elegant crown princess of the elven kingdom, gazed down with a look of amusement. "Aren't they the talk of the town?" she commented, her tone as light and airy as the breeze that ruffled her long, platinum blonde hair.
A chilling silence fell over the group as Aegir, the noble hero with the coldest heart, finally spoke. His voice was a stark contrast to the warmth of the others—a low, frosty tone that held no trace of emotion. "The mortals?" he questioned, his piercing stare scanning the crowd with disdain.
"Yes, those mortals," Lourrie agreed, her smile faltering slightly under her intense gaze.
Aegir's bitter words were met with a low growl from Chase, the hero who saw every act of kindness as a weakness. "They're bringing shame to this world! I can't believe the nobles are getting swayed by this." He spat the words out like venom, his disgust evident. "Even Princess Athena is doing such shameless things."
Ramses straightened up, her easy smile replaced with a fierce frown. "Athena's acting just the way she is; there's nothing wrong with that." Her voice held a protective edge as she defended the princess.
From the shadows, Lily, the nun, her hands clasped tightly together, offered a dark, unsettling prayer. "Let the kids have their fun today," she murmured, a twisted smile playing on her lips. "I'm excited to see them suffer once this tournament has started..."