The first day of the Grand Champions Tournament had come to an end with excitement, noise, and unforgettable battles. The Rising Heroes had made a strong statement, defeating The Roaring Spirits in all three bouts and securing the maximum 9 points. It was not just a win—it was dominance.
As the final match of the day concluded, Ifa stepped forward with his usual energy, his voice echoing across the arena.
"WHAT A DAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
The crowd cheered loudly in response.
"If you think this was amazing, then hold on tight, because we are just getting started!"
Shai stood beside him, holding a scroll in her hand, her calm voice bringing balance to Ifa's excitement.
"After Round 1, a total of 34 matches have been completed. Out of all the teams, 11 teams remain undefeated, securing the full 9 points."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"23 teams have earned 7 points, showing strong performance but falling short of perfection. Another 23 teams have managed to secure 2 points. And… 11 teams have yet to score."
A slight murmur spread through the crowd.
Ifa jumped back in, "That just shows how intense this tournament is! No easy wins here!"
Shai nodded slightly. "Round 2 of the Elimination League Phase will be held tomorrow. So rest well, because you will need all your energy for what is to come."
Ifa raised his hand dramatically. "TOMORROW… WE GO AGAIN!"
---
The next day arrived.
From early morning, the capital city was alive once again. Streets were filled with people, banners waved in the air, and excitement could be felt everywhere. Vendors shouted, children ran around, and adventurers walked proudly in their gear.
Everyone had only one destination.
The arena.
By the time the matches were about to begin, the arena was already full. Not a single seat was empty. The energy was even higher than the previous day.
People were ready.
Ifa's voice broke through the noise.
"GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
The crowd roared back instantly.
"Did you rest well? Because I didn't! I couldn't sleep thinking about the amazing matchups we are about to see today!"
Laughter spread through the audience.
Shai stepped forward, holding the list of matches. "The preparation has been done. The teams are ready. And the first match of Round 2 will be between 'Golden Reef' and 'Iron Tundra'."
Ifa clapped his hands together. "A solid start to the day! Let's not waste any time!"
The referee signaled.
And just like that, Day 2 began.
---
One match after another, battles took place.
Some were quick and one-sided.
Some were long and exhausting.
Some teams continued their winning streak, showing clear dominance. Others struggled, losing again and falling further behind.
Every match added more tension to the standings.
Every victory mattered.
Every loss hurt.
As the matches continued, the crowd stayed fully engaged, reacting to every hit, every spell, every moment of brilliance.
Time passed quickly.
After 29 matches, the excitement had not dropped even a little.
Shai stepped forward again.
"The 30th match of Round 2 will now begin."
There was a slight pause.
Then she spoke clearly.
"'The Rising Heroes'… versus 'Jade Court'."
The arena erupted.
Ifa's voice followed instantly, louder than ever.
"THERE IT IS!"
He pointed toward the battlefield.
"Both teams are undefeated! Both have a perfect 9 points from Round 1! And now… they face each other!"
The crowd buzzed with anticipation.
"This is what makes this tournament special!" Ifa continued. "Two top teams… one will fall, and one will continue their perfect run!"
Shai added calmly, "Jade Court is known as the strongest group from the Kingdom of Aosha. Highly disciplined, highly skilled."
"And on the other side," Ifa raised his voice again, "The Rising Heroes! Young, powerful, and rising fast!"
"Who will win?" Shai asked softly.
Ifa grinned. "LET'S FIND OUT!"
---
For this match, The Rising Heroes had made a decision.
Doran would sit this one out.
Instead, the three fighters stepping forward were...
Drakar.
Lila.
And Sera.
All three walked toward the arena, calm but focused.
On the other side, Jade Court's fighters stepped forward as well.
Kaito.
Sota.
And Rin.
Their movements were precise, disciplined, and perfectly in sync.
Even before the fight began, it was clear, this would not be easy.
---
Meanwhile, high above the arena, in the royal stands, the kings and queens of various kingdoms sat, observing everything carefully.
King Arthur sat at the center.
Behind him stood Adrian.
Adrian's eyes moved across the arena, observing everything. The fighters, the crowd, the guards…
And then, he noticed something.
At the very top of the arena, near the edge of the roof, a few figures stood silently.
They were cloaked. Still. Watching.
Adrian's expression changed slightly.
He leaned forward and spoke quietly to his father.
"Father… there are people on the roof."
King Arthur did not respond immediately.
Adrian frowned slightly. "They could be a threat."
There was a brief silence.
Then, from the side, the King of Wyali spoke calmly.
"They are not a threat."
Adrian turned toward him. "Then… who are they?"
Before the King of Wyali could answer, Adrian's older brother, the First Prince, spoke.
"They are from the Kingdom of Loscietian."
Adrian blinked. "Loscietian?"
His brother nodded. "The kingdom that refused to participate in this tournament. They believe it is pointless."
He continued, his tone slightly sharper, "For them, holding onto old rivalries is more important than unity. Their pride does not allow them to stand with others… but they are here to watch."
King Arthur's voice cut through immediately.
"That's enough."
The First Prince lowered his head. "Apologies."
The King of Wyali gave a small cough, as if to ease the tension.
Adrian remained silent.
His eyes slowly returned to the arena.
But his thoughts stayed behind.
Not everyone was united.
Not everyone was preparing together.
And that… could become a problem.
He took a slow breath and pushed those thoughts aside.
Right now, his duty was here.
---
Back in the arena, the fighters had taken their positions.
Ifa's voice rose again.
"THE 30TH MATCH OF ROUND 2!"
Shai continued, "First bout, Drakar from The Rising Heroes… versus Sota from Jade Court."
Both fighters stepped forward.
Drakar tightened his grip on his axe.
Sota stood calmly, his stance perfect, his expression unreadable.
The air between them felt heavy. The crowd slowly quieted down. Everyone was watching. This was not just another match. This was a clash between two undefeated teams.
The referee raised his hand. A moment of silence.
Then, the hand dropped. The fight began.