'Finally, I can get a bonus after months of tireless work.'
Once the messenger noted that everything was in place, he bowed slightly to the assembled crowd before turning on his heel and striding out of the guild hall, leaving behind a buzz of excitement and anticipation.
The mercenaries surged forward en masse, eager to catch a glimpse of the official notice detailing the tournament.
Serena and Delia found themselves caught up in the throng, pushed and jostled as everyone fought to get closer to the announcement board.
Meanwhile, Modir bullied his way to the front of the crowd, shoving people aside without a second thought.
A few protested weakly, but most were too focused on getting a look at the notice to care. Modir stood tall and proud, scanning the details with a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Five gold pieces for each round won of fighting, huh?" he mused aloud, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "And a chance to impress the king himself? Why, this is too good to pass up!"
Around him, others murmured in agreement, their eyes gleaming with greed and ambition.
"And a chance to get scouted by a big sect as well. Wow, that is a dream for every cultivator." Another spoke.
"What are you talking about? You dropped out of a low-class sect, and now you think you can make it into one of the big sects? What a joke." Another mocked him openly.
"Shut up! Can't a guy dream?"
"You know as well as I what sort of monsters are out there. Those are the people that such sects are looking for. How old are you, five centuries or something, and still at the early Qi condensation stage, you would be lucky to get away with some coin for winning, getting past a single round."
"I know! I know! Now shut up."
Similar arguments were circling about.
"Wait? It says here there is an age and cultivation restriction?"
The initial excitement in the room began to dissipate as the full terms of the tournament became clear.
Many of the older mercenaries shook their heads in disgust or disappointment, realizing that the competition was never meant for them after all.
"What's this nonsense?" grumbled an elderly man with a long grey beard, his voice barely audible over the muttered complaints of those around him. "Two hundred years old and under? What kind of tournament is this?"
One by one, the disgruntled patrons moved away from the poster, shaking their heads as they left to pursue other means of earning coin.
However, Serena and Delia remained standing amidst the dispersing crowd, their eyes locked on each other as they shared a silent conversation.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Serena asked her companion.
"I was just about to ask the same." After a moment, they both nodded, a determined look passing between them.
"Excuse me," Serena said, approaching the receptionist who had returned to her seat after the announcement. "We would like to register for the tournament."
The receptionist looked up from her ledger and examined the two women carefully before responding, "You are both under two hundred years old, correct?"
Serena nodded confidently. "Yes, we are."
Dalia stepped forward beside her, nodding in agreement. "And we are at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm, as well."
The receptionist raised an eyebrow at the declaration, then quickly regained her composure. She flipped open her ledgers and began punching numbers into a hidden register.
After a few moments, she glanced back up at the pair of girls, her expression stern. "Your registration has been noted. The tournament organizers will be in touch with details regarding your entry and seeding once the final list of participants has been compiled."
Serena and Dalia exchanged a satisfied glance, the tension already beginning to dissipate as they departed the guild hall.
They knew that proving their worth against high-caliber opponents would not be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever was, and they were just aiming for a good harvest, not a win.
As they walked away, Serena couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mingled with determination.
This was it - their chance to make a name for themselves and claim their rightful place among the elite warriors of Starfall.
No matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them head-on, armed with skill, strategy, and an unshakable confidence in their abilities.
With that thought, Serena turned to Dalia and gave her a sly grin. "So, what do we do now?
Dalia grinned back, already knowing the answer. "I say we get ourselves some proper gear and start training harder than we ever have before. We're going to need every advantage if we want to stand a chance against all those powerful cultivators."
Serena nodded, her grin widening. "Absolutely. And maybe we can find someone who can sweep you off your feet at the tournament."
Dalia laughed genuinely in amusement.
"Then let's get started," Dalia said eagerly, falling into step beside her friend as they made their way through the bustling streets of the city. "We have less than a month to prepare, after all. Every moment counts."
Not everyone was as excited as they were, though.
A chorus of groans and sighs echoed through the guild hall. "Martial tournament for youngsters only? That's lame," one burly fighter grumbled, shaking his head. "I need to find some other way to earn from this since I can't participate ."
"Yeah, I don't have time to just sit and watch," another complained, rolling his eyes. "Not when I'm trying to pay my debts."
As the news of the martial tournament spread like wildfire, the various guilds and establishments across the land buzzed with excitement.
A similar announcement was posted in all the major organisations across the different regions.
In the Assassins Guild, members whispered among themselves, speculating about the identities of the mysterious competitors who would be vying for the coveted title of Titan.
Despite the initial disappointment of the majority, there were already thousands who could participate.
If there were no such restrictions, participants would number in the millions.