Morning arrived with clear skies and renewed energy throughout Clearwater, the town having transformed overnight into festival grounds as thousands of spectators prepared for the tournament's second day. Vendors hawked food and drinks along every major street, merchants sold commemorative tokens, and the atmosphere carried infectious excitement that seemed to touch everyone within the town's boundaries.
Raze stood on his estate's balcony, observing the crowds flowing toward the arena like rivers converging toward the sea. The qualifying rounds had revealed exceptional talent, warriors whose capabilities exceeded what their registrations suggested. Today the bracket stage would begin, single elimination matches that would determine final rankings and identify those worthy of recruitment into the Dragonheart Knights.
