Chapter 8 – The Tournament Draw
The grand hall of the Adventurers' Guild was packed to the brim. Warriors, mages, and adventurers from every corner of the realm had gathered, their presence filling the air with tension and excitement. Armor clinked softly, mana hummed beneath the surface, and countless sharp eyes measured potential rivals.
Arin, Elina, and Leon stood together near the edge of the hall.
"There are a lot of them…" Leon muttered as he scanned the crowd. "This won't be easy."
Elina crossed her arms, calmly observing the other competitors."The stronger the opponents," she said coolly, "the more meaningful the victory."
At the center of the hall, the Guildmaster stepped onto the raised platform. In his hand was a parchment sealed with golden wax. The murmur of voices slowly faded as all attention turned toward him.
"Attention!" he boomed. "We will now begin the tournament draw!"
Silence fell over the hall.
"The rules are simple," the Guildmaster continued. "Single-elimination format. One loss… and your journey ends there."
Arin's gaze sharpened."Then there's no room for mistakes."
One by one, the Guildmaster began drawing names. As the first matchups were announced, the crowd erupted into whispers and excited murmurs.
"First round: Arin's team versus… the Black Claws!"
Leon's expression stiffened."I've heard of them. Brutal fighting style. No mercy."
Elina glanced at Arin with a faint, confident smile."Sounds like a good warm-up."
Arin nodded slowly."We won't underestimate them. This tournament isn't a game."
The draw continued, announcing increasingly powerful teams. With every name spoken, the pressure in the hall grew heavier, like a storm waiting to break.
When all matchups were decided, the Guildmaster spoke once more.
"The first matches will begin tomorrow morning in the arena. Prepare yourselves."
The hall gradually emptied. As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Leon broke the silence.
"Tomorrow decides whether we truly belong here."
Elina stared ahead, her eyes unwavering."We do."
Arin tightened his grip on his sword."Tomorrow, we don't fight just for ourselves… we fight for our future."
The tournament had begun.
And the first battle was already within reach.