The competitor waiting room was a lavish hall draped in spun gold decorations and lined with velvet couches.
It was designed to cater to the pampered egos of the Celestial elite who had passed the preliminary cullings.
Arthur Sterling sat alone in a shadowed corner. His legs were crossed.
He entirely ignored the crystal goblets of nectar floating past him on silver platters.
He was busy reviewing the tournament brackets on his internal system interface.
"Well, well. Look what the tide washed in."
Arthur slowly raised his head.
Approaching him was a young man practically glowing with misplaced arrogance.
He wore a suit of immaculate and form fitting armor forged from condensed starlight.
It was accented with deep violet trim.
His blond hair was perfectly styled. His eyes held the smug and punchable superiority of a man who believed the universe existed solely to serve him.
Behind him stood a retinue of six heavily armed guards who acted like lapdogs.
