Under a sky perfectly described as autumn-clear, nearly fifty people were gathered on the stage at the center of the coliseum.
Despite such a large number of participants, there was enough room for everyone to move freely, illustrating just how vast the stage truly was.
Upon that stage, the participants of the Qualifying C Block waited for the signal to begin, each keeping a wary eye on the others.
The coliseum, built around the stage, was overflowing with the cheers of the spectators.
Even though it was only the first day of the qualifying rounds, the stands were almost entirely full.
No, perhaps it was precisely because it was Day 1 that so many people had gathered.
The betting on who would survive had started from the qualifying stage, and many in the crowd were there for the gamble.
Others simply wanted to witness raw power.
The combatants were people who usually acted as adventurers, soldiers, knights, or mercenaries. Their strength was not something a commoner could witness directly in the city.
One might see a glimpse of it during a brawl, but such people were rarely as skilled as they claimed to be.
Furthermore, there were plenty of agents of the nobility present, looking to identify talent early.
It was a place to scout talent before they became famous—the quintessential "buying the crop while it's still green"—making their presence a given.
Amidst the focused attention of the diverse crowd, a voice rang out across the area.
"And now, the Qualifying C Block is finally about to begin! In the previous Qualifying Rounds for Blocks A and B, we saw spectacular performances from participants like Exenblum—the B-Rank adventurer known as the Ice Prince who wields a rapier with peerless grace—and Adrett, the one they call the Crusher, who is said to have beaten countless monsters to death with his bare hands! I’m sure you, the audience, also saw with your own eyes that there were many others who, while unknown, possessed undeniable skill!"
The voice echoed throughout the coliseum.
Hearing it, Rei briefly wore a look of wonder, but he quickly understood.
This place was a legacy of the Ancient Magic Civilization. It possessed a system Rei couldn’t fully comprehend that ensured no one died as long as a wound wasn't immediately fatal.
In that case, it wasn't far-fetched to imagine there was also a system to broadcast a play-by-play announcer throughout the arena to hype up the Fighting Tournament.
Rei thought this to himself while feeling the gaze of the man who had glared at him in the waiting room earlier.
No, the gazes directed at him weren't just from that man. Many of the participants who had joined from other waiting rooms, as well as those who had moved from the same waiting room, were casting their eyes toward Rei.
The reason for those stares was obvious.
It has to be this, Rei thought, glancing at the Death Scythe held in his right hand.
The Great Scythe, with a length greater than his height, exerted an overwhelming aura of intimidation on those around him just by being seen.
And naturally, there were fundamentally no people who preferred to use a weapon as difficult to handle as a Great Scythe.
More importantly, an adventurer wielding a Great Scythe in the Bestia Empire naturally brought to mind Crimson, the figure who had displayed ferocious power during the Spring War.
However, the majority of the rumors claimed that Crimson was a man of massive stature; therefore, the participants in the qualifying rounds were hesitant about how to judge Rei.
Nevertheless, some among them believed the rumors exactly as they were...
"Hey, kid. Or is it 'little miss'? Whichever it is, what do you think you’re going to do with a showy hunk of junk like that? A weapon that big... only the rumored Crimson himself could handle it. Push a bluff too far and you just look like a jackass, you know?"
The speaker was the Hammer-using Man, standing over two meters tall.
His hair was cut short, and muscles bulged conspicuously from beneath his leather armor.
His weapon was a massive hammer.
Indeed, he was of a size that would undoubtedly have made him the most prominent figure on this stage if Rei hadn't been there.
"..."
Rei directed his gaze toward the man for a single moment, but then looked away, thinking it was too ridiculous to even deal with him.
That must have gotten under the man’s skin. He barked out a shout that could be heard by everyone nearby.
"What, you lose your voice because your bluff was called out?! Hah?! If you quietly withdraw now, you won't have to embarrass yourself, so just shut up and listen to what I’m telling you!"
In response to the man’s words, some people nodded in agreement, others cast looks of pity, and some laughed at the absurdity. There were many different reactions, but those who had witnessed the incident in the same waiting room as Rei looked on with pale faces, unable to believe what they were seeing.
They had seen with their own eyes that Rei was not a man of mere words, but possessed genuine skill.
That information, combined with the Great Scythe with a length greater than one's height, meant that Rei was either the one called Crimson—or even if he wasn't, he possessed a corresponding level of power.
"Furthermore, furthermore, furthermore! Listen and be amazed! Look and be astonished!"
The voice echoing through the coliseum increased in tension as if to whip the spectators into a frenzy.
"We often hear about big names making surprise entries into the fighting tournament, and this time, we naturally have such a walk-in! Who do you think it is? Honestly, when my superiors told me this, I couldn't believe it. I might even say I didn't want to believe it!"
At that provocation, not only the spectators but even the fighters on stage began to murmur.
That was only natural. After all, only the final three survivors of this battle royal could advance to the main tournament. For three out of fifty people, it was a very narrow gate.
Since a big name whom the commentator was making such a fuss over had entered the fight for that narrow gate, most of the participants truly wished they could have been spared from this.
Each of them carefully cast their eyes around to determine who that big name might be.
The Hammer-using Man who had been harassing Rei until just a moment ago was no exception; he was now looking around at the surrounding fighters as if Rei was no longer worth his attention.
Several of those who had been in the waiting room with Rei turned their gazes toward him with expressions of "It couldn't be..."
They likely understood instinctively that Rei was a superior opponent on a different level from themselves.
Tension rose on the stage, and expectation mounted from the spectator seats.
Then, just as the tension reached its peak, the commentator's voice rang out through the coliseum.
"The alias of that big-name walk-in participant is... Crimson!"
The moment those words echoed through the air, everyone—including the spectators and the fighters—fell silent for an instant before a roar began to rise.
"That’s right! Every resident of the Bestia Empire has heard the rumors! The adventurer who was the single greatest cause of the Bestia Empire’s defeat in the war that broke out with the Kingdom of Mireana at the Seremuse Plain in the spring! The individual who uses their immense magic power to create a flame tornado and wields a great scythe with a length greater than one's height! An adventurer who was given the alias of Crimson after just a single battle... That very Crimson has come to raid the Bestia Empire’s Fighting Tournament! Honestly, when I heard this, I thought it was a joke! Everyone here at this coliseum probably can’t believe it either, right? I understand! I understand that feeling all too well!"
While the voice resonated, the eyes of the fighters on the stage were fixed on Rei.
They stared at the figure holding the oversized Death Scythe in one hand.
This included the Hammer-using Man, as well as the man who had confronted Rei in the waiting room.
"There are many rumors about Crimson, but the most famous claims he’s a massive man with a height you have to look up at! But look! Just look! Among those currently on the stage, the only one holding a great scythe is that single person draped in a robe! No matter how you look at them, they aren't 'massive.' If anything, 'small' is the better word!"
At the commentator's words, every person in the coliseum concentrated their gaze on Rei.
Feeling the eyes of the entire arena focused solely on him, Rei lifted the Death Scythe... and while the other fighters instinctively moved away and the spectators held their breath, he shifted the weapon to rest across his shoulder.
This might be a bit much... but if drawing the attention of the Bestia Empire Upper Management toward me was the goal, I should welcome it.
While muttering this internally, he harbored the unpleasant prediction that attacks would likely increase now that the image of Crimson as a giant had been dispelled.
"Now then! I didn't think the rumored Crimson would be this small either! But even so, the fact that he is Crimson remains unchanged! Everyone in the audience, please look forward to seeing what kind of performance he shows us! Oh, but rest assured! As I'm sure you know, the stage is a special space created by the power of the ruins of the Ancient Magic Civilization! As long as it isn't an instant death, you can be healed once you step outside the stage, so no one will truly lose their life!"
As those words echoed through the surroundings, it was not Rei’s imagination that the other participants seemed to let out an involuntary sigh of relief.
"It goes without saying, but intentionally killing an opponent instantly is forbidden! Be warned that if you do such a thing, you will not only be disqualified but will also be held criminally liable!"
The additional warning was undoubtedly directed at Rei... and Rei alone.
Considering Crimson’s reputation within the Bestia Empire, it was a logical precaution.
"Now then, the crowd is ready and the fighters are warmed up! It’s time we get this match started! Referee, if you please!"
Contrary to the announcer's hype, only a heavy silence filled the stage.
In particular, the Hammer-using Man who had been harassing Rei was shaking, terrified to a pathetic degree.
A moment of stillness gripped the stage... and the referee, who had appeared at the edge of the platform, shouted loudly.
"Qualifying C Block, begin!"
With those words, the participants let out desperate shouts and charged.
However, the targets of those attacks were not Rei, but each other.
If they launched an attack at Rei, there was no doubt they would be disqualified.
And judging by the weapon Rei held, they would likely suffer a grievous injury in the process.
Even if the wounds vanished once they left the magic space, they would still feel the full agony of the damage while on the stage.
Perhaps if everyone ganged up on Rei, they might have stood a chance. Such a thought crossed their minds, but who would willingly be the first to charge him?
Therefore, almost everyone chose the option of simply not messing with Rei.
The fact that three people could advance per block, rather than just one, likely influenced this decision.
Swung longswords slashed limbs, clubs crushed torsos, and spears pierced flesh.
One fighter deflected a halberd strike with a shield before tackling the opponent with their armored body, blowing them away.
A sword swung to deflect a punch ended up severing the attacker's arm from the elbow down.
There were also those using bows from a distance, but the other participants quickly hunted them down, closing the gap to slash them open.
The spectators had been temporarily silenced by the revelation of Crimson, but once the blood started flowing, they became absorbed in cheering for their favorite fighters.
Betting on 'Rei' wasn't common because the name itself was unremarkable.
The only ones who had placed such wagers were Daskar's entourage and those who knew his true identity.
To those unaware of the irregular on the field, Rei was just another unknown participant.
"...I guess I can't just do nothing."
Confirming that no one intended to come toward him, Rei realized that winning by standing still wouldn't attract the right kind of attention from the Imperial Upper Management. He took a step forward, Death Scythe in hand.