"Whoa... That's a hell of a lot of people."
The voice reached Rei's ears amidst a sea of murmurs.
He turned his gaze toward the source and saw Veikyul looking around, her face open with genuine admiration. Normally, someone acting so gawky would have stood out, but currently, half the people on the stage were doing the exact same thing.
Consequently, she managed to blend in. Of course, she might have looked far more conspicuous to the spectators in the stands—particularly the nobles watching from the VIP boxes.
Rei and his group were currently standing on the massive stage at the heart of the arena. Gathered there were the main tournament participants, the survivors who had fought their way through the twenty blocks of the qualifying rounds.
The number of people has jumped from sixty to nearly a hundred, Rei noted inwardly. They must have added participants who have backing from the nobility. There are plenty of faces here I didn't see in the qualifiers.
Though Rei hadn't watched every single preliminary match, he wouldn't have forgotten anyone who possessed the kind of strength that was obvious at a glance.
"They really are the cream of the crop," Most muttered with a heavy sigh. "Every one of them looks like they'll be a handful."
"I'll bet," Rei replied.
Since Veikyul was nearby, the other members of the Wind Dragon Fang were naturally close as well. Most looked particularly anxious. From the main tournament onward, the format shifted to a bracket-style tournament—one-on-one battles. For a pure mage like Most, even surviving the first round seemed like a monumental task.
"Get a grip! Look, there are plenty of other mages here too."
Ruzy slapped Most on the back with enough force to make him stumble. Ruzy was already a man of incredible strength, and the claymore he carried was even larger than the standard model. When that kind of arm power hit a mage like Most, the boy lurched forward and crashed right into a total stranger.
"...Watch it."
The voice was a low, dry rasp. The man Most had bumped into was a scarred veteran warrior, his face a roadmap of past battles. He spoke only those two words, clearly a man of few words, before turning back toward the front.
"Ah! S-Sorry! My apologies!"
Most bowed his head frantically before spinning around to glare at Ruzy, who was wearing a mischievous grin.
"Don't lump me in with people who have monstrous strength like you, Ruzy!"
"Hahaha! My bad, my bad. But look, even if they look tough, we're main tournament participants just like them. That makes us equals, doesn't it?"
Ruzy's loud proclamation must have carried, as the other main tournament participants nearby turned sharp, intimidating glares toward them. The looks were silent declarations: Don't you dare lump us in with the likes of you.
Normally, those gazes would have made anyone shrink back. However, for better or worse, Ruzy was far from a normal person. Then again, anyone who could break through the qualifiers of the Bestia Empire’s premier national tournament was hardly ordinary.
Unfazed by the hostile eyes, Ruzy snorted and continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
"Still, wasting a whole day just for an opening ceremony seems like a drag. They should've just started the first round immediately. With this many people, it’s obviously going to take forever anyway."
"...True enough," Rei muttered in agreement.
He didn't know the exact count of the participants, but it was clear the number exceeded a hundred. Since it was a tournament format, the first round alone would consist of over fifty matches. Given that everyone here was an elite, few of those fights would be settled quickly. Rei estimated that the first round alone would take several days—perhaps over a week.
Well, once the first round is out of the way, the number of matches will drop off quickly, Rei thought. I guess I should be thankful it isn't a round-robin. If we had to fight everyone, we'd be here for months.
A round-robin would certainly eliminate luck and determine true rankings, but Rei had no desire to be stuck in the capital for that long.
Still, I doubt the organizers haven't thought of that.
As Rei ruminated, a powerful voice suddenly boomed throughout the arena.
"Quiet, everyone! Presenting His Majesty Trajist Gnos Bestia, Emperor of the Bestia Empire!"
The voice resonated with the same magical amplification used by the live commentator during the qualifiers, but the dignity behind it was incomparable. Even though it wasn't the Emperor himself speaking, but likely a noble or a high-ranking chamberlain, the words commanded absolute silence.
So this is the head of one of the world's greatest powers, Rei thought.
"Normally, you would welcome His Majesty the Emperor on bended knee. However, as there are many foreign guests present and this is a celebration of martial prowess, you are permitted to remain standing as you receive His Majesty's words."
Following the instruction, the participants on stage straightened their ranks. All eyes turned toward the emperor's private spectator seats.
There, a single man stepped forward.
"You have done well to gather here. Once again, it gladdens me to witness battles that make the blood boil and the heart race. In this arena, social standing, wealth, and political influence mean nothing. Here, there is only strength. Only the one who defeats all others shall stand at the summit... However, this year's tournament carries a different weight. There are those among us who do not yet truly understand the meaning of strength. That fact was proven by the war we fought in the spring."
The Emperor was publicly acknowledging his nation's defeat.
Rei watched the man with interest, matching the gazes of the other participants. This was the ruler of the nation he had fought against, and the father of Vihera. The impression the man gave was that of a lion. His mane-like hair only reinforced the image.
In Rei's old world, male lions were often seen as lazy creatures that let the females do the hunting. But the lion standing before him was a different breed. Though he had reached an advanced age, his physique showed no signs of frailty. Even from this distance, Rei could tell the man trained his body rigorously despite his station.
Most of all, the Emperor exuded an overwhelming aura of intimidation. Rei had stood before the monster known as Noise just a few days ago, so he was able to withstand the pressure without being paralyzed, but others were not so lucky. The foreign participants, in particular, were visibly cowed.
This was no lazy lion; this was the King of Beasts. This was Trajist Gnos Bestia.
This is... quite the surprise. Then again, a man leading a superpower like the Bestia Empire would have to be this imposing.
Rei remained calm and listened as the speech continued.
"Our army lost that war because our strength was insufficient. It was the result of a superior power existing within the Kingdom of Mireana."
The Emperor's eyes shifted as he spoke those words. His gaze landed directly on that "superior power"—the man known as Crimson.
Hoh.
Rei met the gaze head-on, showing no hint of fear. It was a simple act, yet it earned him the Emperor's internal praise. The sovereign knew exactly how much pressure he was radiating.
But... will you be able to keep that look on your face after this?
With a flicker of amusement, the Emperor continued.
"Strength. Our imperial army lacked it. So, what is the solution? It is simple. We must strive desperately to obtain it. We must challenge the wall. Overcome it, destroy it, or even just learn to avoid it—but never stop moving. To that end, I have provided a wall for you to face."
The Emperor paused, and a figure stepped out from behind him to stand at his side.
The crowd rippled with a sudden, sharp murmur. The moment the man appeared, those who recognized him forgot they were in the presence of the Emperor. Had they been in the audience chamber, such an outburst would have been a grave insult. But the man beside the Emperor carried that much weight.
Later, several nobles would remark how lucky it was that the ceremony hadn't been held in the palace. The figure standing there exerted a presence that rivaled the Emperor's own.
"The pride of the Bestia Empire's adventurers. One of only three in the entire world. The S-Rank adventurer known by the alias of 'Immovable'—Noise. Under my authority as Emperor, I recommend this man as a participant in the main tournament."
Boom!
The Emperor's words hit the arena like a physical blow. The spectators erupted in cheers, and even many of the participants joined in, despite the fact that they might have to face this man in battle.
Yet, among the hundreds, a select few did not cheer. Instead, they wore ferocious, predatory grins—the joy of warriors who had just found the ultimate challenge. They wanted to see if their own strength could reach the literal ceiling of the world.
Rei was among them.
I'm going to... beat that man.
A massive surge of energy billowed out from Rei—not murderous intent, but pure fighting spirit. He didn't want to kill Noise; he wanted to defeat him. That distinction transformed his aura into a tangible pressure.
Noise, standing beside the Emperor, seemed to notice. He shifted his gaze toward Rei, his lips curling into a faint, challenging smirk. If you think you can win, then win your way to me.
Rei felt his motivation catch fire. And he wasn't alone. A handful of others among the hundred participants released similar auras in response to the S-Rank's presence.
Prompted by the Emperor, Noise finally spoke.
"I'm pleased to see such a spirited lot has gathered. However, I didn't reach S-Rank by losing easily. If you truly intend to take me down, then come at me with the literal intent to die. I will accept all challengers."
His voice was calm, yet it carried a profound weight that seemed to vibrate in the very air. The arena fell silent for a single heartbeat before exploding in a roar that threatened to tear the roof off the world.
Noise possessed a charisma that surpassed even the Emperor's—a magnetism born of absolute power and legendary achievement. The participants, who had all come here to win, now found themselves more excited by the prospect of facing a living legend than by the thought of the trophy.
Rei recognized the abnormality of the situation, but he could feel the battle-lust burning in his own veins.
"Impressive... Truly impressive. I can't afford to let him outshine me."
He muttered the words, his hand tightening into a fist.
His voice seemed to snap Rhodos out of his trance. The younger warrior realized he had been swept up in the collective fervor.
What am I doing? Rhodos thought. I came here to win. I came here to prove something. And yet...
He had been overwhelmed by Noise's presence, but seeing Rei's composure allowed him to refocus. He had entered this tournament to bet on a one-in-a-million chance, and he wouldn't let that resolve waver.
The opening ceremony continued, leaving the entire Imperial Capital buzzing with the news. For the next several days, the only topic of conversation in every tavern and manor would be the legend who had entered the fray and the tournament that was about to begin.