In every Royal Carnival of the Cero Kingdom, one event stood above the rest. It was the Champions Tournament.
For generations, this tournament had been one of the most important traditions of the kingdom. It was more than just a competition where fighters battled each other. It was a celebration of strength, skill, courage, and pride.
Warriors, adventurers, knights, and fighters from across the entire kingdom gathered to test their abilities. It was a time when people cheered loudly, when stories of powerful warriors were born, and when new heroes began to shine.
Normally, the Champions Tournament was limited only to the people of the Cero Kingdom. Fighters from different cities and regions within the kingdom would come to the capital and compete against each other. It was always exciting, and the crowd always looked forward to it. However, this year was going to be very different.
This time, the tournament was not just a celebration.
It was also going to be a preparation.
King Arthur of the Cero Kingdom had been thinking about the future for a long time. The threat that was slowly approaching the world could not be ignored. Many kingdoms had already started preparing in their own ways. Armies were training harder.
Adventurers were taking on more dangerous missions. Scholars were researching old legends and ancient powers.
But King Arthur believed something else was needed.
A way for the strongest warriors of the world to face each other.
A way for them to learn from each other.
A way for them to prepare for battles that would be far greater than any tournament.
Because of this, King Arthur gathered with the rulers of the neighboring kingdoms. It was not an easy meeting. Many of these kingdoms had long histories of rivalry and competition. Some had fought wars against each other in the past. Trust between them was never simple.
Yet this time, they all understood the seriousness of the situation.
After long discussions and careful planning, the kings made a decision together.
For the very first time in history, the Champions Tournament would not belong only to the Cero Kingdom.
It would become a tournament for everyone.
A massive international tournament would be held during the Royal Carnival.
The moment this decision was made, history had already been created.
Soon after the announcement, news began spreading across many lands. Kingdoms from different directions began preparing their best fighters. The list of participating nations grew quickly.
People from the Kingdom of Cero would participate as hosts.
Warriors from the Kingdom of Wyali began preparing their teams.
The Kingdom of Raztak also selected their strongest adventurers.
The Kingdom of Freindorn gathered experienced fighters who had faced many battles.
From the Kingdom of Vrikta came warriors known for their discipline and training.
The Kingdom of Aosha prepared fighters who were famous for their unique combat styles.
The Kingdom of Xezin sent groups known for their speed and strategy.
The Kingdom of Eiton also joined, bringing their skilled adventurer teams.
The Kingdom of Coarau gathered strong fighters who were known for their teamwork.
The Kingdom of Lakra sent warriors who had experience fighting dangerous beasts.
The Kingdom of Ealp-Wakera also prepared their groups, bringing fighters trained in their own special traditions.
Along with these kingdoms, a few other smaller nations also decided to participate.
Each kingdom carefully selected groups of adventurers to represent them in the tournament. These groups were not random. They were chosen after long consideration. Some groups were famous already. Others were rising talents who had recently shown great potential.
Even though the tournament was meant to help everyone gain experience and prepare for the future threat, it was clear that every nation still wanted to win.
Old rivalries may have been pushed aside for now, but they had not disappeared completely.
Each kingdom wanted to prove the strength of their warriors. Each nation wanted to show that their fighters were the best.
Because of this, excitement around the tournament continued to grow every day.
The rules of the tournament were carefully designed so that victory would not depend only on raw strength. Strategy, teamwork, and planning would also play important roles.
Each group would consist of five fighters.
However, during the preliminary rounds, not all five fighters would fight at the same time.
Every match during the preliminary stage would be divided into three smaller battles.
Each of these battles would be a three versus three fight.
Teams would need to choose which three members would participate in each round. This meant that teams had to think carefully about their strategy.
Choosing the wrong combination could cost them the match. Winning one of these rounds would give the team two points.
If a group managed to win the overall match by winning more rounds than their opponent, they would receive an additional three bonus points.
This system allowed many different strategies. Some teams might rely on their strongest fighters early. Others might save their strongest members for later rounds.
At the end of the preliminary stage, the results would be counted carefully. Only the top thirty-two groups with the highest points would advance to the next stage.
From that point onward, the tournament would become much more intense.
The remaining teams would enter the elimination rounds.
Now the matches would become full five versus five battles. If a team lost, they would be eliminated immediately.
First would be the Round of 32.
Then the Round of 16.
After that would come the Quarterfinals.
Then the Semifinals.
And finally, the Grand Final.
At that point, only the two strongest teams in the entire tournament would remain.
Because of this format, teams could not rely only on individual strength. They needed teamwork, planning, and understanding of their opponents. Every decision could change the outcome of a match.
As the weeks passed, the Royal Carnival slowly approached. However, this time the carnival was not like the ones before. It was far greater. It was larger. And it was more exciting than ever before.
The Royal Carnival was always a joyful event, but this year it was prepared on an entirely different scale. Decorations filled the streets of the capital city of the Cero Kingdom. Colorful banners hung from buildings and towers. Merchants set up stalls across the markets.
Performers, musicians, and entertainers arrived from distant lands. The capital city became more crowded with each passing day. People traveled from all directions just to witness the tournament.
Adventurers, nobles, merchants, scholars, travelers, and ordinary citizens gathered together. For many people, this tournament was a once in a lifetime event.
The carnival itself was planned to last for an entire month. During this time, celebrations, performances, and events would take place throughout the city.
But the main attraction for everyone was the Champions Tournament.
Thousands of spectators waited eagerly to see which warriors would rise above the others. For the public, it was simply an exciting event filled with pride and entertainment. Most people did not know the true reason behind the tournament. They did not know that this gathering of warriors was also a preparation for a coming threat.
While the city was filled with celebration and excitement, many things were also happening quietly in the shadows. Not everything was peaceful. The mystery surrounding the jewels still remained unsolved. No one had discovered their true purpose yet. Even the strongest leaders and scholars were still searching for answers.
Enemies still remained hidden.
Their plans were unknown.
Their movements were unclear.
At the same time, another secret had recently been revealed. The true identity of Zora had come to light after the war in the ruins. However, only a very small number of people knew the truth.
The leaders understood that announcing it to the public would only cause chaos and confusion. The situation was still uncertain, and no one clearly understood Zora's intentions.
For the past few years, Zora had remained hidden. He moved quietly across different places.
Sometimes he appeared in certain areas. Sometimes he disappeared completely.
No one truly knew what he was planning.
Meanwhile, Arachna continued helping the Rising Heroes and the kingdom from the shadows. She rarely appeared openly, but her presence could still be felt in certain moments.
Kalix, Riya, and Shin were also carrying out their own missions quietly. Their work remained secret, and only a few trusted people knew about the tasks they were handling.
Another worrying rumor had also begun spreading again in the public. The name of Zortheus had started appearing in whispers.
Some people believed that Zortheus had return. And that has happened, it was possible that his powerful commanders might return as well.
Many events were happening at the same time. Many secrets still remained hidden.
The future was uncertain.
No one could clearly predict what would happen next.
Yet for now, people focused on the present moment.
The Grand Champions Tournament was about to begin.
Warriors from many kingdoms were ready.
Crowds were waiting.
And the world was watching.
Patiently waiting to see what the results would be.