The massive gates of the participant tunnel groaned open, spilling bright sunlight into the shaded corridor.
Tina and Anuver stepped out onto the arena floor, the roar of the crowd washing over them like a tidal wave.
Sand crunched under their boots, and the air carried the sharp tang of sweat, metal, and excitement.
Tina glanced sideways at Anuver, ears twitching curiously as she noticed his empty hands.
"You… where's your weapon?" she asked, voice pitched low amid the noise.
"If you're a swordsman, shouldn't you have one? Or should we grab something quick before the fight starts?"
Anuver kept his expression neutral, a small, reassuring smile tugging at his lips.
"No need. I have my weapon."
He reached to his side as if pulling something from an invisible pouch at his belt.
A faint ripple of air shimmered subtle enough that only someone watching closely would notice and a sleek, unadorned longsword materialized in his grip.
The blade was simple, almost plain, but perfectly balanced, gleaming faintly in the sunlight.
Tina's eyes widened, her tail freezing mid-swish. Her mouth fell open slightly, fangs visible as she stared.
"You Sora, what the fuck?!" she hissed, leaning in closer, voice a mix of shock and excitement. "A storage bag?! That's… that's a national treasure-level artifact, right?!"
Anuver nodded calmly, spinning the sword once in his hand with casual ease before resting it on his shoulder.
"Yeah. My family had a few lying around. I… borrowed one before I left. I Didn't get caught i guess."
Storage bag he thought, suppressing a smirk. I just created it and the sword right here. Divine convenience. But this makes a good cover.
Tina's shock melted into a wide, fanged grin, her blue eyes sparkling with newfound respect and greed.
"So your family was insanely rich, huh? Damn, Sora… you're full of surprises."
She punched his arm lightly, tail swishing again as they walked forward toward the center of the arena.
Alto's team was already waiting Alto in the middle, sword drawn and stance confident; Nano to his left, staff glowing faintly with gathered mana, her expression cool and focused behind long bangs; Yuuki to his right, massive shield planted firmly, armor plates locked in defensive posture.
Three months.
That's how long it had been since I woke up in this world.
With Princess Lunalith's help, I built a solid team: Nano, the sharp-eyed Rank 6 mage with devastating spell control, and Yuuki, the unbreakable Rank 6 tank knight who'd sworn loyalty after I saved her village.
And me?
The system pinged in my vision as always.
[Status]
Name: Alto Kaze
Level: 5
Class: Hero
Primary Skill: Predator (Unique)
Acquired Skills: Super Strength, Super Speed, Swordsmanship of the Northern Demon, Berserk, Pyrokinesis, Telekinesis
Main Quest: Aid the Crimson Moon Kingdom against the rising darkness.
Predator had been a cheat code devouring enemy skills, growing exponentially.
Rank 5 aura and mana control in three months. Unheard of.
But here in Mirlode Kingdom, a side quest burned bright.
Side Quest: Eliminate the 9th General of Darkness who has infiltrated the tournament as a participant.
With Nano and Yuuki, we could handle it. Save the city. Gain reputation. Level up.
A glimmer of determination flickered in Alto's eyes as he gripped his sword tighter, stepping forward to meet the opposing team.
The crowd's roar faded to a tense hush.
Back to the arena
The referee a grizzled veteran in official robes approached Tina and Anuver, eyeing their two-person team with clear disbelief. His brow furrowed as he counted heads.
"Is… is that all the teammates you have?"
Tina planted her hands on her hips, tail lashing once in irritation before she flashed a cocky, fanged grin.
"You don't need to worry about numbers," she declared loudly, voice carrying over the quieting crowd. "I alone am enough to beat these brats!"
The referee blinked, clearly unconvinced, but he shrugged and moved to the center, raising a flag.
Both teams stood roughly twenty meters apart Alto's trio in perfect formation, Tina bouncing lightly on her toes, Anuver relaxed beside her with sword resting casually on his shoulder.
The referee glanced between them one last time.
"If you're all ready…"
He stepped back swiftly toward the barrier.
"Let the match… BEGIN!"
The referee's flag dropped, and the stadium detonated.
The roar was deafening, a wall of sound crashing over the arena. Almost every voice screamed one name: "Alto! Alto! Alto!"
To the citizens of Mirlode, he was already the hero candidate the rising star from the Crimson Moon Kingdom, the one who'd crushed the werewolf in the finals yesterday. Banners waved.
Children on shoulders cheered. The energy was electric.
Alto's team moved like a well-oiled machine.
Yuuki, the tank knight, charged first. Her massive two-handed greatsword raised high, aura coating the blade in a silver sheen.
She pointed the tip straight at Tina and barreled forward like a living battering ram, aiming to lock her down.
Behind her, Nano's lips moved silently, fingers dancing over her staff. Blue mana swirled violently a high-tier spell building, circles of arcane runes spinning in the air.
Alto flanked left, sword glowing with red aura, super speed kicking in as he closed the gap from the side.
Perfect coordination: block, cast, strike.
Tina's ears twitched. Her lips curled into a disappointed smirk.
"Heh. Nice formation," she muttered, voice carrying just enough for Anuver to hear. "But it sucks. Same old 'block-cast-attack' crap. Not fun at all."
She glanced at him, eyes gleaming.
"Sora wait here. I'll finish this in two minutes."
Then she vanished.
With Rank 7 speed a blur too fast for most eyes to track.
In the blink of an eye, she was behind Nano
The mage's chant cut off with a startled gasp.
Tina's kick landed clean heel to the back of Nano's head.
The staff flew from her hands. Nano crumpled face-first into the sand, unconscious before she hit the ground.
The crowd went dead silent for a split second.
Then exploded again this time mixed with gasps and shouts of disbelief.
Tina landed lightly, tail swishing, hands on hips as she looked down at the fallen mage.
"So weak. Is this really a hero's party?"
Anuver leaned on his sword, blade tip resting in the sand, posture completely relaxed.
Assassin type, huh? he thought, golden eyes narrowing slightly in interest. I figured this would end easily, but Alto won't let it.
Good.
Across the field, Alto's face twisted in shock.
"Shit how strong is she?!" he growled under his breath. "She moved faster than my Super Speed…"
Yuuki hesitated mid-charge, shield raised, eyes wide behind her visor.
Tina didn't give them time to recover.
She dashed again this time straight at Alto.
The hero reacted instantly, super speed flaring as he intercepted.
Steel clashed against claw-enhanced fist.
Alto blocked her dagger strike wait, when did she draw a dagger? with a perfect parry, sword ringing from the impact.
Tina's eyes lit up.
"Oh? So you're not that weak after all, huh? As expected from a hero!"
She twisted mid-air, trajectory shifting impossibly.
Her real target: Yuuki, who had circled behind to flank.
Tina landed between them, grinning wide.
"Oh? Sneaking behind already? I guess you two are better than the mage."
She backed up a step, clenching her fists. Aura flared around her hands dark, sharp, claw-like energy coating her knuckles.
"This'll be fun. Muhahahah!"
Anuver's eyes shone with genuine excitement, a rare thrill rushing through him.
This is it, he thought, heart pounding in a way it hadn't in ages. The fighting scenes from the games… they're fucking amazing when you see them in real life.
On the field, Tina became a storm.
She blitzed Yuuki, fists hammering the massive shield in a nonstop barrage.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
Each blow rang like a hammer on anvil.
Yuuki gritted her teeth, feet sliding back, digging trenches in the sand as she absorbed the impacts.
Ten blows.
Twenty.
Fifty.
One hundred.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the shield's surface.
Finally CRACK.
The shield shattered, fragments flying.
Yuuki staggered, arms numb, eyes wide in shock.
Now only Alto remained standing on his side.
Tina paused, breathing steady, aura still crackling around her fists.
The crowd's cheers had shifted no longer one-sided for Alto.
Half screamed Tina's name now, half cheered the comeback.
But scattered voices criticized from the stands:
"What's with that lazy teammate? Just standing there!"
"Useless rich kid!"
"He's dead weight!"
Anuver heard it all.
And smiled faintly.
Let them talk.
The real fun hadn't even started.