The Martial Unity

Even as they travelled the to the colosseum, Rui could feel the tension and energy in the air. The population density as they travelled to the Martial Colosseum had been increasing.

It peaked once they arrived.

There were countless rickshaws and carriages parked near the Martial Colosseum and a huge number of people from, not just Vargard, but also from other towns had arrived. The crowd was noisy and chaotic as they funneled into a huge line that was trickling into the Martial Colosseum.

The Martial Colosseum itself was gigantic. Its architecture was grand. It was elaborate yet detailed. It inspired a sense of majesty in its bearers. Rui couldn't help but feel he was privileged to have the honour of fighting in it in the Martial Contest.

The carriages of the contestants and staff accompanying them did not join the crowd of spectatprs bust instead stopped on another side of the Martial Colosseum, reserved for authorized personnel and individuals only thankfully. Rui was glad he didn't have to join that painfully long line to attend his own event.

Soon each of the contestants were escorted to their own temporary quarters, separated from their Squire instructors.

In his quarters, he found his Martial uniform. It had undergone thorough checking to ensure there was no modification and alteration of foul play. He found it initially surprising when they were so strict but he knew that foul play was probably was easier and far more deadly in this world than back on Earth due to esoteric technology.

Once he donned it, his Squire instructors had arrived.

"Ready?" Squire Dylon asked.

"Quite." He replied.

Thanks to the continuous priming and conditioning of his mind for the Martial Contest over the past two weeks, he was able to enter into a focused and composed state easier.

"The opening ceremony will begin in an hour." Squire Kyrie said.

Rui nodded. He simply sat cross-legged and began meditating, conditioning himself even more.

An hour rolled by quickly.

as they made their way to the lower levels, walking towards an opening into

invite sixteen representatives of

a loud

the Fellen branch, representative Mia

Fiona enter the Colosseum arena,

host called upon

felt a huge wave of emotional energy hit into him when he walked out in the open in front of God-knew-how-many

greatest Martial Artists of their generation! We look forward to witnessing which one of them takes the title of Martial Champion. Who will win? If you're confident in your eyes

roared

an

that the Martial Contest was part of

And were supposed to

was one of

shook his

where half the contestants will be knocked out every round! We will decide the

typical elimination tournament structure with sixteen numbered slots and eight matchups in the first round was brought. Along with it came a box with a hole

"Within the concealed box lies numbers from one to sixteen. Reach into the hole and pick a chit. The number on the chit

such that number one slot was to fight the number two slot, the number three slot was to fight the number four slot and so on and

you were called please. Representative Mia Marnt! Please step forward and pick a

forward, walking towards the box.

holding the

is!" The representative cried as a support staff member wrote Mia's name in the slot numbered

up, picked a chit

were interesting,

Ian Nepomniachtchi vs