Michael finally arrived at the capital of the Golden Kingdom, a city said to be built from the kingdom's ancient, sacred gold. The towers and rooftops reflected the light in a smooth, enchanting way. Enormous walls surrounded the city, adorned with intricate engravings that told stories of the kingdom's glorious past.

A grand event was about to take place: the crowning of a new knight to join the ranks of the Golden Knights, the legendary protectors of the Golden Kingdom. These knights had safeguarded the kingdom through countless dangers, becoming the pillars that upheld the glory and might of one of the greatest kingdoms in the Green World.

The kingdom had decided to open the competition for a new knight, a place among the six elite knights, after one of the current knights retired due to an injury that left him unable to move or fight. He felt he had become a burden to them and withdrew, choosing instead to return to his distant village to live out the remainder of his days in peace, after having given all he could to serve and protect the kingdom.

One of the knights, Captain Orus, known as "The Swift Lightning," tried to persuade his retiring friend, Bryan, the Guardian.

"Are you sure, my friend? Are you sure you want to retire? Why not stay? You won't be a burden, I promise. On the contrary, your experience and the skills you've mastered over the years could be invaluable. You could teach the soldiers; help them benefit from all you've learned."

Bryan responded calmly, his gaze distant as he packed his things.

"No, my friend. It's time to give others the chance to prove themselves, to show their worth. The time for fresh blood has come."

He paused for a moment, looking at his old, battered silver armor, the very one he had received when he first joined the Golden Knights.

Orus spoke again, sensing he could not change his friend's mind.

"You're the type who never changes. You've always been this way. But at least, won't you come and watch the competition? See who wins before you leave?"

Bryan continued to pack, shaking his head.

"As I told you, I've retired, my friend. I'm tired of seeing the battles. I've already booked my carriage; the journey will leave before the competition, anyway."

"Well, if that's what you want. I wish you the best of luck."

Later that evening, Michael wandered through the streets of the Golden Kingdom, eager to explore the city before the competition began. Since he had arrived early, he took the time to observe the participants and gather some information that might be useful. The streets were bustling with energy. He could hear the hum of preparation all around him as the city seemed to pulse with anticipation for the coming challenge.

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That night, after dinner alone in the competitors’ dining hall, Michael returned to his room at the participant’s hotel, his mind filled with thoughts of the upcoming trials.

The next morning, the participants gathered for the opening speech from Captain Orus, the leader of the Golden Knights.

"Greetings to all the participants and warriors from all corners of the world. Welcome to the Golden Kingdom, home to the warriors and heroes who have built this kingdom with their efforts and sacrifices, and whose legacy has endured through the ages. Today, it is my honor to announce, with great pride, the challenge for a new Golden Knight to join our ranks. This challenge will determine the next hero who will become part of our team, to fight for the glory of the Golden Kingdom. So give it your all, and prove who among you is worthy of victory."

He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in before continuing.

"Now, I will hand over the stage to Lady Iliana, the Golden Knight of Fire, who will explain the trials you will face, as well as the rules and instructions you need to follow throughout the tournament."

Orus motioned toward a young woman standing beside him. She was clad in fiery red armor, glowing with an intense heat, and an aura of power seemed to radiate from her. Iliana stepped forward to address the competitors.

"Thank you all for being here. First, you will be divided into teams of three. You will face several challenges as a team, but know this: the winner of this competition will be only one person."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"In the first challenge, each of you will receive an artifact in the shape of a star. This means each team will have three stars. You will be placed in a forest, and your goal is to reach point B from point A with at least two stars still in your possession. You will lose stars if they are destroyed by enemies or competitors, or if a participant dies—if that happens, the star will shatter automatically."

One of the participants raised his hand and asked cautiously,

"Death? Do you mean that participants can kill each other?"

Iliana's expression remained cold and stern as she replied,

"Certainly. What did you expect? This competition is not for the faint of heart or the ordinary. Those who enter must understand that they may lose their lives. If you die, it means you are not fit to endure the hardships of being a Golden Knight. Those who wish to withdraw have the opportunity to do so, but only at the end of the first or third stages."

After she finished speaking, several participants withdrew, having believed that the competition would protect them from fatal injuries if they occurred