Carter arrived at Jake's house, practically vibrating with excitement about his invitation to the Athenaeum Games. He knocked on the door vigorously, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

"Coming!" Elizabeth called out as she approached the door, already aware of Carter's impending visit thanks to Jake. She opened the door with a welcoming smile.

"Hi, Mrs. Harada. I'm looking for Jake," Carter said, barely able to stand still.

"Hi, Carter. Jake is waiting for you too. Please come in," Elizabeth replied warmly.

"Thanks, Mrs. Harada," Carter said, rushing past her into the living room without further ado. He found Jake and Fumio deep in conversation about the upcoming competition.

"Jake, did you get the invitation to the Athenaeum Games?" Carter asked, concern mingling with his excitement.

Jake grinned broadly. "Yes, I did! We both made it in! We're going again!"

Just then, Luna emerged from her room, having spent the morning secretly working on her research about the seven swords. She had noticed the commotion in the living room and decided to investigate. As she entered, she saw the excitement on Carter's and Jake's faces.

"Hey, Luna! You're finally up," Jake said, noticing her tired eyes. "You look exhausted."

"I came out because I heard Carter's voice. What's all the commotion about?" Luna asked, curiosity piqued.

"We're both in the Athenaeum Games! It's something to celebrate!" Carter exclaimed.

Luna's brow furrowed slightly. "What are the Athenaeum Games?" she asked, unfamiliar with the competition from her time.

"Oh, sorry! Let me explain," Carter said, eager to fill her in. He began explaining with enthusiasm. "The Athenaeum Games is an annual prestigious fighting tournament, celebrating achievements in various sports categories. It's a charity fight where the winner gets to choose a charity to receive a $1 million donation and also wins a sponsored scholarship. There are no prizes for the runner-up, but participants gain huge exposure, attracting sponsorships and advertising opportunities."

He continued, "The competition follows a double-elimination format. Each participant must lose twice to be eliminated. It works like this: all participants start in the upper bracket. Losers move to the lower bracket, while winners continue in the upper bracket. In the lower bracket, a participant is eliminated after their second loss. The final match is between the winners of the upper and lower brackets. If the lower bracket winner beats the upper bracket winner, they face off again to determine the champion."

Carter's eyes shone as he described the details. "A total of 16 participants from different sports disciplines will compete, with only one final winner."

Hearing about the competition, Luna felt a sense of relief wash over her. This would keep Jake and Carter busy and away from the dangers of hunting for the seven swords. "I guess you guys will be busy with the tournament for the time being?" she asked, a hint of hope in her voice.

"Yes, Jake and I need to prepare. Hopefully, one of us will win the grand prize," Carter said confidently.

Luna smiled, her worries easing. "I hope I can experience firsthand you all competing in this competition!" she said, genuinely excited.

"Yeah, Luna! You and the rest of the family are definitely invited to watch," Jake assured her, looking at both Luna and his parents.

Elizabeth and Fumio shared a proud look. "We wouldn't miss it for the world," Fumio said, his voice filled with pride and encouragement.

With that, the room buzzed with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming Athenaeum Games. Jake felt a renewed sense of purpose, ready to embrace this new challenge with the support of his friends and family.

"Hey Jake, how about we go for a sparring session to prepare for the games?" Carter asked eagerly, itching for a friendly match with Jake since it had been quite a while since their last session.

"You bet! Let's head to the backyard," Jake agreed enthusiastically, ready to take on Carter's challenge.

Elizabeth, overhearing their plans, looked up from her ironing with concern. "You two boys, please be careful not to injure yourselves before the tournament, okay?"

"Yeah, stay safe," Fumio echoed, his tone firm but supportive.

"It'll be interesting to watch you both fight," Luna chimed in, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I'll be there to monitor. If anything gets too serious, I'll stop the fight."

"Don't worry, Luna. Carter and I know our limits. And no hard feelings, Carter, if I beat you in the sparring session!" Jake said, grinning.

"We'll see about that!" Carter shot back, a competitive glint in his eyes.

With excitement in the air, Jake, Carter, and Luna moved to the backyard of the Harada residence, ready for their sparring session.

The backyard was spacious and green, an ideal place for a friendly bout. Jake grabbed his trusty baseball bat, twirling it confidently, while Carter stretched his muscles, preparing for the match.

Stolen novel; please report.

Luna stood to the side, her eyes sharp and attentive. "Remember, guys, this is just practice. No need to go all out."

"Got it, Luna," Jake said, assuming a ready stance. "Ready when you are, Carter."

Carter nodded, gripping his hockey stick tightly. "Let's do this!"

Jake initiated the sparring with a quick advance, swinging his bat in a wide arc. Carter parried with his hockey stick, the clash of wood on wood resonating through the yard.

"Nice block!" Jake complimented, spinning on his heel with a whish of fabric to deliver another strike. The crack of wood on wood echoed through the yard as Carter parried with his hockey stick, the impact sending a jolt up Jake's arms.

Carter dodged and countered with a swift jab of his own. "Thanks, but I'm not letting you win that easily!"

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/8e/Jake_Harada_performing_Slide_dodge%2C_uses_a_sliding_motion_to_dodge_attacks_and_reposition_himself_strategically.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/c/c4/Jake_Harada_performing_Home_Run_Swing%2C_swinging_his_baseball_bat_with_exceptional_power%2C_aiming_to_knock_out_opponents_or_send_projectiles_back.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/3/3b/Hockey_Stick_Sweep.png] image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/7/79/Power_Check.png]

The two boys moved with agility and precision, each demonstrating their unique styles. Jake utilized his dexterity, executing moves like the Slide Dodge to evade Carter's strikes and counter with his Home Run Swing. Carter, on the other hand, showcased his athletic prowess, using his Hockey Stick Sweep to create space and his Power Check to push Jake back.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/9/9d/Slapshot_Smash.png]

"Watch out, Jake!" Luna called out, a bead of sweat trickling down her temple as she watched Carter wind up for a Slapshot Smash.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/1/1a/Jake_Harada_performing_Bunt_Block%2C_using_the_bat_like_a_shield%2C_Jake_can_deflect_incoming_attacks_with_a_quick%2C_precise_bunt.png]

The force of the swing whipped a gust of wind through her hair. Jake reacted instantly, deflecting the powerful strike with his bat using his Bunt Block to absorb the impact. A satisfying thwack resonated through the yard, sending shivers up Jake's arms as his muscles tensed with the effort. "Nice try, Carter. But I've got more tricks up my sleeve!"

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/e/e5/Fastball_Flick.png]

He followed up with a quick Fastball Flick, sending small objects hurtling towards Carter, who skillfully deflected them with his hockey stick.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/5/5f/Rink_Runner%E2%80%99s_Rush.png]

"Not bad, Jake. But how about this?" Carter grinned, executing his Rink Runner's Rush to close the distance quickly, catching Jake off guard.

The intensity of the match increased, but both boys were clearly enjoying themselves. They exchanged moves and counters, their laughter interspersed with the sounds of their sparring.

"You're getting better, Carter!" Jake said, breathing heavily but smiling.

"Same to you, Jake! This is awesome!" Carter replied, equally winded but exhilarated.

Luna watched closely, ready to intervene if necessary, but she could see that both boys were in control and respecting each other's limits.

After several more exchanges, both Jake and Carter stepped back, panting heavily. They locked eyes, silently agreeing to end the match.

"Call it a draw?" Jake suggested, extending his hand.

"Yeah, a draw," Carter agreed, shaking Jake's hand firmly. "That was intense!"

The boys laughed, collapsing onto the grass to catch their breath. "I can't wait for the real tournament," Jake said, looking up at the sky with a satisfied grin.

"Me neither," Carter replied, his excitement undiminished. "But if it's anything like this, it's going to be amazing."

Luna smiled, relieved and amused by their camaraderie. "You two did great. Now, let's head inside and get some rest. You've both earned it."

"Do you know which other sports and contestants are in this tournament too?" Jake asked, his curiosity piqued as he wanted to know more about the competition.

"Hmm, I'm not entirely sure," Carter admitted, scratching his head. "But there's a meet and greet party this coming weekend that we need to attend. We'll get to meet the other contestants there."

"Really? What's the purpose of the meet and greet?" Jake inquired, intrigued.

"The organizers will introduce us to the media and let them spread the news about the tournament worldwide," Carter explained. "We're going to be on national TV!"

"Woah, I had no idea it was that big," Jake said, clearly surprised. He had thought the tournament was a small-scale event within the US. "Thanks for reminding me, I didn't know about the meet and greet."

"Yes! This tournament is international," Carter continued, his enthusiasm evident. "They invite the best students from different sports categories around the world. The organizers are even covering the accommodation and flight tickets for all participants."

Jake's eyes widened in amazement. "Wow, that's incredible! I didn't realize it was such a prestigious event. It's not going to be easy, though. We're going to have to practice really hard if we want to win."

"I agree," Carter said, nodding seriously. "But with our skills and determination, I believe we stand a good chance. Let's give it our best shot."

Jake smiled, feeling a surge of determination. "Absolutely. We've got this. We'll train hard and give it everything we've got."

Carter grinned back. "I'm glad we're in this together, Jake. It's going to be an unforgettable experience, no matter what."

The two friends continued discussing their plans for the tournament, their excitement growing with each passing moment. They talked about their training routines, strategies, and even speculated about the possible challenges they might face from other contestants.

Elizabeth and Fumio, listening in from the kitchen, exchanged proud smiles. "Our boy is really growing up," Elizabeth said softly, her eyes shining with pride.

Fumio nodded, his expression reflecting the same sentiment. "He's ready for this. And with a friend like Carter by his side, he's got all the support he needs."

As the conversation between Jake and Carter continued, Luna quietly observed them, feeling a mix of relief and happiness. She was glad that the boys had something positive to focus on, something that kept them away from the dangers of hunting for the seven swords.

"I really hope one of us wins," Jake said, his voice filled with determination.

"We'll see about that," Carter replied, playfully nudging Jake. "But no matter what happens, we'll make sure to give it our all and enjoy every moment."

With their spirits high and their goals set, Jake and Carter knew that the road ahead would be challenging but rewarding. The Athenaeum Games were more than just a competition; they were a chance to grow, learn, and showcase their talents on a global stage. And they were ready to embrace this opportunity together.