20XX. 

The year everything changed. Life flipped upside down, and then upside down again.

The entirety of human civilization was taken over by a single company.

But the world is the same as before. Our lives are the same.

“So why did they do it?” Is a question a lot of people ask me.

It’s quite a simple reason, if you take it at face value.

“To host the grandest fighting tournament the universe has ever seen.”

It’s a fighting tournament held on a massive island called the illusory isle every few years.

But…. perhaps it isn’t quite so simple in reality.

The tournament isn’t the reason I’m here, after all.

The Faire Tournament.

The age of fighting has risen from the ashes, reborn in a grand competition where anything could happen. Fighting styles of all kinds have become commonplace, honed to the point where a master of the arts can dodge a normal .50 cal round without an ounce of effort. The boundaries of what was thought possible have shattered time and time again. Things thought to be impossible, or even supernatural, have emerged before our very eyes. 

This is the Faire Tournament. A place where how one is treated depends solely on one's skills and strength in combat.

We welcome you all to join the fray.

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“So who do you think is going to win this year? For the main tournament that is.” A man asked, talking to the young boy beside him.

“Huh? Are you asking me?” The boy asked, pointing to himself.

“Who else would I be asking? So, your thoughts?” The man chuckled.

“I have no idea, sorry. I’m not from around here, so I don’t actually know much about the tournament, let alone the contestants.” The boy said, shaking his head and shrugging.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Is that so? Is that… so. I see.” The man muttered, looking the boy up and down. 

“W-what’s wrong?” The boy flinched, backing up.

The man grinned, a bright gleam from his darkened left eye causing the boy to swallow nervously.

“You are here for the tournament, right?” The man asked.

Shaking out of the trance he was in, the boy cleared his throat.

“Why else would I be on this stupid island in the middle of nowhere?” The boy grumbled.

“So you didn’t come here because you wanted to?” The man wondered.

“That-” 

The boy started to speak, but he was interrupted by the loud ringing of a bell that drowned out his words.

“Oops! I didn’t realize it was that late already. I need to go. I can guarantee we will meet again soon though, Cor. I’m Laiz. It may have only been for a second, but it was a pleasure talking to you!” Laiz smiled with a wink, putting a card into Cor’s hand and vanishing into thin air the moment Cor blinked.

“Wha-?! Who…” Cor wondered, turning over the card in his hand.

“Laiz L. Flaime, Faire tournaments official referee, announcer, and wow that’s a lot of small text. Oh, he’s an examiner! That would explain why he knows my name. But he shouldn’t recognize me, should he? The applications just opened and the examination hasn’t started yet... Wait, I haven’t even submitted my application.” Cor realized, looking back up and blinking.

Cor sighed.

“Nevermind that. I’m more concerned about how strong he is. I never expected examiners to be that powerful. The look he gave me is giving me chills just remembering it.” Cor shivered.

“Maybe I’m not cut out for this tournament after all if that’s what the other competitors are going to be like.” Cor worried, clutching his head.

“Agh, screw it! I can’t back down now!” Cor shouted.

Punching the wall beside him, Cor took a few deep breaths.

“All I need is to submit my application and I can relax until the examination period- Wait, where’s my application?!” Cor flustered, rushing around the entire room and turning it upside down in his search.

The lights flickered.

“Stop making such a mess, your application is right here.” A girl sighed, holding up a folder.

“Ah! That’s it! Thank you for finding it!” Cor grinned, reaching his hand out.

“Stop talking nonsense.” The girl said, melting into the shadows around her.

“Eh?” Cor blinked, looking around.

“She’s gone? Ow!” Cor shouted, suddenly knocked backward with a palm thrust to the chest and a punch to the jaw.

“Th-this-! Are you invisible?!” Cor gaped, wiping blood from the corner of his lips.

“Close, but no. Try again!” She shouted, 

“Urgh! O-ow... “ Cor murmured, falling to the ground.

“The report was right. You aren’t used to fighting Holders. Perhaps you don't even know what a holder is. Ah, maybe I hit you a bit too hard. I’m not supposed to injure you. Muich." She sighed, appearing before Cor and wiping the blood from his mouth.

"Wait-! Those eyes of yours, let me see them!” The girl said, lifting his chin and staring into Cor’s eyes. 

“W-what do you want from me?” Cor asked.

The girl scowled.

“Come with me.” She said, dragging Cor and melting into the shadows.