Hiroshi arrived at Satoru's house early in the morning. He had breakfast with the family, and as soon as they finished eating, the trio set out for the inner part of the city.

Despite the early hours, the streets were filled with people. Regular citizens bustled about, and there were many members of various clans present as well, acting as guards to maintain order and provide assistance.

Initially, Ren thought it would be a challenge to navigate through the crowd, but he soon realized that he was mistaken. Those who didn't belong to any clans showed respect for the clan members, making way for them. Consequently, the trio encountered no issues on their way.

The three eventually reached the stadium complex, which was enclosed by a wall with multiple entrances. Most of these entrances were blocked by crowds, but a few had almost nobody but guards around.

"This way," Satoru guided them toward one of the less crowded gates.

Ren soon learned that these were special entrances for important individuals, and the fact that he was participating in the tournament qualified him and his companions for this privilege. The guards didn't obstruct their path and allowed them entry with just a glance at their faces, particularly Ren's.

On the other side of the gate, Ren saw several large buildings, but none could compare to the colossal stadium. It wasn't particularly tall but covered a vast area. The walls were made of something resembling concrete, painted white, although time had left its mark on them. There was also additional wooden construction on top, serving as a partial roof, with the center of the stadium appearing to be left open.

The stadium had numerous entrances. Most were swarmed by countless people, stretching in long lines beyond the walls, but one was relatively clear, although it had a sizable group of guards.

As they approached one of these entrances, they were asked to identify themselves and then allowed to enter.

Inside, they found a vast hall with a high ceiling supported by sturdy pillars, each adorned with several buzzing lamps at the top that illuminated the space beautifully. Several corridors branched off from the hall, and the central area featured waiting areas with two sofas and a table each.

There were even water and glasses prepared for those waiting. Many people were already occupying these spaces, representing various clans. Ren observed kimonos of different colors, indicating different factions. Among them, he noticed the black attire of the Noroi clan, the white lab coats of the Hayashi clan, and the dark blues of the Tachibana clan. Additionally, he saw individuals wearing bronze long coats, sturdy leather jackets, and clothing resembling tang suits, mostly in dark green or red, but also often white.

"Let's find a place for ourselves and wait," Satoru suggested.

"Mhm," Hiroshi murmured his agreement.

Ren followed Satoru and Hiroshi as they selected an empty spot among the crowd and sat down. It provided him with an opportunity to continue his observations, and he soon noticed a different group of people passing by. They were led by several guards and wore long white cloaks with blue edges, each sporting a massive straw hat that concealed their heads and faces, much like the stranger Ren had met earlier.

Hiroshi noticed Ren's gaze and explained quietly, "Those are visitors from Thessara, a city similar to Hikarimura. Each year, there is a delegation that observes the tournament. This year, we sent one to them, and they sent one to us."

Ren was curious to learn more but was interrupted by a woman wearing a long pink kimono. She held a device that resembled a makeshift megaphone.

"Participants and guests, please follow me!" she announced through the device, which distorted her voice with a characteristic crackling.

As if they were soldiers receiving orders, everyone stood up and began walking toward her. She waited briefly before turning around and leading the group into one of the corridors. The corridor was quite long and opened into a large round chamber spanning three entire floors. Staircases provided access to rooms on each level, and paths circumvented the entire chamber. Numerous buzzing lamps on the walls illuminated the space brightly.

When they reached the middle of the chamber, where a gathering area was situated with benches, the woman turned to address the group.

"This is the preliminary waiting area. The rooms are prepared for you. Your names are on the doors. Please go there and wait. Each room has refreshments and access to a bathroom, so you'll have everything you need. You will be notified when the ceremony starts through the speakers inside the rooms. After receiving the notification, please return to the main hall, where we just came from, and from there, you will be taken to the stadium for the inauguration ceremony," she explained. "Since we might not see each other, good luck. I hope you'll give it your all," she concluded with a smile and then departed, circling around the crowd.

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Murmurs spread among the participants and guests, and people began splitting off from the group to find their respective rooms.

"Let's go," said Satoru, leading the way as the trio searched for their designated waiting area. It happened to be on the second level, so they climbed a set of stairs.

Inside, they found a spacious room with a large couch for sitting or reclining, a table with snacks and water, and four chairs. A single lamp on the ceiling provided light. Ren also noticed speakers in each corner of the room. It clearly was a functional space, as the walls were left raw, and undecorated. In addition, there was also a door labeled "Bathroom," leading to another space.

Hiroshi suggested, "Let's take a seat and wait. It might take more than an hour. There are plenty of people who want to watch, and they all need to take their seats." He settled on the couch, and Satoru followed suit without a word. Ren decided to explore the room. He examined the snacks and had a glass of water, which then led him to the bathroom due to his nervousness.

The wait felt long and tedious, but it eventually came to an end, announced through the speakers as expected. A foreign voice crackled over the speakers, saying, "Participants! Please direct yourselves to the main hall. The ceremony will start shortly!"

Satoru promptly stood up, and the others followed suit, leaving their rooms and heading to the main hall. They were among the first to exit, proceeding to the main hall. There, they were greeted by several guards who allowed only the participants to follow them, leading them down a different corridor that led to the center of the stadium. Meanwhile, the guests were left behind.

The corridor was well-lit and ended at a large open gate. A cacophony of noise emanated from that direction. The audience was shouting, whistling, and cheering. Different clans proudly displayed flags with symbols representing their families and waved them from the stands. Some in the audience tried to shout the names of their favorite competitors, adding to the overall din.

In the center of the arena stood a man with long black hair wearing a white robe and a pointed hat. His facial features were soft, and his skin was pale. He appeared calm and serene, but his age was difficult to discern. In one moment, he seemed to be at least forty, and in the next, he appeared no older than twenty.

He was surrounded by four women, one of whom Ren recognized as the woman in the pink kimono who had guided them to the waiting area. Ren wondered if they were members of his family or simply staff. ‘Or perhaps,’ he thought, ‘they might be his wives, given their remarkable beauty.’

His musings were cut short as the guards instructed all the participants to form several rows behind the man. They complied, and the Divine Sovereign raised his hand, silencing the raucous stands instantly. The audience even took their seats.

The Divine Sovereign began to speak, his voice surprisingly soft yet clearly audible throughout the stadium. Ren couldn't help but wonder if there was some form of magic amplifying his voice.

"Citizens of Hikarimura!" he began, his words carrying weight. "We gather here today, as we do every year, to find the best among the next generation of warriors, the protectors of this city. Those young prodigies behind me will today undergo the preliminary round to find the best twenty warriors! From these warriors, in two rounds of ruthless competition, only five will be selected as candidates! To them, wealth, fame, and power will be granted! This year, as in many other years, young brides have offered themselves as wives to the candidates! Let them enter the stadium!"

After the Divine Sovereign's words, a group of women from every clan, as their clothing suggested, emerged from the same gate through which Ren and the others had entered. They all looked beautiful, some naturally so and others enhanced by makeup, stylish hair, and exquisite clothing. It was a big difference compared to when he had the pleasure of seeing them before – in their black kimonos with white flowers imprinted on the fabric. Everywoman walked past the rows of candidates, making eye contact with each one. Ren's heart raced as he knew that his wife was among these girls. His instincts were right, and she appeared before him, offering a brief smile as their eyes met.

At that moment, Ren's determination was solidified. He no longer cared about anything else; all he wanted was to win. While he returned the smile, he also promised himself that he would do whatever it took to succeed.

As the women participating in the competition passed by, most of the husband candidates were focused on their own prospective brides. Ren couldn't help but wonder why there wasn't a similar display for the women to choose their future husbands. However, his thoughts were interrupted by the Divine Sovereign's voice.

"Please applaud these brave young women, eager to bring us the next generation of great warriors!" The stands erupted in applause. Accompanied by all the noise, the women left through the same gate they had entered. "Now!" The Divine Sovereign's slightly louder command cut through the applause. He and the four women turned to face the participants. "The tournament begins! Good luck, young warriors! Make Hikarimura proud!"

With those words, the Divine Sovereign swiftly departed, and the guards immediately instructed the participants to follow them. As the stands once again resounded with chants and the clan flags fluttered, the participants were led back inside the stadium, to the main hall, and from there, back to the waiting area.

"Wait in your rooms until you hear your name through the speakers. If you are called out, you go to the arena for your duel," one of the guards instructed upon their return to the large chamber, then their spread taking various spots to keep watch.

Without wasting any time spent roaming around, Ren headed for his room where he found Hiroshi already inside, sitting on the couch. The doctor got up when he saw Ren.

"Good luck," Hiroshi said with a smile. "Satoru is already in the stands. I'll be joining him. We will keep track of every match so we can hopefully warn you about your next opponent."

"Thanks," Ren replied, forcing a smile.

"I know you feel nervous, but you will do great," Hiroshi reassured him before leaving.

Contrary to what the doctor said, Ren didn't feel anxious. After seeing his wife, he felt a newfound confidence, which he found slightly unsettling. It felt out of place, almost wrong. But he pushed those feelings aside and sat on the couch.

There was not much to do, so he opted to keep a clear head before his time to fight came. To achieve that he closed his eyes to meditate and focus his mind on the upcoming challenges.