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.

He was escorted by his instructors as they made their way to the lower levels, walking towards an opening into the arena of the Martial Contest.

"... And now, we invite sixteen representatives of the Martial Contest to the stage!"

Rui heard a loud projected voice say.

"From the Fellen branch, representative Mia Marnt!"

Rui saw Fiona enter the Colosseum arena, walking quickly as she reached the stage.

The host called upon all of them one-by-one.

When it was Rui's turn, he felt a huge wave of emotional energy hit into him when he walked out in the open in front of God-knew-how-many people. The crowd cheered for him loudly much to his surprise, it seems his accomplishments and position overshadowed his odd and ominous hair and eyes.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there they are! The sixteen 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 then put your money where your mouth is!"

The crowd roared in approval!

Rui suppressed an expression of amusement.

He had momentarily forgotten that the Martial Contest was part of a festival.

And festivals were fun. And were supposed to have fun activities.

Gambling was one of them.

He shook his head inwardly.

"... And without further ado, let us decide the matchups! As you all know, this is an elimiantion tournament where half the contestants will be knocked out every round! We will decide the matchups that will knock over every contest via random draws.

Soon a board with a 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 in it.

"Representatives!" he addressed the sixteen of them energetically. "Within the concealed box lies numbers from one to sixteen. Reach into the hole and pick a chit. The number on the chit will be the slot that you will be partaking in!"

It was structured 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 so forth till the sixteenth slot.

He gestured to the box. "In the order that you were called please. Representative Mia Marnt! Please step forward and pick a number!"

Mia stepped forward, walking towards the box. She picked a chit, unfolding it.

"Eleven." She said, holding the chit up.

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

One-by-one they all went up, picked a chit and got slotted accordingly.

The results were interesting, to say the least.

Match one: Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Vyoming Hurin

Match two: Esfand Hanax vs Freund Gamor

Match three: Arjun Erigaisi vs Servil Bisha

Match Four: Rui Quarrier vs Surman Marliak

Match five: Ferlicia Ernand vs Askin Nodt

Match six: Mia Marnt vs Ana Mariane

Match seven: Bryson Harth vs Kaerts Omegde

Match eight: Fiona Roschem vs Derk Sermont

Rui had been drawn number seven and had been paired against Surman Marliak, who had drawn eight. They were to fight in the fourth match.

He glanced over at the other matchups, noting ones he was interested in. The very first match featured Ian Nepomniachtchi. If Rui and Ian both won twice, they would face each other in the quarterfinals.

The one he was most interested in was Fiona. She was way over on the other block. They would both need to win thrice to face each other in the finals.

"...And with that the opening ceremony has concluded!" The host rambled on. "The first match of the first round will begin soon! Be sure to be at your seats with your snacks and drinks shortly or you'll miss it! Representatives, please head back to your quarters and be prepared."

They dispersed back to the entrances. Rui immediately ran into Squire Kyrie and Dylon.

"Your first matchup is interesting."

"Interesting Indeed." Rui replied with a barely contained smirk.