The morning sun gently filled my room, its warmth softly brushing my face. Slowly opening my eyes, I stretched with a satisfied groan, savoring the soothing feeling of a full night’s rest.

After yesterday’s eventful day, this sleep had done wonders for me. I felt ready to tackle whatever challenges awaited me today.

Pushing aside the covers, I got up with determination and began gathering my belongings. The tournament hosted by King Gaspar was about to begin, and I couldn’t afford to delay.

Once dressed and prepared, I left the inn and hurried to the stables, where my faithful steed was waiting. My horse neighed happily as I approached, clearly eager to hit the road again.

“All right, my friend, time to go,” I said, stroking his neck affectionately.

After ensuring that all my gear was securely in place, I mounted my horse and set off, riding through the streets of Valoria toward the royal palace.

On the way, I noticed many others heading in the same direction, most of them on horseback and armed. Clearly, these were the other participants in the tournament.

A confident smile spread across my face. Perfect. This would give me a chance to size up the competition. While I had little doubt about the outcome, it never hurt to know who you were up against.

As I reached the palace’s outskirts, I was led with the other participants to the entrance of the royal arena, where a man in ceremonial attire awaited us.

“Welcome, noble champions, to King Gaspar’s grand tournament!” he announced loudly. “Please enter and take your places—the event will begin shortly.”

With those words, the arena gates opened, inviting us inside. Urging my horse forward, I followed the other participants, taking in the surroundings with curiosity.

The arena was a vast circular structure, its stands richly adorned. At its center stretched a racecourse that led into a nearby forest.

The stands were packed with a cheering crowd, their excitement palpable. At the very top, in a private box, sat King Gaspar himself. His dark, unreadable gaze swept over us, exuding an aura of authority.

A shiver ran through me despite myself, and I quickly looked away, focusing instead on the instructions being given by the announcer.

“Well, my friends, here is the first challenge of our tournament!” he declared solemnly. “It will be an obstacle race through Valoria’s forest. Your goal is to cross the finish line as quickly as possible without touching or damaging any of the obstacles along the way.”

He paused, his stern gaze scanning the gathered contestants.

“Of course, the use of magic is strictly forbidden. Anyone caught using their powers will be immediately disqualified. Understood?”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, and I nodded firmly. There was no way I was getting caught breaking the rules. I needed to stay focused on my physical abilities alone.

“Excellent. In that case, step forward and select your mounts for the race,” the announcer continued, gesturing toward a row of finely equipped horses.

Moving deliberately, I approached the lineup, carefully inspecting the available horses. They were strong and well-trained, perfectly suited for this type of challenge. Yet, I couldn’t help but glance at my own horse, whom I’d left aside.

“Don’t worry, my friend,” I whispered, patting his neck reassuringly. “I’ll only use these horses for the race. You’ll be by my side for the rest.”

Satisfied with my decision, I chose one of the provided mounts and quickly equipped myself. Once ready, I joined the other contestants, waiting for the signal to start with barely contained anticipation.

Stolen story; please report.

When the announcer raised his arm to signal the start of the race, a thrill of excitement shot through me. Digging my heels into the horse’s sides, I surged forward, weaving my way through the group.

The race quickly took us onto a winding path through the forest, where a series of obstacles awaited: fallen logs, trenches, rocks… Each one demanded sharp focus to navigate without error.

Dodging and weaving skillfully between the other riders, I soon made my way into the leading pack. But just as I was about to seize the lead, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, my horse reared up, kicking violently before veering off course. Taken by surprise, I clung on with all my strength, narrowly avoiding being thrown off.

“What’s wrong with him?!” I exclaimed, struggling to regain control.

To my shock, I noticed that one of the horse’s shoes was broken, causing it to limp. Someone had clearly sabotaged my mount.

Fuming, I scanned the crowd of riders around me, searching for the culprit.

“Damn it! Who did this?!” I growled under my breath, but in the chaos of the race, it was impossible to pinpoint anyone.

Left with no other choice, I slowed down, relinquishing my position at the front. Frustrated, I made a snap decision to dismount and continue the race on foot.

“So be it,” I muttered, activating one of my abilities.

[Skill Activated: Mana Amplification]

Drawing from my reserves of energy, I felt a surge of mana course through my body, instantly enhancing my speed and reflexes a hundredfold.

With this newfound acceleration, I could easily catch up to the others. Tightening my grip on my weapon, I dashed into the forest, moving at a superhuman pace.

Trees and obstacles blurred past me as I sped through the course, maintaining perfect control over my movements. Leaping with precision, I cleared trenches and rocks effortlessly, barely touching the ground.

In no time, I overtook the other competitors, passing them one by one like they were standing still. Only a few riders managed to keep up, but I soon outpaced their mounts as well.

Breaking free of the forest, I reentered the arena far ahead of the others, crossing the finish line in a flash. Coming to an abrupt halt, I took a moment to catch my breath.

Around me, the crowd erupted into applause, stunned by my performance. The other participants arrived much later, their faces showing clear signs of exhaustion.

The announcer, visibly astonished, approached me with wide eyes.

“My… my friends, here is the winner of the first challenge!” he stammered, dramatically raising my arm. “Young Griffith, who has achieved an astonishing feat!”

The applause swelled again, though I could feel a mix of admiration and hostility in the spectators’ gazes. In the royal box, King Gaspar watched me with a dark, inscrutable expression.

I met his gaze without flinching, refusing to be intimidated. I had conquered the first challenge despite attempts to sabotage me. Now, it was time to move on to the next.

“Well done, young man! A truly remarkable performance!” came a sudden voice beside me.

Turning, I saw a well-dressed man with a friendly face and an approving smile. His lavish attire suggested he was one of the nobles involved in organizing the tournament.

“I must say, we didn’t expect such a display of your abilities,” he continued, eyeing me with a mix of surprise and admiration. “You’ve left us all speechless!”

I nodded modestly, though a flicker of pride stirred within me.

“Thank you, my lord. But I can’t take all the credit. Someone sabotaged my horse, forcing me to finish the race on foot,” I explained calmly.

The noble’s smile faded into a frown.

“Sabotage? That’s most unfortunate. Rest assured, we will investigate this matter thoroughly and punish the culprit,” he declared firmly.

I gave him a respectful nod, feeling somewhat reassured. It seemed the tournament organizers wouldn’t tolerate such dishonesty.

“Well then, congratulations once again on your victory,” the noble said with a smile. “Take this time to rest. The next challenge will be even more grueling.”

With that, he walked away, leaving me alone in the center of the arena. Glancing at the other competitors struggling to cross the finish line, I couldn’t help but smirk.

“Looks like I’ve gained a serious advantage,” I thought, returning to my horse, who waited patiently nearby.

Patting its neck, I inspected it closely, relieved to find it unharmed.