The tournament was in full swing, far louder and more intense than I initially expected.
The air itself felt heavy with excitement, filled with overlapping voices, cheers, and the occasional roar when someone landed a decisive blow. Everywhere I looked, people were packed tightly together, eyes glued to the platforms as if missing even a second would be a crime. The energy never dipped, not even for a moment.
The tournament was being conducted across four separate platforms, each one hosting its own series of matches. Right now, I was assigned to the second platform.
This was already my third battle for the day. My muscles were still warm, my breathing steady, and my focus sharp. After this fight, the schedule would pause for me until tomorrow, where another three battles were lined up and waiting. It wasn't exactly light work, but it was manageable.
The organizers were ruthless when it came to progression.
