"STOP!" A loud voice resounded across the room, and Harden and Wang both froze in their tracks.
"What the hell are you knuckleheads doing? You shouldn't push yourselves before the fight," Corey said with a frustrated expression.
"We were just… just having a light warm-up," Harden replied.
"Well, that's enough warm-up for now. Get some rest," Corey ordered. "Now that that's out of the way, let's get down to business. All the other participants for the tournament have arrived, and the competition starts tomorrow.
"The tournament begins at 10 a.m., but you'll need to be up as early as six to get your gear, prepare, and clear any complications. Since I'm a denizen of the Southern Continent, I'll be rooting for you. I know it goes without saying, but failure isn't an option. That'll be all for now, so get some rest."
"Understood," Raizo said.
"We weren't planning on failing anyway," Harden added with a smile.
I wonder what continent Rory's from… guess I'll find out tomorrow, Harden thought. Although Corey said we should relax, I can't get cocky. Who knows how many strong opponents I'll face tomorrow? I'd better add some last-minute training.
As if reading his thoughts, Raizo placed a hand on Harden's shoulder. "Relax. We've all trained and gotten this far. If you overwork yourself, you won't be at a hundred percent."
"It's that easy to read me, huh?" Harden said, smiling.
"Yep. Your mind's like an open book," Raizo replied.
---
The next morning, Harden was the last to wake. He hadn't gotten much sleep the night before due to a mix of excitement and nervousness. After getting dressed, he joined his friends in the common room, where they were already talking.
"Big day, huh?" Raizo said, glancing at Harden.
"I guess so."
"I honestly didn't think you'd be the last to wake," Amy teased.
"Yeah, me neither," Harden chuckled nervously.
The door slammed open, and Corey walked in. "Looks like you guys are all set. Follow me. I'll lead you to the backstage area where you'll prepare for the tournament." He handed each of them an ID card. "These will be essential for entering backstage and collecting your gear, so don't lose them."
He led the group to the backstage area. "Well then, this is where I bid you goodbye," Corey said before leaving.
Upon entering, a female receptionist guided the group to the check-in counter. They collected their gear and were given a red armband with the letter S on it.
"This signifies your continent," she explained, leading them down a hall into a large room where other participants were already waiting. The hall resembled a gym, with training equipment scattered everywhere.
"I guess this is meant for a last-minute warm-up," Kyle commented.
Harden scanned the room. His eyes locked onto Kanye and his goons, who immediately broke into a sweat as if they'd seen a ghost. Harden noticed the W on their armbands.
"I guess they're from the Western Continent," he muttered. He glanced at the two boys behind Kanye, both wearing jagged cloaks. They look tough… they might give me a run for my money.
He turned his gaze to the Eastern Continent's group, where one figure stood out.
"Whoa, that guy's weapon is a scythe," Harden said.
"I wonder what his class is," Kyle added.
"His teammates are no joke either," Wang observed.
"Still… he's not the one you're looking for, is he?" Amy asked.
"No, he's not," Harden replied. His eyes shifted to the entrance. "There he is."
A teenager entered, his platinum hair and blood-red eyes making him stand out instantly.
"Rory!" Harden said with excitement.
As the Northern Continent's group walked in, Harden paid attention only to Rory, his eyes locked on him.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. I might take him down before you get the chance," Raizo teased with a grin.
Just then, the large screen on the wall lit up, showing a live feed of the arena.
"Welcome to the Annual Rookie Tournament!" the announcer shouted, and the crowd erupted in cheers. "I'm Mark, and I'll be your announcer. In a few minutes, the event will begin. Don't forget to place your bets on fighters and even on entire continents through our website—who knows, you might be the lucky winner!"
The cheers grew louder.
"Now, without further ado, let the tournament begin!" Mark declared.