Midday arrived quickly.
The noise in the stands grew like an inevitable wave.
Countless voices shouted, anxious, mixing the names of favorite ranked fighters, provocations, last-minute bets, and cries of pure excitement.
The Cloud Coliseum was completely packed, tens of thousands of spectators filling every visible tier, flags fluttering, spiritual lanterns blinking in patterns of support. The air vibrated with expectation.
There were ten minutes left until the official start of the fights.
A man appeared at the center of the main arena.
He emerged from nowhere, a step that crossed the space as if the air had opened for him. Tall, thin, black robes with golden edges, a short gray beard, and piercing eyes that seemed to see through anyone. He released his cultivation for a brief instant.
Peak of the Spiritual Awakening Realm.
