Rising Shadows: The Fight for Freedom I

Chapter 103: The Kingdom's Tournament II

The grand arena of Beneto, the capital of the Bailins Kingdom, stands as one of the most magnificent edifices in the city. Constructed from massive, solid stone blocks adorned with exquisite and ornate carvings, it is spacious enough to accommodate the training of an entire army. In fact, soldiers frequently run through this arena, evoking a profound sense of awe and reverence for this architectural marvel.

However, during the Midsummer Flame Festival in June, the throngs of people gathering at the grand arena shift their focus from the building itself to the events unfolding within it-the competitions of the festival.

Starting from June 19, the first day of the Midsummer Flame Festival, the arena hosts a series of competitions. Prior to this, smaller-scale contests are held across various provinces of the Bailins Kingdom, where numerous victors from lower-tier competitions are sent to Beneto to vie for the highest honors.

Yet, regardless of the competition, only twenty participants can advance to the finals, and ultimately, only ten will earn the right to meet His Majesty the King!

Those who step into the Beneto Grand Arena on June 24 and emerge as one of the ten victors will gain immense honor and substantial rewards. Non-combatants will receive generous monetary prizes and may even secure lucrative official positions, while mages will instantly become members of the royal mage corps!

For warriors, if they rank among the top three, they will receive a personal accolade from the King himself, becoming knights of the realm-a title of nobility. "Dahn, you already hold two knightly titles; you surely do not care for this. However, for commoners, it represents their first step into the upper echelons of society, and for the younger sons of minor nobility, it is the best way to maintain their status!"

On this sunlit afternoon, within the grand arena, Ohm and Dahn sit together in the noble's box, eagerly anticipating the upcoming martial competitions.

"What about the offspring of the great nobles? Those who can earn titles through military merit?" Dahn lazily inquired, his gaze fixed on the two lines of warriors entering the arena, clad in resplendent armor and wielding beautifully adorned knightly swords. One warrior's armor and sword were particularly extravagant, yet his face was pale, a stark contrast to his opulent attire.

"Those who can earn military merit... they merely seek the hollow honor that elicits shrieks from ignorant maidens. Ah, isn't that Viscount Obia? Why does he look like a flamboyant peacock?"

Regardless of how Viscount Obia dressed, as the two lines of warriors bowed to His Majesty and exited the arena, the long-awaited competitions were about to commence.

The rules of the martial competition are straightforward: an elimination format where twenty warriors are divided into ten groups. The victors proceed to the next round, with only eleven spots available for the subsequent rankings.

"So, if luck is not on your side and you face a formidable opponent right from the start, even if both of you qualify for the top ten, only one can be knighted?" Dahn asked, observing the first pair of combatants.

"You are correct. If fortune favors you and you encounter a novice, even if you are a rotten tomato, you still have a chance to be rewarded by the King and receive the adoration of the maidens of the capital."

With a resounding clang, the two warriors in the arena clashed. Watching the two combatants, shielded by the Shield of Truth, Dahn suddenly chuckled lightly.

"Heh, cousin, what do you think? If I were to participate in the tournament and contend for the championship title, would I be considered a master or a novice?"

"Well... your martial skills have reached the seventh tier. Compared to Viscount Obia, you would undoubtedly be a master. However, the grand tournament is meant to select talent for the kingdom. Although your age falls within the competition's criteria, those of mid-tier professions and above are not permitted to participate."