Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water

Chapter 74: Free For All

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Lassim’s royal suite at the Golden Goblet Inn, casting a warm glow over the luxurious furnishings.

Lassim woke up to the soft chirping of birds outside and the faint hustle and bustle of the city beginning its day.

Stretching his limbs, Lassim rose from the comfortable bed, feeling refreshed and eager for the day ahead. He glanced out the window, catching a glimpse of the vibrant streets below as they came alive with activity.

Hallen, already dressed in his usual traveling attire, greeted Lassim as he stepped out of his suite with a smile. "Good morning, Young Master! It’s great you’re already awake. I was just about to knock. Are you ready for today’s event?"

Lassim nodded eagerly, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Absolutely! I can’t wait to see the tournament."

Zaphy and Mari also sent a mental thought sharing their excitement and eagerness through their connection. He was starting to feel more and more of their emotions and feelings as time went on.

With breakfast on their minds, they made their way down to the inn’s dining area, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air.

The inn’s staff had set up a small breakfast station near the entrance, offering a variety of egg and meat sandwiches to the guests.

Lassim and Hallen approached the friendly vendor, who greeted them with a warm smile.

"Good morning! Would you like to try our special egg and boar meat sandwiches? They’re perfect for a quick and hearty breakfast," the vendor offered, trying to make another sale of his mouthwatering sandwiches on display on the wooden trays.

Lassim’s stomach rumbled at the tempting sight and aroma. "That sounds delicious! We’ll take two, please," he replied, exchanging a few coins for the sandwiches.

As they received their sandwiches they stepped to the side to enjoy their breakfast.

With a lull in customers, the vendor struck up a conversation, "Considering that you’re staying here at the inn, I reckon you two heading to the Martial Tournament today?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

Lassim nodded, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Yes, we are! We’re looking forward to it. Do you know much about it? I was curious about the Spirit Growth Tournament mainly, so that’s what our plan is to see today. Although, I don’t really know much about the format or how it works."

The vendor’s face lit up as he explained, "Of course! That makes sense with you being at the Spirit Growth stage. It must be nice having family able to take you around and show you such an exciting time. If you’re curious to know more, I’ll gladly explain."

"The Spirit Growth Tournament is divided into three main stages, each exciting and fun in their own right. The Spirit Growth stage’s first round is the largest, accommodating a massive number of participants."

He gestured animatedly as he continued, "It’s a free-for-all round where, typically, nearly 500 cultivators compete. The goal is to be among the last ten standing. Anyone who surrenders, gets knocked out of the arena, is severely injured, or knocked unconscious is teleported away to the medical pavilion underground by the array system that protects the fighters.

It’s an ingenious system created by the array masters the Mayor hired."

Lassim listened intently, intrigued by the tournament’s intensity. "So, it’s a battle royale of sorts until only ten participants remain," he summarized, taking another bite of his sandwich.

"Exactly!" the vendor exclaimed, pleased with Lassim’s understanding. "Once the top ten are determined, they move on to individual duels in a single-round elimination format. The last one standing is crowned the winner of the Spirit Growth stage."

Hallen nodded in approval, impressed by the vendor’s accurate detailed telling of the event; some of which he had forgotten since he last visited the town. "And what about the final challenge? I remember there’s a special opponent that the winner has to face, if I recall correctly? Do you know what or who it is this month?"

The vendor grinned mischievously. "Ah, yes. The final challenge is always a surprise. It could be a powerful monster, a cultivator with notoriety like a prince, or even a former champion from previous months. Changing it each month keeps things exciting and unpredictable, which is great for last minute betting. The crowd is so thoroughly amped up when the challenger is revealed."

Finishing their breakfast and thanking the vendor for the information, Lassim and Hallen made their way out of the inn towards the venue. The anticipation of the tournament building with each of Lassim’s step.

The martial arts venue itself was located on the outskirts of town, a grand arena designed specifically for hosting the monthly tournaments.

As they approached, the sheer size and grandeur of the arena took Lassim’s breath away. It seemed like everything in this town was the textbook definition of showing off or flaunting wealth.

Massive stone arches adorned the entrance, leading to a sprawling courtyard where cultivators from all walks of life and different wealth brackets gathered, their excitement palpable in the air.

As Lassim and Hallen went down the steps and entered into the actual martial arts venue, they were greeted by a spectacle that took Lassim’s breath away.

The Martial Tournament was set up to be held on three separate arenas, each more imposing than the last. All three stages were in view from the entrance steps.

The coliseum-style design, with checkered white marble floors had towering walls adorned with intricate engravings of complicated array systems around the edges of the stadium. This was for protecting the audience and adding a feeling of grandeur.

The first arena, designated for the Spirit Growth stage, was vast and open. Yet, subtly smaller than the others. The white marble floor gleamed under the morning sun, contrasting sharply with the colorful array of elemental symbols etched around the edges. The audience near this stage seemed to be a mix of families of participants and random betting enthusiasts.

Deeper into the venue, there was the Spirit Transformation arena. Here, the atmosphere shifted, becoming more intense and focused. The checkered marble floor reflected the determination in the eyes of the participants, whom were already present on the arena and moved with grace and precision as they warmed up. Though some fighters just glared angrily, eyeing their competition.

The seating arrangements near this arena were more intimate, allowing more spectators to watch the middle level battles that promised to be exciting to bet on.

Finally, off in the furthest part of the massive stadium was the Spirit Ascension arena, the pinnacle of the tournament. This arena was not the simple checked marble from the others. Instead it was awe-inspiring golden tiles with the nearby edges consisting of intricate carvings that depicting mythical creatures fighting the Elder Gods.

The golden tiled floor here seemed to shimmer with energy, adding an extra level of protection to the expensive building materials. The seating around this arena was massive but had limited, reserved for VIPs and esteemed guests. Clearly reserved for the most wealthy, offering a privileged view of the most thrilling and high level matches.

As Lassim and Hallen found their seats near the front of the Spirit Growth Cultivator’s stage section, they couldn’t help but marvel at the craftsmanship and attention to detail in each arena. Lassim was starting to build an appreciation for architecture and the like due to his family heritage, even if he had no designs or ability to construct things with his own elements.

He appreciated the coliseum-style viewing which allowed for an immersive experience. Where every cheer, every clash of weapons, and every burst of elemental power could echo throughout, adding to the excitement of the tournament.

Lassim couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement, saying, "This is incredible! I’ve never seen anything like it."

Hallen nodded, his eyes scanning the arena with a practiced gaze as he spotted an announcer take to the stage. "It’s a sight to behold, indeed. Get ready, Young Master. The Spirit Growth Tournament is about to begin."

The announcer, a charismatic figure with a booming voice, took to the stage, commanding everyone’s attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, those from afar and those whom call Durelia their home, cultivators and spectators alike, welcome to the Spirit Growth Stage competition of the Martial Tournament!" His voice reverberated through the audience surrounding the arena, eliciting cheers and applause from the crowd.

Somehow, in a way Lassim couldn’t comprehend, the arrays made it so that only the nearby audience near this specific stage noticed or heard this announcement. It seemed the auditory experience was curated in a way that spectators could focus directly on the stage they were there for without distraction from the other arenas.

"As tradition dictates, we begin with the Battle Royal, a thrilling spectacle where courage, strategy and skill are put to the test!" The announcer’s words were met with more cheers.

"The rules are simple! Participants will engage in a free-for-all battle, showcasing their mastery of elemental techniques and martial prowess. The arena is vast, allowing for all challengers to showcase their dynamic and breathtaking displays of power!"

He paused for dramatic effect, letting the anticipation build among the audience.

"Remember, in this Battle Royal, competitors will vie for dominance! The top ten competitors will move on to the next stage. Now, I present to you, this month’s 531 SPIRIT GROWTH WARRIORS!!" The announcer’s voice boomed with excitement.

With a final flourish, he raised his hand, signaling off somewhere to the side where a gate opened.

The arena’s audience erupted with cheers as cultivators leaped onto the stage. Each of them positioning themselves with a bit of distance between each other, readying to engage in fierce combat.

Lassim watched with rapt attention, his eyes glued to the spectacle unfolding before them.

Amidst the preparatory excitement, Lassim couldn’t help but notice that despite the fierce competition, the strongest competitor was only ranked as Spirit Growth Stage 8. The vast majority seemed to be spirit warriors with cultivator levels around SG5 and SG6.