The morning of the tournament's first official day rose under a clear sky. The golden light of dawn softly filtered through the curtains of the suite, flooding the room with a gentle warmth. Lia slowly opened her eyes, still wrapped in the fatigue of the previous days. She remained silent for a moment, staring at the ceiling with a mix of apprehension and excitement.
In the room next door, Ehito was already ready. Simply dressed, standing near the window, he watched the Italian city slowly awaken. His features were calm, as always. He stood tall and focused, his gaze steady, as if reading a future only he could see.
Shortly after, a light knock on the door signaled Isabella's arrival. Always impeccable, she greeted them with a professional smile.
— "Good morning to you both. It's time to head to the sports complex. The shuttle is waiting downstairs. Don't forget: the morning will be for group assignments and instructions. The tournament starts this afternoon."
They both nodded silently. Each grabbed their bag, and they went down to the hotel lobby. A black car took them through the still-quiet streets of the city. Lia gazed out the window without saying a word. Beside her, Ehito sat with his arms crossed, eyes on the horizon.
After a thirty-minute ride, the vehicle stopped in front of a massive sports complex. Lia's eyes widened.
The building looked like something from another world. It resembled a gigantic modern coliseum. The architecture blended white concrete, shining steel, and massive glass panels. Screens projected logos, schedules, and welcome messages across the facade. The central tower rose high into the sky, with countless stairways and walkways connecting the different areas.
They walked through the entrance, and Lia couldn't help but look around in awe.
— "It's huge…" she whispered.
Hundreds of young participants arrived from every direction, each visibly impressed by the scale of the venue. The staff directed them toward a large open-air amphitheater at the center of the complex. It served as the main gathering point.
They took their seats among the others. The morning sun bathed the central stage in a bright light. A relative silence settled as the man in charge of the tournament stepped onto the platform.
He was tall, dressed in a simple yet elegant suit, and his gaze was intense. He didn't need a microphone—his voice carried naturally.
— "Welcome, everyone. I am Dario Fiammetti, director of the Intercontinental Sports Tournament."
Murmurs spread throughout the audience. The name wasn't unknown. A former champion in multiple disciplines, he was a well-known figure in the sports world.
— "You are here because you were selected among thousands. For the next three days, you will face physical, strategic, and team-based challenges. But today, the tournament hasn't started yet. This morning, you will receive instructions. You'll be divided into 40 groups, each consisting of 5 participants. Once assigned, you will remain with your group for all the events. There will be no reshuffling each day. What you experience, you'll experience together."
Lia gently clenched her fists, feeling a slight pressure rise. Next to her, Ehito didn't move. He stood still, watching the director with quiet attention.
— "Each group will go through a variety of tests. Some will be physical, others tactical, and others will require strong cooperation. We'll assess your endurance, intelligence, and teamwork. The best will be invited to the final phase. The others… will still have gained a unique experience."
He paused briefly.
— "From this moment on, follow the staff. Screens will display your group number. We ask that you briefly introduce yourselves to your team. Then, follow the schedule you'll receive. Good luck to all of you."
A thunder of applause echoed through the amphitheater, then everyone stood up. Giant screens displayed the group numbers and participant names. Lia quickly scanned the display… Group 23. She headed straight to the assigned area.
Ehito, meanwhile, walked toward Group 17's section. As planned, they were in different groups.
⸻
Group 23 – Lia
She arrived in front of a small stage where four other participants were already waiting. A tall, athletic girl gave her a friendly smile.
— "You're Lia? Welcome to the team! I'm Kira. Track and field."
— "Nice to meet you," Lia replied with a small smile.
The others followed in turn.
— "Yusuke. Climbing and swimming."
— "Hanna. Mixed martial arts."
— "Luca. Strategy and archery."
Lia introduced herself as well.
— "Lia. Rhythmic gymnastics and acrobatics."
The group seemed balanced. They exchanged a few words, then walked together toward the planning distribution stand. Lia glanced around at the other groups, looking for Ehito. He wasn't in sight, but she knew he'd be fine.
On his side, Ehito calmly arrived at his meeting point. Four young people were waiting for him. A girl with short hair greeted him.
group 17 Ehito
— "Hi. I'm Reiko. Freestyle combat."
— "Yuji," said an older boy. "Judo and endurance."
— "Elian. Terrain analysis."
— "Zoe. Dance and coordination."
Ehito listened without commenting. When asked to introduce himself, he simply replied:
— "Ehito. Running, precision… and a bit of strategy."
His tone was neutral, but the others quickly felt a certain charisma emanating from him. He was calm, composed, and his eyes seemed to analyze everything.
Yuji stretched his shoulders, raised an eyebrow, and said, crossing his arms:
— "How about a little warm-up? Nothing serious. Just to see if you've got some response."
Reiko smiled slightly, clearly amused.
— "Always wanting to test the new ones, Yuji…"
Ehito looked up at him without smiling.
— "If it helps you focus for the afternoon."
They moved to a free space marked off by cones. The other members of the group formed a circle around them.
Yuji assumed his judo stance. Ehito didn't move, his arms by his sides. He almost seemed elsewhere.
— "Ready?" Reiko called out.
The signal was given. Yuji charged. Fast, experienced. He aimed for Ehito's shoulder to bring him to the ground, confident in his hold.
But at the last moment, Ehito moved a step. Light. Natural. His elbow pivoted, deflecting Yuji's momentum with surgical precision. Before the judoka could react, he was off-balance. In two swift movements, Ehito knocked him down and pinned him to the ground, his knee on Yuji's chest.
— "Fight over," Reiko announced, almost in shock.
Ehito stood up without a word and extended his hand to Yuji to help him up. The latter, slightly surprised, took it with a smile.
— "Okay… you're not here to make up the numbers."
— "No," Ehito replied calmly.
There was no provocation, just a fact. Zoe and Elian exchanged a knowing glance, while Reiko regained her footing, a smile on her lips.
— "This tournament is going to be interesting."