Arkaeda immediately changed his mind; the words of Chief Andrew, the head of the police, had relieved his worries. Arkaeda grabbed his phone and contacted Chief Andrew.
Arkaeda agreed to Chief Andrew's offer to be assigned to the Kingdom of Arial to participate in the tournament being held there.
"Alright, remember my instructions: stay alert and be cautious so Rojan won't suspect that you're on our side. And if you win the tournament, you will be appointed as a General in Rojan's kingdom, a golden opportunity to bring him down!" Chief Andrew explained, revealing the tactics he had carefully calculated.
Arkaeda was then sent to the Kingdom of Arial on a special aircraft to ensure he arrived quickly, where Art was already waiting for him.
Upon arriving in Arial, Arkaeda was first picked up by Art to be given some instructions.
"Are you ready, Arkaeda? The tournament will begin soon. I will monitor you from outside the stadium. Make sure to keep our relationship secret when you're inside!" said Art, handing Arkaeda a tiny recording device and a wireless earpiece, so they could communicate easily.
"Alright, I'm ready, Art. For the sake of my mother's safety, I will risk my life in this tournament, and afterward, I will bring down Rojan and the others!" Arkaeda declared confidently.
Art then escorted Arkaeda toward the stadium to register as a fighter.
After registering, Arkaeda was picked up by several of Captain Rojan's soldiers to wait for his turn and the qualification rounds.
The next day arrived. The stadium was packed with visitors from across the Kingdom of Arial...
The crowd was so dense that some people entered without paying for tickets and were chased by the arena guards.
Important guests were given VIP seats at the very front to enjoy a clear and close view of the tournament, while regular visitors were seated far back. Some people who couldn't afford tickets even climbed tall trees to watch the tournament.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! Today we present to you a very special match, offered to you on behalf of our great Captain, Captain Rojan!" announced the host, greeted by loud cheers from the audience.
"To entertain you all, we will start this tournament with great fighters from all over the Kingdom of Arial.
The rules are simple: anyone who loses will be eliminated, and if someone dies in the fight, they will be immediately declared out and buried...
All of this is for your entertainment! The champion will be appointed as a General in our royal palace!" Rojan proclaimed proudly in front of thousands of spectators, causing the crowd to chant and glorify his name.
"Arkaeda, are you ready? Remember, don't act recklessly. If anything happens, call me immediately!" Art said through the micro wireless.
"I'm ready, Art. It seems I'm fourth in line after the current match!" Arkaeda replied, carefully looking around so as not to arouse suspicion.
The tournament then officially began, starting with a fighter from the Western region and one from the Southern region.
The fighter from the West was a large, athletic man known as "Iron Teeth" because of his metal teeth. He was famous for being able to knock out opponents with a single kick or punch.
Meanwhile, the fighter from the South entered the arena. He was nicknamed the "Psychopath King" for his dangerous, unpredictable moves.
The fight began after the referee gave the signal, and the audience roared, cheering for their chosen fighters and placing bets.
"I bet $2,000 that Iron Teeth will win this match!" said one of the VIP spectators to his friend.
"I'll go with the Psychopath King!" his friend replied, laying down his cash.
The battle commenced. Iron Teeth approached the Psychopath King, glaring fiercely as he swung his massive arm in a powerful strike.
However, the Psychopath King swiftly dodged and counterattacked with a knife hidden at his waist, slashing Iron Teeth's leg and causing him to scream in pain.
The audience roared even louder at the thrilling action.
Despite the injury, Iron Teeth managed to grab the Psychopath King and slammed him hard onto the arena floor, causing him to vomit blood.
Many thought the Psychopath King was finished and would not get back up.
The referee began the countdown from one to three, and if the Psychopath King didn't get up, he would lose the match...
Iron Teeth prepared for the finishing move, lifting his massive foot to stomp on the Psychopath King.
But just as the stomp was coming down, the Psychopath King drove his knife into Iron Teeth's sole, slicing it open and causing him to collapse, unable to walk.
"You can't escape my blade!" the Psychopath King sneered.
"Aaaargh!" Iron Teeth screamed before losing consciousness, and with one final strike, the Psychopath King stabbed his knife into Iron Teeth's head, killing him instantly.
Thus, the first victory went to the Psychopath King.
"Hahaha! I won!" cried one of the VIP spectators, collecting his bet winnings.
Arkaeda was stunned by the brutal scene and immediately reported to Art that the first match had been won by the Psychopath King.
"Good, Arkaeda. Don't be nervous. Believe in yourself—you will win your match!" Art encouraged him.
However, the cold, menacing stare of the Psychopath King was now fixed on Arkaeda, shaking his confidence.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen! The first match winner is the Psychopath King!" announced the referee, greeted by cheers from the crowd.
"Wow, what an intense fight! Who's next?" the audience shouted excitedly.
"Alright, the second match will be between the fighter from the East and another from the South! Let's welcome the 'Wolf of the East,' known for his ambition and aggression, who overwhelms his opponents quickly. Here he is—the Wolf of the East!" the announcer yelled, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
The Wolf entered the arena, receiving enthusiastic support from the crowd.
"And now, we welcome the fighter from the South—the Clown! He may look funny, but he's deadly."
His clown costume draws the audience's attention, and bets are already being placed heavily.