The Tournament Of Power

The morning light spilled through the tall windows of the guest chambers, golden rays cutting across the floor. Ren stirred awake first, blinking at the sight of Kazuma sprawled on his bed, one leg hanging off, snoring like a beast. Alex was curled up on the other side, clutching a pillow as if it were a shield.

The room was quiet for a moment—until Kazuma suddenly jolted up, yawning so loud it felt like the walls shook. He rubbed his eyes, glanced at Ren, and grinned. “Oi, Ren. Don’t tell me you’re still half-asleep. You planning to nap through the tournament?”

Ren sat up slowly, brushing his hair back, the weight of yesterday’s promise still heavy on him. He didn’t answer right away, but his gaze was steady.

A knock came at the door before Alex could say anything. Rachel stepped in, already dressed in her battle gear, hair tied neatly, every move sharp and disciplined. “You boys take forever. Hurry up. Everyone’s already gathering outside.”

Melissa followed her in, balancing a tray of food—simple bread, porridge, and fruit. She set it on the table, her voice soft. “I thought you’d need something before the matches start.”

Kazuma stretched his arms and walked over, grabbing a piece of bread without hesitation. “Ha! Don’t worry about Ren. He’ll eat once he’s done brooding about the princess.”

Ren shot him a look, but Rachel cut in before they could start bickering. “Enough. Today isn’t just another fight. We don’t even know what kind of opponents we’ll face, but it won’t be easy. So keep your heads straight.”

Melissa nodded quietly in agreement.

The group ate quickly, the tension in the air too heavy for idle chatter. Soon after, servants arrived to escort them.

Outside, the capital was alive like never before. Streets were packed with people heading toward the coliseum—vendors selling flags, children waving wooden swords, the smell of roasted meats and baked bread drifting in the air. Everywhere they looked, there were banners of the royal crest, fluttering against the blue sky.

Ren, Kazuma, Alex, Rachel, and Melissa walked together, their presence drawing stares. Some of the townsfolk whispered, recognizing them as the group who had entered the castle with Princess Ariel yesterday.

The closer they got to the tournament grounds, the louder the noise grew—cheers, drums, and the constant roar of the crowd. The coliseum towered ahead, an ancient arena of stone and iron, its gates wide open to welcome warriors and spectators alike.

Ren clenched his fists as they approached, his heart steady but fierce. This wasn’t just a tournament. For Ariel, for himself, for the freedom of choice she deserved—he was ready to fight anyone.

The moment they stepped through the gates of the coliseum, the sound hit them like a crashing wave.

A sea of voices—cheers, shouts, laughter—rolled across the stone walls, echoing so loud it felt like the ground itself was shaking. Tens of thousands of people filled the stands, a living ocean of color. Flags and banners swayed everywhere, some painted with the crest of the royal family, others marked with strange symbols—likely the emblems of noble houses or famous fighters.

Kazuma whistled low, his eyes darting around. “Damn… I knew it’d be big, but this is insane. How many people do you think are here? Ten thousand? Twenty?”

Alex shook his head, overwhelmed as well. “Closer to fifty, maybe more. Look—the stands go all the way up to the top.”

Ren tilted his head back, following Alex’s gaze. The stadium towered high above them, tier after tier of stone seats crammed with spectators. The highest rows seemed to brush the sky itself, yet even from that distance, Ren could feel the weight of thousands of eyes watching.

The arena floor stretched wide before them, a massive circle of sand packed hard from countless battles fought here. At the edges, thick iron gates led into holding areas where other contestants were waiting. Some stood silently with arms crossed, others sharpened weapons, a few already boasting loudly to anyone who would listen.

Rachel crossed her arms, scanning the competition. “Looks like we’re not the only ones here for more than just glory.”

Lisa tugged lightly at Ren’s sleeve, whispering, “So many people… can you feel it? The air’s so heavy. Like everyone here came for blood.”

She wasn’t wrong. Even without magic, Ren could sense it—the energy of the crowd, the killing intent of the fighters, the pressure of being in the center of such a grand stage. His heart pounded, but he didn’t flinch.

At the far end of the coliseum, a grand balcony overlooked the entire arena, draped in red and gold cloth. That was where the King sat, surrounded by nobles, guards, and officials. Just below him, an announcer stood on a raised platform, ready to stir the crowd into a frenzy.

Kazuma nudged Ren, smirking. “Well, buddy, guess this is your stage now. Think you can handle it?”

Ren exhaled slowly, his fists tightening. “Doesn’t matter how big the crowd is. I’m not here for them. I’m here for Ariel.”

The noise around them swelled even louder as drums thundered and horns blared, signaling the start of the day.

The Tournament of Power was about to begin.

After entering Ren’s name at a nearby counter, the group was told to proceed further to the preliminaries. Out of everyone, only Ren had signed up for the tournament.

“Kazuma, why don’t you enter too?” Ren asked.

“You kidding me?” Kazuma grinned, puffing his chest like he was proud of not doing anything. “I don’t stand a chance against you. And besides, you’re my best friend—you’ll win and then ask the King to let me marry the Princess, right?”

“You wish.” Rachel’s sharp tone cut through immediately.

The group burst into laughter, even Melissa covering her mouth to hide a small smile.

Apparently, Ren was the only one from their side competing. His name was quickly listed in the brackets, and it didn’t take long before he was told who his first opponent would be.

“Looks like I’m up against someone named… Giga,” Ren muttered, glancing at the board.

Kazuma tilted his head. “Giga? What kind of name is that? Sounds like a fat guy who eats too much.”

Rachel sighed. “Don’t take it lightly. If they made it here, they’re not weak.”

Ren shrugged. “Guess I’ll find out soon.”

He was guided by the tournament staff to a waiting area for contestants, while the rest of his group were shown to the stands. The noise of the coliseum rumbled around him—cheering, clapping, stomping feet shaking the air.

Ren leaned against the wall, watching as two fighters clashed in the sand below. They were strong, at least by normal standards, blades flashing and shields breaking, but nothing out of the ordinary to him. After a few minutes of back-and-forth, one of them collapsed, the other raising his weapon to the roaring crowd.

The announcer’s voice boomed across the arena. “And now, we call forth our next challenger! First—one of the strongest warriors in the tournament! I almost feel sorry for whoever’s unlucky enough to face him—he is GIGAAAAAA!”

Ren straightened immediately. His opponent.

The crowd suddenly stirred, a wave of noise rolling like thunder. Ren glanced toward the massive gate at the far side of the arena. The ground shook. Thump. Thump. Thump. It wasn’t the usual stomping of feet—this was heavier. The air trembled with each step.

People in the stands gasped, some even panicking, but the announcer reassured them. “Fear not, citizens! It’s no earthquake—it’s our mighty competitor! Witness him with your own eyes!”

From the shadows of the gate, something enormous emerged.

Ren’s eyes widened.

Giga wasn’t just tall. He was a giant.

The man’s body rose higher and higher, a mountain of muscle wrapped in crude armor. His beard hung thick to his chest, and in his hand, he carried a hammer so massive it looked like a house beam. Each step he took made the sand quake.

“What the hell!?” Kazuma’s voice carried even from the stands, his jaw practically hitting the floor.

Ren had faced beasts, monsters, even strange things on their journey—but never a giant. Giants were supposed to be legends, things you heard about in stories. Yet here one was, flesh and blood, so massive the people in the farthest seats could see him clearly.

Ren’s chest tightened, not from fear, but from awe. So this is the scale of the world…

Then, like a spark, the elder’s words from the Immortals’ Village echoed in his mind. Warriors from all corners of the earth gather at this tournament…

It made sense now. This wasn’t just a test of strength for humans. Giants had sent their champion, too. And judging by the size of this one, he was likely the strongest of them.

The crowd went wild as Giga finally stepped onto the arena floor, his shadow stretching across half the battlefield.

Ren clenched his fists. If this giant won… and used his wish to demand Ariel’s hand…

He couldn’t allow it.

Ren’s eyes sharpened. His body felt heavy under the pressure of the giant’s presence, but his heart was steady.

“Alright then,” he muttered under his breath. “Guess it’s me against a legend.”

To be continued...