Max and the gang walked through Kasia's High streets. These streets made up sort of a second city. A city on top of a city. Built on top of larger buildings, connected with wide bridges, these streets showed a level or architecture and scale that most cities on this floor couldn't reach. This was also a wealthier area than the common Lower streets.
It was a majestic city with tall-ish buildings that were almost frequent. Bridges went down and up to connect the building tops of various peak heights.
Clothing stores, restaurants, miscellanous stores, hotels and other types of establishments flanked the stone path. Max spotted a tall musem building of Virtonian history that, combined with the building below it, made a staggering height of 250 meters, almost rivaling the Imperial Palace in the distance.
It was a thousand year old city of a million people built by not only hands, tools and machines but by countless different uses of aura as well.
Some buildings had roofs of varied colors, some had none. Some walls were colored, similar to modern ones on houses, others were made out of blocks of light colored rock.
Max and the squad crossed another bridge that had countless leaves and unusual flowers with long stems hanging from it on both sides.
Up ahead was an Arena Administration building. Here you could buy tickets, sign up and set a time for a duel, practice or battle at one of many arenas in Virtonis' capital Kasia or give votes for certain events and combatants for various purposes.
Two white metal statues of warriors unknown to Max flanked the large open entrance of the reception hall. One seemed to use gauntlets while the other had some unknown sharp weapon that wrapped around him like a snake without touching him.
The building had large glass windows on the second and third floor, almost as wide as the wall itself. It was built out of some gold-like material. Though it had a slight red hue as well that seemed to be a characteristic of the unknown metal metal. There were also pillars upholding balconies on the sides.
There were two small arenas within a 600 meter radius of this building.
"We're not late are we?" Said Max. He looked towards Manuel.
"No. And even if we are, I heard from an NPC that you can challenge a tournament member to take his spot. He can't refuse. You didn't know this?"
"No." Max said as he lowered the ends of his lips.
A crowd of people was moving in and out.
"I watched a few tournaments. A guy taking the spot of a favorite in a major tournament, it created a ripple back then when I was here. He won too."
The spear knight said that right before the squad reached one of the several lines of people waiting for their turn at the reception.
Arena duels and battles were a major entertainment business in Virtonis. It was like football in Europe in real life. People watched minor and major duels and battles very frequently in the capital city of Virtonis.
It progressed very quickly, almost like a small store. People said a few words, paid up and got their tickets in a matter of a dozen seconds.
Very soon it was Max's turn.
"Good day." Said the woman behind the glass.
"I'd like to sign up for the Imperial tournament." Max said immediately.
The women opened her mouth. She was silent for a couple seconds.
"Please go to the third floor using the stairs. Once you do, go right." She said.
"Thank you."
There were two staircases on either side of the five reception desks. There were blue carpets over the steps.
The squad climbed the steps to the second floor, which looked to be some kind of lounging area with a few office rooms. A large window overlooked the city. They proceeded up.
On the third floor was were three hallways and the squad went right.
They were greeted by sitting people in a waiting room. They sat on cushioned comfortable chairs and waited. Max sensed that the people were all fighters.
One by one, people left the large darkwood door decorated with silver patterns and fifteen minutes later, it was Max's turn.
The squad nodded and Max got up.
He opened the doors.
Inside was an expansive office with bookshelves, plants, a green fur carpet and a large, wide window overlooking the great city. A man sat in front of the window, obstructing the view partially.
"Welcome." A man with long platinum hair and dark clothing said as he faced Max from his large, red seat. The table was of white wood and it was neat. Some papers were stacked on the man's left side along with a red pen. Some kind of metallic ringed device of a spherical shape was on his right.
"Hello." Max sat down.
The two faced each other and Max spoke up.
"I am signing up for the Imperial Tournament."
The man looked at Max with his blue eyes for a moment in silence.
"Okay. You will have to challenge someone for a spot. The tournament is in seven days so you will have to decide very soon. No more challenges in two days."
Max nodded.
"I can give you the list of all fighters, their weapons and styles. Help you choose the essiest one for you."
"I'd like to face a spearman." Max said.
"Oh, great. We've got one. Though, I have to confirm, you have ascended, right?"
"I am a Higher, yes."
The white haired man who looked to be in his twenties nodded and grabbed a piece of paper from beneath his desk.
"I will inform the spear fighter of your challenge. You will be sent a letter by tomorrow informing you of the arena in which the duel will happen and the time.
Max nodded.
"Your full name?"
"Max Veritas."
"Age?"
"Twenty...four." Max said. He was 22 at the start of the game.
"Where do you reside currently?" The other man asked Max.
"White Rosna Hotel." Max answered.
"Thank you. You will receive a letter by tomorrow evening. Please sign here and here.
Max nodded and signed his name on two papers.
"Thanks, goodbye."
"Wait. You have to pay the challenge fee."
Max turned around. "Sorry I forgot."
"10000." The other man said.
Max sighed as he summoned cash from his inventory. He put it on the desk and walked away.
"Good luck." Said the white haired man.
Max didn't really know who he was or what he did. He wasn't familiar with stuff like this. All he knew was he would have a time and a place to earn a spot in the greatest tournament in the world.