As the sun reached its peak, casting golden light over the stone streets of Ardenwave, the city's long-awaited event stirred the air with tension and thrill. Trumpets blared from atop the walls. Massive banners unfurled—deep crimson and ocean blue—emblazoned with the sigil of the city: a lion with wings crossed by a trident.
A voice boomed from the central arena, echoing through every street:
"People of Ardenwave! The Tournament of Might and Valor begins today!"
Crowds flooded the streets, pushing toward the coliseum carved into the hillside. Merchants shouted over each other, children ran with wooden swords, and seasoned warriors from across the region gathered in groups—some laughing, others silently sharpening blades.
Rikuya stood at a high ridge just outside the town, shirt slung over his shoulder, still damp from his river bath. He stared down at the commotion, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
"Guess it's that time again…" he muttered.
Tsuki barked beside him, tail wagging furiously.
As drums pounded and the gates to the arena creaked open, a roster was unfurled by a crier.
"Only those with strength, courage, or madness dare enter. One victor. One legend. The Tournament of Ardenwave has begun!"
The 20 Figures of Ardenwave's Tournament
Competitors (12 Total)
1. Kael Vornhardt – The Iron Champion of Drelmoor. A hulking brute with war-hardened armor and an undefeated record. Rumored to have slain a wyvern with his bare hands.
2. Sylinara Velith – An elven blade-dancer from the Moonvale Woods. Her movement is poetry; her blades, a blur. She dances before death—and leaves none standing.
3. Jarek "The Wall" Dendros – A silent giant from the northern highlands. He doesn't speak. He just wins.
4. Lyra Faelwyn – A rogue-mage who mixes illusions with daggers. Cunning, beautiful, and unpredictable—many underestimate her once. Never twice.
5. Torran Glaivehand – Wields twin glaives and an ego just as large. A crowd favorite with a flair for showmanship.
6. Nero "The Phantom" Karsin – A masked fighter no one's ever seen unarmed or unscarred. Rumored to be an assassin testing new poisons on the field.
7. Rudra Flameborn – A fire priest who channels divine flame into wrath. He claims each opponent he defeats is a soul "purified by fire."
8. Mevius Quent – A gambler-warrior who fights with a mix of charm and brutality. Has bet everything—his sword, his coin, and his life—on winning.
9. Tasha "Breakbone" Marrin – A brawler from the island pits, known for snapping spines with her knees. She enters for her fallen crew.
10. Elgar the Spell-Eater – A cursed man who absorbs magic and feels everything it costs. The pain fuels his wrath in battle.
11. Finnick Dawnspark – A holy knight whose shining armor and gallant words hide a shadowy past and a deadly resolve.
12. Zurin the Chains – A former prisoner of war, covered in shackles he refuses to remove. He claims the chains "remind him who he was"—and what he must never become again.
---
Political Players and Observers (8 Total)
13. Lord Varion Dreth – The noble who sponsors the tournament. Charismatic, dangerous, and deeply tied to Ardenwave's underground dealings.
14. Lady Elys Vaelthorn – A high court envoy sent from the capital. Regal and cold, she evaluates fighters for imperial recruitment.
15. High Seer Orrick Thane – The blind prophet from the Temple of the Weeping Moon. He claims to have seen the winner in a dream—and their death.
16. Captain Halra Dune – Leader of Ardenwave's guards, attending not for politics, but to scout talent for the city's defense.
17. Velka Stonebrow – Dwarven arms merchant and blacksmith queen. Watches closely to see whose weapon she'll sponsor next.
18. Inquisitor Grev Malor – A stern holy enforcer who suspects one or more competitors may be using forbidden magic or demon pacts.
19. The Masked Benefactor – A veiled figure in black who watches every fight without a word. No one knows their name, but coin follows wherever they go.
20. Sister Leona – A healer who tends the wounded but listens closely for whispers of prophecy. She believes one fighter may trigger the return of a forgotten power.
...
Ardenwave's outer arena – training grounds, late afternoon. The clang of weapons and the murmur of anticipation hum through the air.
...
As Rikuya sharpens his focus near a post, a shadow steps up beside him. It's Torran Glaivehand, shirtless, oiled muscles gleaming, twin glaives resting over his shoulders like wings of steel.
Torran smirks.
"You're the new blood. Heard some muttering about wolves and stone beasts… Thought I'd see if your fists are worth the whispers."
Rikuya doesn't flinch.
"You challenging me?"
Torran twirls a glaive once, then drives it into the ground.
"Not a duel. Just a little... grip check."
He holds out his hand.
"Test of strength. No magic. No fists. Just raw will."
Rikuya slowly walks over, eyes locked. Tsuki watches, tail still.
They clasp hands. The air stills. Onlookers gather. Muscles tense. Knuckles go white.
A few seconds in—Torran grins, but there's sweat now.
Torran's voice tightens.
"Hells… you're stronger than you look."
Rikuya doesn't speak. He simply squeezes—until the earth beneath their feet cracks slightly.
Torran winces, then chuckles and lets go.
"Alright, alright. I yield. That grip's forged from something… not human."
Rikuya steps back, calm.
"I'm human. Just not soft."
The crowd murmurs. Torran picks up his glaive and nods.
"Guess the rumors weren't loud enough."
As Torran walks off, he mutters just loud enough for Rikuya to hear:
"See you in the ring, wild dog."
As Rikuya stepped down from the stage, dust still settling from the crushed weight behind him, familiar voices rang out from the crowd.
Lena shouted first, waving her hand high in the air. "That's how you do it, Rikuya!"
Myra clapped beside her, her youthful face lit up with pride. "He made it look easy! Like the stone didn't even weigh a thing!"
Mara, older and always stern, allowed herself a rare smile. "Hmph. He's stronger than he looks. That boy's got thunder in his veins."
Solamar leaned on his cane, chuckling. "Told you all he'd surprise them. You don't survive this world without a little spark in your soul—and that kid's burning."
Seline stood silently, her arms crossed, eyes fixed on Rikuya with quiet admiration. "You're different, Rikuya… and they'll see it soon enough."
Tsuki let out a proud bark and wagged his tail, standing beside the old merchant's cart, almost as if he too had been holding his breath.
The whole group had come—each one with their own reasons—but all of them watching the same boy step toward something greater.
The arena was charged with energy, the crowd buzzing with excitement as Rikuya stepped forward. His confident posture and unwavering gaze caught the attention of everyone, including the competitors and officials.
As he looked out over the crowd, he raised his hand to silence the noise, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
"I'll fight all the competitors," Rikuya declared, his tone firm and resolute. "One by one. No waiting, no rest. I'll take on every single one of you."
The arena fell silent for a split second, the audacity of his words hanging in the air. Then, in an explosive roar, the crowd erupted. Shouts, cheers, and gasps filled the air. The competitors looked at each other in disbelief, but none dared to speak against it.
The audience couldn't believe what they were hearing. The bravado of one man, standing against twenty challengers, was almost unheard of. The energy was palpable—everyone wanted to see how this would unfold.
The referee stepped forward, slightly taken aback by Rikuya's boldness. He looked to the other competitors, who were all eyeing the situation, their expressions a mixture of skepticism and anticipation.
"Well then," the referee called out, still somewhat stunned. "It seems we have a challenger who is more than ready to prove his strength. Let it be known, the tournament of Ardenwave has a new contender. And he doesn't intend to stop until he faces everyone!"
The crowd went wild. They clapped, stomped, and cheered—eager to see this audacious challenge unfold.
With a grin, Rikuya cracked his knuckles, his eyes never leaving the first opponent in line.
"This is gonna be fun," he muttered to himself.
The first match was set to begin. The atmosphere in the arena was electric, and as the announcer called for the fight to start, Rikuya's challenge had officially marked the beginning of one of the most intense tournaments Ardenwave had ever witnessed.
The referee raised his voice, his tone commanding attention as the crowd began to settle, eager for the first match to begin.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The moment you've all been waiting for! Our first bout of the tournament—an unexpected turn of events, to say the least. We have not one, but two formidable competitors facing off today!"
The crowd fell into a tense silence, the anticipation thick in the air.
"First, we have the challenger—Rikuya! A man who has defied all expectations and declared he will face every competitor in this tournament, one by one, with no fear, no rest!" The announcer's voice was filled with awe and admiration as he continued, "This is no ordinary man. Prepare yourselves, for he may just change the very course of this tournament!"
The crowd roared in approval, clapping and chanting Rikuya's name. The tension in the air was palpable. Rikuya gave a nod, standing tall, his eyes locked onto his first opponent.
"And now, we meet his first opponent—Kael Vornhardt, the Iron Champion of Drelmoor! Known for his unmatched strength and his war-hardened armor, Kael is a living legend in the arena!" The announcer's voice lowered with reverence. "Rumor has it, Kael once slew a wyvern with nothing but his bare hands—an accomplishment that has made him nearly unstoppable. His undefeated record speaks for itself!"
The crowd gasped in awe, some whispering in disbelief. Kael Vornhardt stepped into the arena, a hulking figure clad in thick, battered armor that seemed to weigh more than a regular man could carry. His presence alone sent a wave of intimidation through the spectators. His expression was a grim mask of determination, his eyes burning with the anticipation of battle. His massive frame cast a shadow as he slowly walked forward, cracking his knuckles and preparing for the fight.
The referee glanced between the two competitors, noting their striking contrast—Rikuya, confident and seemingly unfazed, and Kael, a beast of a man prepared for the clash of titans.
"Are you ready?" the referee asked, his gaze shifting to each of them.
Rikuya's eyes narrowed slightly as he met the hulking warrior's gaze. "Always."
Kael snorted, a deep, rumbling laugh escaping his chest. "Let's see if your bravado matches your strength, little man."
The crowd was on edge, waiting for the first move.
"Then let the battle begin!" the referee declared.
The clang of armor and the weight of the moment were heavy in the air as the first fight of the tournament was about to unfold.
Rikuya moved first, his body a blur of speed and precision as he launched himself at Kael with a hook kick aimed directly for the giant warrior's head. The crowd gasped, eager to see how the massive champion would respond.
Kael, however, was unfazed. With the sheer strength and agility that came with his experience, he brought his armored forearm up in a perfect block, deflecting Rikuya's kick with a resounding thud. He smirked, not a hint of exhaustion on his face. "Is that all you've got?" he rumbled, his voice booming across the arena.
Rikuya didn't miss a beat. As his foot returned to the ground, he pivoted with lightning speed, delivering a sharp elbow directly into Kael's jaw. The impact echoed through the arena, and for a moment, the audience held their breath. Kael staggered slightly but grinned, wiping the small trickle of blood from his lips. "Not bad," he said, his voice laced with admiration. "But not enough to stop me."
Rikuya's lips curved into a half-smile, his eyes flashing with challenge. "No, Kael," he said, "It's just getting started."
And with that, the battle erupted in a fury of fists. Kael swung with brutal power, each blow capable of shattering bones, but Rikuya was quick, his movements fluid and precise, dodging and weaving around the oncoming strikes like water flowing through cracks in stone.
Blow after blow, Rikuya's punches landed with sharp precision, hitting Kael's sides, his ribs, and his face. Every time Kael tried to land a heavy strike, Rikuya would counter, slipping past him and landing a few more blows. His speed was overwhelming, his strikes relentless.
The crowd roared as Rikuya began to land more hits, each one reverberating through Kael's massive frame. Kael's grin began to falter as he felt the force behind Rikuya's hits. "You're fast, I'll give you that," Kael grunted, stumbling back for a moment. "But you're still too weak to finish me."
But Rikuya wasn't done yet. His eyes locked on Kael, calculating. "Strength is not the only measure of victory," he said, his voice calm despite the intensity of the battle.
With a final burst of speed, Rikuya dove back into the fray, landing another series of quick strikes to Kael's chest, his fist smashing into the warrior's armor with a sickening thud. Each blow seemed to sap a bit more of Kael's stamina, pushing him back further.
The crowd was on their feet, cheering wildly. Rikuya's relentless barrage was pushing Kael to the edge, his previously unshakable confidence beginning to crack.
Kael let out a primal roar, his massive form swelling with newfound energy. His muscles rippled beneath his war-hardened armor as he let out a battle cry that echoed across the arena. "I AM THE IRON CHAMPION!" he bellowed, his voice booming, as a surge of power coursed through his body. His aura flared brightly, the very air around him thickening with the weight of his strength. Kael was no longer just a warrior; he was a force of nature.
With his newfound power, Kael took a step forward, the ground cracking beneath his boots. His eyes locked onto Rikuya, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "You think you can stand up to me?" he snarled, his voice low and filled with venom.
Without warning, he lunged, his massive fist coming down like a falling boulder. The sheer force behind the blow was enough to shake the earth beneath them. The crowd gasped, watching in stunned silence as the air seemed to tremble with the sheer might of his punch.
But Rikuya's face remained calm, his stance steady as a mountain. As Kael's fist neared, Rikuya dug his feet into the ground, planting them firmly like a sumo wrestler bracing for a charge. His body was a perfect balance of fluidity and power, his muscles coiling as he prepared for the impact.
When Kael's fist struck, it hit with the force of a landslide. The shockwave spread through the arena, sending dust and debris flying. Rikuya's body shifted, his feet staying planted, his legs bracing with absolute strength, his core solid as steel. The ground beneath his feet cracked, but Rikuya didn't budge.
Kael's powerful punch landed, but Rikuya, through sheer willpower, withstood the attack. He gritted his teeth, feeling the impact rattle through his bones, but his stance held firm. "Is that all you've got?" Rikuya asked calmly, his voice filled with an eerie confidence despite the monstrous force of Kael's strike.
Kael's eyes widened for a split second, surprised at the unyielding resistance. He pulled back his fist, gritting his teeth, and tried again, swinging with all his might, trying to break Rikuya's resolve. But Rikuya stood strong, his body rooted in the earth like a tree. Every strike, no matter how powerful, failed to push him back.
The crowd was silent in awe. Kael's greatest strength had been his overwhelming power, but Rikuya was proving that pure strength alone wasn't enough to win a battle.
"Strength doesn't mean victory," Rikuya said with a slight grin. "It's about resilience. It's about knowing when to stand your ground."
Kael growled, frustrated, but now he knew this was going to be a battle of endurance, not just power. Rikuya had proven that, no matter how hard Kael hit, Rikuya's resilience would not falter. The real fight had just begun.