The preliminary round is a survival event.
On the large arena, participants from each group enter and engage in an unlimited battle royale until only the last ten remain.
“A group! Participants ready please enter the arena!”
At the priest’s words, those included in Group A headed to the arena set up in the middle of the building.
“What group are you in?”
“Me? Group B. What about you?”
“I’m in Group B too. We’re in the same group.”
Looking at the note drawn from the lottery, Rudell replied that way.
In a way, isn’t this fate as well?
Just then, while Rudell was surveying his surroundings with such thoughts…
“Rudell, look over there.”
At Leje’s voice, Rudell turned his head.
And what caught his eye was the sight of the man who had just picked a fight with them heading into the arena.
“What a shame, I was going to turn him into blood pudding.”
He wanted nothing more than to knock him out right then and there, but naturally, attacking other participants from outside the arena would result in automatic disqualification.
“With the princess and the pope watching…”
Even the number of gazes directed at him right now was quite significant.
Princess Jade of the kingdom, Pope Johan of the Holy Kingdom, and for some unknown reason, even Wilhelm, Chancellor of the Empire, were focusing on him.
Under such circumstances, losing due to disqualification would lead to consequences that Rudell could hardly handle.
“Other participants not currently in the match, please wait in the waiting area!”
As all the participants of Group A climbed into the arena, the murmur gradually subsided.
The priests finished their final checks, and the priest in charge amplified his voice through a magical tool and shouted loudly.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Have you been waiting long?!”
“Waahhhhh-!!!”
At his question, a cheer erupted among the crowd, and the priest, looking like an entertainer, continued speaking.
“Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The clash of renowned warriors from across the continent begins NOW!! Praise Antaine!!”
“Is that guy… really a priest?”
Rudell asked in disbelief, as he looked more like a professional MC than a priest.
“Yep, apparently a priest of Antaine, the god of entertainment and recreation.”
“Antaine, huh…”
With the sheer number of churches, it wasn’t surprising that there was a god for entertainment and recreation.
“Now, with the passionate support from you all…!! We will now begin the first match of the Hero Selection Tournament, the A group preliminary round!!”
– Ding!!
With the impactful shout from the priest, the bell signaling the start of the match echoed throughout the arena…
“Whoaahh-!!”
Amidst the cheers from the audience, chaos began to unfold in the arena.
Almost fifty warriors were engaging in a battle royale.
It was so intense that even a normal person would struggle to comprehend what was happening.
“Aah! Just as I say this, another participant has been eliminated! Looks like an arm is broken, is he okay?!”
With explosions, people were flying, screams of the injured mixed with cries of pain.
It was indeed a terrifying sight, but…
“Whoaahhhh-!!”
“Do more! More!!”
“Hang in there!! I bet ten gold on you!!”
People were even more thrilled by such scenes.
The excitement for the sensational was the same whether it was Earth in the 21st century or here.
“Rudell. Look over there.”
“That guy…”
At that moment, a man caught the eyes of Rudell and Leje.
The burly man who had just picked a fight with Rudell and Leje moments ago.
“Hahaha!! This is all too easy! Come at me!!”
Swinging a massive scythe with one hand, he was knocking back all approaching participants.
[Ooo!! Dean Clejack of the Clejack Mercenaries!! Just as his title of legend in the mercenary world suggests, he’s showing outstanding performance!!]
“The Clejack Mercenaries? He’s a lot bigger than I expected?”
“Have you heard of them??”
“Yeah, they’re an international mercenary group that travels through various countries, and their skills are supposedly top-notch. They say there are renowned fighters under Clejack’s command too.”
“Ohh…”
At that, Rudell narrowed his eyes.
That meant he could hire him with money.
With the Church of the Eaters of Death resurfacing, they could become a powerful asset.
“By the way, he looks just like a bandit.”
“Right? Maybe that’s why they say not to judge a person by their appearance.”
As Rudell questioned, Leje nodded while watching the scene when suddenly…
[Oh! Just as I mention it! An unidentified man blocking his way!! Who could it be!?]
“Hmm?”
“That guy is…”
A surprised voice slipped from the priest in charge as Rudell and Leje saw someone standing in front of Clejack.
He was slightly taller than Rudell.
His whole body was covered in a robe, and the skin visible beneath it was so pale it almost looked blue.
“Rudell… that’s…”
“A monster…”
But what both of them saw was the tremendous amount of magic power he possessed.
It was an astonishing amount, almost similar to Leje’s.
Who in this world possesses that much magic power?
Looking at his aura that flared up like flames, Rudell rummaged through his memory, but try as he might, the only figure he could recall with that kind of magic power, aside from Leje, was no one.
“Hey, what are you? You look weak but dare to block my way?”
“…”
Meanwhile, while wielding the massive scythe, Clejack shouted at the man standing in his way.
However, the man showed no signs of being intimidated at all and simply stood there looking up at him.
“Alright! If you wish to die that badly, I’ll grant your wish!!”
“…”
Clejack appeared to take that as a provocation, raising his great scythe overhead.
Yet, the man didn’t even budge.
“Die!!”
As if completely losing his cool, veins bulging on his forehead, Clejack swung the scythe down, aiming for the man’s neck.
It was at that moment, as the surrounding holy knights drew their swords and rushed in with screams, expecting the ensuing scene…
Clang!
What everyone anticipated did not happen.
With a sharp metallic sound, Clejack’s scythe shattered into pieces.
The shattered remnants crashed to the ground, creating a loud noise.
“What, what… what’s happening?”
For a brief moment, silence filled the arena.
It was only natural.
Nobody expected such a situation.
[Unbelievable events have unfolded! Just moments ago, the invincible Clejack’s weapon has been shattered!!]
“Whoaahhhh-!!”
“Ooooooh-!!!”
“That’s so cool!!!”
Only after a few seconds, as if coming back to his senses, the priest’s shout brought forth frenzied cheers from the audience.
“…”
“You, how dare you use some trick…!?”
Facing the incomprehensible situation, Clejack took a step back, glaring as if trying to assess the situation.
But then, it happened.
“F-Fast… Gag!?”
In an instant, the man’s fist drilled into Clejack’s abdomen and, before he could even react, Clejack’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed right there.
Simultaneously, cheers erupted once again from the audience.
Ding!!
And the bell signaling the end of the match echoed in the arena.
[With Clejack’s disqualification, the ten contestants advancing to the finals have been decided! Please welcome them with a big round of applause!!]
Cheers poured down for the participants who survived the survival match, and the event staff began to climb into the arena with the priests to check on the injured.
Meanwhile, the surviving participants came down from the arena…
“That was something else…”
“This won’t be easy.”
Rudell and Leje murmured their brief impressions while watching the scene.
Is this truly the stage for selecting heroes?
Strong individuals, known and hidden throughout the continent, were now displaying themselves.
“It seems we should be prepared.”
“Yeah.”
With tense expressions, the two spoke…
[The next match will start exactly thirty minutes from now! Participants, please enter the arena before then!!]
