The city was waking up in the glow of the morning sun, whose rays reflected off the capital’s golden towers. Crowds lined the streets — nobles in colorful robes, soldiers in ceremonial armor, and townspeople carrying the flags and banners of their favorites. The air buzzed with conversation, laughter, and the sound of drums calling everyone to the main arena.

The commentator’s voice cut through the din of the crowd.

“Eight teams, eight captains, and only one crown for the victors!”

“Now I’ll introduce the teams that have signed up!”

The crowd roared as the teams began to enter the arena. Each had its own formation, its own colors, and an aura that immediately revealed its style.

“First up are the Wolf's Edge, led by the undefeated Arok!” — the commentator’s voice boomed across the arena.

“The favorites of this year’s tournament! Their speed, brute strength, and unmatched coordination have ensured that no one has managed to defeat them for the past three years!”

A roar of cheers erupted from the stands. Arok, tall and confident, raised his hand in greeting. A calm smile played on his face, but a cool alertness shone in his eyes.

“Next up, the Shadow Raven!” — announced the commentator. — “Captain Tensho, a master of tactics, known for his precise, almost surgical attacks. Their style is silent death: before the opponent even realizes it, the fight is already over.”

Tensho walked across the arena’s sand in silence. His dark cloak fluttered slightly in the wind, and his gaze was like steel — cold and unyielding.

“The third team is the Forest Shield, led by Mira!” — the commentator’s voice softened.

“Elves from the northern lands: harmony, precision, and the magic of nature. Their defensive formations are legendary.”

Mira nodded toward the stands. Her movements were fluid, almost dance-like. Even standing on the arena’s sand, she looked as if she were part of nature.

“Next up, the Mechanicus!” — the commentator’s booming voice returned.

“Captain Jinn, master of engineering and technomagic. Their armor and battle constructs can turn any fight into predictable chaos!”

Jinn marched into the arena in gleaming, metallic armor. The stands roared as they recognized his distinctive mechanical roar, amplified by magical resonators.

“And now… Burning Sand!” — the crowd roared, and a gust of hot air seemed to accompany the team as they entered the arena.

“Captain Kiyoshi, son of the desert, known for his unbridled energy and temperament!”

Kiyoshi raised his hands. The crowd erupted in cheers, and his smile said one thing—he was ready for anything.

“Next up, the Black Runes, a team from the Void, led by Malken!” — the commentator’s voice dropped slightly, as if he himself felt uneasy.

“Masters of shadow magic and forbidden runes. Wherever they appear, the light fades.”

Malken entered slowly, surrounded by swirling mist. His eyes glowed with a pale light, and the aura surrounding the team stirred unease even among hard-hearted warriors.

The commentator took a deep breath, and his tone became more solemn.

“And now, for the first time in the tournament’s history… Dragon's Pursuit!” — the crowd fell silent, and the commentator’s voice echoed through the arena.

“A new team about which little is known. Captain Valdor — a man shrouded in rumors. They say he comes from the legendary kingdom of Dragonaria!”

The crowd whispered, not knowing what to expect. Valdor stepped into the center of the arena calmly, without gestures or displays of power. His gaze was cold and focused. In the silence that fell, the only sound was the rustle of his cloak.

“And finally, the Fallen Crosses, under Borg’s command!” — the commentator concluded. — “Warriors who have survived more battles than most of us can imagine. Once knights of the Empire, today — mercenaries, fighting for themselves.”

Borg, old but still imposing in stature, rested his hand on his sword and nodded toward the imperial box.

The arena shook with cheers. Eight teams, eight captains, each different, each ready for battle.

The commentator spread his arms wide.

“The rules remain the same!” — he shouted. — “Team combat in a single-elimination bracket. The winners advance; the losers are eliminated. There are no second chances.”

At that moment, the ruler’s calm voice rang out from the imperial box.

“Valdor…” — he said quietly, glancing at the arena.

“This is a new team, Your Majesty.” — replied the advisor. — “They say they appeared out of nowhere. But their captain… was apparently once a general.”

The emperor raised an eyebrow, without taking his eyes off Valdor.

“A general? I know that. Before he died, my father fought in the war against the Dragonaria. He told me about a boy who possessed infinite strength. That’s why my father ordered a retreat. He made a pact with the demon lord, and they put Valdor into a deep sleep during the war, after which they crushed them with the help of the demons.”

A drawing machine appeared in the center of the arena — a massive, magical drum spinning in the light of runes. The captains approached one by one, each drawing a symbol that determined the order of the matches.

The crowd held its breath.

The commentator boomed:

“The draw has begun!”

The machine began to emit light; after a moment, it vanished, and in its place appeared a board displaying the bracket of the drawn teams.

“So, it’s all clear!” — shouted the commentator. — “The first match of the tournament will be between the teams chosen by fate… Dragon’s Pursuit versus Shadow Raven!”

The crowd erupted in a loud cheer. The two captains looked at each other from a distance. Tensho raised his head slightly, and Valdor responded with only a brief nod.

The Emperor smiled slightly.

“An interesting start.” — he said. — “An old warrior against a new warrior. We’ll see who proves to be the wiser.”

The commentator added:

“Ladies and gentlemen, get ready! The first match of the tournament is about to begin! Dragon’s Pursuit versus Shadow Raven — a clash that could define the entire tournament!”

The arena shook with the sound of drums. Armor glinted in the sun. The air thickened with tension.

The day of the tournament had officially begun.

The arena fell silent, as if even the wind had held its breath. Stone stands surrounded the sandy ring where the tournament’s first battle was to begin. Golden imperial banners fluttered in the sun, and tension hung in the air.

“In the east, the Shadow Raven!” — the commentator’s voice boomed.

Warriors in black cloaks emerged from the darkness. Leading them was Tensho, whose gaze seemed to pierce through space. His team stood in silence—Kaya, Zenra, Muun, and Shin formed an even, almost perfect line. They all exuded confidence.

“And in the west…” — the commentator’s voice trembled with a hint of tension. — “A new team whose name arouses both curiosity and unease. Dragon's Pursuit!”

The western gate opened with a metallic creak.

Warriors emerged from within — slowly, in perfect rhythm.

At the front was Valdor — his light brown hair gently stirred by the wind, his eyes reflecting the light like embers. Beside him were Kael and Noah; behind them, Mayuri, calm and focused; and next to her, Arwen, whose daggers glinted like the moon’s blade.

The audience held its breath.

High up in the imperial box, the king with silver hair and golden eyes watched everything with a faint smile. There was curiosity in his gaze — and something that resembled a memory.

The GONG sounded.

The air trembled.

The moment the echo of the strike faded, both teams sprang into action.

Tensho was first. He vanished into the shadows and reappeared right in front of Valdor. A blow — from above, lightning-fast. Valdor raised his sword, blocking the strike with a thunderous crash. Sparks flew through the air.

“Fast.” — Valdor muttered, pushing him away.

Tensho landed a few meters away, smiling slightly.

“Now I’ve got you.” — Kaya stood far away, her left eye transformed into something that looked like a sight. She drew her bow and, within two seconds, fired five arrows that sliced through the air, heading toward Mayuri.

“Noah!” — Arwen shouted.

In an instant, Noah stood in front of Mayuri; his fists burst into flames, and he unleashed a blast of fire that incinerated the arrows.

“Phew, this woman means business." — Noah said with a smile.

Kael stepped forward.

Muun’s weapon is magical spider threads that she can materialize and control.

The ground cracked as Muun placed her hand on the ground and created a thread that turned into a hammer, flying down from above toward Kael.

Kael blocked the blow with his sword, but his knees buckled.

“Damn, she’s strong…” — he hissed.

Meanwhile, Mayuri cast a sequence of spells. Symbols flashed on her palms, forming a circle that analyzed her opponents’ movements.

Valdor stepped back toward Mayuri.

“Do you know a way?” — Valdor asked.

“No.” — Mayuri replied.

Tensho vanished into the shadows, only to reappear in front of him. Their swords clashed again with a crash.

This time, Valdor pushed his opponent back, then spun around, delivering a horizontal slash. Tensho blocked the blade, but the force of the blow shook him.

At that very moment, Zenra struck again — she swung her scythe, and Arwen barely managed to dodge it.

The crowd roared as the Shadow Raven launched a counterattack.

Kaya soared into the air — black birds of shadow shot out from his body and began attacking from above.

“Mayuri!” — Noah shouted.

“Got it.”

Mayuri spread her hands. A magic circle appeared on her hands, creating a barrier. The shadows struck, but dissolved in the blue light.

“She’s an advanced-level mage.” — she said calmly.

“Now it’s my turn.” — Noah yelled, incinerating several of them with fire.

Valdor heard his voice, but he couldn’t turn around. Tensho had vanished again.

In a split second, a shadow appeared behind him.

A blow.

The strike pierced through his shoulder.

Valdor turned around, parried another blow, but felt blood on his shoulder.

Tensho stood a few steps away. Blood dripped from his sword.

“I’ve seen that move before. In legends. The Dragon of the Bloody East.”

“Maybe.” — Valdor replied, raising his sword. — “But that dragon is still alive.”

The air around Valdor rippled. His aura began to shift; a gentle glow illuminated his hands.

Mayuri glanced in his direction, feeling a familiar shiver.

“No… not yet.”

But the fight was picking up speed.

Kael lunged at Muun. He conjured a sword from threads that looked just like the real thing, and their weapons clashed with a thunderous crash, creating a shockwave. Arwen parried Zenra’s attack, bounced off the ground, and leaped over her, delivering a downward slash.

Kaya came back down to earth, drew her bow again, and aimed at Mayuri, but she couldn’t see Noah.

Noah shouted, and she looked up at the mountains. Noah fell toward her with all his might, but Kaya jumped back and looked into Noah’s eyes.

The arena shook.

Noah just grinned widely and launched another strike, but Kaya dodged it again. Noah attacked once more, not giving her a moment to catch her breath, but Kaya had keen eyesight and was able to anticipate Noah’s attacks.

“Useless.” — she whispered.

Tensho appeared before Valdor again, this time from three sides at once — his shadow split, creating an illusion.

Valdor blocked the first attack, stepped back from the second, and the third struck him in the side.

He doubled over for a moment, feeling the pain.

“Valdor!” — Mayuri shouted.

“I’m fine.” — Valdor replied.

His pupils narrowed.

The air around him grew thick.

The Emperor in the box slowly stood up.

“That’s… impossible.” — he whispered. — “Those eyes…”

Tiny scales appeared on Valdor’s shoulder. The sword began to tremble, as if reacting to something inside him.

“Scaly skin." — he whispered.

Tensho took a step back, feeling the air ripple.

“What are you…?”

Valdor raised his head.

“Something that hasn’t been seen in a long time.”

His voice was deeper, tinged with the echo of something inhuman.

A blue flame surrounded the blade, but not yet completely.

The spectators in the stands rose to their feet, stunned.

The Emperor smiled slightly, speaking in a low voice:

“So my father was right…”

The ground shook as Valdor charged forward at a speed unattainable by a mere mortal.

Tensho barely had time to react. Their swords clashed again, and this time it was Valdor who knocked him off balance.

Fire burst from the sword, slicing through the air in a blue arc.

Tensho dodged, but the flame caught his cloak. The shadow burned away in an instant.

“Valdor!” — Mayuri cried out warningly. — “You can’t keep this up much longer!”

But he didn’t listen.

The flame was reflected in Valdor’s eyes, but it wasn’t yet the full fire of the dragons. It was a prelude.

Dragon's Pursuit held his ground, and Shadow Raven had no intention of giving up either. Zenra and Arwen clashed again, Kael and Muun fought side by side, and Noah’s and Kaya’s explosions lit up the arena like lightning.

Tensho stepped back into the shadows, disappearing from view.

Valdor held his breath, instinctively sensing his presence — right behind him.

Their swords clashed once more.

A crack, a spark, a shockwave.

This time, neither of them flinched.

They both stood, locked in combat, staring into each other’s eyes.

And the emperor in the box rose slowly, a mixture of pride and fear in his voice.

“This is only the beginning.”

Shadow Raven and Dragon’s Pursuit stood facing each other, heated, trembling, ready to continue.

And the blue flame surrounding Valdor pulsed, growing stronger and stronger.

As if it were about to burst into full flame at any moment.