Chapter 28: Chapter 28
The third day of the Global Rookie Tournament brought a different kind of energy to the Colosseum. The chaotic free for all of the qualifiers was a distant memory. Only sixteen rookies remained. The arena floor had been swept clean the massive holographic screens recalibrated to focus entirely on the one on one duels.
Glen stood on the competitor balcony leaning his forearms against the cool glass railing. He looked up at the massive glowing blue energy shield that domed the entire stadium protecting the hundred thousand spectators from stray magic.
It was a marvel of modern engineering powered by hundreds of high tier monster cores.
As he watched the blue energy ripple Glen thought about the history lessons they had been forced to memorize in the slum schools. Thirty years ago there were no energy shields. There were no mega cities. There was only the old world and it had almost burned to ash.
When the seventy seven black Towers first descended from the sky humanity had tried to fight back with conventional weapons. Tanks fighter jets and missiles were deployed against the endless tides of monsters pouring out of the dungeon gates. It was a slaughter. Modern military technology was completely useless against creatures born from pure mana.
Humanity lost billions of lives in the first year. They were pushed to the absolute brink of extinction hiding in underground bunkers while monsters roamed the ruined surface.
Then a desperate scouting team found the first Awakening Crystal inside a dormant dungeon.
The crystal changed everything. It scanned the human soul and unlocked the spiritual core granting Classes and skills. It allowed humans to process ambient mana. For the first time humanity had a weapon that could actually pierce monster hide.
The Awakening system saved the human race. Hunters pushed the monsters back reclaiming territory and harvesting the glowing cores from the beasts they killed. Those cores became the foundation of a new civilization. Alchemy replaced traditional medicine. Mana conduits replaced electrical grids. The mega cities were built around the Towers turning the source of their near destruction into an endless well of resources.
The system saved humanity but it also enslaved them. It created a brutal absolute hierarchy where the strong ruled as corporate kings and the weak were left to rot in the toxic infrastructure zones.
"Deep thoughts Mcdonald?" Isla asked stepping up to the railing beside him.
"Just admiring the architecture" Glen replied his dark eyes scanning the arena. "It is amazing what you can build when you have a monopoly on magic."
Caleb Sterling wandered over pointing his wooden staff toward the center of the arena. "You might want to pay attention to this one Glen. The golden boy is finally stepping into the mud."
Down on the white sand Evander Buchanan walked out of the competitor tunnel. The S rank Dragon Knight wore his pristine white military uniform. He did not carry a weapon. He looked completely relaxed waving politely to the screaming crowds.
Standing across from him was a massive heavily armored A rank Vanguard Knight from the Astra Guild. The Knight carried a glowing tower shield and a crackling energy lance. He was a veteran of dozens of high tier dungeon raids a legitimate powerhouse who had easily crushed his previous opponents.
"Match Thirty" the announcer boomed. "Evander Buchanan versus Kaelus Vance."
Glen raised an eyebrow. "Another Vance?"
"A distant cousin" Isla explained. "The Valor Guild and the Astra Guild intermarry to keep their bloodlines strong. Kaelus is one of Astra’s top prospects. He has an A rank defensive skill called Aegis Wall. It is supposed to be impenetrable."
The mechanical chime echoed through the stadium.
"Begin."
Kaelus did not hesitate. He knew he was fighting an S rank. He slammed his glowing tower shield into the sand and activated his ultimate defense. A massive dome of solid golden light erupted around him anchoring him to the arena floor. He leveled his energy lance preparing to counterattack the moment Evander closed the distance.
Evander did not run. He did not activate a movement skill. He simply walked forward his boots crunching softly against the sand.
"Is he even taking this seriously?" Caleb muttered leaning over the railing.
Evander stopped ten feet away from the golden dome. He looked at Kaelus through the glowing barrier.
"Aegis Wall" Evander said his melodic voice carrying across the silent stadium. "A very sturdy skill. But you always lean on it and not enough on your own foundation."
Evander raised his right hand. He did not form a fist. He simply extended his index finger.
A terrifying suffocating pressure suddenly descended over the entire arena. Up on the balcony Glen felt his breath catch in his throat. It was the Dragon Aura. But it was not the passive suppression Evander had used in the hallway. This was active weaponized intent.
Evander tapped his index finger against the golden dome.
The impact sounded like a pane of glass shattering in a quiet room.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the impenetrable A rank Aegis Wall. A second later the entire dome exploded into a million fragments of golden light. The sheer kinetic backlash of the shattered spell slammed into Kaelus throwing the massive armored Knight backward.
Kaelus crashed into the boundary wall his tower shield split completely in half. He slid to the ground unconscious before he even realized what had hit him.
The stadium erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause.
Evander lowered his hand. He had not broken a sweat. He had not even wrinkled his pristine white uniform. He turned and looked directly up at the competitor balcony locking his amber eyes onto Glen.
Glen stared back his face an unreadable mask. His analytical mind was running the calculations.
To shatter an A rank defensive barrier with a single finger tap required a base strength stat of at least five hundred. Glen’s strength was currently sitting at forty five. The gap was not just a canyon. It was an entire ocean.
"Well" Caleb said breaking the silence. "That was terrifying. I think I will just forfeit if I get matched against him."
"He is a monster" Isla agreed her green eyes narrowed. "Do not let your pride blind you Mcdonald. If you fight him you will die."
Glen smiled a slow dark smirk spreading across his face. He turned away from the glass railing and grabbed his new heavy black longsword from the bench.
"I know exactly how strong he is Sinclair" Glen said strapping the massive weapon to his back. "But he is not my problem today. I have my own match to win."
