The many guilds in Altissia began to search for the Travelers listed on the participant list to get a chance at their spot. The result of this mad rush was that only two of the originally listed contestants kept their spots and are entering The Survival Games.
Two spots were taken by each of the main guilds and some of the minor ones: The Crafter's Guild secured positions for Greg and Leah (Team-Craft), Griefers obtained spots for Kyle and Becca (Team-Grief), while the ever-elusive assassin guild got spots for Tim and Rachel (Team-Rooks). Some guilds, such as The Lotus, posted their team names and members' faces openly and even did interviews while teams like The Rooks are going so far as to fight in their "concealed attire", not wanting their identities to be known.
....
A specialized Tele pad was built in the middle of a colosseum in Altissia, the venue was massive with Travelers and Serephs filling the spectator's spots. Moreover, official streaming channels received the highest numbers in history, as people around the worlds were watching this novel event.
Attached to the tele pad is a dirt road leading to two huge metal doors through which the contestants will enter before making their way to the entrance of The Survival Games (tele pad). While waiting for the start of the event, the netizens were going wild in chat...
....
[Netizen 305: It's finally the day! WHOO!!! My wife and I just put the kids to bed at home and set the Nanny bots to their usual settings before we entered our VR Capsules. The kids usually sleep for eight hours so that gives us around a month of time (in VR) to watch the games...surely they won't take longer than that right!?
[Netizen 500: Nah my man, based on the rules it should only last around a week or two. You have plenty of time!]
[Netizen 69: Who cares about your kid's boomer! Focus on the games, this is a groundbreaking event...I hope when I'm old enough to enter the VR, I can go to Altissia and become strong enough to dominate The Survival Games!]
[Netizen 420: Nah my dude, I just wanna chill in Altissia and live my life in the entertainment district, dicking around while watching the guilds fight with a bowl of popcorn hehe...]
...
The watchers were going crazy but what silenced both those watching online and those present was the glaring sound of trumpets announcing the arrival of the contestants of the first annual Survival Games...
...
The metal gates slowly opened to welcome a marvelous sight, atop chariots pulled by various beasts were some of the most powerful people now in Altissia. In front, you have a red and green metal chariot adorned with metal spikes throughout pulled by two massive Komodo Rhinos, native to The Four Nations. Atop the chariot is Kyle and Becca, the two most ruthless members of the Griefers Guild while also being the guild leader and vice guild leader respectively. They smiled like sharks, waving toward the cheering/booing crowd...
Behind them was the Builders Guild's chariot pulled by Ostrich horses, they were themed more elegantly than the Griefers, and men around the world were amazed at the vice-guild leader's beauty. She looked like a forest queen in her green silk dress...
The last of the major guilds and fourth in line was The Rooks. The guild leader and vice guild leader were standing like statues atop their pitch-black chariot being pulled by massive and vicious-looking cave spiders. The crowd had mixed feelings as some love the idea of becoming a Rook while many had anger in their eyes as their friends, guild members, or favorite streamer was taken out by the dark guild.
The other contestants are giving The Rooks the side-eye as well, obviously looking to get revenge during this competition as finding these guys in Altissia is an almost impossible task.
Under the fiery eyes of the watchers, the contestants rode their way towards the center of the arena, circling the tele pad a few times before lining up neatly facing the direction they came and the bulk of the crowd.
The crowd hushed as the man of the hour walked out onto the terrace, high above the central arena where even the contestants now watch with admiring eyes.
......
Raven Oscars is standing high above the contestants and attendees, looking down from the overhanging terrace. He is dressed in a fitted black suit with a white dress shirt and tied with a blue tie, his long black hair was styled nicely while his piercing blue eyes shown with vigor. He smiled at the quiet crowd and spoke...
"Welcome Travelers to the first annual Survival Games...."
*cheering and clapping*
"The opening speeches are meant to be given by the Gamemasters since it's all their work, but since I filled that role this year I suppose I must take their credit..."
*polite laughter and clapping*
"I will, however, boldly set precedence for short and sweet opening speeches. Hopefully saving you a few boring minutes in the future games..." he said with a wink to the closest camera.
*loud laughter and clapping*
He then looked down at the contestants and said after a moment of silence..."Happy Survival Games....May the odds, be ever in your favor"
Surprisingly, the atmosphere turned quiet but not tense, everyone watched the man who created all of this, the event yes but more than that.....he created a multiverse in which people, despite their background, can live free and do what they want. A chance at something beyond their mundane existence...he is the man who has and will continue to change the world and shape the future.
The comfortable silence continued, even after Raven left until a shining blue light caught everyone's attention. The tele pad beneath the contestants began to shine brightly, enveloping them in a harsh light before they disappeared. Projected screen after screen began to pop up in the arena and all around Altissia...the screen showed the contestants who were previously dressed in 'show-clothes' now wearing the battle gear they chose ahead of time.
They're now in a dark cargo bay, walking towards a grounded airship...