"Shit, what can I do to block my fall?!"
Shu said to himself while falling to the ground below.
There was nothing but woods and massive "shining pillars" in the distance.
********
It was a nice and clear day, and Thomas was still on his long journey to find his long-lost daughter.
Thomas is a human who was born to descendants of survivors of past tournaments.
He was born in the "godless realm," otherwise known as the "tournament realm," which hosts a tournament between eighteen hundred people sent there by the gods every two hundred and fifty years.
By the end of each tournament, the survivors are offered the option of either staying in the godless realm or going back to their home realms. Needless to say, some choose to stay and live a free life outside of the gods' influence.
The people of the godless realm live outside the control of the gods, though once in a while, the gods give them benefits as an apology for the tournament because it destroys large parts of their civilizations every two hundred and fifty years. Aside from those benefits, the people of the godless realm don't need to worry about space or resources because every time there is a new tournament, the planet's size grows by ten percent compared with its original size. Since the current tournament is the twenty-ninth, the planet is nearly three times its original size.
********
"Ahahaha!"
Shu yelled as he was nearing the ground.
'Where is that scream coming from?'
Thomas thought to himself.
He closed his eyes and listened to the source of the noise.
The voice was getting louder and louder... and its direction was... up?
He then looked at the sky and saw a beastman falling towards him.
Thomas took a few steps back and then started running.
Thomas jumped high. When he noticed he wasn't getting high enough, he grabbed his sword's handle and chanted.
"...feather steps, as soft as..."
And he started running in the air as if he was climbing a hill.
Thomas grabbed Shu and started running down to the ground below.
"Thank you, mister magician, you really saved my life just now."
Shu thanked Thomas, who felt uncomfortable with it.
"Thanks for the compliment, but I'm not a magician."
Thomas said, and Shu was confused.
''What do you mean? Wasn't it magic?''
Shu asked.
"It was a simple chant. Chants and spells use phrases created by magicians to manipulate the magical energy in the world. Magicians, on the other hand, are people who use their own magic energy to enforce their will on the world, at least from what I know. Magic is a bit too complicated for me to fully grasp."
Thomas explained with a chuckle.
"Thanks for the explanation."
Shu Thanked Thomas, and they each started going their own way.
Shu suddenly stopped because he remembered something. He knows nearly nothing about the tournament! And even less about this... "realm" of the tournament. He turned around to ask for help, but before he could...
"Wait! Can you tell me why were you falling from the sky?"
Thomas, who couldn't stop his curiosity, asked.
"I am here because of a tournament. Mister Danniel teleported me to the sky when he sent me here."
Shu answered.
"Tournament? You mean the multi-realm tournament?!"
Thomas asked, surprised. There were talks about it restarting soon, but no one knew exactly when.
"Yes."
Shu answered. He was confused at Thomas's shock. Was it such a big deal?
"Then when you say Danniel, you mean the demon god?"
Thomas asked. Only to make sure he is correct.
"Yep, that's the one. Though he would rather be called Danny."
Shu answered happily.
'This kid... He should be strong, but is it right to use him? he might be able to help me locate her...'
Thomas thought to himself.
"Hey, listen. I know you are probably busy, and I'm sorry for asking for your help when I have nothing to give you in return... but can you help me win the tournament and be my guide in this world?"
Shu asked politely.
This was the opportunity Thomas needed!
"As long as you help me search for my daughter during the tournament!"
Thomas said, and they shook hands.
********
They walked for a while, and Thomas explained what legends say is the goal of the participants in this tournament.
Recognition.
The participants need to have big enough achievements and effects on the world to be recognized by the gods as the most impressive mortals.
As they walked, Shu noticed they were going in the direction of the huge "glimmering rods" he saw while falling. As they got closer, he could see that the enormous "sparkling spires" were buildings in a large city that looked like nothing he had ever heard of.
It had buildings made of concrete and steel that reached the sky and seemed to be going just as deep below, paths were overlapping from above and beneath, and the city was huge. Vehicles were going around, and they looked like nothing Shu had ever seen before. They didn't have wheels and were completely closed off. I mean, where are their horses?
While walking through the city, Shu couldn't stop himself from being amazed.
"Wow, this place is so amazing and shiny."
Shu said and looked at the city like a curious child.
They went to a small metallic room which, after pressing a button, started going down, and now Shu could clearly see the bright underground city that looked even more impressive than the upper parts.
They walked through the silvery streets until they reached a dark side path, where they turned and saw an ancient-looking wooden door that didn't seem to fit in with the futuristic theme of the city. They entered the door and saw a counter. They went to the counter, and Thomas started talking to a weird blob thing that was standing on the other side of the reception table.
"A room with two beds. Please."
Thomas requested from the blob, but the blob didn't seem happy with it.
"Kakaka, marko de pold vamir? ka tu mara... to pu lo!"
[Translation: You again, Why do you need two separate beds? This is an accepting society... though beastmen are the worst!]
The blob answered.
"It's not like that. He is here because of the tournament. I am his guide."
Thomas answered.
"Po, ki to te lero."
[Translation: Fine, here is your key.]
''Thank you.''
Thomas took the key and cursed the blob while faking a cough.
''What was that thing?''
Shu asked.
"I will tell you when we get to our room."
Thomas said, and they started going to their room.