As the three men wandered down the shaded path, a past notification chimed in Sin's mind. It was a message from the mystical system he interacted with periodically.
"Marlin Woods will gain access to the Mangekyo Sharingan by in the near future," the system's calm voice stated. An image of Marlin with the distinctive warped pupils of the Mangekyo flickered through Sin's mind. He nodded to himself, unsurprised by this prophetic message. He had suspected all along that Marlin was destined for greatness.
Glancing over at the two companions walking beside him, Sin felt a surge of satisfaction. He had made excellent choices - with Stephen's familiar sturdiness of Wood style and Marlin's latent gifts with Sharingan, these men were perfect additions to his inner circle.
"I'm grateful to have you both by my side going forward," Sin declared, breaking the tranquil silence of the morning. "With your powers and loyalty, we will accomplish great things together."
Stephen and Marlin bowed their heads humbly at their new master's praise.
"We are yours to command," Stephen replied steadily. "You have our unconditional service."
Marlin echoed the sentiment. "I pledge to honor and obey you, Master Sin. Once I gain the Mangekyo, I will be an unstoppable force at your disposal."
Sin smiled, pleased with their unwavering dedication. He placed a hand on each man's shoulder.
"Come brothers, let's go to the dungeon. Our journey just begins at dawn."
The two faithfully fell in step behind Sin as they turned back towards the mansion. Though from vastly different backgrounds, the men were united by their devotion to their master. Together, they would hone their skills in preparation for whatever grand destiny awaited.
The next morning, as golden rays of sun peeked through the windows, Sin set out once again with his two new companions by his side. Stephen and Marlin trailed closely behind their master as he led them outside and towards the waiting carriage. Today was the second round in the 3rd League of the prestigious Sprite God tournament, which Sin had been eagerly anticipating.
Even though it would have been faster to simply teleport directly to the arena, Sin wanted to take the carriage so he could leisurely observe the sights and sounds of the city along the way. Back on Earth, he had enjoyed occasionally getting in the car just to drive around and experience the outside world passing by. Now in this new fantasy realm, a ride through the bustling streets in a carriage offered the same relaxing escape.
As the driver opened the door and Sin stepped inside, Stephen and Marlin hesitated for a moment, unsure if they were permitted to join their master. But Sin smiled welcomingly and gestured for them to climb in as well.
"Come, let's ride together," he said. "I want you both to see the kingdom."
Gratefully, the two men took their seats across from Sin, marveling at the ornate interior of the carriage. Being from an eternal darkness, neither had ever set foot inside such a finely crafted transport before. They gazed out the windows eagerly as the carriage began rolling down the tree-lined path leading from Sin's family's sprawling estate and mansion.
Before long, the peaceful surroundings gave way to crowded thoroughfares packed with shops and taverns. People filled the sidewalks, while horses, carts and other carriages vied for space on the busy streets. Stephen and Marlin watched the bustling urban chaos with wonder, having never ventured into such a massive city before.
Sin smiled at their enthralled expressions. "Magnificent, isn't it?" he remarked. "I never get tired of seeing the energy and life of the capital."
"It's incredible, Master Sin," Marlin replied in awe. "Thank you for allowing us to experience this."
As the carriage wove through the maze-like streets, Sin pointed out landmarks and explained bits of history about various buildings and monuments they passed. Though he had only been in this world himself for a short time, he had already amassed extensive knowledge of the city and realm. Stephen and Marlin listened intently, soaking up everything their wise master shared.
After nearly an hour of leisurely travel, the towering stone arena finally came into view ahead. Sin experienced a sense of lethargy upon arriving because the competition seemed dull and uninteresting to him. However, glancing across at his two companions, he could see his own eagerness for the tournament reflected in their eyes as well.
When the carriage pulled up to the entrance, Sin hopped out eagerly, followed by Stephen and Marlin. The ride through the capital had been both relaxing and informative. But now, Sin was ready to assume his public role again as a rising star competing in the kingdom's most prestigious competition. With his two steadfast companions in tow, he felt prepared to take on whatever challenges awaited in the arena.
As Sin entered the bustling arena with Stephen and Marlin, a sense of eager anticipation filled the air. This was the day of the climactic final stage of the League 3 tournament. Out of the thousands who had originally entered, only 200 competitors remained in this state. The best of the best had filtered through, ready to battle it out for the ultimate prize and glory.
Sin made his way to the lower staging area where the other 199 contenders were gathered. A tournament official stepped forward to explain the format for this decisive final round - The Last Man Standing.
"You will be randomly divided into 20 groups of 10 fighters each," the official announced in a booming voice that echoed across the stone walls. "Within your group, you will draw tokens numbered 1 through 10 to determine fight order."
Murmurs rose from the crowd as fighters exchanged determined glances. The final round was simple but brutal - you advance only by defeating opponent after opponent until no one remained.
Once divided, Sin found himself in Group 14 along with 9 unfamiliar, muscle-bound warriors. Each man solemnly drew a numbered stone from a bag held by the officiant. Sin unfurled his fist to reveal Token 5.