After Naeku accepted Erik's proposal, things quickly heated up. The second-rankers from Enkare Nkai were quickly revving up their excitement, before pairing off into groups.
This process took a while, due to the level of strategy involved. There were a lot of things to consider.
For one, even those that lasted the longest would only get three treasures, so more people in a group, meant a higher chance to win, but also more people to share with. Then there was fatigue to consider. The last group would surely have an easier time than the first, as Erik and Astrid would be tired by then.
Most of them did not underestimate these two, however. At least half had seen them fight in the battle about a month ago. The tale of Erik and a third ranker disappearing for a while, only for Erik to return with the unconscious Arcanist on his shoulder, was quickly making the rounds.
