The first day of the festival had begun. The emperor doubled the number of soldiers for this year's event, but that was no impediment for many people to come to the festival. There were game stalls, food stalls everywhere and the folk music of the empire played in the background. People walked and smiled, joy was spread throughout the capital and for the next 7 days it would be full of fun.
Entering through the main gates of the city, a man with a very common appearance appeared. He was amazed at everything he saw, so he looked up and said:
"My name is Satoru Yeager, I'm 22 years old and I am the protagonist of my story..."
"Hey, are you listening to me??"
"Heeyyy...."
"I'm talking to you who is reading this now!!"
"You yourself... don't be confused"
"Ahhh.. Let's restart."
Satoru Yeager clears his throat and continues:
"My name is Satoru Yeager, I'm 22 years old and I am the protagonist of my story..."
"I was born in a small fishing village in the far north of the Empire"
"When I was 8 years old, I met an old swordmaster who trained me"
"At 13 I discovered that I have a powerful ability that can destroy the whole universe"
"So I spent the next 8 years training to control this universe-destroying ability"
"But from today on I will reveal myself, I will win the great tournament and I will be recognized..."
"Besides, with the prize of 100 gold coins, I would get out of poverty" - whispers very softly this part.
Satoru Yeager starts imagining himself knocking down the most powerful warriors from all over the empire, he imagines the emperor handing him a key and saying: "You can only be the new great hero, take this key to the empire, it is now all yours". Then he imagined the most beautiful women in the empire sitting at his feet including the empress and her daughters: "What a wonderful man, come Satoru, let's have more children for the empire". Said Princess Aster in Satoru's dream.
"I invite you to accompany the journey of the great Satoru, from discovery to denial, from denial to acceptance, from acceptance to eternal glory"
Satoru laughs alone in the middle of the capital plaza with a horny face and a growling belly from hunger.
"However, I have to find where to register for the tournament first"
Satoru walked aimlessly thinking about where he could sign up to participate in the great tournament and where he could find food, since he had no money, until some men bumped into him and pushed him back to the ground: "Watch where you're going you crazy man." Falling to the ground, he just thought: "You'll see when I become the supreme lord of these lands" while making a strange face apologizing for everything. The men left laughing at him and calling him a weakling, which left him very upset.
After walking a lot and asking for information, Satoru manages to arrive at the Adventurers Guild, one of the registration posts for the Water Festival Tournament. There Satoru discovers that he will have to participate in a preliminary selection first, as there were many registrations. Before the first preliminaries, Satoru leaving the guild feels a wonderful smell of food coming from a tavern next door. Following the smell he enters, but he had no money to eat. A group of adventurers seeing him with torn clothes and a stray dog face took pity on him and invited him to eat: "Why don't you sit down Mr. Beggar." They then put a little food on a new plate for him, Satoru sits down with tears in his eyes thinking: "I'm not a beggar, I'm the supreme lord of these lands". He filled his belly while the adventurers thought he was a beggar.
The day of the preliminary elimination for the tournament was just beginning, but the excitement of the spectators packing the stands was already visible. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the battles that promised great emotions. Suddenly, a strange figure began to attract looks. It was Satoru Yeager, an extremely common man who walked around the place making exaggerated poses, as if he wanted to intimidate the opponents.
"Know that I am the fearsome Satoru Yeager, the legendary warrior coming from the desert to defeat you all!" - he shouted.
People whispered, laughing at that arrogant man. Soon his first fight would begin. His opponent entered the arena with slow steps: she was an elderly, frail-looking lady apparently in her 80s.
"You better quit now, grandma! I could destroy you with my super power of 6,000 eyes of death!" - he provoked.
But during the combat, to everyone's surprise, the elderly showed herself to be a little agile and skilled with the sword, nothing too out of the ordinary, after all she was a former fencing master. In a few moves, she disarmed the "legendary warrior" with a light blow, knocking him on his butt and ending the fight.
Humiliated, Satoru ran out of the arena, while the audience laughed without stopping at the scene. Only then did he realize that his dream of fame and glory amounted to nothing, because in fact he was just a fisherman who liked to invent stories.
"My dear readers, it seems the great chronicles of Satoru Yeager have come to an end, not in the way I expected."
"Maybe my real superpower is speaking directly to you guys, I don't know... nothing special right!!"
"Well, I think I'm going back to my village, my grandfather must be furious for not being there to help with the fishing."
"See you anytime folks, until then, get ready for the triumphant entrance of the most powerful man in the universe".
Meanwhile the arena was buzzing with the preliminary fights. Soon it would be Catherine's turn to face her opponent, she was of the race of cat-men, with black hair and brown eyes. Her dazzling beauty attracted looks, but under the seductive appearance hid a fierce fighter. Her adversary was a strongman named Omus, almost 2 meters tall. Catherine knew that her lightness would not be enough, she would need intelligence.
The fight began, Omus charged forward with brute strength blows, but Catherine was agile and narrowly avoided them. She needed to hit him to win, but his great stature made it difficult. Suddenly, she saw an opportunity: he lost his balance after a powerful punch and ended up on the ground. Catherine jumped on him, pressing the dagger to his neck with a knee in his back. Brutus roared in rage at being defeated by the beauty, who maintained his furious gaze with coldness. The audience applauded them on their feet for her intelligence and skill, demonstrating that behind the beauty was a formidable warrior. Catherine knew she would still face greater obstacles ahead, but she had already proven herself to be a formidable opponent.
On the other side, in the adjacent arena Kal was defeating his opponents one by one with extreme ease, people wondered how a boy so young could be so strong. In the same arena as Kal, another person stood out, a thin man who moved extremely fast, using a rapier he managed to hit his opponents' most vital points, immobilizing and ending the fights quickly. People called him Sniffer, because he defeated his opponents with the speed of a sneeze.
In the Water Palace, Lilla was shooting evil looks at any guard who approached to monitor her. When she was finally alone, she smiled with determination. It was time for her plan. Quickly she changed clothes, putting on a loose tunic and a hood that would hide her curves. To complete the disguise, she put on a mask with a sunflower design, hiding her face. Stealthily, she left the room and headed for the stables. She took a horse and set off for the arena, where she could already hear the uproar of the preliminary rounds. Upon arriving, she saw that registrations were still open. With her new identity as "Sunflower", she filled out the form and got in line. When the organization called her false name, she entered the arena determined. Everyone there only saw a masked person, unaware of the rebellious princess behind the mask. Lilla knew she was disobeying her father, but in her heart she only felt the freedom that the tournament would give her and really wanted to know what destiny had decided for her life. She was ready to fight, without them knowing her true identity. The battle would begin.
Sunflower's next opponent to face was known by his intimidating nickname: the Strangler. His enormous build seemed to give reason to his name. When the combat began, the Strangler charged like an enraged bull, trying to knock Lilla down with his brute strikes. However, she was agile and floated almost over the water, she used her element in conjunction with her magic creating a unique ability called "Step on the Waters". The audience admired the skill of the masked fighter, who seemed to defy gravity in her movements. At one point, the Strangler tried to immobilize her, but Lilla intensified her Step, making him lose balance. With a well-aimed blow, she lightly touched her dagger to her opponent's neck, winning the fight. The people cheered animatedly for the novelty of that strange fighter. No one suspected that behind the mask was the skilled princess Lilla, once again proving her talent as a warrior.
The second day of preliminaries began, with more exciting fights. In her usual arena, "Sunflower" awaited the next challenge. In the distance, she spotted her friend Kal also disputing, cheerful as always. Her next opponent was an agile fighter who employed a technique of surprise attacks. However, Lilla had already developed her "Step on the Waters" and could feel the vibrations in the air like the waters vibrating with the wind, anticipating the blows. After a tight dispute, Sunflower applied her final hit, disarming the opponent. More cheers from victory. Already Kal faced an arrogant warrior who wouldn't stop boasting. However, he knew the weaknesses of boastful fighters. While the opponent boasted, Kal hit him with a devastating blow, knocking him down. Lilla proudly watched her friend's victory. They were getting closer to the final stage, where only the best warriors would continue. "Sunflower" and Kal had already proven their worth, but greater challenges were ahead. If they kept winning, their skills would be tested like never before.
On the third day, the arenas boiled over with battles. Catherine fought with her usual skill, taking down one opponent after another. Her name already echoed through the stands as one of the favorites. Her next challenge would be Veron, a short fighter who wore a mask. However, his seemingly fragile size hid tremendous ability. Veron charged Catherine unexpectedly, with light but precise blows. She thought she had the upper hand, until he hit her with several quick taps. His agility was surreal. Catherine changed strategies, appealing to her strength. She managed to immobilize Veron, but he was slippery. In a lapse of attention, the little warrior rolled and disarmed Catherine. The crowd exploded in screams. With a backflip Catherine exposed the claws she possessed as a half-cat, her claws also counted as weapons. Veron continued being very agile and difficult, making it extremely difficult for Catherine, until planting her feet firmly on the ground, she manages to grab Veron with her claws and knock him down making him give up the fight. Catherine wins again.
In the fourth day, the final battles of the preliminaries awaited their champions. Sniffer entered confidently in his arena, despite his apparently fragile size. His quick victory over great warriors had placed him as an outsider. His opponent was an experienced fighter who flaunted his muscular body. He tried to finalize the fight quickly, charging at Sniffer with powerful blows. However, Sniffer was prepared. With his uncommon agility, he avoided the attacks with grace. When he found an opening, he unleashed a series of rapid pulls and kicks, dropping the enemy. The audience already knew his ability and cheered the small warrior's victory. He was now among the last classified to face the champions in the finals of the festival.
Sniffer withdrew pensively. He knew that now he would face much more qualified adversaries, including the great surprise Kal and the mysterious Sunflower. It would be his biggest challenge so far. However, if he won, he would show that appearances are deceiving, and a tiny warrior could be the best of all.
As Sniffer prepared for his next fight, Kal faced another challenge. His daring and creative style had taken him far in the qualifying rounds. His opponent tried to unsettle him with provocations, but Kal was focused only on the fight. When the signal sounded, he charged with his varied attacks, keeping the adversary on the defensive. Realizing he would not find gaps in his defense, the rival resorted to dirty tactics. However, Kal had expected it and skillfully avoided it. While the crowd jeered the other's tactics, Kal smiled, going for his finishing blow. An elaborate spin and a precise kick dropped the opponent. The crowd exploded in screams for Kal, their favorite warrior. His unpredictable and creative way of fighting charmed everyone. Now he would be in the finals, ready to show what he was capable of against the best. He especially wanted to fight against Sunflower, Sniffer and Catherine, wanting to discover who was behind that mask and test the little warrior, besides finding out the reasons of the cat woman. The real tournament was about to begin.
On the fifth day, after the end of the preliminaries, the festival boiled in expectation for the opening of the great tournament the next day. While Catherine and Sniffer trained hard, Kal decided to stroll around the event to relax. That was when he spotted the beautiful girl with short golden blond hair observing the fights. He recognized by her clothes that she was the mysterious Sunflower, but without the mask she was even more beautiful. He timidly approached:
"Princess Lilla? What are you doing here without your disguise?"
She turned surprised, but soon smiled.
"I got tired of hiding. I just wanted to enjoy the festival... And you, will you deliver me to the emperor?"
"Never! Actually, I'm glad to be able to admire you without masks."
Lilla blushed.
"Thank you for not telling anyone my secret. And for always being so kind to me."
"The pleasure is mine. And if I may say, you are the bravest warrior I know."
She touched his hand, tenderly. They remained like this for a long time, enjoying the magic atmosphere between the arenas, forgetting the world for a few moments.
After contemplating the sunset, Kal gently offered his arm to Lilla. They walked together through the lively streets of the festival. They admired the food stalls with typical snacks, where Kal tried some foods he didn't know and offered Lilla, who laughed at his expression when trying something spicy or different from what he ate. They stopped to watch a parade of dancers in front of an arena, applauding their choreographies in perfect synchrony. Lilla commented on how much she admired the beauty of martial art combined with dance. They headed to the central plaza, where a traveling musician laid happy melodies on his lute. They danced together lightly, enjoying the music and each other's company.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the festival, they were immersed in their own world. Kal was liking seeing Lilla's smile and how the weight on her shoulders was diminishing, and she felt free and protected at his side. She had fallen in love without realizing it. Night fell on the City of Waters. Kal escorted Lilla back to the palace, promising to see her on the great day of the tournament. Promising they would have a fight that would stop the entire capital.
On the sixth day of the festival, the great tournament was about to begin. Unlike the preliminary days, all the Dukes and the emperor himself would come to watch. Before the competitors entered the arena, the announcer announced the illustrious guests:
"The great General Marcus, 'The Dragon Blooded'"
"Dean of the great Imperial Academy Suzannah Priusno"
"Lord Wilgon, of House Legra"
"Lord Abnon, of House Maltez"
"Lord Orochi, of House Asahi"
Before the announcer could say the next name, an overwhelming presence fills the entire packed arena, an older man accompanied by his guards went up to where the lords would sit. The great arena fell silent following his entry which was announced as:
"Lord Silvus, of House Felwave"
He was a man with long gray hair, black skin with crimson red eyes that were characteristic of his family and an overwhelming presence that even made the other lords, generals and illustrious men and women present fall into total silence, until he took his seat. And finally the announcer announced:
"All hail Mordret Lucius Artal Aquarion I, great Emperor of Nannu and lord of the City of Waters"
The people went into ecstasy waiting for the emperor to say a few words, so before sitting he went to the front and said:
"My beloved people, I have immense joy in saying that Prince Heir Morfrey is recovering very well and will soon be strong again."
Hearing this, the people shouted for joy and jubilation for the prince who was adored among the poor people.
"Therefore, I dedicate this festival to him."
Once again the people there exploded with exultation and joy, and shouted the emperor's name endlessly, until he took his seat to receive the fighters in the arena. After sitting down, he noticed that Lord Silvus Felwave was by his side and said:
"Well if it isn't the lord of the bats, what brings you here today, I haven't seen you at any of the councils I've convened lately?"
Silvus looked at the emperor with the same dry, lifeless look and said:
"Today is an important day for my house" - said the lord in a low, calm voice.
Suddenly the gates of the arena began to open and the competitors entered the arena to greet the emperor. After they were all lined up, the announcer would begin announcing each fighter, who in turn, when announced, should bow to the emperor.
"Catharine, from the kingdom of Leoria"
She takes two steps forward, knees to bow to the emperor and returns to her post.
"Arthan, son of Marcus"
Arthan was the oldest son of General Marcus. He had short brown hair, fair skin, and brown eyes like his father.
"Sunflower"
Princess Lilla also repeats the movements, but she was quite nervous and apprehensive not to be discovered.
"Brutus"
"Sniffer"
"Hiugo"
"Kal Launno"
The nobles present didn't know about Kal's mysteries, but they were aware of what happened with Tiberius and the others. They expected to see something superhuman coming from the boy.
"And lastly, Shiera Felwave"
The people stood in shock as the girl removed her hood and revealed herself to be Shiera, daughter of Lord Silvus. Shiera shared the same features as the rest of her family. The competitors did not see her in the preliminary rounds and wondered why. Apparently Silvus had pulled some strings to directly place his daughter in the main tournament. The competitors wondered why this was and many of them, along with the entire audience, believed he did it because she was weak and would have been eliminated in the preliminaries.
The tournament was about to begin, and Kal's eyes would not stop emitting a strong yellow glow.