The arena was alive with excitement, the air thick with anticipation as the Anchor's voice rang out across the stadium. The names of powerful figures echoed through the stands—City Lord Arenar, Magistrate Tanor, and last year's champions Mighty Beast Torosolla and Snow Princess Sariella were all watching. As the Anchor finished, he added a final note, "Today's tournament will be one for the history books!"
Stoinis stood on the sidelines, his white robe and hood concealing his identity as he watched the bustling arena. His eyes were calm, but his heart beat steadily. Rylor nudged him with an excited grin, whispering, "This is our chance, Stoinis. Play it smart, win the crowd, and we'll walk away with more money than we ever dreamed."
Stoinis gave a slight nod, but his mind was elsewhere. The rumors from the streets about Yinstin still weighed on him. People talked as if he and Raylor had slaughtered children and ravaged the land when in reality, they had only sought revenge. It was good that the people didn't actually know who the men from rumors really were and the fact that they were actually currently in their own city, still the lies spread like wildfire, but today wasn't the day to dwell on it. Today, he had to fight.
"And now!" the Anchor roared, "Let the tournament begin!"
The crowd cheered as the first match was announced. "Stoinis, a newcomer to our ranks, faces Hiran, son of the merchant Zilon!" The roar of the crowd was deafening, but there was a hint of doubt in their cheers. Stoinis was unknown, just another fresh face, while Hiran had a reputation, albeit a fragile one.
Hiran strutted onto the arena, clad in armor that gleamed in the sunlight. His smirk was unmistakable. He was tall and well-built, his posture oozing arrogance. As he sized up Stoinis, his sneer grew wider. "A nobody in a white robe, hiding behind a hood," he muttered, loud enough for the nearby audience to hear. "This will be quick."
The crowd chuckled at his comment, some nodding in agreement. To them, Hiran was an established fighter, and this cloaked newcomer seemed out of his depth. A few spectators exchanged amused glances, while others whispered, "This will be over in seconds."
But Stoinis remained calm, silent, his eyes fixed on Hiran as the signal to start the match was given. Hiran wasted no time, rushing forward with a powerful swing aimed directly at Stoinis' head. The speed and force behind it were impressive, but Stoinis barely moved. He sidestepped, avoiding the blow by mere inches. It seemed like luck to the crowd, but to Stoinis, it was all calculated.
Hiran's momentum carried him past Stoinis, stumbling slightly. The crowd cheered, believing Hiran still had the upper hand. But Stoinis was already in motion. His feet moved swiftly, effortlessly dodging the next attack as Hiran swung again, this time with more fury. Another miss. Another dodge. Stoinis was playing with him.
"Come on, Hiran!" someone from the crowd shouted. "Don't let him toy with you!"
Hiran's face flushed with anger, his movements growing more desperate. He swung wildly, trying to land a single hit on Stoinis, but each time, Stoinis was just out of reach. The crowd's cheers turned into murmurs of confusion. They watched as Stoinis danced around Hiran, barely exerting any effort.
With a sudden burst of speed, Stoinis made his move. He feinted to the right, drawing Hiran's attention, and then spun left, delivering a sharp kick to the back of Hiran's knee. Hiran's leg buckled, and he collapsed face-first into the dirt. The arena fell silent, the only sound being Hiran's heavy breathing as he struggled to stand.
Stoinis stepped forward, placing his foot on Hiran's back, pinning him down. "Is that all?" he said softly, his voice laced with mockery.
The crowd erupted into laughter. Hiran, the arrogant son of a wealthy merchant, had been humiliated in front of everyone. "Did you see that?" one spectator said, barely able to contain their laughter. "He didn't even have to try!"
Hiran lay there, his face burning with shame as Stoinis calmly walked away. "First match and he already embarrassed himself," another voice chimed in. "Looks like the new guy isn't a pushover after all."
Rylor was grinning from ear to ear, thoroughly enjoying the show. "That's what I'm talking about, kid! You made him look like a fool." But Stoinis barely acknowledged him, his thoughts already on the next match.
The second match followed soon after. This time, his opponent was Linus, a lean, quick-footed youth known for his agility. The crowd seemed to have mixed feelings about this one—Linus had a reputation for being fast, but after seeing Stoinis' performance, they weren't sure what to expect.
Linus was fast, no doubt about it. He darted around Stoinis with quick, precise movements, trying to find an opening. But Stoinis was patient. He let Linus dance around him, dodging every strike with minimal effort, always staying just out of reach.
To the crowd, it looked like Stoinis was barely keeping up, his narrow escapes seeming like luck. But those watching closely could see the truth—Stoinis was in control. He was letting Linus tire himself out, waiting for the right moment to strike.
That moment came sooner than expected. Linus, growing frustrated, lunged forward with a reckless attack. Stoinis sidestepped once again, and with a single fluid motion, swept his leg under Linus' feet, sending him crashing to the ground.
The crowd gasped, surprised by the sudden turn of events. Linus struggled to stand, but the match was already over. Another quick, decisive win for Stoinis.
"He's winning, but just barely," one spectator muttered. "It's like he's holding back."
"He's good, though," another replied. "If he keeps this up, the tournament officials might start paying attention."
The third match was against Garth, a towering brute with a reputation for raw strength. The crowd cheered as Garth stepped into the arena, his muscles rippling as he cracked his knuckles. This was the match they had been waiting for—a clash of power versus skill.
But once again, Stoinis surprised them. Garth charged forward with all the force of a bull, but Stoinis dodged every attack with ease. It was a dance—Garth's wild, powerful swings missing by inches as Stoinis moved effortlessly around him.
The crowd watched in awe as Stoinis controlled the fight, making Garth look slow and clumsy. But even though Stoinis was clearly superior, he didn't finish the fight quickly. He let it drag on, making it seem like Garth had a chance. But in the end, with a quick strike to Garth's midsection, Stoinis brought the brute to his knees, ending the match.
The final match of the day pitted Stoinis against Jarrek, a cocky youth with a sharp tongue. Before the match even began, Jarrek was taunting Stoinis, trying to get inside his head. "You've been lucky so far," Jarrek sneered, "but your luck ends here."
Stoinis didn't respond, his focus entirely on the fight. The moment the match began, Jarrek rushed forward, his movements quick and aggressive. But just like before, Stoinis dodged every attack, his calm demeanor never faltering.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats, watching as Stoinis once again outmaneuvered his opponent. By the time the match ended, with Jarrek lying in the dirt, panting and defeated, the crowd was buzzing with conversation.
"He's winning every match by a hair," someone said. "But he's still winning."
"Yeah, but if he keeps this up, the tournament officials are going to take notice. He's no ordinary fighter."
Stoinis stepped out of the arena, his mind focused on the future. He had won all four matches, but he had done so without revealing his true strength. He had played the game carefully, staying just under the radar.
As he walked past the exit, a sudden flash of silver caught his eye. He turned just in time to see Hiran, his face twisted in rage, throwing a knife straight at him.
Stoinis dodged easily, his hand reaching for the hilt of his blade as he turned to face Hiran. "What's the meaning of this?" Stoinis asked