MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

The question and answer session continued as participants eagerly voiced their concerns and curiosities.

At the back of the room, Anthony stood quietly, observing the scene with an air of indifference.

At one point, he even stifled a yawn, his disinterest all too evident.

To him, the entire discussion was pointless.

The rules were straightforward, anything could be done to their opponents.

Why complicate such a simple premise with endless, unnecessary questions?

"Since that is the last question, we shall proceed accordingly"

The Overseer declared, his voice dripping with finality.

With a swift snap of his fingers, the air itself seemed to shudder.

Space rippled, twisted, and in an instant, the champions found themselves no longer in the same place.

When they opened their eyes again, they were in a completely different realm, one far removed from their previous surroundings.

The atmosphere felt different, charged with an unfamiliar energy.

As the champions scanned their new environment, confusion spread among them.

The landscape appeared alien, yet there was something eerily familiar about it.

Some wondered if they had left the planet entirely, while others struggled to determine if they were still on the same world, just in a different part of it.

Above them, chairs floated high in the sky, each suspended in midair.

Thousands of them stretched out as far as the eye could see, each one numbered in ascending order according to the remaining champions, one for each fighter left in the tournament.

"In case you are wondering"

The Overseer's voice rang out, cutting through the silence.

"This is still the same planet. We've merely moved to a different location"

His words were a simple clarification, designed to clear away any lingering doubts in the champions' minds.

"First off"

The Overseer continued, his voice echoing through the arena.

"You see those high rise seats?"

He gestured broadly to the floating chairs that spanned the vast sky, each one hanging in perfect alignment, their numbers clearly visible.

"You all are to pick whichever seat you desire and take your place. The number on the seat represents your number for the upcoming battle"

A subtle shift ran through the gathered champions as they took in the Overseer's words.

Their eyes narrowed, and whispers rippled through the air.

It was immediately clear that this wasn't just about seating, it was about pride.

The Overseer grinned, knowing full well the implications of this seemingly innocuous directive.

The seats, though all equal in structure, had one defining difference: their height.

The higher the number on a seat, the lower it sat in the sky.

Seat number 1, the highest, was the most coveted, while seat number 2 was just a step down, and so on.

This was no mere arrangement of seats.

The Overseer was baiting their egos, creating an unspoken competition.

None of them would want to sit on a lower seat, such a position would be seen as a mark of inferiority, a blow to their pride.

The higher the seat number, the greater the perceived humiliation.

The Overseer knew this would fuel the champions' desire for dominance.

It had no real consequence on the battle, of course, but the game of pride was about to begin.

The tension in the air grew thick as every champion eyed the floating seats, considering their options with a mix of calculation and defiance.

The Overseer smirked, his amusement evident.

"You may be seated then"

He declared, giving them the signal to take their places.

Instantly, the air crackled with the surge of mana as champions erupted into motion, each attempting to claim the seat they deemed most prestigious.

Anthony, ever calm, simply teleported to Seat Number 1, but as he did, his eyes widened in surprise.

Aaaninja was already there, sitting with a composed, almost smug expression, as if he had been there all along.

'How?'

Anthony thought, his mind racing. Aaaninja's speed was beyond anything he had anticipated.

Anthony's gaze shifted to Seat Number 2, but to his surprise, Lucian was already settled in.

A confident smile played on Lucian's lips, as if to say, 'You were too slow'.

Stunned for only a brief moment, Anthony shook his head, dismissing the minor setback.

He moved to Seat Number 7, not giving much thought to the numbering system.

Seats three to six were swiftly claimed as well, and the chaos in the air grew palpable.

Some champions had resorted to force, shoving others out of their way in an attempt to claim the best seats, while others engaged in quick teleports, desperate to maintain their status.

Anthony simply shook his head, an expression of mild amusement on his face.

'They are wasting so much energy over nothing'

He mused, his eyes flicking toward the Overseer.

'This is exactly the kind of chaos he loves. A true schadenfreude' Explore hidden tales at empire

He let out a quiet sigh, his gaze drifting back to the frenzy unfolding around him.

Lucian, ever the instigator, noticed the sigh and couldn't resist the opportunity for a taunt.

"Are you sighing in defeat?"

He called out, his voice carrying just enough mockery.

"After all those arrogant remarks a couple of hours ago, you couldn't even take the third seat. You were pushed all the way back to number seven"

Anthony's expression remained impassive as he turned his gaze to Lucian.

"You're speaking too much for someone sitting in the second seat"

He replied flatly, though his tone carried a subtle bite.

Lucian's smile widened, his victory in the seat race fueling his confidence.

"At least I'm not on the seventh seat"

He quipped, unable to resist digging at Anthony's minor misstep.

But beneath the surface, Lucian was deeply unsettled.

Aaaninja's speed had shaken him.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He had no idea how Aaaninja had moved so fast, he hadn't even seen him act.

'He truly is the Author's Emperor'

Lucian thought with a furrowed brow.

'But regardless, I'll beat him here'

His gaze grew resolute as he turned to the Overseer, waiting for the next phase of the game.

Minutes passed, and soon enough, all the champions were seated.

The chaos slowly subsided, though the air still thrummed with tense energy.

Every champion, regardless of seat, knew that this was merely the beginning.

"Now that you are all seated, let me explain the final rule, as it pertains to the previous champion's inquiry"

The Overseer's voice rang out, clear and unyielding.

As he spoke, a massive screen materialized before them, its surface shimmering with an ethereal glow.

It appeared to be crafted from some forgotten, ancient technology, the kind of which none of them had seen before.

"This device will randomly select your opponents each time"

The Overseer continued, his tone firm.

"The moment you lose, you are out. No second chances"

'To display numbers, they resort to ancient tech? Talk about going all out, or perhaps just showing off'

Anthony mused inwardly.

Yet, he wisely refrained from voicing his thoughts, knowing better than to provoke these ancient beings around him.

"The only respite you'll get"

He Overseer added, a faint sorrow creeping into his voice.

"Is between battles, when you can use potions to restore your health, stamina, and mana"

His tone briefly wavered, almost as though he resented the necessity of those potions, yet he knew he had no power to change the rule.

His gaze swept across the group, his words taking on an ominous weight.

"There will be no designated battlefield. The entire planet is your battlefield. You are free to fight anywhere, at any time"

A murmur of anticipation rippled through the group.

"However"

The Overseer's eyes sharpened.

"There is no designated resting period. You only have the time between matches. After that, there is no reprieve. You are expected to remain ready, no exceptions"

He paused, his presence overwhelming the room, before delivering his final words.

"As I have said all that needs to be said, let the true Starborn Tournament begin. May the strongest prevail"

The instant the words left his lips, the ancient screen pulsed with a shimmering light, and a wave of energy surged through the air.

In that moment, a surge of emotions coursed through the hearts of every participant, some thrummed with excitement, others with fear, and a few with deep uncertainty, but all were united by the same intense anticipation.