When Jack returned to the building where the human guests were assigned, he saw David had also returned. He looked for Jeanny, Domon, and Giant Steve before pulling them to a secluded corner and telling them about Wong.
Actually, Jack also saw another familiar face in the orc entourage. Abasi Raretooth, the warlord who had clashed with the Themisphere army during the expedition to the Temple of Divine Squall, but his presence was not as alarming as Wong who was most likely joining this tournament as a participant.
"The World Maker is joining this tournament? I thought you said they don't have time for this tournament?" Giant Steve asked.
"It was only an assumption," Jack said. "Probably there is something here that interests them. But I only see that Wong fellow. I had inspected his other orc teammates, none of them is from World Maker guild."
"Wong? I know that fellow. I remember Chloe said that she studied under him after going abroad," Domon said.
"She did?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, I haven't told you this?"
"You have not."
"How strong is he?" Jeanny asked.
"Not bad," Domon answered.
"I never see him in action. But he had defeated a person who is strong in my opinion, so I supposed he is really strong," Jack answered. He then turned to his grandfather, "Can he be stronger than you?"
"You must be asking for more training to dare ask that question. Do you think there is any martial artist that is stronger than your gramps?"
"Have you fought him before?" Jeanny asked.
"No," Domon answered.
Everyone rolled their eyes at him.
"I would have fought him if I joined the world championship for the eleventh time. He is the world champion a year after I stopped participating," Domon said.
"Well, anyway. You won't have a chance to decide who is better. You are a Weapon Master, he is a battle monk. You two share different categories. But if he joins the team battle, it will be me who fight him," Jack said.
"Why do I need a chance to decide? I already know I am better than him," Domon said.
Jack ignored his grandfather, he said, "If that Wong is alone, he probably joins this competition for himself, not for the World Maker."
"What about the participants from Liguritudum? Is Master joining as well?" Jeanny asked.
"George said there is no participant with that alias," Jack answered.
"George?"
"Oh, he is my old friend. He goes by the alias paytowin. He is a member of the faction in charge of this place, so he can check who the other country's participants are. I've asked him to check if there is any other participant that is from World Maker. He is currently checking. He will let me know later."
"The council here is a faction?" Giant Steve asked.
Jack then told them Paytowin's tale. Giant Steve expressed his desire to join as well. Peniel advised him not to put his hope up. Such a chance was very rare. Paytowin was extremely lucky to have gotten the opportunity and had done everything right to impress the native member of this faction.
They rested after. No use to worry about something they couldn't control. They will just have to wait for info from Paytowin before discussing further. They all rested by meditating, training their mana sense.
*
When it was late afternoon, the draconian priest came to pick them up. They were brought towards the largest building at the top, the one that was called the Temple of Courage. But they didn't go in. They went instead around the building to its back. There were more beautiful gardens there.
They continued following the draconian priest until they came up to an outdoor stage that looked very much like the real world's Roman Theater, except on a larger scale. Its fan shape stone seats came down to a large arena. Many people were sitting on these stone seats while several groups were standing in the arena.
The draconian priest informed everyone other than the tournament participants to take a seat on these stone seats. Jack could see Prince Rhemos' displeasure for being asked to sit at such a common seat. The draconian priest didn't pay the prince any heed.
Jack noticed two familiar faces from the seats occupied by other country's native representatives. One was the vampire prince, Horatio, who sat not far away from the human ones. Another was from the orc's group, warlord Abasi Raretooth who he saw earlier. The orc noticed Jack and was glaring at him. Jack simply replied with a smile and a friendly wave, which earned him a sharper glare from the warlord.
After everyone was seated, the draconian priest led the players down to the arena below
Everyone noticed that the group was divided by race. Each group consisted of ten people. There were already four groups down there. The orcish, elven, vampires, and dwarves. While another group, the ethereals, were walking down the stairs from the opposite side.
Jack saw several familiar faces in the groups. Leavemealone in the vampires' group, Anotherday and Handsome Joe were in the elven group. Jack waved at them. All three either pretended not to see or were completely ignoring Jack.
'A*sholes!' Jack grumbled. Waving without getting a reply made him look silly.
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Jeanny also saw someone she recognized in the elven group. Her sister, Jennifer. Unlike Jack, Jeanny made no attempt to greet her.
When the human and Ethereal groups took their positions in the arena, they saw the draconians group coming down. Now all the groups representing the seven countries had arrived.
Suddenly the area around them transformed. The roman theatre where the players were standing and where the natives were sitting remained, but all the others vanished. The beautiful gardens that surround them turned into a void.
Before they could make sense of the sudden change, a loud voice boomed, "Thank you for having come, mighty outworlders."
A flash of light and a figure appeared before them. It was a towering draconian in full crimson heavy armor. He wore a centurion helmet that had a crest made of red plumes.
His voice continued to boom, "I am the overseer of this tournament, Pallas. You have all been selected to represent the glory and honor of the country you reside in. I expect you to show honor in this place. For the virtue we respected the most in this place other than bravery, is honor. Any of you dare to show dishonor in this sacred ground, then you show dishonor to our God. You will be punished! Do I make myself clear?!"
Most gulped, everyone nodded.
"This goes for you spectators as well!" Pallas declared. He didn't look back to those sitting behind him, but it was clear who he meant. Jack again noticed Prince Rhemos' disapproving expression.
Jack could feel an intense aura from Pallas, he used Inspect on this armored draconian.
*
Pallas (Mythical Draconian, Divine Champion), level 90
HP: 2,400,000
*
Jack gulped again after reading the description. Now he believed Gruff when he said this place was home to the strongest warriors. No wonder Pallas treated the royalties behind him as nothing.
"What's wrong?" Jeanny sent Jack a message. "You look pale."
"Whatever the reason, do not challenge the authority here," Jack replied.
"I will now outline the rules of this tournament!" Pallas announced. "Each of you has been separated into six categories: Knights, Warriors, Rogues, Archers, Mages, and Team. Each of the participants in these categories will be matched with the others of the same category in an elimination match. There will be six matches to decide the winners among the seven representatives. Six participants will fight in three matches to decide the top four, while one participant will enter the top four without going through a match. These four will then go through semi-final to decide the top two for a final match."
One of the elven players raised his hand, attempting to ask a question.
"Do not disrupt me when I'm talking!" Pallas thundered out, which caused the hand in the air to spring back down promptly.
"Now, individual matches will last twenty minutes, while team matches will last two hours. Each participant will only fight one time a day. So the entire tournament will last for six days. Individual matches will be carried out in this arena, while team matches will be carried out in a separate dimension. The space inside team matches will be large and the terrain will change from one match to the next. These terrains might have peculiarities, you are free to utilize them.
"Winners will be decided when their opponents died. Do not worry about dying, enchantment had been placed in both this arena and team battle's dimension. You will not die for real and you will not lose any item or level. In the case that no one falls after the time's up, the one with the lower HP will lose. There will be no draw. A clear winner will be decided! In the case of team matches, the number of team members surviving after two hours will also determine the winner.
"No tools are allowed in this tournament, only your skills! Any tools you possess will be disabled once the match starts."
'Well, I have expected this. I guess Arlcard and Ice Demon Fiend is out then,' Jack thought, then he asked Peniel, 'My Lightning God Barrage is still valid, right? It is a skill, not a tool.'
'It is. But if possible, don't exhibit that skill here,' Peniel answered.
'Why?'
'That skill is a divine skill, which is considered sacred to this God-worshipping faction. Most here should be reasonable, but there can also be irrational fanatics. If they deemed you unworthy of this divine skill, they might do something to you secretly.'
"Now, you!" Pallas boomed and pointed to the elven group.
The guy getting pointed at felt as if his heart had stopped.
"What is your question?"
"Uh… Um…"
"Speak up! I don't have all day!" Pallas thundered out.
"How… How do you decide wh… who amongst the seven that… do not need to fight to enter the top four?" The elf man stuttered with difficulty.
"Lucky draw!" Pallas replied. "Luck is part of your ability. I will not be accepting complaints after the lucky ones are decided. Understand!"
"Yes… Yes, sir!" The elf man uttered.
"Good! The order of matches as well the lucky draw to decide the lucky seventh participant will be informed before the matches tomorrow morning. Now, our head priest will give a speech!"
Another flash of light, this time an elderly Orc in a priest robe appeared.