Chapter 3: The Tournament Begins
The sun blazed fiercely above the Addson Dojo, casting golden light over the dusty training grounds. Kairo stood alone by the edge of the sparring ring, the echo of yesterday's fight still fresh in his muscles. He'd barely slept. Not because of pain—his body was already recovering thanks to Evalof's elixir—but because of the words buzzing in his mind:
> "Perfect timing. I've finally finished the system upgrade… after ten years of work."
Evalof had disappeared after delivering the upgrade, leaving Kairo with a screen only he could see—sleek, smooth, and miles ahead of the basic Adventurer's Guide everyone else had. He had a mission tracker now, a dedicated store, a stats panel far more detailed than others', and a private connection to Evalof himself.
The mission log still floated beside his vision:
[Mission: Win the local Addson Dojo Pre-Tournament. Reward: 'Flame Spiral Kick' martial art + 5 Attribute Points + 300 EXP.]
He didn't need to be told twice.
Just then, a sharp whistle echoed across the dojo. Master Rendo, the chief instructor of Addson, stepped forward, a crisp document in hand and two Federation officers flanking him.
"Gather, students!" Rendo barked. "This year, we've been granted entrance into the Federation Local Combat Tournament. It's our chance to rise above this forgotten dust dojo and step into national recognition!"
The students—some excited, some nervous—rushed forward. Kairo walked slowly, calmly. He was still earning their respect.
One of the Federation officers, a tall woman with an icy gaze and a scar running down her temple, took center stage.
"I am Commander Lysa from the Southern Federation Branch. You have three weeks to prepare. A pre-tournament in this dojo will determine the top five who qualify for the Local Cup in Wado City."
Gasps and murmurs erupted. Wado City was one of the federation's elite capitals—home to massive dojos, high-tech dungeons, and the fiercest young fighters.
Lysa continued, "All participants will be ranked based on strength, agility, strategy, and aura control. The winner of the Wado Cup will be promoted to State Level Ranking and gain access to Grade-A Dungeons."
At the mention of dungeons, Kairo's ears perked. That's where elixirs spawned. That's where EXP bloomed.
"And one more thing," Lysa added. "This is not just a tournament—it's a scouting opportunity. The Federation's elite guilds and mercenary companies will be watching."
Kairo's eyes narrowed. So this is where everything begins.
Just then, the usual sneer came from behind.
"Well, look who's paying attention. The dojo's weakest weed," sneered a thick-necked student named Bren, cracking his knuckles. "He thinks because he got one lucky punch yesterday, he can qualify for Wado?"
A few chuckles echoed around them.
Evalof's voice popped into Kairo's head with theatrical sarcasm.
> "Aaaah, perfect timing again. I'm so glad I made that mockery detector. This idiot triggered it beautifully."
Kairo suppressed a grin.
Evalof continued,
>"New mission available: Defeat Bren in the pre-tournament match. Reward: 2 Attribute Points + 'Flowing Step' footwork manual + 200 EXP."
The screen blinked before Kairo's eyes.
[Accept Mission? Y/N]
Y.
Of course.