As the evening set in, the commentator stood before the roaring crowd, holding up the magical scroll that displayed the rankings for the day. "Ladies and gentlemen, the tournament will resume tomorrow. But first, here are today's standings!"
The crowd eagerly waited as the rankings appeared in glowing letters:
1- Kingdom of Castille
2- Kingdom of Aurelith
3- Kingdom of Solaria
4- Kingdom of Luminara
5- Kingdom of Necrosia
Cheers erupted from the Castille section as Alaryc and his friends celebrated their first-place position. Alaryc smiled, feeling a mix of pride and determination. "We're off to a great start," he said, looking at his team.
"Let's go check on Alicia," Silvarya suggested.
The group agreed and headed toward the infirmary. Inside, they found Alicia sitting upright in her bed, her cheeks a bit flushed but her energy seemingly restored.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Maria asked, concern in her voice.
"I'm feeling much better now," Alicia replied with a soft smile. "Thanks for checking on me."
Her friends expressed their relief, and Alaryc added, "You really did an amazing job out there today. That was a tough battle."
"Yeah, you were incredible," Jake chimed in, his tone filled with admiration.
Maria nodded in agreement. "You've grown so much. You should be proud of yourself."
"Thank you, everyone," Alicia said, her voice warm with gratitude. She looked directly at Alaryc. "And especially you, Alaryc. Your training helped me unlock new potential."
Alaryc waved his hand dismissively, smiling. "It's nothing. You did the hard work. Just keep growing stronger."
The group spent some more time chatting before deciding to leave Alicia to rest.
A Restful Night
Later, the group made their way to the dormitories assigned to them by the tournament organizers. Alaryc and Jake were placed in the same room, while Silvarya, Maria, and Alicia were grouped together in a neighboring suite.
Jake threw himself onto his bed with a satisfied sigh. "Today was awesome, wasn't it? First place already. I can't wait for tomorrow."
"Yeah, it's going well so far," Alaryc said, sitting on his bed.
The two continued chatting about the battles they'd witnessed that day, recounting exciting moments and speculating about tomorrow's matchups. Jake eventually drifted off to sleep, leaving Alaryc alone with his thoughts.
Alaryc leaned back, staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered to Arthur, the representative of Aurelith. Something about him felt... off. His aura, his demeanor—it was almost too perfect.
"Freya," Alaryc called softly, summoning his system.
A small glowing orb appeared before him, Freya's soothing voice resonating in his mind. "Yes, Master Alaryc. How can I assist you?"
Alaryc hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What is a hero, exactly?"
Freya's voice grew serious. "A hero is an individual chosen by fate to protect their world from great threats. They are gifted with extraordinary abilities and the burden of immense responsibility."
Alaryc frowned, processing the information. "So... does that mean a great threat is coming to this world?"
Freya paused before responding, her tone grave. "Yes. And this threat is known as Mythandros, the Dragon Lord."
"Dragon Lord?" Alaryc repeated, his heart skipping a beat.
"Correct," Freya continued. "Mythandros is a calamity ranked ZZZ, the highest level of danger recorded in this world. His power is so immense that he can obliterate an entire kingdom with a single breath."
Alaryc sat up, his pulse quickening. "That sounds... insane. How is that even possible? Has he appeared before?"
Freya responded, "Indeed, Master. Mythandros threatened this world long ago. The previous hero, though only ranked ZZ, managed to seal the Dragon Lord using the legendary sword Excalibur. However, the seal is not eternal. Mythandros will rise again."
Alaryc leaned forward, his mind racing. "Wait a minute. Rank ZZ? What's that?"
Freya explained patiently, "In this world, power levels are categorized into ranks. Rank Z is reserved for the most extraordinary individuals or beings. Mythandros being ranked ZZZ makes him a threat unlike any other. Only the most powerful warriors can hope to challenge him."
The more Alaryc listened, the more intrigued he became. The mention of Excalibur caught his attention. "So, this Excalibur... where is it now?"
Freya's voice softened. "It was lost after the previous battle. Its location remains unknown."
Alaryc sighed, running a hand through his hair. "This story reminds me of something from my old world. Heroes, legendary weapons, ancient evils... It feels almost too familiar."
"Perhaps your destiny in this world aligns with what you've experienced before," Freya suggested.
Alaryc chuckled lightly. "Maybe. Or maybe fate just has a weird sense of humor."
Freya's light dimmed slightly as she spoke in a comforting tone. "Rest for now, Master. Tomorrow holds new challenges. The tournament is an important step in your journey."
Alaryc nodded, lying back down. "Thanks, Freya."
"You're welcome, Master," Freya replied before disappearing.
As the night deepened, Alaryc's thoughts swirled between the tournament and the looming threat of Mythandros. One thing was certain—his journey was only beginning.