Free Web NovelChapter 13: Chapter 13
The Johannesburg Colosseum was a marvel of modern mana engineering. It was a massive open air stadium built from reinforced white marble and glowing blue energy shields capable of seating one hundred thousand spectators. Today every single seat was filled.
It was the opening day of the Global Rookie Tournament.
For the major guilds this event was a glorified shopping catalog. It was a chance to scout the best new talent from around the world and lock them into lucrative corporate contracts. For the rookies it was a chance at fame wealth and the coveted Independent License.
High above the roaring crowds in a luxury VIP suite suspended by anti gravity runes sat Evander Buchanan.
Evander did not look like a rookie. He looked like a king holding court. He had striking golden hair and piercing amber eyes that glowed with a faint draconic light. He wore a pristine white military uniform adorned with gold medals. He was an S Class Dragon Knight the absolute pinnacle of the Awakening system.
"Are you bored already Evander?" a voice asked.
Evander turned his head slightly. Sitting on the plush leather sofa behind him was his guild manager a wealthy executive from the Astra Guild.
"I am not bored" Evander said his voice smooth and melodic. "I am just disappointed. Look at them."
He gestured toward the massive glass window overlooking the arena floor. Down below hundreds of rookies were gathering for the preliminary qualifiers. They were stretching showing off their flashy weapons and boasting to the cameras.
"They are children playing with toys" Evander continued taking a sip from a crystal glass of water. "The system is flawed. It gives power to those who do not understand the weight of it."
"That is why the Association changed the rules this year" the manager chuckled. "S Class rookies like yourself are exempt from the preliminary qualifiers. You are already seeded in the final bracket. Let the A Class and B Class trash fight in the mud for the remaining spots. You only have to step into the arena when the real tournament begins."
Evander nodded slowly. It was a logical rule. If an S Class participated in the massive free for all qualifiers the casualty rate would be too high. His dragon aura alone would crush the lungs of a C Class hunter. He leaned against the glass his amber eyes scanning the sea of rookies below searching for a single spark of genuine threat.
Down in the chaotic staging area beneath the stadium Glen Mcdonald adjusted the straps of his black combat jacket. Three weeks had passed since the incident in the Whispering Ruins.
He had not wasted a single day.
He and Isla had cleared four more dungeons using her master permit. Glen had grinded his way to Level 15. His physical stats were now monstrous and he had spent hours mastering the transition between his four active skills. Lightning Movement Savage Strike Predator Domain and Obsidian Skin. He was a finely tuned weapon.
"Nervous?" Isla asked walking up beside him. She wore her signature combat duster her dual mana pistols resting heavily at her hips.
"Terrified" Glen replied with a lazy sarcastic smile. "What if I trip on the sand and ruin my jacket?"
Isla rolled her eyes. "Take this seriously Mcdonald. The qualifiers are a massive battle royale. One hundred rookies in the arena at the same time. The last ten standing get to advance to the main bracket. There are no rules except no killing. Everything else is fair game."
"And what about the golden boy?" Glen asked pointing to a massive holographic billboard projecting Evander Buchanan’s face across the stadium.
"Evander Buchanan" Isla said her tone turning serious. "S Class Dragon Knight. He does not have to fight in the qualifiers. The Association considers S Class rookies too dangerous for the free for all. He is waiting in the final bracket. If we want a shot at him we have to survive the mud pit first." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Good" Glen said stretching his neck. "I like the mud."
A loud buzzer echoed through the staging area signaling the rookies to line up for inspection. Glen and Isla joined the massive crowd shuffling toward the registration desks.
As they walked down the wide concrete hallway the crowd suddenly parted. A heavy oppressive pressure filled the air making it difficult to breathe.
Walking down the center of the hallway flanked by heavily armed Astra Guild bodyguards was Evander Buchanan. He was making his way to the VIP elevators but he had chosen to walk through the rookie staging area just to remind everyone who was at the top of the food chain.
The other rookies lowered their heads stepping out of his way. The draconic aura radiating from Evander was suffocating. It was the natural suppression of an S Class predator.
Glen did not lower his head. He did not step out of the way.
He stood perfectly still in the center of the hallway his hands resting casually in his pockets. Isla stood right beside him her hand resting on her pistol.
Evander stopped walking. The bodyguards tensed reaching for their weapons but Evander raised a hand to stop them. He looked at the boy blocking his path. He looked at the cheap black jacket the twin silver swords and the official tournament badge pinned to Glen’s chest.
"F Rank Mimic" Evander read aloud his amber eyes narrowing in confusion. He looked at Glen’s face expecting to see terror. Instead he saw a dark mocking smirk.
"You are blocking the hallway Mimic" Evander said his voice perfectly calm but laced with a heavy draconic command.
"It is a big hallway" Glen replied his voice completely unaffected by the aura. "Walk around."
The surrounding rookies gasped. Disrespecting an S Class was social suicide.
Evander stared at Glen for a long silent moment. His logical mind told him this boy was trash. An F Rank failure who had somehow slipped into the tournament. But his instincts the ancient dragon blood pumping through his veins screamed a different message. The dragon blood told him that the boy standing in front of him was incredibly dangerous.
Evander smiled a cold polite smile. "Confidence is a rare trait for the weak. I hope you survive the qualifiers Mimic. It would be a shame if you were crushed before I got to see what makes you so arrogant."
"Keep the VIP seat warm for me" Glen said. "I will be up there soon enough."
Evander walked past him the heavy draconic aura fading as he entered the VIP elevator.
Isla let out a breath she had not realized she was holding. "You are an idiot Mcdonald. Provoking an S Class before the tournament even starts?"
"I am just setting the pace Sinclair" Glen laughed walking toward the arena entrance. "Let us go clear out the trash."
