Shadowfall Kingdom

  Vincent

  Tournament Grounds

  King Raymond

  Today is the day of the tournament.

  It has been three months since we returned to Vincent. We are now eleven months away from war. I followed Lord Kaijuu’s instructions: recruitment began immediately, and food stockpiling is well underway. Most of my troops have arrived from across the Shadowfall Kingdom.

  In five months, we will cease all trade with the East Empire.

  Approximately seventy-eight percent of my soldiers passed Basic training, including the new recruits. All of them continue training even now. The ten commanders—Shanon included, my current general—are seated on the sidelines, waiting for their one-on-one bouts with Lord Kaijuu.

  When we first arrived, I personally showed Lord Kaijuu the laboratory Management had ordered me to prepare for him. It consisted of a large workspace with tables, chairs, and basic materials. Attached to it was a housing unit with two bedrooms and a kitchen. On the far side of the lab lay a secluded field surrounded by high walls.

  When he saw it, he smiled.

  “This is the size of a rugby field,” he said. “Exactly what I needed.”

  I sent him all the information he requested, along with anything else I believed might be useful.

  Soon after, Sebastian began relaying orders to Loyd—requests for materials, food, supplies, tailors, and blacksmiths. Nine bodysuits. Three short swords. One greatsword. One abnormally large wooden sword. Three sets of armor. Three pairs of boots. A staggering amount of MP potions and magic cores… even several dragon cores.

  I had no idea what he was building in there.

  I did not see him again after they sealed the doors.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  —

  Ah. He’s here.

  The stadium is filled with soldiers who performed best during training. Lord Kaijuu steps into the arena wearing one of the black suits beneath custom armor of his own design. In his hands rests the massive wooden sword.

  The rules of the tournament are simple: my commanders will fight with their real weapons. He will use only the wooden sword.

  He told me he did not want anyone to die.

  That admission frightened me.

  My commanders, on the other hand, were insulted.

  They sit in formation beside the ring, faces tight with tension. The arena itself is nearly the same size as the field behind the laboratory, though circular in shape.

  The first challenger steps forward—the Commander of the Archer Division.

  Archer Million.

  Yes. That is his real name.

  He is a full-blooded elf who dresses like a dark elf, despite originating from the Sunshine Tree Forest southwest of Vincent. His longbow is already strung. At Lord Kaijuu’s insistence, he wears reinforced torso armor.

  They take their positions.

  Lord Kaijuu stands at the far end of the ring. Archer remains closer to the stands.

  The crowd roars.

  Loyd raises a magically amplified megaphone.

  “Soldiers of the Shadowfall Kingdom! To my left—your newly appointed general, Kaijuu Ryu-sama!”

  Scattered claps ripple through the coliseum.

  Then chaos erupts behind me.

  Roka and Felmina scream at the top of their lungs, their cheers quickly drowned out by the one hundred and twenty delinquents from the East Empire—all of whom passed Basic training.

  “And to my right—the Commander of the Archer Division, Sir Archer Million!”

  The archers explode into cheers. The rest of the stadium follows.

  Behind me, silence falls.

  Loyd steps out of the ring. Then he spins sharply back.

  “START!!”

  General Kaijuu drops into a low stance—

  And launches forward.

  Archer nocks an arrow and fires.

  Kaijuu dodges.

  Another arrow. Then another.

  Four arrows fly before General Kaijuu closes the distance to five meters.

  He stops.

  Just stands there.

  A faint yellow aura shimmers around his suit.

  Archer fires again.

  Kaijuu shifts left. The aura flashes red.

  He lowers himself once more—then bursts forward, faster than before.

  The aura turns yellow again.

  He stops directly in front of Archer.

  The aura flashes red.

  “Please don’t die,” I whisper.

  With a single swing of the massive wooden sword, Archer is launched through the air and into the crowd.

  Now I understand why Lord Kaijuu insisted on chest armor.

  “A WIN FOR GENERAL KAIJUU!!”

  The stadium erupts.

  General Kaijuu raises one hand.

  Silence falls instantly.

  He checks on Archer. Sebastian examines him, then gives a thumbs-up.

  General Kaijuu turns to the remaining nine commanders.

  “Who’s next?”

  Six hands shoot up—including Shanon’s.

  “I FORFEIT!!”

  The voices overlap.

  All six are pale as ghosts.

  All except Shanon.

  The Commander of the Tank Division stands, cracking his knuckles.

  “This might be fun,” he says, grinning—his hands trembling with excitement.

  Loyd steps back into the ring.