"At last… the awaited morning has arrived," I whispered as I rubbed my eyes.

I washed my face, ate breakfast, then let out a slow breath before focusing my energy.

My accumulation was at its peak.

Everything was prepared for what was coming.

The previous days had been filled with training, planning, and discovering new things…

Yet none of that was enough to truly reassure me.

I quickly pushed those thoughts away, then put on my clothes.

I pulled out the teleportation stone from my hand, closed my eyes, and whispered the destination within my mind.

Suddenly—

I was transported… to the heart of the wilderness.

The moment I opened my eyes, they widened in shock.

"What an overwhelming presence…" I murmured.

In the vast region between Sunset City and Sunrise City…

An enormous crowd of people and warriors had gathered together.

I never imagined the number would be this absurd.

Thousands upon thousands of people…

Just to watch the opening of the combat tournament.

The battlefield prepared for the tournament had already been constructed—

Though "battlefield" wasn't the proper word.

It looked more like a gigantic oval-shaped glass barrier stretching from deep underground all the way into the heavens.

Around the glass dome stood massive viewing platforms.

Some were lavishly decorated…

Others were nothing more than rough wooden seating.

Everything had been arranged according to status.

If you were a powerful Lord or someone important…

You had your own luxurious place.

But if you were an ordinary citizen…

Then you were expected to find a place suitable for you.

And most likely… those wooden planks were your fate.

Crowds continued pouring through the entrance gates toward the viewing platforms…

While a separate area had been designated specifically for participants.

I headed toward the building reserved for warriors and presented my registration stone.

A few days earlier, I had received the participation stone…

It carried my title and permission to enter.

Another stone had come with it as well.

The moment I touched it, information regarding the tournament rules appeared inside my mind.

The tournament was divided into four sections.

Each rank had its own division.

The format wasn't elimination matches…

It was a survival-style tournament.

What did that mean?

It meant…

You fought.

If you lost one match, you wouldn't be eliminated immediately.

But once you lost a second match…

You were out.

That meant the first round wouldn't determine elimination—

But it would be extremely important for building momentum.

There was also the matter of winners.

Those who won the first round wouldn't fight in the second.

Instead, the second round would be between the losers.

Anyone who lost there would be eliminated since they'd have two losses.

The winners would then rejoin the victors' bracket for another draw.

Honestly…

I wished it were a knockout-style tournament.

That would've made things more dynamic.

But this system…

This system would become chaos.

Pure chaos.

Still…

It was also good for gaining experience.

An hour later…

The stands were completely packed.

Meanwhile, I still hadn't entered yet.

Looking around…

There were even more people outside.

Indeed…

Numerous magical screens had been placed around the area, broadcasting the events inside the arena live.

Even before my entrance…

Various performances had already begun.

Dozens of dancers and performers displayed breathtaking combat choreography.

"Ahh… I really wanted to watch all of this," I sighed regretfully.

I couldn't remain outside watching.

I was already supposed to be inside the fighters' hall.

So I watched from the outside with everyone else.

Then—

"Please proceed inside," one of the supervisors called out.

Inside…

Hundreds of fighters stood waiting.

I looked around, then whispered:

"Almost everyone… is hiding their strength."

Naturally.

Caution was good.

If you believed yourself strong…

Then surely someone stronger existed.

And in close battles…

Details were what decided victory.

"You're here."

A voice came from behind me.

I turned.

"Lord Frost… so you're participating as well," I said.

"This tournament will become difficult with you here."

A faint smile appeared on Lord Frost's face.

"You're placing too much pressure on me," he replied.

"There are many powerful Lords here."

"Of course," I murmured.

I looked around again.

There truly were many powerful people here.

But…

So was I.

Should I fear Lords of the same rank as me?

Hehehe…

I'll defeat them.

All of them.

And reach that secret auction.

Suddenly—

A wave of energy spread throughout the hall, rising upward before erupting into light accompanied by a voice: 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Lords of the First and Second Rank… please proceed to Gate Number One."

Instantly, a gate appeared from nowhere.

Above it was the engraved number 1.

"Lords of the Third Rank… please proceed to Gate Number Two."

Another gate opened elsewhere.

Then the voice fell silent.

The Lords moved one after another.

The massive crowd gradually shrank.

Until eventually…

The hall became overwhelmingly spacious for the number remaining inside.

Even so…

The pressure became immense.

I looked around.

Right. Left. Ahead.

"Are you observing them?" Lord Frost asked.

"No," I whispered.

"I'm counting them."

"The honored Lords of the Fourth Rank…"

The voice echoed once more from the floating mass of energy overhead.

"Please proceed to the arena."

Suddenly—

A new doorway appeared.

It slowly opened…

And the thunderous roar of the crowd poured inside.

The first to move…

Was that bald Lord.

"He's much calmer than last time," I whispered.

Then I moved as well.

After a while…

Soft sunlight fell upon the enormous grassy field.

Yet the weather wasn't hot.

The sunlight felt like a gentle spring morning.

The battlefield itself was a natural grassland.

A gigantic transparent dome surrounded it.

Beyond the dome rose countless spectator stands.

Before entering the arena, the platforms had seemed scattered…

But now—

They had merged together like a massive multi-level football stadium.

"Six…"

I whispered.

My eyes locked onto the single platform different from all the others.

Gold dominated the main platform overwhelmingly.

Six Fifth-Rank Lords sat there.

Five of them had attended the auction.

The sixth…

Had long black hair and snow-white skin.

"That must be the City Lord," I whispered.

"And also the brother of the Prairie Sect Leader."

A sudden sense of unease crept into me.

Using all my cards before everyone…

Was joining this tournament truly a calculated decision?

Or reckless madness?

Right now…

It felt like recklessness with no turning back.

I looked toward the main platform again.

On the lower stands sat an announcer alongside two Lords.

Would this tournament become like those anime series?

Two fighters battling while several people sat around analyzing every tiny movement and dragging the fight longer than necessary?

Hehehe…

"Honored Lords and guests… welcome!"

The announcer's voice suddenly thundered through the arena.

"We are delighted to welcome you all to witness powerful fighters clashing with the full extent of their refined abilities… in the Auction Tournament!"

The audience erupted into cheers after the brief introduction.

Then the announcer continued:

"Today's matches… will be between Fourth-Rank Lords!"

Music suddenly exploded throughout the arena.

Flowers of countless colors scattered everywhere.

And boxes containing food, juice, and drinks descended into the lap of every spectator.

I smiled.

"Whose idea was this?" I muttered.

"It must've been a transmigrated Lord… he clearly knows how to ignite excitement."

I wasn't surprised the tournament was beginning.

Six Fifth-Rank Lords wouldn't gather here merely to watch weaker ranks fight.

Several minutes passed.

Then the music stopped.

The announcer spoke once more.

He wore a large spiral-tipped hat and held a microphone in one hand while pointing toward the sky with the other.

Above him appeared a massive transparent container filled with countless spheres.

"The lottery vessel, honored guests…"

"It shall choose the first two Lords to battle one another!"

The container began spinning.

The large spheres inside slammed against one another violently.

Then—

It stopped.

The lid opened.

One sphere floated upward from among the others.

Then shattered into dust…

Forming a name in the air.

"Honored guests…"

"The first Lord is…"

"Lord Ivory Mask!"

"Haaah…"

I whispered before laughing.

Everyone immediately turned toward me.

Of course they would.

I had openly declared like an idiot that I would win.

Still…

Being the first fighter…

That was huge.

Hehehe…

Honestly, I had wanted to watch the others first.

To understand the rhythm… the strength… the atmosphere.

But now—

It was my turn to set the rhythm.

Before I could think further…

The vessel began spinning again.

The next sphere shattered…

And another name appeared.

"And now… his opponent…"

The announcer paused dramatically, letting anticipation build among the crowd.

Then shouted powerfully:

"Lord Grass Puppet!"

Suddenly—

A Lord stepped forward from the back.

He was thin…

Wearing yellow robes marked with the emblem of a running horse.

"Of course," I whispered.

"Of course they'd participate…"

The other Lords began stepping back one after another.

Many gazes focused on me as they exited.

And within moments…

Silence dominated the battlefield.

Lord Grass Puppet stood before me without saying a word.

His arms hung loosely toward the ground.

His face appeared as thin and frail as the rest of his body.

His aura was completely concealed.

He looked like an ordinary Lord.

Which made him even more dangerous.

I couldn't tell whether he controlled his energy naturally…

Or through special tools.

But if it was his own ability…

Then that was dangerous.

Well…

Fine.

"Are both contestants ready?" the announcer's voice thundered loudly.

"Yes."

We answered simultaneously.

The announcer reached toward the table beside him and picked up a wooden hammer resembling a judge's gavel.

Then—

He swung it through the air.

Suddenly, a giant drum of light materialized before him.

BOOOOOOM—

The deafening sound exploded throughout the arena…

Announcing the start of the match.