The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 379: The pre-competition Challengers (2)

Chapter 379: The pre-competition Challengers (2)

The Challenger Hall, as the giant top floor of the building was named, was in reality a large arena. The seating area was at least fifty meters high and the circular shape was roughly three hundred meters in radius.

Despite sensing a few thousand people inside, the area appeared empty.

Another thing Hex noticed was the cleanness of the hall. People were shouting, cheering, and even cursing, while supporting the challengers down on the multiple platforms, while munching on snacks and sipping drinks. But Hex’s sharp senses didn’t pick up any stains, rotting food, or spilled drinks.

Servants busied themselves, working tirelessly to keep things prim and proper.

’Is this arranged for the visitors or are the staff required to work like this around the clock? But how do they pay for all of this?’ Hex wondered as he observed his surroundings. To his shock, despite the potential of such an arena, they were granted access without paying a single cent.

The appearance of their group attracted a little attention. Hex senses more than a few glances in their direction. Some of which took more than a few seconds to retract.

To what degree those glances had been hostile or friendly, he didn’t know. What he realized though was that quite a few people in their group were already familiar to these people. He even sensed one eye fixed on him. But when he turned, the feeling of being observed disappeared.

"Come."

Sterling gestured to them to follow him. He took a seat at the side with the least number of spectators.

"Will the competition happen here?" Hex asked, still engrossed in observing everything around him. He had seen large buildings and stands but somehow, this place felt bigger and better than everything else he had seen.

"Yes and no," Quid replied. "This is just one of the venues of the competition."

"There are more such buildings?" Hex asked with a raised brow. He had not seen a lot of these buildings and wondered how much Wrixia had invested in this competition.

"I am not sure," Sterling replied. "But what Quid means is that there are more than one venues. This is just one of them."

"I guess this is where the warriors will compete?" The platforms looked to be of perfect size and shape to allow battles, if proper restraints were placed.

The battle platforms were squares with sides of five meters each.

’Did they use the protrusions of the branch as these platforms?’ That was the first thought that entered his mind. He could be mistaken. But the longer he observed the way it was built and how it seemed to appear like one whole, the more convinced he was about his conjecture.

Perhaps he could have asked but no one seemed interested in the battle stage itself. Their focus was on the battles happening below.

He knew they brought him to get familiar with the stage and the participants. As a participant of the warrior mode, knowing about his opponent would be beneficial to him.

After observing and studying the people below, Hex made a startling discovery.

"None of them are too outstanding."

He didn’t hide his opinion. Well, it was a fact too. After witnessing ten battles, with each participant being a Refined Knight, he didn’t notice anyone exceptional.

"These are just challengers." Sterling had just finished placing his bets and pointed to the large boards displaying lists of names. A servant of the Hall registered each name and the amount of Wrixians coins – it was Hex first time seeing the currency of Wrixia, a coin the size of an egg with a large W engraved on it – and confirmed with Sterling after each line.

Two other servants had joined them. One took the orders. The other arranged it. Hex heard Gronke mumble something like ’these rich kids are certainly treated well. They wouldn’t allow me in if I was on my own’ and ’enjoy while you can’ to himself.

’I guess Sterling has acquired certain privileges not many have access to. Even Gronke is envious of it.’ Hex surmised. He didn’t know what importance and rank Gronke held within the Warlord faction, so perhaps he was reading too much into it. He didn’t give it much thought. He was here. And the privileges extended to him too. He was broke, though.

"The people participating in this?" Hex asked for confirmation, having understood what those lists were.

"Indeed," Quid said, joining in on the conversation. He too had placed his bets. Behind him, the twins, Gronke, and a few others too were happily placing their bets.

"These are just for fun in a way. But they also serve to increase the prestige of certain groups and nations. After all, the outstanding Refined Knights are usually the ones who turn into the outstanding Transformation Knights." Sterling explained.

"The top ten on these lists are usually the ones you gotta take a little more seriously." Gronke continued to munch as he watched the battles. None of the fights interested Hex. Not at first.

With nothing to do, he was forced to watch. As time passed, he started to notice a few things.

’Those in those yellow suits with black stripes, all use Wind element, and that too in a similar way. They execute it differently but the core application remains the same: to cut and pierce.’

Once he realized a pattern, he started to pay more attention to other participants. It hadn’t been obvious at first. Only after watching a few battles did he realize several commonalities between the clothes, behavior, and style of battling.

"Have you realized it already?" He heard Sterling ask suddenly. Turning his gaze, he noticed everyone looking at him.

"This is why you brought me here?" He reaffirmed.

"Yes. This is perhaps the best way everyone who is serious about the competition learns about each other. Although there are some who are still present and won’t battle, I can introduce all the big players and their information to you and the group."

Hex agreed with Sterling that getting to know the opponents in this manner was far better than just being told or having to read about them.

"But why not tell me from the beginning?" He asked. Why act so mysterious as if it was something he had to learn on his own. Was there something more to all this?

"For fun." Sterling’s reply confused Hex for a second. What was the fun he was missing in this? Sterling ignored him and turned toward the rest.

"Who had ’between fifteen to thirty minutes’?’ He yelled to which Dolaire raised her hand.

"I know he is a bit slow," she said, winking at the rest while taking a little pouch from Sterling.

Seeing their ’fun’ Hex felt the corner of his lip twitch.