Scene: Amestrias – Festival Day – Morning
The city is alive.
Banners ripple in the wind. Music and laughter echo through the streets. Stalls line every block, selling everything from roasted meats to glittering trinkets. Children dart past armored guards, and acrobats perform flips in the town square.
The arena at the city’s center towers like a coliseum—banners bearing the royal crest fluttering above it. A massive crowd is already gathering.
[Cut to: Ruri’s Apartment]
Ruri’s door swings open.
Ruri (strapping her sword to her waist):
“Try not to get disqualified in the first round.”
Yuya (adjusting the wraps on his hands, smirking):
“Not a chance. I’ve got a deal to win.”
Shana (yawning, lazily chewing on an apple):
“Careful. Overconfidence looks ugly on you.”
Yuya (grinning):
“Good thing I look great in anything.”
Ruri (eyeing them both):
“…This is going to be a long day.”
[Scene: Streets of Amestrias – Festival Morning]
The air is vibrant with excitement. Colorful streamers hang overhead, swaying gently in the breeze. Street performers twirl fire and juggle knives to the roar of crowds. Aromas from sizzling food carts waft through the cobblestone lanes—spiced meats, honeyed fruits, and roasted nuts. The energy is contagious.
Yuya, Ruri, and Shana weave through the crowd, headed toward the looming arena in the distance. Its spiked towers glint in the sun, visible above the sea of bodies.
Ruri (walking ahead, eyeing the arena):
“You know, I always wanted to fight in the tournament. But someone has to help safeguard the city during the event.”
She taps the hilt of her sword with a sigh.
Yuya (side glance, smirking):
“Would’ve been fun seeing you in the ring.”
Ruri (shrugs):
“Maybe next year.”
She looks over her shoulder, adding casually:
Ruri:
“But if you’re looking for a challenge, I’m pretty sure Karin’s participating.”
Yuya (under his breath):
“…Hmm.”
Shana (raising a brow, slowing her pace):
“Who the hell is Karin?”
Ruri (smiling faintly):
“A very close friend of mine. Someone I trust with my life.”
Shana (grinning, cracking her knuckles):
“Great. Can’t wait to destroy her.”
Yuya (flatly):
“You really have a way with people.”
Shana (winking at him):
“Only the ones I plan to beat.”
They pass under a massive stone archway leading into the arena grounds, the roar of the crowd swelling as the camera tilts up, revealing the name of the tournament etched in iron:
“The Festival of Might – Let the Strong Prevail.”
[Scene: Inside the Arena – Tournament Registration Hall]
The grand hall buzzes with activity. Warriors of every size and style move in and out—some armored, some cloaked, others exuding magical energy. Giant banners hang from the stone walls, each bearing the symbol of Amestrias and the words: Festival of Might.
Ruri leads Yuya and Shana through the organized chaos, weaving past sword-slingers and staff-wielders. She stops at a long stone counter where a stern-looking tournament official is checking names and scribbling notes into a giant ledger.
Official (without looking up):
“Names?”
Yuya (calmly):
“Yuya.”
Shana (smirking):
“Shana. Just Shana.”
The official finally glances up, eyes flicking between them—pausing just a moment longer on Yuya, sensing the weight behind his presence.
Official:
“Good. You’re in. First round starts shortly. It’ll be a battle royal—last eight standing advance.”
He stamps a mark on each of their wristbands—glowing briefly with a magical shimmer—and gestures toward a hallway.
Official:
“Report to Holding Gate C when you hear the call. Don’t be late.”
Ruri (taking a step back, adjusting her guard cloak):
“Well, this is where I get off. I’ve got patrol duty in the arena—so don’t embarrass me, either of you.”
Yuya (grinning):
“No promises.”
Shana (stretching her arms lazily):
“Just make sure you’ve got a good view—I like an audience.”
Ruri (sighing):
“Great. I’m babysitting and doing crowd control.”
She turns on her heel and strides off, her guard uniform catching the wind as she disappears through a guarded side gate.
Shana (after a pause, tilting her head):
“She always that serious?”
Yuya (quietly, watching Ruri go):
“She’s earned it.”
[Scene: Tournament Arena – Observation Tower]
The camera pans high above the roaring crowds. Bright flags whip in the wind, music blares, and confetti rains as the opening ceremony of the festival unfolds. But inside the shadowed chamber of the arena’s command tower, a far more serious conversation is taking place.
Hendrickson stands with hands clasped behind his back, gazing out through the tall glass overlooking the arena floor. By his side, Karin watches silently, armored and sharp-eyed.
A low beep. A nearby official leans in, whispering something to Hendrickson before retreating.
Hendrickson (calmly, without turning):
“So… Yuya registered.”
Karin (coldly):
“Then it’s time.”
She places a hand on the hilt of her weapon.
Karin (with steel in her voice):
“I’ll do my part. I’ll make sure Yuya doesn’t leave this arena alive.”
A beat of silence. Hendrickson’s lips curl into a small, satisfied smirk.
Hendrickson (quietly):
“Good.”
He turns, walking away into the shadows of the tower, his voice echoing.
Hendrickson:
“Let the games begin.”
EXT. TOURNAMENT ARENA – DAY
The arena trembles with the roar of thousands. Seventy-two warriors stand in a wide stone ring under the open sky—armored giants, robed mystics, mercenaries with blades bigger than their bodies. Some laugh. Some pray. Most watch each other.
Near the rear, Yuya and Shana remain cloaked, expressions unreadable. Their sin tattoos are hidden beneath cloth and magic, their weapons quiet for now.
A trumpet blast silences the crowd.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Up on the royal platform, Hendrickson steps forward in gleaming plate armor, red cloak trailing. His voice, bolstered by magic, rings through the air.
HENDRICKSON
By decree of Queen Elaine, ruler of Amestrias, I welcome you to the Festival of Might. Her Majesty sends her blessings, though she is… too unwell to attend in person.
He surveys the crowd, lingering briefly on the odd one or two—but not enough to draw notice.
HENDRICKSON (cont’d)
This tournament is more than combat. It is a display of discipline, of honor. You are not just warriors—you are examples.
A beat. A pause for gravity.
HENDRICKSON (cont’d)
Let the strongest rise.
Applause follows, then a more theatrical voice cuts in—an announcer with far too much energy for the tension in the air.
ANNOUNCER
Right, you heard the man! First round kicks off now!
Battle royale rules—last eight left standing in the ring advance!
A sudden pulse of energy surges beneath the fighters’ feet. From the cracked stone floor, a glowing circular magic seal emerges, spreading across the entire arena. Intricate glyphs pulse along its edge in a deep blue hue, creating a visible boundary around the ring.
The crowd murmurs with excitement as the magical boundary flickers to life, shimmering in the sunlight.
ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
And there you have it, folks! That glowing line is the Battle Ring. Anyone thrown past it will be instantly eliminated! No exceptions—this is the line you can’t cross!
A surge of energy emanates from the circle, reinforcing the magical barrier that will prevent any fighter from going beyond the designated space. A subtle, but clear warning to the competitors.
ANNOUNCER (CONT’D)
The rules are simple—stay inside the ring, or you’re out! Keep it clean, and don’t make me call the guards. Or do, if you want to see a real show.
No killing. No magic. Weapons only.
Break the rules and the Royal Guard will be happy to break you.
The fighters exchange nervous glances, adjusting their stances, preparing for the first clash.
A few chuckles, a few glares. Someone cracks their knuckles.
ANNOUNCER (cont’d)
So—do your best, make it look good, and hey… try not to kill anyone. Please?
The bell tolls once.
Silence.
Then the storm begins.
The bell rings again, and the arena erupts into chaos. A massive clash of warriors ensues—swords clanging, staffs snapping, and fists flying in all directions. The atmosphere is thick with anticipation as the first round begins.
A tall, bulky fighter named Gruntar, armed with a spiked club, charges forward with a roar, aiming for a smaller, quick-moving fighter, Lina, who barely manages to dodge his swing.
LINA
(Desperate, out of breath)
“Y-you’re too slow!”
With a burst of speed, Lina somersaults behind Gruntar, delivering a sharp kick to the back of his knee, causing him to stumble. Before he can recover, she kicks him square in the chest, sending him flying toward the edge of the circle.
GRUNTAR
(Grunting, as he flails)
“Not like this—!”
ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
And Gruntar is OUT! That’s the first elimination of the day!
The crowd cheers, but there’s little time for them to savor it as the next battle begins. A duelist named Korin faces off against Tala, a fighter with excellent agility but relying solely on her weapon—a lightweight spear.
KORIN
(Smirking, drawing his twin swords)
“I’ll end this quick.”
TALA
(Brandishing her spear, eyes narrowing)
“You’re overconfident.”
Korin dashes forward, slashing at her with quick strikes. Tala dodges, weaving with impressive footwork—but she hesitates, not wanting to rely on her magic. As she falters, Korin seizes the opening, sweeping her legs out from under her and knocking her toward the edge of the circle.
TALA
(Screaming as she tumbles)
“No! I’m not ready—!”
ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
And Tala is OUT! That’s two down, folks!
?
The camera zooms in on Shana, Yuya, and Karin, watching the chaos unfold.
YUYA
(Laughing lightly)
“Some are going down quicker than I thought.”
SHANA
(Stretching her arms)
“Pathetic. I don’t even need to move.”
KARIN
(Smirking, flicking her hair)
“I could end this in one strike, but where’s the fun in that?”
**The camera focuses on a large, brutish fighter named Drax, who charges at Shana. His fists are like boulders, but he’s slow, predictable.
DRAX
(Shouting as he swings his massive fist)
“You’ll regret crossing me, girl!”
SHANA
(Lazily drawing her sword)
“Please.”
Shana effortlessly sidesteps his attack, countering with a precise and quick slash to his ribs, sending him staggering backward. She then spins around and delivers a palm strike to his chest, knocking him out of the ring with a simple but effective push.
SHANA
(Smirking)
“Better luck next time, big guy.”
ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
And Drax is OUT! That’s three eliminations in the blink of an eye!
?
YUYA and KARIN both share a glance before turning their attention to the next set of fighters. A nimble swordfighter named Khalis attempts a series of rapid slashes toward Yuya.
KHALIS
(Hissing between attacks)
“You think you can just stand there?”
Yuya moves with grace and precision, easily dodging every attack. With a slight twist, he grabs Khalis’s wrist, twisting it just enough to make him drop his sword. With a swift knee to the chest, Khalis is pushed back toward the ring’s edge, toppling over it.
YUYA
(Coldly)
“Not even close.”
ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
Khalis is OUT! And that makes four eliminations!
Meanwhile, Karin faces off against Riven, a reckless fighter wielding a heavy axe.
RIVEN
(Shouting, swinging his axe overhead)
“I’m gonna smash you into the ground!”
KARIN
(Casually stepping aside)
“You really think that’s gonna work on me?”
As Riven swings his axe down, Karin easily sidesteps and grabs his arm, twisting it behind him. With a swift kick to his lower back, she sends him flying toward the edge of the magic circle.
KARIN
(Smiling, dusting off her hands)
“That was almost too easy.”
ANNOUNCER (O.S.)
And Riven is OUT! That’s five eliminations in the first few minutes!
?
YUYA
(Laughing)
“This is too easy. I expected more of a challenge.”
SHANA
(Stretching, yawning)
“Yeah, same. But I guess we’re just that good.”
The camera zooms out, showing the vast chaos unfolding as fighters are sent flying left and right, but Shana, Yuya, and Karin remain untouchable—moving fluidly, eliminating anyone who dares to challenge them without even breaking a sweat.
The crowd roars, excitement building. The last eight are still yet to be determined, but one thing is clear: the three of them are in a class of their own.
Yuya watches the remaining competitors carefully. His fingers grip his sword hilt, the cold metal familiar in his hand. He waits for an opening, his eyes scanning the fray. The chaos of clashing weapons and grunts of exertion fills the air.
A burly fighter charges toward him, a large axe swinging in a wide arc. Without hesitation, Yuya sidesteps, his sword flashing in a smooth, precise cut. The fighter’s axe is knocked from his grip, and he stumbles back in shock. Yuya’s blade glows faintly with the weight of his sin, but it’s quick and merciless as he sweeps the man off his feet and out of the ring with a single flick of his wrist.
Shana watches from the edge of the action, not rushing to engage. She flicks a stray feather from her hair, not bothered by the chaos around her. When an overzealous swordsman charges toward her, she steps aside. Her sword glows, tracing an elegant arc as she disarms him with ease, pushing him off-balance and sending him stumbling toward the edge of the ring.
He goes flying over the magic circle, cursing as he lands outside, eliminated.
Yuya smirks at her effortless victory.
Yuya
“Careful not to overdo it. We wouldn’t want to make this too easy.”
Shana
“You worry too much. It’s only fun if they can keep up.”
Another contestant, this time a tall, lean man wielding a staff, rushes toward Shana. She yawns, unfazed. Her sword moves with a languid grace as she intercepts his attack effortlessly. With a swift twirl, she disarms him, knocking him off-balance.
Shana
“You’ll need more than that.”
The man stumbles backward, trying to recover, but Shana’s next move is almost too slow to see. She lightly nudges him with the flat of her blade, sending him stumbling toward the edge of the ring. With a final cry, he’s thrown over the boundary, eliminated.
Yuya turns to face the remaining competitors. His gaze locks onto a tall woman wielding twin daggers. She tries to close the gap with a flurry of strikes, but Yuya’s sword moves faster. He dodges, his blade intercepting hers with a clash of steel. In a fluid motion, he knocks one of her daggers from her hand, and as she lunges to recover, he steps aside and gently pushes her out of the circle.
The crowd erupts in cheers as the number of fighters dwindles. The remaining contenders, now only a few, eye each other cautiously.
Yuya
“Looks like it’s down to us and the others.”
Shana, spinning her sword lazily in her hand, stretches her shoulders and grins.
Shana
“You think any of them will put up a fight?”
Yuya shrugs, scanning the remaining competitors. His expression remains unreadable.
Yuya
“We’ll see.”
The remaining fighters stand in the center of the arena, the tension palpable in the air. The crowd’s cheers reach a fever pitch, their excitement building as the announcer steps forward once more.
Announcer
“Congratulations, warriors! You’ve made it to the final eight!”
The remaining competitors are Yuya, Shana, Karin, and five others who have made it through the brutal battle royale. Garrick, Lennox, Maeve, Rhea, and Roderick stand with varying degrees of confidence, though it’s clear that Yuya, Shana, and Karin are the ones to watch.
The announcer waves his hands, signaling for the warriors to assemble near the center of the arena.
Announcer
“Now, we move on to the single-elimination rounds! The next phase will test not only your strength but your will to survive. Win, and you advance. Lose, and your tournament journey ends here.”
Scene: Prep Room – Beneath the Arena
The walls are made of smooth, dark stone, lit by floating lanterns that hover just above eye level. Eight chairs line the walls, though only seven are occupied now—Garrick’s seat remains cold and empty.
The surviving fighters sit in tense silence. Weapons rest at their sides, and some are already tending to bruises and shallow cuts. Karin leans against the far wall, arms crossed. Yuya sits with his hood pulled up, gaze unreadable. Shana lounges sideways in her chair like she owns the room.
Rhea
(quietly, to Maeve)
“Can’t believe Garrick got tossed that fast…”
Maeve
“Did you see that guy’s sword?”
Announcer
(from the enchanted speaker embedded in the wall)
“Attention, competitors! The first match of the single elimination round has been decided!”
Everyone looks up. The lanterns flicker in anticipation.
Announcer
“Match one: Shana versus Lennox!”
Lennox, a tall man with flame-colored hair and twin daggers, stiffens in his seat. He looks over at Shana. She hasn’t even moved.
Lennox
(grimacing)
“Tch. Just my luck.”
Shana
(slowly sitting upright, cracking her neck)
“Aw, don’t be like that. It’ll be fun. For one of us.”
She grabs her sword, slinging it lazily over her shoulder as she strolls toward the waiting gate. The walls hum as the magic circle above rumbles with energy.
Yuya
(low, to Karin)
“She’s not even trying to intimidate him.”
Karin
“She doesn’t have to.”
A bell tolls in the distance, signaling the match is moments away.
Announcer
“Shana and Lennox—report to the arena floor.”
As the gates slide open, Shana steps out first, her cloak swaying behind her. Lennox follows after a deep breath, daggers already drawn. The others remain in the prep room, waiting… watching.
