The crowd that gathered was abuzz with speculation, each person trying to guess what the grand prize might be. It was said to have been prepared by the late King Elandorr of the Dissidia Kingdom, the last Sloth Champion from the native Yunateans. His legend had been recounted countless times, and even now, many of Dissidia’s inhabitants still held his memory in reverence.
“Aren’t you curious what sort of prize could be prepared by someone who’s no longer with us, Broken? Khi khi khi…” Goldrich, seated next to Broken, joined the lively discussion about the grand prize.
Broken appeared to be lost in thought. Memories of King Elandorr surfaced- a figure notorious for his laziness and lack of preparation. Even the two S-rated quests King Elandorr had given Broken came without any mention of rewards for their completion. Yet, despite the king’s infamous slothfulness, the rewards for completing the trial domain had been tremendous. Perhaps Elandorr’s laziness was just part of his nature as the Sloth Champion, but ultimately, he could still be trusted to keep his promises. At least, that’s what Broken hoped.
“King Elandorr is a legend. Maybe it’s some legendary-grade item?” he mused.
“Khi khi khi… sure, many would fight over something like that, but everyone knows crafting a legendary-grade item is no easy feat. Even a Master Rank Blacksmith can manage it only a handful of times.” Goldrich nudged Broken playfully with his shoulder. “So, I hope you can work another miracle with your Master Rank Blacksmith class, khi khi khi…”
Broken remained silent, his face betraying no emotion in response to Goldrich’s comment.
Elincia, who had been listening to the exchange, chimed in, “So, are you certain that Broken is a Master Rank Blacksmith?”
“Whatever the case, I just wanted to see his reaction. Khi khi khi… He’s so cute when he’s trying to hide something,” Goldrich said, still amused.
Broken then turned to Freya, “Freya, could I swap seats with you?”
Freya glanced to Broken’s right, where Goldrich was waving cheerfully. “No, thanks,” she replied coolly.
Princess Alora stood on the stage and continued her speech. “The fortunate individual who acquires the gift specially prepared by the late King Elandorr will inherit a legacy so unique that it will only reveal itself to its rightful owner! This is a prize that cannot be forged or mistakenly given to anyone else.”
The audience erupted in thunderous applause once more.
Princess Alora went on, “With that said, I call upon all contestants to come down to the arena.”
She then gracefully returned to her seat.
The massive arena at the center of the Colosseum had been meticulously prepared, with various workstations arranged for the different production classes participating in the competition. Due to the sheer number of applicants, specific criteria had to be met for entry. These included demonstrating their Craftsmanship Rank and securing recommendations from key factions. Notably, The Ass Guild had provided a slot for Broken in the Blacksmith competition and another for Toberry in the Alchemist contest.
Responding to Princess Alora’s announcement, hundreds of contestants with participation tokens began descending from the spectator seats. They represented a diverse range of production classes and quickly formed lines in the arena according to their assigned numbers. It was evident that the majority of the participants were players-a sight that was unheard of before players began entering this world.
A host, dressed in regal attire and brimming with enthusiasm, took over the event to welcome the crowd of participants.
“Welcome, everyone!” Morbit, the host, boomed with excitement. “I understand this may be a bit of an adjustment for all of you players who have your own unique culture and ways of interacting. As a representative of the native Yunateans, I will be your host for this event. Rest assured, I will strive to learn how to better communicate and engage with you all. And not to worry I won’t be alone on this stage.”
From behind him emerged Max, an iconic player known for her live-streaming channel of Immortal Legacy. She stepped onto the stage. “Good morning, everyone!” Max greeted the crowd, drawing cheers from the audience.
She flashed them a wide grin before turning to Morbit and nodding confidently. “Alright Morbit, I’m so proud to be the host of this big event. And what do you think about the hype and everything? I want to hear more from your perspective as a native of Yunatea.”
Princess Alora sat regally upon her golden throne, observing the grand event now being handled by the two enthusiastic hosts. Her gaze, however, swept across the contestants. True to her expectations, the person she had been searching for was indeed among them.
“He is the one Elincia brought…” she said to her knight, “There are a few matters I wish to discuss with him,” her voice clear yet measured.
Lionell, the knight standing beside her, bowed his head respectfully. “Your Highness, shall I extend your regards to him?”
“No, not yet,” Alora murmured thoughtfully. “I hope he performs well in this event. I owe him an apology since that day. But it’s surprising that he is also a blacksmith; it seems I have yet to fully grasp his potential.”
“But Your Highness, is it possible for someone skilled in combat to also excel in a production class?” Lionell inquired.
“Nothing is impossible, especially for these players who have capabilities that differ from ours. This competition will give us a chance to gauge the extent of his abilities. Beyond his spirit beast, his production class, and his unique skills, I hope he can reveal even more.” “Are you so certain about this man, Your Highness? Isn’t he just like any other player?” Lionell persisted.
“I can’t say for sure yet… but I believe those questions will be answered in this competition,”
she replied.
Morbit and Max stood in the center of the stage, their faces alight with anticipation. They were ready to outline the rules for that day’s match to the eager participants.
“For this initial round,” Morbit began, his voice strong and confident, “everyone will have the opportunity to craft whatever they desire. You will have a maximum of 48 hours to complete your work, plus an additional 4 hours for breaks. So, in total, you have 52 hours. After all, you can’t stay in this world indefinitely, haha!”
He chuckled before continuing, “Some might think this gives an unfair advantage to the native Yunateans, but rest assured, everyone needs rest. So, make the most of your time.” Max took over, her enthusiasm evident as she surveyed the gathered contestants. “Everyone should ensure they work as efficiently as possible; time is of the essence! We already have some impressive entrants, so don’t let yourselves fall behind.”
Morbit fixed his gaze on the hopeful faces in the crowd and spoke once more. “Remember, the judges will determine who is worthy to proceed to the next round. From all of you who submit your work, only the top 5 from each category will advance. Keep in mind, you have only one chance to craft the item you want to present-so make sure it’s of excellent quality!”
Max added, “Yes, quality over quantity. An accomplished crafter is not someone who relies on luck alone but someone who has trained extensively to hone their skill and talent to create something exceptional.”
Morbit nodded approvingly. Looking at the eager faces, he concluded, “So, don’t be afraid to give it your all, and remember that you can always exceed your best.”
The royal servants bustled with activity, setting up anvils, hammers, and tongs to be used by the competitors. One corner was stocked with an array of raw materials-wood, iron, stone, clay, and more—awaiting their transformation by masterful hands.
Max, brimming with energy, added, “I want to remind everyone once more—the quality of your result and the level of challenge you take on in your craft are crucial! Everything will be taken into consideration, so be sure to choose and decide wisely on what item you will work on in this short amount of time. Good luck to everyone.”
Morbit followed swiftly, “The first round begins now!”
With that final declaration, the competitors gathered at their designated workstations. The air was thick with anticipation. As the royal bell rang out with a resounding chime, the grand event officially commenced.
Who would win the grand prize? Many would strive for it, but only one would ultimately
claim victory.