After the first round of battles, more than half of the awakeners had already vanished.
Sam noticed that while many were gone, a decent number of humans still remained.
It meant that most of the humans in the lower ranks, those at the same level as him, had actually won their fights.
'That's a good sign,' Sam thought. 'But the elves that'll remain from now on are probably going to be stronger.'
He wasn't afraid, just thoughtful.
The early rounds gave weaker opponents. That wasn't going to last.
Eventually, Sam and the girls, Lily, Alicia, and Chloe, reached the towering gates of the [Battle Castle].
The gates were wide open.
Thousands of awakeners from both worlds, humans and elves alike, walked around the vast plaza inside.
Some moved alone, others in groups, but everyone had the same expression, focused, serious, determined.
Sam stepped inside.
