Chapter 242: The King's Speech
The echo of the match announcements hung in the air like smoke.
Arcadia Academy vs. Steel Wall Bastion.
The home crowd was still buzzing, a low-frequency vibration that rattled the fillings in my teeth. They weren't just happy; they were predatory. They had drawn the "fallen heroes" of Sky Island for the first round, and they intended to eat us alive.
"A tough draw," Arthur Pendragon murmured, his arms crossed over his chest. He stood like a statue amidst the chaos of the arena floor, his eyes fixed on the opposing team. "The Steel Wall is known for attrition. They don't win quickly; they suffocate you."
"Let them try," Varkas grunted, cracking his knuckles. The sound was like a gunshot.
But before the strategy talk could begin, a hush fell over the stadium. It wasn't the silence of anticipation; it was the silence of submission.
High above us, in the floating glass fortress of the VIP box, King Thorgar Stoneforge III rose from his throne.
