Ludwig arrived at the arena, his eyes widening in surprise at the massive transformation that had taken place overnight. What had once been a simple, open-air platform with cement staircases for spectators had been replaced by a grand Colosseum-like structure. The sheer scale of it was breathtaking, with towering walls, intricate carvings, and a massive central arena that seemed ready to host battles of epic proportions.
The Colosseum had one main entrance where a steady stream of students was pouring in. Ludwig was about to follow the crowd when a hand grabbed his arm, pulling him back.
“You’re late!” a familiar voice scolded.
Turning, Ludwig saw Kaela standing there, her fiery eyes glaring at him. Her grip on his arm was firm, and her expression was a mix of annoyance and relief.
“You thought I was going to bail on you?” Ludwig said, grinning despite the situation.
“The thought crossed my mind,” Kaela admitted, releasing his arm. “Still, are you ready?”
Ludwig hesitated, then shook his head. “Sadly, I couldn’t secure a weapon.”
Kaela’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? How come you’re a swordsman who doesn’t have a sword?”
“Ah, mine went in for repairs,” Ludwig explained, shrugging.
Kaela sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “More on my plate, I guess… It’s fine. Though you’re okay, I’m not reliant on you. Just sit back and make the numbers. I don’t want to be disqualified for having a missing member. You can use magic, right?”
“Yes, somewhat,” Ludwig said, his tone cautious.
“Good enough for me,” Kaela said, nodding. “Sabrina and you should support me.”
“Where is Sabrina, though?” Ludwig asked, looking around.
“There,” Kaela said, pointing to the top of the Colosseum wall. Ludwig followed her gaze and saw a black cat basking in the sun, its tail flicking lazily.
“You mean the cat?” Ludwig asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Exactly,” Kaela said, her tone exasperated. “She’s a lazy slob. She’ll join us once our turn is up. Let’s go to the arena now.”
Ludwig nodded, and the two of them headed toward the main entrance. But before they could step inside, Kaela grabbed his arm again.
“Not there,” she said, pulling him toward a smaller, less crowded entrance on the side of the Colosseum. “Participants have their own entrance.”
They walked through the side entrance and found themselves in a quiet, dimly lit room. The atmosphere was tense, with other participants milling about, donning armor and preparing their weapons. The room reminded Ludwig of the inner chambers of a gladiator’s arena, complete with benches and storage for equipment.
Kaela immediately began putting on pieces of armor, her movements quick and practiced. She strapped on greaves, a chest plate, and gauntlets, her expression focused. Once she was done, she turned to Ludwig, her eyes scanning him critically.
“No armor, no sword, and no wand or staff…” she said, her tone tinged with disappointment. “One would really think that you’re with us just for the numbers.”
Ludwig shrugged, unfazed. “I don’t need a wand to use magic, or a staff.”
Kaela frowned, then shrugged. “Fine, if you say so. Let’s go.”
They left the preparation room and entered the arena, taking their seats in the front rows. The other participants were already there, some chatting nervously, others sitting in silence, their eyes fixed on the arena below. Ludwig noticed Haku sitting nearby, his heavy sword resting across his lap. Next to him was Bron, looking as arrogant as ever, and a woman Ludwig had never seen before.
She was, by any definition, stunning. Her figure was hourglass-perfect, and her outfit, while revealing, was elegant and tasteful. Her black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her lips were painted a deep, blood-red. Her allure was undeniable, and Ludwig couldn’t help but notice the way she carried herself—confident, almost predatory.
She caught Ludwig’s gaze and smiled, her eyes glinting with mischief.
[As an Undead, you resist Charm.]
Ludwig shook his head, breaking eye contact and ignoring her. The woman’s smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a faint frown.
“Oi, slut, wipe the drool off your mouth. He’s my teammate!” Kaela shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.
The woman turned to Kaela, her smile returning, though it was now laced with venom. “One would think you’re his owner,” she said, her voice smooth and mocking. “He’s handsome. I like handsome men. Especially when they break.” Her last words seemed to echo in Ludwig’s mind, sending a shiver down his spine.
“Ignore her,” Kaela said, sitting down next to Ludwig. “She’s crazy. Don’t let all that makeup fool you.”
Ludwig nodded, though he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. He sat down beside Kaela, his eyes scanning the arena. The Colosseum was nearly full now, the air buzzing with anticipation. Just as the timer hit ten, a massive fanfare of light and magic erupted in the center of the arena.
Ludwig tensed, thinking it was an attack, but when no danger notifications appeared, he relaxed. The smoke cleared, revealing Professor Olim standing in the center of the arena, dressed in a bright yellow suit that reflected light like a mirror. He was almost blindingly shiny.
“WELCOME, WELCOME ALL!” Olim’s voice boomed, amplified by magic. “To our forty-fourth Black Tower Academy tournament! As most of you know, this is a stage built for our dear students to showcase their strength and the knowledge they’ve gained this year. Some of them will soon be leaving us, as the third years have finally reached the end of their journey with us at the Black Tower Academy. Meanwhile, others, such as the freshmen who just joined, will get to see the level they, too, will one day reach!”
Olim launched into a lengthy speech about the glory of the academy, its history, and its values. The students, however, quickly lost interest, their attention wandering. Sensing the lack of enthusiasm, Olim coughed and moved on.
“Regardless! We will now reveal the content of the tournament! First off, this is the list of all the participants!” Olim said, gesturing to a massive holographic screen that appeared above him. The screen displayed the names of all the students participating, nearly a hundred in total.
“This year, we’ve seen a surge in last-minute participants, and we’ve allowed many to join. But that also means the competition will be as difficult as it is exciting!” Olim said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. He then pointed to the far end of the stadium, where a group of professors sat in a special viewing area.
“As you can all see, accompanying us today are a few professors of great renown in the academy: Professor Vastion Oda’Roh, Professor Cymoria Azmiralis, and the Black Tower Master himself—the one and only Bastos Van Dijk!”
The moment Van Dijk’s name was mentioned, the entire Colosseum erupted into cheers and applause. The energy in the arena was electric, and Ludwig couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride.
“Wow, I guess he’s pretty famous,” Ludwig said, his voice barely audible over the noise.
“Famous?” Kaela said, raising an eyebrow. “He’s the reason this whole academy still exists and accepts all sorts of people. Without him, many of these students would have been nothing but rug-rats, thieves, and criminals. He gave them a chance by allowing them to attend. You really don’t fully grasp the opportunity and weight of being his one and only disciple, do you?”
Ludwig smiled, his chest swelling with pride. After all the gifts and opportunities he had received as Van Dijk’s disciple, he fully understood what Kaela meant.
“Now then, for the contents that the participants will be dealing with!” Olim said, his voice cutting through the noise. “Let’s start with our first challenge: THE GAUNTLET!”