Chapter 86 - The Sword Festival, Part 1 (1)

The Sword Festival had officially kicked off, and the buzz of excitement filled the air. A dense crowd surrounded the small arena, their cheers and chatter rising like a tidal wave. The arena itself was nothing extravagant—a raised platform just large enough for the contestants to duel freely but compact enough to force intense close-quarters combat, giving the audience an enjoyable view of the spectacle.

If one contestant was pushed off the platform, they would be declared out, and the remaining fighter would be the winner. It was a straightforward rule, but effective.

I stood amidst the sea of spectators, my eyes locked on the current match. Two contestants were clashing on the platform, their swords ringing out with every collision. One looked like a seasoned adventurer, his stance solid and experienced, while the other appeared to be an ordinary swordsman—though his moves hinted he might have been an adventurer too.