Chapter 16 : The Audition Round of the Grand Tournament

Karma had finally arrived in the bustling city of **Celtoria**, the famed location for the **Grand Tournament**'s first round. The town, known for its pristine white stone buildings and towering spires, had been transformed into a massive arena for adventurers. The energy in the air was electric, filled with tension and excitement. Hundreds of adventurers were lined up outside the registration hall, their faces a mixture of anticipation and fear.

Karma stood in line, his heart beating steadily, though his mind was still clouded with thoughts. After weeks of training and the intense battle with the wyverns, he was ready to face whatever lay ahead in this tournament. He had no intention of backing down, but deep inside, the pressure was beginning to mount. He needed to prove himself, not just as a tamer, but as someone worthy of taking part in the most prestigious tournament in all of **Alormyrn**.

"First time in the Grand Tournament?" a voice snapped him from his thoughts. Karma turned to see a young man standing beside him. The man was of average build, with short black hair and sharp, calculating eyes. His attire was simple, a basic mage's robe, but there was an air of confidence about him. His smile was friendly, and he extended his hand.

"I'm Jaden," the man introduced himself. "You seem pretty relaxed. Must be your first time here too, huh?"

Karma shook his hand, offering a neutral smile in return. "I'm Karma. Yeah, first time."

Jaden chuckled. "Don't be too nervous. The first round's simple, just a mana test. The real challenges come after that, though. I'm a fire mage. My hometown's **Vargath**. Where are you from?"

Karma paused for a moment before answering, "I'm from **Haley's Rest**."

"Haley's Rest?" Jaden raised his eyebrows in surprise. "That's a small village near the mountains, isn't it? I've never been, but I've heard of it. Pretty quiet, I imagine?"

"Quiet," Karma responded simply, his voice betraying a hint of a distant memory. "But I'm here to change that."

Jaden smiled. "Good to hear. You seem like you've got some fire in you after all. Don't worry, you'll make it past the first round, no problem."

As Karma and Jaden exchanged some more words, the line slowly moved forward. They eventually reached the entrance to the registration hall. The air inside was cool and smelled of parchment and ink. Several clerks sat behind counters, their eyes scanning through papers as adventurers presented their information. It was an orderly system, but the tension in the room was palpable.

"Next!" a voice called out from behind a counter. Karma stepped forward, and Jaden followed him. He reached the counter and handed over his **Adventurer's License**.

"I'm Karma, class: Tamer," he said, his voice calm.

The clerk looked up at him, her eyes narrowing for just a moment. She quickly jotted something down. "Tamer, huh? Please stand on the mark for the mana test," she instructed, motioning toward a crystal orb placed on a pedestal in the center of the room.

As Karma approached the orb, a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd. He could feel eyes turning toward him, eyes filled with judgment and amusement. He was a tamer, after all, and from what he had seen so far, tamers were rarely respected, especially in a setting like this where power and prowess mattered the most.

As Karma placed his hand on the smooth surface of the orb, there was a moment of silence. The orb began to glow with a pale blue light. The murmurs from the crowd grew louder, with several adventurers snickering and whispering among themselves. **A tamer, huh? This should be good.**

As the light grew brighter, Karma could feel the pulse of energy coursing through his body. His mana surged through him, pushing the limits of the orb's capacity. The orb flashed with white-gray light, a brilliant glow that momentarily blinded everyone in the room.

A few gasps rang out as the light died down, and the room fell into an eerie silence. Karma took his hand off the orb and looked around, his expression calm, but his heart was pounding. He knew something was different this time.

The clerk quickly scribbled something down on a sheet, and then glanced up at Karma, her expression now one of surprise. "**Tamer, you say?**" she muttered under her breath. Then she turned toward the crowd, raising her voice. "This is an unprecedented result. **Top-tier mana capacity and control.**"

The whispers in the room grew louder, and this time, the reactions were far from what Karma had expected.

"How the hell does a tamer have that much mana?" someone whispered.

"Is that even possible?" another person murmured.

Jaden, who was still standing nearby, blinked in shock. "I didn't think… a tamer could have that much power."

The air in the room grew thick with tension as Karma, silent as ever, glanced toward the orb. A flash of pride crossed his features, though it was quickly buried beneath his calm expression.

The clerk finally looked up from her sheet. "**Karma, Class: Tamer. Mana Rating: Top Tier.** You are one of the top 30 candidates. Congratulations."

Karma nodded slightly, his expression still cold and composed, though a small hint of satisfaction settled in his heart. This was the first hurdle he had cleared. And from the looks of it, the others were just beginning to realize how strong he truly was.

As the crowd began to murmur in disbelief, a voice cut through the whispers. Jaden, standing a few feet away, gave Karma an amused smirk. "**Looks like you're not the weakling they thought you were, Karma.**"

Karma's eyes flicked to Jaden for a moment. "**Seems that way.**"

Before Karma could leave the registration hall, Jaden spoke again. "**I'll make sure to give you a good fight when we face off in the tournament.** I'll show you what real power looks like."

Karma didn't respond, merely giving a nod. He could sense the challenge in Jaden's words, but the fire mage wasn't the type to concern him just yet. There was something deeper in Karma's mind that he needed to focus on.

---

As Karma left the registration hall, the news that he had made it to the top 30 spread like wildfire, and whispers about his performance followed him outside. He had been one of the first adventurers to register, and the shock of his mana capacity had turned heads.

The next announcement came soon after—there were **160 adventurers** who had passed the first test, and they would now be grouped into **five blocks**, each containing 32 contestants. Only **five** from each block would advance to the next round, meaning Karma had a long road ahead of him.

Karma couldn't help but feel the weight of the competition. **Only five to advance?** That meant the odds were stacked against him even more than he initially thought. He had trained hard for this moment, but he knew that making it through this tournament wasn't going to be easy.

---

As he walked toward the nearby inn, he found himself deep in thought. He had made it this far, but now he needed to push his limits. **Only five spots per block**—that wasn't a lot. He'd have to sharpen his skills even further if he wanted to stand a chance.

Karma sighed, feeling the stress of the tournament weigh down on him, but he didn't let it show on his face. **This was just the beginning**. He had to be better. Stronger.

Entering the inn, Karma felt the anticipation rising. He had a week to prepare himself for the first block of the tournament, and he intended to make the most of it. His journey wasn't over. It was just beginning.

---

Author's Notes:

This chapter focuses on Karma's initial breakthrough in the tournament and the reactions it brings. I wanted to emphasize how much Karma has grown, both in power and in perception. As a **tamer**, he is constantly underestimated by others, but this chapter shows that he is far from weak.

It also sets up the tournament as the next big arc in the story, where Karma will face new challenges and opponents that will test his abilities. Jaden is introduced as a potential rival, and the tension between them sets the stage for future conflict.

At the same time, this chapter explores the idea that even though Karma has power, the tournament is a battle of survival, and the odds are stacked against him. The stakes are high, and the pressure is mounting. Karma needs to be ready for the fight ahead.

This chapter also establishes how important the upcoming battles will be. Karma has only just scratched the surface of his potential, and his journey is far from over.