"NO MORE DELAYS!" the announcer's amplified voice bellowed, cutting straight through the electric tension lingering in the air. "The time for talk is over! For our very first matchup, drawn by fate itself... THE NORTHERN DELEGATION VERSUS THE SOUTHERN DELEGATION!"
The amphitheater exploded into an absolute frenzy. Tens of thousands of spectators slammed their feet against the granite stands, sending vibrations shaking down the mountainside. Up on the quartz dais, even the three Grand Maguses leaned forward with sharp, heightened interest—Nelico adjusting his glasses in anticipation, Memphis folding his arms tighter, and Layla's deep blue eyes sparkling with eager curiosity.
