The central plaza gradually emptied as teams dispersed toward their assigned preparation areas.
The sun had already begun to lower toward the western hills, its light turning warmer as it stretched across the stone courtyards of the Pavilion grounds. Long shadows spilled across the pillars surrounding the arena, dividing the plaza into shifting bands of light and shade.
Most participants had already begun discussing strategies with their teammates.
Others simply stood in quiet clusters, processing the scale of what had just been announced.
Five hundred teams.
Only two hundred would survive.
But high above the plaza, from the quiet stone terrace overlooking the entire courtyard, someone else was watching.
Jun Kai stood alone near the carved railing.
The wind lifted the edge of his dark robes slightly, but he did not seem to notice.
His gaze moved slowly across the crowd below.
Not searching.
Observing.
