The arena did not simply illuminate—it awakened.
At first, the light dimmed to an unnatural twilight, as though the vast colosseum itself were drawing a breath, gathering attention from every corner of the Imperial City. Then, in a sudden and deliberate surge, the spirit arrays embedded within the arena walls ignited in unison, casting radiant brilliance across the battlefield. Lines of energy pulsed through the reinforced stone beneath the combat zone, glowing faintly like veins of living power. The air itself seemed to tighten, thick with anticipation, humming with restrained force.
It was no longer the setting of a tournament.
It was a stage prepared for something far more decisive.
Above, the massive projection crystals adjusted their angles, sharpening their focus, ensuring that every subtle motion—every flicker of energy, every shift of posture—would be seen not only by the tens of thousands present, but by the countless watchers scattered throughout the city.
