The Coliseum was not far, and they made their way through the winding streets, the sounds of the city growing louder as they approached.
The structure loomed ahead, its ancient stone walls towering over the surrounding buildings. Banners flapped in the wind, displaying the colors and symbols of the Jul Empire and its states.
The Coliseum served as a place to settle disputes between parties who were not on good terms. Each side would send their best fighter, and the two would duel to the death. The victor would settle the dispute in the winner's favor. This practice was completely legal, though it was a rare occurrence, and it was used only if the state government couldn't settle the dispute through other means.
More commonly, the Coliseum was a place of entertainment, hosting brutal fights between convicted criminals.
Spark's carriage stopped in the parking area. He could hear the crowd's roar from inside, the cheers and shouts.
With the token Baros had sent inside the envelope, Spark entered a private viewing area without obstruction. He spotted Baros in a section reserved for the more affluent spectators, waving enthusiastically there. Spark and Zhao Shi made their way over.
"Bro, you made it!" Baros exclaimed, clapping Spark on the back. "You're just in time. The main event is about to start."
"What's so exciting about this one?" Spark asked, settling into his seat. He glanced around, noting the eager faces of the crowd, their eyes glinting with anticipation.
Baros grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You'll see. It's something special, even by Coliseum standards."
The air was thick with excitement. The arena was a vast, open space with tiered seating all around. The sand in the center was stained with the remnants of past battles, an indication of the Coliseum's brutal history.
Below, two unarmed fighters were engaged in a brutal brawl, their bodies bloodied and bruised. The fight was nearing its end as the larger man pinned down his opponent and began landing a barrage of punches on the face of the now unconscious man.
The announcer declared the winner, and the crowd erupted in cheers. The arena was quickly cleared, and anticipation hung in the air for the next match.
Spark leaned forward, his eyes scanning the arena. "So, what's this special event you were talking about?"
"Bro, Do you see this crowd of spectators in the arena? Spot anything different?" Baros asked, a knowing smile on his face.
"Hey, isn't that the steward of the Clear Sky Tower?" a spectator whispered, leaning toward his companion.
"I think it is," the other replied, eyes wide with surprise. "But wasn't he younger?"
"What's he doing down there?"
Murmurs began to resound in the arena as the spectators whispered among themselves, speculating about the figure's intentions, as not many knew about the gathering.
"Silence!" the middle-aged steward commanded, his voice cutting through the noise. The crowd instantly quieted, all eyes fixed on the man as he continued.
Clearing his throat, the steward spoke with authority. "I thank all of you for accepting our invitation and joining us on this wonderful occasion."
He paused, letting his words settle. "As you may already know the reason for this gathering, I won't explain further. We will start the competition without delay, but before that, there's someone who wishes to speak first."
The middle-aged man gestured toward the doorway, and a youth clad in dark attire entered. His steps echoed in the silent Coliseum, each one resonating with confidence.
"Hey, look at his hair. Is he from Dwight?" a spectator finally whispered, noticing the youth's golden hair.
"Who's he? He doesn't look familiar."
Whispers continued as the crowd of ordinary spectators speculated on the identity of the golden-haired youth.
Standing at the center of the large Coliseum, the youth scanned the whole crowd of geniuses seated around him. His eyes, sharp and piercing, seemed to challenge every individual present.
With a voice as sharp as a blade, the golden-haired youth proclaimed, "I challenge every genius here to a duel."