"Now then, let's begin the tournament!"
The announcer's voice boomed across the floating stadium,
"As everyone might already know, the champion of this tournament will be given the authority to create their own Conqueror Guild! The participants of this tournament are all young warriors aged 18 to 25 years old, some are college students, some are fresh high school graduates. But don't judge a book by its cover! They might seem like weaklings, but all of them are the future of mankind!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as holographic displays showed close-ups of the participants preparing in their respective waiting areas.
"All these participants came from countries far and wide. Some are renowned in their homelands as prodigies of their era. Some candidates are average, some are wise, some are normal, and some are exceptionally strong."
"This event is crucial for all these young seedlings because tomorrow, they will become the light of humanity! Whether they will make groundbreaking history for our kind, conquer many dungeons, repel countless monsters, and most importantly become the pride of mankind!"
Across the world, billions watched the Genesis Victory event some in the stadium, some on TVs, others on smartphones that streamed the spectacle of the stadium floating in Beijing's sea of clouds. The collective cheers grew so loud that the competitors could feel the vibrations through the stadium floor.
"Look at them girl!"
Shouted a young woman in the crowd, clutching her friend's arm,
"My money's on the fire user from Brazil!"
Her friend countered,
"Nah, that water manipulator from Japan has this in the bag!"
Among the participants, the diversity of powers was staggering.
A dark-skinned youth casually spun flames between his fingers while chatting with his teammates.
Nearby, a petite girl made intricate water sculptures that hovered above her palms.
On the other side of the preparation area, a muscular competitor lifted boulders of earth with mere gestures, while another sent playful gusts of wind through competitors' hair.
...
In the VIP section, world leaders and their strongest adventurers observed the proceedings. The atmosphere was a mix of political decorum and genuine excitement.
A man in a striking red suit named, Arthur Walker leaned toward an elderly gentleman, the President of the United Kingdom,
"Hey old man,"
Arthur whispered, his hand resting on the crimson sword at his hip,
"Do you think a new Conqueror Guild will be born this time? It's been 8 years since the last one formed."
The old man chuckled, his wrinkled face breaking into a smile,
"... Haha! It seems the drought of new guilds might end today. There appear to be many talented young ones this year, don't you think?"
Arthur nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the competitors below,
"... Well, you're right about that. There are exceptional talents from our country, France, Australia, Russia, China, Japan..."
He paused, scratching his chin thoughtfully,
"But if I had to pick, the most promising one might be that kid from Iceland."
The President raised an eyebrow,
"Oh? What makes him stand out?"
Arthur's expression turned serious,
"I've heard some rumors... That kid, they say, has a skill or two of a dragon."
The eyes of the president of the United Kingdom looked at the kid with interest from the VIP screen, and he murmured,
"... Interesting. "
As they spoke, the tournament officials finished their preparations. The first match was about to begin, pitting a lightning-wielder from Nigeria against a gravity manipulator from Canada.
The crowd's anticipation reached a fever pitch.
Meanwhile, among the competitors, a lanky young man with silver hair, the Icelandic participant Arthur had mentioned stood quietly in a corner.
His unusual golden eyes glowed faintly as he observed his potential opponents, completely unaware of the special attention he was receiving from the VIP box.
The announcer's voice cut through the noise once more,
"Let the tournament... BEGIN!"
...
Title: Dragon Slayer
Age: 39
Sex: Male
Unique Skills:
Contract: Contracted by the Horned God, Cernunnos
Info: One of the few living warriors to have slain an Ancient Dragon. His crimson sword, "Scarlet Howl," is forged from the fang of his first dragon kill. Despite his fearsome reputation, he maintains a casual, almost playful demeanor.