Rules of Fire, Hearts Under Pressure
After a while, the Referee Elder slowly stepped onto the arena.
The noise didn't die immediately—but it softened, like waves pulling back before a storm. His presence carried weight. Authority. The kind that didn't need to shout to be heard.
Still, he did.
"Everyone," his voice rang out, firm and steady, echoing across the training grounds, "the Martial Meeting will begin soon. Calm down."
A faint ripple passed through the crowd as conversations began to quiet. Not silence—not yet—but the sharp edges of noise dulled into something more controlled. Eyes shifted toward the stage. Bodies leaned forward. Even the restless ones felt it… that subtle tightening in the air.
This wasn't just another match.
This was where things started to matter.
"After today's semi-finals," he continued, sweeping his gaze across the four remaining participants, "two students will enter the finals."
His eyes didn't just pass over them.
They weighed them.
