Chapter 364: Day Zero

Within this dimension were eight fortresses for the eight continents; Valaross, Essor, Anane, Lomen, Uweron, Nazanda, Mirean, Paeleshan​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.

And within these fortresses, were castles erected specifically for each participating kingdom.

For example in Valaross Fortress, there was one castle each for the champions of the eight participating kingdoms that made it up

Which is why, after that teleportation, everyone suddenly found themselves within the entrance hall of a castle.

In Dragonhold’s castle, everyone stared in surprise at the space around them. The stone walls, the high ceilings, and wide corridors that branched in multiple directions, with torches lined on their walls.

The ceilings banners hanging from the rafters, with each one bearing the crest of Dragonhold.

Which typically, was a fire breathing dragon.

The space at the hall was wide enough that the full group, that about twenty of them standing in the entrance hall didn’t feel crowded.

Rin walked to one of the narrow windows and looked out. “There are other castles out there,” she said.

Aeris came to stand beside her, then said “The other kingdoms on our continent are in them.”

Through the window, the view opened onto a wide courtyard enclosed by stone walls, and beyond those walls, more structures. Ones that looked just as inhabited.

Oberon cleared his throat and the sound of it echoed through walls. This called everyone to attention as they turned to him.

“This place was made by the gods, and I am sure they accounted for every one of us standing in this place. So walk around and find a room to stay in. I will call for a brief meeting soon”

Everyone he spoke to inclined their heads in respect.

Afterward, Oberon and Thamoryn turned and made their way deeper into the castle, intent on deciding where even they themselves would be staying.

Soon after everyone else started dispersing in pairs or groups to find suitable spots they’d like.

Kayden and Innis started to head in the same direction, only to halt abruptly when they realized it.

An awkward pause followed. Then, almost the same time, they veered off in opposite directions. They were still avoiding each other.

—-

Currently, Oberon stood before a wide window in the chamber he and Thamoryn had deemed suitable, with his hands clasped behind his back.

The view from here looked out over the inner courtyard and beyond the walls of the fortress, into the distance at the terrain of the battlefield.

“The field is larger than I expected,” thamoryn said while standing beside him

Oberon nodded. “The chief god did say all of these was happening within Seventy square kilometers”

——

Everyone else slowly settled in. Some chose to stay alone, some were in pairs. Whatever the choice was, there was room to fit.

The women of ravens grave naturally chose to stay in one large room, and right now they were discussing between themselves.

The ones who came from the Dragon King’s castle didn’t know much of the rules and was getting clarity from Elena about a few things.

“What about dying?” Aeris asked. The question came from a place of concern.

“It isn’t possible in there,” Elena said. “According to the All-father, the concept of death has been removed from this dimension. So If you take something that should have killed you, you lose consciousness instead. The moment that happens, you’re pulled out immediately. Back here.”

Rin smiled a bit. “This was probably His doing”

A few of them nodded to that. They all seemed to agree that Aiden had a hand in seeing that death would not be the case here.

Elena continued. “You can also surrender. Either way takes you out of Stage One for good. You don’t get to go back out after.”

Aeris nodded in understanding as the concern she felt was dealt with.

Katherine had been thinking while Elena spoke. “And the continent. How does a continent actually lose?”

Katherine’s concern was this; Even if the numbers gathered here were not enough to constitute a full-scale war, it was still a daunting prospect to face forty opposing champions from each of the other seven continents.

“Ten,” Elena said. “In stage one, if we lose ten champions total across all of Valaross, we’re done with the tournament”

“For good?” Innis asked, just to make sure she got to clear.

Elena nodded, “for good”

“Ten out of forty,” Katherine repeated.

Elena continued quickly, “Yes. And the numbers carry over as well. If you lose four of your champions today, you start tomorrow with thirty-six. The count doesn’t reset”

Katherine nodded in understanding, after which Rin threw another question

“But if Dragonhold was limited to fielding only 6 representatives, are the rest of simply just spectators till the war ends?” Rin asked as she gave this part of it a though

Elena smiled and shook her head, “not exactly. The six persons selected today, may be different from the six selected the next day, it all depends on how long the first stage lasts”

Rin then nodded in understanding.

—-

The gods stayed at a place referred to as “The Citadel” and it was floating above the lands of dimension.

It was an island of earth suspended in open sky, with waterfalls pouring endlessly from its underside and dissolving into mist long before they reached anything below.

The structure of the city looked like a grand cathedral of sorts with different towering structures behind. The trees growing around its body gave the citadel structure a beautiful look.

From the battlefield far below, it would look no larger than a thumbnail held against the sky. But everyone down there would know it was there.

Inside, the gods were still settling in. Orion moved through one of the upper corridors and Thera passed him going the other direction. A few other lesser gods filtered through the halls finding their positions.

And Adam was already seated at the head of the central chamber.

——

Asides the gods, there was also the family of the Dragon King in this place.

Their room was on the eastern side of the Citadel and it was enormous.

Two small beds had been set against the far wall for the children, and in them Tristan and Andrea lay sleeping.

Laela stared out the window and Arianna was beside her. Uriel leaned against the wall close to the door and she had made her wings disappear temporarily.

Then from somewhere above, a deep rolling sound moved through the sky.

Then another answered it. Then a third. The roars came from Vhagar, Belserion and the other dragons that brought the others.

Arianna looked up toward the ceiling and said, “This is their first time away from home. They are probably restless.”

Laela listened to the roaring continuing overhead and nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

The sounds kept circling above the Citadel at intervals. After a moment, all three of them felt that sensation at once.

Uriel pushed off the wall with a smile on her face. “He’s back.”

Laela and Arianna were already moving toward the door before she finished the sentence.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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