Pentagon Festival [5]

In the vibrant world of Terranova, guilds are more than mere associations; they are the beating heart of the heroic society. With heroes of all kinds, from the humble Class G to the legendary Class S, each guild carries a unique aura. Creating a guild is a game of power and prestige, where money opens doors, but only excellence and true recognition bring respect.

Among these titanic institutions, one stands out: the Nightshade Guild. A fortress of power and mystery, where each member carries the Nightshade surname as a badge of honor. Led by the enigmatic Ethan Nightshade, a Class S hero and the 11th most powerful hunter in the world, the guild is synonymous with strength and influence.

In the middle of the stadium, in a box that looks more like a throne, Ethan watches the tournament with keen eyes. Beside him, an equally impressive figure, his sister, a Class S hunter, shares the same noble posture. Together, they represent the elite of Terranova, figures as influential as a president, stars that shine both on the battlefield and in the sphere of power.

The distinctive mark of the Nightshade was unmistakable: hair as white as snow and eyes as blue as the deep ocean. Angeline Nightshade, Ethan's younger sister, had a particular glow in her eyes as she watched the tournament. With a mix of pride and expectation, she commented: "Today will be exciting, Ethan. Our Blake, even with one arm less, will leave everyone speechless."

Ethan, always the most reserved and serious of the two, replied with an enigmatic neutrality: "Let's see." His voice was a calm wave in a sea of emotions.

Angeline, noticing an unusual tone in Ethan's voice, turned to observe him more closely. Her gaze met his, and she saw that his blue eyes were fixed on something - or someone - in the arena. Curious, she followed the direction of Ethan's gaze and saw, among the participants, a young man with black hair and eyes of the same color as theirs. There was something about him, a carefree expression, an air of confidence that drew attention.

The perplexity was evident in Angeline's tone. "Who is that boy down there?" she asked, frowning in confusion. "He seems to have such a weak aura, but at the same time, this confident posture… it's almost intriguing."

Ethan, with his keen eye of an experienced hunter, also watched the young man in the arena. The faint blue aura that surrounded Dean did not match the firm posture and the air of challenge that he displayed. "He must be more than a simple Class G," Ethan pondered silently. The discrepancy between Dean's physical presence and the energy he exuded was a mystery. "Could he be a Class F maybe, or higher?" Ethan's thoughts spun, as he assessed the aura emitted by Dean.

As Ethan kept his attention fixed on Dean, he revealed more details: "After the incident in the dungeon, I did some investigations. This boy was in the boss room with Blake. He came out of there without a scratch, while Blake suffered injuries. His name is Dean Carleone."

Angeline, surprised, turned quickly to Ethan, her face reflecting shock and disbelief. "Carleone? Are you sure?" she asked, her voice trembling with the surprise of the revelation. "But I thought all the Carleone were… extinct."

With a nod, Ethan confirmed the information. "My sources are reliable. This young man is definitely a Carleone."

Angeline, now with a thoughtful look, returned to observe Dean in the arena. He seemed totally uninterested in what was happening around him, scratching his ear with indifference while yawning widely. "After what the head of the Carleone family did, all his members were marked for death. It's a great loss… such a waste of talent." Her eyes remained fixed on Dean.

Ethan continued, reflecting on what he knew about the Carleone family: "The Carleones always stood out for their strength and, most notably, for their unique and astonishing innate abilities." He paused for a moment, looking thoughtfully at Dean. "Angeline, watch him and tell me his power level, based on the aura he unconsciously emanates."

Each awakened has an intrinsic relationship with mana, as a human being needs water to live. Mana displays around them, varying according to the classification of the awakened. The intensity of the aura reveals the power.

Angeline focused on Dean, observing the aura around him. A subtle blue layer surrounded him, indicating a refined control, without exaggeration. "He seems to be a rank F or something like that, from what I see. But why the curiosity, Ethan?"

"Curiously," Ethan began, "this boy is registered as a rank G."

Angeline, now intrigued, replied with a surprised "Oh?", as a new interest lit up in her eyes. She knew something was off. A Carleone ranked as G? That defied all expectations.

As she watched Dean in the arena, Angeline reflected with curiosity: "Determining the classification of a user when he is strong is easy. The difficult thing is to determine the classification of an awakened when he is weak. But seeing this boy, I can say for sure that he is not a class G."

In the arena, Dean, completely oblivious to the speculations around him, let out a tired sigh. The deafening roar of the audience began to cause him a throbbing headache.

Suddenly, the narrator next to him grabbed the microphone and exclaimed: "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to start the opening fight! All participants, except Dean Carleone and Noah Centineo, please leave the arena! Let's witness an exciting battle between the rookie and the veteran, the clash of the deer against the lion!"

The crowd exploded in a roar of excitement, anticipating the imminent confrontation.

Dean adjusted the collar of his shirt casually, sketching a half smile. "Time for my private show," he thought, casting a cunning glance at the luxurious boxes of the stadium, where the prominent figures of the guilds watched. "Getting the attention of these giants would be like winning the lottery, but I know better than anyone. This is just a game of facades."

As the other participants began to leave the arena, Ellie approached Dean with a characteristic vigor. She gave him a friendly, but strong, slap on the back, saying firmly, "You're going to win, Dean. Got it?" Dean, surprised, looked at her with a mix of admiration and a bit of pain.

Sam, passing by him, threw a "Good luck, Dean!" with a genuine smile and a friendly wink. Diana, with her elegant posture and a slight nod of her head, and Chloe, with a subtle smile, conveyed their silent hopes. Blake, keeping his distant posture, left the arena without offering words of encouragement, his eyes remaining mysterious and reserved.

Ellie leaned in to Dean, her whisper carrying an implicit challenge: "Win this one so I can beat you later, okay?" The determination in her voice was clear, reflecting her combative nature.

Dean reacted with a light laugh, full of confidence. "You're cheeky, huh?" he replied, with a glint of conviction in his eyes.

Chloe, with a smile that seemed to hide more than reveal, left the arena. Dean watched Chloe walk away, a faint enigmatic smile on his lips. He shook his head, surprised by the unexpected support. "I never thought I would be motivated by a bunch of wannabe heroes," he thought, a sarcastic smile appearing on his lips.

As Dean was lost in his ironic thoughts, Noah approached, extending his hand with a contagious enthusiasm. "Let's make a memorable spectacle!" Noah exclaimed, with a glint of excitement in his eyes.

Dean, catching Noah's optimism, had a moment of deep introspection. "I spend so much time planning the future and avoiding trouble that I barely live the present. My sarcasm has been a shield, hiding my insecurities and keeping me distant from this world, as if everything was just a poorly written script. Maybe it's time to rewrite some lines…"

With a smile that mixed sarcasm and genuine fun, Dean reached out to Noah. "I hope you're ready for the show, Noah. If not, you might find out what it's like to wake up with beautiful nurses in the hospital," he replied, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Noah responded to Dean's sarcasm with a frank laugh, the tension of the imminent battle momentarily forgotten. With a nod to Dean, he moved away, moving agilely to the other side of the arena.

Dean, in turn, walked in the opposite direction, his measured steps echoing lightly in the expectant silence of the stadium. "An inaugural fight, then," he reflected, stopping and turning to face Noah. "A spectacle for the crowd, where the outcome seems obvious to everyone… except for me."

Both competitors were now on opposite sides of the arena, separated by the empty space, but united by the anticipation of the fight. Their eyes met, a mix of determination and strategy shining in their eyes.

At the edge of the arena, under the watchful eye of thousands, the judge, an imposing and authoritative figure, watched the two combatants with a discerning eye. He announced their measures:

"Dean Carleone: 1.78 meters, 75 kilograms, awakened class G."

"Noah Centineo: 1.84 meters, 90 kilograms, awakened class C-."

The physical difference between them was remarkable. Dean, with a more agile and slender physique, contrasted with the more robust and muscular constitution of Noah.

The judge then approached the edge of the arena, his firm voice breaking the suspense. "Are you ready?" he asked Dean.

Dean, holding the katana with a confidence that belied his classification, unsheathed it smoothly. The blade reflected the intense light of the stadium, emitting a menacing glow. "Ready," he replied, with an air of calm.

Without waiting for the judge's question, Noah took the initiative. "Ready!" he exclaimed, displaying a confident smile that reflected his competitive nature.

With the confirmation of both participants, the judge raised his hand towards the sky, capturing the attention of everyone in the stadium. He then lowered it with a decisive movement, accompanied by a resounding shout: "Begin!"

[…]

Author's note:

Illustration of some characters in the comments 😊

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